Today, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced the Classified Veterans Access to Care Act. The legislation aims to prevent the estimated 22 veteran deaths resulting from suicide each day by ensuring that veterans with classified experiences have access to appropriate mental health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Joining Representatives Sinema and Murphy in cosponsoring the bill are Representatives Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Dan Benishek (R-MI), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HA), and Duncan Hunter (R-CA).
Arizona Iraq Veteran Daniel Somers committed suicide in June 2013. Somers had served two tours in Iraq and was diagnosed with both a traumatic brain injury and PTSD upon returning home. Daniel's experiences in Iraq were classified and could not be discussed in a group setting, but the VA offered Somers only group therapy sessions -- denying him effective mental health treatment. The Classified Veterans Access to Care Act ensures that veterans with classified experiences have appropriate access to mental health services from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"No one who returns home from serving our country should ever feel like she or he has nowhere to turn," said Sinema. "Our bill offers a reasonable solution that ensures all veterans experiencing combat-related mental health wounds have appropriate access to comprehensive mental health care."
"Daniel Somers' tragic suicide was made even more heartbreaking because the Department of Veterans Affairs failed in its mission to provide him with the best possible psychological care," said Rep. Tim Murphy, who serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve Medical Service Corps as a psychologist. "We owe it to Daniel and others who have sacrificed on our behalf to ensure the VA provides veterans with consistent, quality care in a setting they can trust. VA regulations shouldn't discriminate based on mission, and that's what this bill will address."
The Classified Veterans Access to Care Act ensures the VA's process identifies veterans with classified experiences and transitions them to individualized therapeutic treatment in an expedited fashion. The bill directs the Secretary of VA to include the opportunity, on the appropriate medical and benefits information and forms, for a veteran to indicate if he or she participated in a classified mission during military service. The legislation also directs the Secretary of the VA to develop and disseminate guidance to the necessary VHA personnel, including VA mental health professionals, to engage and direct individuals with classified experiences seeking mental health counseling to appropriate care settings.