LoBiondo Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Bill to Reduce Veterans' Suicides

Press Release

A staunch advocate for South Jersey veterans, U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today applauded Congressional passage of the "Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act" to create innovative, community-based pilot programs to address high suicide rates among active duty military and veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reported that 22 veterans commit suicide on average per day.

"There is a widespread, bipartisan acknowledgement that we can and must do better to assist our veterans in need, particularly those battling service-related mental illness or contemplating suicide. Reaching out to our veterans via their military peers and community mental health professionals is the right approach to this alarming problem," said LoBiondo, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Supported by national groups including the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans for America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the "Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act" was introduced by Rep. Tim Walz (MN-01) with House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-01) and Rep. Tammy Duckworth (IL-08). The bipartisan legislation would do the following:

Increase access to mental health care by creating a peer support and community outreach pilot program to assist transitioning servicemembers;
Increase accountability by requiring an annual evaluation of the Defense Department and VA suicide-prevention practices and programs;, and,
Address growing demand for care by establishing a pilot program to repay the loan debt of students in mental health fields as a means to facilitate recruitment for their subsequent employment at the VA.
Upon approval by Congress, LoBiondo immediately sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald requesting the VISN 4 pilot program established by the legislation be run out of the Wilmington VA Medical Center, of which South Jersey is covered. The text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Secretary McDonald:

On Monday, January 12th, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt SAV Act. I was proud to vote for this important legislation that seeks to help our brave servicemen and women that have been affected by traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thankfully, today, February 3rd, the Senate also unanimously passed this much-needed bill. I hope that this legislation will better allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide the best treatment possible for our nation's veterans.

A provision in this legislation calls for the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program at no fewer than five Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) to assist veterans transitioning from active duty and to improve the access of veterans to mental health services. H.R. 203 requires the pilot program at each VISN to include a community oriented veteran peer support network and a community outreach team for each medical center in such VISN. From VA employees that live in NJ-02 to veterans that live and work in South Jersey, I know that we have extremely competent and willing veterans and mental health professionals that would aspire to serve on the outreach team or in the peer support network.

This important pilot program would be well-served to select VISN 4 at the Wilmington VA Medical Center in Wilmington, Delaware. According to the Wounded Warrior foundation, as of December 1, 2014, an estimated 320,000 veterans are afflicted by TBI and 400,000 are estimated to be suffering from PTSD. With large amounts of veterans living in and retiring to South Jersey and the surrounding Delaware Valley, I can ensure that this program would benefit afflicted veterans and would serve to be a great treatment and learning tool for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Thank you for your continued partnership and work on behalf of our nation's veterans.

Sincerely,

LoBiondo has previously advocated for additional research and resources into various innovative projects to address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in servicemembers. The House-passed FY2014 "National Defense Authorization Act" included a provision authored by LoBiondo and former Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) related to studying and utilizing the Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program within the Defense Department as an effective treatment to some symptoms of PTSD and TBI. Servicemembers currently receiving this treatment are reporting improvements including: decreased depressive symptoms, improved sleep patterns, a greater sense of purpose, better reintegration into their communities, pain reduction, and improved parenting skills.

Similarly, LoBiondo has voted in support of additional funding for PTSD, TBI and psychological health research at both the VA and Defense Department including:

$125 million in the FY 2015 Defense Appropriations Act on June 20, 2014;
$7.5 billion for mental health programs including an additional $20 million for suicide prevention outreach by the VA as part of the FY 2015 Military Construction and VA Appropriations Act on April 30, 2014;
In 2012, LoBiondo supported and Congress approved a $35 million increase specifically for PTSD programs at the VA.
Veterans needing to speak with a mental health professional should contact one of the four South Jersey community-based outpatient clinics in Cape May, Northfield, Sewell or Vineland or the Wilmington VA Medical Center. The VA also manages a toll-free number (1-800-273-8255), a text message option (838255) and a confidential online chat (www.VeteransCrisisLine.net) with a qualified care professional, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

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