Letter to the Hon. Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Provide Update on Veterans Crisis Line Improvements

Letter

Dear Secretary McDonald:

On November 28, 2016, President Obama signed the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act into law, beginning the 180 day window for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a report to Congress documenting clear performance measures and timelines to enhance Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) operations and responsiveness to veterans in need and their families and friends.

In this nation, we lose a heartbreaking number of veterans to suicide each and every day. The VCL was created to be a resource to veterans in crisis and their family and friends, with the goal of providing them with assistance during a very critical time. Yet, there have been too many documented cases of veterans who have been unable to reach a VCL or backup responder, including Iowa veterans in my district. This and other problems were documented in two separate investigations conducted by the VA Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office.

The sad fact is many of the problems identified were caused by a lack of processes and accountability. So, I introduced the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act to address these deficiencies and ensure the VA demonstrates to Congress how it is correcting the identified problems in order to serve veterans and their families and friends. I look forward to receiving an update from the VA regarding how it is complying with the law and better serving our nation's veterans.

The VCL has also opened a new call center in Atlanta, Georgia since the enactment of the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act. I am committed to remaining informed of the VCL's ongoing activities and I am requesting a tour of both the Atlanta and the Canandaigua facilities and a briefing on both facilities' operations. My staff will follow up with designated VA staff to facilitate this request.

I thank you for your prompt attention to my requests.

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