Brindisi's Veteran Suicide Prevention Legislation Passes Committee

Press Release

House Veterans' Affairs Committee Votes Unanimously to Pass Brindisi's Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act

Congressman Anthony Brindisi's (NY-22) Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act passed a key hurdle today in its way to becoming law. The House Veterans' Affairs Committee voted unanimously to move the legislation forward for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

"One veteran life lost to suicide is one too many," said Brindisi. "Our bill is an important step in ensuring the VA has the tools and resources it needs to provide veterans with life-saving mental health resources. I am thankful that the House Veterans' Affairs Committee has made this a top priority, and I encourage House leadership to act quickly to bring our bill to the floor."

Brindisi introduced the Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act (H.R. 2333) with Congressmen Jim Banks (IN-03) and Mike Bost (IL-12). The bipartisan bill requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an assessment of the responsibilities, workload, and vacancy rates of the Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Coordinators.

Suicide Prevention Coordinators are the face of the VA's efforts to combat veteran suicide. They identify high-risk veterans and ensure they receive appropriate care, conduct outreach, and promote awareness and suicide prevention best practices within VA, among other responsibilities. Many Suicide Prevention Coordinators report being overworked and unable to keep up with their many responsibilities. The Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act would help ensure these men and women have the tools and resources they need to provide veterans with critical mental health resources.

Source