An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide each day, adding up to more than 8,000 deaths each year
Klobuchar is an original cosponsor of the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which will help expand access to mental health services for veterans by establishing a loan repayment program to help the VA recruit more psychiatric specialists, enhancing resources for veterans transitioning to civilian life, and improving the VA’s ability to address traumatic brain injuries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today announced a bill she cosponsored to prevent veteran suicides has passed the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide each day, adding up to more than 8,000 deaths each year. Klobuchar is an original cosponsor of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, which will help expand access to mental health services for veterans by establishing a loan repayment program to help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recruit more psychiatric specialists, enhancing resources for veterans transitioning to civilian life, and improving the VA’s ability to address traumatic brain injuries. Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) led the bill in the House.
“Our veterans served us on the front lines, and we must serve them with the support and resources they need when they return home,” Klobuchar said. “Too many returning veterans are suffering, and too many tragically turn to suicide in their darkest hours. We must do better. That’s why Congressman Walz and I have continued to fight for this bill, and while there is still more work to do, today’s action is one step forward in the effort to deliver veterans the suicide prevention and mental health care treatment they deserve.”
Klobuchar has been a leader in the fight to improve mental health care for our nation’s soldiers. She introduced the Service Member Mental Health Review Act in 2013 to help veterans who may have been discharged with improper mental health diagnoses get their records corrected and their benefits restored. She introduced the Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act in 2008 to provide post-deployment services for troops and their families and help recruit more uniformed mental health professionals.
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