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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today praised passage of bipartisan legislation to prevent veteran suicide and ensure individuals who may be struggling have access to necessary mental health care services and support. 

H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, passed the House unanimously. 

“Our veterans fight battles on foreign soil to protect us here at home. Those who make it back should never have to worry that they might face a bureaucracy more lethal than enemy fire. This legislation will help ensure that American veterans have access to the mental health care services they need and deserve,” said Foxx. “The entire nation owes our military personnel and veterans a huge debt of gratitude, and ensuring that debt is properly repaid is one of my top priorities in Congress.” 

H.R. 203 would increase access to mental health care by amending the requirements for reviewing potentially improper discharge characterizations of individuals diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. It would also require the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a centralized website containing information regarding all mental health services for veterans.

Under the legislation, a third party would conduct an annual evaluation of all mental health care and suicide prevention practices and programs at the Department of Defense  and VA and make recommendations to improve care. Additionally it would establish a strategic relationship between the VA and the National Guard to facilitate a greater continuity of care. 

Finally, the bill would establish a peer support and community outreach pilot program to assist transitioning service members with accessing VA mental health care services.

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U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx is currently serving her sixth term as the representative of North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is the elected Republican Conference Secretary. Dr. Foxx is the chair of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and serves as Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee.