A U.S. Congressman from North Carolina is introducing a bill that could change the way veterans’ mental health is treated. While on the surface, this bill seems simple, it would overhaul the way Veterans Affairs documents deaths.According to Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards, the Justice for America’s Veterans and Survivors Act would require the V.A. to document and publish veterans’ cause of death, their disabilities accrued during service, and whether their death was related to suicide or that disability. “Well, you know, the transparency at the VA makes it impossible to tell how much they’ve been tracking or how well they’ve been tracking it. The fact that they’ll have to publish this data, they’ll be required to publish it, will help the public and help Congress with oversight and see what they’re doing,” said John Byrnes with Concerned Veterans for America.Edwards, who represents District 11 in North Carolina, announced this bipartisan bill alongside a democratic congresswoman. He said the V.A.’s data on veteran suicides does not appear to be accurate. “For me and other policymakers to put together policies that actually will have a lasting impact, we need to better understand what we’re dealing with,” said Edwards.According to Concerned Veterans for America, around 7,500 soldiers have died in action in the war on terror since 2001. 30,000 have died by suicide since then. “So that’s four times the number of folks who died in combat zones who have taken their own lives back home, which just it highlights the stress and trauma that combat puts on folks and highlights kind of the fact that, again, the VA just isn’t doing its job,” said Byrnes.The new Veterans Affairs Secretary, Doug Collins said in an interview with us earlier this year the new administration is making changes to how veterans are prioritized. “We’re going to make sure that we’re putting them first, and the organization will be restructured to make sure that we’re doing that,” Collins said.”To give our veterans the mental health support that they need to be living, productive, happy members of society after they’ve already risked, their, their lives and livelihoods to defend us,” Edwards said.We reached out to the Western North Carolina VA Healthcare System, the system in Chuck Edwards’ district, about this. They said in a statement: “The Western North Carolina VA Health Care System maintains a constant focus on suicide prevention.We appreciate Congressman Edwards’ focus on this important issue, and we look forward to reviewing the details and exploring how this new legislation can support our ongoing efforts.”
A U.S. Congressman from North Carolina is introducing a bill that could change the way veterans’ mental health is treated.
While on the surface, this bill seems simple, it would overhaul the way Veterans Affairs documents deaths.
According to Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards, the Justice for America’s Veterans and Survivors Act would require the V.A. to document and publish veterans’ cause of death, their disabilities accrued during service, and whether their death was related to suicide or that disability.
“Well, you know, the transparency at the VA makes it impossible to tell how much they’ve been tracking or how well they’ve been tracking it. The fact that they’ll have to publish this data, they’ll be required to publish it, will help the public and help Congress with oversight and see what they’re doing,” said John Byrnes with Concerned Veterans for America.
Edwards, who represents District 11 in North Carolina, announced this bipartisan bill alongside a democratic congresswoman. He said the V.A.’s data on veteran suicides does not appear to be accurate.
“For me and other policymakers to put together policies that actually will have a lasting impact, we need to better understand what we’re dealing with,” said Edwards.
According to Concerned Veterans for America, around 7,500 soldiers have died in action in the war on terror since 2001. 30,000 have died by suicide since then.
“So that’s four times the number of folks who died in combat zones who have taken their own lives back home, which just it highlights the stress and trauma that combat puts on folks and highlights kind of the fact that, again, the VA just isn’t doing its job,” said Byrnes.
The new Veterans Affairs Secretary, Doug Collins said in an interview with us earlier this year the new administration is making changes to how veterans are prioritized.
“We’re going to make sure that we’re putting them first, and the organization will be restructured to make sure that we’re doing that,” Collins said.
“To give our veterans the mental health support that they need to be living, productive, happy members of society after they’ve already risked, their, their lives and livelihoods to defend us,” Edwards said.
We reached out to the Western North Carolina VA Healthcare System, the system in Chuck Edwards’ district, about this. They said in a statement:
“The Western North Carolina VA Health Care System maintains a constant focus on suicide prevention.
We appreciate Congressman Edwards’ focus on this important issue, and we look forward to reviewing the details and exploring how this new legislation can support our ongoing efforts.”
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