[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 1513-1514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00630]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 9 / Friday, January 12, 2018 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 1513]]


                Executive Order 13822 of January 9, 2018

                
Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition 
                From Uniformed Service to Civilian Life

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United 
                States to support the health and well-being of 
                uniformed service members and veterans. After serving 
                our Nation, veterans deserve long, fulfilling civilian 
                lives. Accordingly, our Government must improve mental 
                healthcare and access to suicide prevention resources 
                available to veterans, particularly during the critical 
                1-year period following the transition from uniformed 
                service to civilian life. Most veterans' experience in 
                uniform increases their resilience and broadens the 
                skills they bring to the civilian workforce. 
                Unfortunately, in some cases within the first year 
                following transition, some veterans can have 
                difficulties reintegrating into civilian life after 
                their military experiences and some tragically take 
                their own lives. Veterans, in their first year of 
                separation from uniformed service, experience suicide 
                rates approximately two times higher than the overall 
                veteran suicide rate. To help prevent these tragedies, 
                all veterans should have seamless access to high-
                quality mental healthcare and suicide prevention 
                resources as they transition, with an emphasis on the 
                1-year period following separation.

                Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) In furtherance of the 
                policy described in section 1 of this order, I hereby 
                direct the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security to collaborate to address the complex 
                challenges faced by our transitioning uniformed service 
                members and veterans.

                    (b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the 
                Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
                submit to the President, through the Assistant to the 
                President for Domestic Policy, a Joint Action Plan that 
                describes concrete actions to provide, to the extent 
                consistent with law, seamless access to mental health 
                treatment and suicide prevention resources for 
                transitioning uniformed service members in the year 
                following discharge, separation, or retirement.
                    (c) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the 
                Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
                submit to the President, through the Assistant to the 
                President for Domestic Policy, a status report on the 
                implementation of the Joint Action Plan and how the 
                proposed reforms have been effective in improving 
                mental health treatment for all transitioning uniformed 
                service members and veterans. The report shall include:

(i) preliminary progress of reforms implemented by the Joint Action Plan;

(ii) any additional reforms that could help further address the problems 
that obstruct veterans' access to resources and continuous mental 
healthcare treatment, including any suggestions for legislative and 
regulatory reforms; and

(iii) a timeline describing next steps and the results anticipated from 
continued and additional reforms.

                Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

[[Page 1514]]

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or 
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    January 9, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-00630
Filed 1-11-18; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F8-P