I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2340 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to Congress notice 

of any suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran in a Department of 

Veterans Affairs facility, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 18, 2019 

Mr. ROSE of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to 

Congress notice of any suicide or attempted suicide of 

a veteran in a Department of Veterans Affairs facility, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fostering Intergovern5 mental Health Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act’’ or 

6 ‘‘FIGHT Veteran Suicides Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE OF SUICIDES AND AT2 TEMPTED SUICIDES OF VETERANS IN DE3 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILI4 TIES. 

5 Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, is 

6 amended by adding at the end the following new sub7 section: 

8 ‘‘(l) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.—(1) 

9 In the case of the suicide or attempted suicide of any vet10 eran that occurs in, or on the grounds of, a Department 

11 facility, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 

12 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep13 resentatives and the Senator and member of Congress rep14 resenting the district in which the facility is located the 

15 following notices: 

16 ‘‘(A) Not later than seven days after the date 

17 on which the suicide or attempted suicide occurs, no18 tice of— 

19 ‘‘(i) the suicide or attempted suicide; and 

20 ‘‘(ii) the name of the facility and location 

21 where the suicide or attempted suicide occurred. 

22 ‘‘(B) Not later than 60 days after such date, 

23 notice of the following information regarding the vet24 eran who committed or attempted to commit suicide: 


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1 ‘‘(i) The enrollment status of the veteran 

2 with respect to the patient enrollment system of 

3 the Department under section 1705 of this title. 

4 ‘‘(ii) The most recent encounter between 

5 the veteran and any employee or facility of the 

6 Veterans Health Administration before the sui7 cide or attempted suicide occurred. 

8 ‘‘(iii) Whether the veteran had private 

9 medical insurance. 

10 ‘‘(iv) The Armed Force in which the vet11 eran served. 

12 ‘‘(v) The time period when the veteran 

13 served in the Armed Forces. 

14 ‘‘(vi) The age of the veteran. 

15 ‘‘(vii) The marital status of the veteran. 

16 ‘‘(viii) The employment status of the vet17 eran. 

18 ‘‘(ix) The housing status of the veteran. 

19 ‘‘(x) Confirmation that the Secretary has 

20 provided notice to the immediate family mem21 bers of the veteran regarding any Department 

22 support or assistance for which such family 

23 members may be eligible. 

24 ‘‘(2) Each notice submitted under subparagraph (A) 

25 or (B) of paragraph (1) shall include a copy of guidance 


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1 developed by the Secretary for purposes of dissemination 

2 that is designed to— 

3 ‘‘(A) deter the sensationalism of suicide; 

4 ‘‘(B) provide information regarding warning 

5 signs that are often exhibited by veterans at risk of 

6 suicide; and 

7 ‘‘(C) provide notice of the resources the Depart8 ment offers to veterans who may be at risk of sui9 cide, including the Veterans Crisis Line and read10 justment counseling provided through Vet Centers.’’. 

Æ 


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