II 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2340 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MAY 22, 2019 
Received 
AN ACT 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fostering Intergovern-
mental Health Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act’’ or 
‘‘FIGHT Veteran Suicides Act’’. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE OF SUICIDES AND AT-
TEMPTED SUICIDES OF VETERANS IN DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILI-
TIES. 
Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(l) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.—(1) 
In the case of the suicide or attempted suicide of any vet-
eran that occurs in, or on the grounds of, a Department 
facility, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senators and member of Congress 
representing the district in which the facility is located 
and the Senators and member of Congress representing 
the district in which the veteran resides the following no-
tices: 
‘‘(A) Not later than 7 days after the date on 
which the suicide or attempted suicide occurs, notice 
of— 
‘‘(i) the suicide or attempted suicide; and 
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‘‘(ii) the name of the facility and location 
where the suicide or attempted suicide occurred. 
‘‘(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), not later 
than 60 days after such date, notice of the following 
information (if available) regarding the veteran who 
committed or attempted to commit suicide: 
‘‘(i) The enrollment status of the veteran 
with respect to the patient enrollment system of 
the Department under section 1705 of this title. 
‘‘(ii) The most recent encounter between 
the veteran and any employee or facility of the 
Veterans Health Administration before the sui-
cide or attempted suicide occurred. 
‘‘(iii) Whether the veteran had other med-
ical 
insurance 
or 
coverage 
(including 
TRICARE, Medicare, and Medicaid). 
‘‘(iv) The Armed Force in which the vet-
eran served. 
‘‘(v) The time period when the veteran 
served in the Armed Forces. 
‘‘(vi) The age of the veteran. 
‘‘(vii) The marital status of the veteran. 
‘‘(viii) The employment status of the vet-
eran. 
‘‘(ix) The housing status of the veteran. 
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‘‘(x) The gender identity of the veteran. 
‘‘(xi) The sexual orientation of the veteran. 
‘‘(xii) The race of the veteran. 
‘‘(xiii) Confirmation that the Secretary has 
provided notice to the immediate family mem-
bers of the veteran regarding any Department 
support or assistance for which such family 
members may be eligible. 
‘‘(C) In collecting and reporting information 
under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall take all 
steps the Secretary determines necessary to respect 
the privacy and dignity of the veteran and the family 
of the veteran. 
‘‘(2) Each notice submitted under subparagraph (A) 
or (B) of paragraph (1) shall include a copy of guidance 
developed by the Secretary for purposes of dissemination 
that is designed to— 
‘‘(A) deter the sensationalism of suicide; 
‘‘(B) provide information regarding warning 
signs that are often exhibited by veterans at risk of 
suicide; and 
‘‘(C) provide notice of the resources the Depart-
ment offers to veterans who may be at risk of sui-
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cide, including the Veterans Crisis Line and read-
justment counseling provided through Vet Centers.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2019. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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