I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5030 
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to take certain 
actions regarding suicides by veterans and mental health care furnished 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 8, 2019 
Mr. WATKINS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to 
take certain actions regarding suicides by veterans and 
mental health care furnished by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘VA Suicide Prevention 
Services Accountability Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON MANAGE-
MENT BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS OF VETERANS AT HIGH RISK FOR SUI-
CIDE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the efforts of the Secretary to 
manage veterans at high risk for suicide. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of suicide prevention prac-
tices and initiatives available from the Department 
and through community partnerships. 
(2) A description of how the Department identi-
fies veterans as high risk for suicide, with particular 
consideration to the efficacy of inputs into the Re-
covery Engagement and Coordination for Health— 
Veterans Enhanced Treatment (commonly referred 
to as ‘‘REACH VET’’) program of the Department, 
including an assessment of the efficacy of such iden-
tifications disaggregated by age, gender, and, to the 
extent practicable, Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work, and medical center of the Department. 
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(3) A description of how the Department inter-
venes when a veteran is identified as high risk, in-
cluding an assessment of the efficacy of such inter-
ventions disaggregated by age, gender, and, to the 
extent practicable, Veterans Integrated Service Net-
work, and medical center of the Department. 
(4) A description of how the Department mon-
itors veterans who have been identified as high risk, 
including an assessment of the efficacy of such mon-
itoring and any follow-ups disaggregated by age, 
gender, and, to the extent practicable, Veterans In-
tegrated Service Network, and medical center of the 
Department. 
(5) A review of staffing levels of suicide preven-
tion coordinators across the Veterans Health Admin-
istration. 
(6) A review of the resources and programming 
offered to family members and friends of veterans 
who have a mental health condition in order to as-
sist that veteran in treatment and recovery. 
(7) An assessment of such other areas the 
Comptroller General determines appropriate. 
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SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW 
OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVEN-
TION SERVICES OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than three years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to the Commit-
tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives a management review of the mental health 
and suicide prevention services provided by the Secretary. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The management review under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the infrastructure under 
the control of or available to the Office of Mental 
Health and Suicide Prevention of the Department. 
(2) A description of the management and orga-
nizational structure of the Office of Mental Health 
and Suicide Prevention, including roles and respon-
sibilities for each position. 
(3) A review of the operational policies and 
processes of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide 
Prevention, including an assessment of how effec-
tively these policies and processes are implemented. 
(4) An assessment of the staffing levels at the 
Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, 
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disaggregated by type of position, and including the 
location of any staffing deficiencies. 
(5) An assessment of the Nurse Advice Line 
pilot program conducted by the Department. 
(6) An assessment of recruitment initiatives for 
mental health professionals of the Department, in-
cluding any special emphasis on rural areas. 
(7) An assessment of strategic planning con-
ducted by the Office of Mental Health and Suicide 
Prevention. 
(8) An assessment of the communication, and 
the effectiveness of such communication— 
(A) within the central office of the Office 
of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention; 
(B) between that central office and the 
Central Office of the Department; 
(C) between that central office and local 
facilities and offices, including networks and 
medical centers; and 
(D) between that central office and com-
munity partners of the Department, including 
first responders, community support groups, 
and health care industry partners. 
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