I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4173 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the 
Veterans Crisis Line. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 31, 2017 
Mr. BANKS of Indiana (for himself, Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH, Mr. MESSER, Mr. 
BUCSHON, Mrs. WALORSKI, and Mr. MOULTON) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 
study on the Veterans Crisis Line. 
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 ‘‘Veterans Crisis Line 
Study Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. STUDY ON EFFICACY OF VETERANS CRISIS LINE. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
conduct a study on the outcomes and the efficacy of the 
Veterans Crisis Line during the five-year period beginning 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:01 Nov 01, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4173.IH
H4173
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
January 1, 2014, based on an analysis of national suicide 
data and data collected from the Veterans Crisis Line. 
(b) MATTERS INCLUDED.—The study under sub-
section (a) shall address the following: 
(1) The efficacy of the Veterans Crisis Line in 
leading veterans to sustained mental health regi-
mens, by determining— 
(A) the number of veterans who, after con-
tacting the Veterans Crisis Line and being re-
ferred to a suicide prevention specialist, begin 
and continue mental health care furnished by 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and 
(B) the number of veterans who, after con-
tacting the Veterans Crisis Line and being re-
ferred to a suicide prevention specialist, ei-
ther— 
(i) begin mental health care furnished 
by the Secretary but do not continue such 
care; or 
(ii) do not begin such care. 
(2) The visibility of the Veterans Crisis Line, 
by determining— 
(A) the number of veterans who contact 
the Veterans Crisis Line and have not pre-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:01 Nov 01, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4173.IH
H4173
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
viously received hospital care or medical serv-
ices furnished by the Secretary; and 
(B) the number of veterans who contact 
the Veterans Crisis Line and have previously 
received hospital care or medical services fur-
nished by the Secretary. 
(3) The role of the Veterans Crisis Line as part 
of the mental health care services of the Depart-
ment, by determining, of the veterans who are en-
rolled in the health care system established under 
section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, who 
contact the Veterans Crisis Line, the number who 
are under the care of a mental health care provider 
of the Department at the time of such contact. 
(4) Whether receiving sustained mental health 
care affects suicidality and whether veterans pre-
viously receiving mental health care furnished by the 
Secretary use the Veterans Crisis Line in times of 
crisis, with respect to the veterans described in para-
graph (3), by determining the time frame between 
receiving such care and the time of such contact. 
(5) The effectiveness of the Veterans Crisis 
Line in assisting veterans at risk for suicide when 
the Veterans Crisis Line is contacted by a non-vet-
eran, by determining, of the number of non-veterans 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:01 Nov 01, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4173.IH
H4173
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
who contact the Veterans Crisis Line looking for 
support in assisting a veteran, how many of such in-
dividuals receive support in having a veteran begin 
to receive mental health care furnished by the Sec-
retary. 
(6) The overall efficacy of the Veterans Crisis 
Line in preventing suicides and whether the number 
of contacts affects the efficacy, by determining— 
(A) the number of veterans who contact 
the Veterans Crisis Line who ultimately commit 
or attempt suicide; and 
(B) of such veterans, how many times did 
a veteran contact the Veterans Crisis Line prior 
to committing or attempting suicide. 
(7) The long-term efficacy of the Veterans Cri-
sis Line in preventing repeated suicide attempts and 
whether the efficacy is temporary, by determining, of 
the number of veterans who contacted the Veterans 
Crisis Line and did not commit or attempt suicide 
during the following six-month period, the number 
who contacted the Veterans Crisis Line in crisis at 
a later time and thereafter did commit or attempt 
suicide. 
(8) Whether referral to mental health care af-
fects the risk of suicide, by determining— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:01 Nov 01, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4173.IH
H4173
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
(A) the number of veterans who contact 
the Veterans Crisis Line who are not referred 
to, or do not continue receiving, mental health 
care who commit suicide; and 
(B) the number of veterans described in 
paragraph (1)(A) who commit or attempt sui-
cide. 
(9) The efficacy of the Veterans Crisis Line to 
promote continued mental health care in those vet-
erans who are at high risk for suicide whose suicide 
was prevented, by determining, of the number of vet-
erans who contacted the Veterans Crisis Line and 
did not commit or attempt suicide soon thereafter, 
the number that begin and continue to receive men-
tal health care furnished by the Secretary. 
(c) DATA COLLECTION PRACTICES.—During the re-
maining time of the five-year period of study subsequent 
to the date of enactment, data shall be collected in no way 
differently than it had been collected during the previous 
portion of time under research. Data collection shall not 
be construed as being extended, contracted, or modified 
in any way due to this Act. 
(d) SUBMISSION.—Not later than March 1, 2020, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:01 Nov 01, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4173.IH
H4173
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate the 
study under subsection (a). 
(e) VETERANS CRISIS LINE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Veterans Crisis Line’’ means the toll-free 
hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of 
title 38, United States Code. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:01 Nov 01, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4173.IH
H4173
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS