I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6454 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Zero Suicide 
Initiative pilot program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 4, 2025 
Ms. LEE of Nevada (for herself, Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas, Ms. 
PETTERSEN, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mr. KEATING, Mr. DAVIS of North 
Carolina, and Mr. MANN) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the 
Zero Suicide Initiative pilot program of the Department 
of Veterans 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 Zero Suicide Dem-
onstration Project Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall establish a pilot program called the 
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‘‘Zero Suicide Initiative’’ (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘program’’). 
(b) CURRICULUM.—The program shall implement the 
curriculum of the Zero Suicide Institute of the Education 
Development Center (referred to in this section as the ‘‘In-
stitute’’) to improve safety and suicide care for veterans, 
thereby significantly reducing rates of suicide. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The first year of the pro-
gram shall be dedicated to program development, in-
cluding planning and site selection. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the pro-
gram, the Secretary shall consult with— 
(A) the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services; 
(B) the National Institutes of Health; 
(C) public and private institutions of high-
er education; 
(D) educators; 
(E) experts in suicide assessment, treat-
ment, and management; 
(F) veterans service organizations; and 
(G) professional associations the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs determines relevant to the 
purposes of the program. 
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(d) STAFF LEADERS; PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The 
program shall consist of not less than ten weeks of edu-
cation regarding suicide care, beginning with the selection 
of five to ten staff leaders from each site selected under 
subsection (e) who shall carry out the following program 
elements: 
(1) Complete the organizational self-study of 
the Institute as a team. 
(2) Attend the two-day Zero Suicide Academy 
of the Institute. 
(3) Formulate a plan to collect data to support 
evaluation and quality improvement using the data 
elements worksheet of the Institute. 
(4) Communicate to staff at the respective site 
the adoption of a specific suicide care approach. 
(5) Administer the workforce survey of the In-
stitute to all staff at the respective site to learn 
more about perceived comfort with and competence 
in caring for patients at risk of suicide. 
(6) Review, develop, and implement training on 
processes and policies regarding patients at risk of 
suicide, including— 
(A) screening; 
(B) assessment; 
(C) use of electronic health records; 
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(D) risk formulation; 
(E) treatment; and 
(F) care transition. 
(e) SITES.— 
(1) NUMBER.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the program at five medical centers of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, one of which primarily 
serves veterans who live in rural and remote areas 
as determined by the Secretary. 
(2) TIMELINE.—The Secretary shall select— 
(A) 15 candidate sites for the program not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act; and 
(B) the final five sites not later than 270 
days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In selecting sites at which 
to carry out the program, the Secretary shall consult 
with experts including officials of— 
(A) the National Institute of Mental 
Health; 
(B) the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration of the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services; 
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