I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2699 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to more effectively provide mental health 
resources for members of the Armed Forces at high risk of suicide, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2017 
Mr. KILDEE (for himself and Mr. MOULTON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to more effectively provide 
mental health resources for members of the Armed 
Forces at high risk of suicide, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES AT HIGH RISK OF 
SUICIDE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
develop a methodology that identifies which members and 
units of the Armed Forces are at high risk of suicide. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:20 Jun 07, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2699.IH
H2699
SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
(b) MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.— 
(1) HIGH
RISK
MEMBERS
OF
THE
ARMED 
FORCES.—The Secretary of Defense shall use the re-
sults under subsection (c) to— 
(A) identify which units have a dispropor-
tionately high rate of suicide and suicide at-
tempts; and 
(B) provide additional preventative and 
treatment resources for mental health for mem-
bers of the Armed Forces who were deployed 
with the units identified under subparagraph 
(A). 
(2) PREVENTATIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall use the results under 
subsection (c) to— 
(A) identify the circumstances of deploy-
ments associated with increased vulnerability to 
suicide, including the length of deployment, the 
region and area of deployment, and the nature 
and extent to which there was contact with 
enemy forces; and 
(B) provide additional preventative mental 
health care to units who currently are, or will 
be, deployed under circumstances similar to 
those of subparagraph (A). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:20 Jun 07, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2699.IH
H2699
SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
(c) METHODOLOGY.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall develop a methodology to assess the rate of 
suicide and suicide attempts of members of the Armed 
Forces of units that have been deployed in support of a 
contingency operation after September 11, 2001. 
(d) OUTREACH
FOR HIGH-RISK VETERANS.—The 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall use the results under 
subsection (c) to provide outreach regarding the available 
preventative and treatment resources for mental health for 
veterans who— 
(1) were deployed with the units identified 
under this subsection; and 
(2) are enrolled in the health care system of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than September 30, 2018, 
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services 
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services 
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate a 
report on the activities carried out under this section and 
the effectiveness of such activities. 
(f) RESTRICTION ON USE OF INFORMATION.—Infor-
mation disclosed or obtained pursuant to the provisions 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:20 Jun 07, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2699.IH
H2699
SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
of this section may be used by officers, employees, and 
contractors of the Department of Defense and the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs only for the purposes of, and 
to the extent necessary in, carrying out this section. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:20 Jun 07, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2699.IH
H2699
SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS