I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5771 
To reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 12, 2006 
Mr. BOSWELL (for himself, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. EVANS, Mr. MICHAUD, 
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FORD, Mr. SALAZAR, 
Ms. HARMAN, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. ROSS, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. THOMPSON 
of California, Mr. TANNER, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. 
MELANCON, Ms. BEAN, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. BOREN, Mr. 
BERRY, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. STARK, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. HOYER, Mr. 
FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. OLVER, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, and 
Mr. MURTHA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. 
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 ‘‘Joshua Omvig Vet-
erans Suicide Prevention Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUICIDE PREVEN-
TION AMONG VETERANS. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and 
implement a comprehensive program for reducing the inci-
dence of suicide among veterans. 
SEC. 3. SPECIFICS OF PROGRAM. 
(a) STAFF EDUCATION.—The program shall provide 
for mandatory training for appropriate staff and contrac-
tors (including all medical personnel) of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs who interact with veterans. This train-
ing shall cover information appropriate to the staff or con-
tractor’s job description. The training shall include infor-
mation on— 
(1) recognizing risk factors for suicide; 
(2) proper protocols for responding to crisis sit-
uations involving veterans who may be at high risk 
for suicide; and 
(3) best practices for suicide prevention. 
(b) SCREENING OF VETERANS RECEIVING MEDICAL 
CARE.—The program shall provide for screening of vet-
erans who receive medical care at a Department of Vet-
erans Affairs medical facility (including a center estab-
lished under section 1712A of title 38, United States 
Code) for risk factors for suicide. 
(c) TRACKING OF VETERANS.—The program shall 
provide for appropriate tracking of veterans. 
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(d) COUNSELING AND TREATMENT OF VETERANS.— 
The program shall provide for referral of at-risk veterans 
for appropriate counseling and treatment. 
(e) DESIGNATION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION COUN-
SELORS.—The program shall provide for the designation 
of a suicide prevention counselor at each Department of 
Veterans Affairs medical facility other than centers estab-
lished under section 1712A of title 38, United States 
Code. Each counselor shall work with local emergency 
rooms, police departments, local mental health organiza-
tions, and veterans service organizations to engage in out-
reach to veterans and improve the coordination of mental 
health care to veterans. 
(f) BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH.—The program shall 
provide for research on best practices for suicide preven-
tion among veterans. 
(g) SEXUAL TRAUMA RESEARCH.—The program 
shall provide for research on mental health care for vet-
erans who have experienced sexual trauma while in mili-
tary service. The research design shall include consider-
ation of veterans of a reserve component. 
(h) 24-HOUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.—The pro-
gram shall provide for mental health care availability to 
veterans on a 24-hour basis. 
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(i) HOTLINE.—The program may provide for a toll- 
free hotline for veterans staffed by appropriately trained 
mental health personnel and available at all times. 
(j) OTHER COMPONENTS.—The program may pro-
vide for other actions to reduce the incidence of suicide 
among veterans that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
deems appropriate. 
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
(a) TIMING OF REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit 
a report to Congress no later than 90 days after the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report shall state 
the status of the implementation of the program developed 
pursuant to section 2. The report shall also state the 
timeline and costs for complete implementation of the pro-
gram within two years. 
SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) suicide among veterans suffering from post- 
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious prob-
lem; and 
(2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should 
take into consideration the special needs of veterans 
suffering from PTSD in developing and imple-
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menting the comprehensive program required by this 
Act. 
Æ 
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