Title: VA High Altitude and Suicide Research Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
VA High Altitude and Suicide Research Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the connection between living at high altitude and the risk of developing depression or dying by suicide among veterans. Depending on the results, a follow-up study may be required to identify biological causes and effective treatments.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8173 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8173

 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the 
  connection between living at high altitude and suicide risk factors 
                            among veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 4, 2020

Mr. McAdams (for himself, Mr. Cisneros, and Mr. Tipton) 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 
  connection between living at high altitude and suicide risk factors 
                            among veterans.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``VA High Altitude and Suicide 
Research Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY ON CONNECTION BETWEEN LIVING AT HIGH ALTITUDE AND SUICIDE 
              RISK FACTORS AMONG VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
consultation with Rural Health Resource Centers of the Office of Rural 
Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall commence the 
conduct of a study on the connection between living at high altitude 
and the risk of developing depression or dying by suicide among 
veterans.
    (b) Completion of Study.--The study conducted under subsection (a) 
shall be completed not later than three years after the date of the 
commencement of the study.
    (c) Individual Impact.--The study conducted under subsection (a) 
shall be conducted so as to determine the effect of high altitude on 
suicide risk at the individual level, not at the State or county level, 
controlling for potential confounders including with respect to age, 
sex, mental health status, and access to firearms.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 150 days after the completion of the 
study conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
results of the study.
    (e) Follow-Up Study.--
            (1) In general.--If the Secretary determines through the 
        study conducted under subsection (a) that living at high 
        altitude is a risk factor for developing depression or dying by 
        suicide, the Secretary shall conduct an additional study to 
        identify the following:
                    (A) The most likely biological mechanism that makes 
                living at high altitude a risk factor for developing 
                depression or dying by suicide.
                    (B) The most effective treatment or intervention 
                for reducing the risk of developing depression or dying 
                by suicide associated with living at high altitude.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 150 days after completing the 
        study conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit 
        to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        a report on the results of the study.
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