Title: Fostering Intergovernmental Health Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Fostering Intergovernmental Health Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act or FIGHT Veteran Suicides Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to notify Congress following a suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran that occurs in a VA facility. Specifically, the VA must provide the name and location of the facility and also specific information regarding the veteran who committed or attempted suicide. The VA is required to include in each notification (1) guidance to deter the sensationalism of suicide, (2) guidance for identifying warning signs exhibited by veterans at risk of suicide, and (3) information on the resources available from the VA to veterans at risk of suicide.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2340 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2340

  To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to Congress 
notice of any suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran in a Department 
         of Veterans Affairs facility, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 18, 2019

Mr. Rose of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to Congress 
notice of any suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran in a Department 
         of Veterans Affairs facility, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Fostering Intergovernmental Health 
Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act'' or ``FIGHT Veteran Suicides 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE OF SUICIDES AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDES OF 
              VETERANS IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.

    Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Congressional Notice Requirements.--(1) In the case of the 
suicide or attempted suicide of any veteran that occurs in, or on the 
grounds of, a Department facility, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives and the Senator and member of Congress representing the 
district in which the facility is located the following notices:
            ``(A) Not later than seven days after the date on which the 
        suicide or attempted suicide occurs, notice of--
                    ``(i) the suicide or attempted suicide; and
                    ``(ii) the name of the facility and location where 
                the suicide or attempted suicide occurred.
            ``(B) Not later than 60 days after such date, notice of the 
        following information regarding the veteran who committed or 
        attempted to commit suicide:
                    ``(i) The enrollment status of the veteran with 
                respect to the patient enrollment system of the 
                Department under section 1705 of this title.
                    ``(ii) The most recent encounter between the 
                veteran and any employee or facility of the Veterans 
                Health Administration before the suicide or attempted 
                suicide occurred.
                    ``(iii) Whether the veteran had private medical 
                insurance.
                    ``(iv) The Armed Force in which the veteran served.
                    ``(v) The time period when the veteran served in 
                the Armed Forces.
                    ``(vi) The age of the veteran.
                    ``(vii) The marital status of the veteran.
                    ``(viii) The employment status of the veteran.
                    ``(ix) The housing status of the veteran.
                    ``(x) Confirmation that the Secretary has provided 
                notice to the immediate family members of the veteran 
                regarding any Department support or assistance for 
                which such family members may be eligible.
    ``(2) Each notice submitted under subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
paragraph (1) shall include a copy of guidance developed by the 
Secretary for purposes of dissemination that is designed to--
            ``(A) deter the sensationalism of suicide;
            ``(B) provide information regarding warning signs that are 
        often exhibited by veterans at risk of suicide; and
            ``(C) provide notice of the resources the Department offers 
        to veterans who may be at risk of suicide, including the 
        Veterans Crisis Line and readjustment counseling provided 
        through Vet Centers.''.
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