Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act

Bill: 118-hr-3722
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
Introduced: 2023-05-25
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Crime victims

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health information and medical records

Health promotion and preventive care

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Mental health

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents

Neurological disorders

Sex offenses

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2024-04-30
text: Received in the Senate.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to jointly carry out a five-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing certain services and a module comprised of specified elements as part of the pre-separation transition process for members of the Armed Forces for the purpose of reducing the incidence of suicide among veterans.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3722 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 30, 2024 Received AN ACT To require a pilot program on activities under the pre-separation transition process of members of the Armed Forces for a reduction in suicide among veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act . 2. Addressing mental health issues in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense and the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (5), by inserting (11), before and (16) ; and (2) by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following: (11) Information concerning mental health, including— (A) the availability of mental health services furnished by the Secretary concerned, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or a non-profit entity; (B) the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, sleep disorders, suicidal ideation, or other mental health conditions associated with service in the armed forces; (C) the risk of suicide, including signs, symptoms, and risk factors (including adverse childhood experiences, depression, bipolar disorder, homelessness, unemployment, and relationship strain); (D) the availability of treatment options and resources to address substance abuse, including alcohol, prescription drug, and opioid abuse; (E) the potential effects of the loss of community and support systems experienced by a member separating from the armed forces; (F) isolation from family, friends, or society; and (G) the potential stressors associated with separation from the armed forces. . (b) Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs Section 6320(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as subparagraphs (I) and (J), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new subparagraphs: (G) assisting eligible veterans who elect to enroll in the system of patient enrollment under section 1705(a) of this title; (H) educating veterans about mental health and counseling services available through the Veterans Health Administration; . (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the information and materials developed pursuant to the amendments made by this Act. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.

Passed the House of Representatives April 29, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3722 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require a pilot program on activities under the pre-separation transition process of members of the Armed Forces for a reduction in suicide among veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act . 2. Addressing mental health issues in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense and the Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (5), by inserting (11), before and (16) ; and (2) by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following: (11) Information concerning mental health, including— (A) the availability of mental health services furnished by the Secretary concerned, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or a non-profit entity; (B) the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain, sleep disorders, suicidal ideation, or other mental health conditions associated with service in the armed forces; (C) the risk of suicide, including signs, symptoms, and risk factors (including adverse childhood experiences, depression, bipolar disorder, homelessness, unemployment, and relationship strain); (D) the availability of treatment options and resources to address substance abuse, including alcohol, prescription drug, and opioid abuse; (E) the potential effects of the loss of community and support systems experienced by a member separating from the armed forces; (F) isolation from family, friends, or society; and (G) the potential stressors associated with separation from the armed forces. . (b) Solid Start program of the Department of Veterans Affairs Section 6320(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as subparagraphs (I) and (J), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new subparagraphs: (G) assisting eligible veterans who elect to enroll in the system of patient enrollment under section 1705(a) of this title; (H) educating veterans about mental health and counseling services available through the Veterans Health Administration; . (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the information and materials developed pursuant to the amendments made by this Act. (d) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.

Passed the House of Representatives April 29, 2024. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3722 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 25, 2023 Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Magaziner , Mrs. Miller-Meeks , Mr. Davis of North Carolina , and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia ) 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 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require a pilot program on activities under the pre-separation transition process of members of the Armed Forces for a reduction in suicide among veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act . 2. Pilot program on activities under the pre-separation transition process of members of the Armed Forces for a reduction in suicide among veterans (a) Pilot program required The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing the module described in subsection (b) and services under subsection (c) as part of the pre-separation transition process for members of the Armed Forces as a means of reducing the incidence of suicide among veterans. (b) Module (1) In general The module described in this subsection shall include the following: (A) An in-person meeting between a cohort of members of the Armed Forces participating in the pilot program and a social worker or nurse in which the social worker or nurse— (i) educates the cohort on resources for and specific potential risks confronting such members after discharge or release from the Armed Forces, including— (I) loss of community or a support system; (II) isolation from family, friends, or society; (III) identity crisis in the transition from military to civilian life; (IV) vulnerability viewed as a weakness; (V) need for empathy; (VI) self-medication and addiction; (VII) importance of sleep and exercise; (VIII) homelessness; and (IX) risk factors contributing to attempts of suicide and deaths by suicide; (ii) educates the cohort on— (I) the signs and symptoms of suicide risk and physical, psychological, or neurological issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, sleep disorders, substance use disorders, adverse childhood experiences, depression, bipolar disorder, and socio-ecological concerns, such as homelessness, unemployment, and relationship strain; (II) the potential risks for members of the Armed Forces from such issues after discharge or release from the Armed Forces; and (III) the resources and treatment options available to such members for such issues through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and non-profit organizations; (iii) educates the cohort about the resources available to victims of military sexual trauma through the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (iv) educates the cohort about the manner in which members might experience challenges during the transition from military to civilian life, and the resources available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and other organizations. (B) The provision to each member of the cohort of contact information for a counseling or other appropriate facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the locality in which such member intends to reside after discharge or release. (C) The submittal by each member of the cohort to the Department of Veterans Affairs (including both the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration) of their medical records in connection with service in the Armed Forces, whether or not such members intend to file a claim with the Department for benefits with respect to any service-connected disability. (2) Composition of cohort Each cohort participating in the module described in this subsection shall be comprised of not fewer than 50 individuals. (c) Services In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to each individual participating in the pilot program the following services: (1) During the transition process and prior to discharge or release from the Armed Forces, a one-on-one meeting with a social worker or nurse of the Department of Veterans Affairs who will— (A) conduct an assessment of the individual regarding eligibility to receive health care or counseling services from the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (B) for those eligible, or likely to be eligible, to receive health care or counseling services from the Department of Veterans Affairs— (i) identify and provide contact information for an appropriate facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the locality in which such individual intends to reside after discharge or release; (ii) facilitate registration or enrollment in the system of patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, if applicable; (iii) educate the individual about care, benefits, and services available to the individual through the Veterans Health Administration; and (iv) coordinate health care based on the health care needs of the individual, if applicable, to include establishing an initial appointment, at the election of the individual, to occur not later than 90 days after the date of discharge or release of the member from the Armed Forces. (2) For each individual determined ineligible for care and services from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the transition process, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an assessment of the individual to determine the needs of the individual and appropriate follow-up, which shall be identified and documented in the appropriate records of the Department of Defense. (3) During the appointment scheduled pursuant to paragraph (1)(B)(iv), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an assessment of the individual to determine the needs of the individual and appropriate follow-up, which shall be identified and documented in the appropriate records of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (d) Locations (1) Module and meeting The module under subsection (b) and the one-on-one meeting under subsection (c)(1) shall be carried out at not fewer than 10 locations of the Department of Defense that serve not fewer than 300 members of the Armed Forces annually that are jointly selected by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of the pilot program. (2) Assessment and appointment The assessment under subsection (c)(2) and the appointment under subsection (c)(3) may occur at any location determined appropriate by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as the case may be. (3) Members served The locations selected under paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, be locations that, whether individually or in aggregate, serve all the Armed Forces and both the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces. (e) Selection and commencement The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly select the locations of the pilot program under subsection (d)(1) and commence carrying out activities under the pilot program by not later than September 30, 2024. (f) Duration The duration of the pilot program shall be five years. (g) Reports (1) In general Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot program, and annually thereafter during the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the activities under the pilot program. (2) Elements Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The demographic information of the members and former members of the Armed Forces who participated in the pilot program during the one-year period ending on the date of such report. (B) A description of the activities under the pilot program during such period. (C) An assessment of the benefits of the activities under the pilot program during such period to members and former members of the Armed Forces. (D) An assessment of whether the activities under the pilot program as of the date of such report have met the targeted outcomes of the pilot program among members and former members who participated in the pilot program within one year of discharge or release from the Armed Forces. (E) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly consider appropriate regarding the feasibility and advisability of expansion of the pilot program, extension of the pilot program, or both. (h) Appropriate committees of congress defined In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.