Senate to vote on military suicide bill next week

The Senate is expected to vote Monday night on a bill to prevent suicide among veterans after the bill stalled in the upper chamber late last year.

The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act already unanimously passed the House earlier this month and is expected the easily clear the Senate. The bill would establish annual reviews of the VA’s suicide prevention programs, require the VA to partner with outside mental health groups and provide tuition help to fill the shortage of mental health professionals.

“I’m pleased the Senate will act quickly to take up and pass my bipartisan legislation,” said Rep. Tim Walz, Minnesota Democrat and sponsor of the bill. “This bill is an important first step to improve mental health care for our warriors.”

The legislation is named after Clay Hunt, a Marine who committed suicide after struggling to receive care at the VA.

The bill stalled in the Senate in December when outgoing Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, argued that it duplicated tools the VA already had to prevent suicide.

Suicide among veterans continues to be a top concern for those who’ve served recently, according to an annual poll conducted by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Some estimates show that 22 veterans a day die by suicide.