TREA: The Enlisted Association Blog

The House of Representatives on May 21, 2019 passed nine pieces of legislation concerning the Department of Veterans Affairs, five of which focus specifically on suicide prevention.

• HR 2359, Whole Veteran Act: VA to report to Congress on advancing the Whole Health model of providing care.
• HR 1812, Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act: expand eligibility for Vet Center services to veterans of the reserve components who were called up in response to disaster or humanitarian missions or drug interdiction.
• HR 1947, To amend title 38, United States Code, to exempt transfers of funds from Federal agencies to the Department of Veterans Affairs for nonprofit corporations established under subchapter IV of chapter 73 of such title from certain provisions of the Economy Act.
• HR 2326, Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer William Bill Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2019: improve the transition services provided to service members as they prepare to leave the military.
• HR 2333, Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act: assess the responsibilities, workload and vacancy rates of the VA's suicide prevention coordinators.
• HR 2340, FIGHT Veteran Suicide Act: VA to notify Congress of any suicide or attempted suicide in a VA facility.
• HR 1200, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019: increase COLA rates, as of Dec. 1, 2019.
• HR 2372, Veterans' Care Quality Transparency Act: conduct an assessment of all memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement between the VA and non-VA entities concerning suicide prevention and mental health services.
• HR 2045, Veterans' Education, Transition and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019: create the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration and Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition in the VA.

 All nine bills were referred to the Senate and TREA will continue to monitor their progress and provide updates as actions take place.
Click on the link below for the May 20, 2019 newsletter for more details on each legislative proposal.
• Full House expected to vote this week on several Veterans-related bills