Jackson Free Press

Please contact your U.S. representative and ask him to vote for HR 327. If you haven't already, read the story of Jonathan Schulze and you will see how important this legislation is.

(verbatim - from email)

This week the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 327). SPAN USA encourages you to contact your U.S. Representative and ask him/her to vote for the bill when it comes up for a vote later this week. To find your representative and his/her phone number, simply enter your zip code in the box provided. You will be provided the Washington, DC phone number and a sample message to use when you reach the office.

On March 15, the House Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee unanimously passed the bill. A companion bill (S. 479) by the same name was introduced on February 1st by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA). The Senate bill currently has 10 cosponsors.

Both bills direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. The bill would also make available a 24-hour mental health care (sic) for veterans found to be at risk for suicide and develop an outreach and education program for veterans and their families to recognize readjustment problems and promote mental health.

Please go here to contact your representative. Thank you.

Previous Comments

ID

110750

Comment

Good news: On March 21, the House passed the bill with a vote of 423-0. Thanks for your support. However, I need one more favor from you. The Senate's version of the same bill, S. 479, was introduced in February, but no action has been taken on it so far. Please go here to find out how to ask your Senators to cosponsor the bill.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-03-22T10:00:25-06:00