Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement about the prospect for House passage of comprehensive veteran suicide prevention legislation this year:
“I was encouraged last night by Senator Moran’s announcement that he and Chairman Takano had reached a deal to secure House passage of S. 785 in exchange for Senate movement on a number of House bills. I hope that is the case as it is unquestionably the right thing to do for veterans. During today’s hearing, Chairman Takano equated House passage of the bipartisan S. 785, which is widely supported by veterans service organizations and others, to an “easier wrong” rather than the “harder right” he is pursuing. I’m baffled by that analysis. Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Tester did their job. So did the Senate. They achieved a bipartisan result that veterans service organizations, the Administration, and every United States Senator supports. That accomplishment can hardly be described as “easy,” let alone “wrong.” I call on Chairman Takano and Speaker Pelosi to move quickly to finalize a deal to send S. 785 to President Trump’s desk this month. Veterans deserve action and I hope that we can deliver for them in the extremely limited time we have left.”
If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, free, confidential support is available 24/7 by calling the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and pressing 1, texting 838-255, or visiting https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.
To read Ranking Member Roe’s recent op-ed to commence Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and encourage House passage of S. 785, click here.
To read the letter Ranking Member Roe sent to Speaker Pelosi requesting that S. 785 be brought to the House floor for a vote, click here.
