Veteran Suicide Prevention Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6858
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:09:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Veteran Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 6858) aims to address veteran suicide by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to examine recent cases of veteran deaths by suicide. The goal is to identify patterns, particularly related to VA-prescribed medications, and recommend improvements to enhance veteran safety and mental health care.
Key Provisions
- Required Review: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must complete a comprehensive review within 18 months of the bill's enactment, covering all "covered veterans" (those who received VA hospital care or medical services in the five years before their death) who died by suicide in the five years prior to enactment.
- Elements of the Review:
- Total number of such suicides.
- Demographic summary (age, gender, race).
- List of medications prescribed by or found in the veterans' systems at death, with emphasis on those with "black box warnings" (strong FDA alerts for serious risks, like death or injury), off-label uses (prescribed for unapproved purposes), psychotropic drugs (affecting mood or behavior), or warnings about suicidal thoughts.
- Medical diagnoses by VA doctors that led to these prescriptions.
- Cases where veterans were on multiple VA-prescribed medications at once.
- Percentage of cases where no VA-prescribed medications were involved.
- Percentage of veterans with combat experience or trauma (e.g., military sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, or post-traumatic stress disorder).
- VA facilities with unusually high rates of prescriptions and suicides among treated patients.
- Overview of VA policies on prescribing these medications.
- Any identified patterns from the data.
- Recommendations for actions to better protect veterans' safety and well-being.
- Reporting Requirements: Within 30 days of completing the review, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress and make it publicly available.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new mandate for a one-time, detailed VA review of veteran suicides, which does not appear to exist in current law. It focuses specifically on linking suicide data to VA medical practices, such as prescribing habits, without altering broader suicide prevention programs or medication regulations directly.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The VA will face resource demands to compile and analyze data from medical records, potentially leading to internal policy reviews or adjustments in prescribing practices. Congress may use the report to inform future funding or legislation on veteran mental health.
- Citizens (Veterans and Families): Could result in safer medication protocols and better-targeted suicide prevention, indirectly benefiting the estimated 18 million U.S. veterans by highlighting risks in VA care.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill is domestic and focused on U.S. veterans.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans and Their Families: Primary beneficiaries, as the review targets improving mental health support for those receiving VA services.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for conducting the review, reporting findings, and potentially implementing recommendations; includes VA doctors, facilities, and administrators.
- Congress: Receives the report to guide oversight and policy-making on veteran affairs.
- Healthcare Providers: VA physicians and pharmacists may see changes in prescribing guidelines based on the review's outcomes.
- Public and Advocacy Groups: Gain access to the public report, enabling broader awareness and advocacy for veteran suicide prevention.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill raises potential privacy concerns under laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as it involves reviewing sensitive medical and death records, though anonymized summaries may mitigate this. It does not create new enforcement mechanisms but could prompt future regulations on VA prescribing.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; aligns with Congress's authority to oversee federal agencies like the VA under Article I.
- Political: Highlights ongoing bipartisan concern for veteran mental health (introduced by members from both parties), potentially influencing election-year debates on VA funding and suicide rates, which exceed 6,000 annually among veterans. The public report could pressure the VA for transparency and accountability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Veteran Suicide Prevention Act — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (4 pages)