A bill to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Bill Number
- S. 793
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-09T03:26:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (S. 793) aims to update and extend the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which is part of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019. The program provides grants to eligible organizations to help prevent suicides among veterans and members of the Armed Forces, including through peer support and community outreach. The legislation modifies program rules, increases funding, and extends its duration to strengthen suicide prevention efforts.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Oversight: Allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to select appropriate entities for consultation on the program, replacing a specific reference to a now-defunct presidential task force.
- Grant Funding Limits: Sets the maximum amount for each grant at $1,250,000 (up from $750,000 previously).
- Evaluation and Accountability: Requires the development of additional performance measures and metrics to ensure the program meets its goals, provides transparency to Congress on fund use, and incorporates lessons from ongoing evaluations.
- Coordination with VA Facilities: Mandates annual briefings by the Secretary to staff at nearby Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers (within 100 miles of grant recipients) to foster better collaboration between grantees and VA services.
- Program Timeline: Extends the program's active period until September 30, 2028.
- Funding Authorization: Allocates $285,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to support the program.
- Eligibility Adjustments: Makes a minor technical correction to the definition of eligible individuals, updating a cross-reference in the law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Removes outdated references to the "President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide Task Force," giving the VA Secretary more flexibility in program administration.
- Increases the per-grant cap by nearly 67% to allow for larger-scale initiatives.
- Introduces new requirements for metrics and annual briefings, which were not previously mandated, to improve program effectiveness and local coordination.
- Shifts and expands funding: Replaces the prior $174,000,000 authorization for fiscal years 2021–2025 with a new $285,000,000 allocation for 2026–2028, effectively reauthorizing and boosting resources.
- Extends the sunset date from three years after the first grant to a fixed end in 2028, providing longer-term stability.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will receive increased funding and administrative flexibility, but also added responsibilities for evaluations, metrics, and briefings, potentially improving efficiency in suicide prevention while requiring more internal coordination.
- On Citizens: Veterans and active-duty service members at risk of suicide may benefit from expanded peer support, community programs, and better integration with VA healthcare, potentially reducing suicide rates through enhanced local services.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. veterans' affairs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans and Service Members: Primary beneficiaries, gaining access to more robust suicide prevention resources.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Responsible for administering grants, conducting briefings, and reporting to Congress; faces increased funding but also oversight duties.
- Grant Recipients: Non-profit organizations, state/local governments, and other eligible entities that receive funds for suicide prevention activities, now eligible for larger grants.
- Congress: Gains enhanced accountability through new metrics and reporting, influencing future funding decisions.
- Local VA Medical Centers: Required to participate in briefings, leading to improved partnerships with community grantees.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens accountability by mandating metrics tied to congressional oversight, ensuring federal funds are used effectively without altering core eligibility or grant criteria. The technical fix to eligibility references prevents potential legal ambiguities in implementation.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; the bill operates within Congress's authority under Article I to appropriate funds and regulate veterans' benefits, promoting the general welfare through mental health support.
- Political: Reauthorization signals bipartisan commitment (introduced by Senators from both parties) to veteran suicide prevention, a non-partisan priority. It could influence future VA budgets by demonstrating program value through expanded evaluations, but may spark debates on funding levels amid broader federal spending constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (4 pages)