,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ibh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #bb1 #bjbc,mr4    
,te/] 7= himself & ,mr4 ,boozman7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
require ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
to prep>e an annual report on suicide   
prev5tion1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort 
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,n ,j a 
,numb] ,act4  #b4 ,national ,vet]an     
,suicide ,prev5tion ,annual ,report  7a7
 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & n lat]  
?an ,septemb] #cj ( ea* ye> !reaft]1 !  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
submit to ! appropriate committees (    
,congress & publi% on a publicly        
available website ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs a report to be kn[n z 
! ,national ,vet]an ,suicide ,prev5tion 
,annual ,report4  7b7 ,ext5sion  7#a7 ,9
 g5]al ,if ! ,secret>y requires an      
ext5sion ( ! deadl9e = a report "u      

subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all submit 
to ! appropriate committees ( ,congress 
a writt5 reque/ = su* an ext5sion4  7#b7
 ,elem5ts ,ea* writt5 reque/ "u p>agraph
 7#a7 = an ext5sion = a report %all     
include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,! rationale = ! 
delay 9 submitt+ ! report4  7,b7 ,an    
explanation ( ! ne$ = an ext5sion4  7,c7
 ,a propos$ am5d$ date = ! submittal &  
publication ( ! report4  7c7 ,brief+    
,be=e submitt+ a report "u subsection   
7a71 ! ,secret>y %all brief !           
appropriate committees ( ,congress on ! 
report4  7d7 ,elem5ts ( report  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,ea* report "u subsection 7a7 %all
 include ! f9d+s ( ! national analysis (
 vet]an suicide rates = ! late/ ye> data
 is available & %all include tr5ds &    
comp>isons to previ\s ye>s4  7#b7       
,additional elem5ts ,ea* report "u      
subsection 7a7 %all include1 = ! ye>    
cov]$ by ! report1 ! foll[+3 7,a7       
,suicide rates ( vet]ans disaggregat$ by
 age1 g5d]1 & race or e?nicity4  7,b7   
,tr5ds 9 suicide rates ( vet]ans comp>$ 

to engagem5t ( ^? vet]ans ) heal? c>e f 
! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration1 includ+
 an exam9ation ( tr5ds 9 suicide rates  
or dea?s among-- 7i7 vet]ans :o h       
rec5tly receiv$ heal? c>e f ! ,vet]ans  
,heal? ,adm9i/ration z comp>$ to vet]ans
 :o h nev] receiv$ heal? c>e f !        
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration2  7ii7    
vet]ans :o are enroll$ 9 ! pati5t       
enrollm5t sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs "u section #agje7;a7 ( title  
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z comp>$ to   
vet]ans :o h nev] enroll$ 9 su* sy/em2  
7iii7 vet]ans :o h rec5tly us$ s]vices f
 a ,vet ,c5t] z comp>$ to vet]ans :o h  
nev] us$ su* s]vices2  7iv7 vet]ans :o h
 a diagnosis ( sub/ance use disord]2 &  
7v7 o!r gr\ps ( vet]ans relat+ to       
engagem5t ) heal? c>e f ! ,vet]ans      
,heal? ,adm9i/ration1 z ! ,secret>y     
consid]s practicable4  7,c7 ,tr5ds 9    
suicide rates ( vet]ans comp>$ to       
engagem5t ( ^? vet]ans ) b5efits f !    
,vet]ans ,b5efits ,adm9i/ration1 includ+
 an exam9ation ( tr5ds 9 suicide rates  

or dea?s among-- 7i7 vet]ans :o are     
curr5tly us+1 h previ\sly us$1 or h nev]
 us$ educational assi/ance "u ! laws    
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y2  7ii7 vet]ans  
:o are curr5tly receiv+1 h previ\sly    
receiv$1 or h nev] receiv$ s]vices or   
assi/ance "u *apt] #ca ( title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code2  7iii7 ) respect to
 comp5sation "u *apt] #aa ( su* title-- 
7,i7 vet]ans :o 7 recipi5ts ( su*       
comp5sation z comp>$ to vet]ans :o nev] 
appli$ = su* comp5sation prior to dea?2 
7,,ii7 vet]ans :o _h a claim d5i$ = su* 
comp5sation prior to dea?2  7,,iii7     
vet]ans :o _h a p5d+ claim = su*        
comp5sation at "t ( dea?2 &  7,,iv7     
vet]ans :o _h an entitlem5t = su*       
comp5sation r$uc$ prior to dea?2  7iv7  
vet]ans :o are curr5tly receiv+ or h    
nev] receiv$ p5sion "u *apt] #ae ( title
 #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2  7v7 vet]ans 
:o are curr5tly us+1 h previ\sly us$1 or
 h nev] us$ programs or s]vices provid$ 
by ! ,homeless ,programs ,(fice ( !     
,dep>tm5t1 includ+ an exam9ation ( tr5ds

 9 suicide rates or dea?s among vet]ans 
:o made contact ) su* (fice b 7 d5i$ or 
deem$ ineligible = any su* program or   
s]vice2  7vi7 ) respect to h\s+ loans   
gu>ante$ by ! ,secret>y "u *apt] #cg (  
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code-- 7,i7   
vet]ans :o appli$ = su* a loan1 :e!r _! 
application 0 accept$ or n2  7,,ii7     
vet]ans :o are curr5t recipi5ts (1 7    
previ\sly recipi5ts (1 or h nev] receiv$
 su* a loan2 &  7,,iii7 vet]ans :o 7    
turn$ d[n = su* a loan by a l5d]2  7vii7
 ) respect to f9ancial h>d%ips-- 7,i7   
vet]ans fac+ heal? c>e debts2  7,,ii7   
vet]ans ow+ debts to ! ,dep>tm5t2       
7,,iii7 vet]ans ow+ debts to =-pr(it    
bus9esses assi/+ vet]ans ) claims =     
b5efits "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !         
,secret>y2 &  7,,iv7 vet]ans fac+       
=eclosure or bankruptcy2  7viii7 vet]ans
 :o 7 involv$ 9 a vet]ans treatm5t c\rt 
program1 :e!r !y graduat$ successfully  
or n2 &  7ix7 vet]ans :o 7 successfully 
contact$1 unsuccessfully contact$1 or   
nev] contact$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ?r\gh !    

,solid ,/>t program "u section #fcbj (  
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#c7   
,/rategy & recomm5dations  7,a7 ,initial
 report ,! initial report "u subsection 
7a7 %all include a /rategy &            
recomm5dations develop$ by ! ,secret>y (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs1 9 collaboration ) ! 
,director ( ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control
 & ,prev5tion & ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se1  
=-- 7i7 improv+ data collection at !    
,/ate & local levels to accurately      
capture suicide dea?s ( vet]ans2  7ii7  
improv+ ! timel9ess1 efficacy1 &        
/&>dization ( data report+ on suicide   
dea?s ( vet]ans at ! ,f$]al level1      
includ+ by ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control 
& ,prev5tion1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se1 & !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs2  7iii7  
improv+ ! timel9ess ( id5tification &   
analysis ( suicide dea?s ( vet]ans by   
,f$]al ag5cies1 includ+ ! ,c5t]s =      
,disease ,control & ,prev5tion1 !       
,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se1 & ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs2 &  7iv7 any o!r      
necess>y process improvem5ts = improv+ !

 timel9ess1 efficacy1 & /&>dization (   
report+ ( data relat+ to suicide dea?s (
 vet]ans1 p>ticul>ly ) respect to !     
annual report "u ?is section4  7,b7     
,subsequ5t reports ,ea* report aft] !   
initial report "u subsection 7a7 %all   
include updates on actions tak5 to meet 
! /rategy & recomm5dations develop$ "u  
subp>agraph 7,a74  7e7 ,def9itions ,9   
?is section3 7#a7 ,appropriate          
committees ( ,congress ,! t]m           
appropriate committees ( ,congress means
 ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! 
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4   
7#b7 ,vet c5t] ,! t]m ,vet ,c5t] means a
 c5t] = readju/m5t c\nsel+ & relat$     
m5tal heal? s]vices = vet]ans "u section
 #agab;,a ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code4  #c4 ,report on additional       
b5efits & s]vices f ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans
 ,affairs to prev5t vet]an suicide  7a7 
,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an ?ree ye>s aft] !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      

submit to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on   
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives & publi% on a publicly  
available website ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs a report t analyzes   
:i* b5efits & s]vices f ! ,dep>tm5t1    
includ+ ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits             
,adm9i/ration1 h ! greate/ impact on    
prev5tion ( suicide among vet]ans1      
includ+ recomm5dations = pot5tial       
expansion ( s]vices & b5efits to r$uce !
 numb] ( vet]an suicides4  7b7          
,assessm5t ( ,solid ,/>t program ,!     
report requir$ by subsection 7a7 %all   
include an analysis ( ! effectiv5ess ( !
 ,solid ,/>t program "u section #fcbj ( 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 on      
prev5tion ( suicide among vet]ans4  #d4 
,toolkit = ,/ate & local coron]s &      
m$ical exam9]s on be/ practices =       
id5tify+ & report+ on suicide dea?s (   
vet]ans  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (    
,vet]ans ,affairs1 9 collaboration ) !  
,director ( ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control

 & ,prev5tion1 %all develop a toolkit = 
,/ate & local coron]s & m$ical exam9]s t
 conta9s be/ practices =-- 7#a7         
accurately id5tify+ & report+ suicide   
dea?s ( vet]ans1 includ+ h[ to id5tify  
vet]an /atus2 &  7#b7 report+ su* dea?s 
to ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control &       
,prev5tion & o!r applicable entities4   
7b7 ,availability ,n lat] ?an two ye>s  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,secret>y %all make ! toolkit develop$  
"u subsection 7a7 available on a        
publicly available website ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7c7 ,outrea* ,!  
,secret>y1 9 collaboration ) ! ,director
 ( ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control &       
,prev5tion1 %all conduct outrea* to     
appropriate ,/ate & local ag5cies to    
promote ! availability & use ( ! toolkit
 develop$ "u subsection 7a74  #e4 ,/udy 
on feasibility & advisability ( creat+ a
 suicide prev5tion (fice ( ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,aft] !
 submittal by ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates to ! ,committee on        

,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !       
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives ( ! managem5t   
review requir$ "u section #djc ( !      
,comm&] ,john ,scott ,hannon ,vet]ans   
,m5tal ,heal? ,c>e ,improvem5t ,act (   
#bjai 7,public ,law #aaf-aga2 #acd ,/at4
 #haj71 :i* requir$ a managem5t review (
 ! m5tal heal? & suicide prev5tion      
s]vices provid$ by ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs1 ! ,secret>y (        
,vet]ans ,affairs %all-- 7#a7 review !  
f9d+s & recomm5dations ( ! managem5t    
review2 &  7#b7 conduct a /udy on !     
feasibility & advisability ( creat+ a   
suicide prev5tion (fice ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs at ! level ( ! ,(fice 
( ! ,secret>y t w\ld elevate suicide    
prev5tion z a top priority across !     
entire ,dep>tm5t1 includ+ ) respect to !
 "w & programs ( ! ,vet]ans ,b5efits    
,adm9i/ration & "u p>tn]%ips ) o!r      
entities1 includ+ o!r ,f$]al ag5cies &  
non-gov]nm5tal p>tn]s4  7b7 ,report to  
,congress  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an two

 ye>s aft] ! submittal by ! ,comptroll] 
,g5]al ( ! managem5t review describ$ 9  
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all submit 
to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( 
! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report summ>iz+-- 7,a7 any actions      
plann$ or tak51 includ+ reorganizations 
or *anges to report+ or gov]nance       
/ructures1 9 response to ! managem5t    
review1 includ+ any completion dates or 
t>get$ completion dates = any su*       
actions2 &  7,b7 ! results ( ! /udy     
requir$ "u subsection 7a77#b71 :i* %all 
include an exam9ation ( ! consid]ations 
= creat+ a suicide prev5tion (fice ( !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs at ! level
 ( ! ,(fice ( ! ,secret>y1 includ+-- 7i7
 b5efits & pot5tial drawbacks2  7ii7    
project$ co/s & /aff+ ne$s1 includ+ new 
full-"t equival5t employees & transf]r$ 
full-"t equival5t employees2 &  7iii7   
sugge/$ organizational & lead]%ip       
/ructure & pr9cipal activities &        
functions ( ! suicide prev5tion (fice4  

7#b7 ,recomm5dations reg>d+ organization
 & lead]%ip /ructure ,9 provid+         
sugge/ions = organizational & lead]%ip  
/ructure "u ! report "u p>agraph        
7#a77;,b77iii71 ! ,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 
assess :e!r ! suicide prev5tion (fice ( 
! ,dep>tm5t %\ld be l$ by a political   
appo9tee1 a c>e] employee 9 a ,s5ior    
,executive ,s]vice position 7z def9$ 9  
section #cacb ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code7 or equival5t1 or ano!r position  
type2 &  7,b7 detail :i* functions w\ld 
rema9 9 ! curr5t ,(fice ( ,m5tal ,heal? 
& ,suicide ,prev5tion ( ! ,vet]ans      
,heal? ,adm9i/ration1 includ+ an        
assessm5t ( :]e managem5t ( ! ,vet]ans  
,crisis ,l9e "u section #agbj;,f7h7 (   
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 %\ld    
reside4