“Calling it a crucial step to stem veterans suicide, top Veterans Affairs leaders have mounted an intense pressure campaign against a House Democratic committee leader to force a quick vote on legislation that would allow outside groups to provide some mental health intervention at taxpayer expense.”
“The effort has included personal lobbying from VA Secretary Robert Wilkie on behalf of the bill, unusual given the small, focused scope of the proposal and the high-level involvement in legislative process minutia.”
“But Wilkie, in a call with Military Times prompted by VA on the topic, said the moves are needed because of the importance of finding new suicide prevention solutions.”
“’We have an opportunity to get this all done before Christmas, to get started on helping veterans with this plan quickly,’ he said. ‘But now, given what the majority (House Democrats) are doing, we’re at a standstill.’”
“House Veterans Affairs Committee leaders dispute that, saying the secretary is interfering with normal negotiations over bill language and drafting…”
“At issue is a measure pending since this summer dubbed the IMPROVE Act, which would create a three-year pilot program awarding grants to community groups to provide direct outreach to veterans with mental-health struggles and little or no connection to traditional VA programs…” Read the full article here.
Source: Veterans suicide prevention proposal turns into bitter fight between Congress and VA – By Leo Shane III, November 25, 2019. Military Times.
