Bill Summary
The "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act" is legislation aimed at enhancing and extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, a key initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Act extends the program's authorization until September 30, 2026, allowing for continued funding and support.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Emergent Suicide Care**: The Act mandates that eligible individuals receiving suicide prevention services must be informed about their potential eligibility for immediate suicide care. It also requires the VA to treat individuals as eligible for such care if the VA fails to provide services within 72 hours of a referral.
2. **Funding**: The legislation reauthorizes a total of $174 million for the grant program for fiscal years 2021-2025 and includes an additional $52.5 million for fiscal year 2026.
3. **Eligibility Requirements**: The Act clarifies the criteria for eligible entities seeking grants, emphasizing that they must have a consistent history of providing mental health care or support services.
4. **Adaptive Prosthetics**: The legislation expands the definition of medical services provided to veterans to include adaptive prosthetics and devices for recreational activities.
5. **Pension Payment Limits**: The Act extends certain limits on pension payment dates to January 30, 2033.
Overall, the "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act" seeks to improve access to mental health support for veterans, ensure timely care, and promote the well-being of veterans through enhanced funding and services.
Possible Impacts
The "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act" can have several significant impacts on individuals, particularly veterans and their families. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Access to Mental Health Services**: The reauthorization and improvement of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program will provide more funding and resources for organizations that offer mental health care and suicide prevention services for veterans. This can lead to an increase in the availability of critical mental health support, thereby helping veterans who are struggling with suicidal thoughts or other mental health issues to receive timely care before their situations escalate.
2. **Emergency Suicide Care Notification**: The act requires that eligible entities notify individuals about their potential eligibility for emergent suicide care if they receive suicide prevention services. This means that veterans will be better informed about the options available to them in a crisis, which can facilitate quicker access to life-saving emergency care. This proactive approach can help ensure that veterans are not left to navigate their mental health crises alone, ultimately reducing the risk of suicide.
3. **Enhanced Support for Adaptive Recreational Activities**: By including provisions for adaptive prostheses and terminal devices for sports and recreational activities in the medical services offered to eligible veterans, the act promotes not only physical rehabilitation but also mental well-being through engagement in recreational activities. This can improve the quality of life for veterans with disabilities, encourage social interaction, and foster a sense of community, which are all vital for mental health and overall recovery.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1969 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1969
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide
Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Wrong Door for Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STAFF SERGEANT PARKER GORDON
FOX SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Duration.--Section 201 of the Commander John Scott Hannon
Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-
171; 38 U.S.C. 1720F note) is amended, in subsection (j), by striking
``the date that is three years after the date on which the first grant
is awarded under this section'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.
(b) Emergent Suicide Care.--Such section is further amended--
(1) in subsection (m)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4);
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following
new paragraph (3):
``(3) Emergent suicide care.--In the case of an eligible
individual who receives suicide prevention services provided or
coordinated by an eligible entity in receipt of a grant under
this section, the eligible entity shall notify--
``(A) the eligible individual that the individual
may be eligible for emergent suicide care under section
1720J of title 38, United States Code; and
``(B) the Secretary, if an eligible individual
notified under subparagraph (A) elects to receive such
emergent suicide care.''; and
(C) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by
striking ``(1) or (2)'' and inserting ``(1), (2), or
(3)''; and
(2) in subsection (n)--
(A) by inserting ``(1) In general.--'' before
``When'' and adjusting the margins accordingly; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(2) Time frame.--If the Secretary does not provide
services under paragraph (1) to an eligible individual during
the 72-hour period following a referral under subsection (m),
such eligible individual shall be treated as eligible for
emergent suicide care under section 1720J of title 38, United
States Code.''.
(c) Reauthorization.--Such section is further amended, in
subsection (p)--
(1) by striking ``section a total of $174,000,000 for
fiscal years 2021 through 2025.'' and inserting ``section--'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(1) a total of $174,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through
2025; and
``(2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2026.''.
(d) Requirements for Eligible Entities.--Such section is further
amended, in subsection (q)(3)--
(1) by inserting ``an entity that has continuously provided
mental health care or support services in the United States
during the two-year period before the date on which the entity
applies for a grant under this section and that is'' after
``means'';
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or foundation'' and
inserting ``, foundation, or health care provider''; and
(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``A'' and inserting
``a''.
(e) Technical Correction to Definitions.--Such section is further
amended, in subsection (q)(5), by striking ``Medical services'' and
inserting ``The term `emergency treatment' means medical services''.
(f) Required Use of Certain Screening Protocol.--Such section is
further amended, in subsection (q)(11)(A)(ii), by inserting after
``risk'' the following: ``, which in the case of a grant made on or
after the date of the enactment of the No Wrong Door for Veterans Act,
shall be the Columbia Protocol (also known as the Columbia-Suicide
Severity Rating Scale)''.
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF ADAPTIVE PROSTHESES AND TERMINAL DEVICES FOR
SPORTS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MEDICAL
SERVICES FURNISHED TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS BY THE SECRETARY
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 1701 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in
paragraph (6)(F)(i), by inserting ``(including adaptive prostheses and
terminal devices for sports and other recreational activities)'' after
``artificial limbs''.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting ``January 30, 2033''.
Passed the House of Representatives May 22 (legislative day
May 21), 2025.
Attest:
Clerk.
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1969
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide
Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.