Veterans suicide prevention proposal turns into bitter fight between Congress and VA – By Leo Shane III (Military Times) / Nov 25 2019
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. In a statement, committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., said he remains “committed to reaching a bipartisan compromise on legislation to prevent veteran suicide before the Christmas break.”
Continue to article: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/11/25/veterans-suicide-prevention-proposal-turns-into-bitter-fight-between-congress-and-va/
House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., walks through the Capitol in March. The chairman is caught in an escalating fight with Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie over controversial suicide prevention legislation. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
