U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski will attend a signing ceremony at the White House today for a bill she cosponsored. The Clay Hunt SAV Act provides greater access to mental health care for military veterans. It’s named in honor of Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran Clay Hunt, who committed suicide after battling with post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by his service overseas. He sought care from the VA and received a 30 percent disability rating for his PTSD. He appealed and encountered administrative obstacles, including the VA losing his files. Hunt took his life weeks later, and five weeks after his death his appeal was approved.
The bill requires suicide prevention programs within the Defense Department and VA be evaluated by a third party, examines which mental health programs need to be improves, requires establishment of a website focused on veterans mental health and encourages improved collaboration between the VA and outside veterans advocacy groups.
Find more information online at http://iava.org/savact/.
