Reps. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.) and Rush Holt (D-N.J.) led a bipartisan effort on Thursday to continue funding for programs that help prevent suicide among current military service members and veterans in fiscal year 2015.
More than 100 lawmakers signed a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $40 million in funding for the suicide prevention programs.
“Since 2011, Congressman Holt and I have worked to secure $120 million in suicide prevention and outreach services, and it is my sincere hope that the committee will once again allocate this funding,” Runyan said. “According to the (Veteran’s Administration), 18 veterans commit suicide each and every day – over 6,500 every year. Our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our country, deserve our unwavering support when they return home, and these funds are critical to helping stop this ongoing suicide epidemic among our veteran population.”
If appropriated, the $40 million in funding would be split evenly between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to provide suicide prevention efforts for current service members and veterans.
“The epidemic of suicides among our veterans is measureable in very grim numbers,” Holt said. “Before this day is out, if it is like every other day, 18 more veterans will have taken their own lives. Congress has begun to take this crisis seriously over the past few years, but we must continue providing the funding and support necessary to help keep our soldiers and veterans alive.”