East Idaho Times

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has recently cosponsored the bipartisan Not Just a Number Act, a piece of legislation aimed at requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take a more comprehensive look at the factors that best prevent veteran suicide.

In support of the Act, Rep. Simpson emphasized the importance of understanding the underlying issues surrounding veteran suicide, stating, "Behind every veteran suicide lies a heartbreaking story, a silent struggle, and an irreplaceable loss." He further added, “Through expanding suicide prevention research and a thorough analysis of factors behind veteran suicide, the Not Just a Number Act would provide a better understanding of how we can help veterans in their time of need."

Highlighting his commitment to veterans, Rep. Simpson expressed, "Supporting our veterans and ensuring they have the resources they need has always been one of my top priorities." He underscored the reciprocal nature of support, noting, "Our veterans fulfilled their duty to serve us, and now, it's our responsibility to serve them."

The Not Just a Number Act encompasses various provisions, including the examination of benefits usage in the VA's annual suicide prevention report to evaluate the relationship between VA benefits and veteran suicide. Additionally, the legislation calls for an analysis to identify which benefits have the most significant impact on preventing suicide, along with recommendations for expanding those benefits to combat veteran suicides effectively. Furthermore, the bill includes initiatives such as a study on upstream veteran suicide prevention, the development of a toolkit for state and local medical examiners to enhance reporting on veteran suicide, and a feasibility and advisability study on elevating the VA’s suicide prevention office to the Office of the Secretary level.

For those interested, the full text of the bill can be accessed through the provided link.