WASHINGTON – During this Veterans Appreciation Month, U.S. Rep. John Rose (TN-6) cosponsored the “Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act,” which seeks to prevent veteran suicide.
“Our nation’s veterans represent the very best of America, and they deserve our full support,” Rose stated. “Yet, every day, approximately 20 veterans are lost to suicide. This heartbreaking reality does not have to continue, and I am proud to cosponsor this legislation that lays the groundwork to provide our veterans the support and care they need with the help of community partners and providers in their own neighborhoods.”
The legislation authorizes a three-year program to fund community, non-profit and state agencies’ care for veterans. The funding would be available through grants authorized to support veterans’ mental health screenings, housing, peer support, financial planning, outreach, suicide prevention education, substance abuse reduction and more.
“November is set aside to honor our veterans, and in that spirit, I urge passage of this important legislation to best leverage our resources for veterans’ care,” Rose continued. “I am committed to fighting this crisis until we reach a day when no veteran is lost to suicide.”
Rose cosponsored H.R. 3495 on Nov. 14. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Representative Jack Bergman (MI-1) and will not require any new federal dollars.
U.S. Rep. John Rose represents Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their son, Guy. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, White and Wilson counties as well as portions of Cheatham and Van Buren counties.