A bipartisan pair of lawmakers—Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., and Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-Minn.—have introduced the Justice for America’s Veterans and Survivors Act to combat the rising suicide crisis among U.S. veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 22 veterans take their own lives every day, while America’s Warrior Partnership reports the number could be as high as 40-44, citing underreporting and misclassification of deaths.
The legislation focuses on improving the accuracy of cause-of-death reports for veterans, a key step to ensure surviving families can access benefits and resources. Accurate data, the lawmakers argue, is critical to understanding the root causes of veteran suicides and crafting effective policies to prevent them.
“Many veterans carry invisible wounds after their time of service, and we need to better understand the root causes surrounding the loss of our veterans to suicide,” said Rep. Edwards, a second-term Republican representing North Carolina’s 11th District. “The Department of Veterans Affairs lacks accurate data on the cause of death for deceased veterans, which impacts our ability to draft policy and create effective interventions.”
Rep. Morrison, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota’s 3rd District, emphasized the need for data-driven solutions. “As a physician, I know that having thorough and accurate data is a critical step in being able to deliver the best possible care for our patients,” Morrison said. “Our brave veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for our country deserve nothing less.”
The bill has earned support from key veterans’ organizations, including the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Advocates argue that improving data accuracy is a crucial first step in addressing the mental health crisis among veterans and ensuring that families receive the benefits they are owed.
The crisis of veteran suicides is a national tragedy that demands urgent attention. The Justice for America’s Veterans and Survivors Act seeks to address a critical gap in understanding the full scope of the problem by improving the accuracy of death records and identifying key factors driving veterans to take their own lives. Without accurate data, policymakers are left to guesswork when crafting solutions—leaving countless veterans and their families without the support they need. Supporters of the bill argue that this common-sense reform is long overdue and could lay the groundwork for more effective mental health care, suicide prevention efforts, and expanded benefits for families of fallen service members.
