House Veterans’ Affairs Committee lawmakers expressed their frustrations with addressing the ongoing problem of veteran suicide during a hearing Monday evening, Military Times reported.
Just hours prior to the scheduled hearing a veteran took his own life outside the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, according to the report.
The latest suicide prompted a more urgent discussion for lawmakers as they considered the ongoing effort and funding for suicide prevention in recent years, yet progress has been inconsistent.
“Two weeks ago, three other veterans committed suicide at VA facilities in five days,” said Committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.). “So far, we have seen seven this year. It’s clear we are not doing enough to support veterans in crisis.”
Both House Democrats and Republicans are pledging to redouble their efforts, launching a series of hearings and legislative actions to reduce the problem of veteran suicide.
Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Rubin Tan