On Friday, Rep. Jack Bergman engaged VA Secretary Robert Wilkie on the strong support for Veterans suicide prevention initiatives in the President’s FY2021 budget request. The President called for historic funding across the board for the VA, while cutting fraud, abuse, and waste.
Watch Rep. Bergman’s questions HERE.
As a combat Veteran, Bergman has made fighting the Veteran suicide crisis a top priority in his role on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Background:
- On June 26, 2019, Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced the IMPROVE Well-Being for Veterans Act in the U.S. House of Representatives to allow the VA to reach and provide lifesaving suicide prevention services to Veterans in the community, especially those who are not currently within the VA system. See the original release HERE.
- Secretary Wilkie has formally testified in support of the IMPROVE Act and has worked with Rep. Bergman on initiatives such as the President’s PREVENTS Task Force to end Veteran suicide.
- The President’s FY 2021 Budget specifically identifies the need for Veteran suicide prevention community grants proposed by the IMPROVE Act.
