HIRONO CONTINUES FIGHT FOR VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, VOTES TO SEND CLAY HUNT ACT TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

Washington, D.C. – Today Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committees, voted to pass H.R. 203, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, which would improve access to mental health services and suicide prevention resources for American veterans. The bill, which passed the Senate with a strong bipartisan majority, now heads to the President’s desk to become law.

Senator Hirono released the following statement  on the passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act:

“Today the American service members and veterans I have met in Hawaii and around the country are on my mind. Too many struggle with mental health issues, and they deserve access to the best mental health services we can provide,” said Senator Hirono. “Tragically, 22 American veterans commit suicide each day. The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act will help make progress in lowering that unacceptable number. I am proud to have been a cosponsor of this important legislation and urge the President to sign it into law immediately.”

Senator Hirono is an original cosponsor of S. 167, the bipartisan Senate companion bill, which was introduced on January 13, 2015.  Her support for the Clay Hunt SAV Act builds on her work as a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee to improve veterans’ health care and demonstrates Senator Hirono’s ongoing commitment to fight to ensure our veterans have the highest quality care and expanded access to health care and other services.