Following Veterans Day last week, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate, is joining Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introducing bipartisan legislation to support the mental health needs of servicemembers and veterans as they return to their local communities.
The Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act – which was named to honor the memory of two Marines who died by suicide, including Iowan Cpl. Adam Lambert – would create a pilot program to add a new component to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Specifically the bill is designed to counsel servicemembers about mental health, the challenges that they might face during transition and how that might affect their mental health, and the services available to them at their local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility.
“Iowan and Marine Corps veteran Cpl. Adam Lambert was not just a hero to our nation, but he was a hero to his friends and family. Our nation has a duty to veterans across the country and to their loved ones, a duty to ensure that our heroes have the care and support they are promised. That’s why I’m proud to partner with Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown on this important measure to provide resources for our veterans who are adjusting to civilian life and may be facing serious challenges,” said Senator Ernst.
