Our Amendment Options to HR 3495
New Amendment Would Create a National Conference for Veteran Suicide Families
With the launch of a National Conference for Veteran Suicide Families, Once a Soldier offers our lawmakers and the VA a solid option for an amendment to HR 3495 – the‘‘Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act’’.
In connection with House of Representative John Rutherford (R-FL), Once a Soldier was asked to offer options that fit this bill. With the crisis of PTSD and suicide rising, the Veterans Administration, members of Congress and the White House have been laboring over this bill for more than 4 months now. We are happy to add ideas that we feel will help those forgotten Veteran famlies after a suicide.
Once a Soldier’s Amendment Recommendations regarding HR 3495
Overview: Once a Soldier exists to help families before and after a Veteran suicide. Families serve just like the soldier and additionally they have endured:
The uncertainty of service during wartime
The emotional burden of their veteran’s PTSD
The emotional and financial burden of their loved one’s suicide
The stigma of suicide
The financial impact of Veteran suicide
Amendment Options:
Uplifting these unsung American heroes would involve these options:
Option 1: Launch an annual national conference for families of Veteran suicide
Goals of the conference would include:
- Education on PTSD Management and Treatments
- Networking between Non-Profits, VA Providers and Families-in-Need
- Establish a Nonprofit Task Force Overseeing Support for Veteran Suicide Families
- Bonding between Veteran Suicide Families
- Collecting Research to Improve Best Practice
Growing a local network of support groups that would help with:
- PTSD treatments
- Financing a funeral
- Body transportation
- VA benefit navigation
Option 2: Funding for nonprofit organizations that focus on Veteran families for when PTSD prevention fails. These nonprofits would have a history of:
- Empowering Veteran Families to Stop Soldier Suicide
- Offering PTSD education/therapies before and after a Veteran Suicide
- Offering Mental Health education/therapies before and after a Veteran Suicide
- Providing Veteran suicide survivor information and outreach
ABOUT ONCE A SOLDIER
Our Veterans are killing themselves in record numbers mostly due to PTSD. An overmatched VA can’t take care of them or their families. We will.
Soldier suicide leaves Veteran families with thousands of dollars of bills unpaid, mostly bank loans.
We are the only nonprofit standing with the families after a veteran suicide. Stand with us.
Our Mission: Become the preferred channel for donors, advocates and volunteers who care about veteran families left behind after a soldier suicide.
