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03/28/2024 06:47 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19808
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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 7, 2016 01:18 PM
From: Representative Peter Schweyer
To: All House members
Subject: Legislation to Establish the Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant Program
 
In the near future, I will introduce legislation to establish the Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant Program, to be administered by the PA Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMVA).

All too often, we hear the heartbreaking stories of how our veterans struggle with the visible and invisible wounds of war. After becoming frustrated and disenfranchised with the extremely complicated veteran benefits system, many struggling veterans then feel that their only option is to end their life. This is completely unacceptable.

At a recent budget hearing, DMVA confirmed that there is not a line item for veteran suicide prevention programs in Pennsylvania. While the Veterans Trust Fund provides approximately $500,000 in funding for grants to statewide charitable organizations who assist veterans, there is no permanent funding stream specifically dedicated to veteran suicide prevention or a veteran suicide prevention program. As such, I am introducing legislation to create the Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant Program.

My legislation increases the fee for birth and death certificates by $2 (each). The revenue from that increase will be deposited into a fund, to be administered by DMVA, for a competitive grant program, and awarded to entities who offer services, programs and activities to reduce the rate of suicide among veterans.

It is critical that we ensure all of our veterans in the Commonwealth, and their loved ones, have the necessary resources and support in dealing with the wounds of war—both physical and psychological.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this very important legislation.



Introduced as HB1960