Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 2, 2022 11:19 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Wayne D. Fontana |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Green Alert for Veterans |
| After returning home from protecting our nation and working to keep America safe, secure, and free, far too many veterans struggle with mental health issues. In fact, on average, 17 veterans die by suicide every day. In Pennsylvania, a total of 270 veterans died by suicide in 2019 according to federal data with veterans ages 55-74 making up the largest cohort. Something needs to be done to help prevent these tragic deaths. I will once again be introducing legislation, previously SB 750, that would implement a “Green Alert” system in Pennsylvania which is designed to warn the public if an at-risk veteran is missing. My bill would be very similar to an Amber Alert for missing children. The measure was inspired by a Milwaukee Air Force veteran Corey Adams, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Afghanistan. Although Corey's family alerted authorities within hours of his disappearance, Adams did not fit the criteria needed for a "critically missing person." Unfortunately, Mr. Adams body was found in a local pond 18 days after he went missing. Please consider joining me by co-sponsoring this legislation that has the potential to save the lives of at-risk veterans. |
Introduced as SB203