H.R.1969 - No Wrong Door for Veterans Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 1969, the "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act," focuses on improving and reauthorizing the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs. It extends the program's duration, emphasizes emergent suicide care, and reauthorizes funding through fiscal year 2026. The bill also includes provisions for adaptive prostheses for veterans' recreational activities and extends limits on pension payments.
Expected Effects
The Act aims to enhance mental health services for veterans, particularly in suicide prevention, by ensuring better access to care and extending the availability of resources. It also broadens the scope of medical services to include adaptive prostheses for sports, potentially improving veterans' quality of life. Finally, it extends pension payment limits, offering continued financial support to eligible veterans.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced suicide prevention services for veterans through grant program improvements.
- Increased access to emergent suicide care for veterans in crisis.
- Extended funding for veteran suicide prevention programs through 2026.
- Inclusion of adaptive prostheses for sports and recreation in veterans' medical services.
- Continued pension payments for eligible veterans through January 2033.
Potential Disadvantages
- The bill's financial impact beyond 2026 is not detailed, potentially creating uncertainty for future funding.
- The effectiveness of the emergent suicide care provisions depends on the VA's capacity to implement them promptly.
- There may be administrative challenges in implementing the new requirements for eligible entities seeking grants.
- The bill does not address broader systemic issues within the VA healthcare system that may contribute to veteran suicide rates.
- Potential costs associated with providing adaptive prostheses could strain the VA's budget.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble), which empowers Congress to provide for the well-being of its citizens, including veterans. Specifically, the provisions related to healthcare and suicide prevention can be seen as promoting the general welfare. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).