The House Resolution introduced by Representatives Cooper, Venkata, Gallagher, DelloSo, O'Mara, and Haddock calls on the President and Congress of the United States to address the alarming issue of veteran suicides by ensuring that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides comprehensive and accurate data. The resolution highlights that the VA's National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report indicated 17 veteran suicides per day in 2019, a decrease from the previously reported 22 per day. However, it points out that this figure excludes suicides among National Guard and Reserve veterans who do not meet specific service criteria, thereby underrepresenting the true scope of the crisis. The resolution emphasizes the importance of including these veterans in data collection to better understand suicide risk factors and to honor their sacrifices.

Furthermore, the resolution urges the VA to restore data on National Guard and Reserve suicides in its annual report and calls for Congress to pass legislation that incorporates these critical statistics into veteran suicide prevention initiatives. By doing so, the resolution aims to enhance efforts to combat veteran suicide and ensure that all veterans, including those from the National Guard and Reserve, are recognized and supported in their mental health needs. The resolution concludes with a directive to transmit copies to key government officials, reinforcing the urgency of addressing this critical issue.