2023 AFSPAdvocacy

Federal Successes

This fiscal year we celebrated the passage of key federal legislation to prevent suicide, including the enactment of policies to support Veterans and Service members, expand the mental health workforce, improve suicide prevention services in correctional facilities, and more, including:

• The Solid Start Act (Public Law No: 117-205), which established a new pilot program to help support Veterans during their first year of separation from active-duty military service.
• Provisions of the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law No: 117-103), which included funds for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Behavioral Health Crisis Services. The total amount appropriated included $390 million above the previous year’s enacted level. This omnibus package eliminated copays for the first three outpatient mental health visits within the VA health system within a given year, and expanded Medicare coverage to include marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. It also provided new funding for suicide prevention services and risk screening in emergency departments.
• The Public Safety Officer Support Act (Public Law No: 117-172), which extends benefits to surviving families of public safety officers who die by suicide.
• The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022 (Public Law No: 117-323), which expanded the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program to include suicide prevention services and 988 services in correctional facilities as allowable uses of funding. It also reauthorized, increased funding for, and extended this important program.
• The Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act (Public Law No: 117-325), which authorizes federal funding for a new grant program to train law enforcement in de-escalation tactics and alternatives to use of force.