WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality (TOURS) Act. This bill would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report to include data relating to engagement with the Chaplaincy and faith-based programs. Veteran suicide is a tragedy, and this bill will help us to better understand and combat it.

“Our veterans answered the call to serve our nation, and we owe them access to every resource that could help them navigate life’s toughest challenges,” said Congressman Valadao. “While the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides important mental health care, oftentimes veterans struggling with suicidal ideation will seek support through faith and spiritual guidance—something a traditional clinic doesn’t cover. By studying alternate forms of mental health treatment, the TOURS Act would help connect at-risk veterans with meaningful support and reduce veteran suicide.”

Background:

More than 6,000 veterans have died by suicide each year since 2001—a rate that has remained almost two times higher than the general population in the United States for more than 20 years. The National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report is the largest analysis of veteran suicide trends and provides critical public health data to help policymakers develop life-saving prevention strategies, but despite the useful data, there remains a gap in analysis on the effectiveness of the chaplaincy in reducing the risk of veteran suicide. The TOURS Act would require VA to conduct a two-year study on the relationship between the chaplain service and other faith-based programs and the risk of suicide among veterans. Importantly, the study would ensure the privacy of veterans by not compromising medical records or protected religious communications, ensuring chaplaincy services remain voluntary. Veterans have served our nation and often risked their lives in doing so. This bill ensures we are doing everything we can to make sure that risk ends when they return home. 

###