10
Feb
2017
Tragically, every day in America, 20 veterans take their own lives. Many of our nation’s veterans face post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other serious mental health issues upon their return home, and these veterans have sacrificed too much to ever feel alone when in a crisis. When these veterans reach out, we as a country owe it to them to answer their call.
Last year, a veteran from the Quad Cities, Sgt. Brandon Ketchum, went to a Veterans Affairs (VA) facility seeking psychiatric help. After he was unable to receive in-patient psychiatric care, he tragically took his own life. Earlier this week, I reintroduced the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act, previously the Never Again Act, in Sgt. Ketchum’s honor. To ensure that no veteran is ever turned away in their time of need, my legislation would require the VA Medical Centers to provide psychiatric care for any veteran that asks for it. If there are not enough beds or health care providers at that location, it would require the VA to find care for the veteran at a non-VA facility. Simply put, under the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act, if a veteran asks for mental health care from the VA, they will get it.
As a military parent, I am committed to working to ensure that our veterans are served by their country with the same dedication and honor with which they have served our nation. I am pleased that the Sgt. Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act would help ensure that every veteran in need of mental health care would receive the medical attention they deserve.
Sincerely,
Dave Loebsack
Iowa's Second District
