A House committee has passed a bill introduced Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell that seeks to prevent addresses suicide among war veterans. Boswell says the source of the bill is Grundy Center soldier Joshua Omvig, who took his own life after returning from Iraq. Boswell’s bill directs the Secretary of Veterans affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive program for veterans found to be at risk.
Boswell says it will direct Veterans Affairs to have help and counsel available for veterans to prevent them from taking their life. Boswell is a Vietnam veteran, and says this bill would meet an area of need for veterans.
Boswell says we do about anything for the visible wounds, but this will address the invisible wounds that get overlooked. The House Committee on Veterans Affairs passed the bill and it now heads to the full house for debate.