River Bend Times

U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Jack Bergman (MI-01) have introduced the No Wrong Door for Veterans Act. This bill seeks to reauthorize the Fox Grant Program for three additional years, aiming to provide community-based mental health organizations with grant funding to enhance access to mental health care, support, and suicide prevention services for veterans.

“As a 24-year veteran, I have seen the challenges that many of my fellow servicemembers and veterans face, both in uniform and as they adjust to life back in their communities,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “It is a sad realization that an average 17 veterans lose their lives to suicide every day. One death alone from suicide is one too many. It is imperative that we continue to work on solutions such as the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program to give veterans and their family members the support that they so desperately need and deserve.”

Rep. Kiggans emphasized the importance of providing mental health resources for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life: “As the daughter of a veteran, the wife of a veteran, a mother to future veterans, and a veteran myself, I know how important it is for servicemembers to have access to mental health resources when they transition to civilian life,” she said. “Tragically, close to 17 veterans take their own lives every day. That’s why I worked with Congresswoman Miller-Meeks to introduce the No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, to ensure mental health organizations have the funding and ability to care for veterans who need it most.”

Rep. Bergman highlighted the timing of this legislative effort during National Suicide Awareness month: “As we enter National Suicide Awareness month for September, I’m proud to introduce this potentially life-saving bill,” he stated. “Our Veterans who suffer from the invisible wounds of their service should never have to suffer alone.”

VA Committee Chairman Mike Bost also expressed his support: “House Republicans did right by veterans and their families and fought hard to create the Fox Grant Program through the Commander John Scott Hannon Act," he said. "To date, this grant program has helped hundreds of veterans get the mental health support that works for them."

The No Wrong Door For Veterans Act aims not only at reauthorizing but also improving aspects of the existing Fox Grant Program:

1. Clarifying regulations within the program.

2. Requiring local VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) coordination with grantees through quarterly briefings.

3. Moving oversight from the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention into the Office of Clinical Services.

4. Making veterans eligible for community-based emergency mental health care if VA cannot provide services within 72 hours.

The current law stipulates that this pilot program will expire at the end of FY25; however, this new legislation would extend its provisions until FY2028.