WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King today celebrated the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee passing two bipartisan bills to improve resources and services for America’s veterans. The Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act and the VA CAREERS Act – both cosponsored by King – build on two key priorities he discussed with Maine veterans after his appointment to the Committee last month.

The Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act would create a pilot program to reduce veteran suicides by expand counseling and support resources available during the transition out of service. The VA CAREERS Act would expand resources for veteran healthcare centers like Togus to hire and retain more staff to treats veterans. The bills now go to the Senate Floor for consideration by the entire body.

“Today, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee took important steps to meet the country’s commitment to those who served,” said Senator King. “These two bills I cosponsored would strengthen the support network for our veterans by expanding programs for the transition out of service and addressing VA staffing issues across the country. These are some of the most pressing issues facing America’s veterans, and I’m excited that the Committee has wasted no time taking decisive, bipartisan action. I hope the Senate can swiftly pass our commonsense measures and look forward to the continued work on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.”

“A service member’s transition out of the military is a very stressful time for them and their family. Our goal at the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services is to make contact with these veterans at several points in time during their transition, to check-in on them and connect them with the benefits they have earned,” said David Richmond, Director of Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services. “This legislation is a needed expansion on available resources and I am hopeful there will also be opportunities to improve the direct connection of service members in the Transition Assistance Program to the state or territory that they are transitioning to.”

The Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act of 2023 would require the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a three-year joint pilot program under the Transition Assistance Program to reduce suicide incidence among veterans. The program would include an in-person meeting between a cohort of transitioning servicemembers and a nurse or social worker in which the nurse or social worker educates the servicemembers on resources and potential mental health risks, provides contact information for a VA facility and counseling services, and facilitates the submittal of records to the VA.

The VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023 would help VA Health Administration Centers hire and retain more staff by modernizing the VA's pay system for physicians and other high-level clinicians, paying for certification exam costs, expanding eligibility for staff to be reimbursed for professional education costs, and providing flexibilities for staff to utilize accrued leave.

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of veterans per capita, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has been among the Senate’s most prominent voices on the need to address veterans suicide, and has repeatedly pressed for action from top Department of Defense officials on this issue. Additionally, he recently spearheaded the passage of legislation to better track and study servicemember suicides by job assignment. Senator King has also worked to properly honor and recognize the sacrifices of Purple Heart medal recipients, protect veterans from fraud, and expand veteran assisted living services.