Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) attended the signing ceremony for the Clay Hunt SAV Act this week.

The legislation, named after a Marine who committed suicide, will direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct annual evaluations of their mental health care and suicide prevention programs. It will also create a pilot loan repayment program for psychiatrists who agree to work for the Department.

Fitzpatrick (as well as fellow PA Reps. Ryan Costello and Tim Murphy) was a co-sponsor of the bill in the House. The Clay Hunt SAV Act passed unanimously in the House and Senate and was signed by President Obama into law on Thursday.

“Today I will sign the Clay Hunt SAV Act into law,” the President said. “And SAV stands for Suicide Prevention for American Veterans. It helps fill critical gaps in serving veterans with post-traumatic stress and other illnesses. It increases peer support and outreach to servicemembers transitioning to civilian life. It recruits talented psychiatry students to work at the VA after graduation. It makes it easier for veterans to find the care they need when they need it. And it includes strict accountability measures so we can track and continually improve these efforts as we learn more.”

“Twenty-two American veterans take their own life each day – an epidemic that should devastate every citizen and push every leader to find solutions,” said Fitzpatrick, a member of the Veteran Mental Health Caucus. “With a new generation of veterans returning from the battlefield, we’re seeing the impact of injuries – those both seen and unseen – as these heroes transition back into civilian life. This law ensures we’re addressing the new challenges our veterans face.”

“The Clay Hunt SAV Act takes meaningful steps toward ensuring that veterans, like Clay, have the resources and treatment they need when they return home,” added Fitzpatrick. “That means increasing access to, boosting accountability for and removing the stigma of potentially-life saving mental health care for those who need it most.”