Does the VA Need to Make Sure All Calls to the Veterans Crisis Line Get Answered? (H.R. 5392)

What is H.R. 5392?

(Updated August 12, 2020)

This bill was enacted on November 28, 2016

This bill would require the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a plan to ensure that all calls, texts, or other communications received by the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) are answered in a timely manner by a person. The plan would also ensure that communications to the VCL are answered in a manner consistent with the guidance of the American Association of Suicidology.

The VA would create a quality assurance process that includes performance indicators and objectives measuring the responsiveness and performance of the VCL and backup call centers. It would also provide a timeline for when those objectives will be achieved.

Within 180 days of this bill’s enactment the VA would be required to submit its plans to the committees responsible for veterans’ affairs in both chambers of Congress.

Argument in favor

The Veterans Crisis Line is doing a poor job of meeting the needs of veterans seeking suicide prevention and crisis resources, and this bill would require the VA to ensure veterans looking for help can get it.

Argument opposed

This bill only requires the VA to develop a plan to improve the responsiveness of the Veterans Crisis Line, it doesn’t provide any additional resources to make these changes become a reality.

Impact

Veterans in crisis and those close to them; the Veterans Crisis Line and backup call centers; and the VA.

Cost of H.R. 5392

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would result in insignificant costs to the federal government.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep.David Young (R-IA) introduced this bill after a study by the VA’s Inspector General found that there was a lack of quality control measures to ensure that communications to the Veterans Crisis Line are answered promptly and those efforts are documented:

“When a veteran is in crisis and reaching out for help, we have to guarantee someone is there for them 100 percent of the time. No excuses. Any instance of a veteran having trouble with the Veterans Crisis Line is simply unacceptable. This legislation requires the VA to provide and implement a plan to improve responsiveness and performance of the crisis line, an important step to ensure our veterans have mental health resources they need.”

This legislation was passed by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on a voice vote and it has  the bipartisan of 26 cosponsors in the House — including 21 Republicans and five Democrats.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. David Young (R-IA) Press Release
• CBO Cost Estimate
• KMA LAND
• Ripon Advance