Skip to main content

Rep. Tracey Mann Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging VA to Expand Outreach to Post-9/11 Veterans

September 10, 2021

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (R-KS), Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, led a bipartisan letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough urging him to develop a comprehensive outreach plan for post-9/11 veterans to ensure they are receiving all of the mental health services, community support systems, and other resources they have earned. Representatives Mike Levin (D-CA), Barry Moore (R-AL), and Chris Pappas (D-NH) joined Rep. Mann in leading the letter.

"While the Department’s efforts to raise awareness of resources and encourage veterans to seek help are important steps, more must be done to reach those in need," Mann and his colleagues wrote. "Accordingly, we urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive post-9/11 veteran outreach plan. This plan must proactively contact veterans in the coming months through means including digital correspondence, social media, phone calls, and text messages.”

The letter particularly noted the urgency of reaching veterans who may be struggling following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

“Following the tragic events in Afghanistan last month, the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) experienced a 98 percent increase in text messages alone," said Rep. Mann and his colleagues. "VA's outreach should consist of providing information on – and warm handoffs to – each veteran’s local VA mental health services, community support systems, and other resources.”

Click here to view the full text of the letter.

###

Issues: