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Last updated on Friday, June 12, 2015
(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Wednesday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly gave a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate remembering two Hoosier service members lost to suicide and pushing for passage of his Servicemember and Veteran Mental Health Care Package.
The provisions of Donnelly's "Care Package" regarding servicemembers and their family are included in the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, which the Senate is currently debating. Donnelly mentioned in his speech that the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has committed to considering the veterans-related provisions of Donnelly's "Care Package" in the months ahead.
Donnelly speaks on the Senate floor about Spc. Chancellor Keesling and Spc. Jacob Sexton this afternoon when advocating for passage of his "Care Package" for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Watch Donnelly's speech here.
Donnelly said, "The Keeslings and the Sextons are courageously telling their stories to help prevent any more families from going through this nightmare. Congress needs to continue to answer their call. This is an issue we cannot let up on because there is so much more important work yet to do."
The Senate Armed Services Committee passed the Department of Defense-related provisions of Donnelly's "Care Package" in May. Organizations supporting the "Care Package" include: The National Guard Association of the United States; the Military Officers Association; Reserve Officers Association; National Military Family Association; and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The "Care Package" would build on the progress made by Donnelly's Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act, which was signed into law late last year and requires an annual mental health assessment for all servicemembers--Active, Guard, and Reserve.
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