Suicide prevention bill sponsored by Walz blocked in Senate

The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act will not become law, as Rep. Tim Walz predicted.

Though it passed the House last week, the bill was blocked in the Senate by Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.

The Associated Press reported:

Instead of passing the $22 million bill, Coburn said lawmakers should hold the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable for frequently failing to serve veterans.

"I don't think this bill would do the first thing to change what's happening" in terms of veterans' suicides, Coburn said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the bill a targeted measure that would help ensure that programs to prevent veterans' suicide work as expected.

The bill would require the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department to submit to independent reviews of their suicide prevention programs. It also would establish a website to provide information on mental health services available to veterans, offer financial incentives to psychiatrists who agree to work for the VA and create a pilot program to assist veterans transitioning from active duty to veteran status.

Rep. Walz, who sponsored the legislation along with Sen. John McCain, joined MPR News' Tom Crann to discuss what's next.