Harkin’s bill to prevent veteran suicides clears Senate

SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2007 | Harkin for Senate

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)—A bill aimed at preventing suicides among war veterans has been cleared by the Senate.

That’s according to aides Senator Tom Harkin, who says it passed unanimously last night.

The Iowa Democrat co-sponsored the bill named after Joshua Omvig. The Army Reserve member from Grundy Center killed himself in 2005 after returning home from Iraq.

Harkin says the bill requires the Veterans Affairs Department to designate a suicide prevention counselor at VA facilities.

Harkin says the suicide rate in the U.S. Army is at a 28-year high.

The House passed a similar measure in March.

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