Commander John Scott Hannon Act Signed into Law

Will provide new treatments for PTSD & TBI to reduce suicides

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Oct 20, 2020, 16:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Through bipartisan effort and significant advocacy efforts from Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP), major legislation has been signed into law that will provide new treatments for warriors dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The newly signed law is designed to reduce suicides and increase resilience, especially in underserved areas.

Among its key provisions, the law will:

President Donald Trump signed into law S.785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, a major legislative priority that will provide new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), improve mental health and well-being, increase resilience, and reduce suicide, especially in underserved areas.

Create a new pilot program to extend VA's reach into the community, expand its programming through nonprofits, and improve interventions to protect against veteran suicide.
Align the medical research community to develop more individualized and precise PTSD and TBI therapies faster.
Improve collaboration between DoD and VA on mental health research, transition assistance programs, and clinical and non-clinical mental health initiatives.
Expand physical access points for veterans seeking to use VA telehealth and virtual care offerings.
Study and invest in innovative and alternative treatment options like yoga; meditation; and recreational, animal, and agri-therapies.

"We are thankful for the tireless efforts and bi-partisan leadership of Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester and Representatives Mark Takano and Phil Roe," said WWP CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington. "Without their collective support, and that of warriors across the country, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act would not have passed. I offer a huge thank you to those warriors for making their voices heard to our leaders in Congress."

Wounded Warrior Project invited warriors from across the country to Washington, D.C. in February to advocate for the passage of this act. Additionally, WWP:

Provided expert testimony in May 2019 at the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing.
Visited with dozens of Senate and House offices throughout the spring and summer to rally strong, bipartisan support for this bill.

Read more about the legislation here. Learn more about WWP's other legislative priorities and how we work with our nation's leaders to improve the lives of wounded veterans and their families.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project