Q&A: Be The One

Q: What is “Be The One” campaign all about?
A:This grassroots effort raises public awareness about veteran suicide and facilitates training and prevention strategies using one-on-one connections with at-risk veterans in local communities across the country. The nationwide outreach is coordinated by the American Legion, the patriotic veterans organization with a membership of more than 1.6 million individuals and local posts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Latin America and the Philippines. The nonprofit organization will observe its 106thbirthday on March 15, celebrating the first caucus of the American Legion held in Paris, France after World War I. The 66thCongressissued a national charterfor the veterans-led group on September 16, 1919. Throughout its history, the member-based veterans organization seeks to help fellow veterans reintegrate to civilian life and serves as a resource for community-based services for those seeking employment, education, health care, housing, disaster assistance and more. Since its founding, improving access to education, disability benefits and mental health services have helped marshal legislative victories and improve the quality of life for veterans. A tenet of its founding charter is to “cement the ties and comradeship born of service.” That mission is manifested in the Be The One campaign currently underway to stop veteran suicide. Through its grassroots system of Buddy Checks and efforts to train members for its Be The One QPR (question, persuade and refer) Teams, the American Legion of Iowa is working to expand its suicide prevention services at the post level and raise public awareness in local communities.
In February, Imet with Iowa leaders representing the American Legion, and I was impressed to learn more about this community outreach program. Making personal connections can mean the difference between life and death for veterans suffering from loneliness, despair or depression. Raising public awareness will help alert neighbors to be mindful of warning signs to strengthen suicide prevention for hometown heroes in our veterans communities. I appreciate the advocacy of our veterans organizations and willcontinue working with themon behalf of those who answered the call to serve in uniform and those currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Q: What efforts have you pushed in Congress to lower veterans suicide?
A:Tragically, this issue hits close to home for too many Iowa families. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),suicide death rates among Iowa veteransis significantly higher than the rates among the nation’s general population. As Iowa’s U.S. Senator, I’ve worked for decades to raise public awareness,conduct rigorous oversightto root outshortcomings at the VAand implement comprehensive suicide prevention reforms to improve mental health services for our nation’s veterans. Years ago, alongside former Sen. Tom Harkin, we steered bipartisan legislation into law named after a young Iowan namedJosh Omvig from Grundy Centerwho died by suicide after returning home from duty in Iraq. Our bill developed a peer support program tapping veterans as volunteer peer counselors. Building on that legislative victory on behalf of veterans, I also supported theClay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Actand co-sponsored legislation to help reduce backlog appeals to the Veterans Benefits Administration and introduced legislation to address the increase insuicide among female veterans.I’ve worked to expand services for veteransexperiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disordersand who sustained Traumatic Brain Injuries in the line of duty and teamed up with Sen. Amy Klobuchar to give veterans health facilities better tools to recruit well-trained health professionals, particularly for mental health care. Sen. Joni Ernst and I have pushed theVA to address wait times for mental health appointments, as well. In addition, I co-sponsored legislation that improved the responsiveness and performance of theVeterans Crisis Line. In his first term, President Trump signed into law the three-digit number to simplify access to this confidential, 24/7, lifesaving tool for Americans experiencing a mental health emergency. I encourage veterans and their families todial 9-8-8in times of crisis for immediate access to lifesaving support from trained professionals.