Senator Gillibrand Visits CNY Veteran’s Outreach Center In Utica

When it comes to veterans, the U.S. House and Senate proved they can agree on something with the passing of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act.

With the passage of the Act, the law now requires a licensed mental health professional to be present on a discharge review panel for any individual leaving the military and transitioning into civilian life.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the Veteran's Outreach Center in Utica today where she said the statistic of 22 veterans committing suicide every day spurred her to co-sponsor the bill.

Gillibrand says she will be sending a letter to new Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter urging him to move quickly to make sure there are mental health professionals on all military review boards and to make sure the Department of Defense is tracking military family suicides as well.

Executive Director of the Outreach Center Vincent Scalise lost a friend and fellow veteran to suicide last year, and the new law will go a long way toward helping places like the Veterans Outreach Center get vets the help they need before it is too late.