US Federal Senate Bill SB1361

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/9/25
• Refer: 4/9/25

Caption

Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act

Summary

SB 1361, the “Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act,” would amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to change how the Department of Veterans Affairs awards suicide prevention grants. The bill directs the VA Secretary to give priority to eligible entities located in states where an applicant has applied for a grant but has not yet received one. It also creates a stronger scoring preference for states that have never received a grant at all, requiring the VA to favor applicants in those states until at least one grant is awarded there. In practical terms, the bill is designed to spread VA suicide prevention grant funding more evenly across the country and ensure that every state has an opportunity to receive at least one award. It does not create a new grant program or expand eligibility; instead, it changes the ranking and scoring rules within the existing VA suicide prevention grant process. The affected law is section 201(d) of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, and the affected parties are eligible entities seeking VA mental health and suicide prevention grants, especially those in states that have not previously been funded. The available context shows the bill was introduced by Senators Cramer and Coons and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, with no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts provided. Based on the bill text and sponsorship, the general sentiment appears supportive and focused on improving access and geographic equity in veterans’ mental health services. The measure is framed as a targeted administrative fix rather than a controversial overhaul. The main point of contention, if any, is likely to be whether prioritizing states that have not yet received a grant could reduce flexibility in awarding funds to the strongest applicants nationwide. Supporters would likely emphasize fairness, broader national coverage, and the goal of ensuring no state is left out of suicide prevention resources. Opponents, if present, would likely argue that grant decisions should remain driven primarily by merit, need, and program quality rather than state-by-state distribution goals.

Impact

The bill would amend federal veterans’ mental health grant law by adding a new priority and scoring preference for VA suicide prevention grant applicants in states that have not yet received an award. This would affect the Department of Veterans Affairs’ grant selection process under the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 and could shift funding toward states that have been previously unserved, while leaving the underlying grant program intact.

Sentiment

No votes or hearing transcript excerpts are available, but the bill’s sponsorship and title suggest a generally positive, bipartisan-oriented approach to veterans’ mental health access. The measure appears aimed at equity and nationwide coverage rather than ideological change, so the overall sentiment is best characterized as supportive and pragmatic.

Contention

The likely debate centers on how much weight the VA should give to geographic distribution versus competitive merit in awarding suicide prevention grants. Supporters are likely to favor the bill’s attempt to ensure every state has access to at least one grant recipient, while critics may worry that a state-based preference could disadvantage high-performing applicants in already-funded states or constrain the agency’s discretion in selecting the best proposals.