Every day, we lose heroes—not on the battlefield, but here at home. The men and women who served our country with honor, now face silent battles alone. It doesn’t have to be this way.
That’s why today I was proud to introduce bipartisan legislation that would reduce veteran suicide rates by strengthening mental health support for our servicemembers as they transition back to civilian life.
The Daniel J. Harvey and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act is named after two brave Marines who served in Afghanistan together—Iowa’s Corporal Adam Lambert of Adel and Rhode Island’s Lance Corporal Daniel J. Harvey—who both tragically lost their lives within a year of returning home from combat.
Tragically, suicide rates triple for veterans in the first 12 months following their separation from the military. In Iowa, the veteran suicide rate is four times higher than the national average. Yet, reducing veteran suicide isn’t just about statistics—it’s about saving the men and women who proudly wore the uniform to protect our way of life.
Cpl. Adam Lambert was a proud Marine, an honorable young man, and a brave soldier who served this great country. In his memory, I’m hopeful that we can save lives.