Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act” or the “TOURS Act”.
Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resiliency through Spirituality Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report and to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to study the effects of the Chaplain Service of the Department on the risk of suicide among veterans.
Sec. 2 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report: codification; annual briefing
Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating subsection (l) as subsection (m); and
by inserting, after subsection (k), the following new subsection (l):
“(l) Annual report; briefing
“(1) The Secretary, acting through the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention of the Department, shall produce an annual report on suicide prevention.
“(2) The Secretary shall submit each such report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.
“(3) The Secretary shall provide an annual briefing on the most recent such report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives.”
Sec. 3 Effect of Chaplain Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs on risk of suicide by veterans: study; report
Study required— Not later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a two-year study on the relationship between—
veterans’ engagement with the Chaplain Service and other faith-based programs of the Department; and
the risk of suicide among veterans.
Scope— In carrying out the study under this section, the Secretary shall—
identify and define measurable categories of such engagement, including group activities, outreach events, and non-confidential interactions;
track veterans’ use of mental health services that involve chaplains;
track veterans’ use of faith-based programs of the Department;
collect and analyze data on such engagement across facilities of the Department;
assess correlations, if any, between such engagement and mental health outcomes, including suicide-related behaviors; and
identify best practices and programs that demonstrate positive outcomes.
Limitations— In carrying out the study, the Secretary shall ensure that—
veterans are informed of such data collection;
no data is collected or reported that would compromise the confidentiality of medical records or protected religious communications; and
use of chaplaincy services remains voluntary.
Reports— The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding such study not later than 90 days after the end of each year of the study. Elements of each such report include the following:
A summary of data collected.
An analysis of trends and outcomes.
A list of programs that the Secretary determines have a measurable effect on the risk of suicide.
Recommendations of the Secretary regarding how to improve data collection regarding, and resource allocation for, suicide prevention.