Expand evidence-based lethal means safety training to all VA employees who regularly interact with veterans, community care providers, and family caregivers.

This week, Representatives Lauren Underwood and Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced legislation to address the veteran suicide crisis by expanding evidence-based lethal means safety training for all VA employees who regularly interact with veterans, as well as community care providers and family caregivers.

Underwood introduced legislation to expand lethal-means safety training beyond VHA clinical providers to VA employees, community care providers, and family caregivers who regularly interact with veterans.

Underwood Introduces Legislation to Prevent Veteran Suicides | Representative Lauren Underwood
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(1) I NITIAL UPDATE.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with entities described in subsection (c), shall update the Lethal Means Safety and Suicide Prevention training course of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that it is culturally appropriate and uses best practices identified by appropriate subject matter experts. (2) S UBSEQUENT UPDATES.—Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall update the training as appropriate, taking into consideration best practices

Underwood introduced legislation directing VA to update its lethal means safety and suicide prevention training using culturally appropriate best practices, with annual updates.

H. R. 10409 (Introduced-in-House)
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(b) Training .— (1) I N GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require each employee referred to in paragraph (2) to take the most recently updated version of the training course referred to in subsection (a)— (A) not later than 90 days after the date such person is initially hired by the Department; and (B) at least once every year thereafter. (2) C OVERED EMPLOYEE.—An employee described in this paragraph is any of the following: (A) An employee of the Veterans Health Administration or Veterans Benefits Administration who regularly interacts with veterans in the course of performing the employee’s responsibilities. (B) A compensation and pension examiner, including an employee of a contractor of the Department who performs compensation and pension examinations. (C) An employee of a Veterans Center or vocational rehabilitation facility.

The bill would require covered VA and VA-related employees who interact with veterans to complete updated lethal means safety and suicide prevention training within 90 days of hiring and annually thereafter.

H. R. 10409 (Introduced-in-House)
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(3) C OMMUNITY CARE PROVIDERS.—As a condition of furnishing care through a non-Department provider under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall require any employee of such provider who provides such care to take the most recently updated version of the training course referred to in subsection (a)— (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary first agrees to furnish any such care through such provider; and (B) at least once every year thereafter. (4) F AMILY CAREGIVERS.—As a condition of providing support to a family caregiver under section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall require the caregiver to take the most recently updated version of the training course referred to in subsection (a)— (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the caregiver first receives support under such section; and (B) at least once every year thereafter.

The bill would make updated lethal means safety and suicide prevention training mandatory for community care provider employees and family caregivers as a condition of VA-related care or support, with annual retraining.

H. R. 10409 (Introduced-in-House)
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unverified · Source version 67450 · locator unknown

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 16, 2026 Ms. Underwood (for herself and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Underwood introduced a new Lethal Means Safety Training Act in the 119th Congress; the official bill text shows referral to committee, not enactment, so this is concrete effort but not delivery.

unresolved later_term A for effort

H.R. 10409 (119th): Lethal Means Safety Training Act, Introduced in House
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Lethal Means Safety Training.—To prevent suicide among Veterans, VA has implemented mandatory lethal means safety training for clinical health care providers in VHA facilities, but the training remains optional for other VA employees, and for all community care providers and family caregivers.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The committee print documents partial VA implementation for clinical VHA providers, while the targeted expansion to other VA employees, community care providers, and family caregivers remained optional.

partial later_term

HMKP-119-AP00-20250610-SD003.pdf
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

verified · Source version 79279 · locator 1210

Last Action Date Listed September 16, 2026 Action Ms. Underwood (for herself and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill; which was referred

Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): GovInfo’s bill-detail metadata still lists the bill’s last action as its September 16, 2026 introduction and referral, with no enacted version or later action found in the October 1-3 lookback window.

unresolved later_term A for effort

H.R. 10409 (IH) - Lethal Means Safety Training Act - BILLS-119hr10409ih | Content Details | GovInfo
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unverified · Source version 79281 · locator unknown

nearly 100 percent of Veterans Health Administration clinicians have completed the Department’s lethal means safety training.

Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Underwood’s floor statement documented partial VA implementation for VHA clinicians while describing the broader expansion to regular VA staff, community providers, and family caregivers as still needing action.

partial later_term

CREC-2023-03-08.pdf
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%