A Republican lawmaker from Florida has introduced a resolution in support of naming family members of veterans who die by suicide “Gold Arrow Families.”
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., noted that veterans’ family members also sacrifice in service to the nation.
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“Unfortunately, without the necessary assistance, sometimes this sacrifice ends up in tragedy for family members, like Army Specialist Ashley M. Taylor, who took her own life after her husband, Army Private Bailey C. Taylor, committed suicide,” Steube said in a release.
“We all need to come together to not only raise awareness for the mental health issues affecting our veterans and their families, but also to provide crucial resources to those in need so we can prevent another tragedy like this again,” he added.
The legislation would also provide Gold Arrow Families with resources to help them cope with their loss.
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Original cosponsors of this bipartisan legislation include Reps. Bill Posey, R-Fla., Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, Thomas Tiffany, R-Wis., William Timmons, R-S.C., Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., Michael Waltz, R-Fla., Tom O’Halleran, R-Ariz., and Don Young, R-Alaska.
An average of 17 United States veterans die by suicide each day, according to Department of Veterans Affairs data.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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