Rep. Luttrell Says SAVES Act Would Help Veteran Suicide

Texas Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R) has written an op-ed in support of the SAVES Act. Rep. Luttrell, who’s a combat veteran and member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, argues that the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act (SAVES) would positively address the alarming rate of veteran suicides.

In the op-ed written for Stars and Stripes, Rep. Luttrell notes that an estimated 17 veterans die by suicide each day.

“This is a deeply personal issue to me,” he shares in the op-ed. “In Congress, it is my priority to represent the silent voices of those who are suffering alone. No veteran should have to face this battle by themselves; it is our duty to serve those who sacrificed everything for this country.”

If signed into law, the SAVES Act would establish a five-year, $50 million grant program through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and other mental health conditions. It is estimated that training a single service dog can cost over $50,000, so making financial support for veterans in need is crucial according to the Texas lawmaker.

“Mental health is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but this legislation will take an important step forward in addressing the different needs of our veterans,” Rep. Luttrell argues. “For them, the SAVES Act grant program could mean the difference between life and death.”

Rep. Luttrell cited findings from the 2024 VA National Veteran Suicide Prevention report, which revealed that in 2022 alone, 6,407 veterans died by suicide. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among veterans under 45, with younger veterans aged 18 to 34 experiencing the highest suicide rates.

The report identified key contributing factors such as chronic pain, sleep issues, declining physical health, and feelings of hopelessness.

He emphasized the need to “break the stigma around suicide, expand nontraditional prevention methods, foster public-private collaboration, and accelerate investment in promising research.” He urged lawmakers to act swiftly, arguing that “we must confront this crisis head-on—our service members deserve the best from the nation they sacrificed so much to protect.”