WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – introduced legislation to expand and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) outreach efforts to prevent and eliminate veteran suicide.

The Helping Optimize Prevention and Engagement (HOPE) for Heroes Act of 2025 increases the grant funding that Congress appropriates for resources related to veteran suicide prevention, improves continuity of care by requiring VA to coordinate a communication plan between grantees and their local VA, and requires VA to conduct training to help grantees efficiently utilize suicide screening tools.

“Meeting veterans where they are, whether in the community or at VA, allows more veterans to access resources to help them through a mental health crisis,” said Sen. Moran. “As veteran suicide continues to increase, veterans deserve to have the best tools and services to address their mental health needs. This legislation expands VA’s ability to better collaborate with community organizations and providers to make certain more veterans are able to receive treatment and mental health services and ultimately, help prevent veteran suicide.”

The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide prevention Grant Program is a part of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act which became law in 2020 and allows VA to provide resources, outreach and suicide prevention services to veterans in the community.

The full text of the legislation can be found here. A one-pager explanation of the bill can be found here.

“On behalf of our 1.6 million members, The American Legion is proud to support the HOPE for Heroes Act,” said James A. LaCoursiere Jr., National Commander of The American Legion. “We applaud Senator Moran, his colleagues, and staff for tirelessly working to end veteran suicide through a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. By reauthorizing and expanding the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, VA can strengthen its suicide prevention efforts by meeting veterans where they are. Suicide prevention is The American Legion’s highest priority, and we look forward to working with Congressional leadership to ensure this legislation is signed into law.”

“America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) fully supports the Helping Optimize Prevention and Engagement for Heroes Act of 2025,” said Jim Lorraine, President & CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership. “We have seen the tremendous impact of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program has contributed to reducing veteran suicide. At AWP we believe suicide prevention is not a program, but rather holistic services to give veterans HOPE. The HOPE Act will not only increase the capacity for organizations to serve veterans but also establish measurable expectations of performance.”

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