U.S. House passes Cindy Axne bill to improve rural veterans' access to mental health care

Military veterans living in rural areas in Iowa and beyond may see greater access to mental health care through a bill making its way through Congress just ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House passed a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to spend more than a million dollars each year to fund the creation of additional mental health care outreach teams to serve veterans outside of cities and to research the VA's effectiveness with those rural veterans. 

"We all know that veterans do not have enough mental health resources across this country," said U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, the author of the bill and a Democrat who represents the southwestern quarter of Iowa. "These mental health services are even harder to find in our nation's rural areas, areas that myself and my Iowa colleagues here represent in Congress. The truth is sad but it's pretty simple: We are failing our veterans."

The Sgt. (Brandon) Ketchum Rural Veterans’ Mental Health Act takes its name from a 33-year-old veteran from Davenport who died by suicide in 2016 after being denied inpatient psychiatric care at the Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center. While an investigation by the VA inspector general found hospital staff was not directly responsible, supporters said Ketchum's death highlighted holes in the system for rural service members.

Beverly Kittoe, Ketchum's mother, told the Des Moines Register she was proud to see his name attached to the bill.

"Brandon had the biggest heart. He always made sure others got what they needed before he got anything for himself," Kittoe said. 

U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson and Randy Feenstra all joined Axne in support of the bill. 

"Let's be real: Not every war wound is visible. Many veterans struggle when they come home with serious mental health challenges. ... Sgt. Ketchum sought help at the Iowa City VA Hospital but was turned away. And shortly after, he did take his own life," Hinson said. "No veteran should be denied the help and the care that they need after dedicating their lives to serving our country."