Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition From Uniformed Service to Civilian Life
Signed January 9, 2018·Donald Trump·83 FR 1513
Source
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Plain-language summary
Directs the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to work together to improve mental healthcare and suicide prevention access for service members transitioning to civilian life, particularly during the first year after leaving uniformed service, a period the order says carries a higher suicide rate. Within 60 days, the three secretaries must submit a Joint Action Plan to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, describing concrete steps to provide seamless mental health and suicide prevention resources during that first year. Within 180 days, they must submit a status report on implementing the plan, covering preliminary progress, additional reforms and possible legislative or regulatory changes, and a timeline for further steps. The order states it does not alter existing agency authority, applies subject to available funding, and creates no enforceable legal rights.
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Claimed authority
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered
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The order, in full
Executive Order 13822 of January 9, 2018
Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition
From Uniformed Service to Civilian Life
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United
States to support the health and well-being of
uniformed service members and veterans. After serving
our Nation, veterans deserve long, fulfilling civilian
lives. Accordingly, our Government must improve mental
healthcare and access to suicide prevention resources
available to veterans, particularly during the critical
1-year period following the transition from uniformed
service to civilian life. Most veterans' experience in
uniform increases their resilience and broadens the
skills they bring to the civilian workforce.
Unfortunately, in some cases within the first year
following transition, some veterans can have
difficulties reintegrating into civilian life after
their military experiences and some tragically take
their own lives. Veterans, in their first year of
separation from uniformed service, experience suicide
rates approximately two times higher than the overall
veteran suicide rate. To help prevent these tragedies,
all veterans should have seamless access to high-
quality mental healthcare and suicide prevention
resources as they transition, with an emphasis on the
1-year period following separation.
Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) In furtherance of the
policy described in section 1 of this order, I hereby
direct the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland
Security to collaborate to address the complex
challenges faced by our transitioning uniformed service
members and veterans.
(b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall
submit to the President, through the Assistant to the
President for Domestic Policy, a Joint Action Plan that
describes concrete actions to provide, to the extent
consistent with law, seamless access to mental health
treatment and suicide prevention resources for
transitioning uniformed service members in the year
following discharge, separation, or retirement.
(c) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall
submit to the President, through the Assistant to the
President for Domestic Policy, a status report on the
implementation of the Joint Action Plan and how the
proposed reforms have been effective in improving
mental health treatment for all transitioning uniformed
service members and veterans. The report shall include:
(i) preliminary progress of reforms implemented by the Joint Action Plan;
(ii) any additional reforms that could help further address the problems
that obstruct veterans' access to resources and continuous mental
healthcare treatment, including any suggestions for legislative and
regulatory reforms; and
(iii) a timeline describing next steps and the results anticipated from
continued and additional reforms.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 9, 2018.Reproduced from the Federal Register plain-text record, signed January 9, 2018. Typesetting artifacts are removed; no wording is changed.