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I
116TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 8173
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the
connection between living at high altitude and suicide risk factors among
veterans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
Mr. MCADAMS (for himself, Mr. CISNEROS, and Mr. TIPTON) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a
study on the connection between living at high altitude
and suicide risk factors among veterans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘VA High Altitude and
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Suicide Research Act’’.
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•HR 8173 IH
SEC. 2. STUDY ON CONNECTION BETWEEN LIVING AT HIGH
1
ALTITUDE
AND
SUICIDE
RISK
FACTORS
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AMONG VETERANS.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the
4
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Vet-
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erans Affairs, in consultation with Rural Health Resource
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Centers of the Office of Rural Health of the Department
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of Veterans Affairs, shall commence the conduct of a study
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on the connection between living at high altitude and the
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risk of developing depression or dying by suicide among
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veterans.
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(b) COMPLETION OF STUDY.—The study conducted
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under subsection (a) shall be completed not later than
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three years after the date of the commencement of the
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study.
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(c) INDIVIDUAL
IMPACT.—The study conducted
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under subsection (a) shall be conducted so as to determine
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the effect of high altitude on suicide risk at the individual
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level, not at the State or county level, controlling for po-
19
tential confounders including with respect to age, sex,
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mental health status, and access to firearms.
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(d) REPORT.—Not later than 150 days after the com-
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pletion of the study conducted under subsection (a), the
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Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
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fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
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•HR 8173 IH
fairs of the House of Representatives a report on the re-
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sults of the study.
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(e) FOLLOW-UP STUDY.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary determines
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through the study conducted under subsection (a)
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that living at high altitude is a risk factor for devel-
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oping depression or dying by suicide, the Secretary
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shall conduct an additional study to identify the fol-
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lowing:
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(A) The most likely biological mechanism
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that makes living at high altitude a risk factor
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for developing depression or dying by suicide.
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(B) The most effective treatment or inter-
13
vention for reducing the risk of developing de-
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pression or dying by suicide associated with liv-
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ing at high altitude.
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(2) REPORT.—Not later than 150 days after
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completing the study conducted under paragraph
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(1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
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Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee
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on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives
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a report on the results of the study.
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