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SPEAKER 1: The issue of veteran suicide is well documented. According to numbers from the Veterans Administration, at least 8,000 veterans take their own lives each year. Efforts to do something about it include legislation sponsored by Minnesota's Representative Tim Walz. The DFLer spent 24 years in the Minnesota Army National Guard and is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

The bill is called the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act. It's a bipartisan effort, with companion legislation in the Senate sponsored by Republican John McCain. Congressman Tim Walz joins me now from Mankato with more. It's good to speak with you. Thanks for joining us.

TIM WALZ: Well, thanks for having me, Tom, and thanks for covering this important topic.

SPEAKER 1: So I wonder, what here was the tipping point for you that you said made this sort of legislation necessary?

TIM WALZ: Well, and I think we've seen the statistics. But for me, like so many, when you see a veteran come home, and you know them personally, and this happens, it is so tragic. And the case was with Clay Hunt. He was an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, wounded, Purple Heart, highly decorated. And when Clay came back home, he got involved helping others, knowing that the transition was hard.

And to watch this kid, he was in my office, we worked on other their legislation, and to just see someone that I assume just had it all together, and was just a rock, and was able to transition. And then several years ago, to get the call that Clay had taken his life, it just, it shakes you to the core. And we must do better. I certainly know this is not going to solve everything. It may just be a start. But if it fixes one, it's certainly worth it.

SPEAKER 1: What would this legislation do now that isn't being done presently?

TIM WALZ: The problem is that we have a lot of programs that we have no real measure of their effectiveness. So one of the things it would do, it gets some third party eyes on that, take a look at that. It would consolidate the mental health services. They're just so scattered right now, it's so difficult to get that. And it would do some things to try and get the best and brightest to go to the VA.

But I think, for me, one of the things it does is it sets a pilot program to have veterans who are in this, help with the transitioning back to the communities. I think that break that seems so obvious and people recognize it, but they don't understand, I think, how deep the implications are, when these veterans come back, of not re-transitioning into their communities.

SPEAKER 1: I think some of the concerns about this legislation is it doesn't do enough in that very regard, and that is the transition from active duty, where, well, where medical care is covered and free, and there is mental and physical health coverage, to time of being a veteran. Should there be an overlap of care there or some sort of continuity?

TIM WALZ: Yes. And you've got it right. And again, considering that the only piece of legislation that's going to move in this lame duck is probably to avert a government shutdown, this will be the only other piece. And to be honest with you, Tom, the Senate took out some of those very same things, some of those transitionings, some of the things that I think would have shined a bright light.

And they may have considered it a harsh light on what they're not doing in that transitioning piece of working together. And so I understand that these things are always steps forward and the critiques, and that is certainly a legitimate one. And it's one that I probably led the charge on critiquing it. So they're right about that.

SPEAKER 1: Now, you've said, more widely, the VA system is in crisis. You've been saying that for a few months. And since last time we talked, there's a new VA Secretary, Robert McDonald. He's been confirmed. He's on the job. He's a West Point guy, an and army captain, but also has a lot of business experience. What difference is he making?

TIM WALZ: When someone is asked at the VA, who do you work for? He's making sure the answer is the veteran, not for some mid-level bureaucrat, not for someone who, oh, my immediate supervisor or whatever. I work for the veteran, and that's the priority. I'm fairly optimistic. But when I say that, I do believe it's in crisis. And it's for numerous reasons.

The system has been strained. We have million veterans coming back over the next few years. We have incredibly difficult challenges with our aging veterans, especially the Vietnam veterans, from Agent Orange to diabetes. And we have to figure that out. And all of that is happening in the center of healthcare reform happening nationwide. So he's taken on a very difficult job.

But I can tell you, he has gained the confidence and the trust of people in Capitol Hill. I certainly can't speak for everyone, but for me, his responsiveness on issues of calling, he's aware of this bill and reached out to some folks and said, get this thing moving, this will help us type of thing, that's very, very encouraging to me.

SPEAKER 1: Congressman Tim Walz, thank you very much for your time. I really appreciate it.

TIM WALZ: Thank you, Tom.

SPEAKER 1: Tim Walz represents Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. He's a DFLer.