- Record: Senate Floor
- Section type: Amendments
- Chamber: Senate
- Date: June 24, 2026
- Congress: 119th Congress
- Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.
SA 6359. Mr. BOOKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title VII add the following:
SEC. 771. STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH OF MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Plan.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with
the Secretary of each military department and the Director of
the Defense Health Agency, shall develop a strategic plan to
address suicide by members of the Armed Forces and the mental
health services provided to such members.
(b) Elements.—The plan under subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) Developing and enforcing uniform protocols with respect
to—
(A) the regulations prescribed for the self-initiated
referral process under section 1090b(e) of title 10, United
States Code, for members of the Armed Forces seeking mental
health evaluations; and
(B) the provision of information, including through
workplace posters, flyers, and advertisements, to ensure
members of the Armed Forces are aware of such referral
process.
(2) Standardized mental health training for members of the
Armed Forces, including—
(A) specialized training for commanders, senior enlisted
leaders, and medical personnel on identifying and addressing
mental health concerns;
(B) the development of a certification process based on
completion of training with documented proof of compliance;
(C) training on how to respond when a member of the Armed
Forces initiates the referral process under section 1090b(e)
of title 10, United States Code; and
(D) training on how to recognize signs indicating mental
health distress.