The Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize suicide prevention grants to organizations in states that have not yet received one. Currently, VA grants under the existing Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act may concentrate in certain states, leaving other states underserved. This bill requires the VA Secretary to give preference in scoring and consideration to eligible applicants from states without prior grants until at least one grant is awarded there. The legislation affects veterans' mental health organizations nationwide and aims to ensure more equitable distribution of federal suicide prevention resources across all states. No new funding is specified in the bill; it simply restructures how existing grant money is allocated among competing applicants.
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