119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9376
The TOURS Act (Trauma Outreach, Understanding, and Resilience through Spirituality Act) requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to formalize its annual suicide prevention report and launch a two-year research study examining whether chaplain services and faith-based programs help reduce suicide risk among veterans. The study must begin by January 1, 2027, and will track how veterans use these services, measure outcomes, and identify effective programs while protecting veterans' privacy and medical confidentiality. The VA must submit annual progress reports to Congress and provide yearly briefings on suicide prevention findings during the two-year study period. This legislation affects all veterans who use VA services and aims to provide evidence on whether spiritual and faith-based support can supplement traditional mental health care in suicide prevention efforts.