National Warrior Call Day proposed in bipartisan bill to fight veteran suicide

A bipartisan bill would create a new, nationally recognized day aimed at helping fight the tragedy of veteran suicide.

A new bill being introduced Wednesday by Reps. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., and Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., would recognize the Sunday after Veterans Day as National Warrior Call Day. Americans would be encouraged to mark the day by calling a current or former member of the Armed Forces to "have an honest conversation, and connect them with support," according to bill text previewed by Fox News Digital.

"I've had about 21 of my friends commit suicide, and I've had around 50 of my friends, a little over 50 of my friends, killed in combat. That's 71 people that I know personally, that I worked with, who were very good friends of mine that have died since 9/11. And I'm only 53 years old. So, this stuff has got to stop," Van Orden told Fox News Digital.

The first-term GOP congressman is a retired Navy SEAL with five combat deployments. His bill notes that the rate of veteran suicides has "steadily increased" since 2006 and that suicides among active-duty service members have increased from 2019 to 2020.