Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today applauded the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for advancing legislation to renew and expand the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant program – a community-based mental health initiative Warner co-authored with Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) that is set to expire this year without congressional action.

“This program was born out of a simple but urgent idea: that we need to meet veterans where they are, in their communities, with the support and services that could save their lives,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to see this grant program making a difference across the country, including here in Virginia, and glad that we’re one step closer to making sure it doesn’t lapse at the end of the year.”

Suicide is the 12th-leading cause of death for veterans, and the 2nd-leading cause for veterans under 45. Over 131,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001, with veterans being 72% more likely than the civilian population to die by suicide. Since its original passage in 2021, the Fox Grant Program has worked to end this crisis by distributing hundreds of millions in funding to organizations that provide critical, frontline mental health services to veterans. In 2024 alone, Virginia organizations received $4.5 million from these grants. The program honors Veteran Parker Gordon Fox, a veteran and former sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA. SSG Fox died by suicide on July 21, 2020 at the age of 25. 

The legislation advanced in committee on Wednesday would reauthorize the program before it expires on September 30 and expand its reach to ensure more veterans can access support where they live.

“Veteran suicide is a national emergency,” Sen. Warner added. “We have a responsibility to keep pushing for solutions that work. This program is one of them, and I look forward to seeing it expanded under the law.”

The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

###