Senate approves law to designate Sept. 22 as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day

The Massachusetts Senate on Nov. 6 passed House Bill 3388 to designate Sept. 22 as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.

Sponsor remarks: Senator O’Connor, speaking in support, said the designation would formalize a remembrance day the governor had previously proclaimed and would “give us an opportunity to honor those we have lost and highlight the availability of services” for veterans. O’Connor cited a 2024 Department of Veterans Affairs report and said that, on average, "17.6 veterans will die from suicide every single day in the United States," noting the broader public‑health and community response required.

Why it matters: Supporters said the designation focuses attention on veteran mental‑health resources and builds on recent legislative efforts to expand services for veterans, including the SPEED Act and the HERO Act. Sponsor representatives and families with lived experience — including the Parteka family, who lost a relative — were credited on the floor with helping secure support.

Vote: After remarks, the chamber voted and the clerk announced the bill was passed to be engrossed.

Quote: "Establishing Veterans Suicide Awareness Remembrance Day is an excellent opportunity for us as a Commonwealth to meet that commitment," Senator O'Connor said.

Speakers: Senator O'Connor.

Authorities: [{"type":"other","name":"VA national veteran suicide report (2024)","citation":"Cited by sponsor on floor","referenced_by":["house-3388-veteran-suicide-day"]}]

Actions: [{"kind":"motion","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"house-3388-third-reading","project_slug":"house-3388"},"motion":"Third reading and pass House Bill 3388 to be engrossed; designate Sept. 22 as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day","mover":"Senator O'Connor","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Michael J. Barrett","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Michael D. Brady","vote":"yes"},{"member":"William N. Brownsberger","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Nick Collins","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":38,"no":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Clerk announced bill passed to be engrossed."}]

Clarifying_details:[{"category":"designation","detail":"Designates September 22 each year as Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day in Massachusetts","value":"September 22","units":"date","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Senator O'Connor"},{"category":"statistics","detail":"Sponsor cited 2024 VA report figure that on average 17.6 veterans die by suicide per day in the U.S.","value":17.6,"units":"deaths/day","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Senator O'Connor"}],

proper_names:[{"name":"Department of Veterans Affairs","type":"agency"},{"name":"Parteka family","type":"other"}],

provenance:[{"block_id":"block_5165.645","local_start":0,"local_end":140,"evidence_excerpt":"An act designated September 22 as military service members of veteran suicide awareness in Remembrance Day, House Number 3388.","tc_start":"01:26:05","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_5550.19","local_start":0,"local_end":64,"evidence_excerpt":"Grossed. All those in favor say, I oppose no. The ayes have it. The bill is passed to be engrossed.","tc_start":"01:32:30","reason_code":"topicfinish"}],

searchable_tags:["veteran_suicide","remembrance_day","House3388"],

salience:{"overall":0.68,"overall_justification":"Symbolic designation with high advocacy and public‑health relevance; passed quickly on the floor with sponsor and family testimony.","impact_scope":"state","impact_scope_justification":"Annual designation for the Commonwealth; raises awareness and signals legislative priority.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"High interest among veterans advocacy groups and communities affected by suicide.