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Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, are proposing the creation of a nationwide “Green Alert” system to help veterans in need.
The system would be similar to AMBER Alerts, which are in place in all 50 states to help find endangered children; and Silver Alerts, which are public notices used to help find adults, especially senior citizens, who may suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia or other mental disabilities.
The Green Alert Act of 2019, or S. 699, would establish a federal commission to develop best practices and provide technical assistance to implement Green Alert systems. Wisconsin became the first state to create such a system last year.
“Far too many of our brave veterans experience mental and emotional trauma as a result of their service, and as we work to build a country that is ever-worthy of their service, we must ensure that they have the support and resources they need to thrive in civilian life,” Hassan said. “This is a commonsense step we can take now to ensure that we can be there for our veterans who have so valiantly served to defend our freedoms.”
Ernst, who retired from the Iowa Army National Guard in 2015 as a lieutenant colonel and who spent a year deployed to the Middle East, said many veterans experience hardships when they return home from combat.
“Unfortunately, sometimes due to stress and trauma associated with their time in uniform, many of our veterans tragically go missing,” she said. “Our bipartisan and commonsense legislation will help states, like Iowa, implement the Green Alert system, and will ensure our vets get the attention they deserve.”
