Rep. Mackenzie introduces bill in U.S. House to support veteran suicide prevention research

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the U.S. House aims to fund research using predictive models to address veteran suicide prevention, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.8486 was introduced on April 23, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program aimed at developing predictive models that assess risk factors contributing to suicide among veterans. Within one year of enactment, grants will be awarded to eligible organizations—such as nonprofits, academic institutions, and research entities—that demonstrate expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and healthcare data analysis. Selection criteria will prioritize organizations located in high-suicide areas, with experience in government health systems, and those capable of providing clinically actionable and secure analytical tools. The program is set to terminate on September 30, 2029, with the expectation that the developed models will integrate data from both the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (Republican-PA-7th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (Democrat-PA-5th District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Mackenzie has introduced another 15 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Ryan Mackenzie is a Representative from Pennsylvania, born in Allentown on August 2, 1982. He graduated with a B.S. from New York University in 2004 and an M.B.A. from Harvard University in 2010, and has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2012 to 2024.

Mackenzie was a staffer for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey in 2004 and worked at the United States Department of Labor in 2007. He was also the policy director for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and served as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 2016. He was elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, beginning January 3, 2025.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.