U.S. Representative Ryan Mackenzie said on May 2 that he has introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving access to healthcare and suicide prevention support for veterans in Pennsylvania’s Seventh Congressional District.
The issue is significant as Lehigh County alone has approximately 15,563 veterans, representing 5.2 percent of the local population, according to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. Mackenzie said veterans in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos depend on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for critical services.
Mackenzie made his statement in a post on X about legislation he introduced to support veterans in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. According to Mackenzie, “Veterans in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos depend on the VA for critical services. That’s why I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation to help the VA better identify veterans who may be at risk of suicide and connect them with care earlier, as well as legislation to streamline the VA appointment scheduling process and make it easier for veterans to access the care they’ve earned” according to his May 2 post.
The need for such measures is underscored by recent data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which reported 6,398 veteran suicides nationwide in 2023, with a rate of 35.2 per 100,000 individuals. Pennsylvania reported 268 veteran suicides that year, with a rate of 38.6 per 100,000 according to the VA.
Mackenzie serves as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s Seventh Congressional District and previously served 12 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where he chaired the Labor and Industry Committee according to his official biography. His district encompasses Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties plus part of Monroe County according to his official website. He supports community programs including art competitions, commendations and grant assistance; offers Spanish-language services by appointment; and focuses on issues including healthcare improvements, workforce development, taxpayer protection, environmental conservation, veteran support and government reform according to his official website.
