Communications & Public Affairs
March 5, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Jacob Rosecrants
(405) 557-7329 jacob.rosecrants@okhouse.gov

Bill To Establish ‘Veterans Suicide Awareness Week’ Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation to bring awareness to the issue of veteran suicide in Oklahoma has unanimously passed the House with a vote of 89 to 0.

House Bill 2891, authored by Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman), would establish “Veterans Suicide Awareness Week” in Oklahoma, which would take place the second week of every October. The legislation was prompted by one of Rosecrants’ constituents whose son died by suicide. Damien Eckstein was a US Army veteran of the Iraq War who died Oct. 14, 2013.

“This bill is an effort to bring awareness to this ongoing tragedy,” Rosecrants said. “For many of our veterans, combat doesn’t end when they leave the battlefield. As lawmakers, as Americans, we should be doing anything we can to bring awareness to the problem and then work together to find solutions.”

-30-