TRENTON, N.J. — Assemblyman and Army veteran Brian Bergen is calling on Assembly leaders to advance his bill creating a veteran suicide prevention commission before Jan. 1, 2026, saying the stakes are too high to delay. A Senate committee approved the companion bill on Monday.
“Veterans with mental health issues, who are homeless, or recently separated from the service are particularly vulnerable. New Year’s Day is also a busier day for those manning veteran suicide prevention hotlines. It is critical New Jersey gets this bill across the finish line as soon as possible, because we know our veterans are at a higher risk and suicide is 100% preventable,” Bergen (R-Morris) said.
A 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found the suicide rate for veterans during the first year after leaving the military was 46.2 per 100,000, compared with 34.7 per 100,000 among veterans overall. Another study found suicide incidence increased on New Year’s Day, especially among veterans ages 25 to 34.
Bergen said New Jersey must prioritize meaningful support programs over symbolic gestures.
“New Jersey can and should be doing more to help veterans, which is why I have made it my personal mission to introduce legislation that will make a meaningful difference in their lives and the lives of their families. Free beach badges are nice, but they won’t save lives or help veterans make a home here,” he said.
The former Apache helicopter pilot introduced the proposal as part of a broader veterans’ bill package aimed at improving the transition from military to civilian life. His legislation (A2743) would establish a 13-member commission charged with developing and supporting programs that help veterans reintegrate successfully, with suicide prevention as the overarching goal.
“This commission will ensure there is a coordinated response to meet the needs of veterans when they are discharged, so they can find work, pay the bills and live in a home,” Bergen said.
Bergen has also introduced bills to exempt low-income veterans from state income taxes, increase property tax deductions, expand job opportunities and strengthen mental health and homelessness services. According to Monarch Housing Associates, homelessness in New Jersey increased 8% from 2024 to 2025, with 543 veterans counted, a nearly 5% rise from the previous year.
“I want to make New Jersey the best place for veterans in the country. It is a big task and the only way we are going to move the needle is by prioritizing legislation that addresses the unique challenges veterans experience,” Bergen said. “State government programs need to work for the people who need them, not for the bureaucrats who need something to boast about when they visit the local VFW.”
Bergen’s bill has been referred to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee for consideration.
