The first Iraq war combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at reducing the number of military veterans who commit suicide. No matter the cost of the measures urged in the sweeping bill, "that is the cost of war," Democratic Sen. John Walsh of Montana told CNN. Every day, 22 veterans commit suicide. To Walsh, that is more than a number. From 2004 to 2005, he commanded an infantry battalion of the Montana National Guard in Iraq. When the unit returned home, one of Walsh's soldiers committed suicide. When Walsh became adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, a few more guardsmen died by suicide.
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Sen. John Walsh has introduced legislation to reduce military suicides
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Walsh is the first Iraq war combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate
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"We're leaving our veterans to fight their toughest battles alone," Walsh said
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The bill would give veterans more time to receive mental health care
Currently, they use different drug prescription protocols, @placeholder and military experts told CNN, and that can create a difficult situation.