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The president signed into law today the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act (H.R. 5392), legislation introduced by Iowa Congressman David Young to provide necessary responsiveness and performance improvements to the Veterans Crisis Line, which is the hotline for veterans seeking suicide prevention and crisis resources help from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responders.

As cofounder of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force to Combat Identity Theft and Fraud, folks often ask me about the many different ways scammers and fraudsters prey on folks in our Iowa communities. I tell them these criminals use increasingly complex and ever evolving tactics, attempting to steal the personal and financial information of unsuspecting Americans all over the country.

Thanksgiving is a holiday rooted in American tradition, engrained in hundreds of years of being grateful for all we have. In looking forward to Thanksgiving this year, I am reminded of how truly thankful I am to live in this great nation, and grateful for those who serve to protect it.

Late one Saturday evening earlier this year, an Iowa veteran called the Veterans Crisis Line hoping to reach someone able to give him the help he desperately needed - instead he was left waiting on the line as the phone kept ringing with no answer.