Senate backs bill to address veterans' suicide

The Senate has approved a bill aimed at reducing a suicide epidemic among military veterans, sending the measure to President Obama.

The bill is named for Clay Hunt, a 26-year-old veteran who killed himself in 2011 and comes in response to suicides that on average claim the lives of 22 military veterans every day.

The Senate approved the bill unanimously on Tuesday. The House unanimously passed it last month.

The bill would require the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department to submit to independent reviews of their suicide prevention programs and offer financial incentives to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals who agree to work for the VA. It also would help military members as they transition from active duty to veteran status.