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The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for America's Veterans Act was signed into law this week, calling for evaluations of the Department of...

The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for America’s Veterans Act was signed into law this week, calling for evaluations of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ suicide prevention and mental health programs and better support for veterans who need it. The bill was named for a Marine who took his own life in 2011 after battling depression and post-traumatic stress following deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s a tragic reminder of the challenges post-9/11 veterans are facing when they return home.

The Military Service Initiative at the Bush Institute works to support these servicemen and women and their families.  Reducing the stigma of PTS and helping post-9/11 veterans get the services they need is part of the effort. Next week, the Bush Center will host the Military Service Initiative’s second national summit, this time to explore how non-profit and philanthropic organizations can better serve post-9/11 veterans and military families. Veteran-serving non-profit organizations and their funders play a crucial role in ensuring our servicemembers have the support they need as they transition to civilian life.

The vice president of education policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce writes this week in The Hill on the merits of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the need to reauthorize the law for the sake of all students. “Education matters to the future of our country. Whether we are talking about greater equality, social mobility or the economic competitiveness of our nation, education holds the key to all of these. And to truly be the land of opportunity, we must deliver on our national commitment to the success of every child,” says Cheryl Oldham.

North America is a focus of the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth initiative, which is why this New America Foundation piece on a North American Passport caught our eye. We may be a long way from such a passport, but the fact is the United States, Mexico, and Canada should be thinking more about ways to integrate their economies. The North American Free Trade Agreement, now more than 20 years old, includes provisions for labor mobility in some 60 professional categories.  The more the economies of these three nations can work in tandem, while respecting the sovereignty of each nation, the more they can grow and benefit the residents of each country.