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LULAC Welcomes Support By NAMI For Passage Of The Brandon Act

The Nation’s Largest and Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization Calls Support by National Alliance On Mental Illness Significant

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) announced that NAMI has added its support in calling for bi-partisan congressional passage of the Brandon Act. The proposed legislation is named after 21-year-old Navy aircrew mate Brandon Caserta, who died by suicide in 2018 at Naval Station Norfolk. Caserta left the Navy SEAL training program and expressed unhappiness that his career opportunities afterward were limited. His parents say their son was being repeatedly bullied, and his superiors failed to act when he displayed symptoms of depression.

“Too many Americans have lost their lives because they have not been able to get the mental health support they need and deserve,” said NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. “NAMI is proud to support the Brandon Act, which would ensure that our service members can receive a confidential mental health evaluation referral, without fear of retaliation.”

The Brandon Act is part of the Save Our Servicemembers Campaign which also highlights several important initiatives currently underway:

“LULAC is proud to welcome NAMI’s support and influence in this very important work on behalf of our men and women servicemembers,” says Sindy Benavides, LULAC National Chief Executive Officer. “The need for access to mental health services cannot be overstated within the ranks of our military and the tragic death of Brandon Caserta is helping to draw attention to this very critical issue. We are grateful to the Caserta family for the courage to persevere in this cry for justice Brandon began,” adds Benavides.

For more information: www.thebrandonact.org

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/