U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has introduced legislation to expand access to mental health services for veterans, her first official bill since being elected as Iowa’s first female senator.

Ernst, who has been serving since January, gave her first floor speech on the Senate floor on Monday and spent her time talking about the new legislation aimed at helping veterans receive better mental health care.

Ernst, a veteran herself, served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National Guard, including 14 months in Kuwait during the Iraq War.

“According to the [Department of Veterans Affairs], there are approximately 22 veteran suicides per day,” Ernst said. “We can, and must, do better for our veterans.”

Under Ernst’s legislation, titled the “Prioritizing Veterans’ Access to Mental Health Care Act,” if a veteran is not receiving adequate care from a VA hospital or is on a wait list, they would be able to receive non-VA care until they can receive comprehensive mental health care from the VA.

“There is no acceptable VA wait time for mental health care for our veterans” Ernst said. “The limits to how much suffering a veteran can endure simply cannot be accurately measured by the VA or any medical professional.”

The bill would also eliminate the 40-mile rule on Veterans Choice care and VA wait-time triggers that have been in the news recently following revelations of long waiting lists at VA facilities in the United States.

Lastly, Ernst’s legislation would prioritize incentives for VA hospitals if they hire more mental health care professionals.

“A veteran at risk for suicide can’t afford any delay in treatment,” said U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who has signed on as an original co-sponsor.

“He or she needs mental health treatment as soon as possible,” Grassley added. “As a matter of common sense, sometimes the first available facility is outside the VA system. “

At least two other senators have signed on as original co-sponsors, and Ernst said she hopes a bipartisan group will rally around her bill.

“The bill does have growing support,” Ernst said. “I’ve had a number of senators that have agreed to co-sponsor this legislation and many others have come forward and want to be a part of this movement. I am very hopeful the bill is going to receive broad, bipartisan support, because ensuring our veterans have access to the mental healthcare they deserve is not a conservative or liberal idea, it is an American value.”

Ernst also said the Wounded Warriors Project has already voiced support for the bill, along with Concerned Veterans for America.

“This bill is a good idea to help veterans get the care they need when they need it,” Grassley said.

If passed and signed into law, the VA would have 90 days to implement the new guidelines laid out in Ernst’s bill.

“These men and women are trained and have selflessly sacrificed in defense of our freedoms, and our way of life,” Ernst said. “We must ensure that our veterans are prepared to transition back to civilian life.”

Ernst is not the only Republican from Iowa who has worked to ensure veterans have a smooth transition back into civilian life.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad launched his “Home Base Iowa” initiative in 2013, which seeks to provide veterans transitioning back to civilian life with resources to find jobs.

At least a dozen counties in Iowa have been designated “Home Base Iowa communities,” meaning they have been focused on bringing veterans to their community. More than 700 businesses have been designated as “Home Base Iowa Businesses.”

“These veterans fought for us and defended us tirelessly. They endured more than some of us can ever imagine,” Ernst said. “The invisible wounds of war can no longer go unnoticed. It is our duty to do all we can to thank them and ensure they have access to the quality mental health care. The health care they deserve.”