Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017
Floor Speech
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Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment which seeks to redirect scarce resources to important mental health programs for our Nation's veterans.
At a hearing just last week entitled ``Combating the Crisis: Evaluating Efforts to Prevent Veteran Suicide,'' Chairman Jeff Miller stated that the latest data available from the VA reports that 22 veterans per day are committing suicide.
Last fiscal year, the VA General Administration account got a $15.68 million increase for more bureaucracy within the VA. This year, the Obama administration has requested another $81 million increase for that account.
The committee wisely chose not to provide funding for the majority of the request in that bill, stating:
``It has doubts about the wisdom of establishing a large new office with regional staffing at this late date in the administration.''
My amendment simply transfers a portion of the fiscal year 2016 increase for government bureaucrats to important mental health services for our Nation's heroes returning from combat.
Traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder have been consistently contributing to behavioral issues amongst our veterans; and all too often, these ongoing mental health issues result in suicide. With an average of 22 veteran suicides per day, more resources are desperately needed.
While redirecting funds to where they are needed most, the Congressional Budget Office also states that this amendment would save money and reduce outlays. My amendment also helps bring the level of funding in the bill for mental health closer to the administration's requests for the fiscal year.
The VA doesn't need more money to hire more paper pushers. Instead, let's appropriate that money to where and whom the VA was created for: to serve and help improve the mental health of our Nation's heroes.
I applaud the committee for including my language that ensures the Veterans Crisis Line will provide an immediate response from a trained professional and for the resources already directed in this bill towards mental health.
I ask my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment and help ensure our veterans that are in need get the care they so earned.
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Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
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