Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. CISNEROS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act.

As this month marks National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I am grateful the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees are working across the aisle to improve mental health services for our veterans. I am proud that this package includes my bipartisan bill, the STOP Veteran Suicide and Substance Abuse Act.

We know that too many veterans struggling with mental health challenges, like PTSD, are often also dealing with substance misuse issues and the impact of various traumas, including military sexual assault.

Given how common these co-occurring problems are, VA healthcare providers need evidence-based guidance for working with multiple issues all at once. My bill ensures that the VA will develop and disseminate this clinical practice guideline to share best practices VA-wide.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Mast for working with me on this bill, and Chairman Takano for his tireless leadership on this issue.

And I also want to thank Dr. Roe for his years of service to the country, both as a doctor, a soldier, and as a member of this committee and service in the House of Representatives. I thank him very much for his friendship, always stopping to say hello. We are going to miss him here. But I know he will continue his service back in civilian life, and so I thank him very much for his years of service.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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