Help for Our Returning Servicemen and Servicewomen

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUTHERFORD. I thank my good friend from New York for his kind words.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss something that affects far too many of our veterans around the country. Every year in America, thousands of young men and women, they raise their right hands and take that oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

They take this oath with the full knowledge of the risks associated with military service. They may be shipped off to a dangerous place. They may be required to have courage under fire. And like scores of American heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice throughout our history, they may even lay down their lives as well.

Madam Speaker, what these men and women did not sign up for is the torment that follows too many after their service is complete. In fact, for some, the toughest battle that they will face comes after they leave the military.

Over the last 2 years, Americans have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. But I tell you, there is another pandemic raging in our veteran community. Every single day, over 20 veterans take their lives--every single day.

Since 9/11, we have lost four times as many veterans and Active Duty servicemembers to suicide than we have to combat--four times more to suicide than combat. This pandemic may not get the front-page attention in the media, but for those battling PTSD, TBI, and other forms of service-connected trauma, it is personal, and it is real.

We owe not only a debt of gratitude to those who have served but also a commitment that we are there for them throughout their lives. That is why I am proud to support the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act because I know it works.

This bipartisan legislation expands an already proven, successful peer-to-peer support program for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. This program, as I said, has already been proven to be effective therapy across the State of New York. It is time to bring this to veterans in every corner of the United States to save those lives.

I want to thank my good friend, Congressman Lee Zeldin, for filing this bill, this very important bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill and continue to fight for those who have so bravely fought for us.

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Mr. RUTHERFORD. I would, too. I will tell the gentleman, listening to him speak, it reminds me that this is not even just about those servicemembers. We talk about the 20 to 23 number that take their lives every day. But there are thousands of family members and friends who are affected by those deaths. So this is not only for our servicemembers. It is also for all of their families and friends and loved ones. I thank the gentleman for this bill.

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Mr. RUTHERFORD. I will tell the gentleman, it is proven in New York. It is actually proven in northeast Florida. We have a peer-to-peer program that is called Fire Watch, which has been incredibly successful just recently.

That is why I was excited to see this bill because I know from Fire Watch, and I know from the results that you all have had in the great State of New York, just how important this is to saving lives.

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