National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

Floor Speech

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Mrs. HAYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the amendments en bloc 2, which includes my amendment to support the mental health and nutritional needs of servicemembers.

Servicemembers across the country and in my State who seek mental healthcare often encounter outdated resources or a lack of information on military websites. Without immediate and accurate access to mental health providers, servicemembers and their families are left to navigate a crisis on their own. Servicemembers already have insurance hurdles that can make it difficult to find acceptable and covered providers.

My amendment would help bridge this gap by requiring the military to review all installation-level web information about suicide prevention and behavioral health and ensure contact information is up to date. My amendment also requires the military to certify their review to Congress on a yearly basis.

Additionally, I urge my colleagues to support Chairman McGovern's amendment, which would require the DOD and the USDA to collect data on food insecurity among servicemembers. Representative McGovern's amendment would require the Department of Defense to train and designate a point person on all military bases to refer servicemembers seeking nutritional assistance.

Last November, as chair of the House Agriculture Nutrition Subcommittee, I hosted a hearing to address hunger among servicemembers, and our witnesses pointed out the lack of consistent data to address this issue. I support this amendment and will continue to work with Chairman McGovern to ensure that no family, especially military families, go hungry.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the amendments en bloc 2 and the final National Defense Authorization Act.

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