Encouraging the Connecting of Members of the Armed Forces in the United States to Support Structures Necessary to Transition From the Battlefield
Floor Speech
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 848) encouraging the connecting of members of the Armed Forces in the United States to support structures necessary to transition from the battlefield.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 848
Whereas the number of suicides of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty increased to 377 in 2020, an increase from 348 in 2019;
Whereas the suicide rate for veterans has steadily increased since 2006, with 6,261 veterans taking their own lives in 2019;
Whereas, after adjusting for sex and age, the rate of veteran suicide in 2018 was 27.5 per 100,000 individuals, higher than the rate among all United States adults, which was 18.3 per 100,000 individuals;
Whereas more veterans have died by suicide in the last 10 years than members of the Armed Forces who died from combat in Vietnam;
Whereas many of the veterans who take their own lives have had no contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs;
Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can lead to increased isolation and disconnection, further exacerbating mental and physical ailments such as post- traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty, and emergency medical services providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than members of the general public;
Whereas invisible wounds linked to an underlying and undiagnosed traumatic brain injury can mirror many mental health conditions, a problem that can be addressed through appropriate medical treatment; and
Whereas additional research is needed to highlight the connection between traumatic brain injury as a root cause of invisible wounds and suicide by members of the Armed Forces and veterans: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) encourages all individuals in the United States, especially members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty and veterans, to call a warrior, have an honest conversation, and connect them with support, understanding that making a warrior call could save a life; and
(2) implores all individuals in the United States to commit themselves to engaging with members of the Armed Forces and veterans to promote solutions and treatment for the invisible scars that members of the Armed Forces carry.
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Mr. BOST. Res. 848.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 848, and I thank my fellow veteran, Representative Van Orden, for his leadership on this resolution.
As the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I believe that we should celebrate the service of our veterans every day, not just like we did this weekend for Veterans Day. Every day, I am grateful to our veterans for their service to our country.
That is why this resolution is so important. Too many of our veterans are suffering in silence. Too many of our veterans are struggling to find their way. We owe it to them to do our part and reach out to let them know they are not alone.
This resolution encourages all Americans to connect with the persons in their lives who have served and offer a listening ear. Representative Van Orden's resolution implores all Americans to help servicemembers and veterans find solutions and treatment for the wounds of battle that may not be visible. This resolution also highlights the importance of taking care of our brothers and sisters in arms before, during, and after their service.
Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to my colleague for introducing it, and I urge all Members to support it.
To any veteran who may be watching, please reach out to talk. Hope and help are available by dialing 988 and pressing 1. We need you, and we want to help you.
Mr. Speaker, while I understand the concerns of the minority, I would remind the minority that both sides of the aisle on this committee are committed to this legislation. The Colmery Act and reducing veteran homelessness is a priority for us, and now that the House is back in business, I hope to see it on the floor very soon.
Mr. Speaker, if 208 Democrats had put their country first and not voted for the chaos of the 3 weeks of being without a Speaker, then maybe they have a complaint. Nonetheless, now, because of that chaos, maybe we would have already had these things picked up. I disagreed.
I look forward to working with both leadership and the minority to pass it out of the House with bipartisan support.
Mr. Speaker, I also respectfully remind the ranking member that Speaker McCarthy's proposal to increase the grant per diem rate during the COVID pandemic would have helped address this problem. However, Democrats, who were in the majority at the time, made us reduce the rate and put veterans homelessness providers in the situation we are in today with GPD. Rates are not in line with rising inflation.
We have been very successful in making smart investments in the VA program in recent years to reduce veteran homelessness. I agree with the minority that now is not the time to take our foot off the gas. I will agree with them on that.
Important legislation, such as Representative Chavez-DeRemer's bill, is one of the best ways to build our success and get veterans housed, which is why we are not going to stop improving these programs now.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I will get back to the resolution we have in front of us.
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution, H. Res. 848, urging all Americans, especially those who have worn the uniform, to reach out and connect with a fellow warrior.
In my 26 years of service, 22 of which I spent as a Navy SEAL, I have forged unbreakable bonds that only those who have served truly understand. These bonds are not predicated on politics. They are based solely on service over self. I don't ever recall asking a fellow servicemember what party they were affiliated with, only if they could perform the duties that were expected of them by their fellow Americans.
During my service, I bore witness to the greatest virtues that can be attributed to the human condition. I have also witnessed the profound sense of sorrow when we lost one of our own.
Among those whom we lost is my friend and former teammate, Navy SEAL Ryan Larkin, who tragically took his own life on April 23, 2017. Ryan's story speaks to the silent battles faced by many servicemembers and our veterans.
However, out of that darkness that is Ryan's loss, the Warrior Call resolution was born. It was inspired by Ryan's father, Frank Larkin, a former Navy SEAL and the 40th Sergeant At Arms of the United States Senate. His sincere wish is that no parent, spouse, friend, or teammate should ever again have to experience the loss of a loved one due to suicide. This resolution reflects the ongoing need to support those who grapple with isolation and mental health challenges.
Every year, our Nation sets aside a day for the men and women who gave their lives for freedom, and that is Memorial Day. For those who previously defended our freedoms, that is Veterans Day. For those who are currently defending our freedoms, that is Armed Forces Day.
This resolution serves a different purpose. It pays tribute to those we have lost by trying to prevent those who have come through the crucible of service from taking their own lives.
Every day, over 20 veterans commit suicide. We have lost more veterans to suicide in the last 10 years than we have in the cumulative total of all combat losses during the Vietnam war. We are doing something wrong, and it is time for a change.
Preventing veteran suicide is my number one legislative priority in terms of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on the Veterans' Affairs Committee being led by Chairman Bost. I am thankful to my fellow Members from both sides of the aisle and Ranking Member Levin for showing such commitment to this noble cause.
We know that one of the first outward signs of suicidal ideation is self-isolation, and that is why it is so critical that our veterans get involved in veterans service organizations and the VA itself. Nevertheless, not all Americans have access to VSOs or the VA, and this resolution empowers them to help end the scourge that is veteran suicide by simply picking up the phone and checking in with a warrior they have in their life, whether it is a brother, sister, friend, or neighbor, and have an honest conversation with them.
They will let them know that they are important to them and that they truly do value the veteran's sacrifice. It puts meaning behind the oft- spoken phrase: ``Thank you for your service.''
I acknowledge that there is a lot more work to be done with the VA, with the Transition Assistance Program, and in how medical and mental health services are provided. We are working on those every day. They take time, but we can do this now.
If we can put aside our differences and understand that by passing this resolution we could save even a single veteran's life, then all the time we spend here arguing with each other just might be worth it.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support my resolution to recognize the selfless gift these individuals have given us.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, the ranking member knows that H.R. 542, the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023 has my full support, but in spite of the incredible efforts to get a realistic CBO score, the bill still comes with a cost and the cost is one that we need to resolve, along with the Toxic Exposure Fund, or the TEF issue.
We are working closely with our Senate counterparts to get this bill and several other high-priority pieces of legislation through both Chambers by the end of the year, and you know that I support them.
Mr. Speaker, let me talk about the resolution that is in front of us. I do know and understand that this is an excellent bill, and I encourage all Members to support this resolution.
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