Prevention Of Veteran Suicides

Floor Speech

PREVENTION OF VETERAN SUICIDES -- (House of Representatives - March 21, 2007)

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act, of which I am a cosponsor. The House will consider this important legislation today.

Roughly one in five military personnel returning from active duty suffers from a debilitating condition called post-traumatic stress syndrome. Unfortunately, the effects of PTSD have hit close to home for one family in my district. Their son, Sergeant Charles Call, of the United States Army, always dreamed of serving his country. He even left his unit, which was not being sent to Iraq, and joined another that was being deployed so he could be with those fighting for our freedom and safety. He loved his country and was willing to make that sacrifice.

After returning from Iraq, he developed the symptoms of PTSD. Despite his attempts to seek help from the local veterans hospital, he did not receive the treatment he so desperately needed; and, sadly, Sergeant Call took his own life on February 3, 2006.

With the passage of this legislation, we can finally provide a safety net for our veterans coming home and prevent tragedies like that of Sergeant Call. It is crucial that they have the resources needed to pursue healthy lives upon returning to civilian life. Screening of all returning combat veterans and 24-hour access to counseling are just some of the options we must offer.

I support this in the name of Sergeant Charles Call.

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