OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act

By: Tim Walz
By: Tim Walz
Date: Oct. 23, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans


JOSHUA OMVIG VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - October 23, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Filner for his strong support of this piece of legislation and to all members of the committee. Mr. Boozman has been a strong supporter of our veterans, and I appreciate the support for this piece of legislation.

Mr. Boswell so clearly illustrated the need for this piece of legislation. I urge my colleagues to stand in support of this compromise that has come back from the Senate, and thank Senator Harkin for moving it towards us.

As I spoke on this piece of legislation in March, the numbers show that veterans' suicide and mental health issues are urgent issues that require Congress' immediate attention. Although veterans make up 10 percent of our population, one in five people who commits suicide in the United States is a veteran.

A full 35 percent of our veterans returning from Iraq are seeking counseling for mental health issues within the first year. PTSD is fast becoming a signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Veterans' Affairs Committee has seen in countless hearings that the need to expand care is there.

H.R. 327 will meet this need. By directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer mental health screening to veterans, providing education to VA staff, contractors and medical personnel, and making available 24-hour mental health care for veterans who are at risk, we will alleviate some of these hardships.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation because of the critical service it will provide. Although we often have bitter debates in this House and are deeply divided over issues like the war in Iraq, there is one issue that we all agree on and has the potential to unite us and this Nation, and that is the care for our veterans. No one in this body questions the incredible sacrifice each of the veterans has made on behalf of the United States. And no one questions the responsibility that we have in Congress to provide them with the resources and the help necessary to live healthy and prosperous lives.

With this legislation, the 110th Congress will again demonstrate its commitment on behalf of our veterans.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward