Hearing of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - Receive the Legislative Presentation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars

Hearing

Thank you Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to join you, and our colleagues in welcoming the
Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliary.

It is an honor to serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. This
is not an honor I take lightly. No obligation is more sacred than the debt we owe our military
men and women. Serving veterans has been one of my highest priorities throughout my career,
and I am looking forward to working with everyone on these Committees to improve the care
and benefits that veterans receive.

I look forward to hearing from you, Commander Stroud, and would like to recognize the VFW
and Auxiliary members who are here today from Connecticut. I also want to recognize the
National President of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Ann Panteleakos, who is from Plainfield,
Connecticut. Thank you for traveling to be with us today and for all the important work you do
on behalf of veterans, their families, and the families of the fallen in Connecticut.
The VFW traces its root back to the Spanish-American War, when veterans of that conflict
founded local organizations to secure benefits for their service. Ever since, the VFW's
leadership has been instrumental in the fight to make sure that we as a nation live up to the
commitments we have made to our veterans and their families. Today, the VFW provides
critical services to veterans and their families, and it provides incredible support to our youth and
educators through its numerous scholarship programs, such as the Voice of Democracy, and
through its tireless advocacy on behalf of all veterans and their families.

The VFW and its membership has been a valuable resource for all of us in Congress, as we
continue our efforts to address the many opportunities to improve the care and benefits provided
to veterans and their families. In fact, the support of the VFW, and other veterans service
organizations allowed this Congress to get off to a great start and see the Clay Hunt SAV Act
signed into law just a short time ago. I am proud to have joined with Senator McCain in
introducing this measure in the Senate.

This law provides one more opportunity to deliver help -- and hope -- to heroes who need and
deserve it. Every day in the United States, 22 veterans succumb to suicide -- losing their personal
battle to invisible wounds of war. The Clay Hunt SAV Act is named for a single brave veteran
who lost that battle. By improving and modernizing VA suicide prevention programs, it honors
every serviceman and woman who has struggled with mental health issues.

I know the crisis of suicide all too well - a friend of mine, Justin Eldridge of southeastern
Connecticut - succumbed to suicide. He was deployed in combat to Afghanistan where he braved
mortar fire and sniper fire and he returned to his family, his children and his wife - his very
young family - suffering from a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. As brave as he
had been on the battlefield, he could not win the war at home. He sought mental health care at
the Connecticut VA facility. He had gone through a long battle for benefits. I helped him with it.
But there was a gap in the continuity of his medical care. He slipped through the cracks and
eventually took his life.

As I have noted in the past, this bill is a down-payment. It is not the end of solutions to this
problem. It is a worthwhile measure that takes limited, targeted steps. I plan to use my role on
this Committee to ensure VA makes every effort to address mental health issues in the coming
year. Access to timely mental health care is but one of the many challenges facing veterans and
their families. There are many others I intend to focus on as Ranking Member.

The number of veterans is growing dramatically, as our nation winds down recent wars and our
armed forces down size. We need to do as much as we can to make it easier for servicemembers
to access earned benefits and health care as they transition out of the military and beyond.
Whether we are: ensuring VA is properly implementing provisions of the Access law Congress
passed last fall as it continues to drive down the unacceptably long wait times; pressing VA and
DOD to improve its ability to share information including medical records; providing proper care
and benefits to those who suffer from the results of toxic exposures; or working to end veteran
underemployment and homelessness, it is clear that work remains to honor the sacrifice of the
brave men and women who serve this country.

The VFW continues to shine a light on challenges women veterans face when accessing VA care
and benefits. Thank you for your continued commitment to this issue. We must ensure that we
honor the service of women veterans by making the VA system more responsive to their unique
needs.

The VFW has also taken the lead to make sure veterans understand the new VA Choice Program
by running a help line and creating a new website where veterans can learn about the program.
And in an effort to hold the VA accountable, the VFW launched two surveys on the VA's
implementation of the Choice Program.

I also want to thank you for the VFW's continued emphasis on the need to conduct more
research on the health effects of toxic exposure on the descendants of servicemembers who were
exposed to these substances during military service. Senator Moran and I plan to reintroduce the
Toxic Exposure Research Act in the near future. Thank you for your leadership on this issue and
your support.

Now, let me very briefly pivot to the budget. Another way our Committee honors veterans is by
carefully reviewing the President's budget request for VA. Last Thursday, the Committee held a
hearing on the VA's budget request. Your presence and testimony here today provide us with a
stark reminder that veterans' issues are about much more than just numbers on a piece of paper.

The budget is but one piece of how we as a nation honor the service and sacrifice of the men and
women - as well as their families - who have worn the uniform and answered the call to serve. I
look forward to working with the VFW and all of the VSO groups to ensure the funding levels
requested and policies proposed in the President's budget reflect the very real needs of the men
and women who have served this country.

Commander Stroud, again welcome to you, your leadership team, and the VFW and Auxiliary
members who have joined us today from across the country. I look forward to hearing your
testimony and to collaborating with every Member of these Committees to keep faith with
veterans of all wars and eras, and make sure that we leave no veteran behind.

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