Transcripts For CSPAN2 Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing On Suicide Prevention 20240712

[no audio] [silence] [no audio] good afternoon, everyon good afternoon everyone. [inaudible] to support millions of veterans every day to hear from those organizations and the support for Suicide Prevention and legislation with commander John Scott Hannon better improvement act. Business legislation before thisbe committee and before the senate and i wanted to give the opportunity to the Veterans Service organizations and others and as you negotiate with the passage in the ability to be sent to the president. September 10 is worldwide Suicide Prevention day in the hearing is our opportunity to impact so Many Americans and urge for swift passage of legislation to provide lifesaving measures for those at a risk. I was notified yesterday of another veteran who died by suicide on v. A. Property. And those placing the veteran at the center of the system focusing on new forms of outreach. To achievein those goals and those not yet identified and organizations not yet with caddying and research of Suicide Prevention programs to make sure there is no wrong door to accessing Mental Health Care Services for nations veterans. Fourteen out of 20 veterans who died by suicide are not on the v. A. System that would to work with and amplify the effort of those serving country across the especially the medically underserved areas. After i became chairman in january we reported the bill favorably 14 zero. And then to pass this nunanimously last month senator chester has been a leader in this legislation from the very beginning while the country is faced these unprecedenteden challenges on the need of the nations veterans and if for those reasons for the Mental Health care improvement act and how this will make meaningful impact on the lives of veterans. I yield to the Ranking Member senator chester. And the Health Care Improvement act this bill is name for a former navy seal who served our nation with those Services Available with the invisible wounds of war. And open on that journey to recovery getting involved in the National Alliance in the therapy programs and unfortunately he died by suicide on 2018. And the improve commander those that make diagnosing and those conditions easier. This legislation and bolsters the Research Effort and with those biomarkers to study the effects of Mental Health with the risk of suicide. Was Suicide Prevention also expands access and requires the v. A. As Mental Health professionals and directs them to establish a Scholarship Program with marriage and Family Therapy and counseling. And then with the program of. A study. Meant to provide suicide assistance to families and those with emergency necessary care when in crisis getting that care to the and i encourage my colleagues at the Mental Health care improvement act to move forward. As a chairman is indicated and then to advance additional legislation. And then to the c American Public and during those Turbulent Times to do what is right and a critical support to those who sacrificed and then with lifesaving Mental Healthar care. Thank you the family for continuing and to need some help improving their Mental Health. We are very close to the family and to help make that legislation andd possible. And with that i yield. Thank you for your opening remarks many of them are with the care and wellbeing of the nations veterans nothing is more important than the way we have been able to come together and achieve an outcome that is significantly beneficial to those who serve the nation. And president and ceo of inthe partnership and executive director National Alliance for Mental Health thank you for being with us in some form and now we will began hearing from our witnesses you are recognized for five minutes to deliver your testimony. The heartbreaking through the veteran suicide is that nearly every veteran has been touched by it in some form or fashion. Andd attempted suicide if you have never felt it its hard to comprehend what could be so, the thought to think ending your life is the only solution what we have done in seen is now a part ofve us in ways to have understanding. The complications with assimilation in civilian life we struggle at times. It is crucial there are a multitude of Resources Available even more important to be thoughtful and accessible and commander john scott Health Care Improvement act of 2019 addresses the multifaceted issues focusing oversight and adaptive Suicide Prevention programs. Chairman and Ranking Member distinguish members of the committee on behalf of the National Commander oxford thank you for inviting the American Legion to, testify for legislation. And with appropriate Mental Health Care Services ween feel and for generations veterans have struggled to integrate back into civilian life with the Transition Assistance Program reviewing Lessons Learned and expanding services to ensure safety net is in place during the critical first year. They were on research during that emotional strain of evidencebased psychotherapy as such we support the use of Health Services endorsed by this bill as 785 create and expand access to diverse Treatment Options think we can all agree that success is dependent on Proper Staffing what we have found that staffing and retention to delay access of Mental Health care. These are in line with the da office which determine Mental Health providers are the most critical. As recruitment and retention has been a focus we are pleased to see legislation that addresses this issue. Staffing issues expand beyond Mental Health from healthcare and to understand that gap analysis we are proud to say we support a focus for all eligible veterans in the more inclusive manner inclusivity also involves minority veterans to remain underserved for far too long. But that expansion in conjunction with the Pilot Program to bring services to the population in need of a comprehensive healthcare and to include Mental Health care access. It does not have a onesizefitsall solution but a complex problem that needs to be treated add an individual level and with the ptsd severe depression and bipolar disorder the navy seal and talked about his Mental Health journey and advocated for treatment and therapies. In the end we lost him to suicide we can learn from his story and action like the passing of this bill. While we support through that committee researchbased addition with mentalro health with the recommendations in the future we strongly urge the committee in both chambers of Congress Move expeditiously to reconcile their version to ensure this legislation is passed before the and of the 11h congress. Thank you chairman and Ranking Member for your commitment to this difficult subject to keep veterans it is my privilege to represent the American Legion and i look forward to any questions you may have. Thank you for your testimony and to the American Legion i now recognize mr. Butler. Behalf of iraq and afghanistan 425,000 members thank you for the opportunity to testifyfy today. Calling for immediate action with the crisis of those veterans that are dying every d day. The tragedy continues according to the data suicide loving veterans continue to have the highest rate of ssuicide and Mental Health injuries continue to disproportionately impact post 9 11 generation. 65 percent reported serviceconnected ptsd and over half report anxiety or depression. And alarming 22 percent rise 2014. We are losing brothers and sisters to suicide. And have those priorities for 2020 the number one issue was and remains to combat suicide and with that legislation we are talking about today. We are extremely proud to work with Ranking Member tester on landmark legislation we think them for their leadership on this issue in march i applauded this committee and we urge house colleagues to follow. And to reiterate the strong support for this legislation to think the committee that led to unanimous passage the primary message i want to deliver today is to emphasize my belief it would be completely irresponsible b for the 116th congress ended their work without having at least passing the act a lot of talk but not enough action to address veteran suicide. 2020 can be in the are currently concerned of that f pass forward and with those new provisions of the legislation was strong concerns with the Upcoming Elections the sign enough time to pass this legislation by the end of the year. It would take up s 785. We urge the committee and while the passage will go a long way Mental Health care to our community we know our jobs will not be done thank you for the f opportunity i look forward to answering your questions. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I recognize you for your testimony for five minutes. And the written testimony from august 182020 be added for the record since 116th congress convened the president and department of Veterans Affairs in both the senate and in house but in those days approximately 12300 died by suicide and despite increasing the prevention budget to extend veteran suicides continues to rise. The president signed an executive order to prevent veteran suicide and the Senate Passed one of the most impactful Suicide Prevention bills over the last o ten years if we continue to lack the integrated law implemented to end veteran suicide and 30 Community Partners provided this committee a letter stronglyon supporting senate bill 785 also known as the commander Mental Health care improvement act of 219785 is essential so upstream a veteran suicide and in the integration to proactively connect veterans before the crisis of suicide. Such as Research Studies and opioid related death and providing access to complementary integrated Health Services therapy, and recreation Therapy Research on Mental Health biomarkers and increasing the capacity of the v. A. Solving the suicide crisis requires a holistic solution veterans and families are losing help that the government will act especially during these unknown times you have done your job i hope the house will pass senate bill 785 immediately. And greats now leading and nationwide veterans do on study in partnership with the university of alabama by the Bristolmyers Squibb foundation this is showing combating suicide by 25 percent we have learned that suicide for those and that are honorably discharged over all causes of death at a rate four times greater than nonveterans and veterans between the ages of 18 and 34 have ten times greater rate. Like to publicly think the nsSuicide Prevention team for brokering with us as we peel back another layer. Operation deep dive also incorporating the Committee Members of the future. Seeking to provide insight to increase the whole pan quality for veterans andil families. Increasing access to Reliable Transportation to maximize opportunities working with sustainable employment and have the access with physical and Mental Health care. Is achieved when veterans look to the future. But on this issue the nation veterans and their families provided to roll call. 600,000 veterans and their families 95 percent dont believe it is doing enough. 77 percent believe to be dishonorably discharged servicemembers should receive healthcare and 86 percent say they must partner with the organization to prevent suicide. The time to act is now it is the right bill for right now. I joined the leaders to urge the house of representatives to pass this bill immediately. Hopeful for veterans into and veteran suicide thank you for the opportunity. We appreciate your passion on the issue. Youre not recognized for five minutes. Ranking member tester and distinguish members with the National Alliance we would like to extend our gratitude for the opportunity to testify on the veterans Mental Health care improvement act. Dedicated to building better lives and with that dedication and the Critical Issues for deveteran suicide in the commander and service from the navy seal from the family homestead outside of helena. Calling them by the name of scott we met for coffee and that we could strike up a friendship. And we struggled to find something to talk about thankfully we realized we both love designing outdoor custom adventure gear that would be the basis of a strongg friendship. He served in the seals 1991 through 2012 and had major awards during the service more than his fair share of hidden wounds and the journey toward recovery was courageous and took years scott was able to turn the tide with amazing therapist and a broad tradition both in and outside of the v. A. He benefited from to help heal injured rafters at the Rehabilitation Center and then to incorporate this experience and then to help to document the outcomes of this effort. And this legislation provides a pathway and scott was adamant and then to volunteer to advocate and with that journey toward w recovery. Scott was able to rebuild the emotional bond with his daughter i could remember the twinkle in his eyes so those wonderful weeks and after years of struggling and then to diagnose that bipolar disorder and the skimped of symptoms reemerged hard fall of 2017 and then with the meaning and the deep depression that followed and january 2018 our families have cried and laughed together. And then it is essential to understanding that initiative to say i just wish we knew about this earlier he overcame everythingde else he just needed time to work on that and i cannot agree more he spent more than half a decade in Substance Abuse treatment in the v. A. And department of defense and with that trajectory they knew exactly which Mental Healthew conditions at the beginning of the treatment and what to respond to and those treatments are not targeted. I believe Section Three oh five of theeg legislation to for them to receive the right care at the right time to ensure those wounds of war will not take your life and those who love them to be appropriate legacy thank you again for the opportunity toyo testify your attention means a lot to me and to save the lives and i look forward to your questions. Chairman moran is voting right now and then to convene the hearing was Suicide Prevention week and then National Suicide month of september we have more veterans per capita merck per capita and then we have very high suicide, rates among our veterans and it has been a priority of mine in theo senate to advance legislation to bring greater awareness to the devastation that they false way to as a marine i have seen it unfortunately up close and personal for some of my units and one of the first bills i focused on as a new senator was the Suicide Prevention act focused on these issues we have much more work to do you know this isnt an easy topic commander John Scott Hannon which i cosponsored. And to help make progress. Was Suicide Prevention act. And that broader bill. And the bipartisan support because they recognize the name is not relent in the fight with the military veterans and those populations i believe that was the first bill that i cosponsored as a new senator. A lot of us on both sides view this as must pass legislation i hope the house leadership takes it up i or john my colleagues and then we can set it to the president s desk to sign into law. Can you please share with the committee in regards to deep dive progress how as 785 can assist you in your efforts . Thank you for all you do with the great partnership. So all of their data for the last five years with the department of defense with those Social Security numbers and with the confirmation who serving in the military and that experience. What weve been able to do with that data not to get to the aggregate records of the state of individual records of when they died and how they died but then also correlated thats all im able to say in the state of minnesota they only had three that passed away and in florida there was five and five years in one is from suicide. The next two data sets are massachusetts and alabama wisconsin and wyoming and montana and tennessee so your section one oh two about the opioids we can see not only those classified as suicide but as an overdose and those from overdose that are category its important for us to get there and to get to the impact of suicide shortly after transition of those 18 through 34 yearold that died within the last five years 25 percent was suicide so one of those sections you talked about is critical to that. Thats the type of data that we need that those are sobering statistics so we can continue to focus our efforts in the senate and in the congress on this issue to unite members here. Thank you senator for your important work. Working in a bipartisan way to provide access to Mental Health services and then it is a step in the right direction and tell that becomes law. I went to ask about Veterans Health especially during covid19. And the organization and for veterans and their families and those during the pandemic . Your volume is not on. The v. A. Has been very forthcoming to help us in any way that we can with the veteran population in the most underserved areas we are looking at this weekly and those of helping us to identify what the infrastructure needs are and then trying to get the Pilot Program underway and then to blow this up as we can help as many as we can. Thank you for your work and then during the pandemic we know veterans have faced even more challengesed that woman in dayton got her v. A. Prescriptions on the days she expected with tracing with the Postal Service. But because of the change that seems to have been d disrupted. Shes not getting what she needs. So with those unforcedfo errors and with that stressor what advice would you give those who have additional stress that meets the Mental Health issue challenges at this time . Thank you for your question and we have worked together for years. We talk to people that are really struggling right now dont give up. The main thing is we will get through this. There are places that can help. You go to the v. A. And with that Emergency Department and find something to engage in. And then try tot keep going and are still a lot of work to do i hope we can join together and those that were confirmed by multiple news outlets last week whether that in this committee. And with that ultimate sacrifice in love with the country standsy for and then to have something greater than yourself. With and senator mccain stand out for senator duckworth i yield backck my time. In the Community Collaborative programs for servicemembers and their families . And to address veteranan homelessness do you believe that Grant Program and then to prevent veteran suicide thank you for the question thats great that when we started one of the key successes and with the manpower to do outreach and engagement and then with 157 Homeless Veterans and then to work in collaboration with the v. A. But that authority was key because now working in conjunction hand in hand you are from 157 down to seven and 24 months. Because the funding was moree importantly and with that agencies such as the v. A. Thats remarkable. We had a similar situation in arkansas that shows the importance. Your operation deep dive to get the data that you mentioned 25 percent new the transition veterans time within five years of discharge die by suicide and some of the that youtistics mention can you explain your work with the dod to capture the data with the recommendations and regarding the challenges facing servicemembers . Have to to think florida and minnesota with the whole data set over the last five years. So with that we can confirm who served and who didnt. We are more interested but what we looked at what former servicemembers died in those states and those five years and then we went from there. Dod is key and from what we have seen its never been done before without them we cannot have done it and the next piece we have is the v. A. So one of the things we are seeking to work with is data sharing for all of those servicemembers who died how many have a role so we can come back and say of the 2016, we want to be more exacting in the work that we do. One of the big pieces and the successes we have an operation deep dive that we share data securely to get to a better understanding. Thank you for that work in that regard. And with that extent of the problem to begin with. And the rest of the panel thank you mr. Chairman and senator tester forgetting the great group together for such an important cause. I will yield and go after the next group. To everyone on the panel one veteran dies every 24 hours according to the cdc we have a 37 percent increase since 19999 more impacted than military veterans and was 17 veterans diet suicide every single day. Twenty per day if you include military members that means the rate is twice that of the general population and for some groups it is increasing rapidly its agr National Tragedy and then to deserve nothing less i am proud to be cosponsor of the senate bill which is a new approach and we call the house to pass the bill. Why it hasnt reduced the 17 suicides per day. And accomplish of what we could have done better. I think that the key is knowing who the veteran is and Suicide Prevention and is holistic and relationship based and the fact the most recent study those are veterans outside the v. A. System not asking for help and it takes getting into the Community Getting to know the veterans are to senator browns point in ohio that all of us working together to know the veterans are to build a relationship connected to the services they need. Anybody can jump in on this is Veterans Crisis line the number is 182738255. How many veterans are Family Members have that memorized . How many think in a time of crisis . I hate to say i dont think that many do or know the number by heart which is why for the hotline the sec followed our calls to have 988 for the Veterans Crisis line for the prevention lifeline. The number is 988 going into effect july 162022. What they need to do to prepare . I know how well its been publicized but what we desperately need. And that lifeline absolutely many veterans and Family Members dont know who to reach out to in a time of crisis. Those that realize the Family Member orr friends is in a time of crisis but they dont know where to turn. We have the Quick Reaction force and then one of the top reasons veterans and Family Members reach out for the Mental Health options. Maybe they had a bad experience we support the grants option where local people can turn to. Ri somewhere close to 40000 and nonprofits that is in addition to what they are doing so it is the program or intervention or treatment or therapy to prevent veteran suicide that shows between intervention and government suicide so anybody that has any comments on that. So what can we do when the nonprofits are concerned about this . One of the things i think is exciting is the emergencycy Department Research Proven Program that is a place where we can connect veterans. No question why they are there to deliver the intervention. Right now the v. A. Has the goal of expanding that out to 94 hofstra emergency rooms. Personally, i believe that needs to be in every more than room in the country because its a proven intervention. And with what we can do with telehealth right now, theres no reason it shouldnt be right this and accessible every time a man or woman walks into the emergency d. In crisis. Thank you, sir. Thank you all so much. I appreciate your service. Thank you. Thank you, senator manchin. Senator rounds. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Finish first of all, i want to just say thank you to everybody on this panel. This is a very important issue, and i thank the chairman and the Ranking Member for them bringing it to our attention and also to try to promote the passage of this in the house of representatives before the end of the year. My first question is, first of all, i want to thank you for your service in the United States army and for being here today to represent the American Legion. In your written testimony and your remarks, youve talked about the importance of project atlas. This is where the legion is partnering with the have v. A. To install technology at legion posts and rural areas to make sure veterans have access to telehealth. Based on your expertise, if s. 785 does not get passed in the house and then sent to the president s desk, what kind of an impact will this have on access to millionth care for our rural Mental Health care for our rural veterans . Thank you for your question, senator rounds. If this bill does not go forward, i would like to say that we will gladly pursue every method that we can to make sure that atlas and our service with v. A. Is continued and pushed and expanded as much as welcome. However, without this bull and without the help of grant money dedicated to expanding that program, it will be, it will flow. We will not be able to get the infrastructure in, we will not be able to get all of the things that we need to get in whether its the a, the a compliance ada compliance needs, the broadband infrastructure, the tablets that are needed, the staffing thats needed. All of those things take money. And while the American Legion was happy to give our own grant to get the springfield, virginia, or location up and running, we do not have the ability to continue to do that for other locations. So it is vital that this bill get passed so that we can is have those funds allocated to make sure that our Rural Service members can get the care that they need whether it is Mental Health care or any other kind of comprehensive medical care that they need. Its were really pulling for it. Well, thank you. And i couldnt agree with you more that this is really important. And so many parts of our country, the rural parts of our country, telehealth is not only accepted, its now become the norm in many cases. And so this would be very beneficial, i believe, to our Rural Communities in south dakota as well as the great plains region. My second question is for mr. Butler. Mr. Butler, thank you, first of all, for your 20 plus years of service in the navy and naval reserve. Youve called attention to a sobering fact, that veterans aged 1834 have the highest rate of suicide. That really struck me because in south dakota we have over 11,000 veterans under the age of 40. So id like to know what are a couple of the provisions in s. 7ing 5 that you find the most helpful to preventing suicide among our younger veterans . Thanks for the question. Yeah. As i mentioned earlier i i think briefly, i think one of the biggest provisions that we support is the grants going to community and local providers. I think that is one of the biggest ways in which we can bring this number of 20 a day down by providing resources in the local community where veterans and their Family Members and their friends will know about them when the veteran gets to a time of cry is the. Theyre not going to have to struggle to find where to turn for help. I think one of the other issues and why perhaps the number is so high for the younger cohort of veterans is the work to connect and research the possible connection between tbi, ptsd and Mental Health problems. As we know, tbis are a signature wound of war from the last 20 years, and i think understanding, better understanding the connection to Mental Health problems, potentially to suicide and things like that would really go a long way to helping us solve this problem. Thank you. And i think you hit it on the held. And i think its very important that we draw attention to tbi and the possible connections with Mental Health challenges we have and with the attempted suicides and suicides with this younger generation. So i thank you for your service, and i thank you for the insight that you bring to the committee today. Mr. Chairman, thank you. Well see if senator tester wants to be gracious one more time. Senator tester. No. Ive got a hard stop too, so im sorry. [laughter] i do want to say thank you, mr. Chairman. Listen, ive listened to the folks who have given testimony. Veterans are very, very lucky to have these people who have given testimony today on their side. I cannot think of better advocates for veterans than the folks who have testified in front of this committee today, and i just want to say thank you all very much for not only your testimony, but for what you do every day. Maybe the most important problem were facing right now amongst our veterans. And matt kuntz, who ive known for a good long time now, every time he is hit with adversity, he turns it into a net positive. And ive seen it time and time and time again. And the suicide of John Scott Hannon is another prime example of matt going to war and trying to make the best out of a really, really bad situation. And so im going to start with some questions for you, matt. I know we need to continue to make improvements to a all the of Mental Health provided by the v. A. , and i do believe this bill through your good work, i might add, hits that mark. And i want to thank you and nami for urging the house to seize this opportunity to get s. 785 passed. Scott, as youre already referenced, was a friend of yours. And youve already shed a lot of light on it. But i just want to have you talk a little bit about scotts involvement in community Mental Health organizations and how the provisions of this legislation would further, further those efforts of Mental Health organizations for veterans. Okay, sir. Thank you. And like i say, you know, scotts work with us, we were a Community Health organization. We were exactly the kind of nonprofit that these kind of funds could go to. Our relationship got really, went beyond the professional pretty quick. I know he really did engage with his local aa group, you know, that there was a lot of different folks that were there for him. And even like the nontraditional support through his involvement with louis and clark county search and rescue. Two weeks before he died, scott safed the life of a young saved the life of a Young College killed that jumped in at the passion plunge wearing a banana suit. [laughter] and, you know, it was just one of those things that even in his worst times, he was able to help others. And those Community Organizes allow our veterans to do organizations allow our veterans to do that. Do you believe suicide is higher than we are counting . Thats a great question. I think based on the data that we have collected to date it indicates the suicide rate is higher. What we are doing as we are aggregating more space to gather with bigger enumerator we balance this out to say yes. But the thirdlargest state was 20 percent and minnesota was one of the smaller states alabama looks like it will be in undercount also. So the point is i think it is higher we dont know as much as we think we do. And how they relate to the outcome. And the Great Community wrapped around thats another part of operation defense. And then to get the house to move on that quickly. And then to utilize that. And if nothing else happened today we have no time to wait. I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being here. And we will have a markup in the house that the chairman that they will try to introduce or allow the introduction of 35 amendments. And to the extent to do the research if those that are particularly helpful or harmful to get to the president s desk . And to say quickly and bluntly we are not against what the house is trying to do we been we appreciate what the senate has done and those that are behind that. Thats the reason for my questions very few things go through i ever have the objection to. But also the amendments can be viewed to the core of what we are trying to do if theres a vehicle to get something done at the expense of getting nothing done anybody else have comments . This is katie from the American Legion. That we strive to identify the gaps to competently support legislation. We did extensive reviews of the house of the sections and we are very much in support of those efforts and we really want to partner with them in the future however we really do feel the impact of the 115th congress but we really do appreciate those additional pieces of legislation so we can revisit those. Just to answer your question. We asked 600,000 veterans and their families and 77 percent dont believe and dishonorably discharged. I dont know if everybody understands and thats one of the bills the house is proposing. Bill senate 785 the best way they should approach communitybased care and the house companions and then mandates. So there are two things what my colleague said that is a fully package integrated bill and i just dont see that on the other side. And mostar not sure what will happen within the next month or two months. And lets get the bill passed to know where we stand. Get us past 116 congress. This is the right bill for right now . Any other comments on the Virtual Panel . So when you have thousands of veterans dying every year due to suicide there are a lot of great ideas we should work on an out what jim said those are amendments that make it better to make it to conference fairly quickly. And then take that list to support the bill and have that fragment . And thousands of our lives would be lost. I just encourage my colleagues and to think about how does it make Us Foundation so this would be a major installment if we can move it through quickly. Thank you for keying up the witnesses and the response to your questions they were very helpful and needed we have ongoing conversations with the house Veterans Affairs committee my absence from time to time is on the staff level we have reached an understanding that the house will take up the bill the 21st or second and pass it presumably without any amendment. As a result of any amendment to the bill in the short time we have this is a bill signed by the president and so it becomes law. And then to have the bso to have that Research Efforts that the john hannon bill provides so in return for that expeditious effort by the chairman and the Ranking Member that we will make every effort to passed by unanimous consent a number of bills that are priorities chairman related to the topic meaning those that pass by unanimous consent and in addition once that are less capable being passed by unanimous consent to be put in a package to be considered by the senate with the goal of passage. I dont know if that chairman would be listening to this conversation and then to see there is a victory and those who served the veterans that both committees and whatever appreciation comes from the passage of that legislation cannot be shared by those who serve and the priorities at the staff have talked about that the chairman is most interested in a what i can do working with senator mcconnell on this committee to see and that could be achieved to avoid any type of time delay. At a not the Senate Schedule would be and then elections are pending. Nothing would stand in the way to protect the lives of those who serve our country. So its not a victory for the Senate Committee so to utilize the opportunity and by unanimous consent by the United States senate to use that momentum to get us to the point and has been awaited there are developments that appear to be concluding today and i think to accomplish the goal so thank you for the testimony of the witnesses here today and other Service Organizations around the country advocating for this opportunity to see this to a final conclusion . I recognize senator blumenthal. And so if i could and caplets on in caps on those remarks and five sentences or less he will get the job done. Whatever the steps necessary to do it. And your leadership which is admirable on this bill and i appreciate it on your part in the Ranking Member. We will get it done. And have a good faith effort by the house on the amendment is necessary so i very much appreciate that statement and it eliminates the number of questions i was going to ask. We Work Together so well now you read my mind. [laughter] anyway i do appreciate your leadership. This exchange and the conversation with the witnesses and the approach to the issues to hold veterans and then that which has that spirit amendment many dont agree with that but im sure those in cemeteries abroad and that you would never call john mccain a loser. Or am i in any way doubtful to give the highest regard to John Scott Hannon he among all the members of the military driven by these invisible wounds whether traumatic brain injury to suffer from bipolar disorder 20 veterans a day do so in a had a measure with john mccain who has passed by this committee a number of years ago signed by president obama. With john mccain at his side as he signed the bill i stood next to both of them. To president ial opponents, sidebyside obama elected and senator mccain who was the loser in that race but that stature of his spirit of john mccain and is so powerful in the east room and it should bring us together here but unfortunately it hasnt. And that the senate should be part of the message one the center. And i want to ask the witnesses of the Postal Service if there are delays delivery and veterans prescriptions those that are delivered by mail. By those delays in the mail that you may have heard we could go way down the line. We did and inform all survey and we got mixed responses. But my take away briefly is regional. But does committees throughout the United States with a delay in medicine. This is katie from the American Legion. Here at the National Level stating that members have delay of services of medication. That personally my husband and i have been receiving our medication on time. One that was supposed to be delayed was shipped ups which we were not expecting for those issues that may be occurring they are trying to find ways around those delays. Why shipped by ups . Im not sure. It is something that he needed they said there might be a delay may be they just didnt have it in stock at the local pharmacy. Senator i have not worked with any veterans that have delays. I have seen that in the face but conversations and not something i can personally vouch for. And all of us know someone who has been affected. My state of the union guest was the uncle of a young marine of taylor reed who was a sniper deployed twice. Those that knew them in connecticut. Anything tester from one anything from you mr. Tester . Do any of the witnesses have anything they want to augment what they said that we failed to ask them . Thank you sir it would be incredible if we take time to the bipartisan result and then that wouldnt solve the problem of veteran suicide but that would be incredible thank you for working with the house and went to pass the bill immediately and all of us working together im a big collaboration person and everyone else out there who wants to serve veterans is critically important. The addition of the bill of equine therapy Recreational Therapy and the importance in the top three things that veterans are seeking our sports and recreation and volunteer opportunities. If the bill can help us get there then we go a long way. I appreciate the work you are doing and those that have merit. And also i want to think the minority staff were making great progress on the team act. So thank you for bringing that before the committee. Thank you. Thank you for your consistent dedication and the Veterans Affairs issues. One last thank you naming the bill after scott. And especially to his daughter the majority and minority staff have been remarkable to work with on this bill. I cannot say how professional and indepth of every single section its an honor to work with them. I appreciate you saying both of those things i met the commanders family when the bill was introduced with senator tester. Every suicide has a story and a human being and the moms and dads and brothers and sisters and an honor to utilize the bill to recognize commander john hannon. And i could get acquainted with his loved ones. So in regard to the efforts into the witnesses and our ability to do that and the efforts to work at the chairman and Ranking Member with the senate bill 785 to pass as is let me say that differently and those that have been discussed and those that are packaged together for consideration and i will work to get that list on that committee and those that would support of all four corners in the house chairman and Ranking Member. I met house member i smiled moment ago thinking and sending bills to the senate with a died and this is a reminder for me but that passing occur this week of john bradley he was a vietnam veteran and an advocate for veterans in a tireless way. And when a chair the subcommittee with my staff director, he has battled cancer for a long time. When he returned from vietnam. And then the staff director as well. There is no one i hold in high regard and in a consistent way and as health prevented him from doing so then to express the gratitude for service to nation and to pay my respects to him and honor his family now at the time of his death. And having served with you in the house Veterans Affairs committee and getting to know him very well its a sad thing but we do appreciate his service in so many different ways. Thats a big deal. And with their comments to senate bill 75. And for those who served those with extraneous material and with that the hearing is concluded and adjourned. [inaudible c. Georgia republican senators spoke to defend the president