Of your words and you can pause when answering questions so that we capture your complete response. Thank you very much and ms. Barnes, youre now recognized for five minutes. Ms. Bans, yrnes, you may have t unmute. I think were having trouble hearing you. Proceed, ms. Barnes. I think you just unmuted. Okay. Chairman pappas, chairwoman brownley, Ranking Member bergman, chairman takano, members of the subcommittee and task force, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss gaos work for Sexual Harassment at the department of veteran affairs. I will talk about statements from my june report released last week. The protection board estimated that 22 of va employees experience some form of Sexual Harassment in the workplace. Va has several methods to address such Sexual Harassment complaints. But we found that the agency was falling short in a number of areas. Including one, its complaint structure, collection of incidents on Sexual Harassment and actions taken, and, three, provision in
Sufficient significant discussion about veteran suicides today, let me start by sharing the Veterans Crisis line. If you were a veteran you know are struggling, please contact the Veterans Crisis line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 182738255 and select option number one or text 838255. I want to thank everybody joining us today. Weve made Suicide Prevention or top priority and today 25 to 31 bills we will discuss or related to improving access and reducing suicide in the veteran population. The issues surrounding Mental Health care are broad and complex. Let me address some of the remarks made by the Senate Counterparts at the hearing yesterday. The committee has been trying to work with the senate for six month is a end after promising staff conversations we are pleased to hear they are committed to moving forward with meaningful improvements to help reduce veteran suicide and help prevent veterans from falling into crisis. I look forward to speaking with chairman mao ran direct
Line. If you were a veteran you know are struggling, please contact the Veterans Crisis line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 182738255 and select option number one or text 838255. I want to thank everybody joining us today. Weve made Suicide Prevention or top priority and today 25 to 31 bills we will discuss or related to improving access and reducing suicide in the veteran population. The issues surrounding Mental Health care are broad and complex. Let me address some of the remarks made by the Senate Counterparts at the hearing yesterday. The committee has been trying to work with the senate for six month is a end after promising staff conversations we are pleased to hear they are committed to moving forward with meaningful improvements to help reduce veteran suicide and help prevent veterans from falling into crisis. I look forward to speaking with chairman mao ran directly since we havent had the opportunity yet and to discuss further his commitment to pass the houses bipartis
[inaudible] thank you. The subcommittee will come to order. Without objection the chair is authorized to declare a recess of the subcommittee at any time. Without objection members of the full committee not on this subcommittee are authorized to participate in todays hearing. Members are reminded to keep their video function on at all times, even when they are not recognized by the chair. Members are also reminded that they are responsible for muting and unmuting themselves, and to meet themselves after they finished speaking. Consistent with the regulations of a Company House resolution 965, staff will only mute members and witnesses as appropriate. We not recognized to avoid inadvertent background noise. Members are reminded that all house rules relating to order and decorum apply to this remote hearing. This hearing is entitled Holding Financial regulators accountable for diversity and inclusion. I now recognize myself for four minutes to give an opening statement. Todays hearing fo
American veterans. We will hear the opening statements. I will remind you to pause two to three seconds before spe speaking, so the microphone picks up your words and so you can pause when answering questions so we capture your complete response. Thank you very much, ms. Barnes, you are recognized for five minutes. Ms. Barnes, you may have to unmute. I think were having trouble hearing you. Proceed, ms. Barnes. I think you just unmuted okay. Members of the subcommittee and task force, thank you for inviting me here to today to discuss Sexual Harassment at the department of Veterans Affairs. 2016 survey by the protection board estimated that 22 of va employees experienced some form of Sexual Harassment in the workplace. Va has several methods to address such Sexual Harassment complaints, but we found that the agency was falling short in a number of areas including one, the complaint structure, the [inaudible] and three [inaudible] to va employees. I will discuss issues with the complain