Committee chair adam smith, talks about the 2020 Defense Department budget. He spoke at the center for strategic and International Studies for about an hour. [ applause ] i want to thank john not just for the introduction but his great leadership during my time in congress. Theyve done a great job with educating me and other members on a number of very important issues. This is my first time as chairman of the committee with the defense market coming up on wednesday. Now, we did the Armed Services committee is very relevant. Having passed the defense bill 58 straight years, its an obligation to continue that. I think that is, two most important things i want to say, there are two specific issues we will get in within the bill. We have two overarching issues with how we approach this. Number one, the absolute commitment to getting this done pure congress having the say in a policy that governs the department of defense, trying to make sure that troops get the help they need and carry ou
Of very important issues. This is my first time as chairman of the committee with the defense market coming up on wednesday. Now, we did the Armed Services committee is very relevant. Having passed the defense bill 58 straight years, its an obligation to continue that. I think that is, two most important things i want to say, there are two specific issues we will get in within the bill. We have two overarching issues with how we approach this. Number one, the absolute commitment to getting this done pure congress having the say in a policy that governs the department of defense, trying to make sure that troops get the help they need and carry out the missions they are asked to do. This is an important bipartisan undertaking. Its important that we pass this bill and implement policies necessary to move forward. Its a basic level, it levels the pay raise. There are a great many Million Construction projects below that. There are hundreds of small policy items which we were able to influe
Prevention, joined this morning by former rhode island congressman Patrick Kennedy. And, mr. Kennedy, youre in town today to speak at the foundations annual advocacy forum. What are you going to be speaking about . Im speaking about the crisis of suicide and Mental Health in this country. Unfortunately weve really paid little attention to the suicide crisis in our country. We need to spend a lot of time thinking about the 72,000 people who are taking their lives through drugs and overdosing, but we also have to keep in mind that theres an additional 47,000, almost 50,000 people taking their lives every year in other ways. Combined, obviously were well over 100,000 dies a year of this, and were spending 6 billion. Thats a fraction of what we were spending on hiv aids when we were losing 50,000 lives. Now, i dont want to be totally mercenary about this, but it does raise the question what is wrong with this country that we dont put the same value of life on people dying of Mental Illness
Who are taking their lives through drugs and overdosing, but we also have to keep in mind that theres an additional 47,000, almost 50,000 people taking their lives every year in other ways. Combined, obviously were well over 100,000 dies a year of this, and were spending 6 billion. Thats a fraction of what we were spending on hiv aids when we were losing 50,000 lives. Now, i dont want to be totally mercenary about this, but it does raise the question what is wrong with this country that we dont put the same value of life on people dying of Mental Illnesses that we do other illnesses . And as the author of the Mental Health parity and addiction equity act, our whole focus has been about changing the whole insurance system and medical system to finally treat the brain like we treat every other organ of the body. And yet were not doing that. Were falling short. Cms is violating the parity law, violating federal law, the largest payer in this country. Every major insurer has been found to
what you can do is prevent. you prevent by controlling the territory. trying to listen to whatever you can. o brien: all that and more on tonight s pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. and the william and flora hewlett foundation, helping people build immeasurably better lives. and with the ongoing support of these institutions: and individuals. this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. o brien: president trump came to the defense of his former national security adviser today. michael flynn pleaded guilty on friday to lying to the f.b.i. about his contacts with russia. today, the president called the charges very unfair. we ll have more on the unfolding russia investigation, later in the program. mr. trump is also throwing his full support behind ro