Nuclear power is an essential part of our energy mix.

What preventative measures is DOD taking to address this problem? What, if any, legislative action would DOD need Congress to take to expand suicide awareness and education on posts?

The current generation of nuclear power plants was mostly built in the 1960s and 1970s and 1980s.

17 companies or groups of companies have ordered 26 new reactors.

Congress has established a national suicide hotline for returning troops, as well as increased funding for mental health for active military personnel.

Today's hearing is a necessary look at the increased suicide rates in the military.

It's hard, I think, to draw any grand conclusions, other than that we don't really know exactly what causes an individual to take his or her own life.

The bottom line is that the current system is not up to par and fails to meet the basic needs of Montanans.

I appreciate your leadership and support in giving us the opportunity to look more closely at this

I want to begin by thanking you and Ranking Member Graham for agreeing to hold this important hearing to shed light on an alarming trend of rising suicides in our Armed Forces.

I want to say again, General Chiarelli, how much I appreciate General Freakley, General Turner, and Secretary Geren for the seriousness with which the Army has taken the concerns that I first raised last September about what happened here.

The country is angry. Individual Americans are angry. I am angry.

This water project is a critical lynch-pin our long-term efforts to ensure that all Americans, regardless of location, receive the clean, fresh water to which they are entitled.

I want to commend the Army, particularly Secretary Geren, General Freakley, and General Turner, for not only their candor, but their diligence in pursuing this inquiry.

We recognize the strains on families, with lengthy and multiple deployments, and a military, as far as the Army and Marine Corps are concerned, that is too small for our current obligations, on a worldwide basis.

I commend the Army for its candor in this inquiry and its commitment to taking care of soldiers.

I think you can see there is a real consensus on the Committee, on both Democratic--the Democratic and Republican side that we want to see those things happen.

I just hope that you make sure that that is administered in a very transparent way.