Mark Takano: “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this amendment because we want every veteran who may be eligible to…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this amendment because we want every veteran who may be eligible to receive no-cost childcare to be able to access it. If veterans don't know that they may be eligible to place their child in childcare while they attend their healthcare appointments, they may mistakenly think they will have to miss their healthcare appointments to care for their children. When veterans are not aware of the healthcare benefits available to them, or don't know where or who to turn to for help, the result can sometimes be fatal. When 20 veterans and servicemembers commit suicide every day in this country, and the VA under this administration only spent $57,000 last year out of the $6.2 million set aside for suicide prevention outreach, that is less than 1 percent. The administration's lack of commitment shows. As VA's top clinical priority, we cannot allow VA to continue to fail in its duty to notify veterans of VA's mental health and suicide prevention services, and that is why I support this amendment. If VA is not mandated by Congress to notify and conduct outreach to veterans, it won't do it. Many veterans who would benefit from cost- free childcare won't know it exists. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.”