Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I would agree with the assertion that every single fighting man and woman is special. The Special Operations Forces do have some tremendous stresses that they can undergo, especially in the kind of combat missions that they perform. I believe that this is a program that has been successful in preventing suicide, so for that reason, I think it is timely. It is appropriate. There are different programs to treat our wounded warriors who have PTSD, and every program does not work for every soldier, sailor, airman, or marine; but for those who do get the treatment they need, it is literally a lifesaver. For that reason, I think it is a priority to address the aftereffects of PTSD, and this would be a very good program. I do appreciate the Appropriations Committee work that they do and the tough choices that they are constantly making, and I respect that, but I think this is a good choice, so I offer the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.”