Mike Coffman

I say that as a five-time commander, served nearly 30 years in the Air Force, but also as a husband, father of a daughter, granddaughter of three little girls. Actually want better. So we owed you better.

Harassment and assault are two different things. Harassment is a cultural thing. It is bad, really bad. But assault, that is criminal, and people need to go to jail.

I want to, first of all, tell each of you I am sorry for what you had to endure.

This hearing is called to order. I want to welcome everyone to this afternoon's Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing.

We have got to hold people accountable.

I want to thank each of you for sharing what happened in your life. And I just want to make it clear, actions described were disgraceful and unacceptable.

You went to the service to serve our country with honor and respect, and you certainly weren't treated that way, and I am very sorry for that.

The medical-scientific literature indicates there is a paucity of data for women affected by brain injuries particularly in the armed services.

As we know, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant health issue that affects service members and veterans during times of both peace and war.

For far too long, the real and proven effects of PTSD and TBI largely were ignored.

I find it preposterous that China would try to influence South Korea to not get a weapon system that is completely defensive against the very country that is allied with China.

Before the rate of veteran suicides increases anymore, we have to make sure that these service members get the critical mental healthcare they need.

As a Marine Combat Veteran, I like to live by the rule that we never leave anyone behind, and the Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act makes sure that we do not forget those who bravely served our county in their time of need.

Our female veterans have served our country with honor and distinction, and this is one small step we can take to show our gratitude.

In 2009, the Army separated approximately 22,000 combat veterans diagnosed with mental health disabilities, or TBI, for misconduct.

The other-than-honorable discharges are certainly below honorable and above a bad-conduct discharge or a dishonorable discharge.

This bill would establish a pilot program for two VA medical centers to treat 50 veterans using magnetic EEG/EKG guided resonance therapy.

This is unacceptable and the VA must adopt new ideas to help prevent and decrease veteran suicide rates.

We owe it to those who selflessly serve to match this commitment to innovation when it comes to their medical treatment when they need it most.

It is time to right this wrong and permanently authorize the Secretary to provide initial mental health assessments and urgent mental health care services to veterans at a risk of suicide or harming others regardless of their discharge…

My bill will stay with tradition and correct this disconnect by authorizing urgent mental health care to these veterans.

As a Marine Corp combat veteran, I would like to live by the rule that we never leave anyone behind.

I believe that this situation is temporary, this national shortage of pilots.

We know we cannot buy our way out of this problem since the military cannot compete with the potential salaries and, in some cases, the lifestyle of the commercial airlines.

This demand has led to a shortage of pilots across the services, with the problem being particularly acute in the United States Air Force, with a deficit at this point of over 1,000 total pilots.