David Jolly: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5059, legislation to improve mental health and…”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5059, legislation to improve mental health and suicide prevention services for our Nation's veterans. Across the country today, there are families grieving, remembering loved ones who, in a moment of tragedy, took their own lives. These families also have in common another memory--the day their loved ones put on the uniform of the Armed Forces for the first time, who raised their right hands and took an oath to defend the Nation, to defend and protect each of us. In many ways, we as a nation have failed to defend and protect them. We have failed to ensure sufficient access to mental health care and suicide prevention services. We have remarkable caregivers and mental health counselors in our VA and DOD health systems who are on the front lines of mental health services every day, who do remarkable work; but, administratively, we must do more. We must empower veterans to seek immediate care for mental health and suicide prevention services. We must incentivize mental health professionals to join the VA workforce and deliver health care to our veterans, and we must improve the coordination between the VA and the DOD to deliver these services. This legislation does exactly that, and it is why it deserves our full support. Mr.…”