On the recordDecember 20, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank the conferees for including in the NDAA language I authored to help prevent tragic cases of suicide among members of the military. Military suicides are, sadly, increasing, with 280 suicides this year in the Active Duty and Reserve Army alone. The new language would allow military commanding officers and mental health professionals to talk to troubled servicemembers about their personal firearms and encourage them to safely store those weapons in a military facility or by means of a gun lock. The prohibition of such confidential dialogue, which this language repeals, prevented potentially lifesaving conversations between counselors and servicemembers. We owe it to our soldiers and their families and their loved ones to do everything we can to help them, and this language is a small step in that direction. Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
