On the recordDecember 9, 2014
I thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida, the chairman. Mr. Speaker, every day, 22 veterans take their own lives. Many of us in this Chamber have experienced this in our own districts. This has been a tragedy in my district as well. Sadly, on March 31, nearly 3 years ago, Clay Hunt was one of those 22 veterans who took his own life at the age of 28. An Afghanistan and Iraq war veteran and suicide prevention advocate, Clay Hunt epitomized what it meant to have a life of service both in and out of uniform. Today, we honor Clay and his family with H.R. 5059, the Clay Hunt SAV Act. Clay's story was one of bravery and dedication to our country. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and served on several missions to Iraq and Afghanistan. After his final deployment to Afghanistan, his unit returned in October of 2008, and he was honorably discharged from the Marines. Here is the key: Clay relied on the VA for medical care and received a 30 percent disability rating from the VA for PTSD. After realizing his PTSD is what prohibited him from keeping a steady job, he appealed the 30 percent rating and encountered a bureaucratic nightmare, including the VA's losing his files. Clay had to wait months to get in to see a psychiatrist at a VA medical center. When he finally did, he told his mother he would never go back. Two weeks later, Clay took his own life. Five weeks after his death and 18 months after filing an appeal with the VA for his PTSD rating, Clay's appeal went through.…
