Chellie Pingree

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I am in favor of Glass-Steagall and going back into that position.

It is time now for the VA to treat all veterans with respect, and to provide the same level of care and benefits to our wounded warriors, regardless of the source of their wounds.

H.R. 930, a common sense bill that would bring parity to the VBA claims process and justice for survivors of military rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment who suffer from PTSD and other mental health conditions by providing the same…

Military sexual trauma continues to be a pervasive problem in our Armed Forces.

Countless MST survivors are so affected by the personal assault they experienced that they file PTSD claims with VBA, only to be denied service connection because they cannot prove the assault occurred.

It is a disgrace that needs to stop now.

We have enormous work to do to change the culture.

We hear with deep concern the number of people who serve this country and then find themselves victim of military sexual trauma.

I think we have further to go before the implementation of what we are hoping will happen, happens.

I hear from a veteran who was sexually assaulted while serving in the military. And when they go to the VA with that claim, they are denied because they could not produce a court filing.

I do appreciate the tremendous change in attitude and awareness that has gone on, both at the DoD and VA.

I do want to acknowledge that when you did encounter a competent and thoughtful and well trained MST coordinator who was able to be in the position to help solve your problem it was very useful.

You are serving your country twice today, coming forward and speaking here and providing us with another firsthand story.

Congresswoman Pingree's legislation is one way to change the burden of proof that is required to enable MST survivors to receive proper adjudication for MST and PTSD.

I totally appreciate how brave she is to come with us today and tell her story.

I really very much appreciate the work that you are doing and the assistance that you and your organizations give to so many people who need our assistance who frankly should not have to be in the position where they require such complex…

I think we have to be sure that VBA gives MST survivors the benefit of the doubt, especially when so many of these survivors have lost faith in the system they swore to uphold.

The current policy states that they will be very liberal in deciding MST cases and should accept secondary markers as the proof that the assault occurred.

I think generally the VA is doing a good job providing counseling and treatment to victims of MST, but when it comes to awarding benefits, MST survivors face tremendous roadblocks and bureaucratic red tape.

Do you think the provisions in this bill would help the veterans affected by MST?

So just to be clear, the Catch Shares Program, as you've heard over and over again, suits the fishermen of my district. It serves them well. It brings about a tremendous amount more safety. When they had allocations, they had to go out…

Reclaiming my time, how much time do I have left? The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman has 30 seconds remaining.

I wanted to just thank Mr. Wittman for coming to visit the yard, and I know he was impressed, as everyone is, to see the incredible systems that have been developed for shipbuilding today.

Support the growth of local food systems by adopting other key provisions of the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (H.R. 3286) introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree.