My next question actually is for Dr. Kemp. You have 300 vet centers. They provide a great service for all veterans, as well as active duty Vet centers have active duty personnel come in on their furlough days to get help and mental health…

And I think that that really makes what my good friends from the VVA and the IAVA talked about critically important, and that is outreach.

We have to stop that, and we have to change the way we think about outreach to veterans.

The problems of mental health care in the VA system have been pretty well documented.

To address this problem, we have to look a little bit outside the box.

The figures continue to increase at an alarming rate, far greater than the comparable suicide rate among the general population.

It is a tragedy that our servicemembers and veterans survive the battlefield abroad only to return home and fall to suicide.

Frankly, this is unacceptable.

It has been clearly demonstrated that DoD and VA must work together to address issues that face both departments, particularly suicide, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.

We urge this Subcommittee, the full Committee and the entire Congress to fully support the VA and Dr. Kemp in their important efforts by funding them at the highest levels possible, not just next year, but for many more years in the future.