Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Sinema for organizing this bipartisan gathering to raise awareness about the suicide epidemic plaguing our veterans community and for the gentlewoman's leadership on this important cause. San Diego is home to the third largest population of veterans in the Nation. Every year, roughly half of the servicemembers stationed in San Diego are discharged and stay in the region after they leave service. With more than 236,000 residing in San Diego County, honoring our commitment to veterans--the benefits they earned through their service--is one of the most important jobs we have in Congress, and I think folks are recognizing that here tonight. During Suicide Prevention Month, we turn our focus to ending the awful reality of veteran suicide that has hurt families and communities across the country. Every day, 20 veterans tragically take their own lives. Regardless of the number or rates, every veteran suicide is one too many. But there is much more we can do. Mental health issues are still stigmatized in our country, but it is time we recognized the unique challenges faced by servicemembers and veterans in this regard. Post-traumatic stress is all too prevalent among our warfighters when they return home. We don't call it a disorder because it is often a perfectly natural reaction to the horrors that they have seen and the difficulties they have experienced. So we have to come together as a nation to address this issue.…”