Steven Holt: “I wish to engage in a colloquy with the ranking member of the Committee, but let me begin by thanking the gentleman from…”

“I wish to engage in a colloquy with the ranking member of the Committee, but let me begin by thanking the gentleman from Washington and Chairman Young for accommodating my request, for the second year in a row, for an additional $20 million to be included in the appropriations bill for suicide prevention and outreach programs. {time} 1550 The committee last year honored this request, and I think it's a clear demonstration of the committee's intent that the Department do more and more to end this epidemic of suicide among our Active-Duty, Guard and Reserve force. I do have a clarifying question I would like to pose to the gentleman from Washington. Is it the committee's intent that the $20 million in this legislation in additional suicide prevention funds be made available for successful suicide prevention programs, such as New Jersey's Vets4Warriors peer- to-peer counseling and outreach program?”