Greg Murphy: “I have heard personal stories from student veterans who have had to wait weeks or even months for a mental health…”

“I have heard personal stories from student veterans who have had to wait weeks or even months for a mental health appointment if their mental health crisis was not deemed in need of ``immediate attention.'' Unfortunately, many of our veterans do not have the luxury of weeks or months to see a mental health provider. In addition, many of our universities' mental health counselors are actually not licensed professionals but, instead, graduate or doctoral students. Our veterans deserve better than this. They deserve the best healthcare from qualified professionals. Helping students succeed in school and their civilian lives is one of the most important ways we can thank them for their service. Tragically, the suicide rate among our veterans now is estimated to be anywhere from 17 to 22 suicides a day. Forty-six percent of military students have reported suicidal thoughts, compared with only 6 percent of their nonmilitary peers. If we can provide mental health services that are able to assist just a single veteran who is contemplating suicide to choose to live, I believe it is our sworn duty to do so. We have that opportunity now. I am proud to support the STRONG Veterans Act, and I am very grateful to Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for including my bill, the Student Veterans Counseling Center Eligibility Act. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6411 in support of our Nation's veterans.”