Bill Pascrell: “I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for providing $212 million for suicide prevention outreach…”

“I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for providing $212 million for suicide prevention outreach programs, $20 million above the President's request. I am offering this amendment with my colleagues, Representatives Pallone, Smith, LoBiondo, Garrett, Lance, Sires, Payne, MacArthur, Norcross, and Watson Coleman, to continue support and funding for the successful confidential peer-to-peer Vets4Warriors program, a Pentagon- funded call center operated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care that provides troops struggling with depression and other psychological or emotional concerns support by veterans. Despite the troubling increase in Active Duty military suicides after 9/11, the Defense Department announced last month it would stop funding the Vets4Warriors program, which has provided valuable assistance to reduce these incidents. Through Vets4Warriors, servicemembers have been able to find confidential assistance from peers who share lived experiences and who can quickly connect and listen in highly effective ways. Since December 2011, the program has had over 130,000 contacts. The Defense Department's plan to integrate these services into the Military OneSource without a public process is concerning because we know that many servicemembers are reluctant to contact superiors for assistance with mental health needs. Military OneSource is only billed as available to veterans and their families within 180 days after leaving the service.…”