Political Quotes

“Chairman Skelton, let me thank you for your friendship and for your extraordinary leadership on the Committee on Armed Services. I appreciate your willingness to engage me in the important topic of suicide prevention in our military forces. As you know, earlier this year, my constituent, Master Sergeant (retired) Christopher Scheuerman, testified before the Subcommittee on Military Personnel about the tragic circumstances surrounding the suicide of his son, Private First Class Jason Drew Scheuerman. Jason was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division at Forward Operating Base Normandy in Iraq, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from his M16 rifle. Jason showed clear signs of mental distress, but the system failed Jason. Recent reports indicate the Army suicide rate is the highest in 26 years of record keeping. While there are many outstanding mental health professionals in the Army system, the command structure creates an inherent conflict of interest and a lack of independent objectivity. Servicemembers are currently allowed a second civilian opinion, but often find it nearly impossible to access an outside mental health provider. I appreciate the fact that this bill addresses the issue of suicide prevention by directing the Secretary to consider how the military can make a second opinion more accessible, including the possibility of providing a second medical evaluation in combat theater by telephonic evaluation.”