Beto O'Rourke

I think the Chairman has been really good about this.

I think that makes a ton of sense. Today we were at the Grace campus, which is a homeless area in Lubbock with some extraordinary volunteers and support group who are trying to help those homeless members of the community transition into…

I think we also need to talk more about support groups that are out there.

I think it would be beneficial for the TAP course to be specific to the location, what state specifically they are going to be moving to, and what resources and opportunities are available in that state.

I think there needs to be an intentional timeframe where they can start making that transition.

So right there you have saved three years.

I want to congratulate Chairman Arrington on his leadership so far... that bill passed 435 to zero, which is a rare feat.

While the people of Texas generally distinguish themselves by how friendly they are, I think the people here in Lubbock really take the cake.

The best thing I can say about him is that he sincerely and deeply cares about our veterans.

It is not clear to me how seriously we take TAP, you know, all of us included.

Are those boxes you can check or are those things that people took the time to write out?

I think we all on this Committee agree that it is critically important that we get this transition between life in service to country in our Armed Forces and life as a civilian as a veteran right and that we don't have it right today.

The need for enhanced outcome measurements is critical for our veterans.

I wonder if this Committee can't work on--just a thought--what some of those additional measures are.

We are measuring seats in chairs and attendance and graduation, but not the success that those veterans have in their careers.

If that is the goal, which I can't argue with, we need to measure that.

I know anecdotally, there are officers who come up to me and say, hey, a guy who was in my unit, veteran now, one of your constituents, Beto, can't get a mental health care appointment, and it really bothers me and I feel accountable and…

So for the last year, we have data. It is, you said, 2016, 117, all in?

I want to make sure that we are paying close and careful attention to the TAP program, that we understand, as the Chairman has said, what it is that we are investing in it and how we can measure its performance.

Yesterday, we were able to celebrate passage of a bill that improves access to mental health care for veterans who have an other than honorable discharge, improving their likelihood of success.

When we look at access to health care, to housing, the ability to integrate in the workforce or in higher education, we are still falling far short of the mark.

Thank you for holding me accountable, but, you know, I was sensitive to her time that was running out.

It is not going to just be better for you and others in Leander and Texas, it is really going to be good for veterans across the country.

I want to especially thank Judge Carter for highlighting the Nelson family and for the example that you give, which is incredibly motivating to us.

I want to thank all of my colleagues who have brought very thoughtful legislation forward and for the fact that so much of it has been inspired by the real-life circumstances of their constituents, the veterans that they are here to serve…