Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the chairwoman for her remarks and concern. I believe that the military has great interest in the ROTC program…”

“I thank the chairwoman for her remarks and concern. I believe that the military has great interest in the ROTC program and particularly in recruitment in HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Let me also say, however, Mr. Chairman, I want to rise to emphasize my commitment to PTSD funding. I want to ensure as we go forward that we will increase the PTSD funding. I am interested in it being increased in particular by $5 million, but I know there are other amendments that would increase it even more. If we know the suffering from those who have PTSD as I have, this is something that I have worked for, fought for, and advocated for. The reason, Mr. Chairman, is I see it every day. My amendment would focus on the needs of those who want to live a normal life with post-traumatic stress disorder. Our soldiers are still coming back from places like Syria. We know they have come back from Afghanistan and Iraq, but they are still fighting there. And PTSD, recently diagnosed in these wars, to give these people the ability to be with their family, to be able to have positions because the treatment is there, to regain their life because what they have seen from the bloodshed of IEDs and the tragedies of war warrant this support of post-traumatic stress disorder funding. So I want to make note of that on the Record, of my support and the support for the increase.…”