Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I had the honor of growing up in a family with a strong history of service to our country. My grandfather served in the Navy in World War II. My father served as a United States Army Green Beret in Vietnam and later served in the Army Reserves. I spent some of the best years of my life in the Navy as a helicopter pilot with many members who became like family to me. As a third-generation veteran, the wife of a veteran, and a mother of future veterans, I know how important it is to take care of our men and women in uniform after they return home from service. Unfortunately, these issues surrounding mental health are a complex and unfortunate challenge for many of our Nation's heroes. Since 9/11, it is estimated that over 30,000 Active-Duty servicemembers and veterans have died by suicide. Most statistics average approximately 20 a day. This is four times more than the number of servicemembers killed in combat during the global war on terror. We have the responsibility to provide those who have served our country with the medical care, including the mental health care and support that they deserve. While the VA has expanded their suicide outreach and mental health initiatives, there is more work to be done. We cannot allow the men and women who have served our country to slip through the cracks. We can and we must do better.…”