David Roe

With all the metrics and good intentions and all of that, the suicide rates have not changed, so we need to do something different.

The provision of grants that address social risk factors may substantially help prevent veteran suicide.

I think some people are locked and loaded and ready to go right now; I agree with you.

I think we are moving in the right direction.

The VA is not meeting all the needs, otherwise the suicide rate would not be 20 a day and staying there.

It is not a threat to the VA, it is a lifeline to the VA.

I think we all here share an objective to deal with the crisis of veteran suicide.

Do not imply, Mr. Secretary, I care any less about the veterans who are committing suicide. I have declared suicide prevention to be the No. 1 priority of this committee.

This is highly inappropriate. I think--and you seem to be very proud of the fact that your office has been engaged in this sort of stuff, and this way of operating.

I want to thank the Chairman for bringing this bill forward, and hopefully we can get this thing done and out of here by Christmas.

This is not about who got asked what. This is about preventing--helping prevent veteran suicide and finding those veterans out there who have not been able to get into the VA, and then get them in to where they can get care.

This legislation has brought together conservatives. It has brought together liberals. It has brought together moderates on both sides of the House.

I will not sit here and tell you that I am going to give you a metric and that we will eliminate veteran suicide.

The provision in Section 2, it says, 'The Secretary shall give preference in the provision of financial assistance under this section to eligible entities who have demonstrated the ability to provide assistance and suicide prevention…

We have to start doing something differently.

We have to reach out and try to find those 14 who never get to the VA, never get the care.

There are precious few things Elizabeth Warren and I agree on, but we are both co-sponsors of the Improve Act.

Since this bill was introduced in the House on June 26th, so 148 or so days ago, 2,960 service members and veterans have died by suicide.

I think that is the right thing to do and to give people who are caught off-guard, and there will be some no matter how much you try to do this.

Well, if we act like we are self-serving, we are, because our phones are going to ring off the wall.

I am also interested in hearing about VA's plans to hold Secretary Wilkie's commitment that ever student veteran who was shortchanged due to the IT failures are made whole.

I was disappointed last year to witness a rocky implementation of Sections 107 and 501.

It is important that we are here today to review the implementation of the Forever GI Bill.

I would always err on free speech, even if--I have told my newspaper editorials, when you write--if it is true and you write it about me, it just happens to be your opinion and true.

I hope to hear more about how they are partnering with other private entities, including the Veterans Service Organizations.