David Roe

I commend President Trump for issuing two executive orders in the last 2 years to rally Federal, State, and local government agencies, as well as nongovernmental organizations, around this issue.

Of the 20 suicide deaths per day among our Nation's heroes, 14 have not received, as the Chairman said, VA health care in the 2 years preceding their deaths.

We do not have the mental health infrastructure not just for VA, but for our citizens in this country anymore, and it is something we are going to have to learn to deal with as a Nation.

Unquestionably, too little progress has been made. Unquestionably, a business as usual approach to this crisis is not sufficient.

While suicide is a tragedy no matter where it happens, it is particularly painful when it occurs on the grounds of a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility with help mere feet away.

Tonight's topic is the most important, most confounding, and the most heartbreaking one that we will discuss in this Committee.

One veteran lost to suicide is one too many.

So prohibiting that kind of pre-dispute arbitration with regard to Federal aid I think is one of the most important elements of the Borrower Defense rule, and that is threatened by this current administration that does not agree with that.

That is a completely unacceptable situation, a horrible circumstance when you burden a veteran with the cost of their education benefits in this way.

We need to take that bill up to Senate heads today and pass it. It is so complicated and for the students, I don't know how they get through it.

So, 77 percent finish on time in what they started in whether it is a nursing assistant, welding, or whatever; 97 percent in Tennessee are placed in their career path, get a job; and 100 percent graduate with 0 debt.

Seven million empty jobs and very quick.

Well, I think it is something we definitely need to look into because an A does not mean, you know, anything.

Thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here and also thank you for being in Sevier County to unveil the new app for the FAFSA.

I have met veterans out there who have been homeless.

I found that an amazing number.

We spend a tremendous amount of money on suicide prevention, to the tune of billions of dollars and we haven't moved the needle at all.

This budget proposal does invest in our Nation's VAs, especially with regard to the implementation of the MISSION Act.

I truly can't think of many tasks more important than ensuring our veterans and the VAs have the resources they need to serve those who have served our Nation.

I think that is a real ongoing success story for VA and one that folks should know about.

We should talk about the things that have happened, positively.

Because really all the patient--all the veteran patient cares about June 7, I come down to the VA and I need an appointment, can I get an appointment? That is all they really care about.

We asked VA in 2014 to do something no organization can do, which is to put up a nationwide network together in 90 days.

We know that VA can't be everything to everybody, just like the private sector sometimes has to.

I am a veteran and I have been a patient. And like any other veteran or patient, civilian or not, I am going to seek out the best care that I feel for me and my family.