May 1, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 71 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H3349-H3350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                     REACH EVERY VETERAN IN CRISIS

  (Mr. MORELLE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because our Nation is facing a 
crisis. Each day, 20 veterans take their own lives. That is over 7,000 
veterans a year, more than the number of U.S. soldiers we lost in the 
entire Iraq war.
  We have a moral responsibility to do more to protect those who have 
so courageously put their lives on the line to defend our country.
  Recently, it was revealed that the Veterans Administration spent only 
$1.5 million of its $6.2 million budget toward suicide prevention media 
outreach in fiscal year 2018.

[[Page H3350]]

  That is why I have introduced legislation called the Reach Every 
Veteran in Crisis Act, to ensure those resources are used effectively 
and efficiently to provide veterans with the support services they need 
and so richly deserve.
  It is my hope that this legislation will help our veterans during 
their time of need and, hopefully, save the lives of our Nation's 
heroes.
  I encourage any veteran who is facing crisis or anyone who is 
concerned about a loved one to call the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-
273-8255.

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