[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DUNCAN HUNTER NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009

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                               speech of

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2008

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5658) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2009, and for 
     other purposes:

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, Chairman Skelton and Ranking Republican 
Hunter, I rise in support of my Amendment to H.R. 5658, the Duncan 
Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of 2009 which has been 
included as part of an en bloc amendment. My Amendment requires the 
Secretary of Defense to conduct a study to identify the mental health 
risks associated with the performance of individual military duties. 
This assessment will recognize cases of suicide by military occupation, 
and identify military occupations with a high incidence of suicide. 
More importantly the study shall suggest additional suicide prevention 
programs specific to military occupations with higher risk.
  To my knowledge, the issue of differing suicide risks amongst 
military occupations has not been studied in any great depth. Colonel 
Michael Bartley of Nellis Air Force Base and Colonel Chris Chambliss of 
Creech Air Force Base have highlighted for me the unique mental health 
challenges that members of our military face who are on the front lines 
of the Global War on Terror, but located here in the States. The State 
of Nevada is home to Creech Air Force Base which serves as the premier 
host for MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 
(UAVs).
  The operator of a UAV fleet is truly at the forefront of the Global 
War on Terror. I am greatly concerned that some military occupations, 
such as UAV operators, may suffer from chronic mental health disorders 
such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to stress and 
fatigue. I feel these soldiers may not receive the same level of 
emotional support from their peers that they would receive if they were 
located overseas. Rather, they return to their families and civilian 
society without the appropriate outlet for dealing with the emotional 
tolls of their duties.
  It is my hope that the Secretary of Defense will continue to address 
the pressing matter of the mental health strains inflicted upon our 
active duty service men and women. This study will help us begin to 
understand how the new technologies that allow us to wage wars more 
effectively, bring about unforeseen complications for the service men 
and women who volunteer to serve our Nation. I encourage my colleagues 
to support this common sense amendment that will provide the mental 
health services needed by the 21st Century war fighter.

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