[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 166 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4310, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2012

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the bipartisan 
conference agreement for the National Defense Authorization Act for 
fiscal year 2013. The conference report authorizes critical resources 
for our men and women in uniform and the defense of the American 
people. While I do not agree with every provision in this bill, I'd 
like to commend the conference committee for including in its report 
the Israel King amendment which was passed in the House in May 2012.
  This bipartisan amendment would improve the coordination of research, 
treatment, education, and outreach of mental health, substance use 
disorders, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) among members of the 
National Guard, Reserve and their families. All Americans have a moral 
obligation to provide the best care possible to our veterans when they 
return home after so bravely serving their country.
  Mental health and substance use disorders and TBI affect nearly 20% 
of all the service members who have been deployed to Iraq and 
Afghanistan. Even more disturbing is that an American veteran commits 
suicide every 80 minutes. This is unacceptable. We must act now to 
ensure our veterans have the support services and access to care that 
they deserve.
  While many active duty service members return from deployments to 
military bases and have access to quality mental health services, 
members of the National Guard and Reserve often return from a tour of 
duty and transition into civilian life far from military bases and 
without easy access to the care they need. Members of the National 
Guard and Reserve who have mental health, substance use disorders, or 
TBI are more likely to have a difficult time transitioning back into 
family life and their careers.
  And those who do seek care in their community may not always receive 
the most appropriate and effective treatment options. This amendment 
would allow the Department of Defense to carry out a pilot program with 
public-private partnerships based on a competitive, merit-based grant 
process. We have learned that the government cannot meet the needs of 
our veterans alone. That is why these innovative partnerships are so 
critical.
  Again, I thank the conference committee for including this important 
amendment in the final bill. American veterans and their families have 
already sacrificed so much for our country. I encourage all Members to 
support this critical care for our veterans which they not only need 
but deserve. We owe them nothing less.

                          ____________________