[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 17 (Monday, February 2, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S677-S678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET AND CLAY HUNT SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR AMERICAN 
                              VETERANS ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in his State of the Union Address, 
President Obama promised to deliver a budget filled with ``ideas that 
are practical, not partisan.'' I know many Americans were glad to hear 
him say that. The American people elected a right-of-center Congress 
focused on jobs and reform, so it makes sense that a President would 
want to send commonsense ideas that could pass the Congress that the 
people actually elected last November.
  He could have proposed a budget that was balanced. He could have 
challenged us with serious, innovative reforms aimed at getting 
spending under control or effective ideas to create jobs and 
opportunity. There are so many positive things he could have done 
instead of phoning in another tired tax-and-spend manifesto. We 
basically see the same thing every year. It focuses on growing the 
bureaucracy instead of opportunity. It does not balance ever. Because 
it isn't designed to pass Congress, of course it doesn't pass Congress.
  The budget is just one symptom of a wider disconnect. Rhetorically, 
at least, we hear the White House echo Republican calls for policies 
aimed at helping the middle class, but then we see the White House push 
more of the same stale, top-down policies favored by political bosses 
over on the left. As Americans who have lost health plans or who are 
seeing health costs skyrocket could tell you, the left's priorities 
often hurt the very people they purport to help.
  This is the wrong approach. We need fresh ideas. Republicans want the 
President to join us in fighting for the middle class, so we think he 
should take opportunities such as the budget

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to actually rally Members of both parties behind serious ideas that can 
actually pass. We think the country could really benefit from his 
positive leadership.
  His next test will come soon as the new Congress works to develop the 
kind of budget the American people deserve. We are going to focus on 
growing the economy from the ground up, with more future-oriented 
reform, more jobs, more opportunity. We are going to pursue ideas that 
make government leaner, more efficient, and more effective. We are 
going to honor the hard-working men and women who count on us to spend 
their dollars wisely, not offload Washington's problems onto them with 
higher taxes. That is what the American people expect. It is the kind 
of practical agenda you pursue if you are serious about helping the 
middle class. It is what I hope the President will now encourage 
Members of both parties to work toward.
  The truth is, there is a lot we can achieve with constructive, 
bipartisan cooperation. The bill we will vote on tomorrow is a great 
example of that. Members in both parties agree it is time to pursue 
positive reform for veterans who are hurting. The Clay Hunt Suicide 
Prevention for American Veterans Act aims to reduce the tragedy that 
befalls too many of our heroes and the heartbreak that befalls too many 
of their families. We lose thousands of veterans every year to suicide. 
Now is the time for practical, bipartisan action to do something about 
it.
  The legislation we will vote on tomorrow will provide more of the 
suicide prevention and mental health support our veterans deserve. It 
will help veterans transition from Active-Duty service. It will take 
steps to improve the effectiveness of programs to help heroes in need.
  This bill has already passed the House unanimously. I hope we can 
achieve a similar result in the Senate and send this bipartisan 
legislation to the White House for signature.
  Before I finish, I would like to thank both the senior Senator from 
Georgia, Mr. Isakson, and the senior Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, 
for their tireless work on this bill. These Senators care deeply about 
the men and women who give everything--literally everything--to protect 
us. Veterans are lucky to have such strong champions on their side.

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