[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H3045-H3046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING BRANDON CASERTA

  (Mr. MOULTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MOULTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Brandon Caserta.
  Brandon was a 21-year-old United States Navy petty officer. He 
couldn't get mental health help when he needed it, and as a result, he 
died from suicide on the flightline of his squadron in Norfolk, 
Virginia.
  Last week, on the second anniversary of the day that Brandon's 
parents, Patrick and Teri, lost their son, I was proud to introduce the 
Brandon Act. I am also proud to have successfully added this bill to 
the NDAA today in the House Armed Services Committee in honor of 
Brandon.
  With the Brandon Act, servicemembers can seek mental health help 
whenever they need it, even outside the chain of command, which is 
important

[[Page H3046]]

in cases of hazing, bullying, or anything else our heroes want to 
handle privately by self-referral.
  We won't get Brandon back, but his legacy will be the servicemembers' 
lives he saves when this bill becomes law. Let's pass the Brandon Act 
for Brandon, Teri, and Patrick Caserta, and for every servicemember who 
wants mental health help but can't get it. We owe it to them.

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