[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 116 (Thursday, July 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E736-E737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORT OF H.R. 7900, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 
                               YEAR 2023

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2022

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my 
amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. My amendments 
seek to better understand the mental health challenges and mechanisms 
of support available to servicemembers; mandate strong reports which 
will be critical in enacting better policy for servicemembers in the 
future; and make defense communities more resilient to the growing 
threat of climate change.
  The first amendment (Amendment No. 322), which my colleague, 
Congresswoman Elaine Luria, has cosponsored, represents an important 
step forward in better understanding and combatting the epidemic of 
suicide facing not just the Navy, but the entire armed forces. There is 
a dearth of information about suicide and suicide prevention in the 
Navy, particularly on Navy ships. This is why directing the Inspector 
General of the Department of Defense to compile and publish a report on 
instances of suicide, suicide prevention, and response within the Navy 
is so important. This report will be comprehensive and desperately 
needed, given how little we truly understand why some sailors choose to 
end their lives, as well as the failures of command and areas where 
available resources have failed to catch and prevent these tragedies.
  Additionally, the report will contain a survey of the mental health 
teams found on Navy ships and installations, so that we might better 
understand the limitations faced by these critical teams to properly 
treat, prevent, and respond to instances of suicidal ideation, suicidal 
intent, and suicidal attempts of the crewmembers they serve. These 
mental health teams are critical components of every unit, but do not 
always have the staff or resources available to provide necessary 
treatment and counseling to the sailors under their care. This report 
will be critical in better understanding the shortfalls these teams 
face, which will allow us to set them up for better successes in the 
future.
  The discussion of suicides in the Navy is a personal one. I have lost 
constituents in the Navy, particularly this year wherein the shocking 
number of sailors who died by suicide while serving on the USS George 
Washington in Newport News, Virginia made national headlines. It is my 
belief that this DoD report will be the first step in better 
understanding how to prevent another, similar tragedy and see where the 
Navy could be doing more to actively support its servicemembers during 
times of mental and emotional crisis.
  My second amendment (Amendment No. 323) requires the Inspector 
General of the Department of Defense to survey and report on programs 
across the armed services which allow servicemembers to file anonymous 
complaints and concerns without fear of identification or reprisal from 
command.
  The chain of command is something that every soldier and employee of 
the Department of Defense is taught to respect from the earliest days 
of training. Soldiers know there are some issues they cannot voice 
without risking the ire of their commanding officers or drawing undue 
attention to themselves, even if the nature of their complaint is a 
valid quality of life concern, a note about morale, a safety issue, or 
any reasonable request for support from existing Department services 
and programs.
  Programs which allow anonymous complaint filing for servicemembers 
fill a critical gap of inter-unit communication by encouraging soldiers 
to advocate for themselves through a channel which they know will 
protect their identity and be taken seriously and reviewed on its 
merits. However, there is currently no DoD-wide review of where such 
programs exist, making it difficult to gauge their level of user 
participation, analyze data on the sorts of complaints filed, or even 
know which units and branches support such programs. This is a gap in 
knowledge that merits a proper review by the Department of Defense, so 
that we may better understand what support our soldiers are asking for 
and where they are and aren't being given the opportunity to even ask.
  My third amendment (Amendment No. 321) seeks to improve adaptation 
and emergency management coordination between state, local, and federal 
entities in defense communities, especially the Department of Defense. 
By creating interagency regional resilience coordinator positions in 
defense communities, this amendment will enhance military readiness and 
community resilience. I was pleased to have the support of my 
colleagues, Congresswoman Luria, a member of the House Armed Services 
Committee and veteran of the Navy; Congressman Wittman, a senior member 
of the Armed Services Committee; Congressman McEachin; and 
Congresswoman Sanchez on this important amendment.
  As a Nation, our aging stormwater infrastructure, housing stock, 
emergency management systems, and power grid exacerbate the threats of 
climate change. Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 
the United States is making our infrastructure more resilient and 
creating jobs in the process. These investments in our infrastructure 
will help protect our communities and prevent needless loss and human 
suffering.
  The Department of Defense recognizes that, as the climate changes, 
``leveraging knowledge and actions when planning climate change 
adaptation and emergency preparedness and response requires expanded 
collaboration with surrounding communities.'' This is especially true 
in Hampton Roads, Virginia due to the significant federal footprint, 
including 15 military bases, and the region's geographic complexities.
  In my district and throughout Hampton Roads, communities play an 
essential role in supporting critical defense installations. Community 
assets, infrastructure, and services ensure the region's bases are 
ready and provide the region's 83,000 active-duty service members and 
their families with amenities to live, get to work, and recreate. The 
threat of sea level rise and increasingly frequent and severe storms, 
however, jeopardize these community services and military readiness.
  Fortunately, the region has developed strong cooperation and 
expertise in this regard. This acumen and spirit of collaboration are 
clear in the two recent Joint Land Use Studies and a 2016 report 
released following

[[Page E737]]

the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience 
Intergovernmental Pilot Project.
  Thanks to the hard work of local governments, federal partners, the 
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and academic support from 
Old Dominion University and others, much has been done to implement the 
recommendations of these studies.
  That being said, much work remains to be done. Recommendations from 
the earlier pilot project and Joint Land Use Studies that are ripe for 
action include a number of items that require collaboration with the 
federal government. The establishment of Interagency Regional 
Coordinators for Resilience positions would be well suited to address 
persistent challenges that have hindered the ``whole of government'' 
and ``whole of community'' approach that the growing threats require.
  As the climate continues to change, lessons learned from these 
partnerships would be beneficial to defense communities and others that 
support federal entities and assets of national importance.
  Addressing the threat of climate change and ensuring members of the 
armed services have access to comprehensive mental health services and 
mechanisms to confidently advocate for their quality of life is not 
only crucial to ensuring military readiness, addressing these threats 
is morally imperative.
  Lastly, I am pleased that my amendment (Amendment No. 618) regarding 
the transfer of federal land currently occupied by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the City of Norfolk has been 
included in this package. I am disappointed to lose a valuable asset in 
my district as they continue their planned move to Rhode Island, and it 
is important that this economic impact does not further affect the 
city. Transferring the land without cost to the city and in a timely 
manner will allow Norfolk and the Army Corps of Engineers to better 
protect the city from future flooding.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Smith for his work on 
behalf of our Nation's military and his support for these initiatives, 
and I urge my colleagues to support these important amendments.

                          ____________________