[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 16 (Monday, January 29, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ADVOCATING FOR OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN

  (Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advocate for 
our military men and women and their families and the work that needs 
to be done to improve their quality of life.
  As a former Navy helicopter pilot, Navy spouse, and now-Navy mom, 
taking care of our military members is one of my top priorities. We can 
do better for our military, and there is much work to do.
  Two weeks ago, I attended the funeral of Navy Commander Doug Morea. A 
Naval Academy graduate, Doug was an F-18 pilot who led a squadron 
during a recent 9\1/2\-month deployment on the USS Truman.
  He died by suicide, and his death was one of seven naval aviator 
suicides since July of last year. As I stood in the parking lot talking 
to base leadership after his funeral, I asked: Why? Why do we continue 
to see so many military suicides and the number rise?
  The base commanding officer spoke about the pressure even senior 
officers feel to care for their people, including the most junior 
sailor. Our country continues to ask our military, and specifically our 
Navy, to do missions around the world to keep the peace and defend the 
freedoms we hold dear.
  In order for our military men and women to complete this mission, we 
must provide resources they need to do their job. That begins with 
ensuring they have the quality of life they deserve.

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