[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 100 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                            RECOGNIZING USAA

 Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, Texas is proudly home to roughly 
1.4 million veterans, more than any other State in the country. I am 
honored that these American heroes have chosen to call Texas home, and 
I have no doubt that their decision was based, at least in part, on our 
State's deep-rooted tradition of military service and the network of 
support it has created.
  Across Texas, businesses, nonprofits, and veterans organizations 
provide these men and women with a range of resources, from job 
training to mental health services. Their support is a testament to the 
profound respect and gratitude Texans hold for those who have given so 
much in service to our country.
  One of the staunchest advocates for veterans in Texas and across the 
country is the United Services Automobile Association, or USAA. USAA 
was founded in 1922 by 25 Army officers who were unable to secure auto 
insurance. The group met in San Antonio and decided to insure each 
other in an effort to solve a problem facing many servicemembers and 
their families at the time. Over a century later, USAA now serves 
millions of members and continues to pursue its mission to empower the 
military community.
  One year ago, USAA launched a significant initiative to combat 
veteran suicide, the second leading cause of death among post-9/11 
veterans. More than 120,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001, a 
suicide rate 57 percent higher than the national average.
  In keeping with their commitment to America's military, USAA 
established Face the Fight, a collaborative effort of corporations, 
foundations, nonprofit groups, and veteran-focused organizations 
charged with raising awareness of veteran and military suicide 
prevention.
  The USAA-led coalition includes two founding members, the Humana 
Foundation and Reach Resilience, and is guided by its academic partner 
and scientific adviser, the University of Texas Health Science Center 
at San Antonio. The coalition is managed by the Elizabeth Dole 
Foundation and has grown to include more than 160 members working to 
break the stigma surrounding suicide in the military community by 
fostering real, open conversations around support and hope.
  America's veterans are a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that 
have been made by generations of heroes to protect the freedoms we 
enjoy, and it is our collective duty to ensure they receive the support 
they need when they return to civilian life. The honor-bound agreement 
between our men and women in uniform and our Nation does not end at 
retirement. No veteran should ever be forgotten. I commend USAA's 
efforts to prevent veteran suicide and support America's 
heroes.

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