WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs and Related Agencies – convened the subcommittee’s second hearing of the 115th Congress last week to address how Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs and community partners can work together to meet the needs of veterans in crisis.

“We must make certain no veteran feels abandoned by the country they served when they make the brave decision to seek mental healthcare services,” Chairman Moran said. “Congress must better understand how to support the Department, the Department should seek assistance from community partners and embrace the helpful findings of outside experts, and veterans’ support groups must be vocal about the needs of in-crisis veterans and their families. I hope this hearing helps bring us together to end veteran suicide – even one suicide is too many.”

Witnesses included:

• Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
  Veterans Health Administration Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Organizational Excellence
• Dr. Harold S. Kudler, M.D.
  Veterans Health Administration Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services
• Stephanie A. Davis, Ph.D.
  Veterans Health Administration VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System
  Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Staff Psychologist
• Melissa D. Jarboe
  Military Veteran Project Chief Executive Officer
• The Honorable Michael L. Missal
  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General
• Rajeev Ramchand, Ph.D.
  Rand Corporation Senior Behavioral Scientist

Click here to watch the hearing.

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