House VA Subcommittee on Health hosts field hearing
Congressional lawmakers joined local veterans Tuesday in Cincinnati to examine mental health care access and treatment for veterans within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system.
The congressional field hearing, hosted by the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, examined the VA’s approach to overcoming the mental health care challenges facing today’s veterans and how administrators and care providers are addressing common barriers to mental health care.
Health subcommittee chairman Dan Benishek joined Cincinnati area congressmen Brad Wenstrup and Thomas Massie to hear from veterans, county Veterans Service Commissions, and representatives from the VA.
“Mental health care is a serious challenge facing many of our veterans when they return home. Today’s hearing provided some more insight into how we can improve the care for America’s veterans. I am thankful for the leadership of my colleagues Rep. Wenstrup and Rep. Massie on this issue and look forward to working together to find solutions for those who have defended our nation’s freedoms,” said Rep. Dan Benishek M.D. (MI-01), Chairman of the VA Subcommittee on Health and a doctor who worked in a VA hospital for 20 years."
Among the witnesses who testified before the subcommittee was Howard Berry, father of Staff Sergeant Joshua Berry, who was injured during the 2009 Ft. Hood shooting.
Joshua took his life earlier this year and his family believes that better access to mental health care resources could have helped their son. “PTSD affected soldiers need to see support in every direction they look. If we work together to make their burdens lighter, we have a chance to have the kind of country my son fought for,” said Mr. Berry.
Rep. Wenstrup, a member of the Health subcommittee and a veteran himself, acknowledged in his opening remarks that Congress “can never repay veterans for their sacrifice, but we can honor it by ensuring that they and their families receive the care that they deserve” and thanked Chairman Benishek for bringing the subcommittee to Ohio’s second congressional district.
Rep. Massie, who represents Northern Kentucky, also pointed to the burden veterans carry. “Veterans accepted substantial personal risk to protect our country, and for that we owe them a staggering debt. I look forward to working with Congressman Wenstrup and Congressman Benishek to ensure veterans receive the mental health and other benefits they deserve,” he said.
Nate Pelletier, Executive Director of the Cincinnati based Joseph House for Homeless Veterans Supportive Housing Facility, testified on his experience helping veterans, especially those with substance abuse issues.
“I am happy that Congressman Wenstrup brought up transition as a focal point in this mental health hearing. As we look at the issue of serving our veterans, the issue of integration is a strategic topic and mental health is one piece of that,” said Pelletier, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran.
Nearly 100 area veterans and constituents were in attendance. Before the hearing, Wenstrup and Benishek hosted a veterans’ meet and greet to thank local veterans and speak to issue facing the veterans community.