Thank you Mr. Chairman.

I appreciate you calling this hearing today to review what the VA has done in the area of outreach to the veterans in our communities who are feeling vulnerable and uncertain of their future.  I cannot imagine what goes through the mind of someone seeking to end their life, but we must do anything we can to ease their pain and help them through the crisis that they find themselves in, so that they can move forward and heal from the wounds from which they are suffering. 

Public Law 110-110 was signed on November 5, 2007, by President Bush.  This law, as part of the comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans provided that the Secretary may develop a program for a toll-free hotline for veterans available and staffed by appropriately trained mental health personnel at all times, and also designated that the Secretary would provide outreach programs for veterans and their families. 

As part of this outreach, the VA contracted with the PlowShare Group, Inc. to distribute, promote and monitor a Public Service Announcement (PSA) featuring actor Gary Sinise, who played Lt. Dan in the movie “Forrest Gump,” and also performs in the Lt. Dan Band.  This moving PSA, which can still be found on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1QXoVJQdDm), encourages veterans to contact the toll-free national Suicide hotline number in an emotional crisis.  According to PlowShare, their work on this campaign was successful, as they were able to generate nearly $4 million in donated media, and the suicide hotline saw an increase in activity during the campaign. 

The VA also piloted outreach advertising right here in the metro area of Washington, DC.  Driving around the city and on the metro system buses and signs could be seen in various locations promoting the hotline to veterans.

What I look forward hearing today is the following:  Have we seen a reduction in the number of veteran suicides since the inception of the PSAs; what plans are there to continue the PSAs now that the contract for the previous PSAs has expired; How has the National Suicide Hotline helped in the reduction of veteran suicides, and where do we go from here?

I am pleased that we have witnesses from our veteran community here today, as well as the VA, so that we can hear from everyone how useful the previous PSAs were, and what other kinds of outreach efforts need to be made to reach not just our older veteran population but our new veterans coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan.  How is VA using new media to get information out to our new set of veterans who may not be aware of all the services the department provides?  

We need to review and evaluate the success of these outreach efforts on an ongoing basis, and see where they can be improved, and enhanced, as well as how frequently they are being broadcast to the general public.

Again, thank Mr. Chairman, and I yield back my time.