Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Good morning and welcome to our witnesses and other interested audience members.

I am pleased that we are having this hearing today on what I consider to be one of the most significant and timely subjects this Subcommittee has to explore –mental health services for our nation’s wounded warriors and their families.

A report released in November 2007 by the Institute of Medicine found that there is a correlation between deployment to a war zone and several mental health conditions including PTSD, depression, and marriage and family conflict.  Unfortunately, this is not news to those of us familiar with the myriad of issues facing veterans.

Although valuable mental health services are provided by VA and DOD, family members still are the first and most important network of support for veterans and their role in the mental health care process should not be underestimated.  Family presence and participation is essential as veterans readjust to civilian life following a deployment.

Families of soldiers make tremendous sacrifices so that the men and women they love can defend the country we all love and I want to take this moment to thank them for their role in supporting America.  

Currently VA does provide certain mental health services open to assist family members.  This includes Readjustment and Bereavement Counseling Services at VA Vet Centers, the VA’s Family Mental Health Learning Program and care for Civilian Health and Medical Program of Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) beneficiaries.

I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and their views on what else could be done to support the mental health needs of family members.  Meeting the health care needs of veterans in the best way possible will always be our first and greatest priority.  

In closing, I would also like to commend the VA on their recent efforts to improve access to mental health care for veterans and to ensure that such care is safe, timely, and effective.

I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with Chairman Michaud and the other members of this Committee to ensure that our veterans and their families are given the best possible care.

Again, I thank you all for being here and I yield back the balance of my time.