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Today, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the subcommittee’s field hearing on the veteran transition experience, both on and off campus, and steps the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), schools, veteran service organizations, and community members could take to improve the TAP experience for veterans. This hearing comes as the subcommittee continues to examine ways in which DoD and VA can work together to enhance the transition from active-duty servicemember to veteran for all servicemembers.

Good morning,

First, I want to thank all of you for joining us for this field hearing for the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

My name is Derrick Van Orden, and it is my pleasure not only to serve as the Congressman for the 3rd district of Wisconsin, but also to serve as the Chairman of this Subcommittee.

I set the pace this congress, that this is not a “bipartisan” committee, it is a “nonpartisan” committee. I am very proud of Ranking Member Levin and his staff for strictly adhering to this policy. There is enough political garbage going on in our country right now, politics have no place when it comes to taking care of vets. So, thank you, Mike.

Before we begin, I also want to thank the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse for providing us the space to host this field hearing.

I would additionally like to thank the greater driftless area businesses for hosting our staff during their stay here.

It is a pleasure to visit a school that provides an excellent education to so many Wisconsin veterans, and my staff and I are very appreciative of University of Wisconsin La Crosse and everything they do for the community.

I also want to thank my colleague, friend, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Congressman Mike Levin, for coming to my district today.

Last spring, we visited the ranking member’s district in Oceanside, California to discuss veteran homelessness, his #1 legislative priority.

This summer, I am honored to host him and his people here in the great state of Wisconsin, the nation’s largest producer of cheese, cranberries, horseradish, ginseng, prepared meats, dairy bovine genetics, and of course, mink pelts.

I want to thank him for traveling to the great state of Wisconsin and being present to listen to the wonderful people of Wisconsin on the issues that matter to our veteran community.

If we could just pause for a moment, I’d like all the veterans in attendance to please raise your hand or stand as you are able.

Thank you for your service to our country; it is an honor to represent you in Congress.

Before we begin, I want to point out members of my staff standing in the back of the room that may be of assistance to some of you.

If any of you are having veteran’s related issues, please feel free to stop and ask them questions when you are leaving.

They work hard every day for the veterans of the 3rd Congressional district to assist with V.A. and Department of Defense related issues.

The format for today’s event is set up to allow audience members to listen to the proceedings and testimony as if we were in Washington, D.C. This is not a town hall, but if you do have issues or concerns, my staff are happy to speak with you following the hearing.

My top priority as a member of the VA committee is veteran suicide prevention.

As the Chairman of this Subcommittee, I have decided to take a novel approach to doing this by ensuring that our servicemembers’ transition from the military to civilian life is successful. We call this program the Transition Assistance Program, the TAP program.

I have chosen to focus on TAP, as the 24 months following serving in the military is when, unfortunately, many of our veterans commit suicide.

That is because, in the blink of an eye, they lose their rank, uniform, social status, authority, and anywhere from half to their entire paycheck.

I have decided to use our authority as members of Congress to make the VA take alternative and innovative approaches to preventing veteran suicide, as what they are doing is simply not working. Congress has provided over 120 billion dollars since 9/11 for suicide prevention, 16.5 billion dollars this fiscal year alone, and vet suicide is increasing.

I say “make” because unfortunately, many times the VA drags its feet when it comes to institutional change, and they are not alone. The Department of Defense has not been exceptionally helpful in this matter either.

No department, agency, or individual will be given any slack by this subcommittee if they are protecting their institution at the expense of our veterans.

If you read the papers around here, you know I can get salty when I am adamant about an issue, this is no different.

Getting TAP right is an upstream solution that will hopefully mitigate so many of the negative issues our vets face today.

The first step is to review TAP and see what is and isn’t working.

As a former Navy SEAL who served this country for 26 years, I have firsthand knowledge of the difficulties that can come with making this change.

That is why I introduced legislation to enhance the TAP Program.

The current TAP program, while well-intentioned, is not fully meeting the needs of today’s servicemembers and their families.

A recent GAO study found that more than 4,300 at-risk service members did not receive the warm handover assistance that was needed.

Too many of them are falling through the cracks. We must do a better job of ensuring that they have a concrete plan for life after the service.

My bill would increase accountability within DoD and require more data collection within TAP. My bill would also refine changes the committee made in the past that DoD did not follow.

No two servicemembers have had the same life experiences or career in the military and we should do all we can to help personalize the transition experience that we provide to them to meet their needs.

We are here today to listen. I am pleased that we have a great panel of witnesses with us today to talk about the transition from the perspective of western Wisconsin.

Our panelists today don’t do the work they do for money or fame but to help fellow veterans. I want to thank the panelists who are here today, and I look forward to today’s discussion.

Once again, I thank Ranking Member Levin for attending this field hearing here in the beautiful 3rd district and I yield back.

I now yield to the Ranking Member for his opening remarks.