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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 hearing to discuss how the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are working together to provide mental health support for separating servicemembers through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

Good afternoon.

The Subcommittee will come to order.

I want to thank everyone for being here today to discuss how we can ensure that our transitioning servicemembers are receiving the mental health support they may need before, during, and after transition.

As always, I appreciate the nonpartisan review of this topic by our Subcommittee.

It is no secret to anyone that as a former Navy SEAL, fixing the TAP program for our transitioning servicemembers is something that I am very passionate about.

I have made improving the transition assistance program one of my top priorities during this Congress and have advanced numerous bills that would address TAP.

I know change does not happen overnight, but for some of our veterans, if changes are not implemented soon, it will be too late.

The scourge of suicide takes on average the lives of 17 veterans a day, which far exceeds the goal of zero we are all working to achieve.

Data shows that in recent years, many of the veterans who died by suicide had transitioned from the military no less than two years prior to their death.

The year before transitioning servicemembers are discharged, and two years after, are the most dangerous time for a new veteran, especially for those who are younger who are navigating life as a civilian adult.

In 2020, the suicide rate for veterans who had transitioned from the military just one year prior was twice as high as the national average. That statistic keeps me up at night, and frankly it should keep us all up at night.

These veterans are not just numbers, they are friends and family of all of us, and I am frustrated whenever I see them being treated as if they are just another statistic.

These are men and women – sons and daughters – who raised their right hand and served our country. They without question deserve to have help easily and readily available to address any struggles they may be working through, whether they be visible or invisible, physical or mental.

I have lost people very dear to me to suicide. Some that I believe could have been helped if someone had reached out to them, or if we had suggested to them that they get the help they needed.

There must be some actual accountability in these programs for the failures that have been identified. These agencies cannot simply check the box and call these programs a success. One life lost to suicide has always been one too many.

The Government Accountability Office has identified numerous ways that we are failing to connect our servicemembers with mental health services. The warm handover process is not happening as it should. Who in the federal government or personnel on these bases is accountable and what can we do to change it?

The InTransition program, which is supposed to ensure servicemembers with identified mental health issues are connected with a mental health provider after transition, is not connecting with servicemembers 70% of the time.

According to GAO’s review, InTransition has a successful contact rate of 2%. That’s ridiculous.

Who at DOD is accountable for calling this program a success and funding it year after year?

I am also frustrated by DOD’s failure to respond to GAO’s recommendations immediately. To my knowledge, DOD only did so after I sent a letter to them asking about these recommendations and for their plan to improve this program to actually reach servicemembers.

The GAO has made suggestions for improving these programs and reaching these veterans. I want to hear how each of the witnesses plans to make these suggestions a reality.

I don’t want to hear platitudes and excuses here today. I want to hear concrete ideas for how we are going to reach this vulnerable population and finally get transitioning servicemembers the support they have without question earned.

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