House Appropriations Committee

VA Mental Health Care

Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to present our views on VA Mental Health care. Record budgets for VA over the past three years are testament to the hard work of each member of this committee. On behalf of our 180,000 members and supporters, we would like to thank this committee for your unwavering commitment to our nation’s veterans. My name is Todd Bowers. As a staff sergeant in the United States Marine Corps I have had countless conversations with my junior Marines on the stigma of mental health in our military. During my multiple deployments in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, I have seen firsthand, the importance of the physical and mental health of my men. The members of IAVA know we must have this discussion.