Congress Vows Action On Vets' Suicides

(CBS)  A CBS News investigation found that, in 2005, an average of 120 people each week who had served in the military committed suicide. That's an average twice that of non-veterans. Today, in an emotional hearing Capitol Hill, Congress took up that cause.

The day's emotional tone was set right from the start. Mike and Kim Bowman's 23-year-old son, Tim, had survived a year-long tour in Iraq, only to shoot himself at home.

"Our veterans deserve better," Mike Bowman told a congressional hearing Wednesday. "Don't make it so the soldiers go to the VA; make the VA go to the soldier."

When Bowman had finished speaking, the room was on its feet, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteian reports.

Throughout the hearing, members of Congress cited the CBS News investigation as a national wake-up call.

"The CBS network opened up again to millions of Americans the issue of suicides amongst our veterans," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

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Read the original CBS News investigation into veteran suicide

Watch the original report.

Read the statistical methodology of the CBS News findings
FYI: More resources for veterans and their families

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Not surprisingly, most criticism was directed at the Department of Veteran's Affairs and Dr. Ira Katz, its head of mental health, who disputed our findings.

"Their number is not, in fact, an accurate reflection of the rates," Katz said.

But the committee proved far more interested in the VA's failure to foresee a mental health "epidemic" by not collecting nationwide data on suicides.

"You don't track this stuff," Filner said. "You simply don't track; you don't want to know about it."

Moved by what they had heard, many pledged to force the VA to fix a system under siege - and keep other families from suffering the same fate as those who testified today.

[kiskis1]

Sunday is the day targeted by GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul''s supporters for another fundraising push.



So, I''ll be sending my money in on Sunday for the simple reason Ron Paul is an honest man among charlatans and power seekers. And he gives me hope when it is in short supply.

It is also fun to think of what a Paul administration would do if the establishment allowed him to get that far.

Hope, truth and justice are in short supply in what is now the United States. When they are offered, they should be grabbed and protected like the rare treasures they have become. Ron Paul offers those things.

Certainly it is another David and Goliath struggle, and the Davids have rarely won since the original face-off. But, that is why we have hope.

[nam_vet]

The direction this thread has turned has turned my stomach. Individuals on it spend so much time trying to fix the blame they have none to fix the problem. It is beginning to sound like Congress.
Get off the politics, and onto the issue. People are dieing while you fiddle with your politics.

[formrusmcsgt]

I''''m glad we can agree that collaborating with the enemy will backfire every time.

Posted by hillaryin08 at 09:33 AM : Dec 13, 2007

I assume that you''re referring to the neocon strategies that our own 16 intelligence agencies unanimously agree in their NIE actually foment terrorism, rather than lessen it?

[formrusmcsgt]

Bush isnt running for President. Take a look back when Algore made his run. He distance himself from the liberal masaih Clinton and did much better without him.

Posted by hillaryin08 at 09:30 AM : Dec 13, 2007

You must have been in a drug-induced haze during the fall of 200, hillary. Clinton campaigned for Gore. His limitations were due to the quadruple bypass surgery he had in early september, 2000.

When he had recovered sufficientl, he hit the trail for Gore and Gore was appreciative.

Nice try though.

Bush is as "fit as a fiddle" they tell us.

And none from his own party even want him on the same dias.

[hillaryin08]

The Republicans took the Republicans down in 2006. Not the Liberals my friend.

Posted by hillaryin08 at 09:21 AM : Dec 13, 2007

TA DA!!! You have finaly posted something with which I can wholeheartedly agree.


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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 09:25 AM : Dec 13, 2007

I''m glad we can agree that collaborating with the enemy will backfire every time. You should relay that to the DNC.

[formrusmcsgt]

The Republicans took the Republicans down in 2006. Not the Liberals my friend.

Posted by hillaryin08 at 09:21 AM : Dec 13, 2007

And in the process, the neocons themselves have insured that neoconism will be relegated to the fringe status that it so richly deserves.

Even most Repubs now shun it, as they should.

[hillaryin08]

Bush isnt running for President. Take a look back when Algore made his run. He distance himself from the liberal masaih Clinton and did much better without him.

[formrusmcsgt]

formrusmcsgt

I''''m wont disagree that but I do know allot can happen between now and Nov of 08. The battle against Socialism is very fluid.

Posted by hillaryin08 at 09:24 AM : Dec 13, 2007

You''re right about a lot can happen. And with all the skeletons in the neocon''s closet that will continue to come to light, it ain''t gonna be any prettier for the Repubs than it is now.

As it stands, no Repub presidential candidate invites Bush to their fundraisers.

None will share a podium with him.

None will even be photographed with him.

It isn''t going to get any prettier, as I said, over the next 11 months.

[formrusmcsgt]

The Republicans took the Republicans down in 2006. Not the Liberals my friend.

Posted by hillaryin08 at 09:21 AM : Dec 13, 2007

TA DA!!! You have finaly posted something with which I can wholeheartedly agree.

[hillaryin08]

formrusmcsgt

I''m wont disagree that but I do know allot can happen between now and Nov of 08. The battle against Socialism is very fluid.