Graciela Flores Napolitano

“ As we conclude our recognition of mental illness awareness this week, we will continue our fight to ensure that our veterans and service personnel will be able to receive the mental health services they deserve. ”

“ The VA does not have enough mental health professionals due in part to lack of funding, and the President's low funding proposal will exacerbate this problem. Our returning soldiers and veterans deserve better from their government. They have earned what was promised them.
The Bush administration has repeatedly emphasized that the war in Iraq is not another Vietnam. However, by not providing veterans the necessary mental health resources, we can assure the same high rates of suicide that existed among Vietnam veterans. ”

“ The President's proposal of funding increase of only 2 percent for the VA health system does not even cover increases in cost of living and is insufficient even to maintain the inadequate current level services. The demand on PTSD services has not kept up with the increase need of services. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have greatly increased the need for these vital services. Some veterans who need weekly or biweekly follow-up appointments for therapy are forced to wait weeks, and in many cases even months. ”