WEBVTT 00:00.300 --> 00:03.633 (background chattering) 00:25.780 --> 00:28.730 - Thank you very much, very much appreciate it. 00:28.730 --> 00:32.990 I'll be heading to Alabama on Friday. 00:32.990 --> 00:34.750 So I think some of you will be joining me, 00:34.750 --> 00:36.120 but we'll be going down Friday. 00:36.120 --> 00:39.560 And we'll let you know times and when we're leaving 00:39.560 --> 00:41.053 and how long we'll be there. 00:42.780 --> 00:45.630 It's been a tragic situation, 00:45.630 --> 00:47.590 but a lot of good work is being done. 00:47.590 --> 00:50.200 We've been in constant touch with the governor, 00:50.200 --> 00:53.190 and also the governor of Georgia. 00:53.190 --> 00:56.270 And so we'll be going to the area. 00:56.270 --> 00:59.200 We'll be, Alabama and the general area. 00:59.200 --> 01:01.370 We'll see Governor Ivey. 01:01.370 --> 01:02.490 So that'll be on Friday. 01:02.490 --> 01:03.360 Thank you very much. 01:03.360 --> 01:07.700 And we're here today to confront a solemn crisis 01:07.700 --> 01:10.113 that requires urgent national action. 01:11.100 --> 01:14.260 In a few moments, I will sign an executive order 01:14.260 --> 01:15.630 addressing one of our nation's 01:15.630 --> 01:20.440 most heartbreaking tragedies, veteran suicide. 01:22.690 --> 01:26.920 Our mission is to mobilize every level of American society 01:26.920 --> 01:29.740 to save the lives of our great veterans 01:29.740 --> 01:31.863 and support our heroes in need. 01:32.780 --> 01:36.380 We've worked very hard on Choice for the veterans 01:36.380 --> 01:39.350 and so many other programs, 01:39.350 --> 01:44.350 and done a really great job in so many ways. 01:44.350 --> 01:46.627 Veteran suicide is something that's been 01:48.114 --> 01:50.613 an incredible thing to watch, hard to believe. 01:51.960 --> 01:52.903 It's tragic. 01:54.430 --> 01:57.330 Today we can help end this crisis. 01:57.330 --> 01:59.070 I would like to thank Secretary Wilkie 01:59.070 --> 02:00.500 for being here today with us. 02:00.500 --> 02:04.210 He's done a fantastic job as Secretary. 02:04.210 --> 02:09.210 He's making tremendous progress at the VA. 02:09.640 --> 02:12.320 We are also profoundly grateful to be joined by many 02:12.320 --> 02:16.300 of our nation's leading veteran service organizations, 02:16.300 --> 02:20.610 the best, and all of the state and local veteran leaders. 02:20.610 --> 02:22.750 And I want to thank everybody very much for being here. 02:22.750 --> 02:24.180 Thank you very much. 02:24.180 --> 02:25.140 Thank you all very much. 02:25.140 --> 02:27.390 I know how hard you've been working on this. 02:27.390 --> 02:31.390 Veteran suicide is a tragedy of staggering proportions. 02:31.390 --> 02:34.930 Hard to believe an average of 20 veterans 02:34.930 --> 02:39.260 and service members take their lives every single day. 02:39.260 --> 02:40.960 Who would believe that's possible? 02:42.680 --> 02:47.570 There are more than 6,000 veteran suicides per year. 02:47.570 --> 02:51.550 The suicide rate among veterans is 1.5 times 02:51.550 --> 02:54.670 greater than that for non-veteran adults, 02:54.670 --> 02:58.130 and the suicide rate for post-9/11 soldiers 02:58.130 --> 03:03.130 has increased significantly over the last 10-year period. 03:03.720 --> 03:06.550 To every veteran, I want you to know that you have 03:06.550 --> 03:10.850 an entire nation of more than 300 million people behind you. 03:10.850 --> 03:13.020 You will never, ever be forgotten. 03:13.020 --> 03:15.170 We are with you all the way. 03:15.170 --> 03:18.340 I think you know that. 03:18.340 --> 03:22.820 Supporting veterans is a very, very important thing to me. 03:22.820 --> 03:25.110 And it's been very important, from my campaign, 03:25.110 --> 03:28.443 from day one, and from before my campaign, but from day one. 03:29.500 --> 03:32.840 Supporting veterans in distress is a critical priority 03:33.790 --> 03:37.100 for our entire administration, 03:37.100 --> 03:38.730 everybody in the administration. 03:38.730 --> 03:41.920 Last year, I signed into law the largest funding bill 03:41.920 --> 03:46.920 for the VA in its history, which included $8.6 billion 03:46.930 --> 03:50.960 for veterans in mental health services. 03:50.960 --> 03:53.660 I also signed an executive order directing 03:53.660 --> 03:56.360 the Department of Defense, Veteran Affairs, 03:56.360 --> 03:58.500 and Homeland Security to ensure our veterans 03:58.500 --> 04:02.000 have seamless access to mental health care 04:02.000 --> 04:05.860 and suicide prevention resources. 04:05.860 --> 04:09.130 These efforts focus on veterans the first year 04:09.130 --> 04:12.240 after they separate from military service 04:12.240 --> 04:15.823 when they are at the heightened-risk area. 04:17.000 --> 04:19.220 The White House VA hotline has fielded 04:19.220 --> 04:23.000 more than 200,000 calls and successfully resolved 04:23.000 --> 04:28.000 93% of the concerns our veterans brought to them. 04:28.150 --> 04:29.290 And they work very hard. 04:29.290 --> 04:31.730 It's been very, very effective. 04:31.730 --> 04:34.110 We secured $206 million 04:34.110 --> 04:37.580 for VA suicide prevention programming. 04:37.580 --> 04:40.030 Every VA medical center now offers same-day 04:40.030 --> 04:41.883 emergency mental health care. 04:43.110 --> 04:45.960 These are crucial steps, but unfortunately most veterans 04:45.960 --> 04:50.960 who die by suicide have not been in the care of the VA. 04:51.030 --> 04:53.180 Many of them don't know about the programs 04:53.180 --> 04:56.240 that we have or the programs that we've instituted. 04:56.240 --> 04:59.720 In fact, nearly 70% of those lost to suicide 04:59.720 --> 05:01.976 have not received care from the VA 05:01.976 --> 05:03.710 in the previous two years. 05:03.710 --> 05:08.080 They're just not aware of those great strides. 05:08.080 --> 05:09.950 They're just not aware. 05:09.950 --> 05:12.313 It's just not something that's on their mind. 05:13.350 --> 05:17.670 This grave problem can only be solved if our entire country 05:17.670 --> 05:21.870 works together to build communities that truly serve, 05:21.870 --> 05:25.215 support, and protect our veterans from the first moment 05:25.215 --> 05:27.240 they return to civilian life. 05:27.240 --> 05:28.650 It's so different. 05:28.650 --> 05:31.330 They leave a military life and they go to civilian life, 05:31.330 --> 05:33.003 and it's just much different. 05:34.070 --> 05:38.463 We must keep our promises to those who keep us free. 05:40.040 --> 05:42.030 Through today's action, I am launching 05:42.030 --> 05:44.933 the PREVENTS Initiative, 05:45.870 --> 05:48.600 The President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans 05:48.600 --> 05:51.253 and End the National Tragedy of Suicide. 05:52.310 --> 05:55.340 This order creates a new Cabinet-level task force 05:55.340 --> 05:59.120 co-chaired by Secretary Wilkie. 05:59.120 --> 06:01.530 The task force will create a comprehensive, 06:01.530 --> 06:05.410 national public health roadmap that brings together federal 06:05.410 --> 06:09.070 and local government, along with private sector partners, 06:09.070 --> 06:12.100 to improve the quality of life for our veterans 06:12.100 --> 06:15.430 and turn the tide on this terrible crisis. 06:15.430 --> 06:18.290 We're being helped greatly by our strong economy. 06:18.290 --> 06:22.490 Our economy is very, very powerful and makes it a lot easier 06:22.490 --> 06:25.590 for people to get jobs, including veterans. 06:25.590 --> 06:29.200 And a lot of companies are actually giving priority, 06:29.200 --> 06:30.760 at our request, to veterans 06:30.760 --> 06:33.820 and they're very happy with the results. 06:33.820 --> 06:36.520 The task force will be charged with developing 06:36.520 --> 06:39.600 a national research strategy so that we can more effectively 06:39.600 --> 06:42.630 identify, intervene, and help veterans 06:42.630 --> 06:45.740 during a time of need. 06:45.740 --> 06:49.290 By investing in research and scientific advances, 06:49.290 --> 06:53.135 we can better understand the trauma our brave soldiers face 06:53.135 --> 06:58.135 and how to restore their faith and their health. 06:59.960 --> 07:03.150 Under this order, my administration will also work 07:03.150 --> 07:06.420 with Congress to pass legislation providing resources 07:06.420 --> 07:10.720 and assistance in the form of grants to communities 07:10.720 --> 07:14.850 so that they can empower veterans with critical information, 07:14.850 --> 07:19.850 services, and networks of total, total support. 07:20.680 --> 07:22.770 We're going to take care of our veterans. 07:22.770 --> 07:24.880 We're working so hard on this. 07:24.880 --> 07:27.130 We're making so much progress 07:27.130 --> 07:31.430 and we're going to take care of them like never before. 07:31.430 --> 07:34.370 Veterans are America's greatest national treasure 07:35.350 --> 07:37.950 and a lot of people understand that; some people don't. 07:37.950 --> 07:41.740 I will tell you, our single-greatest national treasure. 07:41.740 --> 07:44.333 They kept us safe and we're gonna keep them safe. 07:45.250 --> 07:48.440 They courageously fulfill their duties to our nation. 07:48.440 --> 07:51.593 Now we must fulfill our duties to them. 07:52.730 --> 07:55.610 Here with us today is Frank Larkin. 07:55.610 --> 07:58.440 His son, Ryan, followed in his footsteps 07:58.440 --> 08:00.890 to become a Navy SEAL. 08:00.890 --> 08:03.460 Terrific, terrific young man. 08:03.460 --> 08:05.920 Tragically, Ryan is no longer with us. 08:05.920 --> 08:08.720 Frank, we'd love to have you come up 08:08.720 --> 08:11.830 and just say a few words about your great son, please. 08:11.830 --> 08:13.779 Frank. - Thank you, Mr. President. 08:13.779 --> 08:15.612 - Thank you very much. 08:25.580 --> 08:26.640 - Thank you, Mr. President. 08:26.640 --> 08:29.410 And thank you to our warriors and veterans present today, 08:29.410 --> 08:31.830 along with the veterans service organizations, 08:31.830 --> 08:34.270 our partners who are working hard every day 08:34.270 --> 08:37.730 to make a difference for our veterans who are in need, 08:37.730 --> 08:39.370 to the other government leaders here today, 08:39.370 --> 08:42.560 and to the survivors of suicide who live every day 08:42.560 --> 08:44.910 with the pain from the loss of their loved one. 08:46.020 --> 08:48.610 Ryan was a decorated high-performing Navy SEAL 08:48.610 --> 08:50.880 who suddenly went over the edge. 08:50.880 --> 08:53.610 In the two years that we tried to rescue him, 08:53.610 --> 08:56.740 he was prescribed over 40 different drugs. 08:56.740 --> 08:58.350 His treatment was all psychiatric 08:58.350 --> 09:00.440 and behavioral-health focused. 09:00.440 --> 09:03.050 All along, Ryan kept saying that something was wrong 09:03.050 --> 09:05.930 with his head, but nobody was listening. 09:05.930 --> 09:08.130 Months before he took his life, he expressed a wish 09:08.130 --> 09:10.800 to donate his body for TBI research. 09:10.800 --> 09:12.530 Ryan was concerned about his teammates 09:12.530 --> 09:15.170 and the similar struggles that they were experiencing 09:15.170 --> 09:17.863 following both training for combat 09:17.863 --> 09:20.700 and combat operations overseas. 09:20.700 --> 09:23.980 Many are burdened with invisible wounds as a consequence 09:23.980 --> 09:28.210 of going into harm's way into the service of this nation. 09:28.210 --> 09:30.530 After Ryan's death, we learned that he suffered 09:30.530 --> 09:33.410 from an undiagnosed, severe level of microscopic 09:33.410 --> 09:37.520 brain injury uniquely related to military blast exposure 09:37.520 --> 09:41.460 from firing our weapons systems, rockets, mortars, 09:41.460 --> 09:44.750 using explosive breaching charges, and being exposed 09:44.750 --> 09:47.850 to improvised explosive devices, IEDs. 09:47.850 --> 09:49.390 We are currently challenged by the fact 09:49.390 --> 09:51.270 that this newly discovered pattern of brain injury 09:51.270 --> 09:53.690 cannot be seen in a living person, 09:53.690 --> 09:56.500 not unlike the contact sport players who are trying 09:56.500 --> 09:58.750 to understand the effects of microscopic CTE, 10:00.110 --> 10:03.460 which also cannot be seen in a living player. 10:03.460 --> 10:07.250 This executive order is defining a national strategy 10:07.250 --> 10:10.400 that needs to resemble a Manhattan-like Project. 10:10.400 --> 10:13.160 We need the science to illuminate our path forward. 10:13.160 --> 10:15.470 I am convinced that we can solve this. 10:15.470 --> 10:18.190 It is not because we lack the intellectual capability 10:18.190 --> 10:22.360 or capacity; in many cases, it's because of culture. 10:22.360 --> 10:24.900 We need all the relevant players to step onto the same 10:24.900 --> 10:27.677 field of play at the same time, completely focused 10:27.677 --> 10:29.750 on solving this problem. 10:29.750 --> 10:32.750 We need collaboration, integration of data, 10:32.750 --> 10:37.750 and unity of effort across DOD, the VA, HHS, DHS, 10:38.490 --> 10:40.990 academia, and the private sector. 10:40.990 --> 10:43.220 We need a holistic approach with a heightened 10:43.220 --> 10:46.440 sense of urgency to push the scientific research. 10:46.440 --> 10:49.070 As we develop knowledge, as we experienced 10:49.070 --> 10:52.640 with the Manhattan Project and space exploration, 10:52.640 --> 10:55.260 we will inform on other disease processes 10:55.260 --> 10:56.950 and therapies that will go well beyond 10:56.950 --> 10:58.800 the veteran community and vice versa. 10:59.760 --> 11:02.440 I receive calls almost weekly from special operators, 11:02.440 --> 11:04.310 past and present, seeking help. 11:04.310 --> 11:06.780 They want to know what is happening to them. 11:06.780 --> 11:09.380 They are experiencing unexplained changes. 11:09.380 --> 11:11.300 They want to know if the pain will get better, 11:11.300 --> 11:14.210 if the demons will go away, if they will return 11:14.210 --> 11:15.960 to being the person they once were. 11:16.940 --> 11:18.660 I have to commend my own SEAL community 11:18.660 --> 11:20.100 and the Special Operations Command 11:20.100 --> 11:21.230 for embracing this challenge. 11:21.230 --> 11:24.000 They realized that things did not go well in Ryan's case, 11:24.000 --> 11:25.200 that he got left behind. 11:26.370 --> 11:28.150 They are working hard now to get it right, 11:28.150 --> 11:31.620 collecting exposure data, promoting a brain donation program 11:31.620 --> 11:34.820 to advance the research, increasing baseline 11:34.820 --> 11:37.490 health surveillance, and changing tactics to reduce 11:37.490 --> 11:41.340 exposures, especially in the combat training environment. 11:41.340 --> 11:44.230 We also need to appropriately recognize invisible wounds 11:44.230 --> 11:46.200 suffered on the battlefield. 11:46.200 --> 11:49.560 The monetary cost of a Purple Heart award is low, 11:49.560 --> 11:53.440 a few dollars for the medal itself. 11:53.440 --> 11:56.100 But the emotional impact is very high to those 11:56.100 --> 11:58.770 suffering daily with these obscure injuries 11:59.650 --> 12:03.710 to be recognized for their sacrifice. 12:03.710 --> 12:06.270 Mr. President, following this event I'm going over 12:06.270 --> 12:08.560 to Arlington National Cemetery to tell Ryan 12:08.560 --> 12:10.890 that he's still making a difference, 12:10.890 --> 12:13.430 that he's still helping his boys. 12:13.430 --> 12:16.430 We can't leave any more of our valiant men and women behind. 12:17.500 --> 12:21.480 To our warriors, our veterans, and their families, 12:21.480 --> 12:23.290 please do not lose hope. 12:23.290 --> 12:25.380 We will find a better way. 12:25.380 --> 12:26.750 Remember, we made a promise 12:26.750 --> 12:28.900 to take care of those who served us. 12:28.900 --> 12:30.340 Failure is not an option. 12:30.340 --> 12:32.309 Mr. President, I thank you for the platform. 12:32.309 --> 12:33.537 - Very nice, thank you. 12:33.537 --> 12:36.704 (audience applauding) 12:38.912 --> 12:43.031 Thank you, Frank. 12:43.031 --> 12:44.431 Thank you, Frank, very much. 12:45.960 --> 12:49.710 Also here today with us is Thomas Winkel, 12:49.710 --> 12:51.360 a Marine Corps veteran. 12:51.360 --> 12:53.830 He is the Director of the Arizona Coalition 12:53.830 --> 12:56.680 for Military Families and the creator 12:56.680 --> 13:00.010 of a nationally recognized community collaboration model 13:00.010 --> 13:02.760 called Be Connected. 13:02.760 --> 13:05.050 And Thomas, if I might, could you please come up 13:05.050 --> 13:06.759 and say a few words? 13:06.759 --> 13:08.370 Thomas. - Thank you, Mr. President. 13:08.370 --> 13:09.910 - Okay, thank you, Thomas, here you go. 13:09.910 --> 13:11.370 - Thanks. 13:11.370 --> 13:12.730 Thank you, Mr. President. 13:12.730 --> 13:14.390 I greatly appreciate being able to be here 13:14.390 --> 13:16.130 and speak with you all today. 13:16.130 --> 13:18.610 To Frank, I really appreciate your words. 13:18.610 --> 13:21.220 I'm sorry about your son. 13:21.220 --> 13:26.220 He is in our hearts and you are in our hearts, your family. 13:26.240 --> 13:28.735 And Semper Fi, brother. 13:28.735 --> 13:30.930 - [Frank] Thank you. 13:30.930 --> 13:35.240 - Folks, the PREVENTS Initiative is exactly 13:35.240 --> 13:36.830 what this country needs. 13:36.830 --> 13:39.960 It is exactly what the thousands, the tens of thousands 13:39.960 --> 13:43.350 of individuals across the country have been hoping for. 13:43.350 --> 13:46.550 For the past 10 years, I've been working with states, 13:46.550 --> 13:49.430 every single state across the country. 13:49.430 --> 13:53.060 Local teams, state teams, federal teams. 13:53.060 --> 13:56.200 And when you boil everything down, all their concerns, 13:56.200 --> 13:59.550 all their hopes, all their dreams, all their frustrations, 13:59.550 --> 14:02.130 what it really comes down to is that there needs to be 14:02.130 --> 14:05.130 a sense of coordination and collaboration 14:05.130 --> 14:09.960 unlike what we have today and unlike what we've seen before. 14:09.960 --> 14:12.240 We're not talking about just regular old coordination 14:12.240 --> 14:14.660 and collaboration, or a partnership 14:14.660 --> 14:16.670 that is partnership in name only. 14:16.670 --> 14:20.750 But we need partnership that is true, that is consistent, 14:20.750 --> 14:24.650 that allows the organization to meet both its own metrics 14:24.650 --> 14:26.390 and its altruistic metrics. 14:26.390 --> 14:27.800 It's incredibly important. 14:27.800 --> 14:30.350 And it's incredibly valuable. 14:30.350 --> 14:32.920 We have examples of this true partnership, 14:32.920 --> 14:34.550 little ones, all across the country. 14:34.550 --> 14:38.220 One from Arizona happens to be in 2010. 14:38.220 --> 14:39.420 The Arizona National Guard 14:39.420 --> 14:42.940 had its highest rate of suicide ever. 14:42.940 --> 14:45.243 Very, very difficult situation. 14:46.160 --> 14:48.750 Partners got together under the leadership 14:48.750 --> 14:50.690 of a collective impact initiative. 14:50.690 --> 14:53.550 And we all had the same goal in mind, how do we reduce 14:53.550 --> 14:56.310 this number or get rid of it completely? 14:56.310 --> 14:59.100 Over the course of 36 months, we dropped the rate 14:59.100 --> 15:02.010 from the highest ever to zero. 15:02.010 --> 15:03.520 It can be done. 15:03.520 --> 15:07.226 We have the ability to prevent suicide, to make lives 15:07.226 --> 15:12.220 more empowered, to make lives have more meaning, 15:12.220 --> 15:15.710 and to be able to drive folks forward to feel the success 15:15.710 --> 15:18.360 that happens when they get a great job, 15:18.360 --> 15:23.163 or they get a great spouse, or they have kids. 15:24.010 --> 15:27.270 Look, the reality is, is that we've all known someone 15:27.270 --> 15:29.053 who has died by suicide. 15:30.120 --> 15:32.410 It is hard, it is painful. 15:32.410 --> 15:34.470 And we have the ability to stop it. 15:34.470 --> 15:37.410 What our belief is, and the way that we were able to do this 15:37.410 --> 15:39.480 is that we worked with a No Wrong Door 15:39.480 --> 15:41.560 and No Wrong Person approach. 15:41.560 --> 15:43.810 A No Wrong Door, No Wrong Person approach. 15:43.810 --> 15:46.580 That means very single organization was engaged. 15:46.580 --> 15:51.310 Every single organization was involved that had a stake 15:51.310 --> 15:53.250 in service members, veterans, and their families, 15:53.250 --> 15:55.173 and their survival and their thriving. 15:56.040 --> 16:01.040 So we have mechanics, and lawyers, and doctors, 16:02.270 --> 16:05.310 and teachers, and first responders. 16:05.310 --> 16:07.710 And we have hotel clerks. 16:07.710 --> 16:10.982 One of my favorite stories is a hotel clerk that noticed 16:10.982 --> 16:14.960 that a person that was checking in happened to be a veteran, 16:14.960 --> 16:18.720 that they were struggling in a variety of different ways. 16:18.720 --> 16:21.140 But the hotel clerk didn't know what to do. 16:21.140 --> 16:23.000 He called what we have in Arizona, 16:23.000 --> 16:25.650 called the Be Connected line, and talked with them. 16:25.650 --> 16:27.700 They coached him through how do you just connect 16:27.700 --> 16:28.980 with the individual. 16:28.980 --> 16:31.920 So the clerk goes up to his room, knocks on the door, 16:31.920 --> 16:32.940 and says, hello, sir. 16:32.940 --> 16:34.040 I just wanted to check in with you. 16:34.040 --> 16:36.400 You seem like you might be a little distressed 16:36.400 --> 16:37.840 and I wanted to see if there was anything 16:37.840 --> 16:39.623 I could do for you. 16:39.623 --> 16:43.700 The individual said, I'm so glad that you came up. 16:43.700 --> 16:45.750 I'm so glad that you talked with me 16:45.750 --> 16:47.540 because I was sitting here contemplating 16:47.540 --> 16:49.080 how I was going to die. 16:49.080 --> 16:51.630 Not whether, not if. 16:51.630 --> 16:53.380 So you may have just saved my life. 16:54.440 --> 16:58.140 We hear these stories consistently, and it takes 16:58.140 --> 17:00.480 the entire community to be able to do this, 17:00.480 --> 17:02.540 everybody working off the same page. 17:02.540 --> 17:05.220 Our belief is, is that if everyone knows what to do 17:05.220 --> 17:07.730 when an individual is in trouble, they will act. 17:07.730 --> 17:09.840 And we've seen it time and time again. 17:09.840 --> 17:13.650 So, Mr. President, we greatly support this act, 17:13.650 --> 17:15.020 or this initiative. 17:15.020 --> 17:16.390 It is an incredible thing. 17:16.390 --> 17:20.650 We deeply appreciate everything that you have put into this. 17:20.650 --> 17:22.930 It is going to make a huge difference. 17:22.930 --> 17:26.460 And I can speak on behalf of Arizona and the other states 17:26.460 --> 17:28.955 that I have spoken with that we stand ready. 17:28.955 --> 17:30.350 Thank you. 17:30.350 --> 17:33.600 (audience applauding) 17:35.970 --> 17:39.350 - So Thomas, I heard one thing beyond all else 17:39.350 --> 17:40.850 when you just spoke so beautifully, 17:40.850 --> 17:45.850 and that was from the highest rate ever to zero. 17:47.360 --> 17:49.580 That was a very big statement. 17:49.580 --> 17:51.550 So we're gonna have to find out what you're doing. 17:51.550 --> 17:54.070 Somebody's got to get together with you. 17:54.070 --> 17:55.150 That's an incredible job. 17:55.150 --> 17:56.300 I've heard about it, too. 17:56.300 --> 17:58.440 Highest rate ever to zero. 17:58.440 --> 17:59.810 - Thank you, Mr. President. - That's what it's about. 17:59.810 --> 18:01.400 That's what we're up here for. 18:01.400 --> 18:04.570 There has to be something that we can do. 18:04.570 --> 18:05.620 - [Thomas] There is. 18:05.620 --> 18:07.850 - 20 a day, it's hard to believe. 18:07.850 --> 18:08.980 So thank you very much, come here. 18:08.980 --> 18:10.620 Again, thank you very much. 18:10.620 --> 18:13.880 I'd like to ask a man who's really done an incredible job, 18:13.880 --> 18:16.800 before I sign, Secretary Wilkie, to step up 18:16.800 --> 18:18.203 and just say a few words. 18:19.690 --> 18:23.500 I'm so happy that he's our Secretary. 18:23.500 --> 18:26.980 If you look over the last fairly long time now 18:26.980 --> 18:30.200 that he's been Secretary, we've had so many good stories 18:30.200 --> 18:33.670 about what's happening, generally, at the VA. 18:33.670 --> 18:37.700 We're extremely of proud of Choice. 18:37.700 --> 18:40.250 It's been many, many decades that they have been trying 18:40.250 --> 18:43.610 to get Choice, where a veteran can go out and see a doctor 18:43.610 --> 18:44.971 if the lines are long. 18:44.971 --> 18:47.620 They don't have to wait four days, nine days, 18:47.620 --> 18:50.930 I always say three weeks, five weeks, 10 weeks. 18:50.930 --> 18:53.000 Never get to see a doctor. 18:53.000 --> 18:55.730 People go in line and they're not feeling well, 18:55.730 --> 18:57.520 and they end up being terminal by the time 18:57.520 --> 18:59.100 they get to see a doctor. 18:59.100 --> 19:00.560 And, by the way, we have great doctors. 19:00.560 --> 19:02.410 I have to say, I've heard, one thing I hear, 19:02.410 --> 19:03.840 we have great doctors in the VA. 19:03.840 --> 19:06.260 A lot of people say getting there is tough, 19:06.260 --> 19:07.410 but when you see 'em, they're as good 19:07.410 --> 19:08.870 as anybody in the world. 19:08.870 --> 19:11.000 We have great doctors. 19:11.000 --> 19:14.200 But a man who has really put it all together 19:14.200 --> 19:15.680 is Secretary Wilkie. 19:15.680 --> 19:18.473 So Secretary, please say a few words, please. 19:24.520 --> 19:26.580 - Thank you, Mr. President. 19:26.580 --> 19:29.140 I've said this to you before, separate and apart 19:29.140 --> 19:31.950 from the honor of serving in your administration, 19:31.950 --> 19:36.380 but I am what passes for an amateur historian. 19:36.380 --> 19:41.330 And there has never been a campaign or an administration 19:41.330 --> 19:46.040 where the candidate and the President put veterans 19:46.040 --> 19:48.990 at the centerpiece of his campaign 19:48.990 --> 19:51.870 and his administration until you did that. 19:51.870 --> 19:55.290 And as I speak for all of us who have worn the uniform, 19:55.290 --> 19:58.370 in whatever capacity we have served, 19:58.370 --> 19:59.756 we can't thank you enough for that, sir. 19:59.756 --> 20:01.660 - Thank you very much, thank you, sir. 20:01.660 --> 20:06.660 - So last week, three Department of Veterans Affairs heroes 20:08.340 --> 20:12.220 put their lives on the line to keep a fellow veteran 20:12.220 --> 20:13.973 from taking his own life. 20:14.970 --> 20:18.720 Dr. Bruce Goldfeder, Dr. Evelyn Alba, 20:18.720 --> 20:21.310 and hospital technician Navarone Johnson 20:21.310 --> 20:23.570 in the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 20:24.940 --> 20:29.330 risked their lives to save the life of a veteran. 20:29.330 --> 20:34.330 Two of our VA heroes were wounded, one severely. 20:34.950 --> 20:37.060 But that veteran lived. 20:37.060 --> 20:42.060 Since 2017, VA employees, doctors, nurses, 20:43.180 --> 20:48.180 technicians, policemen, have saved 243 veterans 20:48.990 --> 20:52.763 just like the one that our heroes saved in Palm Beach. 20:53.790 --> 20:58.790 But since 2017, 19 veterans have not been saved. 20:59.180 --> 21:02.490 That is what today's ceremony is about. 21:02.490 --> 21:05.090 It is about pulling together the resources 21:05.090 --> 21:08.530 of the federal government, our states and localities, 21:08.530 --> 21:12.960 our charities, our non-governmental organizations, 21:12.960 --> 21:17.570 and coming together with a roadmap and the resources 21:17.570 --> 21:21.623 to make sure that we no longer have those 19. 21:22.550 --> 21:25.140 I've said many times that the mission 21:25.140 --> 21:28.660 of the Department of Veterans Affairs is to remind 21:28.660 --> 21:32.210 our fellow citizens why they sleep soundly at night. 21:32.210 --> 21:35.090 They sleep soundly at night because of the sacrifices 21:35.090 --> 21:39.880 of a select number of their fellow Americans 21:39.880 --> 21:43.573 who have taken the affirmative step to serve in uniform. 21:44.500 --> 21:48.960 Those, as the President said, those 20 who every day 21:48.960 --> 21:53.960 take their own lives, 14 of them outside of our VA system, 21:54.800 --> 21:58.500 most of them from my father's generation. 21:58.500 --> 22:00.683 His comrades from Southeast Asia. 22:01.530 --> 22:06.530 We deserve, for them, the last full measure of our devotion. 22:06.980 --> 22:10.970 And this begins the closing of that circle. 22:10.970 --> 22:14.560 And Mr. President, I thank you and your team for everything 22:14.560 --> 22:17.354 they have done on behalf of America's warriors. 22:17.354 --> 22:20.067 Thank you, sir. - Thank you so much. 22:20.067 --> 22:23.234 (audience applauding) 22:30.189 --> 22:32.332 This is very important to me and to everybody here. 22:32.332 --> 22:34.009 Thank you very much. 22:34.009 --> 22:37.592 (camera shutters clicking) 22:45.346 --> 22:48.393 Where's Frank, here you go, Frank. 22:48.393 --> 22:51.560 (audience applauding) 23:02.738 --> 23:03.887 - My son's bracelet. 23:03.887 --> 23:05.951 It's a symbol of all the veterans 23:05.951 --> 23:07.495 who have taken their lives. 23:07.495 --> 23:10.662 We've got to keep our eye on the ball. 23:11.536 --> 23:12.571 - Thank you, Frank. 23:12.571 --> 23:16.154 (camera shutters clicking) 23:18.366 --> 23:20.343 Here, you can pass these out. 23:20.343 --> 23:22.176 Okay, go pass 'em out. 23:23.285 --> 23:24.505 Thank you very much, everybody. 23:24.505 --> 23:25.871 - [Reporter] Sir, your response to the Democrats 23:25.871 --> 23:27.471 who are calling for a criminal investigation 23:27.471 --> 23:31.236 into Jared Kushner's security clearance? 23:31.236 --> 23:33.703 - The witch hunt continues. 23:34.710 --> 23:39.710 The fact is that, I guess, we got 81 letters. 23:39.960 --> 23:41.113 There was no collusion. 23:42.010 --> 23:43.030 It was a hoax. 23:43.030 --> 23:45.030 There was no anything. 23:45.030 --> 23:46.500 And they want to do that 23:46.500 --> 23:48.230 instead of getting legislation passed. 23:48.230 --> 23:51.930 81 people or organizations got letters. 23:51.930 --> 23:53.010 It's a disgrace. 23:53.010 --> 23:54.570 It's a disgrace to our country. 23:54.570 --> 23:55.920 I'm not surprised that it's happening. 23:55.920 --> 23:58.000 Basically, they've started the campaign. 23:58.000 --> 23:59.440 So the campaign begins. 23:59.440 --> 24:01.330 But the campaign is actually, their campaign 24:01.330 --> 24:04.140 has been going on for the last 2 1/2 years. 24:04.140 --> 24:05.640 So it's a shame. 24:05.640 --> 24:07.570 And the people understand it. 24:07.570 --> 24:11.000 When they look at it, they just say presidential harassment. 24:11.000 --> 24:11.833 But that's okay. 24:11.833 --> 24:16.280 No administration has accomplished, probably you could 24:16.280 --> 24:20.240 say this with absolute surety, in the first two years 24:20.240 --> 24:22.850 anywhere near what we have accomplished. 24:22.850 --> 24:26.780 Whether it's the tax cuts, whether it's regulation cuts, 24:26.780 --> 24:28.560 whether it's the Veterans Administration. 24:28.560 --> 24:31.840 What we've done with the Veterans Administration with Choice 24:31.840 --> 24:33.600 and so many other things that nobody thought 24:33.600 --> 24:38.420 would be possible to get passed, no administration 24:38.420 --> 24:39.900 has done in its first two years 24:39.900 --> 24:42.700 what the Trump administration has done. 24:42.700 --> 24:45.910 So what the Democrats want to do, 24:45.910 --> 24:47.770 they cannot stand the loss. 24:47.770 --> 24:50.620 They could not stand losing in 2016. 24:50.620 --> 24:51.520 I see it all the time. 24:51.520 --> 24:54.100 I see people getting on, I saw a certain person 24:54.100 --> 24:54.933 get up yesterday. 24:54.933 --> 24:57.040 The anger, the anger. 24:57.040 --> 25:00.130 And they just haven't gotten used to the fact 25:00.130 --> 25:02.070 that we won a lot of states that haven't been won 25:02.070 --> 25:04.530 by Republicans in a long time. 25:04.530 --> 25:07.590 But essentially what they're saying is the campaign begins. 25:07.590 --> 25:10.240 And instead of doing infrastructure, 25:10.240 --> 25:13.230 instead of doing healthcare, instead of doing so many things 25:13.230 --> 25:16.170 that they should be doing, they wanna play games. 25:16.170 --> 25:19.750 President Obama, from what they tell me, 25:19.750 --> 25:23.790 was under a similar kind of a thing, didn't give one letter. 25:23.790 --> 25:24.650 They didn't do anything. 25:24.650 --> 25:26.220 They didn't give one letter of the request. 25:26.220 --> 25:28.770 Many requests were made; they didn't give a letter. 25:29.620 --> 25:33.240 It's too bad because I'd rather see them do legislation. 25:33.240 --> 25:35.090 We negotiate out legislation. 25:35.090 --> 25:36.780 We have so many things, actually things 25:36.780 --> 25:39.460 that we agree on, like infrastructure. 25:39.460 --> 25:41.640 But they wanna focus on nonsense. 25:41.640 --> 25:45.070 So I just want to end by thanking all of the people 25:45.070 --> 25:47.580 that are in this room today. 25:47.580 --> 25:48.600 Very special people. 25:48.600 --> 25:51.850 The job you've done for the VA is incredible. 25:51.850 --> 25:54.230 And just keep up the good work. 25:54.230 --> 25:56.200 And, Secretary, you've been fantastic. 25:56.200 --> 25:57.431 Thank you very much. 25:57.431 --> 25:58.470 (reporters yelling) 25:58.470 --> 25:59.534 Thank you all. 25:59.534 --> 26:00.992 (reporters yelling) 26:00.992 --> 26:01.979 - [Reporter] Security clearances though, sir? 26:01.979 --> 26:04.440 - [Reporter] Business partners as well?