(announcer) from the nation's capital, "eye on washington with marilee joyce" a weekly discussion about the federal issues most important to nevada. and now, from washington, d.c., here's marilee joyce. >> and good day to you, i'm marilee joyce. this is "eye on washington,"

every week "eye on washington" takes you straight to capitol hill for a discussion with nevada's delegation and others about the federal matters that matter to you. today's topic, taking care of our veterans. an update on employment assistance, suicide prevention, homeless help and much more. my guest is here to tell us her work on behalf of those who have served us. she is nevada u.s. congresswoman dina titus. thanks for being here. >> well, thank you well, more than 226,000 veterans call nevada home. too many, though, don't have their own home or job or even adequate healthcare. and today on "eye on washington," we'll look at my guest's work to get them work. we'll look at her efforts to get them off the streets. and we'll find out her top veteran health concern. according to the bureau of labor statistics, approximately 7,000 nevada veterans are unemployed. the 5.8% unemployment rate among them is much better than

but my guest says she won't be happy until all veterans seeking work can find it. now, to that end, she spent much of the summer recess helping connect unemployed veterans to government agencies, community organizations and private businesses. one big effort was her july veterans workshop which focused on resume building, transition of military skills, federal job applications and job interviews. meanwhile last spring the house passed several titus backed bills including one that would provide education help needed to qualify for high quality, high paying jobs and another that would help them focus on their studies providing on-campus child care services to student veterans. and congresswoman, you told the press in mid july you wanted to, quote, help our nation's heroes transition to civilian life and find good jobs that take advantage of and reward their training,

how do these workshops help? >> well, we invited not only veterans to come, but people who can provide the services. the v.a., employment services, experts in h.r., to talk about what to do to best show your skills, the things you learned and your quality of education, the things that you can do in terms of civilian jobs. because, you know, there's a lot of jargon in the military that doesn't translate easily to a job application in the civilian world. >> would you give us an overview? what's the current situation of veteran joblessness in nevada? >> well, the rate among veterans is higher than the rate among the general population. and we want to be sure that when you come home and you transition into the civilian life, that you are able to get a job because if you can't get a job, that leads to so many other problems. potential homelessness, potential suicide.

and so then they need other kinds of support. so getting that job and using the skills and the leadership qualities that you attain in the military, very important first step. >> i want to look at those house-passed bills. >> okay. >> because you have said that's going to go a long way, we hope, in helping some of these veterans.first the g.i. b. extension act, nine months of additional assistance to a veteran for completion in a your big education focus for veterans and nonveterans alike for as long as you've been on the hill has been the s.t.e.m. courses, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. >> that's right. because we know those are the good jobs of the future. if you go into those jobs, you are more likely to stay there and make a profession of it. and your income will be higher. and it helps the country because it makes us more globally competitive. those courses ten take

expensive. you may have an extra semester to get through the curriculum. so we wanted to expand the g.i. bill so you get additional benefits if you are in a s.t.e.m. course and need that extra nine months or two semesters to finish. >> you made clear in today's world, if you are in studies that don't focus so much on the s.t.e.m. courses, you might miss out on some of the higher skilled, the better paying jobs. >> well, that's certainly the way the economy m the high-tech jobs, you see that in communication, in transportation. so we want to be ready to have that talented workforce to fill those positions so we can compete internationally. and it benefits the individual, like i said, because they are higher paying jobs with good benefits for families. >> what about -- you know, we hear a lot about the need to improve, especially in nevada and nationally, of course, as well. manufacturing jobs, which are

but they might have some related needs as far as that goes that people don't really talk about. >> well, that's right. manufacturing is not what it used to be. now there is so much use of computers perhaps in manufacturing. look at communications. look at transportation with the drone industry. look at medicine now, how fast things are developing and changing there. so we want to have people who are qualified to do that. now, that doesn't mean i don't like the humanities and the that makes a well-rounded person. but those skills tend to lead to higher paying jobs. >> absolutely. quickly, the other bill that i touched on during the introduction gives some relief to those veteran parents. it's your bill to provide on-campus healthcare. >> that's right. >> or child care. >> exactly. a lot of people, especially women veterans -- and, you know, we have a growing number of women veterans. can't take advantage of the g.i. bill because they have

of. so let's help universities and colleges provide some child care to those veterans so they can take advantage of the g.i. bill. >> both bills, a lot of support on the hill? >> well, it's been amazing, you know. everybody wants to help veterans. and so those bills tend to be more bipartisan than some that are more ideological. >> okay. and when we come back, when it comes to veterans healthcare, what's more important than preventing suicide? we're going to talk about her efforts to help end this sadly growing trend right after growing trend right after this. (announcer) >>you're watching "eye on washington with marilee joyce."

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[cat meows] [purring] >> and welcome back to "eye on washington," our look at my guest's recent efforts to serve those who have served us. she is my guest today, nevada us congresswoman dina titus. well, it's almost too sad to bear hearing every 65 minutes a veteran takes his or her life. that and other vetan news motivated congresswoman titus to co-sponsor the veterans suicide prevention act. the bill mandates the department of veterans affairs to review veteran suicide deaths during the past five years and study any correlation between those deaths and psychiatric drug prescriptions. the goal is to determine whether or not psychiatric drugs some veterans are being prescribed for issues like

the bill requires the v.a. to compile a list of medications prescribed to and found in the systems of veterans at the time of their suicides and report which v.a. health facilities have disproportionately high rates of psychiatric drug prescription and suicide among veterans treated at those facilities. and, congresswoman, we're having nearly two dozen veterans committing suicide every day. >> it's terrible. >> so you wanted to take a hard look at all the possible factors in order to help starting with maybe a correction of medications. >> well, that's right. >> or the connection as well. >> there is a huge opioid over-prescription, over-usage in the whole country in all the populations, not just veterans. but it seems to be excessive among veterans because they tend to be described opioids for pain management related to ptsd. sometimes they ordose. sometimes it doesn't address the root causes of the depression. >> and it affects the brain as

>> and that addiction which can be a spiral economically and end up homess. and so that tends to lead to suicide. so we need some good, hard data to see if there is a relationship between the two and get the v.a. looking for alternative methods of treating those pblems. >> so we review the past five years of the veterans life. we check for medications. we give congress a report and a plan of action. what do you want to come from this bill? >> well, i want to see if there's any evidence showi medical centers where you have high prescriptions for opioids also have high rates of suicide. if that's the case, certainly there must be a connection. now, that doesn't mean that in the meantime, while we're waiting for that report, that we don't do other things. things like looking the use of medical marijuana as an alternative. looking at other stress relievers like companion animals, for example. yoga is another thing that's

pain management. so we have got to just think outside the box. >> how serious is the problem of veteran suicide in nevada? >> i think the numbers in nevada are equal to the numbers nationwide. it's a serious problem. and another thing that we are addressing that the house has just passed and we want to get through the senate is the suicide hotline. we want to be sure if there is a veteran who is stressed, who is having those thoughts, makes a call to the v.a. they don't get a recording. >> well, that addresses my next -- i was going to ask, you know, you and the delegation in general -- what are you doing to serve those veterans at risk? and is there adequate help available to nevada veterans considering this? >> well, we put a lot more money into mental health as well as physical health, so that we are addressing mental health at our new hospital in las vegas. and also i have worked with the officials out there to be sure that there is somebody

distressed veteran calls in. >> you know, we want to say, too, if a veteran watching this or listening to our statewide show today -- if you are contemplating ending your life or you know someone, please call 911, stop everything, call immediately. but we do need to know what kind of service exists for them. and i think the most important is immediately stop what you are doing and take it seriously. >> well, that's right. every call has to be taken seriously. >> now, what resources if a nevada veteran wants to go to one of your offices or contact you here or anything else -- >> well, they can certainly call my office at home. we do a lot of veteran outreach. in my district, you have also got veterans village. you've got u.s. vets. you've got several veterans clinics that are there that are run by the v.a. and you have those veterans service organizations. the american legion, the vfw, there are student veteran

nevada state college and community college campuses. so there are services out there. you just have to reach out to them. >> we're almost out of time in this segment, but i do want to say with how badly the great recession hurt nevada especially, when you look at joblessness, homelessness, the foreclosures, everything else, suicide can result from a lot this, can't it? >> oh, no question. they are all related. >> it gets a >> nevada already has a very high suicide rate among the general population as well. >> i can't imagine the recession helping. >> it can contribute to that tremendously. we are coming back, but we haven't made it. >> when we return, coming home to no home. the effort on capitol hill to end veteran homelessness.

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and any other labels. because love has no labels. >> and welcome back to "eye on washington," our discussion of many veterans issues and what my quest is doing to help veterans. we have been visiting with her, nevada u.s. congresswoman dina titus. well, over the summer, the v.a. and hud partnered to award grananano help get homeless veterans off the streets and into homes. and now more than $432,000 is headed to nevada to fight veteran homelessness in the state. the southern nevada regional housing authority and the v.a. southern nevada healthcare system will use their share to offer 40 rental assistance vouchers and access to medical services for qualifying veterans. in northern nevada, the program will allow the city of reno authority and the sierra nevada healthcare system to offer 23 vouchers and medical services to those who qualify.

house committee on veterans affairs, says she has prioritized veteran homelessness in congress by working to improve housing, training and reintegration programs. and she told the press last june, quote, no one who wore the uniform should have to sleep on the street. congresswoman, there has been a significant decrease in veteran homelessness. >> that's right. that's true. >> you have expressed concern there is not enough adequate resources available. are we talking homes, funding, all of the above? >> all of the above. but you're right. the v.a. made homelessness a priority under secretary shinseki. and they have reduced it by 50%. and the goal is, of course, to get it to zero. like you quoted me, if you wore the uniform, you shouldn't be sleeping on the street. you should have a roof over your head. >> now, i know this has been so big to you for so long. i also did a show with congressman hardy on this issue a few months ago.

but in rural counties, studies say there's more reluctance among homeless veterans to come forward. i don't know if it's more pride, lack of a better word. how do you reach those veterans, whether in the rural areas or in urban areas like reno and vegas? >> well, it's kind of like ptsd. you don't want to admit you have it because it's kind of a sign of failure. if you are homeless, you hate to come forward and ask for services. veterans have a lot of pride. we have to change the mentality so they don't realize it's their failure or their problem. it's a national issue that we need to address. so we need to get more information out there. the vsos are very good at helping that. some of the projects i mentioned earlier, veterans village, u.s. vets, those have temporary housing facilities while people learn a skill, get trained, find a job. those are very helpful. >> we do want to suggest that our veteran friends who are

contact -- there's the national coalition for homeless veterans. and quickly grab a pen. but it's nchv.org. and they have 12 affiliated centers around the state. again, national coalition for homeless veterans. in our remaining time this segment, you have some happy news regarding your years of work on the veteran appeals >> yes, i do. and again, it's all these things are related. you know, we had a real backlog with veterans claims for benefits. people were waiting four or five years. it was ridiculous. we have lowered that backlog. we worked with the regional office in reno, gotten more personnel in las vegas. but it's like a balloon. you squeeze it here, it pops up there. so as we have addressed this backlog, we have created more appeals. so i wanted to get ahead of that, streamline that process,

we're going, you'll have over 2 million appeals and it could take you 10 years. and so that's just unacceptable. so now with this new bill that's passed the house, we want to get it out of the senate. supported by veterans groups. supported by the v.a. and bipartisan. >> well, let's hope. >> uh-huh. >> i'll bet you're so tired of this. >> we've been working on it a long time. >> okay. when we return, it is mailbag time. and bonnie c. of las vegas, we chose your letter.

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>> and we are back with our closing segment of "eye on washington." it is our mailbag segment. it's time to read one of your letters and ask our guest to respond to you right here on the air.

letter from bonnie c. of las vegas. >> okay. >> and she writes, dear congresswoman titus, i noticed there are announcements all the time about grant money given to nevada and other states. how does the federal government track these investments and whether or not they actually achieve the goals they were designed for? >> well, that's a good question, bonnie, because we want to be sure that taxpayer dollars are ed in the best way possible and that they are held accountable and that they are solving the problem they were designed to address. so when federal grants go to different organizations, there are built-in auditing processes. you have an inspector general for each division of government. there's one for the v.a. for example. and they track this. they look to see if you have accomplished your goal. they don't give you another grant if you don't. so there's a lot of accountability. and remember, there aren't earmarks any more. i wish there were. i would like to be able to lobby for and get more money for organizations in our

to do this. so it has really taken a lot of the politics out of the process. >> you know, we mentioned during the show there is a grant going to nevada for the homeless problem. >> that's right. >> $430,000. >> something that's very needed. >> i'm sure i know one congresswoman who might be tracking to make sure of that. >> we'll keep an eye on it. i can tell you that. >> thanks for being here. >> thank you. >> talking about a lot of veterans situations. thank you so much. and, you know, you can send a or another member of the nevada delegation. go to our website joycecommunications.com. and while you're there, check out all the federal issues that impact nevada. >> thanks for joining us on "eye on washington" today. i'm marilee joyce in

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