on the coronavirus pandemic vaccine trails in the impact on the communities, later a senate veterans affairs committee on preventing suicides. >> you are watching c-span2, your unfiltered view of government. created by america's cable television company as a public service and brought to you by your television provider. >> health and human services secretary alex azar sat down with research america did discuss the coronavirus pandemic in response preparing for the flu season in research priorities within the department. this is 15 minutes. >> one of your view should be the hhs lease research agenda as it seeks to understand more and more during the pandemic and what kinds of efforts to be sustained "after words". >> as leadership, i think it's really proving to be a valuable part of the coping response. this is such an unprecedented disease in the ends packed on the health system is so unique and were really learning, you can see we are learning how to treat patients with covid, so much

senate live on c-span2 beginning at 3 p.m. eastern. >> next come hearing on mental health care and suicide prevention for veterans. the senate veterans affairs committee heard from representative of veterans organizations on legislation recently passed in the senate which is expected to be taken up in the house. this is 90 minutes. >> [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> good afternoon, everyone. the committee will come to order. i am pleased to have this opportunity today to hear directly from organizations that work with, represent or support millions of veterans every day. this committee has gatheredli today to hear from these organizations their first-hand perspective and reasons they support our comprehensive suicide prevention legislation, s.785, the commander john scott hannon veterans mental health care improvement act. >> this is a legislation that is been before this committee and before the senate, and i wanted to give the opportunity to those veterans service organizations and others the ability to tell us any thoughts that in regard to this leg

the senate veterans affairs committee holds a hearing on suicide prevention in providing mental healthcare that is all lie that c-span.org.

and at 3:15 p.m., the senate veterans affairs committee holds a hearing on suicide prevention and providing mental healthcare for veterans, again, that's live at c-span.org. tuesday in the senate, majority leader mitch mcconnell gave an update on the latest coronavirus relief legislation. then reaction by democratic leader chuck schumer. the senate is expected to vote on the republican coronavirus bill on thursday. >> our nation has spent the last six months fighting the medical, economic, and social effects of this pandemic. the senate's historic rescue package from back in march, the cares act, has gone a long way to help american workers and families endure these incredible challenges. it delivered the extra federal unemployment benefits that helped laid off workers make ends meet. it created a paycheck protection program which has helped millions of small businesses keep the lights on, and keep employees on payroll. it sent resources

the senate veterans affairs committee heard from representatives of veterans organizations on legislation recently passed in the senate which is expected to be taken up in the house. this is 90 minutes. . . . [no audio] [silence] [no audio] >> good afternoon, everyone. [audio difficulty] >> millions of veterans every day. this committee is gathered to hear from those organizations about their firsthand perspective and their support for comprehensive suicide prevention legislation, s. 785, veterans mental health care improvement act. this piece of legislation has been before this committee and before the senate, and i wanted to give the opportunity to those veteran service organizations and others the ability to tell us any thoughts they have in regard to this legislation as we negotiate with the house in its passage and its ability to be sent to the president. additionally tomorrow, september the 10th, is worldwide suicide prevention day, and this is our opportunity to call attention to the tragedy of suicide and urge for swift passage of our legislation that will provide life-saving meas

to my friends andeand .steemed senate colleagues chairman and ranking member of the senate veterans' affairs committee. privilege of working with senators moran and tester for years and i know american greater chaerps in the united states -- champions in the united states senate than them. i'm grateful for their hard work shepherding this bill to the president's desk over the last a half. of course, i'm also grateful to my friend and fellow leader of affairs veterans' committee, congressman mark takano of california. ince he took over the gavel last year, chairman takano has focused our committee's work on prevention.ide i'm proud to stand with imhad in pursuit of that -- with him in 1 1/2 more times ikely to die by suicide than nonveterans. veteran women are 2.2 times more ikely to die by suicide than nonveteran women. it is certainly not for lack of effort, or desire that the veteran suicide rate it has for ash as long as it has. when i came to congress in 2009, budget was l health pproximately $4 billion per year. when i leave congress at the end of this year, v.a.'s mental health budget will total

senate live on c-span2 beginning at 3 p.m. eastern. >> next come hearing on mental health care and suicide prevention for veterans. the senate veterans affairs committeeard from representative of veterans

for more on this let's speak with republican senator from georgia, kelly leffler who serves on the veterans affairs and joint economic committeessenator where you come down on holding a vote before the presidential election? >> good evening, jon. certainly my thoughts and prayers are with the family of justice ginsburg but the u.s. constitution says without qualification the u.s. president will nominate his appointment and be the senate will consent and approve his appointment and we will do that and we will do our jobs. in 2018 the senate majority was expanded in the american people elected president trump in 2016 and there is a clear mandate to do this and in fact, that mandate was expanded after the terrible treatment of justice kavanaugh during his confirmation process. the four democrat senators that voted against justice kavanaugh lost their elections and the one democrats voted for it kept his seat. if that is not a referendum, i don't know what is. jon: but as you well know on the house side speaker nancy pelosi is saying that the democrats could take some pretty extreme action to block any potential nominee or block ac

>>> the house veterans affairs committee recently held a hearing on suicide prevention among veterans with representatives from several advocacy organizations. this comes after the senate unanimously passed a bill last aims to expand veterans access to mental health programs outside of the va and also help service members transition from the military to civilian life. >> the committee is called to order and we will now move [inaudible] i now recognize myself for an opening statement. first, since there will be

madam president, this is our most significant piece of legislation from the senate committee on veterans' affairs dealing with mental health and swried prevention. the -- suicide prevention. the bill was approved by the senate unanimously and we've been negotiating with chairman dekano and ranking member rowe for its passage by the house and consideration by the senate of other bills that the house has and will send us. i want to thank my colleague, senator tester, the ranking member of our committee, chairman takano and dr. rowe, the ranking member of the house committee, for working expeditiously with me to pass this comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention bill for america's veterans. one veteran lost to suicide is one too many and it's a tragedy we continue to lose. i'm glad that congress is coming together to do our part as this bill will save lives. it needs to be passed without delay and signed into law. this bill will establish a grant program and require the v.a. to better collaborate with community organizations across the country serving veterans. this was championed by my cl

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>>> the house veterans affairs committee recently held a hearing on suicide prevention among veterans with representatives from several advocacy organizations. this comes after the senate unanimously passed a bill last aims to expand veterans access to mental health programs outside of the va and also help service members transition from the military to civilian life. >> the committee is called to order and we will now move [inaudible] i now recognize myself for an opening statement. first, since there will be sufficient significant discussion about veteran suicides today, let me start by sharing the veteran's crisis line. if you were a veteran you know are struggling, please contact the veteran's crisis line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 182-73-8255 and select option number one or text 838255. i want to thank everybody joining us today. we've made suicide prevention or top priority and today 25 to 31 bills we will discuss or related to improving access and reducing suicide in the veteran population. the issues surrounding mental health care are broad and complex. let me address some of the remarks made by the senate counterparts at the hearing yesterday. the co

veterans affairs to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the committee is discharged and the committee will proceed -- the senate will proceed. mr. portman: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. portman: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to immediate consideration of calendar number 508, s. 3681. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 508, s. 3681, a bill to require a joint task force on the operation of air travel during and after the covid-19 pandemic and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. portman: i ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn, the markey amendment substituted at the desk be agreed to, and that the bill be amended and considered read a third time and passed, the committee-reported title amendment be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon

house veterans affairs committee and getting to know him very well it's a sad thing but we do appreciate his service in so many different ways. >> that's a big deal. >> and with their comments to senate bill 75. and for those who served those with extraneous material and with that the hearing is concluded and adjourned. [inaudible c. georgia republican senators spoke to defend the president.

veteran affairs as the robert d. maxwell of veterans affairs clinic. promise without objection, the committee --. the presiding officer: the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the committee on help be discharged from further consideration of s. 924 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the c -- the clerk will report. the clerk: a bill to amend the child abuse prevention and treatment act, and so forth. the presiding officer: without objection, the committee is discharged, and the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the cornyn substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill as amended be considered read a third time and passed, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the help committee

mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the committee on veterans' affairs be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 6168 and the senate product proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: an act to increase effective as of december 1, 20 to, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the subcommittee is discharged and the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i understand there is a bill at the desk due a second reading. the presiding officer: the clerk the read the too title. the clerk: s. 4675, a bill to amend the health insurance portability and accountability act. mr. mcconnell: i object to further proceedings. the presiding officer: objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent tha