thank you. >> senator bloomenthal. thank you, senator whitehouse and i want to join you inthanking the chairman. and absolute senator klobuchar who has been so steadfast and strong in advancing this cause. i am proud to be working with her. i want to thank the other members of the committee include senator durbin, fienstein, and the late senator loutenberg for their leadership in this cause and the many advocates around the country who are championing common sense measures to stop gun violence and domestic violence. the two together are a toxic, deadly combination. women are five times as likely to die from domestic violence when there are guns in the household. i especially want to thank the survivors. the loved ones of the victims who are here today. i know how much courage and strength it takes for you to be with us but your presence is so powerful and meaningful and far more eloquent than anything i can say here or anywhere else. i want to say a particular thanks to a connected family who is here. mary and doug jac

senator bloomenthal? >> thank you, mr. chairman. i want to thank you and chairman miller as well as ranking members michelle and burr for your leadership. and to all of my colleagues here today. i hope it bodes well for how we will work together on the challenges that continue to face us. i've been doing a lot of listening to veterans over the last three and a half years, over the 20 years that i've served as attorney general. the veterans coming back from afghanistan who want to wait 18 days or three weeks for a mental health appointment. many of them are coming to me. we face a crisis that gives new meaning to that word. time is not on our side. this is a growing, unfolding, burgeoning one. we're learning literally day-by-day about its new dimensions. the office of the medical inspector as not impacting patient health and dismiss iing those concerns. the stories about whistle blowers. for me, as shocking about cooking the books and covering it up is retaliation against our whistle blowers. they are the ones that are telling truth