paul rieckhoff i will start with you. in what ways was this move by the president important? what was the problem it addresses? >> i think it addresses the problem that soldiers were dying in the theatre of combat and they weren't properly recognized by the president and by our nation. so you've got these folks who ef's taken their own lives in the line of duty, a month in the army -- army alone there were 27 of them. and this recognizes their sacrifice, it recognizes their service and it tells the families that they are appreciated by their president. it's a small step but i think it symbolically is a big one. in that it can help erode the stigma which is the biggest problems we face in combatting these types of problems. >> brown: and there has been a long-running debate over there. was there a lot of pressure on the military and white house to make a move like this? >> i think there was. i mean from add vos -- advocacy groupsing military family supportive groups t sounds like this las been in the works, and folks like the general have been powerful advocates for the commun

paul rieckhoff, executive director and founder of iraq and afghanistan veterans of america.ext we'll hear from dr. james hosek, senior economist from the rand corporation. we will then hear from mrs. mrs. crystal nicely, who as i mentioned that opening statement as a caregiver and spouse of an operation enduring freedom veteran. following her testimony, we hear from mrs. lorelei st. james, director of physical infrastructure for government accountability office. in closing will be mrs. heidi golding will testify on the behalf of congressional budget office. she is cbo's and analysts in the national security division. thank you again for all of you for being here this morning for this hearing. mr. rieckhoff, will begin to you. >> iraq and afghanistan veterans of america over 200,000 of supporters, many here today, thank you for invited to testify the long-term costs were for veterans. i served america in 2,032,004 as platoon leader with rudimentary division. my unit returned and i came home from war, we returned to a country confused by and a bit uncomfortable with this for y