information i have and what informs me is information about veterans to get fair -- care within the va system. i can track and follow that. i know known that our numbers are bought a mobile. when we look over the spectrum, we have an increase of suicide in people who are under 35 age group and then we have another peak that correspond with the national suicide numbers for people in middle age or just past middle age which actually is probably our vietnam era veterans. still two groups of people within the va we are concerned about. i think over time we will find out what happens to this early group as they age and are out of the military longer, but i think that one thing we need to remember is veterans are people too. so they are also subject to all the stresses and normal life span changes in suicide rates and imposing that on top of their veteran experience is something we haven't quite figured out how it makes a difference. what i do know is the way we're dealing with and working with our new veterans is different than the way we dealt with are vietnam veterans when they came back. we hop

and emergency care and have significantly improved the quality of care provided across the va health care system. [applause] >> thank you. it is my pleasure to be here. thank you for that nice introduction. i have to get this fixed. as a cardiologists, i still see patients. that is the most important thing i do. it helps to give me the perspective of how to make things better. let me thank the salvation army for hosting us today. this is a wonderful opportunity. i like to recognize the elected officials as of everybody has already done. i think this is a very important statement, the fact that you are here today. it means a lot to this community and us. it is a statement about the kind of support there is for ending veteran homelessness. the folks who have put this together have done a fantastic job. there is little i can say that would add anything to the probable commitment they have to making this program work. as you will hear and learn, this is not something the va can do by itself. this is a program that is built around the organization of our community partners in ending this terrible pro

the va is home to the largest health care system in the u.s.theecurrent economic conditions have providddveterans another choice of where to receive care. so theyy they have in the past. foot mcpherson,, n rmy base in atlanta, recently closed. and the va is now converting the base into a new medical facility.in atlantaa the va facilities. hey are in the process of buulding their second parking gaaage in two years. nagleedescribes his first isit to the va center as a nightmarr. aftee driving trying to findda parking ssace, his car was eventtally booted in the parking lot. ultimately that did take lead into me having a panic attack, disabilities as the military diagnosed me with ptsd so it led into a pretty hard time for e. immediately after that day i was angeredd i was extremely frustrated. these are the kinds of issues holmes is addressing in her role on the pptient adviiory committee: i love to serve aad so instead situution i wanttd to be part he knows he has a llng way o go... but he's giving it his best shot:a lot of friends and family say yyu really aren't surviving, you know and i

i called because i wanted to speak in praise of the va hospital system. i am a korean war veteran and i have been going to the va for a long, long time. the va hospital here in indianapolis has got to be one of the finest hospitals in the country. i never have to wait on an appointment. the doctor's eyes see, the same all the time. they really monitor what is going on with me as far as my health is concerned. and in fact, they provided this for my telephone system and every morning, i take my weight, blood pressure readings, and it is all transmitted to the v.a. hospital here and there is someone monitoring that, because they will call me if they find something that does not look right. so, anyway. i have heard a lot of complaints about the va, but i am one that never has a complaint about it. host: thank you for making that call. i want to add some advice off of twitter. i want to go back to the numbers. andrew tilghman, you talked about this earlier. in 1973, officers had an average age of 32 years old, now 34.5. but unless man has risen from an average

this is a service that we put our lives on >> the va is home to the largest health-care system and theer choice of where to receive care so they are choosing to come to the va more than they happen to pass pierre >> and army base in atlanta for mcpherson recently closed and there now converting the base into a new medical facility, an atlanta the v.a. medical center is packed with people, a process of building their second parking garage in just the past two years, he described his first visit to the va center as a nightmare appeared after driving around for more than one hour trying to find a parking spaces car was eventually booted in the parking lot. >> ultimately that did laden to me having a panic attack which is part of my disability that the military did diagnosed with. it was a pretty bad time for me. >> i love to serve and so instead of complaining about the situation i want to be a part of the solution. >> he says he knows he has a long way to go but he is giving his best shot. a lot of people say you are really not living you are just surviving. >> the winds are already pick

both the members of the military as well as the folks within the system, are subjected to. >> more than 300,000 women were treated at vaacilities last year. annmarie buerkle chairs the subcommittee on health for veterans affairs and said with women's numbers rising in the military new protections are necessary. >> the fact that more women are serving we see a greater need on so many fronts but within this arena and with this issue, the fact that more women are in the military as well as working in the va and the nurses that situation just makes women vulnerable. as a result of this legislation, women reached out to my office in the district and talked to us about now that we've raised awareness of this issue now other folks are coming forward, women who have been subjected and victims, and so on many levels this was a good thing to raise awareness because we need to correct t. >> the veterans sexual assault prevention act will insure safer and more secure environments for veterans and va employees. >> we found there were no reporting mechanisms no safeguards in the va facilities. there was no awareness that this was ev

caller: i called because i wanted to speak in praise of the va hospital system. i am the korean war veteran. i have been going to the va for a long time. the va hospital in indianapolis has got to be one of the finest in the country. i never have to wait on an appointment. i see the same doctor all the time. they really monitor what is going on with me as far as my health is concerned. i have a device in my home that they provided. it is took up to my telephone system. every morning, i take my weight and blood pressure readings. that is transmitted to the va hospital. there is someone monitoring that. they will call me if they find something that does not look right. i have heard lots of complaints about the va, but i am one that never has a complete about it. host: thank you for making that call. let me add some advice about the complaints. enter, you talked about this earlier. here are the actual statistics that show the older and longer- serving military. in 1973, officers had an average age of 32 years. it is now 34.5. the listed age has risen to 27.2. they ar

my only choice is the va and barbara -- an arbor health care system. you get an appointment three months from now. you get a new doctor every time. you have to start over again every time. it is a never ending merry-go- round. your issues never get solved. a lot of veterans get discouraged like i am right now. if they cannot do better, we just stop going. it is such a hassle. what is going to be done about it? what are you doing to make it better for us who have to go to the doctor but we cannot get a doctor. it is like shuffling paper work. guest: thank you, michael. you raise the right issues. these are things the va should be addressing. i understand the va is aware of this issue. they are working on this. i think it is well within the rights of every citizen to be questioning and pushing the va for metrics on how well they're helping veterans. host: we will close with this comment from jim on twitter. on this veterans day, we say thank you to meg harrell to talk about her report on military

losses that have been incurred through the loans, so basically, it's been a pretty good sound system. the va, which has no down payment, only has a loss ratio of 2.5%, which is incredible because of the great job they do at underwriting and working with their clients, so i think that's one argument for not reinventing the wheel. i'll ask your comment in a minute. number two, the bubble was not caused by mortgage limits or low down payments. i wager that at least three quarters of the people in the room if they follow the national trend, bought their first home on a 3% down fha loan, and didn't default 234 -- in it as most people didn't. most of the bubble was caused by fraud, enacted between the borrowers and lenders, and if we are sure to eliminate that fraud, the system should work without additional regulation, red tape, and so forth. can you see anything anything wrong with those statements? >> i apologize. certainly mortgage fraud is an important element with the debacle over the last several years, but i would not say that borrowers generally, setting fha aside, there's a small book of

as a va pharmacist, working directly with our veterans is really gratifying. plus, i have advanced pharmacy systemshat keep accuracy high, along with training and other benefits, like being able to work anywhere in the u.s. with my current license. it's good to know you're working with the best. and that's good for our veterans. (announcer) learn more about careers with today's va at vacareers.va.gov. because last year when cold and flu season hit, she didn't have the right medicine. morning, hon. how'd you sleep? ehh. i'm going back to bed. [ coughs ] ♪ go get your father. he's in the garage. [ female announcer ] so this year liz is getting prepared at walgreens... with answers like nyquil for cold symptom relief so you can get the rest you need. right now, get a nyquil or dayquil value pack for just $9.99. at walgreens. it burns! it's singeing me. it's the sun. get out of the office more often, with chili's $6 lunch break combos, featuring texas toast half sandwiches. chili's lunch break combos. [ female announcer ] improve the health of your skin with aveeno daily moisturizing lotion. the natura

accumulation for the losses that had been interested alone fix the base of it has been a pretty good sound system. va, which has no down payment, only has a loss ratio of about 2.5%, which is incredible because the great job they do it under running and working with their clients. so i think that is one argument if we're not reinventing the wheel, i'll ask you, in a minute. number two, the bubble wasn't caused by mortgage lending or low down payment and i wager that at least three cores of the people in this room, if they follow the national trend, bought their home at least their first home on a 3% down fha loan. and didn't default as most people didn't. most of the bubble in the crisis was caused by fraud, enacted when the borrowers and lenders. and if we are sure to eliminate that fraud, the system should work with that additional regulation, red tape, and so forth. can you see anything patently wrong with the statements? >> i apologize. certainly mortgage fraud has been an important element of the debacle of the last several years, but i, i wouldn't say that borrowers generally, you sit fha, fha

systems will remain under the control of the department of defense. host: even at a handoff? guest: yes perry keyhole host: arlington , va. ♪ caller: good morning. want to thank you for the great cooperation between the polish air force and the american air force. we purchased the f-16 of some of the blackhawks are manufactured in poland prat an extremely advanced facility. thank you for the cooperation. i come from an aviation family. [unintelligible] i have one idea about recruitment in america. and modern pentathlon was crucial in the 1970's and 1980's and it was a military sport sponsored by the u.s. military. there is a great facility out of san antonio, texas. military does not sponsor of this sport anymore. it would be a great idea in spending -- instead of spending money on race cars to promote the sport in the future. guest: the polish military has a great tradition and the air force is expanding its cooperation with the polish air force as you indicated. my service in afghanistan i worked closely with a polish brigade that was deployed to afghanistan and made many great friends and comrades their part of the united states and poland wi

systems will remain under the control of the department of defense. host: even at a handoff? guest: yes perry keyhole host: arlington , va. ♪ caller: good morning. want to thank you for the great cooperation between the polish air force and the american air force. we purchased the f-16 of some of the blackhawks are manufactured in poland at an extremely advanced facility. thank you for the cooperation. i come from an aviation family. [unintelligible] i have one idea about recruitment in america. and modern pentathlon was crucial in the 1970's and 1980's and it was a military sport sponsored by the u.s. military. there is a great facility out of san antonio, texas. military does not sponsor of this sport anymore. it would be a great idea in spending -- instead of spending money on race cars to promote the sport in the future. guest: the polish military has a great tradition and the air force is expanding its cooperation with the polish air force as you indicated. my service in afghanistan i worked closely with a polish brigade that was deployed to afghanistan and made many great friends and comrades their part of the united states and poland will