WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.345 - President Trump Thank you very much. 00:02.345 --> 00:03.500 I very much appreciate it. 00:03.500 --> 00:06.040 I'll be heading to Alabama 00:06.040 --> 00:07.750 on Friday, 00:07.750 --> 00:09.520 so I think some of you will be joining me 00:09.520 --> 00:11.570 but we'll be going down Friday and 00:11.570 --> 00:13.630 we'll let you know times and 00:13.630 --> 00:14.620 when we're leaving and 00:14.620 --> 00:15.820 how long we'll be there. 00:17.540 --> 00:20.390 It's been a tragic situation 00:20.390 --> 00:22.280 but a lot of good work is being done 00:22.280 --> 00:23.760 and we've been in constant touch with 00:23.760 --> 00:24.970 the governor, 00:24.970 --> 00:27.563 and also the governor of Georgia. 00:29.618 --> 00:31.261 So we'll be going to the area, we'll be 00:31.261 --> 00:33.330 Alabama and the general area, 00:33.330 --> 00:36.120 to see Governor Ivey. 00:36.120 --> 00:38.130 So that'll be on Friday, thank you very much. 00:38.130 --> 00:40.360 And we're here today to confront 00:40.360 --> 00:42.450 a solemn crisis 00:42.450 --> 00:44.883 that requires urgent national action. 00:45.860 --> 00:49.030 In a few moments I will sign an Executive Order 00:49.030 --> 00:50.390 addressing one of our nation's 00:50.390 --> 00:51.740 most heartbreaking 00:52.580 --> 00:53.760 tragedies, 00:53.760 --> 00:55.010 veteran 00:55.010 --> 00:55.973 suicide. 00:57.460 --> 00:59.550 Our mission is to mobilize every level 00:59.550 --> 01:01.670 of American society 01:01.670 --> 01:04.510 to save the lives of our great veterans, 01:04.510 --> 01:06.633 and support our heroes in need. 01:07.550 --> 01:11.150 We've worked very hard on choice for the veterans 01:11.150 --> 01:14.120 and so many other programs, 01:14.120 --> 01:14.953 and 01:16.060 --> 01:19.090 done a really great job in so many ways. 01:19.090 --> 01:21.370 Veteran suicide is something that's been 01:23.070 --> 01:25.373 an incredible thing to watch, hard to believe. 01:26.730 --> 01:27.663 It's tragic. 01:29.190 --> 01:32.100 Today we can help end this crisis. 01:32.100 --> 01:33.840 I'd like to thank Secretary Wilkie 01:33.840 --> 01:35.270 for being here today with us, 01:35.270 --> 01:37.218 he's done a fantastic job 01:37.218 --> 01:39.000 as Secretary. 01:39.000 --> 01:40.170 He's making 01:41.200 --> 01:43.377 tremendous progress at the V.A.. 01:44.400 --> 01:46.320 We are also profoundly grateful to be 01:46.320 --> 01:48.380 joined by many of our nation's leading 01:48.380 --> 01:51.060 veteran service organizations, 01:51.060 --> 01:52.650 the best, 01:52.650 --> 01:55.370 and all of the state and local veteran leaders 01:55.370 --> 01:56.930 and I want to thank everybody very much 01:56.930 --> 01:58.930 for being here, thank you very much. 01:58.930 --> 01:59.763 Thank you all very much, I know how 01:59.763 --> 02:02.150 hard you've been working on this. 02:02.150 --> 02:04.660 Veterans' suicide is a tragedy of staggering 02:04.660 --> 02:06.200 proportions. 02:06.200 --> 02:07.940 Hard to believe 02:07.940 --> 02:09.690 an average of twenty veterans 02:09.690 --> 02:11.140 and service members take 02:11.140 --> 02:12.610 their lives 02:12.610 --> 02:14.020 every single day. 02:14.020 --> 02:15.720 Who would believe that's possible? 02:17.440 --> 02:20.390 There are more than six thousand veteran 02:20.390 --> 02:22.340 suicides per year. 02:22.340 --> 02:25.460 The suicide rate among veterans is one point five 02:25.460 --> 02:29.112 times greater than that for non-veteran adults, 02:29.112 --> 02:30.472 and the suicide rate 02:30.472 --> 02:33.530 for post 9/11 soldiers has increased 02:33.530 --> 02:36.680 significantly over the last 02:36.680 --> 02:38.480 ten-year period. 02:38.480 --> 02:40.760 To every veteran, I want you to know that 02:40.760 --> 02:43.040 you have an entire nation of more than 02:43.040 --> 02:45.610 three hundred million people behind you. 02:45.610 --> 02:47.790 You will never, ever be forgotten. 02:47.790 --> 02:49.910 We are with you all the way. 02:49.910 --> 02:51.430 I think 02:51.430 --> 02:52.920 you know that. 02:52.920 --> 02:55.395 Supporting veterans is a 02:55.395 --> 02:57.590 very, very important thing to me. 02:57.590 --> 02:59.880 And it's been very important from my campaign 02:59.880 --> 03:02.080 from day one, and from before my campaign, 03:02.080 --> 03:03.203 but from day one. 03:04.260 --> 03:06.880 Supporting veterans in distress is a critical 03:06.880 --> 03:07.713 priority 03:08.560 --> 03:09.720 for our 03:09.720 --> 03:10.890 entire 03:10.890 --> 03:13.490 administration, everybody in the administration. 03:13.490 --> 03:15.590 Last year I signed into law the largest 03:15.590 --> 03:19.360 funding bill for the V.A. in its history, 03:19.360 --> 03:21.700 which included eight point six billion dollars 03:21.700 --> 03:23.240 for veterans 03:23.240 --> 03:25.720 in mental health services. 03:25.720 --> 03:27.720 I also signed an Executive Order 03:27.720 --> 03:30.150 directing the Department of Defense, 03:30.150 --> 03:32.180 Veteran Affairs, and Homeland Security 03:32.180 --> 03:35.171 to ensure our veterans have seamless access 03:35.171 --> 03:36.960 to mental health care and 03:36.960 --> 03:40.610 suicide prevention resources. 03:40.610 --> 03:43.180 These efforts focus on veterans 03:43.180 --> 03:44.980 the first year after they separate 03:44.980 --> 03:47.010 from military service 03:47.010 --> 03:48.690 when they are at the 03:48.690 --> 03:51.427 heightened risk area. 03:51.427 --> 03:53.980 The White House V.A. hotline has fielded 03:53.980 --> 03:55.790 more than two hundred thousand calls, 03:55.790 --> 03:59.780 and successfully resolved ninety-three percent 03:59.780 --> 04:02.910 of the concerns our veterans brought to them. 04:02.910 --> 04:04.410 And they worked very hard, it's been 04:04.410 --> 04:06.490 very, very effective. 04:06.490 --> 04:08.890 We secured two hundred and six million dollars 04:08.890 --> 04:11.859 for V.A. suicide prevention programming. 04:11.859 --> 04:14.240 Every V.A. medical center now offers 04:14.240 --> 04:16.653 same-day emergency mental health care. 04:17.870 --> 04:20.000 These are crucial steps, but unfortunately 04:20.000 --> 04:22.230 most veterans who died by suicide 04:22.230 --> 04:23.429 have not been 04:23.429 --> 04:25.810 in the care of the V.A.. 04:25.810 --> 04:28.080 Many of them don't know about the programs that 04:28.080 --> 04:31.010 we have, or the programs that we've instituted. 04:31.010 --> 04:31.843 In fact, 04:31.843 --> 04:33.289 nearly seventy percent of those lost 04:33.289 --> 04:37.170 to suicide, have not received care from the V.A. 04:37.170 --> 04:38.470 in the previous two years, 04:38.470 --> 04:41.450 they're just not aware of 04:41.450 --> 04:42.860 those great strides, 04:42.860 --> 04:44.710 they're just not aware. 04:44.710 --> 04:47.083 It's just not something that's on their mind. 04:48.100 --> 04:50.040 This grave problem can only be 04:50.040 --> 04:50.979 solved 04:50.979 --> 04:53.330 if our entire country works together 04:53.330 --> 04:55.319 to build communities 04:55.319 --> 04:57.180 that truly, serve, support and 04:57.180 --> 04:59.010 protect our veterans from the first 04:59.010 --> 05:02.010 moment they return to civilian life. 05:02.010 --> 05:03.410 It's so different. 05:03.410 --> 05:05.130 They leave a military life and they go 05:05.130 --> 05:06.740 to a civilian life, and 05:06.740 --> 05:08.820 it's just much different. 05:08.820 --> 05:11.980 We must keep our promises to those 05:11.980 --> 05:13.233 who keep us free. 05:14.790 --> 05:17.810 Through today's action I am launching the 05:17.810 --> 05:20.640 PREVENTS Initiative. 05:20.640 --> 05:23.360 The President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans 05:23.360 --> 05:26.023 and End the National Tragedy of Suicide. 05:27.080 --> 05:29.280 This order creates a new cabinet-level 05:29.280 --> 05:31.590 task force co-chaired by 05:31.590 --> 05:33.890 Secretary Wilkie. 05:33.890 --> 05:36.290 The task force will create a comprehensive 05:36.290 --> 05:38.800 national public health roadmap 05:38.800 --> 05:40.630 that brings together federal and local 05:40.630 --> 05:41.900 government, 05:41.900 --> 05:43.840 along with private sector partners 05:43.840 --> 05:46.350 to improve the quality of life for our 05:46.350 --> 05:48.420 veterans and turn the tide on this 05:48.420 --> 05:50.190 terrible crisis. 05:50.190 --> 05:51.780 We're being helped greatly by our 05:51.780 --> 05:53.060 strong economy, 05:53.060 --> 05:55.490 our economy is very, very powerful, 05:55.490 --> 05:56.330 and 05:56.330 --> 05:58.320 makes it a lot easier for people to get jobs, 05:58.320 --> 05:59.810 including veterans. 05:59.810 --> 06:00.850 And 06:00.850 --> 06:02.760 a lot of companies are actually 06:02.760 --> 06:04.880 giving priority at our request, 06:04.880 --> 06:07.100 to veterans and they're very happy with 06:07.100 --> 06:08.580 the results. 06:08.580 --> 06:11.280 The task force will be charged with developing 06:11.280 --> 06:13.510 a national research strategy so that we can 06:13.510 --> 06:15.700 more effectively identify, 06:15.700 --> 06:18.400 intervene and help veterans during 06:18.400 --> 06:20.470 a time of need. 06:20.470 --> 06:24.040 By investing in research and scientific advances, 06:24.040 --> 06:26.210 we can better understand the trauma 06:26.210 --> 06:28.320 our brave soldiers face, 06:28.320 --> 06:29.270 and how to 06:29.270 --> 06:30.980 restore 06:30.980 --> 06:31.813 their 06:31.813 --> 06:33.513 faith and their health. 06:34.730 --> 06:37.640 Under this order, my administration will also 06:37.640 --> 06:39.960 work with Congress to pass legislation, 06:39.960 --> 06:42.580 providing resources and assistance 06:42.580 --> 06:45.480 in the form of grants to communities, 06:45.480 --> 06:48.060 so that they can empower veterans 06:48.060 --> 06:49.610 with critical information, 06:49.610 --> 06:50.940 services, 06:50.940 --> 06:53.115 and networks of total, 06:53.115 --> 06:55.460 total support. 06:55.460 --> 06:57.540 We're going to take care of our veterans. 06:57.540 --> 06:59.640 We're working so hard on this. 06:59.640 --> 07:01.900 We're making so much progress. 07:01.900 --> 07:03.745 We're going to take care of them 07:03.745 --> 07:06.190 like never before. 07:06.190 --> 07:07.970 Veterans are America's greatest 07:07.970 --> 07:09.213 national treasure. 07:10.150 --> 07:10.983 And 07:10.983 --> 07:11.900 a lot of people understand that, 07:11.900 --> 07:13.560 some people don't, I will tell you our 07:13.560 --> 07:14.500 single greatest 07:14.500 --> 07:15.750 national 07:15.750 --> 07:16.583 treasure. 07:16.583 --> 07:17.960 They kept us safe, and we're gonna 07:17.960 --> 07:19.113 keep them safe. 07:20.010 --> 07:22.060 They courageously fulfilled their duties 07:22.060 --> 07:23.190 to our nation, 07:23.190 --> 07:26.363 now we must fulfill our duties to them. 07:27.490 --> 07:30.380 Here with us today is Frank Larkin. 07:30.380 --> 07:31.750 His son, Ryan, 07:31.750 --> 07:33.456 followed in his footsteps to become 07:33.456 --> 07:35.660 a Navy Seal. 07:35.660 --> 07:38.230 Terrific, terrific young man. 07:38.230 --> 07:40.690 Tragically, Ryan is no longer with us. 07:40.690 --> 07:42.350 Frank, 07:42.350 --> 07:43.706 we'd love to have you come up and just say 07:43.706 --> 07:46.580 a few words about your great son, please. 07:46.580 --> 07:47.413 Frank. 07:47.413 --> 07:48.365 - Thank you, Mr. President. 07:48.365 --> 07:50.535 - Frank, yes sir. Thank you very much. 07:50.535 --> 07:51.535 - Thank you. 08:00.340 --> 08:01.650 Thank you Mr. President, and thank you to 08:01.650 --> 08:04.190 our warriors and veterans present today 08:04.190 --> 08:06.610 along with the veterans' service organizations 08:06.610 --> 08:07.890 our partners, who are 08:07.890 --> 08:08.803 working hard every day to 08:08.803 --> 08:11.160 make a difference for our veterans 08:11.160 --> 08:12.510 who are in need. 08:12.510 --> 08:14.130 To the other government leaders here today, 08:14.130 --> 08:16.250 and to the the survivors of suicide, 08:16.250 --> 08:17.980 who live everyday with the pain 08:17.980 --> 08:20.124 from the loss of their loved one. 08:20.124 --> 08:22.470 Ryan was a decorated, high-performing 08:22.470 --> 08:23.390 Navy Seal 08:23.390 --> 08:25.650 who suddenly went over the edge. 08:25.650 --> 08:27.180 In the two years that he tried to, 08:27.180 --> 08:28.370 we tried, to rescue him, 08:28.370 --> 08:31.510 he was prescribed over forty different drugs. 08:31.510 --> 08:32.782 His treatment was all psychiatric 08:32.782 --> 08:35.200 and behavioral health focused. 08:35.200 --> 08:36.080 All along, 08:36.080 --> 08:37.052 Ryan kept saying that something was 08:37.052 --> 08:39.010 wrong with his head. 08:39.010 --> 08:40.690 But nobody was listening. 08:40.690 --> 08:42.082 Months before he took his life, he expressed 08:42.082 --> 08:45.560 a wish to donate his body for TBI research. 08:45.560 --> 08:47.460 Ryan was concerned about his teammates and the 08:47.460 --> 08:49.930 similar struggles that they were experiencing 08:49.930 --> 08:52.372 following both training for combat 08:52.372 --> 08:55.440 and combat operations overseas. 08:55.440 --> 08:57.850 Many are burdened with invisible wounds 08:57.850 --> 09:00.312 as a consequence of going into harm's way 09:00.312 --> 09:02.980 and to the service of this nation. 09:02.980 --> 09:03.980 After Ryan's death, 09:03.980 --> 09:05.620 we learned that he suffered from 09:05.620 --> 09:07.390 an undiagnosed, severe level 09:07.390 --> 09:08.999 of microscopic brain injury, 09:08.999 --> 09:12.290 uniquely related to military blast exposure, 09:12.290 --> 09:14.220 from firing our weapon systems, 09:14.220 --> 09:15.510 rockets, 09:15.510 --> 09:16.343 mortars, 09:16.343 --> 09:18.650 using explosive breeching charges, 09:18.650 --> 09:20.010 and being exposed to improvised 09:20.010 --> 09:22.600 explosive devices, IEDs. 09:22.600 --> 09:24.260 We are currently challenged by the fact that 09:24.260 --> 09:26.030 this newly discovered pattern of brain injury 09:26.030 --> 09:28.450 cannot be seen in a living person. 09:28.450 --> 09:30.563 Not unlike the contact sport players who are 09:30.563 --> 09:32.340 trying to understand the effects of 09:32.340 --> 09:33.477 microscopic CTE, 09:34.870 --> 09:36.640 which also cannot be seen 09:36.640 --> 09:38.230 in a living player. 09:38.230 --> 09:41.010 This Executive Order is defining a 09:41.010 --> 09:42.600 national strategy that needs to 09:42.600 --> 09:45.170 resemble a Manhattan-like project. 09:45.170 --> 09:46.810 We need the science to illuminate 09:46.810 --> 09:47.940 our path forward. 09:47.940 --> 09:50.230 I am convinced that we can solve this. 09:50.230 --> 09:51.897 It is not because we lack the intellectual 09:51.897 --> 09:53.567 capability or capacity, 09:53.567 --> 09:56.517 in many cases it's because of culture. 09:56.517 --> 09:58.707 We need all the relevant players to step 09:58.707 --> 10:01.440 onto the same field of play at the same time, 10:01.440 --> 10:04.510 completely focused on solving this problem. 10:04.510 --> 10:05.937 We need collaboration, 10:05.937 --> 10:07.540 integration of data, 10:07.540 --> 10:10.040 and unity of effort across DOD, 10:10.040 --> 10:11.397 the V.A., 10:11.397 --> 10:12.230 HHS 10:12.230 --> 10:13.250 DHS, 10:13.250 --> 10:14.083 academia, 10:14.083 --> 10:15.750 and the private sector. 10:15.750 --> 10:17.610 We need a holistic approach with 10:17.610 --> 10:18.970 a heightened sense of urgency 10:18.970 --> 10:21.210 to push the scientific research. 10:21.210 --> 10:24.169 As we develop knowledge, as we experienced with 10:24.169 --> 10:27.410 the Manhattan Project, and space exploration, 10:27.410 --> 10:30.020 we will inform on other disease processes 10:30.020 --> 10:31.690 and therapies that will go well beyond 10:31.690 --> 10:33.979 the veteran community, and vice-versa. 10:33.979 --> 10:36.230 I receive calls almost weekly from 10:36.230 --> 10:38.130 special operators, past and present, 10:38.130 --> 10:39.070 seeking help. 10:39.070 --> 10:41.109 They want to know what is happening to them. 10:41.109 --> 10:43.549 They are experiencing unexplained changes. 10:43.549 --> 10:45.759 They want to know if the pain will get better, 10:45.759 --> 10:47.689 if the demons will go away, 10:47.689 --> 10:49.420 if they will return to being the 10:49.420 --> 10:51.099 person they once were. 10:51.099 --> 10:53.430 I have to commend my own Seal community 10:53.430 --> 10:54.860 and the Special Operations Command 10:54.860 --> 10:56.540 for embracing this challenge, they realize 10:56.540 --> 10:58.760 that things did not go well in Ryan's case, 10:58.760 --> 10:59.960 that he got left behind. 11:01.120 --> 11:02.900 They are working hard now to get it right, 11:02.900 --> 11:04.590 collecting exposure data, 11:04.590 --> 11:06.370 promoting a brain donation program 11:06.370 --> 11:07.910 to advance the research, 11:07.910 --> 11:10.600 increasing baseline health surveillance, 11:10.600 --> 11:13.320 and changing tactics to reduce exposures, 11:13.320 --> 11:15.772 especially in the combat training environment. 11:15.772 --> 11:18.040 We also need to appropriately recognize 11:18.040 --> 11:19.010 invisible wounds 11:19.010 --> 11:20.970 suffered on the battlefield. 11:20.970 --> 11:24.330 The monetary cost of a Purple Heart Award is low, 11:24.330 --> 11:26.330 a few dollars for the 11:26.330 --> 11:28.210 metal itself. 11:28.210 --> 11:30.484 But the emotional impact is very high to those 11:30.484 --> 11:34.420 suffering daily with these obscure injuries, 11:34.420 --> 11:38.470 to be recognized for their sacrifice. 11:38.470 --> 11:39.350 Mr. President, 11:39.350 --> 11:40.183 following this event, 11:40.183 --> 11:42.480 I'm going over to Arlington National Cemetery 11:42.480 --> 11:45.083 to tell Ryan that he's still making a difference, 11:45.083 --> 11:47.573 that he's still helpin his boys. 11:47.573 --> 11:49.480 We can't leave any more of our 11:49.480 --> 11:51.103 valiant men and women behind. 11:52.270 --> 11:54.040 To our warriors, 11:54.040 --> 11:54.873 our veterans, 11:54.873 --> 11:56.220 and their families, 11:56.220 --> 11:58.060 please do not lose hope. 11:58.060 --> 12:00.160 We will find a better way. 12:00.160 --> 12:01.870 Remember, we made a promise to take 12:01.870 --> 12:03.670 care of those who served us. 12:03.670 --> 12:05.120 Failure is not an option. 12:05.120 --> 12:07.867 Mr. President, I thank you for the platform. 12:07.867 --> 12:08.700 (applause) 12:08.700 --> 12:10.250 - Thank you very much. 12:10.250 --> 12:12.500 (applause) 12:17.721 --> 12:20.303 Thank you Frank, very much. 12:20.303 --> 12:23.862 Well also here today with us, is Thomas Winkel, 12:23.862 --> 12:26.100 a Marine Corps veteran. 12:26.100 --> 12:28.740 He is the director of the Arizona Coalition for 12:28.740 --> 12:30.202 Military Families, 12:30.202 --> 12:33.140 and a creator of a nationally recognized 12:33.140 --> 12:36.140 community collaboration model called 12:36.140 --> 12:37.540 Be Connected. 12:37.540 --> 12:39.450 And Thomas, if I might, could you please 12:39.450 --> 12:41.076 come up and say a few words? 12:41.076 --> 12:41.909 Thomas? 12:41.909 --> 12:43.095 - Thank you, Mr. President. 12:43.095 --> 12:44.770 - Thank you, Thomas, here you go. 12:44.770 --> 12:46.140 - Thanks. 12:46.140 --> 12:47.500 Thank you, Mr. President. 12:47.500 --> 12:49.100 I greatly appreciate being able to be here 12:49.100 --> 12:50.523 and speak with you all today. 12:50.523 --> 12:51.700 To Frank, 12:51.700 --> 12:53.250 I really appreciate your words. 12:54.291 --> 12:55.970 I'm sorry about your son. 12:55.970 --> 12:57.070 He is 12:57.070 --> 12:58.410 in our hearts, 12:58.410 --> 13:00.990 and you are in our hearts, your family, 13:00.990 --> 13:01.860 and 13:01.860 --> 13:02.933 Semper Fi, brother. 13:05.630 --> 13:07.050 Folks, 13:07.050 --> 13:08.670 the PREVENTS Initiative 13:08.670 --> 13:10.010 is exactly 13:10.010 --> 13:11.600 what this country needs. 13:11.600 --> 13:14.180 It is exactly what the thousands, the tens 13:14.180 --> 13:16.740 of thousands of individuals across the country 13:16.740 --> 13:18.130 have been hoping for. 13:18.130 --> 13:20.430 For the past ten years I've been working with 13:20.430 --> 13:21.310 states, 13:21.310 --> 13:24.180 every single state across the country, 13:24.180 --> 13:25.060 local teams, 13:25.060 --> 13:26.320 state teams, 13:26.320 --> 13:27.800 federal teams. 13:27.800 --> 13:29.890 and when you boil everything down, 13:29.890 --> 13:31.620 all their concerns, all their 13:31.620 --> 13:34.300 hopes, all their dreams, all their frustrations, 13:34.300 --> 13:35.940 what it really comes down to 13:35.940 --> 13:37.450 is that there needs to be a sense of 13:37.450 --> 13:39.900 coordination and collaboration, 13:39.900 --> 13:40.760 unlike 13:40.760 --> 13:42.890 what we have today, and unlike what 13:42.890 --> 13:44.720 we've seen before. 13:44.720 --> 13:46.380 We're not talking about just regular old 13:46.380 --> 13:47.870 coordination and collaboration, 13:47.870 --> 13:49.420 or a partnership 13:49.420 --> 13:51.430 that is partnership in name only, 13:51.430 --> 13:54.540 but we need partnership that is true, 13:54.540 --> 13:55.603 that is consistent, that 13:55.603 --> 13:58.250 allows the organization to meet both 13:58.250 --> 14:01.200 its own metrics and its altruistic metrics. 14:01.200 --> 14:03.200 It's incredibly important, and its 14:03.200 --> 14:05.130 incredibly valuable. 14:05.130 --> 14:07.680 We have examples of this true partnership, 14:07.680 --> 14:09.320 little ones, all across the country, 14:09.320 --> 14:11.540 one from Arizona happens to be 14:11.540 --> 14:12.990 in 2010, 14:12.990 --> 14:15.100 the Arizona National Guard had its 14:15.100 --> 14:17.700 highest rate of suicide ever. 14:17.700 --> 14:20.495 Very, very difficult situation. 14:20.495 --> 14:23.500 Partners got together under the leadership 14:23.500 --> 14:25.470 of a collective impact initiative, 14:25.470 --> 14:27.410 and we all had the same goal in mind, 14:27.410 --> 14:29.110 how do we reduce this number or 14:29.110 --> 14:31.080 get rid of it completely. 14:31.080 --> 14:33.060 Over the course of 36 months, 14:33.060 --> 14:35.210 we dropped the rate from the highest ever 14:35.210 --> 14:36.770 to zero. 14:36.770 --> 14:38.280 It can be done. 14:38.280 --> 14:40.210 We have the ability to prevent suicide, 14:40.210 --> 14:41.200 to make lives 14:42.300 --> 14:43.840 more empowered, 14:43.840 --> 14:45.490 to make lives 14:45.490 --> 14:47.000 have more meaning, 14:47.000 --> 14:49.250 and to be able to drive folks forward 14:49.250 --> 14:51.080 to feel the success that happens 14:51.080 --> 14:52.811 when they get a great job, 14:52.811 --> 14:54.150 or they get a great 14:55.600 --> 14:56.433 spouse, 14:56.433 --> 14:57.913 or they have kids. 14:58.770 --> 15:00.745 Look, the reality is, is that we've all 15:00.745 --> 15:03.823 known someone who has died by suicide. 15:04.890 --> 15:06.070 It is hard, 15:06.070 --> 15:07.160 it is painful, 15:07.160 --> 15:09.220 and we have the ability to stop it. 15:09.220 --> 15:10.053 What our belief is, 15:10.053 --> 15:12.180 and the way that we were able to do this, 15:12.180 --> 15:13.925 is that we worked with a no wrong door 15:13.925 --> 15:16.320 and no wrong person approach. 15:16.320 --> 15:18.570 A no wrong door, no wrong person approach. 15:18.570 --> 15:20.300 That means every single organization 15:20.300 --> 15:21.340 was engaged. 15:21.340 --> 15:23.540 Every single organization was involved 15:23.540 --> 15:25.350 that had a 15:25.350 --> 15:27.520 stake in service members, veterans and their 15:27.520 --> 15:29.933 families, and their survival and their thriving. 15:30.800 --> 15:31.633 So, 15:32.700 --> 15:34.660 we have mechanics 15:34.660 --> 15:35.500 and lawyers 15:35.500 --> 15:37.030 and doctors 15:37.030 --> 15:38.220 and teachers 15:38.220 --> 15:40.060 and first responders. 15:40.060 --> 15:42.490 And we have hotel clerks. 15:42.490 --> 15:45.140 One of my favorite stories is a hotel clerk 15:45.140 --> 15:48.070 that noticed that a person that was checking in 15:48.070 --> 15:49.700 happened to be a veteran, 15:49.700 --> 15:50.610 that they 15:50.610 --> 15:53.440 were struggling in a variety of different ways. 15:53.440 --> 15:56.010 But the hotel clerk didn't know what to do. 15:56.010 --> 15:57.730 He called what we have in Arizona 15:57.730 --> 15:59.650 called the Be Connected line, 15:59.650 --> 16:00.483 and talked with them. 16:00.483 --> 16:01.640 They coached him through, 16:01.640 --> 16:03.700 how do you just connect with the individual? 16:03.700 --> 16:05.810 So, the clerk goes up to his room, 16:05.810 --> 16:06.967 knocks on the door and says, 16:06.967 --> 16:08.518 "Hello sir, I just wanted to check in with you, 16:08.518 --> 16:11.067 "you seem like you might be a little distressed, 16:11.067 --> 16:12.277 "and I wanted to see if there was 16:12.277 --> 16:13.380 "anything I could do for you?" 16:13.380 --> 16:17.567 The individual said, "Oh, I'm so glad that you 16:17.567 --> 16:18.400 "came up. 16:18.400 --> 16:20.407 "I'm so glad that you talked with me. 16:20.407 --> 16:22.177 "Because I was sitting here contemplating 16:22.177 --> 16:23.717 "how I was going to die. 16:23.717 --> 16:24.807 "Not whether, 16:24.807 --> 16:26.277 "not if, 16:26.277 --> 16:28.167 "So you may have just saved my life." 16:29.170 --> 16:31.170 We hear these stories consistently, 16:31.170 --> 16:32.870 and it takes 16:32.870 --> 16:35.220 the entire community to be able to do this, 16:35.220 --> 16:37.280 everybody working off the same page. 16:37.280 --> 16:38.480 Our belief is that if 16:38.480 --> 16:40.130 everyone knows what to do when 16:40.130 --> 16:42.460 an individual is in trouble, they will act. 16:42.460 --> 16:44.580 And we've seen it, time and time again. 16:44.580 --> 16:46.130 So, Mr. President, 16:46.130 --> 16:47.890 we greatly support this 16:48.799 --> 16:51.450 initiative, it is an incredible thing. 16:51.450 --> 16:53.410 We deeply appreciate 16:53.410 --> 16:55.400 everything that you've put into this. 16:55.400 --> 16:57.660 It is going to make a huge difference. 16:57.660 --> 16:58.610 And 16:58.610 --> 17:00.480 I can speak on behalf of Arizona 17:00.480 --> 17:02.000 and the other states that I have spoken with, 17:02.000 --> 17:03.643 that we stand ready. 17:03.643 --> 17:04.476 Thank you. 17:04.476 --> 17:06.726 (applause) 17:10.207 --> 17:11.940 - So, Thomas, 17:11.940 --> 17:14.380 I heard one thing beyond all else when you 17:14.380 --> 17:16.650 just spoke so beautifully, and that was, 17:16.650 --> 17:18.530 from the highest rate 17:19.420 --> 17:20.520 ever 17:20.520 --> 17:22.090 to zero, 17:22.090 --> 17:24.540 that was a very big statement, so we're 17:24.540 --> 17:26.290 gonna have to find out what you're doing. 17:26.290 --> 17:27.364 Somebody's gotta 17:27.364 --> 17:29.880 get together with you, that's an incredible job, 17:29.880 --> 17:31.040 I've heard about it, too, 17:31.040 --> 17:31.960 highest rate ever, 17:31.960 --> 17:33.474 to zero. 17:33.474 --> 17:34.890 That's what it's about, that's what 17:34.890 --> 17:36.130 we're up here for. 17:36.130 --> 17:38.100 There has to be something 17:38.100 --> 17:39.113 that we can do. 17:40.320 --> 17:41.210 Twenty a day? 17:41.210 --> 17:42.580 That's hard to believe. 17:42.580 --> 17:44.620 So, thank you very much, come here again. 17:44.620 --> 17:45.453 Thank you very much. 17:45.453 --> 17:46.820 I'd like to ask 17:46.820 --> 17:48.610 a man who's really done an incredible job, 17:48.610 --> 17:49.840 before I sign, 17:49.840 --> 17:51.610 Secretary Wilkie to step up and 17:51.610 --> 17:52.943 just say a few words. 17:54.410 --> 17:58.260 I'm so happy that he's our Secretary. 17:58.260 --> 18:00.254 If you look over the last 18:00.254 --> 18:03.010 fairly long time now that he's been Secretary, 18:03.010 --> 18:04.920 we've had so many good stories about 18:04.920 --> 18:06.960 what's happening generally 18:06.960 --> 18:08.410 at the V.A.. 18:08.410 --> 18:09.270 We're 18:09.270 --> 18:10.900 extremely proud of 18:10.900 --> 18:12.440 choice. 18:12.440 --> 18:13.273 It's been 18:13.273 --> 18:14.760 many, many decades that they've been 18:14.760 --> 18:16.510 trying to get choice where a veteran 18:16.510 --> 18:17.580 can go out and 18:17.580 --> 18:19.607 see a doctor if the lines are long. 18:19.607 --> 18:20.980 They don't have to wait 18:20.980 --> 18:23.500 four days, nine days, I always say three weeks, 18:23.500 --> 18:25.670 five weeks, ten weeks, 18:25.670 --> 18:27.409 never get to see a doctor. 18:27.409 --> 18:29.650 People go online and they're 18:29.650 --> 18:31.010 not feeling well and they end up 18:31.010 --> 18:32.350 being terminal by the time they 18:32.350 --> 18:33.830 get to see a doctor. 18:33.830 --> 18:35.300 And by the way, we have great doctors. 18:35.300 --> 18:36.450 I have to say, I've heard, 18:36.450 --> 18:38.070 one thing I hear we have great doctors 18:38.070 --> 18:38.903 in the V.A.. 18:38.903 --> 18:41.000 A lot of people say getting there is tough, 18:41.000 --> 18:42.140 but when you see 'em they're as good 18:42.140 --> 18:43.610 as anybody in the world. 18:43.610 --> 18:45.720 We have great doctors. 18:45.720 --> 18:47.750 But a man who's really 18:47.750 --> 18:48.940 put it all together 18:48.940 --> 18:51.150 is Secretary Wilkie, so, 18:51.150 --> 18:53.043 Secretary, please say a few words. 18:59.230 --> 19:01.320 - Thank you, Mr. President. 19:01.320 --> 19:02.970 I've said this to you before, 19:02.970 --> 19:05.275 separate and apart from the honor 19:05.275 --> 19:06.840 of serving in your administration, 19:06.840 --> 19:07.820 that I 19:07.820 --> 19:11.090 am what passes for an amateur historian 19:11.090 --> 19:14.070 and there has never been a campaign 19:14.070 --> 19:15.757 or an administration 19:15.757 --> 19:17.060 where 19:17.060 --> 19:18.470 the candidate 19:18.470 --> 19:19.990 and the president 19:19.990 --> 19:22.690 put veterans the centerpiece 19:22.690 --> 19:24.810 of his campaign and his administration 19:24.810 --> 19:26.610 until you did that. 19:26.610 --> 19:28.810 And as I speak for all of us 19:28.810 --> 19:30.400 who have worn the uniform in 19:30.400 --> 19:33.090 whatever capacity we have served, 19:33.090 --> 19:35.120 we can't thank you enough for that, sir. 19:35.120 --> 19:36.390 - Thank you very much, thank you. 19:36.390 --> 19:37.223 - So, 19:37.223 --> 19:38.600 last week, 19:38.600 --> 19:39.830 three 19:39.830 --> 19:43.080 Department of Veterans' Affairs heroes 19:43.080 --> 19:45.460 put their lives on the line 19:45.460 --> 19:48.863 to keep a fellow veteran from taking his own life. 19:49.700 --> 19:51.470 Dr. Bruce Goldfeder, 19:51.470 --> 19:53.051 Dr. Evelyn Alba, 19:53.051 --> 19:56.040 and hospital technician Navarrone Johnson, 19:56.040 --> 19:58.383 in the West Palm Beach V.A. Medical Center, 19:59.680 --> 20:01.540 risked their lives 20:01.540 --> 20:04.070 to save the life of a veteran. 20:04.070 --> 20:06.020 Two of our V.A. heroes 20:06.020 --> 20:07.570 were wounded, 20:07.570 --> 20:09.660 one severely. 20:09.660 --> 20:11.780 But that veteran lived. 20:11.780 --> 20:13.483 Since 2017, 20:14.870 --> 20:17.900 V.A. employees, doctors, nurses, 20:17.900 --> 20:19.640 technicians, 20:19.640 --> 20:21.230 policemen, 20:21.230 --> 20:23.720 have saved two hundred and forty-three veterans, 20:23.720 --> 20:24.993 just like the one 20:24.993 --> 20:27.493 that our heroes saved in Palm Beach. 20:28.510 --> 20:30.331 But since 2017, 20:30.331 --> 20:33.920 nineteen veterans have not been saved. 20:33.920 --> 20:37.220 That is what today's ceremony is about. 20:37.220 --> 20:38.080 It is about 20:38.080 --> 20:39.910 pulling together the resources of 20:39.910 --> 20:41.680 the federal government, 20:41.680 --> 20:45.000 our states, and localities, our charities, 20:45.000 --> 20:47.710 our non-governmental organizations, 20:47.710 --> 20:50.440 and coming together with a roadmap 20:50.440 --> 20:52.300 and the resources 20:52.300 --> 20:55.320 to make sure that we no longer have 20:55.320 --> 20:56.383 those nineteen. 20:57.280 --> 20:59.240 I've said many times 20:59.240 --> 21:00.580 that the mission of the Department 21:00.580 --> 21:03.400 of Veterans' Affairs is to remind 21:03.400 --> 21:05.170 our fellow citizens why they sleep 21:05.170 --> 21:06.940 soundly at night. 21:06.940 --> 21:08.630 They sleep soundly at night because 21:08.630 --> 21:11.200 of the sacrifices of a select number 21:12.600 --> 21:14.610 of their fellow Americans 21:14.610 --> 21:17.110 who have taken the affirmative step 21:17.110 --> 21:18.303 to serve in uniform. 21:19.230 --> 21:20.280 Those, 21:20.280 --> 21:23.040 as the President said, those twenty 21:23.040 --> 21:24.790 who every day take their own lives, 21:24.790 --> 21:26.050 fourteen of them 21:26.050 --> 21:27.730 outside of our 21:27.730 --> 21:29.530 V.A. system, 21:29.530 --> 21:31.030 most of them 21:31.030 --> 21:33.230 from my father's generation, 21:33.230 --> 21:35.403 his comrades from Southeast Asia, 21:36.280 --> 21:37.490 We deserve 21:37.490 --> 21:39.060 for them, 21:39.060 --> 21:41.710 the last full measure of our devotion. 21:41.710 --> 21:43.540 And this begins 21:43.540 --> 21:45.710 the closing of that circle. 21:45.710 --> 21:48.640 Mr. President, I thank you and for your team, 21:48.640 --> 21:49.930 for everything they have done 21:49.930 --> 21:51.982 on behalf of America's warriors. 21:51.982 --> 21:53.103 Thank you, sir. 21:53.103 --> 21:54.063 Thank you. 21:54.063 --> 21:55.212 - Thank you so much 21:55.212 --> 21:57.462 (applause) 22:04.796 --> 22:06.370 This is very important to me and 22:06.370 --> 22:07.203 to everybody here. 22:07.203 --> 22:08.036 Thank you very much. 22:08.036 --> 22:10.703 (cameras click) 22:33.347 --> 22:37.908 (applause drowns out speaker) 22:37.908 --> 22:42.150 - for all veterans who have taken their lives, 22:42.150 --> 22:43.664 we're gonna keep our eye on the ball. 22:43.664 --> 22:44.664 - Thank you. 22:46.238 --> 22:47.437 Thank you, Frank. 22:47.437 --> 22:50.104 (cameras click) 22:52.967 --> 22:54.887 You can pass these out. 22:54.887 --> 22:56.487 You'll pass them around. 22:56.487 --> 22:57.967 (cameras click) 22:57.967 --> 22:59.163 Thank you very much everybody. 22:59.163 --> 23:00.049 - [Audience Member] Sir, you're response to the 23:00.049 --> 23:01.399 Democrats who are calling for a criminal 23:01.399 --> 23:02.232 investigation into 23:02.232 --> 23:03.187 (words drowned out by camera clicks) 23:03.187 --> 23:04.770 security clearance? 23:05.780 --> 23:07.180 - The 23:07.180 --> 23:08.423 witch hunt continues. 23:09.450 --> 23:10.283 The 23:10.283 --> 23:11.116 fact is that, 23:12.120 --> 23:14.700 I guess we got 81 letters, 23:14.700 --> 23:16.063 there was no collusion, 23:16.063 --> 23:17.740 that was a hoax. 23:17.740 --> 23:18.573 There was no 23:18.573 --> 23:19.750 anything. 23:19.750 --> 23:20.583 And 23:20.583 --> 23:21.530 they want to do that instead of 23:21.530 --> 23:22.960 getting legislation passed. 23:22.960 --> 23:23.793 Eighty-one 23:23.793 --> 23:25.590 people or organizations got letters. 23:25.590 --> 23:27.248 It's a disgrace, 23:27.248 --> 23:29.300 it's a disgrace to our country. 23:29.300 --> 23:30.640 I'm not surprised that's it's happening, 23:30.640 --> 23:32.740 basically, they've started the campaign, 23:32.740 --> 23:34.170 so the campaign begins. 23:34.170 --> 23:36.080 But the campaign's actually, their campaign, 23:36.080 --> 23:37.230 has been going on for the last 23:37.230 --> 23:38.428 two and half years. 23:38.428 --> 23:40.380 So it's a shame. 23:40.380 --> 23:42.300 And the people understand it. 23:42.300 --> 23:43.730 When they look at it they just say, 23:43.730 --> 23:45.720 presidential harassment. 23:45.720 --> 23:46.553 But that's okay, 23:46.553 --> 23:48.953 no administration has accomplished, 23:49.850 --> 23:51.990 probably you could say this with 23:51.990 --> 23:54.970 absolute surety, in the first two years 23:54.970 --> 23:56.540 anywhere near 23:56.540 --> 23:57.600 what we've accomplished 23:57.600 --> 23:59.450 whether it's the tax cuts, 23:59.450 --> 24:01.500 whether it's regulation cuts, 24:01.500 --> 24:03.290 whether it's the Veterans Administration, 24:03.290 --> 24:04.730 what we've done with the 24:04.730 --> 24:06.560 Veterans Administration with choice 24:06.560 --> 24:08.070 and so many other things that nobody 24:08.070 --> 24:09.940 thought would be possible 24:09.940 --> 24:11.790 to get passed. 24:11.790 --> 24:14.120 No administration has done in its first 24:14.120 --> 24:15.160 two years what 24:15.160 --> 24:17.410 the Trump administration has done. 24:17.410 --> 24:20.630 So, what the Democrats wanna do, 24:20.630 --> 24:22.510 they cannot stand a loss, 24:22.510 --> 24:25.340 they could not stand losing in 2016. 24:25.340 --> 24:27.250 I see it all the time, I see people getting, 24:27.250 --> 24:28.180 I saw 24:28.180 --> 24:30.517 a certain person get up yesterday, the anger, 24:30.517 --> 24:31.720 the anger. 24:31.720 --> 24:33.230 And they just haven't 24:33.230 --> 24:34.984 gotten used to the fact that we won 24:34.984 --> 24:36.810 a lot of states that haven't been won 24:36.810 --> 24:38.945 by Republicans in a long time. 24:38.945 --> 24:39.910 But 24:39.910 --> 24:41.880 essentially what they're saying is the campaign 24:41.880 --> 24:44.980 begins instead of doing infrastructure, 24:44.980 --> 24:46.720 instead of doing health care, 24:46.720 --> 24:47.950 instead of doing so many things 24:47.950 --> 24:49.540 that they should be doing, 24:49.540 --> 24:50.900 they wanna play games. 24:50.900 --> 24:52.810 President Obama, 24:52.810 --> 24:54.480 from what they tell me, 24:54.480 --> 24:56.370 was under a 24:56.370 --> 24:58.550 similar kind of thing, didn't give one letter, 24:58.550 --> 24:59.850 they didn't do anything, they didn't give 24:59.850 --> 25:00.940 one letter of the requests. 25:00.940 --> 25:02.490 Many requests were made, 25:02.490 --> 25:04.350 they didn't give a letter. 25:04.350 --> 25:05.810 It's too bad, 25:05.810 --> 25:07.970 because I'd rather see them do legislation, 25:07.970 --> 25:10.850 We negotiate out legislation with so many things 25:10.850 --> 25:12.174 actually things that we agree on like 25:12.174 --> 25:14.190 infrastructure, 25:14.190 --> 25:16.370 but they want to focus on nonsense. 25:16.370 --> 25:17.203 So, 25:17.203 --> 25:19.800 I just wanna end by thanking all of the people 25:19.800 --> 25:22.310 that are in this room today. 25:22.310 --> 25:23.330 Very special people. 25:23.330 --> 25:25.210 The job you've done for the V.A. is 25:25.210 --> 25:26.560 incredible. 25:26.560 --> 25:27.910 And 25:27.910 --> 25:28.960 just keep up the good work. 25:28.960 --> 25:30.920 And Secretary, you've been fantastic, 25:30.920 --> 25:31.957 thank you very much. 25:31.957 --> 25:33.000 (audience members shout out questions) 25:33.000 --> 25:33.833 Thank you all. 25:33.833 --> 25:38.383 (audience members call out questions) 25:38.383 --> 25:39.362 (cameras click)