Good morning. The committee on health education, labor and pensions will please come to order. First i would like to go through a few administrative matters that weve adopted because of covid. Weve consulted with the attending physician and the department of health and human services, centers for disease control. Individuals in the hearing room are six feet apart. Theres no room for the public in person. The press is covering as a pool. You can watch this on streaming or there will be an unedited recording that everyone can watch. All of our Witnesses Today and some senators are participating by video conference. I would like to Say Something about masks. The office of attending physician has advised that senators and witnesses may remove their masks to talk into the microphones since our chairs are six feet apart. So, thats why my mask is off. When im not back here, im wearing my mask in the hall. Im grateful to the rules committee, the sergeant at arms, the press gallery, the arkt te
Obviously is being held remotely. All members and witnesses will participate Via Videoconferencing as part of our hearing microphones will be set on mute to eliminate background noise. Members and witnesses, youre going to have to unmute your microphone each time you wish to speak. So i just say that as a reminder and as a little housekeeping issue, but please remember to do that. Documents for the record can be sent to megan mullen at the email address we provided to your staff. All documents will be entered into the record at the conclusion of the hearing. The chair now recognizes herself for five minutes for an Opening Statement. Lets see, where is the clock on the screen . There it is, okay. In any given year, one in five adults experience a Mental Illness such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. But 2020 has been a year like no other. In a recent poll, half of adults report that their Mental Health has been negatively impacted due to the coronavirus. One can only imagine
Should be talking to you about today. But i know we just have a limited amount of your time. I really want to focus more than anything on the pacific. I know you come from the regent relatively recently prayed the National Defense strategy prioritized the competition and especially china and russia. But i think most people when they think about the army, they are thinking obviously of ground intensive environment like europe. They are not thinking about those effects. Is the pacific really a priority for the army . And what does it mean if it is . Yes, historically we are focused on europe. The National Defense strategy to put the indo pacific at the top priority. It is certainly a priority for us. And we take a look without the pacific that was my first overseas trip as a chief in september 2019. That was my first trip with covid out into the region. Emily look at the region theres a great competition is about the people. The people reside in the land domain. The secret the solution t
And make sure that they get exactly what they need. The chair would like to recognize the gentleman from oregon, mister schrader. Is he available . Not seeing or hearing him. The chair recognizes Mister Kennedy. Mister kennedy available . Not in his chair. Then the chair will recognize thegentleman from New Hampshire , miss custer or five minutes of questions. You need to unmute. You. Thank you very much. Thank you madam chair. I appreciate this hearing and i appreciate the opportunity to address you on this important issue. Here in New Hampshire weve had a dramatic increase. Depression, anxiety, trauma and grief as a result of covid and we are struggling as well with changes to the Economic Impact on our Healthcare Providers particularly Mental Health providers. 83 percent of small and large groups Substance Abuse providers have described what is a Financial Hardship as a result of covid and 48 percent of those providers have had to cancel income generating events while 74 percent hav
Reporter liam cardinal says he wasnt surprised his 80year old father was being a good samaritan, helping a stranger. He saw a young man with a bicycle that had a flat tire and my father, being the way he is, he was out walking the dog and he said, he probably said hey young man, can i help you with that flat tire . Last friday night in this palo alto neighborhood at linden and seneca he grabbed a light poem from his home of 48 years. When he returned, unbeknownst to him, the young man was armed with a knife and began violently stabbing him. Its to my understanding it was multiple, multiple stab wounds to the neck and the face. Reporter neighbors who witnessed the assault told his wife and immediately called 911. It was a random, violent attack against an elderly male for no apparent reason. Reporter the suspect took off on his bike. Coincidentally, the suspects family members arrived looking for him. Authorities found him less than two miles away at his East Palo Alto home. 18yearold A