Xavier Sander News Today

ELIZABETH WARREN: Good afternoon and welcome to the first Personnel subcommittee hearing of the 118th Congress. I am pleased to welcome all of you here to this

subcommittee, im pleased to represent t defenseealth program and its contribions to the health andedical -- for the department. im speaking today in advance of the relief of the president proposes fiscal year 2024 budget. major activities unfolding in the milita health system that will inform our soon to be released budget proposal. the tional defen authorization act for 2017 enacted sweeping refms. the expanded responsibily of the defense health agency are now largely complete...

companies and more including charter communications. >> charter is proud to be necked as one of the best internet providers and were just getting started building 100,000 miles of new infrastructure to reach those who need it most. >> chaer communications supports c-span as public service along wh these other television providers giving you a front-row seat to democracy. >> and now to a hearing on issues facing the militarys health insurance program, including rising costs and lack of ...

we look forward to hearing your brief. i also want to recognize edwin gilliam. i think thank you for your service isnt quite adequate. we appreciate everything youve done over your career to keep this country the greatest country on earth. we wish you much luck in the next phase of your life and just know that maine or montana are great places to retire to. the defense health program accounts for roughly 39 billion dollars or 5% of the budget. charged with providing health care service...

Was a six month wait. >> i told them this could be a reason why deaths are occurring. >> reporter: what did they say? >> i was met with the same negative feedback. >> reporter: in the past 12 months, the navy says seven sailers on the uss george washington have died, at least four by suicide. sailers say they brought in health resources after three suicides occurred in one week in april. one of those was xavier sander, just a year out of high school. his father says he will always be the family ...

Later. he had just turned 19. and joining me now are xaviers parents, john sander and mary graft. thank you so much for joining us. im so sorry that we are here and that xavier is not, and that were talking about him being gone here. can you just tell us a little bit about your son, who he was, and why he wanted to join the navy? >> he was a great boy. he was always a leader. he started off in martial arts at the age of 5. received his second degree black belt, moved on from all that, played qua...

>> not so much. he didnt reveal too much. he was too proud to say a lot was wrong. it was just, like, i dont like -- ship and basically too proud to say what was really going on there. >> did he tell you at all, john, that other sailors had died by suicide or suspected by suicide? he was the third in a week. >> he did not mention it. i did not know when we went to virginia to -- we found out that he had passed, and they didnt reveal that to me until i got home. and i saw some of the stories on t...