You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more
"Sergeant Somers needed help - and he and his family did what all families facing similar challenges are urged to do: they asked for help. But when the VA’s answer came, it demonstrated exactly what happens when America’s veterans are left behind."
"The VA enrolled Sergeant Somers in group-therapy sessions - sessions which he could not attend, for fear of disclosing classified information. Despite repeated requests for individualized counseling... the VA delayed providing him with suitable support and care."
"Sergeant Somers struggled with the VA bureaucracy. His disability appeal had been pending for more than two years without any resolution. And he didn’t get the help he needed in time."
"We lost Sergeant Daniel Somers to suicide. Americans returning home from serving our nation must always have somewhere to turn for support."
"I am committed to ensuring no veteran feels trapped like Sergeant Somers did - and that all of our veterans have access to appropriate mental health care."
SGT Somers’ parents "Howard and Jean faced the world, bravely shared SGT Somers’ story, and created a mission of their own. Their mission is to ensure that SGT Somers’ story brings to light America’s deadliest war: the 20 veterans we lose to suicide in this country every day."
"While serving in the House, I worked with Howard & Jean to develop and pass into law the Daniel Somers Classified Veterans Access to Care Act–legislation that ensures veterans who serve in a classified capacity receive behavioral health services in an appropriate care setting."
"Now, it’s time to take the next innovative step to provide the support our servicemembers and veterans have earned.
The Somers family and I have worked over the past several months with the @DeptofDefense on new legislation to create a “Network of Support."
"Our legislation requires each new servicemember be asked for the names of loved ones he or she considers to be part of a network of support.
In return, the @DeptofDefense and the @RedCross will provide information about benefits and services available to military members."
"And, working as a team across party lines, we successfully included the Network of Support legislation in the national defense bill passed by both the Senate and the House over the past few weeks."
"As we continue this work, I am urging my colleagues to join me in expanding this critical program. Together we can help ensure that all veterans have networks to turn to so they never have to face their challenges alone."
"The story of Sergeant Somers and his parents - the failure of the VA bureaucracy to provide the support this Arizona veteran needed, and the resulting tragedy - is not a story that dominated the national headlines."
"It wasn’t a political scandal, or a partisan food-fight to which members of Congress were pressured to respond. It’s not what reporters in the Capitol hallways ask me about, and it’s not what people tweet at me on a daily - or hourly - basis."
"But it’s exactly the kind of work that matters. It matters to Sergeant Somers’ parents and to veterans across my state. It matters to military families and loved ones. It matters to Arizona."
"And it’s exactly why, as Arizona’s senior Senator, I won’t spend my time focusing on areas of disagreement - because spending energy on the latest tweet, the latest insult, and petty politics simply doesn’t move the needle for everyday people like the Somers."
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.
