Hello, I'm Congressman Mark and I proudly represent California's 41st Congressional District and service as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the House Democrats. I'd like to start by wishing all of our veterans A Happy Veterans day. We cannot thank you enough for your service and sacrifice. I also wanna thank Speaker Pelosi for her partnership and abiding commitment to advocate for our nation's veterans throughout twenty. Our committee has worked diligently to advocate for veterans and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs is fully equipped to carry out its first mission serving our veterans. Even as we confront the covet nineteen pandemic we've worked to expand opportunities for student veterans pushed to provide timely updates and information on its Corona virus response continue to prioritize veterans mental health and continue to exercise our legislative. And oversight functions this Congress House Democrats also ensured Bluewater Navy Vietnam veterans exposed to Asian orange throughout their service. finally got the benefits they've earned and deserve it took 40 years, but we got it done my number one priority. This Congress has been reducing veterans suicide and just after Veterans Day, we sent our bipartisan Comprehensive Veterans Compact Act to the president's desk, marking real progress. In the fight to prevent veterans suicide, despite the challenges of covet nineteen House Democrats took bold steps to address gaps and prevention and care for veterans who are at heightened risk for suicide like women veterans. Those who recently separated from military service and veterans who haven't used VA health care. recently. The compact act also included my provision, which ensures that no veteran experiencing an emergency mental health crisis has to worry about. When seeking the care that he or she needs, Sadly this year's VA suicide prevention report confirms two points. We already knew to be true veterans connected with the Veterans Health Administration are less likely to die by suicide and firearms continue to play a disproportionate role in these deaths as long as seventeen veterans die by suicide each day, our work will. Not be finished. Our armed forces have been a living example of our country's melting pot, and the next generation of veterans is expected to be the most diverse group of veterans. This country has seen the Department of Veterans Affairs must be prepared to care for all those who in the words of President Lincoln have born the battle already, we've begun to address the barriers that veterans from often marginalized communities face when seeking care at VA, We passed the. Samson championed by Julia Brown chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, which is the most comprehensive legislative package are 2000000 women veterans In a decade seen. We've worked to expand access to care for our native veterans, a group that serves our country at higher rates than other demographics by passing bills such as the Tribal Advisory Committee Act and the Native American Pack Act. We are. On the right path to making sure our service members regardless of gender or background, origin or creed can return home to an equitable system that is ready to take care of them. We thank our veterans for their patriotism for their commitment to upholding our most sacred ideals for their sacrifices and for their continued contributions to our country long after their time and service. Our country may not be perfect, but it is full of promise and veterans know that's worth fighting for. Thank you.