Gates: After Waging War, Mental Health Of U.S. Servicemen And Women Highest Priority

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Veterans Affairs Secretary Erik Shinseki spoke out Monday on the importance of treatment and prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] among U.S. servicemen and women.

“Beyond waging the wars we are in, treatment of our wounded, their continuing care and eventual re-integration into every day life is my highest priority. I consider this a solemn pact between those who have risked and suffered and the nation that owes them its eternal gratitude,” said Gates during a mental health summit in Washington, D.C (0:19)
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Veterans Affairs Facilities Infect 53 Veterans With HIV And Hepatitis

Harry E. Mitchell, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Committee on Veterans Affairs, said during a hearing that at least 53 veterans have potentially contracted HIV and Hepatitis due to substandard cleaning of endoscopic equipment by Veterans Affairs facilities. He also stated that inspections showed that "more than half the time VA facilities shockingly did not have proper training and guidelines for common endoscopic procedures." (0:31)
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Veterans Affairs: We care about our vets health

Sec. James Peak, Department of Veterans Affairs explains that they would remove the drug chantix immediately off the market if it created too many harmful effects. Currently, the drug is being used by many veterans to help curb smoking and has been linked to suicide. (1:08)
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Spending on veterans versus spending on the war

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) expresses his concern about the cost of the war and spending on Iraq war veterans. (0:21)
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Robert Reynolds says we as a nation owe service members all that we can

At the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs Joint Hearing to receive legislative presentation of the Disabled American Veterans, National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Robert T. Reynolds says that for six years, America's service members have been in harm's way, and we as a nation owe them all that we can to ensure that their sacrifices are not ignored or undervalued. Our nation, he says, can no longer excuse its failure to provide veterans with the benefits and services they rightfully deserve by saying that they cannot afford to fully "honor its promises." This country, the richest nation in the world, has the means to fulfill its obligations. (:42)
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