June '08 Nevada Government—Shelley Berkley Column

Berkley Alarmed By New Report Showing Rise In Army Suicides

Congresswoman Calls for Comprehensive DOD Prevention Strategy

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley expressed her concern about the findings of a new report detailing a continued rise in the number of active duty Army, Reserve and National Guard forces committing suicide. According to published reports, the number of confirmed Army suicides for 2007 hit a new high of 115, up 13% from 2006.

“This report confirms the sad news we feared, that more of our soldiers succeeded in taking their own lives last year,” said Berkley. “These latest findings underscore the need to aggressively move forward on suicide prevention efforts directed at our active duty forces and our returning troops, many of whom are coping with PTSD or other mental health challenges. We cannot stand back and watch as even more families lose a loved one to the tragedy of suicide, and that means taking more aggressive steps to confront this issue directly,” said Berkley. “I am saddened by the loss of each and every one of these soldiers and this report serves as a sobering reminder of what must be done to stop these numbers from continuing to rise.”

Berkley is a cosponsor of legislation which would create a comprehensive military suicide prevention effort aimed at active duty personnel. The Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act, H.R. 5223, requires the Department of Defense to implement comprehensive suicide prevention programs within all branches of the military, including National Guard and the Reserve.

“This legislation will create a comprehensive military-wide suicide prevention strategy targeting not only active duty troops, but also our National Guard and Reserve,” said Berkley, who serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “We have a law requiring that VA create a suicide prevention program for America’s veterans and there is absolutely no reason we should not do the same across all branches of our military,” said Berkley, pointing to a law she helped to pass in 2007 requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address the suicide issue.

“More than one-third of active duty soldiers and half of our National Guard members who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan report mental health issues and this strain can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. My legislation will provide added resources to the Department of Defense for more training and for outreach to personnel in an effort to prevent military suicides,” Berkley said.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

· 115 troops committed suicide in 2007, UP 13% from the previous year.

· About a quarter of the deaths occurred in Iraq.

· The 115 deaths last year followed 102 in 2006, 85 in 2005 and 67 in 2004.

· The overall toll was the highest in many years. Immediately available Army records go back only to 1990 and the figure then was lower — at 102 — for that year as well as 1991.

(Source: Army suicides reported up again; By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer)

Berkley Secures Nearly $1.5 Million for

Beltway Improvements, Craig Road Overpass

Will Enhance Beltway Interchanges at Airport Connector,

U.S. 95, I-15 and Summerlin Parkway

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley announced that she has secured nearly $1.5 million in funding for work on the Craig Road overpass and to enhance interchanges along the Las Vegas Beltway including the Airport Connector, U.S. 95 North, I-15 and the Summerlin Parkway. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“The Las Vegas Beltway continues to grow along with Southern Nevada. These funds will pay for interchanges that link the newest segment of the Valley’s highway system with the airport connector, I-15, U.S. 95 and the Summerlin Parkway,” said Berkley.

“These dollars will also be used to continue improvements along Craig Road -- including the railroad overpass -- designed to reduce congestion and increase safety. Widening Craig Road will also help eliminate bottlenecks and reduce accidents along this busy stretch,” Berkley said.

BELTWAY INTERCHANGES -- Includes high-speed ramps linking I-215 to the airport connector and a system-to-system interchange connecting the Beltway to U.S. 95, I-15 and the Summerlin Parkway. Total Grant Funding: $1 million

CRAIG ROAD -- Separation/Overpass. This project will include widening the I-15/Craig Road Interchange, the construction of a full-width grade separation over the UPRR tracks, and the widening of Craig Road between Berg Street and Pecos Road. Total Grant Funding: $450,000

Yucca Mountain Still Broken, Price Tag Still Growing

Progress Claims Undercut by Lengthy Delays,

Transportation Dangers Remain

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley responded to remarks by Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman touting the submission of a License Application (LA) for the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump 90 minutes outside Las Vegas. The document was sent today by the Department of Energy (DOE) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for review. Bodman spoke at a news conference in Washington, D.C. this afternoon.

“The real news here is that after more than 20 years, Yucca Mountain is still decades behind schedule and its price tag has grown to $80 billion,” said Berkley. “The Bush White House knows the sun is about to set on its dreams of turning Nevada into a nuclear waste dump. As a result, they are desperate to show progress is being made, even as Yucca’s timetable has now slipped to 2020 or beyond. The clock is ticking on the future of Yucca Mountain and one thing is certain, come next January, there will be a new occupant in the Oval office. I hope that change will mark the end of this failed project once and for all,” said Berkley.

Berkley also responded to a call by Secretary Bodman for action on a so-called “fix Yucca” bill that would weaken regulations governing the dump and loosen Congressional controls over spending on the proposed repository.

“Secretary Bodman again called for action on a ‘fix Yucca’ bill that would gut health and safety standards for the dump and would tie the hands of Congress when it comes to oversight of spending. This reckless legislation has gone nowhere since being introduced and I will continue working with Senator Reid and my colleagues in the House to make sure it stays that way.”

Legislation cosponsored by Berkley would allow nuclear waste to be safely stored at power plant sites hardened for protection, eliminating the need for waste to be moved to Yucca Mountain.

“Nuclear waste can be safely stored on-site for the next 100 years. This solution costs a small fraction of the price tag for dumping this toxic garbage in Nevada and avoids the danger of an accident or terrorist incident involving shipments of radioactive waste,” said Berkley.