Fact
ba
.
se
Remarks: Joe Biden Delivers Remarks on Health Care for Veterans in Fort Worth, Texas - March 8, 2022
-
Joe Biden Person
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:00-00:00:13 (13 sec)
"Hello, everyone. Please, please, sit down. Thank you. I don't know who's coming. [Laughter]"
1
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:00:00-00:00:02 (3 sec)
"Right here, we have a couple [Inaudible]"
1
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:13-00:00:43 (30 sec)
"I want to thank you, Councilwoman Beck. You know, look, what I said to her on the way out: The thing that bothers me the most when veterans aren't looked out for, because of what we owe them, is every single, solitary veteran deserves to be treated with dignity. They shouldn't have to ask for a damn thing. It shouldn't be, "Can you help me?" It's, "I've got a problem." And we should say, "How can we help?""
2
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:00:02-00:00:04 (2 sec)
"Thank you."
2
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:00:43-00:00:51 (8 sec)
"And so, I thank you for your service. I thank you for all of you who are here for your service."
3
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:00:04-00:00:07 (2 sec)
"OK. Let me begin by introducing --"
3
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:51-00:01:06 (15 sec)
"And I hope -- I hope that hearing -- hearing you will inspire more veterans to do exactly what you're doing: sign up -- sign up for the benefits and support you have earned."
4
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:00:07-00:00:08 (2 sec)
"Hey, man. How are you?"
4
Joe Biden
Positive
00:01:06-00:01:19 (13 sec)
"What I found with my son, what I found with my friends, what I found with the generation of Vietnam: There's this notion that you never have to -- you shouldn't ask for anything. You're military -- you don't ask for anything; you just serve."
5
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:00:08-00:00:09 ( sec)
"My chief of --"
5
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:01:19-00:01:28 (9 sec)
"You should be asking. You should be letting us know. You should let us know what is bothering you, what is the problem -- because we owe it to you."
6
John Caruso
Neutral
00:00:09-00:00:10 (1 sec)
"All right. How are you?"
6
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:28-00:01:55 (27 sec)
"It's great to be here in Fort Worth at the Resource Connection. And I'm able to spend time with Mayor Parker earlier, very briefly. And I want to thank her for the passport into town. And I also want to thank Judge -- Judge Whitley, all -- and all the city and council members -- city council and county council members as well here today. I want to thank you. [Applause]"
7
Joe Biden
Positive
00:00:10-00:00:10 ( sec)
"Good."
7
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:01:55-00:02:12 (16 sec)
"I often tell the story: I got elected to the county council in my state. We have a -- we're like a miniature Illinois. We have one state with 60 percent of the population, so a councilman has a district seven times as big as a House member and three times a big as a state senator."
8
Stephen Holt
Very Negative
00:00:10-00:00:20 (10 sec)
"Of spinal chord injury. We, by the way, have a very large spinal cord injury treatment, and we were just funded for our 30 additional long-term care beds. So, Dr. Bennett, is the chief of spinal cord injury."
8
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:02:12-00:02:42 (30 sec)
"And I did not want to run, but I ran just to show the flag. And, unfortunately, I won. [Laughter] And they reapportioned me. It was in 1970. I got reapportioned from a four-year term to a two-year term because my -- the opposition party saw more in me than I saw in me. And I was forced into, what we say in public life, "up or out." And I ended up running for the Senate before I was old enough to be sworn in. I didn't expect to win that either. And here I am. You're stuck with me. [Laughter]"
9
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:00:20-00:00:21 (1 sec)
"Doctor, how are you?"
9
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:02:42-00:03:08 (26 sec)
"But -- [applause] -- but the reason I ran for the United States Senate was it was too hard being a county councilman. You'd knock on the door and say, "My name is Joe Biden, Democratic candidate for the county council." And they'd look at you like -- and you know what they're thinking. Well, you know part of what they were thinking: "What does county council do?" [Laughter] Well, you affect people's lives as much as anybody else. And people go, "County council?""
10
Bridget Bennett
Slightly Positive
00:00:21-00:00:21 ( sec)
"OK [Inaudible]"
10
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:03:08-00:03:19 (11 sec)
"Anyway. But I just think that -- Jake, you're a fighter pilot. You get this stuff. I mean -- you know what I mean. You can smile, Jake. It's okay. [Laughter] It's okay."
11
Stephen Holt
Somewhat Positive
00:00:21-00:00:25 (4 sec)
"She runs the best spinal cord injury in the VA. And Mr. Caruso is here to demonstrate one of our tech [Inaudible]"
11
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:03:19-00:03:26 (7 sec)
"Jake is a Republican, but I like the hell out of him. He's got -- no, I'm serious. This guy is the real deal."
12
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:25-00:00:31 (5 sec)
"Good to see you, man. Let me say hi to you. Thank you."
12
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:03:26-00:03:37 (11 sec)
"The three congressmen you have here -- two of them look like they could -- they really could and did play ball. And the other one looks like he could bomb you. [Laughter] And -- that's -- it's a tough group but a good group."
13
John Caruso
Positive
00:00:31-00:00:33 (2 sec)
"Welcome."
13
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:03:37-00:03:50 (13 sec)
"Look, I want to thank you and your staffs for welcoming us to town. It's a one-stop shop connection for people in this county to the services and benefits they need. And that's important."
14
Bridget Bennett
Positive
00:00:33-00:00:35 (3 sec)
"So good afternoon, Mr. President. I am Bridget Bennett --"
14
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:03:50-00:03:58 (8 sec)
"And I'm here today to talk about the critical community it serves: our veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors."
15
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:00:35-00:00:36 (1 sec)
"How you doing?"
15
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:03:58-00:04:23 (25 sec)
"I'm joined today by the bipartisan group of Texas Reps that are here and who care deeply about these issues. Congressman Marc Veasey is -- I want to thank him so much for giving me the passport into his district here. And I want to let them know how proud I am to sign into law the bill to create a national monument to Medal of Honor winners and recipients and the values they represented. It was a very important thing you did. [Applause]"
16
Bridget Bennett
Very Negative
00:00:36-00:00:59 (23 sec)
"The chief of spinal cord injury. I'm joined by our lead therapist, Mr. Josh Geering, and also a veteran, John Caruso, who is wearing the Indego exoskeletal-assisted walking device. It is a wearable robotic device with motorized hip and knee joints to assist those with lower extremity weakness, including paralysis with standing and walking."
16
Joe Biden
Positive
00:04:23-00:04:36 (13 sec)
"And, Congressman Colin Allred, I want to thank you for your work in the Veterans Affairs committee in the House of Representatives, particularly your leadership dealing with veterans mental health issues."
17
Bridget Bennett
Very Positive
00:00:59-00:01:21 (22 sec)
"It is FDA approved for use in those with spinal cord injuries and stroke. And it's, also, FDA-approved for home use. Some of the benefits of using an exoskeletal-assisted device include, of course, just being able to stand and walk in and of itself. Additional benefits include potential improvement in bone mineral density, pain, and bowel-bladder function."
17
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:04:36-00:04:46 (10 sec)
"And Congressman Jake Ellzey, a member of the House Veterans Affairs committee, a veteran himself, served 20 years in the United States Navy and multiple combat tours as well."
18
Bridget Bennett
Very Positive
00:01:21-00:01:50 (29 sec)
"One of the first questions and perhaps the most common question that a person who sustains a spinal cord injury asks is, "Will I walk again?" And, of course, some will naturally recover and regain the ability to walk unassisted, and some, realistically, will not. But tools of this nature and having these tools in our armamentarium assist us with accomplishing that goal, improving functional independence, and successful reintegration into the community."
18
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:04:46-00:04:54 (8 sec)
"Congressmen, thank you all for being here and for allowing me to be with you and continuing to serve our country."
19
Bridget Bennett
Positive
00:01:50-00:01:54 (4 sec)
"Mr. President, would you like to see a walking demonstration?"
19
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:04:54-00:05:18 (24 sec)
"You know, I've often said -- and I mean it sincerely, from the bottom of my heart -- veterans are the backbone, the spine, and sinew of who we are in this country. One percent of you these days -- one percent of you serves all the rest of us. And the 99 percent who aren't with you deserve to treat you with the dignity and respect in service that you deserve. You're the best of us, and we owe you."
20
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:01:54-00:01:56 (2 sec)
"Whatever you want to do, boy."
20
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:05:18-00:05:45 (27 sec)
"And I've always believed that -- and I've said this from the time I was a young senator -- we have many obligations in the United States Senate and the United States Congress, the President of the United States to the American people -- to the elderly, to the poor, to those in need. But we only have one truly sacred obligation, and I mean this -- sacred obligation -- and that is to train and equip those who we send into harm's way and care for them and their families when they come home."
21
John Caruso
Neutral
00:01:56-00:01:56 ( sec)
"I'm down."
21
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:05:45-00:06:07 (22 sec)
"Only a small percentage, as I said, deserve and can claim the title of veteran. More than 1.4 million of them are living here in Texas. That's about 6.5 percent of your population. And to be a veteran is to have endured the survival -- and survived challenges most Americans will never know. And you have done it, and you've done it for all of us. All of us."
22
Joshua Geering
Neutral
00:01:56-00:02:05 (9 sec)
"All right. We've got to tighten up that corset so he's secure."
22
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:07-00:06:14 (6 sec)
"A week ago, during my State of the Union message in Washington, I spoke about the bipartisan Unity Agenda."
23
Stephen Holt
Very Negative
00:02:05-00:02:13 (8 sec)
"This will be kind of limited because the space he needs to turn around and get back is a little bit large with this device. So ..."
23
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:06:14-00:06:20 (7 sec)
"Four big things that I think all of us -- Democrats, Republicans, and independents -- can agree on and rally around."
24
Joshua Geering
Slightly Positive
00:02:13-00:02:15 (2 sec)
"Yeah. All right. We're going to go."
24
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:06:20-00:06:24 (3 sec)
"One is dealing with the opioid epidemic, which is stealing the lives of so many people."
25
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:02:15-00:02:23 (9 sec)
"And this is part of the -- the technologies that we're able to test and then field for our veterans. And these were -- these were devices that donated to the VA."
25
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:06:24-00:06:43 (19 sec)
"Two: mental health for our children in the wake of all that's happened because of COVID and all the -- all the consequences. There's over a million people out there who are no longer sitting at the kitchen table this morning because of COVID. And people worry about that -- and the kids particularly."
26
Joshua Geering
Somewhat Positive
00:02:23-00:02:24 ( sec)
"Ready?"
26
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:06:43-00:06:47 (4 sec)
"Third is ending cancer as we know it, which I'm confident we can do."
27
John Caruso
Slightly Positive
00:02:24-00:02:26 (2 sec)
"Yep."
27
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:06:47-00:06:51 (4 sec)
"And fourth is supporting our veterans -- fully supporting them."
28
Joshua Geering
Neutral
00:02:26-00:02:55 (30 sec)
"Check. Footing down. There you go. One, two, three. One, two, three. So, without this device, John wouldn't be able to take steps. But with this technology, he can do so. You want to take a few steps?"
28
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:51-00:07:03 (12 sec)
"These are the issues that unite us because they impact Americans in every single solitary state -- issues that go beyond partisan politics because they're about people -- about people, our neighbors."
29
John Caruso
Somewhat Positive
00:02:55-00:02:56 ( sec)
"Sure."
29
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:03-00:07:23 (20 sec)
"Caring for our veterans has been a central focus of my administration since day one. And for the last year, the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary McDonough, has been the linchpin -- the linchpin of our government-wide push to make life better for American veterans, providing assistance through this pandemic like job training and housing."
30
Joshua Geering
Positive
00:02:56-00:03:00 (5 sec)
"Here we go. Or just go out towards the camera. Here we go. Good."
30
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:23-00:07:28 (6 sec)
"We're helping lower-income veterans access VA care debt-free."
31
John Caruso
Neutral
00:03:00-00:03:07 (7 sec)
"And then -- and then, turn right here?"
31
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:07:28-00:07:34 (6 sec)
"We're expanding access to healthcare services for women veterans and the LGBTQ community veterans."
32
Joshua Geering
Very Positive
00:03:07-00:03:52 (44 sec)
"Good. Yeah. Go ahead and take a turn. Nice. And he'll stop. Good. All right, stop. Excellent. And pivot back. Nice. Good. Steady, one, two, three. And go. And we will sit. You ready?"
32
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:07:34-00:08:03 (29 sec)
"We're implementing a plan to bring down the rate of suicide among service members and veterans. You know, it's sad to say, but to this day, we average 17 veterans a day commit suicide every single day. More than get killed in combat every single day. It's an absolute tragedy that demands not only a whole-of-government approach but a whole-of-country working together to deal with this issue."
33
John Caruso
Slightly Positive
00:03:52-00:03:53 (1 sec)
"Yep."
33
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:08:03-00:08:11 (8 sec)
"Texas is one of those states particin- -- participating in the Governor's and Mayor's Challenge to take on this crisis."
34
Joshua Geering
Very Positive
00:03:53-00:03:58 (6 sec)
"One, two, three. All right, we'll go. Very good. Nice job."
34
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:08:11-00:08:23 (11 sec)
"And as I announced in my State of the Union message, we're focusing on meeting the specific care and needs for all our veterans who suffer because of their service -- for all our veterans."
35
Joe Biden
Negative
00:03:58-00:04:03 (4 sec)
"Hey, John, how long have you had the injury?"
35
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:08:23-00:08:43 (20 sec)
"We learned a horrible lesson after Vietnam. It was harm -- the harmful effects of Agent Orange, which was dropped upon so many thousands of veterans, and the years it took to manifest illnesses in veterans. Because then the veteran had to prove that whatever his problem was was directly a consequence of Agent Orange."
36
John Caruso
Neutral
00:04:03-00:04:03 (1 sec)
"Sorry?"
36
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:08:43-00:08:58 (15 sec)
"Well, we passed a law that I was proud to be a co-sponsor of a long time ago saying that if you were -- if you had Agent Orange drop upon you, it was presumed that the illness you had was a consequence of that."
37
Joe Biden
Negative
00:04:03-00:04:04 (1 sec)
"How long you had the injury?"
37
Joe Biden
Positive
00:08:58-00:09:07 (10 sec)
"And how we were even slower to connect the dots of what's happening to those too many Vietnam veterans living in the lurch, unable to access the care they needed."
38
John Caruso
Neutral
00:04:04-00:04:05 (1 sec)
"In -- 12 years."
38
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:09:07-00:09:23 (15 sec)
"It was only in the past year that we added bladder cancer and conditions of un- -- underactive thyroid and Parkinson's to the list of conditions tied to Agent Orange exposure, as science told us more, decades after the exposure took place."
39
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:04:05-00:04:07 (2 sec)
"Twelve years."
39
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:09:23-00:09:32 (10 sec)
"It took far too long to reach that decision, in my view. And I refuse to repeat the mistake when it comes to the veterans of our Iraq and Afghans- -- Afghan wars."
40
John Caruso
Neutral
00:04:07-00:04:10 (2 sec)
"Twelve years in July this year."
40
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:09:32-00:09:48 (16 sec)
"Not only they -- they faced the dangers on battlefield, but they were breathing toxic smoke in burn pits where they're -- near where they were based. I was in and out of Afghanistan and Iraq 23 times. I spent a fair amount of time there as a United States senator and as Vice President."
41
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:04:10-00:04:12 (2 sec)
"And when did you get fitted?"
41
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:09:48-00:10:02 (13 sec)
"The burn pits that incinerate the wastes of war -- medical and hazardous material, jet fuel, and so much more -- just dug in big pits where -- not far from -- the hooch is not far from where our veterans were sleeping."
42
John Caruso
Neutral
00:04:12-00:04:29 (17 sec)
"I've been walking in these since 2014 and different ones. So, this isn't mine. This is owned by the Dallas VA. I don't own one. I don't really see the reason to own one until I get one that's -- until I can do it unassisted."
42
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:10:02-00:10:14 (12 sec)
"And when our troops came home, the fittest among them, the greatest fighting force in the history of the world, too many of them were not the same. Headaches, dizziness, numbness, dizziness, cancer."
43
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:04:29-00:04:30 (1 sec)
"Yeah."
43
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:14-00:10:28 (14 sec)
"And we know -- we don't yet know enough about the connection between burn pits and each of these diseases so many of our veterans are now facing. But I'm committed -- I'm committed that America make the commitment to find out everything we can."
44
John Caruso
Neutral
00:04:30-00:04:35 (5 sec)
"So -- but I use it for therapy weekly at the VA, so --"
44
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:28-00:10:40 (12 sec)
"I'm committed to the families like Danielle Robinson, the widow of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, who joined my wife Jill in the Vice Pre- -- in the First Lady's box at the State of the Union."
45
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:04:35-00:04:49 (14 sec)
"I'll be darned. Yeah. You know, I think my legs are going to try to do is when, in fact, it's even made more usable, it should be available for free to you."
45
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:10:40-00:10:54 (14 sec)
"Sergeant Robinson was born a soldier. National -- Army National Guard. Combat medic in Kosovo and Iraq. Stationed at the same bases and at around the same exact time as my son Major Beau Biden, United States Army."
46
John Caruso
Slightly Positive
00:04:49-00:04:50 (1 sec)
"Yeah. Maybe."
46
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:10:54-00:11:00 (5 sec)
"In Baghdad, Sergeant Robinson was stationed yards from burn pits the size of football fields."
47
Joe Biden
Positive
00:04:50-00:04:55 (5 sec)
"Yes, I'm telling you. It's going to be."
47
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:11:00-00:11:16 (16 sec)
"And back home in Ohio, Danielle and their little girl waited for him to come home -- to coach the soccer team, to build Legos. But when he finally came home, cancer -- likely caused by prolonged exposure to the burn pits -- ravaged his lungs and his body."
48
John Caruso
Slightly Positive
00:04:55-00:04:56 (1 sec)
"OK."
48
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:11:16-00:11:27 (11 sec)
"A soldier who could bench press 315 pounds, squat 400 pounds, and run two miles in 12 minutes would be bent over in the bathroom, gasping for air."
49
Joe Biden
Positive
00:04:56-00:05:00 (4 sec)
"OK. All right. Anyway --"
49
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:11:27-00:11:34 (8 sec)
"And Danielle, working full-time, turned to become a 24/7 caregiver, scared to leave him alone for even a minute."
50
Joshua Geering
Neutral
00:05:00-00:05:05 (5 sec)
"Mr. President, may I show you another piece of technology over here."
50
Joe Biden
Positive
00:11:34-00:11:39 (5 sec)
"He was just 39 years old when he was held -- she held his hand as he took his last breath."
51
Joe Biden
Positive
00:05:05-00:05:05 ( sec)
"Yes."
51
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:11:39-00:11:53 (14 sec)
"But Daniel [sic] said he -- Danielle said he never stopped fighting and neither did she. She kept fighting for his memory, in his memory -- for our veterans and their families that are going through the same thing today."
52
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:05:05-00:05:12 (7 sec)
"This is another piece that was donated to us that we were fielding out -- made by a small, I believe, veteran-owned company."
52
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:53-00:11:59 (6 sec)
"Families like hers, like so many of yours -- you're the reason why we're doing everything we can."
53
Joshua Geering
Neutral
00:05:12-00:05:39 (27 sec)
"So, this is a power wheelchair. It has multiple functions. Again, this is available at the Dallas VA. We can -- we have a donated device that we're going to issue here soon. If I want to go into an off-road mode, I can. So, I can use this out on my land or outside, you know, with the kids. It's very -- it's made for rough terrain, go up to about eight miles an hour so you can keep up with those kiddos."
53
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:11:59-00:12:06 (7 sec)
"We've increased funding for VA research to study the health effects of toxic exposure in the military."
54
Joshua Geering
Neutral
00:05:39-00:06:04 (26 sec)
"And then, if I want to access something in my room, somebody behind me, my kitchen or bedroom, you can elevate and get even higher if you need to. So then, we're face to face. So, there we go. So, for a vet, that's a big deal to be face to face. And if you're not able to utilize an [Inaudible], you can utilize a power wheelchair that will get you to that portion."
54
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:12:06-00:12:13 (8 sec)
"We're speeding up the process to identify and address adverse impacts of military-related environmental exposures."
55
Joshua Geering
Neutral
00:06:04-00:06:05 (1 sec)
"And again, these were --"
55
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:12:13-00:12:25 (11 sec)
"We're following the science in every case, but we're also not going to force veterans to suffer in limbo for decades if the science is eve- -- even if it's evenly divided."
56
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:05-00:06:08 (3 sec)
"Do we have any of these or it's just donated?"
56
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:12:25-00:12:34 (9 sec)
"When the evidence doesn't give a clear answer one way or another, the decision we should favor is caring for veterans while we continue working to learn more -- not waiting, not waiting. [Applause]"
57
Joshua Geering
Positive
00:06:08-00:06:16 (9 sec)
"This was -- we have this at our facility, sir, and we can issue them through the Dallas VA when a patient comes in for an evaluation. Yes, sir."
57
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:12:34-00:12:49 (16 sec)
"So, I directed -- I directed the VA to move quickly to review more of the cancers and provide determinations of whether or not they are presumed to be service-connected within 90 days."
58
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:16-00:06:19 (2 sec)
"And what -- what does one of these cost around?"
58
Joe Biden
Positive
00:12:49-00:13:13 (24 sec)
"And, by the way, you saw what happened in the -- what happened when -- at 9/11 when the buildings went down in New York. You saw the thousands of firefighters who, in fact, were -- because of the toxic smoke they inhaled -- finally, finally, because of some of the people in the media and in entertainment insisted that they be compensated for."
59
Joshua Geering
Positive
00:06:19-00:06:36 (17 sec)
"This one is around $30,000. Yes, sir. That -- our prosthetics department who funds the equipment for our patients, the system, and paying for the devices. So, we just have to prescribe it, as professionals, and then it's available to the veterans"
59
Joe Biden
Positive
00:13:13-00:13:18 (5 sec)
"Well, when diseases are so rare that there isn't enough evidence, we'll examine other factors as well."
60
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:06:36-00:06:38 (1 sec)
"I'll be damned [Ph]."
60
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:13:18-00:13:29 (11 sec)
"And this week, Secretary McDonough is developing a new rule that will add several rare respiratory cancers to the list of presumptive conditions for certain veterans."
61
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:06:38-00:06:49 (11 sec)
"I should point out, this also will do unique things. It'll go over curbs, it'll climb stairs, and somewhere we have some footage of [Inaudible] running around the building [Inaudible]"
61
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:13:29-00:13:43 (14 sec)
"We also need to know more about which of our veterans may have been exposed to burn pits in the first place or other environmental toxins during their service, to record possible exposures before service members separate from the military."
62
Joshua Geering
Neutral
00:06:49-00:06:57 (8 sec)
"He has been in this one. When we were issued this -- this demo device that we could evaluate patients, he was in it."
62
Joe Biden
Positive
00:13:43-00:13:52 (9 sec)
"So we're building a more comprehensive database from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to use to track access to exposures."
63
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:57-00:06:58 (1 sec)
"[Inaudible]"
63
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:13:52-00:14:08 (17 sec)
"And we're working hard to educate everyone across the VA system about the potential impact of specialized care needed for burn pit exposure, urging veterans to sign up for the VA burn pit registry and to make sure we know about them -- they know about the benefits that may be available to them."
64
Joshua Geering
Very Positive
00:06:58-00:07:14 (16 sec)
"So, it does work. And then if I want to go down, I can transition back down. And it's not a large device, so you can fit it in your house, and it's wonderful."
64
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:14:08-00:14:37 (28 sec)
"You know, what I've found about veterans as we worked for those who are trying to deal with the mental health problems, is they're used to always giving -- you don't think you have a right to ask for anything. You don't think you have a right to ask. We're asking you -- asking you to tell us. Tell us where you've been. Tell us what your needs are. It's nothing to be ashamed of; it's to be proud of. We owe you."
65
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:14-00:07:16 (2 sec)
"Well, that's great. That's great."
65
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:14:37-00:14:44 (7 sec)
"Improving training for VA providers to make sure they're equipped to diagnose and treat exposures to related conditions."
66
Stephen Holt
Very Positive
00:07:16-00:07:31 (14 sec)
"They're making a even better off-road version with bigger tires for exactly -- to allow people or spinal-cord-injured veterans to better [Inaudible] nature and have a more fulfilling life. Any questions, sir?"
66
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:14:44-00:14:57 (14 sec)
"And this year, launching a new wo- -- network of special care -- specialized care providers and call centers to help connect veterans with questions about exposure to care that is consistent, comprehensive, and high quality."
67
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:07:31-00:08:00 (29 sec)
"No. You know, one of the things we did, I was able to get past when I was a senator, was any prosthesis which should be applied here that someone is given, if there's a more modern version of it, they get it for free and then upgrade it. So, this idea of having to use whatever you were first given and now because so much -- so much is having technologically that is going to change things for veterans."
67
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:14:57-00:15:10 (13 sec)
"Folks, these are the kinds of steps that can make a difference in getting the proper care for more patients and providing support for veterans, especially those facing a cancer diagnosis."
68
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:08:00-00:08:01 (1 sec)
"You're absolutely right. [Inaudible]"
68
Joe Biden
Positive
00:15:10-00:15:20 (10 sec)
"And every one of you know the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the greater the prospect of dealing with it, the greater the pa- -- the prospect of curing it."
69
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:08:01-00:08:04 (4 sec)
"You deserve this and a hell of a lot more. A hell of a lot more."
69
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:15:20-00:15:35 (14 sec)
"It reinforces the new goal of my Cancer Moonshot to cut cancer deaths -- the death rate by 50 percent over the next 25 years at a minimum, to create a more supportive experience for all the patients and families."
70
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:08:04-00:08:07 (3 sec)
"OK, sir. I'll take you over here."
70
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:15:35-00:15:53 (19 sec)
"Secretary McDonough is part of my newly formed Cancer Cabinet. The Department of Veterans Affairs is an essential part of our whole-of-government initiative because we're going to invest billions of dollars solving this problem -- to turn cancers from death sentences into treatable diseases."
71
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:08:07-00:08:09 (2 sec)
"All right. Thank you, man."
71
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:15:53-00:15:59 (6 sec)
"These are all things my administration is moving on. We're not waiting. We're not waiting."
72
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:08:09-00:08:10 (1 sec)
"You're welcome."
72
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:15:59-00:16:21 (22 sec)
"But some of the most important next steps need congressional action. Both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate have bills in motion that would extend the eligibility period for VA care for burn pit-related health impacts from 5 years after leaving the military to a minimum of 10 years. That would open enrollment to all veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan."
73
Joe Biden
Positive
00:08:10-00:08:11 (1 sec)
"Thanks for your service."
73
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:16:21-00:16:29 (8 sec)
"And, in February, the Senate passed their bill to do just that, unanimously -- Democrat and Republican."
74
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:08:11-00:08:13 (2 sec)
"You're welcome."
74
Joe Biden
Positive
00:16:29-00:16:41 (12 sec)
"And the House bill that passed just last week would do even more: expanding healthcare, mandating research, reforming the process for determining presumptions, and adding more conditions to the list of presumptive care."
75
Colin Allred
Very Positive
00:08:13-00:08:19 (6 sec)
"Thank you. Appreciate it."
75
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:16:41-00:16:54 (13 sec)
"Both these bills have bipartisan support. These are bills that unite the American people. These are the bills that will deliver necessary care for our veterans and their families."
76
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:08:19-00:08:23 (4 sec)
"And I'll let you visit the rest of them. And this is Ms. Deborah [Inaudible]"
76
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:16:54-00:17:03 (9 sec)
"Let's get those bills to my desk so I can sign them immediately -- immediately. [Applause]"
77
Joe Biden
Positive
00:08:23-00:08:27 (4 sec)
"Hey, Deborah. Good to see you."
77
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:17:03-00:17:07 (3 sec)
"Folks, we have a sacred obligation as a nation."
78
Deborah Cheatham
Slightly Positive
00:08:27-00:08:29 (2 sec)
"Yeah, sir. [Inaudible]"
78
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:17:07-00:17:18 (11 sec)
"I promised Danielle Robinson and I promise all of you here today that we'll do better. We must. We owe you. We owe you."
79
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:08:29-00:08:29 ( sec)
"[Inaudible]"
79
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:17:18-00:17:29 (11 sec)
"I can't say enough about the veterans community. And there's a famous expression by a famous English poet who said, "They also serve who only stand and wait.""
80
Deborah Cheatham
Somewhat Negative
00:08:29-00:08:56 (27 sec)
"Hey. I'm Deborah Cheatham and I am the program manager for the Post-9/11 program. We work with both non-combat and combat veterans. We work with both severely and non-severely ill. And what we do, we help when a veteran is new -- back into the civilian world, we assist them getting their medical care, behavioral health, whatever community resources, they may need."
80
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:17:29-00:17:49 (20 sec)
"To every husband and wife of the deployed -- of the deployed husband or wife, to every child with a mom or dad deployed: We owe you. We owe you, because they also serve who only stand and wait."
81
Deborah Cheatham
Neutral
00:08:56-00:09:03 (7 sec)
"Anything they need to link back into the civilian world. And we have a lot of --"
81
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:17:49-00:18:28 (39 sec)
"I remember the head of the National Guard in the State of Delaware wife used to say a prayer. When my son got deployed -- my wife was a school teacher who got up earlier than I did to get to school. I'd get to the train -- the 7:30 train. And I'd walk downstairs. I wouldn't be -- I'd just be -- I'd just had shaved and have my trousers on to get a cup of coffee. She'd be standing over the sink, like many of you have done, looking out the window mouthing a prayer that she was given by the commander's wife -- a prayer -- a prayer for her son who was in harm's way."
82
Unidentified
Neutral
00:09:03-00:09:03 ( sec)
"[Inaudible]"
82
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:18:28-00:18:36 (8 sec)
"All of you did that. All of you do that. All of you worry about that call. So, thank you. Thank you as well."
83
Deborah Cheatham
Somewhat Positive
00:09:03-00:09:05 (2 sec)
"Brief solution --"
83
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:18:36-00:18:50 (14 sec)
"Concluding point I'll make -- and we talked about it, the Congressman and I, on the way down: You know, this is an incredible generation -- the 9/11 generation that fought."
84
Unidentified
Slightly Positive
00:09:05-00:09:12 (7 sec)
"Well, in the high [Inaudible] or a little bit."
84
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:18:50-00:19:17 (28 sec)
"They served in a way, I think, that maybe they're right up there with the Greatest Generation, because they not only got deployed once, but sometimes twice, three, four times into harm's way. They'd come home and go back, and after knowing that they cleaned off the blood of the seat of that up-armored Humvee that they -- where they lost somebody. And they'd have to saddle up and go back out again."
85
Deborah Cheatham
Neutral
00:09:12-00:09:31 (20 sec)
"Education resources, [Inaudible] The online website to register for the [Inaudible] mainly the system in getting those [Inaudible] at our VA. And then linkage to whatever others services they may need."
85
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:19:17-00:19:21 (4 sec)
"An enormous generation. An incredible generation."
86
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:09:31-00:09:43 (11 sec)
"May I ask you, do you have difficulty responding to calls for help for suicides in terms of timing?"
86
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:19:21-00:19:37 (15 sec)
"I was telling the guys on the way down I remember flying into Iraq one of those times, and I went up in the cop- -- the cockpit. And there were, I believe, seven members -- six members: five men and one women -- one woman."
87
Stephen Holt
Very Negative
00:09:43-00:10:04 (22 sec)
"We were fortunate. One, we have a large -- I think we have six suicide prevention coordinators currently, and I think we're getting an additional one. We do go -- they go providing extra funding specifically for this program at the VA Central Office. We are able to get back within 24 hours with over 90 percent of the veterans who call suicide online prevention."
87
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:19:37-00:19:52 (15 sec)
"And I asked the question of all of them. I said, "How many is this your first tour of duty?" Nobody raised their hand. "Second tour of duty?" Nobody. "Third tour?" Two of them. "Fourth tour?" Two of them. "Fifth tour?" One."
88
Stephen Holt
Very Negative
00:10:04-00:10:14 (9 sec)
"The VA standards, we have always beat those standards in the north Texas areas. But again, we have very aggressive suicide prevention coordinators, a very aggressive program."
88
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:19:52-00:20:03 (11 sec)
"No other generation has been deployed, redeployed, and redeployed, and redeployed. It takes nothing away from the World War One and World War Two and Vietnam generations. But it's one thing to serve and come home and then go back, and go back, and go back."
89
Deborah Cheatham
Positive
00:10:14-00:10:14 (1 sec)
"Yes."
89
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:20:03-00:20:07 (4 sec)
"So, we owe you. We owe you all, every veteran in here and every family member of a veteran."
90
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:10:14-00:10:18 (3 sec)
"And that program reports directly to me as the director of the health care --"
90
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:20:07-00:20:15 (7 sec)
"May God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you for all you do. [Applause]"
91
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:10:18-00:10:20 (2 sec)
"Same enough with nurse psychologists?"
91
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:10:20-00:10:38 (18 sec)
"Well, then we plug them in. There are social workers who actually do the contacting and plugging in, and then we plug them in. They may be plugged in with an advanced practice nurse, then maybe a psychologist or a psychiatrist depending on what the -- their needs are and what their preferences are. And a lot of this we can do through telehealth now."
92
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:10:38-00:10:39 (1 sec)
"Mmm hmm."
93
Stephen Holt
Very Positive
00:10:39-00:11:04 (25 sec)
"We've been very new to the VA and getting ahead of COVID by mandating the year before COVID hit that every provider in primary care or mental health and specialty was trained to be able to do telehealth and had to conduct a number of visits. We were well-positioned when COVID hit because we had the staff already trained, we already had the equipment up and running, and we'd solve some of the technical issues like what bandwidth, cable, like that."
94
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:11:04-00:11:05 ( sec)
"So --"
95
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:11:05-00:11:18 (13 sec)
"Well, I've been to an awful lot of VA centers and it's been one of my concerns. And one of the things I find in many places is that a family will call and say, "Johnny, it's hell. He's really in trouble.""
96
Deborah Cheatham
Neutral
00:11:18-00:11:19 (1 sec)
"Mmm hmm."
97
Joe Biden
Negative
00:11:19-00:11:23 (4 sec)
"And I will say, "Well, come in 24 hours." And he's dead 24 hours."
98
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:11:23-00:11:31 (9 sec)
"So, that's an interesting thing. So, the hotline will connect whether you're a veteran or not. They will get it -- the individual connected. But --"
99
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:11:31-00:11:32 ( sec)
"Yeah."
100
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:11:32-00:11:43 (11 sec)
"We really push hard for people that now, a family member or friend, colleague, which are having problems, to be fast about reporting it so we can do something. Don't wait. Because people remotely --"
101
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:11:43-00:11:47 (5 sec)
"No, no. But the question is when they'd call, how much time can they come straight in?"
102
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:11:47-00:11:48 (1 sec)
"Yes."
103
Deborah Cheatham
Positive
00:11:48-00:11:50 (2 sec)
"Yes. We have 24-hour access."
104
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:50-00:11:50 (1 sec)
"OK. Good."
105
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:11:50-00:11:51 (1 sec)
"Not at this clinic because --"
106
Joe Biden
Leans Negative
00:11:51-00:11:53 (2 sec)
"No, no. I get it. Yes."
107
Deborah Cheatham
Neutral
00:11:53-00:11:54 ( sec)
"[Inaudible] right."
108
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:54-00:11:55 (2 sec)
"Yeah, OK. That's where I'm at."
109
Stephen Holt
Very Positive
00:11:55-00:12:00 (5 sec)
"Plus, you can go to a private ER or an urgent care if it's in the network."
110
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:12:00-00:12:00 ( sec)
"Yeah."
111
Deborah Cheatham
Very Negative
00:12:00-00:12:17 (16 sec)
"And to let you know, part of my program, we screen all new veterans coming into the system. And the suicide assessment is something that we do on all veterans. And if they need elevated care, then we're able to link them with the mental health or we put them directly in TRAP program."
112
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:12:17-00:12:17 ( sec)
"OK."
113
Deborah Cheatham
Neutral
00:12:17-00:12:21 (4 sec)
"So, we try to cover all bases."
114
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:12:21-00:12:25 (5 sec)
"Oh, still way high. It's 70 today."
115
Stephen Holt
Positive
00:12:25-00:12:26 (1 sec)
"Yes, sir."
116
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:12:26-00:12:31 (5 sec)
"All right, well, thank you. You're doing -- my mother is here doing God's work and --"
117
Deborah Cheatham
Somewhat Positive
00:12:31-00:12:32 (1 sec)
"Thank you."
118
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:12:32-00:12:35 (3 sec)
"No, you really are."
119
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:12:35-00:12:35 (1 sec)
"Ortiz [Inaudible]"
120
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:12:35-00:12:36 (1 sec)
"You really are."
121
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Slightly Positive
00:12:36-00:12:42 (6 sec)
"Well, Mr. President?"
122
Joe Biden
Positive
00:12:42-00:12:43 (1 sec)
"Yes."
123
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Positive
00:12:43-00:12:47 (4 sec)
"[Inaudible] about seven years [Inaudible] and because of the support --"
124
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:12:47-00:12:48 (1 sec)
"Training with a doctor?"
125
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Very Negative
00:12:48-00:12:50 (2 sec)
"No, no. Just a soldier. Veteran."
126
Joe Biden
Positive
00:12:50-00:12:56 (5 sec)
"Of the United States, just so you know. Come on."
127
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Very Positive
00:12:56-00:13:14 (19 sec)
"I'm a veteran. [Inaudible] And actually, my -- I did about seven years ago. My first came in, and she helped me navigate the VA system. She's been my biggest supporter and advocate here. It's been heaven seven years, so it's been a good experience for me."
128
Deborah Cheatham
Neutral
00:13:14-00:13:20 (6 sec)
"Each day, [Inaudible] he will start the master's program in social work and the --"
129
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:13:20-00:13:21 (1 sec)
"Oh, is that right?"
130
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Positive
00:13:21-00:13:21 ( sec)
"Yes, sir."
131
Deborah Cheatham
Positive
00:13:21-00:13:22 ( sec)
"Yes."
132
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:13:22-00:13:23 (2 sec)
"Well, congratulations, man."
133
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Somewhat Positive
00:13:23-00:13:24 ( sec)
"Thank you."
134
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:13:24-00:13:30 (6 sec)
"Congratulations. What are of social work are you interested in?"
135
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Neutral
00:13:30-00:13:32 (2 sec)
"Actually, I want to work for veterans."
136
Deborah Cheatham
Neutral
00:13:32-00:13:33 (1 sec)
"For veterans."
137
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Very Positive
00:13:33-00:13:40 (8 sec)
"To be with veterans in the future. So, clinical social worker and hopefully, works at the VA, open up my own nonprofit organization to help --"
138
Joe Biden
Positive
00:13:40-00:13:42 (2 sec)
"Good for you."
139
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Neutral
00:13:42-00:13:43 (1 sec)
"Future veterans to --"
140
Joe Biden
Positive
00:13:43-00:13:44 (1 sec)
"Good for you."
141
Manuel Alejandro Ortiz
Somewhat Positive
00:13:44-00:13:45 (1 sec)
"Thank you, Mr. President."
142
Stephen Holt
Negative
00:13:45-00:14:08 (23 sec)
"So, our last gentleman is Mr. Carmichael. He was a veteran of Louisiana burn pit registry and he's also a VA police officer. I should point out real quickly that we are a participant in your Apollo program, your Cancer Moonshot program. And also, the -- our main VA has all the diagnostic capabilities to diagnose and treat cancers."
143
Stephen Holt
Neutral
00:14:08-00:14:12 (4 sec)
"So with that, sir --"
144
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:14:12-00:14:13 (1 sec)
"Just tell me about you."
145
David Carmichael
Slightly Positive
00:14:13-00:14:40 (27 sec)
"I spent -- I was over in Iraq 2005, 2006, again '07, '08. First time, Camp Taji and al-Asad. Second time, I was a truck driver, I was all over the place. Well, I was at Camp Taji for the first six months of my first tour. My barracks was less than -- it was between a quarter to half a mile or less from where we -- where they burned all the -- from the burn pit was located."
146
David Carmichael
Neutral
00:14:40-00:14:42 (2 sec)
"And our --"
147
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:14:42-00:14:43 (1 sec)
"Same with my son."
148
David Carmichael
Very Negative
00:14:43-00:15:16 (33 sec)
"Excuse me and our motor pool with maybe a mechanic that follow was even closer than that. So, I mean, every time the wind is blowing the wrong way, it was all over us. And then the -- when it comes to VA and the treatment, last year, the beginning of August, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. They very quickly got me in there."
149
David Carmichael
Positive
00:15:16-00:15:36 (20 sec)
"My six weeks of radiation chemotherapy started my job -- Big Spring VA, West Texas VA health care system as a police officer in November. January, the very end of January, I had surgery, and I just returned back to work yesterday."
150
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:15:36-00:15:38 (2 sec)
"All right."
151
David Carmichael
Somewhat Positive
00:15:38-00:15:44 (6 sec)
"Thank you, sir. [Applause]"
152
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:15:44-00:15:45 (1 sec)
"Thank you."
153
Unidentified
Neutral
00:15:45-00:15:46 (1 sec)
"[Inaudible] this way."
154