Carson Amendment Improve Veterans Lives and Celebrating the 100th Running of the Indy 500 -- May 27, 2011

Thank you for reading my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website athttps://www.carson.house.gov.

In this week's Carson Courier:

• Carson Amendments Improve Veterans Lives
• Celebrating the 100^th Running of the Indy 500

Passage of My Amendments to Improve Mental & Financial Health of U.S. Military

On the eve of Memorial Day weekend, I am proud that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved two amendments I authored to the Defense Authorization this week.

Mental Health Treatment

The first of my amendments will help protect the mental health of those service members who put their lives on the line for us.

Currently, our military personnel receive mental health screening before and after their deployments. However, most brain traumas and

injuries occur, and most depression and post-traumatic stress disorders begin, during deployment. Tragically, when left undiagnosed and

untreated for too long, mental illness can lead to domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. My amendment ensures that

screenings are provided during deployment overseas.

My amendment also mandates that vital mental health information is shared between military units to ensure critical care for those in need is not overlooked or neglected. Many advocate buying the best gear and vehicles to protect our service members from physical harm, but it is equally critical that we protect their mental health, both during their service and when they return home. We owe our service members nothing less. Adding regular mental health screenings and improving communications ensures that we keep our promise to those who defend our freedom.

Pre-Separation Financial Counseling for Our Troops Returning to Civilian Life

The U.S. House also unanimously approved my second amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, which ensures active duty service members have greater access to pre-separation financial counseling. Such counseling helps members to manage their personal finances upon their return to civilian life. Many of those serving in our armed forces enlisted immediately after graduating high school or college and have thrived in the structured atmosphere of a military base or deployment operation. While such structure helps to preserve esprit de corps and promotes discipline, many of our troops have little experience managing their expenses, paying bills, and saving for their future. My amendment will help reduce the number of military families falling into unmanageable debt, bankruptcy and foreclosure. I believe we owe those who have risked their lives to preserve our freedom the education they need to stay debt free.

Celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of the Inaugural Indianapolis 500

This week, I went to the floor of the U.S. House to introduce a resolution in the United States Congress honoring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the running of the 100^th Indy 500. I offered the following remarks:

Throughout its illustrious history, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has served as the proving ground for many innovations that have become mainstays in automotive production and at raceways around the world. But it's the 500 mile race conducted at the end of May that makes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway so special. Every Memorial Day weekend, 300,000 fans from all over the world gather at the historic track for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing – the Indianapolis 500. This year, I, along with motorsports fans from all around the world, will be celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the inaugural race.

For one hundred years, legions of race fans have traveled to the Town of Speedway, Indiana, to witness the premier motorsports event. As the largest single-day sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500 remains a great source of pride for my constituents in the 7^th District and for Hoosiers all across the great State of Indiana.

Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. I hope you and your family have a great Memorial Day weekend! Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. For more information, please visit my website athttps://www.carson.house.gov, my Congressional Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/CongressmanAndreCarsonand follow me on Twitter@RepAndreCarson. I value your views and your input which help me to better represent the people of Indiana's 7^thDistrict in Congress.