Secretary McDonough

Good morning and thanks for that warm welcome. I hope you and those you love enjoyed rest, renewal, and joy during the holiday season. Tammy Barlet, thanks for your kind introduction.

The Department of Veterans Affairs issued a request for applications (RFA) for proposals from its network of VA researchers (in collaboration with academic institutions) to study the use of certain psychedelic compounds in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has screened 5 million Veterans for toxic exposures – a critical step to detecting, understanding, and treating potentially life-threatening health conditions.

The Department of Veterans Affairs adds three new Vet Centers and six Vet Center Outstations (smaller satellite locations) to improve access to counseling for Veterans and service members.

This is the last press conference of the year as well. So again, thank you for joining us. I know we have a lot to cover with not a lot of time. But also we have a unique and special guest joining us today that the Secretary will chat about. So with that, I'll go ahead and turn it over to the boss, Secretary Denis McDonough.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced permanently housed 38,847 homeless Veterans through October of 2023 — surpassing the calendar year goal to house 38,000 Veterans two months early.  

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a new partnership with the Global Liver Institute to improve the lives of Veterans with liver diseases.

The Department of Veterans Affairs' Million Veteran Program (MVP) welcomed the one millionth Veteran into the program, making it the first research program in the world to include extensive health and genetic data for this many participants.

It is fitting that we gather today at Arlington National Cemetery, on these hallowed, rolling hills overlooking our nation’s capital. With one sweep of the eye, we see the cost of freedom in the rows of marble headstones stretching into the distance, the final resting places of our nation’s heroes, and in the precision of the sentinels guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Department of Veterans Affairs creates new pilot program for graduate medical education designed to help expand health care access for Veterans in rural, tribal, and underserved areas across the country.

Family members of Veterans exposed to contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune from Aug. 1, 1953 to Dec. 31, 1987 are now eligible for reimbursement

The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a groundbreaking national advertising campaign to encourage Veterans to sign up for the VA health care and benefits they’ve earned.