U.S. Rep. Terry Everett, R-Rehobeth, voted Tuesday for legislation demanding that America's injured and wounded military personnel receive the finest healthcare available through the government's military healthcare system.  The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 (HR 1538) was passed by a bipartisan 59-0 vote in the House Armed Services Committee.  It will be brought before the full House next week.

"The unacceptable conditions to which many of our wounded military were subjected at the outpatient center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC were a disgrace," said Congressman Everett.  "Sadly, it was reminiscent of the substandard treatment that I personally investigated in many of our nation's veteran hospitals while I chaired the Veterans Affairs Oversight and Investigations Committee in the late 1990's. 

"While improvements were made as a result of our hearings, hospital administrators and government bureaucrats seem inclined to ignore calls for reform as soon as the spotlight left them.  But that will not be the case this time.  Congress is poised to pass legislation marked up today in the House Armed Services Committee holding military hospital administrators accountable for the quality of care they provide our wounded military."

The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act provides the necessary manpower, training and oversight to ensure that our wounded warriors receive quality care and that the military health system will not fail them.  The legislation also sets the stage for much needed reform of administrative processes that will restore confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the disability evaluation system. It will also improve the transition of military service members upon retirement or separation into Department of Veterans Affairs programs.