December 12, 2007

Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight two specific provisions that are included in this landmark legislation that we are discussing today.

This bill contains legislation that I, along with Congressman Tom Udall, offered as an amendment during initial House consideration of this bill. It will allow military families to use family and medical leave time to manage issues such as child care and financial planning that arise as a result of the deployment of an immediate family member.

This bill also contains the language from my bill, H.R. 1944, that requires the VA to operate a comprehensive program of long-term care for rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury, which has become the signature injury of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also creates and maintains a TBI veterans health registry.

These provisions will directly impact and improve the lives of our brave men and women in uniform and their families. I am proud that they have been included in this bill.