Issues Veterans Health Care
Caring for Wounded Servicemembers
I am dedicated to making sure the Department
of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides
good care to veterans, and to members of Armed Services when
they return from deployments abroad.
To ensure that they get the treatment and benefits they deserve,
I have introduced the Veterans Advocacy Act and the Veterans
Outreach Improvement Act. The Advocacy Act would ensure that
servicemembers and veterans have independent advocates to
help them cut through the red tape that may compromise their
care and benefits. The Outreach Act will help guarantee that
all veterans are informed of the benefits and services to
which they are entitled.
I am deeply troubled by reports of servicemembers and veterans
who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
and who are not getting the treatment they need. The Department
of Defense and VA must identify troops showing symptoms of
PTSD and TBI.
The Veterans Advocacy Act will help servicemembers and veterans
draw from a nationwide legal services organization with expertise
in helping persons with mental health concerns obtain the
best care available. I was also pleased to support the successful
enactment of legislation that directs the Secretary of Defense
to create a pilot project to evaluate the military health
care system’s process for diagnosing and treating PTSD.
Other actions I have taken since coming
to the Senate in 1993 include calling for a study of the dangers
posed to troops by depleted uranium, advocating for increased
care for veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome, and urging
the VA to add diabetes to the list of diseases associated
with Agent Orange.
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