Babylon, NY - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York’s first Senator to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee and U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington, NY), the only New York Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee joined veterans, returning troops and their family members in a forum for military families greatly impacted by the war in Iraq. During the forum, Clinton and Israel called for passage of the “Heroes at Home” initiative which would enhance support services for U.S. troops transitioning back home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The forum was hosted by Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone.

"Hundreds of thousands of troops have rotated through Iraq and Afghanistan, including hundreds of courageous men and women from Long Island. More military service members than ever are surviving these conflicts, but surviving these wars and transitioning home can be an uphill battle,” Senator Clinton said. “As we heard today, our newest generation of war heroes and their families need our help as they transition home after serving bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan. These heroes deserve our best resources and support to ensure that returning home means returning to life.”

“While our service members have been battling in Iraq and Afghanistan, we’ve had to battle in Congress for adequate equipment in the military theater and adequate services for when they come home,” said Rep. Israel. “We need to protect our troops while they are in combat, but not lose sight of the challenges facing them upon their return home. This means giving them access to comprehensive health care, financial security and employment and education assistance.”

The “Heroes at Home” initiative, which Senator Clinton worked to get included in the Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Authorization Bill passed by the U.S. Senate, must be reconciled with the House Defense Authorization Bill. The initiative would assist military service members of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) with readjustment to work, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The measure, which is supported by the National Military Family Association and the Wounded Warrior Project, also provides support to the family members of our returning troops.

The Clinton legislation would charge an existing Department of Defense Mental Health Task Force with identifying the mental health problems occurring among National Guard and Reserve members who undergo multiple deployments and making recommendations on ways to improve mental health services for them. The bill would also establish a special working group focused on the transition of National Guard and Reserve members to civilian jobs and designate an office for employers, employment assistance organizations, and associations of employers to provide them with best practices and education for ensuring the success of Guard and Reserve members in resuming civilian work.

The legislation also calls for a study on the long-term physical and mental health consequences and rehabilitation needs of traumatic brain injured service members. To further assist the mushrooming number of traumatic brain injured service members and their families, this legislation would establish TBI family caregiver training curricula for health professionals at Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs hospitals, who would use the curricula to teach family members important skills for caring for their loved ones suffering from TBI when they go home.

According to a March 2006 study, 19% of Iraq veterans and 11% of Afghanistan veterans reported mental health problems. Among the OIF and OEF veterans seeking care at VA hospitals, nearly a third have been diagnosed with mental disorders, with over 40% of those PTSD. Another report found that 10% to 30% of National Guard members come home from Iraq searching for work. Others return to civilian jobs dissatisfied with old tasks that pale in comparison to wartime responsibilities. In addition to these challenges, a large number of service members are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with life-threatening brain injuries from roadside blasts that can cause brain damage. It is estimated that TBI affects more than 25% of bomb blast survivors – a percentage thought to be higher than in any other past US conflict, making TBI the “signature” injury of Iraq. The diffuse but debilitating symptoms of TBI can leave service members with cognitive and emotional problems, including the inability to adapt to civilian life. However, TBI frequently goes undiagnosed because returning troops may not realize they suffered a concussion or may not show visible signs of injury. Furthermore, a VA Office of Inspector General report issued this month found that family members of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with TBI need additional resources and support as they care for their loved ones and that case management for these veterans needs to be improved to ensure lifelong coordination of care.

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