Legislation to improve military health care passes with overwhelming bipartisan support
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today hailed the passage of the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 as the beginning of a new era in medical care for America's men and women in uniform.
“Not every American signs up to put on the uniform,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Not every American puts their life on the line for our principles and values. But for those Americans who do, we owe it to be there with them when they need help.”
The act is intended as a first step in addressing the problems in military health care that came to light recently at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The act passed the House of Representatives this afternoon in a decisive 426 to 0 vote.
“Today,” Giffords said, “Congress spoke with one voice in support of our troops.”
The act's comprehensive set of improvements to military health care services will directly impact more than 25,000 U.S. service members wounded in hostile action since military operations began in Iraq and Afghanistan. The act's provisions include:
- Helping recovering service members navigate hospital bureaucracy;
- Increasing the screening, tracking and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and other combat-related mental health conditions;
- Requiring the Department of Defense to assign a medical care case manager and a service member advocate to each service member assigned to a military treatment facility for outpatient care;
- Establishing a hotline for medical patients to report problems in their treatment; and
- Demanding an end to the red tape that has frustrated disabled service members as they move from Pentagon to Veterans Affairs Department care.
“The terrible conditions at Walter Reed happened because our wounded combat veterans had no one fighting to help them get the care they desperately needed,” Giffords said. “This bill will make sure every one of these brave Americans has someone in their corner.”
The complete text of the bill, H.R. 1538, can be found online at www.congress.gov.