Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) introduced legislation Friday, April 15, 2011, that aims to support research on urological trauma in an effort to improving the care of injuries to the genitourinary system suffered by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wounds to the genitourinary system, which includes the kidneys, reproductive organs, and urinary organs, have been among the most common and debilitating wounds suffered by our service men and women from IED detonations that literally occur below the belt.

 “It is important we take care of those who have so bravely served for our country,” Guthrie said. “There are soldiers who are suffering from these injuries, and we need to ensure that they have all the resources available that are needed to help them.”

The legislation, which is fully paid for and adds zero to deficit if possible, establishes a National Commission on Urotrauma that will be lead by the Department of Defense and work with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services.

The Urotrauma Commission will conduct a comprehensive study on urotrauma, as well as evaluate the public and private resources available for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment of, and research in this condition.  

They will also work to identify programs in which improvement in the management of urotrauma can be accomplished.

In addition, the commission will develop and recommend a long-range plan for the use and organization of national resources, especially within the federal health programs, to effectively deal with urotrauma.