Time Will Tell
Democratic Senator Jeff Bingham of New Mexico claims: “In this time of war, it is imperative that our country fully address the unique health care needs of the brave men and women returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the same time, we must provide for the needs of our older veterans who have long relied on the Veterans Affairs system for their health care.
“In May, Congress passed an emergency spending bill which contains funding on top of what was already appropriated this year for our troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. That bill sets aside $3 billion for the Defense Health Program, which addresses the healthcare needs associated with combat– needs ranging from treatment of and research into brain trauma injuries to rehabilitation for amputees.
“Traumatic brain injury, particularly in combination with post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems, is among the conditions that require extensive treatment. Severely injured veterans may require extensive periods of rehabilitation to successfully integrate back into the community.
“Also last month, the Senate passed a budget blueprint which set the recommended funding level at $43 billion for veterans’ services and benefits, which is $3.5 billion more than was set aside this year. As we in Congress write the spending bill that funds the VA, it’s my hope that at the very least, we mirror that figure. Doing so would allow us to improve mental health services, enhance inpatient and outpatient care for veterans, and also allow the VA to better address its backlog of pending benefits claims.
“We should not be cutting corners at the VA. That is why I am cosponsoring the ‘Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007’. The bill directs the Department of Defense to make it easier for recovering service members and families to access services by outlining requirements for physical disability evaluation system changes and providing caseworker support.
“It’s important to recognize that health care isn’t the only way we should support America’s veterans. To that end, I strongly back a bill called the “Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2007”, which would overturn a century-old prohibition on military retirees receiving both disability compensation and retirement pay.
“Americans are grateful for the service of men and women in uniform. We must use every opportunity to repay the debt we owe to them, no matter when or where they served, and to honor the commitment we made to them when they joined. We can do this by providing them accessible and affordable health care and ensuring the full payment of their hard-earned benefits.”
Sounds good,but the trillions dollars wasted in Iraq, has already requiring drastic cuts in important programs and historically veterans benefits end up being cut. Time will tell.
By the way, another 100 Americans will not be requiring health care, because they were killed in Iraq last month.
“In May, Congress passed an emergency spending bill which contains funding on top of what was already appropriated this year for our troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. That bill sets aside $3 billion for the Defense Health Program, which addresses the healthcare needs associated with combat– needs ranging from treatment of and research into brain trauma injuries to rehabilitation for amputees.
“Traumatic brain injury, particularly in combination with post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems, is among the conditions that require extensive treatment. Severely injured veterans may require extensive periods of rehabilitation to successfully integrate back into the community.
“Also last month, the Senate passed a budget blueprint which set the recommended funding level at $43 billion for veterans’ services and benefits, which is $3.5 billion more than was set aside this year. As we in Congress write the spending bill that funds the VA, it’s my hope that at the very least, we mirror that figure. Doing so would allow us to improve mental health services, enhance inpatient and outpatient care for veterans, and also allow the VA to better address its backlog of pending benefits claims.
“We should not be cutting corners at the VA. That is why I am cosponsoring the ‘Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007’. The bill directs the Department of Defense to make it easier for recovering service members and families to access services by outlining requirements for physical disability evaluation system changes and providing caseworker support.
“It’s important to recognize that health care isn’t the only way we should support America’s veterans. To that end, I strongly back a bill called the “Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2007”, which would overturn a century-old prohibition on military retirees receiving both disability compensation and retirement pay.
“Americans are grateful for the service of men and women in uniform. We must use every opportunity to repay the debt we owe to them, no matter when or where they served, and to honor the commitment we made to them when they joined. We can do this by providing them accessible and affordable health care and ensuring the full payment of their hard-earned benefits.”
Sounds good,but the trillions dollars wasted in Iraq, has already requiring drastic cuts in important programs and historically veterans benefits end up being cut. Time will tell.
By the way, another 100 Americans will not be requiring health care, because they were killed in Iraq last month.
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