Debate for Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 - C-Span One

http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.html

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 28, 2007
110TH CONGRESS - FIRST SESSION

H.R. 1538:

to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the management of medical care,
personnel actions, and quality of life issues for members of the Armed Forces who
are receiving medical care in an outpatient status, and for other purposes

1:29 P.M. -

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour and twenty minutes
of general debate on H.R. 1538.

Bush: Bill to improve vet care is premature

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/03/military_woundedwarrior_assistance_070328w/

By Rick Maze - Staff writer

Posted : Wednesday Mar 28, 2007 10:18:51 EDT

The Bush administration opposes a House bill aimed at improving care and cutting red tape
for wounded combat veterans, saying it does not want to be rushed into accepting permanent
changes in medical and administrative policies.

more.........

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Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., proposed an amendment to require that no wounded warrior be housed or
hospitalized within 50 miles of a "foreign national detainee."

Miller's purpose was to block any move by Democrats to close the prison at Guantannamo Bay, Cuba,
and move detainees to stateside military bases. Skelton argued the amendment was inappropriate
for a bill to help wounded members. It was rejected 33-to-27 on a straight party line vote.

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House Acts to Improve Care for Veterans

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032801794.html

By JIM ABRAMS
The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 28, 2007; 5:34 PM

WASHINGTON --

Reacting to shabby treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the
House on Wednesday created a coterie of case managers, advocates and counselors for injured
troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The "Wounded Warrior Assistance Act," approved 426-0, also establishes a hotline for medical patients
to report problems in their treatment and demands an end to the red tape that has frustrated
disabled service members as they move from Pentagon to Veterans Affairs Department care.

The bill would affect some of the more than 25,000 U.S. service members wounded in hostile
action since military operations began in Iraq and Afghanistan.

snip-->

But lawmakers from both parties, intent to show support for troops regardless of divisions
over the war in Iraq, were in no mood to wait.

More can be done later, said Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., but
the legislation is "needed now to provide immediate support for our wounded warriors."

The bill requires Senate action before it goes to the president.

The defense secretary would be required to provide disabled service members being separated
or retired from active duty with a written plan for transition to VA programs.

Several amendments approved by the House directed that more attention be paid to the mental
health of returning combatants. One, by Reps. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and Rep. Joe Sestak,
D-Pa., requires the Pentagon to develop a plan to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder
and other stress-related problems including substance abuse conditions.

The bill also:

_
Requires the VA to increase the number of physicians at its hospitals.

_
Requires that appropriate members of Congress be notified of the hospitalization
of a combat-wounded service member.

_
Assigns independent health care professionals to serve as counselors and advocates
for service members being considered by medical evaluation boards.

_
Improves training for health care professionals and medical care case managers
on the particular conditions of recovering service members.

_
Sets up a pilot program in the Army similar to the Marine Wounded Warrior Regiment
program that keeps track of those still requiring medical care on an outpatient basis.

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On the Net:

Read the bill, H.R. 1538, at http://thomas.loc.gov/