Printer Friendly Page
---------------
REPUBLICAN PRESS
RELEASE
July 26, 2007
SENATE PASSES SEN. CRAIG'S TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURY LEGISLATION
Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093
(Washington, DC) U.S. Senator Larry Craig, the top Republican on the
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, today praised his colleagues for
unanimously passing the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act. The
bill includes language Sen. Craig sought which will enable the
Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to work more closely when
treating those with traumatic brain injuries.
"I am pleased that the Majority Leader worked with the Minority to pass
this important legislation. I only wish he would work in a similar
fashion to pass the whole Defense bill," Craig said. "The important
thing now is that we are closer to getting more help to our wounded
warriors."
The defense authorization bill stalled in the Senate last week amid
disagreements over policies involving the war in Iraq. Under the bill
the Senate passed Wednesday, VA officials would be able to place
veterans with brain injuries into medical facilities outside the VA
hospital system.
"We want those with TBI to receive the best care available. The focus
must be on providing the best care we can, wherever that may be," Craig
said.
The legislation also calls for VA to conduct more research into the
treatment of serious brain trauma and would establish a pilot program
for assisted living services for veterans with severe brain injuries.
The bill also requires VA to provide age-appropriate nursing home care
to veterans with severe TBI.
In addition to improving care for veterans with traumatic brain
injuries, it also requires that an initial mental health evaluation be
provided to veterans or returning servicemembers no later than 30 days
following a request for such an evaluation.
The legislation would also create a demonstration project to identify
members of the Armed Forces on active duty who are at risk of becoming
homeless upon discharge or release from active duty, and to provide
referral, counseling, and support services to prevent them from becoming
homeless.
-------------------------
Larry Scott --
Don't forget to read all of today's VA
News Flashes
(click here)
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
