House unanimously passes Wounded Warrior legislation
Washington, DC - A strong advocate on behalf of America's veterans,
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today joined her House
colleagues in passing H.R. 1538, the /Wounded Warrior Assistance Act/.
The bill, which strengthens the Veteran's Affairs and Department of
Defense health care systems, is Congress' response to the atrocious
conditions recently discovered at the Walter Reed Military Hospital, and
elsewhere.
"If we're going to ask these brave young men and women to put their
lives on their line for our country, then we have a moral responsibility
to stand by them when they return," Woolsey said. "This bill is an
important first step towards providing the mental and physical care that
our returning soldiers need, many for the rest of their lives."
The legislation, which enjoys broad bipartisan support, will remedy the
current system of outpatient care ensuring that veterans have the
quality care that they deserve, while reducing much of the bureaucracy
that currently plagues the system. Among other steps the legislation
will: increase the number of caseworkers (allowing each of them to focus
on a smaller number of patients); create a system of patient advocates
to hold the VA accountable; increase the training of those involved in
outpatient care, and establish a toll-free hotline to report problems.
While supporting the legislation, Woolsey was quick to point to the
hypocrisy demonstrated by the Administration when it comes to their
claims of supporting the troops:
"President Bush has a strong record of talking tough, and attempting to
marginalize those of us who have opposed his occupation of Iraq by
claiming that we don't support our troops," Woolsey said. "The truth
speaks louder than his bluster though, and while he continues to put our
troops in harms way in Iraq, he has under-funded the very medical care
that they depend on here at home. It will take many of these soldiers a
lifetime to recover from the physical and mental wounds that they have
endured while serving in Iraq, and his record on this issue is nothing
short of irresponsible."
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