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Most of us remember the poor outpatient care being provided for wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington that was disclosed earlier this year. Since even before those reports and my own detailed tour of the Center, I have been working with others on a bi-partisan bill to make sure it doesn't happen again.
I am pleased to report that the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which I co-sponsored, was included in the 2008 Defense Authorization conference report that was passed last week by Congress and sent to the President for his signature.
This is a comprehensive policy that will result in improving health care for all veterans and active duty personnel. It assures that the medical and psychological care of our injured troops will be the best available and obtaining it as trouble free as possible.
This important legislation requires the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy by January 1, 2008, on the care, management, and transition from the military to VA or civilian life of service members with combat-related injuries or illnesses.
The bill authorizes medically retired service members to receive the active duty health care benefit for 3 years. It also requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the Veterans Administration, to develop a comprehensive plan on prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It authorizes $50 million for improved diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of service members with these conditions.
TBI has become the "signature" injury of the war in Iraq. Earlier this year, I met a Nebraska soldier who suffered from TBI and was getting care in Lincoln. This is a very difficult injury to diagnose and to treat and can require months, or even years, of care and rehabilitation.
Whether it was the Nebraska soldier suffering from TBI in Lincoln, the young medic from Minden who was wounded in Iraq and had problems getting proper care back home until I intervened, or the hundreds of injured members of the military who were receiving inadequate care at Walter Reed, this bill will help ensure that their care is the best possible.
In addition to seeing to the needs of wounded warriors, the bill also authorizes $135 billion for military personnel. It includes a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for all uniformed service personnel, a half percent above the Administration's request; bonuses and special pays aimed at encouraging enlistment, reenlistment, and continued service by active-duty and reserve military personnel; and combat-related special compensation to service members medically retired for a combat-related disability.
Military personnel sacrifice much to protect our nation. It is only right that we constantly strive to improve and expand the services we offer to these brave men and women. Despite differences of opinion about the war, we all agree that America has an obligation to provide the very best care for the more than 27,000 U.S. military personnel who have been wounded or become ill in the line of duty.
I'm pleased that Congress has completed work on this legislation just before the Holidays. It is a welcome present for our troops. As a reminder, I have invited all Nebraskans to send electronic Holiday wishes to our troops through my website. If you'd like to send a message to our troops this Christmas, visit my Hometowns to Heroes Project on http://bennelson.senate.gov.###
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