House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington D.C. – Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, will appear on Dr. Phil in an episode focused on honoring America’s contract with our military veterans.  Dr. Phil talks with veterans and their families about the challenges of returning home after deployment.  Congressman Filner shares his views about the medical and mental health care needs of returning service members.  He also discusses the need for a good faith reform effort at the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the care and services offered to America’s veterans.  The show, entitled “Beyond the Front Lines,” is scheduled to air on Friday, December 19.  Check your local listings for air time. 

What
Dr. Phil episode “Beyond the Front Lines”

When
Friday, December 19 - Check local listings for air time

Who
Veterans and their family members
Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Colonel David Hunt, FOX News Military Analyst
Tammy Duckworth, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Paul Reickhoff, Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Beyond the Front Lines
Military men and women are true American heroes who fight for our freedoms. But are we doing all we can as a nation to honor our contract with these warriors? When a soldier survives war, oftentimes he or she comes home to face a different battle. Dr. Phil's guests are veterans who say they have returned from the front lines only to fight a medical system bureaucracy that is failing them. Randy was severely injured during an ambush while deployed in Iraq. His mother, Tammy, says the military lied to him, and used him, and that Randy was eventually lost in the system. She says getting any help from the Department of Veterans Affairs is a struggle with minimal results. Dr. Phil introduces this wounded warrior to two special people who want to make his life better. Next, Jerry says he got a "raw deal" when he returned from Iraq, and he's struggling with what he believes to be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His wife says Jerry is angry and violent, and she's afraid of him. You won't believe what they say the Department of Veterans Affairs advised Jerry to do to cope with his suicidal thoughts.

Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Congressman Bob Filner, and FOX News military analyst Colonel David Hunt passionately share their opinions about health care for veterans. Then, Kevin and Joyce say their son came home from Iraq a changed man. They say they tried to get him help for what they believed was severe PTSD, but it didn't come in time. And, Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs and Paul Rieckhoff, director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, weigh in on the cases. If you are an American, this is your call to arms to step up and help turn things around for the men and women in uniform.

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