Gordon Votes to Improve Benefits for Veterans and Returning Troops
May 24, 2007, WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon joined a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation to improve benefits and services for America’s veterans.
“As we celebrate Memorial Day, we have a duty to honor our veterans,” said Gordon. “This bipartisan legislation will help provide our courageous veterans with the health care and benefits they have earned and deserve.”
On Wednesday (May 23), the House passed several pieces of legislation to address the challenges facing veterans, especially those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Traumatic Brain Injury/Rural Veterans Outreach will ensure that veterans are properly screened for traumatic brain injury and receive appropriate treatment. The legislation also expands Veterans Affairs resources to provide rural communities with mobile vet centers for mental health services and benefits outreach.
“More than half of combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan have associated brain injuries, often due to improvised explosive devices,” said Gordon. “We must be prepared to address the health care needs that follow this kind of injury.”
The House also passed the Returning Servicemember VA Health Insurance Act to extend the period in which veterans can seek treatment for mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, from two to five years after service.
The House approved additional bills to improve VA outreach through partnerships with state and local governments, to extend eligibility for VA rehabilitation benefits and to require more VA medical centers to fulfill their obligation to offer chiropractic care.
“Our veterans have risked their lives to secure our nation and our way of life,” said Gordon. “The least we can do is provide quality health care after they have sacrificed so much.”
