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Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) voted to honor America’s veterans by supporting the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007.
“I was proud to cast my vote today for the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act,” Rep. McNerney said. “Our veterans have done so much in the service of our country by serving in harm’s way overseas. We owe them a debt of gratitude which means we must to do everything we can to provide adequate healthcare and rehabilitation services when they return home.”
The bill creates a support network to aid wounded servicemembers returning home from overseas combat in navigating the military health care bureaucracy.
Addressing the deplorable conditions found at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Act establishes a toll-free hotline for reporting deficiencies in medical facilities. It also creates a new system to more efficiently transfer soldiers’ medical records from the Defense Department to the Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring that cases do not fall through the cracks.
“I am particularly pleased that this bill will also address post traumatic stress disorder and other stress-related injuries – some of the hallmark injuries of the Iraq war,” Rep. McNerney said. “The bill requires the Department of Defense to develop a plan to help prevent PTSD from developing in servicemembers.”
Rep. McNerney continued, “Today’s vote demonstrates a continued and sincere commitment to caring for our nation’s veterans. The bipartisan passage of this act comes on the heels of veterans’ services funding increases in the Democratic budget proposal, as well as additional money – particularly for PTSD and traumatic brain injury treatment – in last week’s U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act as well as in the 2007 Continuing Resolution.”
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