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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (SC-01) today joined with a majority of his House colleagues in supporting legislation to enhance benefits and health care for America’s veterans and returning servicemembers.
“This legislation reflects the bipartisan commitment that exists in the House for addressing the needs of our nation’s veterans and those brave men and women who are returning to their homes after serving our country,” Brown said. “Congress continues to discover bureaucratic walls that inhibit our servicemembers from receiving prompt access to care and benefits, and we continue to take action to knock them down. In addition, this legislation continues the commitment Congress established last year to treating the needs of servicemembers with traumatic brain injury (TBI) which has become the signature injury of the War on Terror. The nature of warfare currently being waged throughout the world has left our servicemembers with unique healthcare and rehabilitation needs. I am proud to have the opportunity to support these measures and look forward to their passage in the Senate.”
Included in the bills passed are:
H.R. 612, the Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007, extends from two to five years the period of eligibility for veterans returning from combat to receive VA health care for conditions that might be related to that service, despite the absence of proof of service connection. It also authorizes an additional three years of free VA care to veterans who had previously used up their two years of care.
H.R. 2199, Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007, requires the VA to screen veterans for traumatic brain injury (TIB) and to establish comprehensive programs for long-term care of post-acute traumatic brain injury rehabilitation at four geographically dispersed polytrauma network sites. The measure provides the VA the authority to coordinate services not immediately offered by the VA through cooperative agreements with other entities having established long-term neurobehavioral rehabilitation and recovery programs. For more information on the VA’s efforts to treat TBI, please visit http://www.polytrauma.va.gov/.
H.R. 2239, Early Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits Act, enables injured servicemembers to get vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits (VR&E) before their discharge from active duty. Currently, servicemembers must wait until they are discharged from the military to receive VR&E benefits from the VA. This change from existing law would help veterans successfully enter the job market when discharged.
H.R. 67, the Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007, improves the VA’s outreach activities by making grants available to state veterans’ agencies to assist in their benefit claims processing. During the next three fiscal years, a $25 million authorization will allow the VA to train state and local government employees who provide veterans outreach services. The VA will also be required to establish performance measures for the use of these funds.
H.R. 1470, Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, requires the VA to provide chiropractic care and services, phasing in these services through all of its medical centers and clinics by December 31, 2011. Those veterans living too far from a medical center may receive chiropractic care on a fee-for-service basis.
Congressman Brown also voted in favor of legislation to establish a national cemetery in Colorado, and supported H. Res. 392, Urging Americans and People of All Nationalities to Visit the American Cemeteries, Memorials and Markers.
“As we observe Memorial Day, I can think of no more fitting acknowledgement of the ultimate sacrifices that have been made in defense of our freedom and liberty, than to visit one of the cemeteries, memorials or markers that have been erected in our country and throughout the world,” Brown said. “Having spent a Memorial Day at the American Cemetery at Normandy with my colleague, Rep. Steve Buyer (IN-04), I can attest to the life-changing experience that can result from such a visit. I encourage everyone to take a moment and remember their fellow-Americans who paid the ultimate price as they answered their nation’s call to service.”
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