| Washington, DC – Congressman Bill Shuster is pleased to announce that he has cosponsored H.R. 1538, the “Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007” to further address the importance of medical care and enhance medical services for our nation’s veterans.
Earlier today, Congressman Bill Shuster toured the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona to see first hand the type of care Pennsylvania’s veterans are receiving from their local VA hospital. Although pleased with what he found, Shuster demands more for our nation’s veterans.
“Our veterans sacrificed far too much in defense of our freedom to be forgotten by their government,” Shuster said. “The most important job Congress has is to defend American against its enemies. Making sure our veterans receive the best care possible goes hand-in-hand with this responsibility. I believe this legislation will bring welcome and much needed reforms to our DOD and VA medical systems.”
This important legislation provides the people, training, and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that our wounded warriors feel secure that they will always receive committed quality medical care and that the system will not fail them.
Among other things, H.R. 1528 would require the assignment of a medical care case manager to each service member assigned to a military treatment facility in an outpatient status or other unit designated to manage service members receiving outpatient medical care. To prevent overloading the case managers, the legislation would establish 17 outpatient cases as the maximum number that may be assigned to an individual medical care case manager. Also, the legislation would set up a toll-free hotline for reporting deficiencies in medical-related support facilities.
“The Wounded Warriors bill is a solid step in ensuring that our brave warfighters injured in combat receive the finest care. I am pleased to see Congressman Shuster add his strong support to this legislation,” said House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Duncan Hunter. “However, make no mistake about this point. The circumstances at Walter Reed are not a reflection on the hard work and dedication exhibited day in and day out by the incredible military medical professionals who are responsible for saving countless lives. They should be celebrated as the heroes they are.”
“My tour today of the James E. Van Zandt hospital confirms the stellar reputation it has with veterans throughout western and central Pennsylvania,” Shuster said. “Unfortunately, in the wake of the serious problems at Walter Reed, I fear that the entire VA medical system could be seen in a negative light. This isolated incident must not negate the amazing work our medical professionals do every day in VA hospitals like our own.”
“This legislation will strengthen an already strong VA medical system and I am proud to support it.” |
