House Approves Education Benefits for the Children of Fallen Heroes
Legislation introduced by Representatives Patrick Murphy (PA-08) and Todd Platts (PA-19) to provide education assistance to the children of police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty passed the United States House of Representatives without objection on May 12, 2010. The legislation (H.R. 959) now goes to the United States Senate for consideration.
Specifically, H.R. 959 would give the maximum Pell Grant amount (currently, $5,500) to help pay the college costs of a child whose parent was a police officer, firefighter, or other first responder killed in the line of duty. This benefit already exists for the children of service members killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
“This legislation is aimed at ensuring we do right by police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who put their own lives at risk everyday to keep us safe,” said Congressman Platts, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. “Making a college education more accessible to the children of these fallen heroes is an important expression of our Nation’s gratitude. This legislation is a justified price for our Nation to pay to ensure that those serving on the front lines in our communities know that a higher education will be within their children’s reach should the unthinkable happen.”
House Adopts Two Amendments to Assist Troops with Traumatic Brain Injuries
Two amendments which seek to improve medical treatment options for troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries were added to the defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2011 (H.R. 5136). Both amendments were adopted by the full United States House of Representatives without objection.
The first amendment was offered by Reps. Pete Sessions (TX-32) and Todd Platts (PA-19). The amendment establishes a five-year pilot program that allows private healthcare providers to provide active duty military personnel and veterans with innovative treatments - not currently offered at military medical facilities – for traumatic brain injuries. The private healthcare providers would receive reimbursements from the Department of Defense only if the treatments are proven to be successful. Service members and veterans who voluntarily opt into this program would do so at no cost.
The second amendment was offered by Reps. Bill Pascrell (NJ-08) and Todd Platts, who serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Brain Injury Caucus. The amendment was offered in response to thousands of service members returning from combat without the screenings for traumatic brain injuries needed to ensure that they receive proper treatment. The amendment requires the Department of Defense to put in place a comprehensive screening policy so that all military personnel receive such screenings both before and after deployment. The same neurocognitive tool would have to be used for pre-deployment assessments as well as post-deployment evaluations—thereby allowing physicians to compare the two screenings to determine whether a traumatic brain injury does in fact exist.
“Traumatic brain injuries have become the ‘signature wound’ of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with record numbers of troops returning to American soil in need of treatment and rehabilitation,” said Congressman Platts, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Our men and women in uniform deserve the best treatments available and these common-sense amendments will help to expand access to treatments.”
Other Key Votes
The following is a list of some key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of May of 2010:
Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (H. Amdt. 672)
The House voted 234–194 for an amendment to H.R. 5136 that would effectively repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy prohibiting openly gay men and women from serving in the military. A study by the military is currently ongoing to determine what impact changes in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy would have on troop morale, readiness, and unit cohesion. The study is due December 1st and will include the results of a survey sent to 350,000 service members and their spouses. Congressman Platts believes it was disrespectful to the men and women in uniform and their families for Congress to vote on a repeal of this policy without first considering their input. Congressman Platts voted against H. Amdt. 672 and therefore against considering changes to the law until after the study has been completed.
Additional Deficit Spending (H.R. 4213)
The House voted 245–171 to add approximately $25.5 billion to the federal budget deficit in 2010, and approximately $54.2 billion from 2010–2020, in order to finance a variety of spending initiatives. The spending includes $1 billion on a “summer jobs” program, $2.65 billion in “emergency” welfare funds, and up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits for some recipients. Opponents of the bill criticized the spending, arguing that it should be either eliminated entirely from the bill or at least offset—such as by rescinding as-yet unspent stimulus funds. Congressman Platts voted against H.R. 4213 and therefore against the additional deficit spending.
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