Pryce: Wounded Warriors Bill Honors our Nation’s Commitment to its Veterans

March 28, 2007

Pryce: Wounded Warriors Bill Honors our Nation’s Commitment to its Veterans

Washington , DC – Today, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) voted in support of legislation ensuring that America’s armed services members who are wounded in combat receive health care services commensurate to their valor on the battlefields. The bipartisan Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (HR 1538) passed overwhelmingly.

After the vote, Pryce released the following statement:

“The recent reports of deplorable conditions at Walter Reed and Building 18 were an affront to those of us who believe that America has a moral obligation to ensure that those who have volunteered to serve our nation are, in turn, served well by our government. This legislation keeps our nation’s promise to our heroic veterans, their families, and to the outstanding professionals who make up our veterans’ health care network.

“There can be no excuse for any shortcomings in our military health care system. Nationally, our nation has never allocated more money and resources to our veterans than we are today, and over the past decade, spending on veterans’ health care reached annual record levels. Locally, we have made tremendous progress in providing for our area veterans, best represented by the new the 295,000 square foot, state-of-the-art veterans’ outpatient facility currently under construction at our military complex in Whitehall.”

Highlights of the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act:

Makes comprehensive improvements to medical care, quality of life, and the administrative processes associated with American troops wounded or injured in combat and other military medical outpatients.
Establishes a toll-free hotline for military personnel and their families to report health care deficiencies, caps the number of cases a physical evaluation board liaison officer may handle at 20, and limits medical care case managers to 17 cases.
Facilitates an easier transition of care from the Department of Defense to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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