Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Veterans Affairs Secretary Erik Shinseki spoke out Monday on the importance of treatment and prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] among U.S. servicemen and women.

“Beyond waging the wars we are in, treatment of our wounded, their continuing care and eventual re-integration into every day life is my highest priority. I consider this a solemn pact between those who have risked and suffered and the nation that owes them its eternal gratitude,” said Gates during a mental health summit in Washington, D.C (0:19)

 

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Harry E. Mitchell, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Committee on Veterans Affairs, said during a hearing that at least 53 veterans have potentially contracted HIV and Hepatitis due to substandard cleaning of endoscopic equipment by Veterans Affairs facilities. He also stated that inspections showed that “more than half the time VA facilities shockingly did not have proper training and guidelines for common endoscopic procedures.” (0:31)

 

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Reporters are covering:

1. The House Appropriations Committee Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the base posture and supplemental request. Witness: Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command.

2.House Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on “The American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009, Day 4. Witnesses: Former Vice President Al Gore, former Sen. John Warner, (R-Va.), and others.

The House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity met to discuss the Independent Living Program (ILP,) a rehabilitation program of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA.) Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.) explained that the ILP’s goal is to help veterans maintain independent lives through learned skills despite physical and mental barriers. Hall said federal money is often underutilized which causes delays in services. Hall closed his statement by saying veterans deserve the best programs possible.

Bruce McCartney, a Vietnam veteran from Georgia, recounted his four year struggle with the ILP, saying that various actors like doctors and case officers were unable to give him adequate answers and that assistance took too long to obtain. After recalling his experience, he said he sees no benefit from the ILP. McCartney said Americans want to help their troops but that unnecessary bureaucracy in the Department of Veterans Affairs prevents ILPs from helping veterans.

John Lancaster, the executive director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) said his organization helps many veterans acquire housing and employment, adding that the NCIL often serves as a voice for veterans’ advocacy. Lancaster said the NCIL is working to provide additional funding and services that would improve government programs while creating new ones.

Sec. James Peak, Department of Veterans Affairs explains that they would remove the drug chantix immediately off the market if it created too many harmful effects. Currently, the drug is being used by many veterans to help curb smoking and has been linked to suicide. (1:08)

 

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Secretary James Peak of the Veterans Affairs Administration briefed reporters today on the issue of smoking cessation. Specifically, Peak mentioned the Pfizer drug Chantix which is supposed to help patients quit smoking. According to the non profit organization the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices nearly 3,000 serious health effects including suicides, heart trouble and aggression, the study said. (more…)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) expresses his concern about the cost of the war and spending on Iraq war veterans. (0:21)

 

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At the Senate Appropriations Committee, Joint Subcommittee meeting on “Homeless Veterans,” Senator Patty Murray(D-WA) said when our country fails to live up to obligations to our veterans, there is a result of high rates of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and chronic unemployment, and all of these are contributing factors to homelessness. Experts estimate that 1 in 4 of all the nation’s homeless are veterans. Our veterans are heroes, she said, and we must ensure that they never reach the point of homelessness. Women veterans are the fastest growing group of homeless veterans, and we must ensure that the Veteran’s Administration evolves along with the needs of the veterans that it is serving, but HUD (Housing and Urban Development) must take steps to promote affordable housing. (more…)

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs met today to discuss the FY2009 budget for Veterans Affairs.

Chairman of the committee Chef Edwards (D-TX) briefly introduced the panelist and commended the efforts of Veterans Affairs in providing medical treatment for injured vets.

Undersecretary for the Health Dept. of Veterans Affairs Michael Kussman spoke on the President’s FY2009 budget which sets aside $41.2 billion for Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care—a $2.3 billion increase over the 2008 budget. He spoke of the need to implement recommendations offered by the Dole-Shalala Commission which he said provide a powerful outline to ensuring that military personnel injured during the “Global War on Terror” receive the necessary aid and medical assistance. He said the 2009 budget request will achieve two main goals of the VA: 1. to provide “timely, accessible, and high-quality health care [to their] highest priority patients,” and 2. to advance “collaborative efforts with the Department of Defense (DoD).” He also promised to provide “compassionate care” for veterans suffering from mental health issues such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He said that VA expects to treat about 5,771,000 patients in 2009. Kussman also said that in April 2006, over 250,000 “unique” patients were waiting more than 30 days to receive their treatment but that as of January 2001, that figure has been reduced to just over 69,000.

At the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs Joint Hearing to receive legislative presentation of the Disabled American Veterans, National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Robert T. Reynolds says that for six years, America’s service members have been in harm’s way, and we as a nation owe them all that we can to ensure that their sacrifices are not ignored or undervalued. Our nation, he says, can no longer excuse its failure to provide veterans with the benefits and services they rightfully deserve by saying that they cannot afford to fully “honor its promises.” This country, the richest nation in the world, has the means to fulfill its obligations. (:42)

 

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