Army Times: Bill Would Reform Treatment of Wounded Vets

[lady lib]

Bill would reform treatment of wounded vets

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Mar 1, 2007 17:00:08 EST


In the wake of the continuing scandal over the housing and medical evaluation process for wounded service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, House and Senate Democrats have unveiled a sweeping bill promising comprehensive reforms of how combat veterans and their families are treated.

Called the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act, the bill would mandate housing standards for the wounded, overhaul disability review boards, require one caseworker for every 20 recovering service members, extend job protections for service members to include family members who are at their side during recovery, demand that an ombudsmen be available around the clock by phone and in any hospital with more than 100 patients, and create a new independent oversight board to monitor how recovering service members are treated.

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On housing for outpatients, the bill would set minimum standards so that living conditions for wounded and recovering service members would meet the all of the same standards that apply to permanent-party barracks. It would require regular inspections of outpatient housing for five or more patients at least twice a year by high-level military officials, create a zero-tolerance policy for pest infestation, and require a crisis counselor and an emergency medical technician to be available 24 hours a day at all outpatient residences. The bill also sets a 15-day limit for housing repairs to be made and, if that limit cannot be met, requires that alternative housing be provided.

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And, because of concerns that the problems at Walter Reed happened under the noses of military leaders, the bill would create a Wounded Warrior Oversight Board appointed by Congress to oversee implementation of the bill and serve as an advocate for recovering troops and their families.

Continues...

See entire article at http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/03/TNSobamabill070301/

[Kagemusha]

1. Let me guess: Guaranteed Bush veto

would cost too much. Money taken away from tanks and bullets.

[NanceGreggs]

2. And a veto would mean ...

... Georgie doesn't SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

Caught between Iraq and a hard place ...

[w4rma]

3. Repukes must hate this bill. It actually *helps* soldiers who can no longer contribute to their war

profiteering. It actually helps our countrymen who are still alive and have truly sacrificed for our freedoms.

[lady lib]

4. What I like about this bill

is that it's not only substantive and important, but it also has a great name. Good luck trying to explain to your constituents why you voted against a bill titled, "the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act."