U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is pleased to announce that Senate and House negotiators have reached an agreement on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. This conference report includes the “Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act,” cosponsored by Senator Collins, which will take major steps to address problems confronted by wounded service members and their families.
The “Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act” would help facilitate and enhance the care, rehabilitation, and physical evaluation of wounded service members, as well as improve the transition from the Department of Defense health care system to that of the VA and from military service to civilian life. Senator Collins is an original cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, which includes provisions that she authored with Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to improve the detection, assessment, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among wounded service members and to expand support for the victims of TBI and their families. The conference report also increases leave under the Family Medical Leave Act for caregivers of seriously injured service members from 12 to 26 weeks.
“I believe that this legislation contains the reforms that are going to make a real difference in ensuring high-quality, consistent medical care for those who have given so much,” said Senator Collins. “Traumatic brain injury has emerged as the signature injury of the Iraq War. Our legislation would address problems resulting from the missed diagnosis, or the failure to diagnose, TBI. It will improve the screening process that our troops go through before deployment to improve TBI diagnosis after deployment. Our service members have sacrificed so much and they deserve nothing less than the highest quality health care. I urge my colleagues to support this conference report.”
The conference report also includes a provision that Senator Collins sponsored to enhance educational assistance benefits for members of the Reserves and National Guard by extending their eligibility to use educational benefits under the Reserve Education Assistance Program for 10 years after their separation.
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