3/27/2007

WASHINGTON - In response to recent failures to provide adequate care for some military members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today voted to ensure America’s injured and wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines receive the finest healthcare available through the military health system. The legislation, H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, was overwhelmingly approved by the House.

“The men and women who are injured while serving so bravely to protect our country deserve to receive more than good care – they deserve the best care,” said Rep. Capito. “This legislation is a solid first step in our renewed effort to ensuring these wounded warriors and their families have access to the best healthcare in the quickest, most efficient manner.”

Last month, press reports revealed the breakdown in services at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., which led to extremely poor patient care and living conditions at one of the hospital’s outpatient buildings. Walter Reed is the site for treatment and rehabilitation for many service members wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Capito added, “The reports of sub-par treatment at Walter Reed were shocking and completely unacceptable. I am pleased to see that with the passage of this legislation, Congress is moving quickly to ensure these problems are fixed and that they do not exist elsewhere in our military and veterans’ health care system.”

The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act provides the people, training and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that our wounded warriors receive committed quality care and that the military health system does not fail them. The legislation also sets the stage for much needed reform of administrative processes that will restore confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the disability evaluation system and begin the process of achieving a truly seamless transition for military members as they transfer to Department of Veterans Affairs programs.