Burr is cold for wounded veterans

PTSD alert from email

PTSD treatment bill of the floor of the senate

A few minutes ago on the floor of the senate on CSPAN Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina described a bill he is introducing. I did not get the number.

This involves PTSD recovery in not only getting treatment but immediate financial aid to the Veteran through the use of stipends upon signing up for the program - provided he does not submit a claim for disability during the treatment and until the treatment is completed. With financial incentives for completing milestones during the intensive treatment. Does not stop the Vet from applying after the treatment.

In his words, what they are doing now is not working and backed up by Dole study as well as the Disability Commission findings.

For those already with disability the stipends would be 1/3 of those that have never sought treatment or disability provided no request for reevaluation is made during the intensive treatment.

Burr Praises New Law Improving Veterans’ Benefits
Better Education Benefits And Improved Treatment For TBI

January 29th, 2008 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) today praised President Bush’s signing of H.R.4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which contains several improvements to veterans’ benefits. The legislation strengthens the relationship between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), enhances education benefits for National Guard and Reserve members, and expands benefits and research programs for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“I applaud President Bush and my congressional colleagues for getting the job done on this important piece of legislation,” Burr said. “This law provides our troops with equipment like armored vehicles and body armor. I am particularly pleased with some of the important provisions designed to help those returning from combat, including improved education benefits for National Guard and Reserve members and improved TBI treatment programs for all of our returning heroes.”

Under the new law, National Guard and Reserves who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan can now receive full education benefits after three total years of active duty service. They can also participate in the “buy-up” program, which provides up to $5,400 in additional education benefits. With these changes, Guard and Reserve members may receive over $37,000 in education benefits. Coupled with additional amounts paid from DOD for critical or hard to fill skills, their benefits may cover over 90% of the cost of a four-year public college education, including tuition, fees, room, and board. National Guard and Reserves may also participate in the Accelerated Payment Program, which pays for up to sixty percent of the cost of short term, high cost vocational training.

The new law also enhances services and benefits provided to veterans with traumatic brain injury. It requires the VA to develop individual treatment plans for all patients with TBI and develop a long-term care program for post-acute TBI patients. It also allows recently separated combat veterans to receive priority access to VA health care for five years following separation, up from the two years they currently receive.

http://burr.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases
.Detail&PressRelease_id=372&Month=1&Year=2008

If he cared wouldn't he show up more often?

Burr has Poor Attendance at Veterans Affairs Hearings
Health Care
Richard Burr
Security & Emergency Response
Veterans & Military Families

Lisa Zagaroli, McClatchy Newspapers
When U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina assumed the GOP leadership position on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs last week, he came to it with a bit of a gap -- he had attended fewer than half its hearings in recent years.
Others on the panel have worse attendance records. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the military himself, only showed up three times at veterans committee hearings between the start of 2005 and May 16, 2007, according to a Charlotte Observer review of the published proceedings from 44 meetings.
Burr's attendance -- he has gone to 20 meetings -- is about the middle of the pack. A few senators attended most of the meetings, led by former Chairman Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who attended 43 of the 44 hearings, and some senators attended only a few, such as Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who attended two.
http://www.ncdp.org/taxonomy/term/15

But it happened while they were in charge and ignored the problem when they could have saved lives. Why all of a sudden do they forget they had all the power to act for the sake of the troops and blew it?

Welcome! As the Ranking Member on this committee, I want you to know that Republicans are working with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to ensure America’s veterans are getting the care and services they deserve. We’ve made great strides recently. For example, funding of key programs serving veterans has risen dramatically in the past few years and VA health care has recently been ranked as among the best care in the nation.

There is room for improvement, of course, and I am dedicated to working with my Senate colleagues to improve the service and care our nation’s veterans receive. Please contact me at (202) 224-2074 or send me an email if you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve our service to veterans.
http://www.senate.gov/~svac/public/index.cfm?page=ranking_member

He asked to be contacted, so why not do it?