(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committee Chairman Patty Murray heard from veterans and top VA and Pentagon
officials about challenges that remain in the care for amputees, rising suicide
rates, poor coordination between the departments, and delays in disability
evaluations. The hearing was the second of two hearings Chairman Murray held to
look at the challenges veterans face because of the lack of collaboration
between the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. As Chairman,
Murray will continue to work to bring both departments to the table to prevent
more veterans from falling through the cracks of the system as they transition
home.
READ TESTIMONY FROM:
-
Tim
Horton, Iraq Veteran who was wounded and lost his leg to an IED attack in Iraq -
Steve
Bohn, Afghanistan Veteran, representing Wounded Warrior Project -
-
Jim
Lorraine, Lt. Col. ASAF (Ret.), Executive Director, Wounded Warrior Care
Project -
SENATOR MURRAY’S OPENING STATEMENT:
“Welcome
to today’s hearing to examine the ongoing efforts of the Department of Defense
and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a truly seamless transition
for our servicemembers and veterans. Last week Deputy Secretary Lynn and Deputy
Secretary Gould highlighted the challenges and successes DoD and VA have
encountered on the path toward a truly seamless transition. Today, we will hear
directly from some of our nation’s wounded warriors who will share their views
and first-hand experiences on how DoD and VA can further improve the transition
for servicemembers and veterans.
“I
look forward to hearing from them about what went well but also about how they
were negatively impacted by the lack of collaboration between DoD and VA and
what they believe can be done to improve the transition for the thousands upon
thousands of servicemembers still to come home. I also look forward to talking
with our Department witnesses, who are working to improve this critical
transition period to ensure veterans are not falling through the cracks.
“I
know that VA and DoD have big challenges facing them: servicemembers and
veterans continue to take their own lives at an alarming rate, wait times for
benefits continue to drag on for an average of a year or far more, and the
quality of prosthetic care continues to be inconsistent between the
Departments.
“Now,
in some instances DoD and VA have come to the table to make headway on these
issues, and they should be commended for that. But we still have work to do. In
fact, sometimes it is the simplest fixes that for some reason the two
Departments cannot come together on.
“A good example of this
is the Traumatic Extremity Injuries and Amputation Center of Excellence that
was mandated to move forward on October 14th, 2008.This new center
was supposed to be a place where best practices could be shared and a registry
of these injuries could begin. But here we are two and a half years later – and
we have not seen any substantial movement toward the creation of this center.
“When I asked Secretary
Lynn last week what progress had been made he could not provide an answer. This
is unacceptable. But as our witnesses’ testimony today will show, this is
unfortunately not the only area where we need better medical collaboration. We
have a lot of work to do to ensure that each Department knows what the other is
providing to our servicemembers and veterans.
“It
was evident from last week’s hearing that the sheer number of programs that are
in place have resulted in several parallel, but not collaborative, processes.
Last week we also discussed the need for the best amputee care that can be
provided as well as the divide between the level of technology at the DoD and
the VA. Beyond the Center of Excellence that I mentioned earlier, I look
forward to hearing about the improvements that are being made in this
area.
“Veterans
cannot come home to VA facilities that cannot care for the devices that our
servicemembers are getting at cutting edge DoD prosthetics facilities. We must
do everything we can to bring all services up to the standard our seriously
injured veterans deserve.
“I
am optimistic that we can do this because I know there are facilities like the
new polytrauma and amputee care transition units that are being piloted at the
VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Not only is this an innovative and
critical component of care, but it also is an example of where DoD and VA came
together, jointly assessed the problems in the system of care, and responded
appropriately. I would like to see this approach brought to bear on all aspects
of transition.
“Today,
we will also further discuss the efforts to expand and improve mental health
care. We do not need the courts to tell us that much more can and should be
done to relieve the invisible wounds of war. Although some steps have been
taken, the stigma against mental health issues continues within the military
and VA care is still often too difficult to access. This has had a tragic
impact.
“Last
month, VA’s Veterans Crisis Line had the most calls ever recorded in a single
month — more than 14,000. That means that every day last month, more than 400
calls were received. While it is heartening to know that these calls for help
are being answered, it is a sad sign of the desperation and difficulties our
veterans face that there are so many in need of a lifeline. I look forward to
speaking with all of our witnesses about this most pressing issue.
“But
health care is not the only area that needs better collaboration. Last week, we
discussed the delays and dissatisfaction that characterize the joint disability
process – the program that was supposed to streamline the way our veterans get
their benefits. Instead, however, what we learned is that veterans are still
waiting up to 400 days for word on their benefits and that all too often
veterans are committing suicide or turning to drugs and alcohol in the time
their lives are put on hold by this process.
“Today
I would like to hear how we are going to do better. We must not forget that the
commitment we make to our servicemembers, and to their families, when they join
the military does not end after they return home. Whatever condition they
arrive in, this nation will provide them with the care and services they
need and deserve.
“Just
a couple days ago, a Marine whose home base is here in the nation’s capital –
and with whom a member of my staff served – was wounded by an IED in southern
Afghanistan. He has lost much of his leg and doctors are struggling to
save one of his arms. During one surgery, one of his lungs collapsed. This is
in addition to serious shrapnel wounds he received. I want this marine –
and all Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coast guardsmen – to have every
benefit and every service we have available. I want him to receive care
that is not just excellent but truly the best in the world. I do not want him,
or any service member or veteran who has sustained such injuries, to have to
wait months or even years to have a claim adjudicated because we cannot make
the bureaucracy efficient. I do not want him to receive anything less than
the best prosthetic limb we can design and ensure that it is perfectly adapted
to him. I want him to receive treatment and support as he copes with this
new reality.
“Just
as important, I want his loved ones to get the support they need, because if we
cannot be there for them, they will not be able to be there for him. I
know all of us here share these desires, and the dedication to achieving these
goals. We are almost ten years into these conflicts. It is passed time to get
it right. The system is doing many things well, but there is always more that
can be done. I believe all the Members here, and all of our VA and DoD
employees share the commitment to excellence our veterans deserve.
“I
want to thank all of our panelists for being here today. We look forward
to hearing from all of you.”
English 
Spanish