KING SUPPORTS WOUNDED VETERANS
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Congressman Steve King hailed passage of the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, H.R. 1538.
H.R. 1538 will change how wounded service members are cared for by the Department of Defense and the Veterans' Administration. The bill provides recovering service members with a medical care case manager to help the service member and family through the healing process, establishes a toll-free telephone number for individuals to report problems with the care they receive, creates a Medical Support Fund to be used for the support of the medical treatment and care of wounded and injured soldiers, and requires regular inspection of the facilities that house recovering service members.
With King's support, an amendment passed eliminating the $3.00 deductible the VA charges veterans who travel to receive VA care. The amendment also increases the mileage reimbursement for veterans' travel to VA facilities.
"With our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has asked many brave Americans to serve this country on the battlefield. As the finest professional armed forces in the world, these service members have served with honor and distinction. We must make sure that when they return home, they are given the world class medical care that they've been promised and that they deserve," said King.
"This bill will help relieve the financial burden that many western Iowans currently face with inadequate reimbursement rates for their travel to VA facilities. I will continue to fully support our troops in the field, their mission our wounded heroes and their families, and our retired military personnel and our veterans."
The legislation currently awaits action by the Senate.
