110 HRES 656 IH: Expressing the sense of the House of
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-09-17
text/xml
EN
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Whereas the President, by Executive Order 13426, dated
March 6, 2007, established a Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded
Warriors;
Whereas the President authorizes the Commission to
complete a comprehensive review of the care provided to members of the Armed
Forces returning from the Global War on Terror from the time they leave the
battlefield through their return to civilian life;
Whereas the mission of the Commission includes—
(1)examining the transition of returning
wounded members of the Armed Forces from the Global War on Terror to their
successful return to productive military service or civilian society, and
recommending needed improvements;
(2)evaluating the
coordination, management, and adequacy of the delivery of health care,
disability, traumatic injury, education, employment, and other benefits and
services to such service members by Federal agencies and by the private sector,
and recommending needed improvements to ensure that programs provide
high-quality services;
(3)analyzing the
effectiveness of existing outreach to such service members regarding such
benefits and services, evaluating service members’ awareness of and their
ability to access these benefits and services, and identifying ways to reduce
barriers to and gaps in these benefits and services; and
(4)consulting with
foundations, veterans service organizations, nonprofit groups, faith-based
organizations, and other entities, as appropriate;
Whereas over the course of 4½ months, the Commission
carried out its mission and responsibilities as directed in the President’s
Executive order;
Whereas the Commission visited Department of Defense
facilities, Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, and other care sites
across the United States;
Whereas the Commission took testimony from injured members
of the Armed Forces, their families, professionals who provide medical and
rehabilitative services, and administrators of programs serving such service
members, among others;
Whereas following the Commission’s investigation into the
care provided to America’s returning wounded warriors, the Commission briefed
the President on July 25, 2007;
Whereas on July 31, 2007, the Commission transmitted its
final report to the President, the Congress, the Department of Defense, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and veterans service organizations; and
Whereas the Commission recommended six action steps and
recommended that the Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs immediately implement those steps: Now, therefore, be
it
that—
(1)the House of
Representatives expresses its—
(A)appreciation and
support for the work of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s
Returning Wounded Warriors; and
(B)deep appreciation
for the continued sacrifice of United States service members and their
families;
(2)the House of
Representatives reiterates its commitment to meeting the present and future
needs of United States service members and their families; and
(3)it is the sense of
the House of Representatives that—
(A)the Congress
should take immediate action to implement the Commission’s recommendations for
which Federal legislation is required;
(B)the Secretary of Defense should take
immediate action to implement the Commission’s recommendations that require
action by the Department of Defense;
(C)the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should
take immediate action to implement the Commission’s recommendations that
require action by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(D)the Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should continue working together to ensure
the proper continuum of care for returning wounded members of the Armed Forces
and their families.