[House Hearing, 110 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
U.S. PARALYMPIC MILITARY PROGRAM
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HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
of the
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
__________
MARCH 13, 2008
__________
Serial No. 110-77
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
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41-377 WASHINGTON DC: 2008
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COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
BOB FILNER, California, Chairman
CORRINE BROWN, Florida STEVE BUYER, Indiana, Ranking
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas CLIFF STEARNS, Florida
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine JERRY MORAN, Kansas
STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South HENRY E. BROWN, Jr., South
Dakota Carolina
HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona JEFF MILLER, Florida
JOHN J. HALL, New York JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
PHIL HARE, Illinois GINNY BROWN-WAITE, Florida
MICHAEL F. DOYLE, Pennsylvania MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California
JOHN T. SALAZAR, Colorado DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
JOE DONNELLY, Indiana VERN BUCHANAN, Florida
JERRY McNERNEY, California VACANT
ZACHARY T. SPACE, Ohio
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota
Malcom A. Shorter, Staff Director
______
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South Dakota, Chairwoman
JOE DONNELLY, Indiana JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas, Ranking
JERRY McNERNEY, California JERRY MORAN, Kansas
JOHN J. HALL, New York VACANT
Pursuant to clause 2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, public
hearing records of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs are also
published in electronic form. The printed hearing record remains the
official version. Because electronic submissions are used to prepare
both printed and electronic versions of the hearing record, the process
of converting between various electronic formats may introduce
unintentional errors or omissions. Such occurrences are inherent in the
current publication process and should diminish as the process is
further refined.
C O N T E N T S
__________
March 13, 2008
Page
U.S. Paralympic Military Program................................. 1
OPENING STATEMENTS
Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin............................. 1
Prepared statement of Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin............. 31
Hon. John Boozman, Ranking Republican Member..................... 2
Prepared statement of Congressman Boozman.................... 31
Hon. Silvestre Reyes............................................. 3
WITNESSES
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dan D. Scott, M.D., National
Medical Director, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Veterans
Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Veterans Health
Administration................................................. 16
Prepared statement of Dr. Scott.............................. 38
______
Disabled American Veterans, Adrian M. Atizado, Assistant National
Legislative Director........................................... 6
Prepared statement of Mr. Atizado............................ 34
Disabled Sports USA, Jose Ramos, El Paso, TX, on behalf of Kirk
M. Bauer, J.D., Executive Director............................. 8
Prepared statement of Mr. Ramos.............................. 36
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Andy Krieger, Director of Sports
and Recreation................................................. 5
Prepared statement of Mr. Krieger............................ 32
United States Olympic Committee, Charles Huebner, Chief of
Paralympics.................................................... 19
Prepared statement of Mr. Huebner............................ 43
U.S. PARALYMPIC MILITARY PROGRAM
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THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008
U.S. House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 1:10 p.m., in
Room 334, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Stephanie Herseth
Sandlin [Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding.
Present: Representatives Herseth Sandlin, and Boozman.
Also Present: Representative Reyes.
OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRWOMAN HERSETH SANDLIN
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity hearing on the U.S. Paralympic Military Program
will now come to order.
Today's hearing will give the Subcommittee the opportunity
to learn more about Paralympic programs and how they are
assisting our servicemembers and our veterans to heal from the
wounds of war.
The price of war is not paid by money alone, it is the
servicemember that is called upon to serve on behalf of our
country who pays the price. This is especially true for those
that have made the ultimate sacrifice of life and injuries
sustained while in service.
In my State of South Dakota, we have had at least 3,100
National Guard soldiers, 730 airmen and women from the Air
National Guard, and countless others serving in active-duty
components that have served in support of the Global War on
Terror.
Twenty-six of these servicemembers have lost their lives
and many others have been wounded. I had the honor of meeting
some of these wounded servicemembers from my home State of
South Dakota, servicemembers such as Specialist Brian Knigge, a
South Dakota National Guard soldier who served with Yankton's
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On May 8, 2006, Brian sustained injuries to his arm and leg
that resulted from an improvised fired projectile. This soldier
was later flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to be
treated for his injuries and receive rehabilitative physical
therapy.
We owe it to servicemembers like Specialist Knigge to
provide them the best training and equipment to ensure they
complete their mission successfully and provide post-military
services to help them live a healthy and active lifestyle in
their civilian life.
Most of my colleagues would agree that the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides world-class care to our
injured servicemembers and veterans.
Knowing this, I would like to explore ways for the VA to
continue to play a key role in the Paralympic Military Program
to help this population through a difficult transition in their
lives. All veterans should be afforded an opportunity to have a
rewarding and fulfilling life after their service to our
country.
I look forward to working with our distinguished Ranking
Member, Mr. Boozman, and Members of this Subcommittee to
explore how rehabilitation programs assist our servicemembers
and veterans to recover from their injuries.
I now recognize Mr. Boozman for his opening remarks.
[The prepared statement of Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin
appears on p. 31.]
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN BOOZMAN
Mr. Boozman. Thank you, Madam Chair. Today's hearing topic
is a little bit unusual, not quite ordinary for us. But it is
something I have really been looking forward to and listening
to some very interesting testimony. So we really do appreciate
you guys being here.
Everyone is aware of the upcoming Olympics in Beijing,
China. What most of us are not aware of is that shortly after
the Olympic games conclude, a very special brand of athlete
will compete on the same venues recently used by our Olympic
team.
These special athletes are those who have lost limbs or
have other disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, that
qualify them for the United States Paralympic Team.
The Paralympics originally began as a program to assist
wounded veterans in 1948 when German neurologist Sir Ludwig
Guttmann created an athletic competition in England for World
War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. By 1960, the
Paralympic Games officially began in Rome, providing Olympic-
style athletic events for disabled athletes. In 1976, the
Paralympic Winter Games were introduced.
Today, the Paralympics are held the same year and in the
same location as the Olympic games and feature elite,
international competition in 19 different sports.
In the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, 3,806 athletes from
136 different countries competed. Returning to the disabled
veteran routes of the Paralympics, the United States Paralympic
Committee has formed a military program, which provides
mentoring and support to injured servicemen and women by
reintroducing them to sports with adaptive techniques that fit
their lifestyles.
By the 2012 Paralympic Games, some estimate that veterans
from Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/
OEF) could comprise up to 15 percent of the U.S. Paralympic
Team.
Our witnesses will raise some interesting points about the
importance of sports and rehabilitation. I am eager to hear
about the progress made to use sports at all levels to advance
the rehabilitation of disabled veterans.
I am also concerned about an issue raised by Mr. Imus that
VA is considering revising a regulation to reclassify hand
cycles as wheelchairs, and hope that Dr. Scott from the VA will
address that issue.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
[The prepared statement of Congressman Boozman appears on
p. 31.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Mr. Boozman.
I would like to welcome the witnesses on both of our panels
testifying before this Subcommittee today. I would like to
remind all our panelists that your complete written statements
have been made part of the hearing record. Please limit your
remarks so that we may have sufficient time to follow up with
questions once everyone has had the opportunity to provide
their testimony.
Joining us in our first panel is Mr. Andy Krieger, Director
of Sports and Recreation for the Paralyzed Veterans of America
(PVA); Adrian Atizado, Assistant National Legislative Director
for the Disabled American Veterans (DVA); and Mr. Jose Ramos, a
veteran from El Paso, Texas, who is accompanied by Ms. Julia
Ray, Manager of the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project for
Disabled Sports USA (SD/USA).
If you could all join us at the witness table. As you are
making your way up, I would also like to welcome the
distinguished Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee
on Intelligence, Silvestre Reyes of El Paso, Texas.
As some of you might know, Chairman Reyes served in the
United States Army as a helicopter crewmen in Vietnam. Several
of us had the pleasure of working with Chairman Reyes when he
was a Member of our full Committee.
We understand that you have a demanding schedule today, Mr.
Chairman, so we would like to give you the opportunity now to
introduce your constituent, Mr. Ramos, at this time.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SILVESTRE REYES
Mr. Reyes. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Ranking Member
Boozman. I guess I need to--in fairness of disclosure, I am
still a Member of this Committee. I am just on a leave of
absence while I have this great privilege of being the Chairman
of the Intelligence Committee. So for me it is like coming
home. And I appreciate the opportunity to be here this morning,
to introduce to the Subcommittee an outstanding young man, and
one that I think will provide some very poignant testimony
about the subject of this hearing.
And thank you for holding this hearing, because I think it
is readily important that more people knowingly understand the
kinds of programs that are so important to our wounded young
men and women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.
I am proud to be here with my constituent, who
appropriately is a student at George Mason University. They are
known as the Patriots. So I can think of no better example of a
patriot than this young man, although there are so many of
them, some of which joined us this morning at the ceremony at
the Capitol.
I wanted to let the Committee know that Jose Ramos is a
native El Pasoan. He was assigned to a Marine unit during
Operation Iraqi Freedom. On July 28th, 2004, Jose suffered a
life-threatening injury when he was hit with a rocket from a
shoulder-fired weapon.
And we are very fortunate that this young man was not a
casualty of war in the sense that he made the ultimate
sacrifice. But because of the type of weapon that he
encountered, it took first-class medical care and treatment to
help Jose survive his injuries.
Although he has lost his left arm as a result of injury,
this young man, I think, represents the spark that drives so
many of our wounded warriors where even after the loss of a
limb or limbs, looming in the case of Jose, this did not
diminish his spirit, or his passion, or set him back in any
way.
He applied himself. While he was being treated for his
wounds, he participated in the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports
Project. As a result of his dedication, and his training, and
discipline, he has demonstrated an impressive athletic ability,
which I suspect he already possessed. Knowing also that he
graduated from Montwood High School in El Paso. And their
mascot is the Rams. I don't see any scars on his forehead, so
he must have had the better deal of all those encounters as
well.
And we are just very proud of this young man and the fact
that he comes from El Paso. The fact that he is pursing a
degree in international affairs with a minor in languages. I
have had an opportunity to talk to Jose.
He comes from a pretty dynamic family. He has a sister that
is living in Australia, another one that is living in Mexico
City, and a brother who lives in San Antonio. His mom and dad
still live in El Paso. And as such, are constituents of mine.
And I know how proud they are of Jose.
Thank you for the courtesy of allowing me to introduce this
outstanding young man to the Subcommittee.
And I appreciate, again, the fact that the Committee
continues to do very outstanding work and working toward
providing opportunities and very much-deserved and well-earned
benefits to our warriors.
And I look forward to coming back to the Committee in the
future. Thank you.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is an
honor for us to have you as our guest here today. While we look
forward to welcoming you back after your leave of absence, we
certainly appreciate your hard work and leadership as Chairman
of the Intelligence Committee.
We appreciate the laudatory remarks regarding Mr. Ramos,
and the relationship that you have with him and his family. We
look forward to his testimony today, as we all work together to
ensure the best for our Nation's servicemen and women and
veterans.
Mr. Chairman, thank you, again, very much.
Mr. Reyes. Thank you. And I just would ask you to excuse
me. I came here from my own hearing.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Yes.
Mr. Reyes. But I did not want to pass up the opportunity to
recognize an outstanding young man like Mr. Ramos.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Most certainly. Thank you.
Mr. Reyes. Thank you.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. A point of personal privilege. When I
first came to the Congress almost 4 years ago, Mr. Reyes was
very accommodating to ensure that I had a position on this
Committee. Thank you for that as well.
Again, we know you have another hearing to get to. We will
look forward to reporting back to you on how well we know Mr.
Ramos will do today in his testimony. Thank you.
Mr. Krieger, why don't we begin with you. You will be
recognized for 5 minutes. Again, your entire written statement
has been made part of the hearing record.
STATEMENTS OF ANDY KRIEGER, DIRECTOR OF SPORTS AND RECREATION,
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA; ADRIAN M. ATIZADO, ASSISTANT
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS; AND
JOSE RAMOS, EL PASO, TX (VETERAN), ON BEHALF OF KIRK M. BAUER,
J.D., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DISABLED SPORTS USA; ACCOMPANIED BY
JULIA RAY, MANAGER, WOUNDED WARRIOR DISABLED SPORTS PROJECT,
DISABLED SPORTS USA
STATEMENT OF ANDY KRIEGER
Mr. Krieger. Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member
Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to be
here today on behalf of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
to offer our views on rehabilitation through sports and
recreation for severely injured servicemembers and veterans.
Since its inception in 1946, PVA has recognized the
important role that sports and recreation play in the spinal
cord injury rehabilitation process.
In fact, it was paralyzed veterans during World War II who
first started playing pick-up games of wheelchair basketball in
VA hospitals. Doctors quickly realized the significance of
these types of activities and the powerful therapeutic benefits
on the physical, mental, and social levels that could be
derived from participating in wheelchair sports.
PVA sponsors a wide array of sports and recreation events
to improve the quality of life and health of veterans with
severe disabilities. Most notable of these activities is the
National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which PVA has cosponsored
with the Department of Veterans Affairs for the last 23 years.
PVA also runs a number of other sports and recreation
programs meant to get severely disabled veterans involved,
including the National Bass Fishing Tour and the National Trap
Shoot Circuit to name just a few.
In the past 5 years, PVA has conducted significant outreach
at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and VA hospitals to
make its sports and recreation programs available to recently
injured Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom
veterans.
In fact, PVA was recognized just last year by the staff at
Walter Reed for our important work with the men and women being
treated at that facility.
The mission of PVA's sports and recreation program is to
expand the quantity and quality of sports and recreation
opportunities, especially those that promote lifetime fitness
and a healthy lifestyle for PVA members and others with
disabilities.
Although elite competition has its place in a comprehensive
sports and recreation program, PVA's primary goal for its
sports and recreation program is all about healthcare and
rehabilitation first, something that we do not believe is the
ultimate focus of elite athletics.
As far as expanding veteran participation in the various
sports and recreation programs administered by the VA, we would
like to offer a few recommendations.
First, it is critically important to remove barriers to
participation. In order to further facilitate seamless
transition, newly injured veterans should be provided timely
access to education and training regarding sports and
recreation opportunities. One such educational material would
be PVA Sports and Spokes Magazine, the Sports Illustrated for
Disabled Sports, which was handed out recently to all of you I
hope.
Furthermore, the VA and DoD should facilitate outreach
efforts of legitimate organizations promoting sports and
recreation opportunities by improving their access to newly
injured veterans.
We also believe the VA should develop and implement a
broad-based, comprehensive program that appeals to all
veterans, especially our newly injured veterans who are more
inclined to participate in non-traditional sports activities.
For example, we have found that a number of these men and
women would rather participate in activities like fishing and
hunting, as opposed to a more traditional sport like wheelchair
basketball.
Furthermore, the VA should develop and implement a
standardized curriculum for recreation therapy to support VA
national programs and special events. We do not believe that VA
recreation therapy programs are consistent across the board.
This new emphasis will provide the training and awareness on
the local levels to support these programs and maximize their
benefits.
I would like to thank you again for the opportunity to
testify. And I would be happy to answer any questions that you
might have.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Krieger appears on p. 32.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much, Mr. Krieger. Mr.
Atizado, you are now recognized for 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF ADRIAN M. ATIZADO
Mr. Atizado. Ms. Chairwoman, Ranking Member Boozman, I
thank you for inviting the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), an
organization of 1.3 million service-disabled veterans, to
discuss at this important hearing disability rehabilitation
through sports.
We appreciate the opportunity to share our experience with
the Winter Sports Clinic. The clinic is the largest annual
disabled learn-to-ski clinic in the world. And it is a
rehabilitation program first and foremost.
It is open to servicemembers and veterans with spinal cord
injuries, amputations, visual impairments, traumatic brain
injury, certain neurological problems, and other disabilities.
Now just a few years after the first Winter Sports Clinic
was held in 1987, with about 20 staff members and 90 veterans,
it became apparent to our organization that more support was
needed due to the therapeutic benefits and the popularity of
the clinic. The DAV answered that, and has become a cosponsor
with the Department of Veterans Affairs of the event since
1991.
The clinic has grown tremendously over the past 20 years.
In fact, last year more than 360 participants, including 82
injured OEF/OIF servicemembers and veterans, attended from
across the country along with 200 certified disabled ski
instructors and several members of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team.
It is expected there will be more than 450 disabled
veterans, including--at least nearly 120 OEF/OIF servicemembers
and veterans who will ski the Rocky Mountains this year,
actually at the end of this month, out of Snowmass Village,
Colorado.
Skiing with adaptive ski equipment is integrated with other
exploratory activities, rock climbing, scuba diving, trap
shooting, horseback riding, snowmobiling, golf, just to name a
few.
In fact, the U.S. Secret Service also teaches self-defense
courses to participants who are in wheelchairs or are visually
impaired.
In addition, the clinic holds a race training and
development program to help veterans develop their skills in
skiing to an elite level. The ultimate goal of this training
and development program is to qualify for the U.S. Paralympic
Team. Several participants who learned to ski at that clinic
are now members of the U.S. team.
I invite you to view the 2007 National Disabled Veterans
Winter Sports Clinic DVD. It is available to everybody in the
public as well as the Members of this Committee. While it does
not do justice to what can only be described on miracles on a
mountainside, it does give you a sense of the profound impact
this program has, not only on the participants, but on the
volunteers themselves.
Some of these veterans have never skied before. Most have
spent months in hospitals and convinced that their lives are
over. And a great many have been told that they would never
walk again.
Every year since 1992, our organization has given DAV
Freedom Award to the veteran who makes the most progress during
the week, shows outstanding courage and accomplishments in
taking a giant step forward in his or her journey of
rehabilitation.
Last year's recipient was Jason Poole. He was a Marine
infantryman on patrol in Iraq when he was injured by an
improvised explosive device. Madam Chairwoman, he placed
himself in harm's way for our Nation before even being fully
vested as a citizen of this country. After 2 months of being in
a coma, Jason woke up. He was blind in his left eye, deaf in
his left ear, and suffered from traumatic brain injury where he
couldn't talk, speak, or even walk. He received his topnotch
care at the VA Polytrauma Center at Palo Alto, California.
And he progressed enough to where he could actually
participate in his first Winter Sports Clinic. And this was in
2006. He went back and encouraged his friends, his OEF/OIF
servicemembers and veterans in Palo Alto to come with him. And
they did go to the 2007 Winter Sports Clinic in which he won
the DAV Freedom Award.
The Winter Sports Clinic itself capitalizes on
rehabilitation through sports and fosters in each participant
the extrinsic motivation of excitement and camaraderie. But
more importantly, it fosters the intrinsic motivation in each
participant to find their strength of purpose and achieve
miracles on a mountainside.
Madam Chairwoman, these participants learn and are proof
positive that empowerment allows them to determine their own
fate. In this we wholeheartedly support as an organization.
This concludes my statement. I thank you for this opportunity
and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Atizado appears on p. 34.
The video presentation entitled, ``2007 National Disabled
Veterans Winter Sports Clinic DVD,'' is being retained in the
Committee files.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much. Mr. Ramos,
welcome to the Subcommittee. We look forward to your testimony.
You are recognized for 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF JOSE RAMOS
Mr. Ramos. Mrs. Chairman, Ranking Member Boozman, I would
like to thank you for the opportunity to present today. I would
also like to thank my Representative, Congressman Reyes, for
such an honoring introduction.
It is an honor to speak to you today on behalf of Kirk
Bauer, Disabled Sports USA, and the Wounded Warrior Disabled
Project. As a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Disabled
Sports USA was established in 1967 to serve the war injured and
later civilian, youth, and adults with disabilities.
DS/USA now has 92 community-based sports chapters operating
in 37 states, offering over 20 different year-round sports
programs.
For the past 5 years, Disabled Sports USA, in partnership
with its chapters and Wounded Warrior Project, has conducted
the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Program or Project.
Under the program, severely wounded servicemembers are
provided the opportunity to learn over 20 different sports as
part of their rehabilitation, while in the hospital and while
they return to their communities.
Over 1,600 wounded family members and servicemembers have
been served. Disabled Sports USA endorses the Veterans
Administration's support of the Winter Sports Clinic and the
PVA Summer Wheelchair Games as top sport events to help
disabled veterans become active and competitive. It endorses
Paralympic sports festivals for disabled veterans and active
duty military at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
There are, however, a few changes that we recommend are
made. Disabled Sports USA recommends that the VA consider
expanding support programming, to include recreational
activities in and near the communities where the disabled
veterans live.
The focus should be directed to providing activity, healthy
recreational activities for disabled veterans, with less
emphasis on competitive Paralympic sports. By expanding its
sports programs to include activities that are recreational in
nature and close to home, the VA will better serve disabled
veterans, promote fitness, and provide a healthy lifestyle,
leading to success in life.
These sports programs are already in existence through
Disabled Sports USA chapters, Wheelchair Sports USA, U.S.
Association of Blind Athletes, and others. All are members of
the U.S. Olympics Committee and should be partnered with to
offer community programs to veterans.
Support should be offered by the U.S. Paralympic and the VA
to capitalize and expand this existing structure. Studies have
shown that 70 percent of our most severe illness, including
diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity, and
certain cancers are due to lack of regular exercise and poor
eating habits. Maintaining regular physical activity and better
eating habits, will reduce these diseases in veterans and
reduce health costs for the veterans organizations.
I know from personal experience how important it is to be
physically active, both during and after rehabilitation. I
don't believe that my recovery would have been as successful
without such programs.
In addition, with severe illnesses stated earlier, as an
amputee I face an additional challenge. If my weight fluctuates
ten pounds either way, I have to be refitted for a new
prosthetic. This is not only time consuming, but it can also
add to the expenses that the VA faces now.
Once again, I want to thank this Subcommittee for the
support and dedication. And I would be willing to answer any
questions you may have. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Ramos appears on p. 36.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much, Mr. Ramos.
Well, let me just start out with a question, both for Mr.
Krieger and Mr. Atizado, in terms of your cosponsorship of
these programs that you have discussed, both the Winter Sports
Clinic as well as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, along
with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mr. Atizado, how many total sponsors are there for the
Winter Sports Clinic?
Mr. Atizado. Madam Chairwoman, I believe the total
sponsorship actually hit an all-time high for this upcoming
event. I think there was about 75 corporate sponsorship. But
there are individual donors as well that aren't--I am including
that number.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. That aren't included? So 75----
Mr. Atizado. Corporate sponsors.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin [continuing]. Corporate and then
individuals. Okay.
Mr. Atizado. I believe so, yes.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Mr. Krieger, what does that entail for
PVA to be a cosponsor with the Department of Veterans Affairs
for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games?
Mr. Krieger. The Wheelchair Games started in 1981 as a
program of the VA. In 1985, PVA was asked to join in a
partnership with them, due to the fact that we had an expertise
in wheelchair sports programs. Also we could come--we could
bring to the table a professional development department that
could cultivate and solicit a host of sponsors that would help
to pay for this event, which currently is anywhere close to
$400,000 from the VA side and PVA side alike.
So it is nearly a $1 million program that is held on an
annual basis. So there are considerable funds that go into it
that need to be raised and contributed both from the VA and the
PVA side.
In addition to that, I just want to add real quickly, is
that over 80 percent of the participants are PVA members. So
those are all spinal cord injured military veterans that
participate in this event.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. You had mentioned in your testimony,
both written and verbal today, the issue of your outreach
efforts and talking about the need to improve access for
outreach to injured servicemembers.
Has the PVA at any time over the last 5 years met any
resistance in their outreach efforts, either at DoD or VA
hospitals and facilities?
Mr. Krieger. No, not at all. I think PVA is an established
organization. I think the VA and DoD recognized that. I have
seen where some organizations that have--may have not been
around so long--are also asking for those injured servicemen
and women to participate in their programs that may have
developed more recently than ours.
So we have been recognized for our good work. And they know
what we have to offer those injured troops. But that doesn't
mean they could go further to, you know, establish a process to
be able to welcome legitimate organizations into the rehab
process. They are being hit up so hard right now from competing
organizations and agencies and groups that want to associate
themselves with injured men--servicemen and women.
So they have to be hesitant to who they let have that
access. But PVA hasn't experienced that.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. You had mentioned in your testimony,
Mr. Krieger, and then, Mr. Ramos, the issue of different types
of recreational activities and where they are located to be
able to be accessed by folks more readily.
You had specifically mentioned, Mr. Krieger, hunting and
fishing. I don't know if that is something that any of you
would like to comment on. Mr. Ramos, in your testimony, if that
is something that either you or others that you have interacted
with over the last few years have expressed a particular
interest in certain types of activities that they feel as
readily able to access now.
I would be interested in hunting and fishing and the sort
of sportsmen and women who are out there looking for those
opportunities. And whether or not you are familiar with
organizations that are trying to facilitate more opportunities
either for those types of activities or others that weren't
mentioned yet?
Mr. Krieger. I thought you might appreciate the hunting and
fishing aspect of it. But, no, it is true. Things have changed.
I mean there have been disabled sports around for a very long
time. Wheelchair basketball was the first and most popular.
But times have changed. And the demographics that today's
servicemen and women have, you know, are different. And they
have an interest in hunting and shooting programs. And I think
we have to be flexible to accommodate the needs of all the
injured troops that are coming back.
And we have adjusted our programming accordingly to the
needs of our members. And the suggestion is that in order to
facilitate the rehab process, you have to have a program in
place in an event or an activity that appeals to everybody. So
it doesn't matter if it is ping-pong, or deer hunting, bass
fishing, or whatever.
You have to have something that appeals to that person to
get them out there, to participate in the event, and from
there, the therapeutic benefits come to them.
Mr. Ramos. I would like to add that not only has it been my
experience but from the experience of the Wounded Warrior
Disabled Project, that servicemembers of this generation are
leaning more toward what you would consider extreme sports,
scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, wakeboarding,
snowboarding, kayaking, hunting, and fishing. There are
programs now that offer that. But it is not something that is
offered through the VA or the U.S. Paralympic Committee
obviously.
These are the sports that are not only physically
challenging to do, hiking up a hill to go hunt, it can be
strenuous for an amputee, but they also promote a healthier
lifestyle, so you can be able to get out there and do that now.
Just a quick example, from the beginning of the scuba
diving program that they started at Walter Reed, within the
first couple of months, we have had over 50 participants go
through the program and certify as scuba divers. And it is
actually one of the fastest growing programs that they have
now.
For anyone that has been scuba diving, you know that takes
a lot of effort to do, especially for someone missing a leg or
an arm.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much. I am out of time.
I may come back for another question or two. Before recognizing
Mr. Boozman, I think he agrees.
We sometimes hear, whether it is in testimony here at this
Subcommittee, the full Committee, or when we are back in our
districts, this whole kind of concept of each generation of
servicemembers and veterans are slightly different in terms of
how the VA adapts to best meet their needs.
I think you use that exact language in terms of what this
generation may be looking for and how they have been socialized
to seek out different recreational activities. I appreciate
both your responses very much.
Mr. Boozman.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you, Madam Chair. Well it is encouraging
that you can tell us about Walter Reed actually providing that
course, in the sense that is not something that I was aware of.
But those are the kind of things that we really do like to hear
about.
What sports have you been active in? What do you aspire to
be better at? The Professional Golf Association has been very
helpful in wanting to lend its expertise with instruction and
equipment.
And I was telling one of my buddies here that they were
doing this. And he said, yeah, that he had been frustrated.
That he placed and he had played with a person who was legally
blind. And the guy just beat him like a drum. So it is amazing
that with learning different techniques, what one can
accomplish, which is really what we are hearing about today.
But tell us what you would like today?
Mr. Ramos. Well, sir, myself personally, I have been
involved more with the extreme sports. I have done snow
boarding, cycling, rock climbing, scuba diving. I used to be an
avid rock climber and scuba diver prior to my injury. But I
still do participate in traditional sports as cycling, and
running, and swimming.
Due to the nature of my injury, I need to keep my core
stronger just to keep my body in line. But I guess as I stated
earlier is we are looking for more than just the types of
sports that the Paralympic Organization or Committee or you can
compete in.
Mr. Boozman. Right.
Mr. Ramos. Not many veterans are interested in sitting
there and lifting weights or----
Mr. Boozman. Right.
Mr. Ramos [continuing]. Things of that nature. We are
more----
Mr. Boozman. I think in your testimony, Mr. Ramos, and you
are here with Ms. Ray, that you had 20 sports that you offered
in your program. What are the top five or six most popular to
the people that are out there?
Mr. Ramos. I think Ms. Ray can answer more to that. But
from my personal experience, I think skiing and snowboarding is
probably one of the top most demanded sports. Scuba diving has
been as well. And more snowboarding and things of that nature
that we do are starting to pick up steam as we----
Mr. Boozman. What about for non-athletic guys like Mike and
I?
Mr. Ramos. Well----
[Laughter.]
Mr. Boozman. Go ahead.
Mr. Ramos [continuing]. They are partnered up with golf as
well. And I think that is something that the more non-athletic
guys like to do is go out there and hit a couple of golf balls.
But I am sure Ms. Ray can answer that a little better than I
can.
Ms. Ray. Mr. Ramos is exactly right. We have offered a very
successful golf program in partnership with the PGA. And he
mentioned about the scuba diving, snow boarding, skiing.
Extreme sports are very popular.
We are about to take a group down to do the Bataan Death
March at the end of this month, which involves hiking 26 miles
in the White Sands Missile Range.
So certainly we are noticing this younger generation being
very proactive in demanding what types of things they like to
see. We usually ask them to complete an evaluation after every
activity. They tell us what they want to do. And that is how we
have formulated these sports that we offer.
Mr. Boozman. Very good. I think Mr. Krieger mentioned that
you felt like there was some inconsistency with the VA
recreation programs throughout the country.
Are the rest of you experiencing that also? Do you all
agree with that?
Ms. Ray. Oh, sorry.
Mr. Boozman. I am sorry.
Ms. Ray. Sorry, could you repeat the question?
Mr. Boozman. He mentioned that there was inconsistency in
the VA recreation programs throughout the country. Do you all
agree that you see inconsistency also with the quality of the
programs that are out there?
Ms. Ray. Yeah. I would say so. What we are seeing is a need
for there to be more offered at the community level. The PVA
Summer Games and the DAV Winter Games are both very high-
quality events. But we think there is more of a need for
ongoing community programs throughout the year.
And so that is what we are suggesting through our testimony
is that there is a need through all these organizations that
are performing these programs to do more ongoing work, rather
than just the big flagship events.
Mr. Boozman. Do you agree with that? Does DAV also agree
with that or----
Mr. Atizado. Well, Ranking Member Boozman, we--there is
some variability. It really depends on who the servicemember
gets in touch with at the local facility. There is some
variability with them.
But once the servicemember identifies a sport or has
identified the equipment that he or she needs, I think the
prosthetics and the department in VA has been very--supportive
is not the word. Has been very accommodating. They have
actually met with wounded servicemembers from Walter Reed in a
panel-like setting and on a semi-regular basis in fact. And
they are trying to work pretty aggressively, because we have
been involved in that panel with addressing what, obviously,
Mr. Ramos here has talked about, which is the extreme sports.
You know, hand wheels, and sports wheelchairs, and
snowboards, and mono-skis, and things of that nature are not
very--I mean it is expensive enough to get involved in sports.
But these are specialized equipment. So there is a price tag
that is involved.
I think Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin had mentioned an issue
with regards to access. I think the issue is more with regard
to barriers, and identifying those barriers, and taking them
away. And I think VA, through these panels, are trying to do
that.
Mr. Boozman. Good. Thank you very much. I appreciate all of
you being here. The work that you are doing is so important. I
think it goes so in hand with the medical rehabilitation.
Getting people where they are interested in something else,
pursuing a goal. And then along with that is getting the
meaningful employment. It makes so much difference down the
line and prevents so many other problems. And whatever cost
there is in getting the equipment that we need is going to be
made up for many times in the future with preventing problems.
So, again, thank you very much for what you are doing. Like
I said, it is an important mission. Something you can be very
proud of. Thank you.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Mr. Boozman. I have a
couple of follow-up questions. This whole idea of enhancing
community opportunities, the programs at the community level on
an ongoing basis throughout the year. In your experience either
Mr. Ramos or Ms. Ray, if you would like to respond, what is the
best model to use to try to develop something like that?
Assuming for the time being, we had some resources to expend
here to make this available to as many disabled veterans as
possible, who should take the lead? Should this be something
that the VA takes the lead in its outreach, because they are
able to identify where that injured servicemember or veteran
may be, and then coordinate with the local chapters, either of
DAV or PVA? Is this something that you think already has been
and will continue to be better handled by local organizations,
perhaps VSOs, or other groups that are supportive of the
particular injured veteran, disabled veteran, and his or her
family in that community? And then the VA would come in later
to supplement, through some resources?
This relates to a question that I wanted to pose to you,
Mr. Krieger. In terms of whether or not your organization has
identified an overall level of funding that may be necessary,
if indeed, if we were able to have a separate line-item
appropriation for sports and recreational activities and
development for disabled veterans?
Mr. Krieger. First of all, I believe that when you are
talking about a seamless transition, it is important to have
timely access. And in terms of PVA, that is--what I can speak
to is that when there is a situation, our veterans benefits
officers are in the hospitals to identify those people that are
eligible for PVA membership.
At that time, hopefully we can get with them to set up a
schedule of rehabilitation programming and all their benefits.
So if, in fact though, if we are not able to be--identify and
they get shipped out to the local VA hospitals, there is a gap
in service there.
So what we are suggesting is that as soon as this--as soon
as this process starts, the organizations--PVA are notified, so
we can start providing the necessary treatment, and get the
benefits, and the recreation programs established in order to
prevent these people from falling through the cracks and going
home.
And then, you know, getting into the situation where they
may be involved in drugs or alcohol, or feeling sorry for
themselves, depression, or whatever. It is critically important
that they be introduced to some sort of sports and recreation
so they can experience and achieve a level of success and
confidence that will carry through to help them mainstream into
normal life.
So that is how we see the role of sports and recreation at
that level and when it needs to be introduced.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. Ms. Ray.
Ms. Ray. Yeah. I would just like to add to Mr. Krieger's
comments. I can speak to, as far as what Disabled Sports USA,
and we would--we have been working with the major military
medical centers, like Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical
Center, since 2003, and actively get servicemembers signed up
to the programs through that outreach.
Once they are finished with their rehab inside the
hospital, they then return home, at which point we plug them
into our chapters, which are located throughout the United
States, or other disabled sports organizations, depending on
what that individual veteran is interested in doing.
So, like Mr. Krieger said, it is very important that we
don't lose touch once they do return home. And we feel very
proud that we haven't done that at all over the 5 years. And we
have been very successful in integrating Wounded Warriors into
their home communities and various disabled sports organization
within that.
So that is just what I wanted to say. Thank you.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. Mr. Atizado, what kind of
follow up occurs for the folks that participate in the Winter
Sports Clinic? You identified someone in your testimony who
participated in 2006 and received the Freedom Award when he
came back and brought some other folks with him in 2007. During
that time, was there follow up directly by folks affiliated
with the program with him throughout the year?
Mr. Atizado. I am not that intimately familiar with the
program outside the actual 6-day event. I do know that VA is
very good at taking very keen steps to ensure that the veterans
that go through it, and the active servicemembers that go
through the--to the Winter Sports Clinic, are followed up upon.
In fact, I know in the 6-day event, the schedule is so jam
packed that they have to shepherd them from one event to the
next, because, I mean, first and foremost it is a
rehabilitative event. I understand there are bands. And there
are a lot of entertainment. But it is to rehabilitate
themselves from their disabilities.
But my--I was struck by what you--what was talked about
earlier by this panel, as well as by the Committee, is the idea
of who should take lead on at the community level.
I can't speak intelligently about it. But I can tell you
that when I was rehabilitating, this was a while back, I had to
choose a sport that was available to me. In other words, I
couldn't just jump on a ski, because of my disabilities. It
ended up having to either be swimming or cycling.
And I think what helped--what held me back in being able to
get involved with sports was I was in school. I had no money.
If, in fact, this was a rehabilitative program available to me
at the time through the VA, I am sure I would have gotten
involved with it much sooner and wouldn't be--I would probably
be in better shape than I am now.
But it is an interesting question. I sure would like to see
what the next panel would say about the whole access at the
community level.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. I appreciate that insight,
because whether we are talking about rehabilitative services--
even a round table I had just 2 weeks ago with some OEF/OIF
veterans as it related to education benefits, and they
proactively brought up the issue of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder. One of the things they said is once you even overcome
the avoidance issues, we may have to seek the counseling. We
are in school full time, or we are working full time.
And, to try to have some flexibility, to try to work in,
and be available either for the individual sessions or more
group sessions. I think that is a very good point you make in
terms of identifying the barriers as well.
Whether it is the sports that are available or that timely
access that Mr. Krieger talked about through the VA and the
partnerships that they have effectively developed. But also
ensuring that we are giving the VA what they need to make
maximum use out of these partnerships to ensure the seamless
transition that Mr. Krieger mentioned.
I appreciate the comments and the responses.
Mr. Boozman, do you have anything further?
Mr. Boozman. No thank you, Madam Chair. I think that we
should send Juan and Mike though to accompany them on the 26-
mile march.
[Laughter.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. I am glad you volunteered them and not
the two of us.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you all very much for all that you do.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. we appreciate your service
to the country, and service to fellow veterans, and your
insights today. We appreciate it very much.
Joining us on our second panel is Mr. Charles Huebner,
Chief of U.S. Paralympics for the U.S. Olympic Committee
(USOC); and Dr. Dan Scott of the Physical and Rehabilitation
Service, the Denver VA Medical Center, the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Gentleman we appreciate it that you are with us. Again,
your written statements have been made a part of the hearing
record. We know that we have part of the presentation in a
video presentation. I think you are going to offer some initial
opening comments before we move to that.
To make sure, why don't we start with Dr. Scott, because I
think it is Mr. Huebner, you have the video portion. Rather
than coming back, we will start with Dr. Scott for his opening
statement. Then we will recognize Mr. Huebner.
Dr. Scott, you are recognized for 5 minutes.
STATEMENTS OF DAN D. SCOTT, M.D., NATIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES, VETERANS AFFAIRS EASTERN
COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND CHARLES HUEBNER, CHIEF
OF PARALYMPICS, UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
STATEMENT OF DAN D. SCOTT, M.D.
Dr. Scott. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Ranking Member
Boozman. I am here today to give a presentation on
rehabilitation through sports.
There are four sporting events that the VA offers. And my
written testimony has been submitted. I would request--I am
going to do a PowerPoint presentation so you can see some
pictures from the various events.
And I would like you to give me just a little bit more
time, so I can finish this presentation. It is going to be a
little more than 5 minutes.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. I think Mr. Huebner's will be as well.
Please try to keep it within about eight to ten at the most.
Dr. Scott. I can certainly do that.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay. All right, thanks.
Dr. Scott. Thank you. The objectives today are to give you
an overview of the four National rehabilitation events.
Rehabilitation is a process by which an individual is restored
to maximum independence and maximum function.
The first event that I am going to talk about is the
National Veterans Wheelchair Games. It was established in 1981.
And PVA, as you heard earlier, joined us a cosponsor in 1985.
This event is dedicated to rehabilitating individuals
through competition and sports. On an average, 25 percent of
these individuals have never participated in a wheelchair
sporting event. So they are brand new, novice athletes. This is
considered the largest annual wheelchair sporting event in the
world.
There are 17 medal events and one exhibition event, which
offers the opportunity for people to experience new
competitions as has been mentioned before. There are over 500
athletes that participate in the Summer Wheelchair Games each
year.
Traumatic Brain Injury, spinal cord injury, and amputees,
and other neurological disabilities, both static and
progressive, such as multiple sclerosis. All branches of
service are involved and veterans from World War II through the
current conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Each year a new VA facility hosts these games. And this
gives us an opportunity to have community involvement, as well
as to have individuals from each VA hospital learn about
rehabilitation and their mission and rededicate themselves to
this mission of rehabilitation for veterans.
These games started out in 1981 with 74 veterans. And in
2007, we had 513 veterans in Milwaukee. Each year at the end of
the games, they offer a Spirit of the Games Award, which is
given by the athletes to the person who epitomizes the spirit
of those games.
I am going to show you some pictures now of the various
events.
[Slides shown.]
Dr. Scott. One of the events is nine ball. This gentleman
is using his prosthetic limb to stabilize the pool cue to play
pool.
Air guns is a very popular event. Both of these gentlemen
have a spinal cord injury. One is a paraplegic and one is a
quadriplegic. An opportunity to shoot--as I mentioned before,
they are interested in hunting and fishing. Archery is a very
popular event, both men and women, old and young. This
gentlemen is stabilizing his bow with his prosthetic limb to
shoot the arrows.
Basketball is another popular event as you have heard. It
is a very traditional event. Tall is better as you see. This
fellow here is a tall fellow. You can't jump from these chairs.
So he has got an advantage over all of his colleagues.
The teams are made up of novices and experienced athletes
so that there is no unfair competition here. Both men and women
participate in the basketball event as well.
There is bowling and ramp bowling. Ramp bowling is for
individuals who can't grip--who can't grip the ball. They
actually roll the ball down a ramp here toward the pins.
Curling was the exhibition event in Milwaukee. It is a
great event for those in the Midwest. They know it very well.
The rest of us don't know it.
The field events were held on Lake Michigan. You see it is
shot put, javelin, and discus. It was a great day out by Lake
Michigan. Hand cycling is a great way to provide upper-
extremity-aerobic exercise. And as you see, there are a variety
of different hand cycles available.
The Motor rally is for individuals in power wheel chairs.
This fellow is a triple amputee. And you see there is a great
variety of people who participate in this event as well.
Power soccer, this fellow is using his chin to drive his
power wheelchair. They use the white box at their feet to
direct the ball through upright goals to score points.
Quad rugby is a very popular event. It is a very aggressive
event. If you look at the yellow wheel covers, you will see
they are all smashed in from running into each other. It is a
great crowd pleaser, as well as a great pleaser for the
athletes themselves.
Slalom is an obstacle course, which represents the
obstacles that the individuals must overcome in their daily
lives, such as curbs without curb cuts and stairs. They get
points for going through the course.
Softball is a very popular event, very well attended. Last
year we added a standing track and field event for amputees.
There was a drill in the first one. These folks are throwing
discus and javelin.
Swimming is another popular event for all disabilities,
both quadriplegics, paraplegics, stroke, amputees, and a
variety of other disabilities. Events include breaststroke,
backstroke, and other events.
Table tennis, although not quite as aggressive, is a
sedentary event. But as you see, he is having a great time.
Track, the fellow in the bottom left has a spinal cord
injury. And the other fellow has a Traumatic Brain Injury. You
see the community involvement here with the young cheerleaders
from the high school, cheering the veterans on.
Trap shooting was an exhibition event. It became a medal
event last year. Weightlifting, another medal event. There is a
great deal of strategy in this event.
The Winter Sports Clinic, you have heard quite a bit about.
I am going to show you a few pictures here. It was founded in
1987. You have to be a U.S. military veteran or active duty-
personnel to be eligible to participate. The DAV came on as a
sponsor in 1991.
In 2007, 370 participants were involved with 124 OEF/OIF
veterans. There are ten events during the week, as well as a
variety of clinics and workshops. And you see here Secretary
Nicholson was involved.
This is downhill skiing. This fellow, if you will notice,
is standing with a standing frame to ski in a standing
position. The fellow behind is tethering, so he doesn't sail
off down the hill. There are sit skis for those folks who have
to sit to ski. You will notice that there are two skis in the
yellow and green skis here and one on the others. Those are
mono- and bi-skis.
Here they are in action coming down the hill again.
Somebody tethering, the instructor behind, and at the end of
the week there is a race down a slalom course for time.
The biathlon is a cross-country event where they stop and
shoot at targets and move on.
Snowshoeing here is for the folks to get out and walk
through the wilderness. It is great for visually impaired
people.
If you look, there is snowmobiling, which all of us enjoy.
Sled hockey is another very aggressive event. You will see
the fellow in the bottom right has fallen over out of his sled.
And he is having a great time.
There is both scuba diving and rock climbing available
here. If you will notice, the fellow in the upper left is a
quadriplegic who is getting the opportunity to scuba dive at
the Winter Sports Clinic.
You have heard about the Freedom Award. The Freedom Award
is given to the individual who makes the most progress during
the week and shows the most courage while on the hill. The
Creative Arts Festival is a little bit different. It is a
cultural event. And it is a combination of two prior events
founded in 1989, cosponsored by the VA, the American Legion
Auxiliary, and the Help Hospitalized Veterans. Over 2,800
veterans were involved in this event, with almost 100 VA
medical facilities involved as well. The divisions involved
here are visual arts, music, dance, drama, and creative
writing.
Here are some of the projects that they have submitted
during the event. During the week, the participants are
involved with writing, producing, and performing in a stage
presentation. There are also workshops such as this painting
workshop, which are offered to help the veterans hone their
skills.
The Golden Age Games are for veterans 55 years and up who
are receiving care at the VA. In 1985, 115 veterans
participated, in 2007, 602.
This shows our commitment to the geriatric rehabilitation
projects. It is the premier senior rehabilitation adaptive
event, cosponsored by the VA, Veterans Canteen Services, and
Help Hospitalized Veterans. There are 14 events in this
particular Games. You see they are quite active from swimming,
bicycling, and on down to sedentary events of dominos,
checkers, and croquet.
Here are some of the events. It works on agility. It works
on balance. It works on their aerobic exercise. And you just
want to make sure you stay out of the way of this lady on the
bottom right. She is going to hit you if you don't get behind
her.
So these just show the diversity of the events that we
have. And the able-bodied and disabled personnel that are
affected by these games.
I appreciate your time.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Scott appears on p. 38. The
PowerPoint presentation, entitled, ``Rehabilitation through
Sports,'' submitted by Dr. Scott, Director, National Veterans
Wheelchair Games, will be retained in the Committee files. The
video presentation entitled, ``National Disabled Veterans
Sports Clinic,'' provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs
National Rehabilitation Special Events, will be retained in the
Committee files.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Dr. Scott. Mr. Huebner, you
are recognized.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES HUEBNER
Mr. Huebner. Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman and also
Ranking Member Boozman.
I have some personal regards from my Chief Executive
Officer who is from Mobridge, South Dakota. He passes on his
well wishes to you. And also Mr. Register from the University
of Arkansas. I am not going to do any slogans or sing any fight
songs today, Congressman. But he did say to say hello. He
actually is in Britain presenting to their military and
Paralympic organization on the importance of physical activity
for injured military personnel. So that is why he is not here
today.
Thank you very much for the opportunity. My name is Charles
Huebner. I am the Chief of Paralympics for the United States
Olympic Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify on
our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to
serve those men and women rehabilitating from injuries suffered
while serving their country.
Over the last decade, and because of the joint efforts and
programs conducted by the USOC and a variety of Paralympic and
veteran organizations, many are in this room today, the
Paralympic movement has grown exponentially. More importantly
than the Paralympic movement growing, the physical activity for
persons with physical disabilities has grown exponentially. And
that is a key message I want you to hear today.
The focus on the military program that the U.S. Olympic
Committee has created is most appropriate, because the
Paralympic movement began after injured veterans returned from
World War II.
I want to use this opportunity to thank Chairman Filner for
introducing H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic Committee
Paralympic Program Act of 2007,'' and Ranking Member Buyer for
his Bill, H.R. 1370, the ``Disabled Veterans Sports and Special
Events Promotion Act of 2007.''
Both proposals would provide veteran and Paralympic
organizations with much needed tools and resources that would
enable us to expand our existing efforts to provide in
communities throughout the United States for injured military
personnel.
Our primary focus in expanding programs at the U.S. Olympic
Committee and, key word, in collaboration with numerous
partners, many, again, which are in this room, is to provide
veterans' programs in their local community.
There are numerous great events that have all been talked
about today. And we have some or our own. We participate in
many of the events that have been talked about today. Many of
the organizations in the room today help us stage our events,
primarily our Paralympic Military Sport Camps that we host at
Olympic training centers. Those are critical.
What we are most concerned about and what the two
legislative proposals will provide for is what happens when a
veteran or injured military personnel go home, especially to
rural areas.
It is our focus to create community-based programs targeted
at military personnel that allow for injured military to attend
and participate in programs at the community level on a daily
basis. That is the primary emphasis of some of the new
initiatives that we are promoting and implementing currently.
Today, our issue is more than just injured military
personnel and veterans. Today there are 21 million Americans
with a physical disability. Less than 10 percent of those
Americans participate in daily physical activity.
We see on a daily basis with the pool of athletes and
program participants the impact of physical activity on things
way beyond representing your country at the Paralympic Games,
life skills, self esteem, education, employment, all the other
factors that make a successful human being. So we very much
understand the importance of physical activity on persons with
physical disabilities.
The U.S. Olympic Committee has deployed a plan to address
this crisis with a specific emphasis on injured military
personnel and veterans. In April of this year, the USOC is
hosting the inaugural Olympic University Developing Amazing
Leaders Conference to train community and military leaders on
how to implement a community-based Paralympic program.
A key emphasis there when I talk about Paralympic
community-based programs, although no doubt our emphasis is on
24 Paralympic sports, the community-based programs also provide
sports and activities in the areas of recreation, hunting,
fishing, rock climbing.
In June of this year, we will be hosting a Paralympic
Military Sports Camp that will have skiing and shooting, trap
shooting, that is not Paralympic sports. In October, we will be
hosting a Paralympic Military Sport Camp that includes golf.
So when I talk about Paralympic Military Programs and
Paralympic Programs as a whole, what I am really talking about
is physical activity. Although our emphasis is on Paralympic
sport, many of the organizations that we are partnering with
and working with provide a broad array of recreational and
sports activities. And that is critical and very important. And
we agree with that assessment.
Our goal, our stated goal to our Chairman and our board, is
by the end of this year we will have new programs in 75
communities. By the end of 2012, we will have new Paralympic
community-based programs in 250 U.S. communities.
There are a lot of outstanding programs today. There is
still a great need, specifically in rural areas for programs
for persons with physical disabilities and especially for
injured military personnel returning home.
This strategy is in collaboration with Paralympic and
veteran organizations. I don't want to sit here in front of you
and say the USOC is leading this initiative by itself. Many of
the organizations in the room we are collaborating with on the
conference, on the implementation of Paralympic sport programs.
Yesterday, I have spent the last 4 days, and hopefully some
of you have met some of your representatives from the National
Recreation and Parks Association, which has a footprint in
6,000 U.S. communities.
We are working with them to increase and implement the
number of Paralympic community-based programs in collaboration
with parks and rec. organizations throughout the United States.
Another opportunity, as a member organization of the USOC,
is for us to work efficiently with existing organizations that
have existing infrastructure, staff. What they are lacking in
many cases is expertise and equipment. That is what our
conference is going to do is hopefully provide the expertise
and equipment for numerous existing entities that can implement
Paralympic sport programs with the specific emphasis on
supporting and serving injured military personnel coming home.
The legislation will allow us to, as I say and our Chairman
says, ``grow the pie.'' That is our focus. This legislation
will not bring dollars just Paralympic programs. But it will
bring dollars to promoting programs of physical activity at the
community level for all the entities that are here with us
today as well as numerous others that are not. That is the
primary focus of our pursuing of the legislation.
I wanted to emphasize that we are currently, and will
continue, to engage in these activities, regardless of what
happens to the legislation, because injured military personnel
are the soul of the Paralympic movement.
And when I speak of the Paralympic movement, I am not
talking about an exclusive number of persons that will make the
Paralympic team. Rather I am talking about the young men and
women that are active in the communities, educated, employed,
promoting excellence, ability, and inspiring Americans to
achieve and overcome obstacles.
However, it is likely, and I am very proud of this, that in
2008, several members of the Veterans and Paralympic Military
Program will represent America at the Paralympic Games in
Beijing. And that is a very exciting and very honorable
opportunity for us in this country.
The bills proposed are testimony of the need of veterans
for activities and programs that enable them to return for a
full and active life.
I would like to show you a quick video that kind of gives
you a capsule of the Paralympic Military Program, and what we
are doing, and the importance. And, again, I just want to
emphasize in this video this camp that we put on was done in
collaboration with many of the organizations in the room today.
Although it was hosted at a U.S. Olympic training center,
we worked with military organizations, veteran organizations,
the VA, the PVA, Disabled Sports USA, and numerous other
organizations to identify and provide support. So thank you
very much for your time. I will show the video. And then I will
be open to any questions.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Huebner appears on p. 43.
The video presentation shown entitled, ``Paralympic Military
Summit--San Diego,'' dated November 2005, will be retained in
the Committee files.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. We have a pending vote, but I think we
will have enough time. Is it a 5- or 6-minute video?
Mr. Huebner. Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. We will go ahead and watch that now.
We will then have to break for the vote, it is just one vote.
Then we will come back to pose some questions that we may have.
It shouldn't be long, I would recommend that we go straight
to questions and perhaps not to watch the video. Since it is
just one and the Ranking Member with his schedule and with mine
we can come back for a short series of questions if that works
for you as well.
Mr. Huebner. Whatever works best for you. We could leave
the video if you choose. And you can watch it another time.
Whatever really works better for you.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. No. I think we will go ahead and watch
the video. In light of the previous conversations we had, we
would like to see that.
It is going to take us about 15-20 minutes getting there
and back for the one vote. So that we can come back for a few
questions. Okay? We will go ahead and watch the video.
[Video shown.]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Very good. We enjoyed that. I know we
have some questions. We are going to head out to our vote. We
will be back in about 15 minutes, depending on how fast we can
move. Right, Mr. Boozman? Okay.
[Recess]
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well thank you both for waiting.
Again, thank you for your testimony and your presentations. I
will go ahead and start with Mr. Boozman for any questions he
may have.
Mr. Boozman. Well, thank you all for being here. And I
appreciate the testimony and the presentations. They were
excellent. Be sure and tell Mr. Register I said hi. He was a
track star at the University of Arkansas. Arkansas, I will brag
a little bit, is probably, the dynasty in track. They have run
more track and field championships than anybody in the Nation
by far.
But I think he was like a four-time All American. I mean,
with one leg, he could beat me running backward in my prime.
You know, like I said, he is a world-class athlete.
But besides that, he is such a great representative. He is
just a quality person, him and his family. So I really do
appreciate what you guys are doing.
We are going to ask some questions about how we can
improve. And we always want to do that. But I really do want to
recognize how far the programs have come. The tremendous
effort, that is being made. And, all that you all are doing, to
continue that.
Let me just ask, Dr. Scott, some of the staff members who
have attended several of the Paralympic Military Sports Summits
have come back and been told that there is significant
resistance at the VA medical center level to funding
recreational therapy programs.
Can you describe their recreational therapy program at VA?
And talk to us a little bit about funding. The impression is,
that sometimes they have to kind of scrounge from whatever, you
know, to get their funding at the local level. Can you address
that?
Dr. Scott. Congressman Boozman, I can only address--I am
not a representative for the National Recreation Therapy
Department here in Colorado, so I don't actually know the
funding process to the various VAs.
However, I can talk about my own VA in Denver. It is part
of our department. And it is funded directly through our
department. So that is all I have to say. I don't know about
the funding from the national level for the Therapeutic
Recreation Programs. They are well integrated into--throughout
the VA system.
Mr. Boozman. Okay.
Dr. Scott. And they are the ones that implemented these
programs initially.
Mr. Boozman. Okay. It might be helpful if you could ask
somebody that is familiar with that. I am not saying that is
the case. I think one of our witnesses, in fact I know one of
our witnesses, mentioned earlier that he had some concerns
about that at the local level.
And so if you could have somebody follow up on that for us,
that would be really good.
Dr. Scott. We will take that for the record and get back to
you.
[The information from VA follows:]
Question: Can you please describe the recreational therapy
program at VA and provide some information about how these
projects are funded?
Response: The Recreational Therapy Service is part of the
Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) Rehabilitation Services
and provides treatment services to veterans at 153 VA Medical
Centers, 133 nursing homes, and 47 domiciliary programs. More
than 700 Recreational and Creative Arts Therapists treat and
maintain the physical, mental and emotional well-being of
veterans with disabilities, illness or other disabling
conditions using a variety of techniques, including sports,
arts and crafts, games, dance, music and community integration
activities.
Recreational therapy programs at the local medical center
level are supported with appropriated funds. This is consistent
with the funding process for all medical care programs.
Specific levels are determined at the facility level based on
the demand and utilization of services, patient satisfaction
and treatment outcomes, overall program integration, and the
need for additional enhancements.
Additionally, VA uses the General Post Fund (GPF), a trust
fund administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to
supplement local initiatives and to support specific special
activities and events for veterans across the country. GPF
allocations are prioritized to help VHA facilities administer
recreational projects, purchase specific equipment, support
national rehabilitation special events, and address other
needs. All VA medical centers are aware of, and are encouraged
to utilize, the GPF as appropriate. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008,
the GPF Review Committee approved an additional $2 million in
funding across all VA medical centers for recreational therapy.
Recreational therapists develop treatment goals related to
computerized gaming technologies to enhance functional
outcomes, improve cognition and memory, facilitate decision-
making, and strengthen hand-eye coordination. For example, VA
uses the Nintendo WiiTM Play Bundle Game System as
an entertaining and therapeutic device to challenge patients
cognitively and physically and to promote appropriate social
interaction skills and teamwork.
Recreational therapy is an important element of
rehabilitation plans for those with specific needs by
encouraging leisure awareness and healthy lifestyle choices.
Recreational therapists also serve as members of the
interdisciplinary treatment team in the VA Polytrauma System of
Care, providing therapy interventions that improve functional
outcomes and diversional activities that enhance life quality
and community reintegration.
Recreational therapists also promote veterans' participation
in sports activities, such as therapeutic horseback riding and
adaptive kayaking programs. Many veterans who have benefited
from Recreation Therapy progress to participate in National
Rehabilitation Special Events, such as the National Disabled
Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Wheelchair
Games, the National Veterans Golden Age Games, the National
Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, and the National Veterans
Creative Arts Festival.
Mr. Boozman. Let me ask you about the Beijing Paralympic
Games. Will there be television coverage of those?
Mr. Huebner. Hopefully in April, our U.S. Olympic Committee
Media Summit will be happening in Chicago. And that event has
more than 600 media signed up to attend. And our goal is to
announce our coverage plans during the media summit in April.
Mr. Boozman. So what is the outlook?
Mr. Huebner. Pardon?
Mr. Boozman. What is the outlook with our team?
Mr. Blumenauer. Our team, we are very proud. The Paralympic
movement has changed significantly in the last 4 years. Sixty
percent of the medals are in track and field and swimming. We
are projecting--I can't talk about these externally. But we are
projecting to win the medal count in swimming. And we are also
projecting to be in the top two in the world in track and
field, because of the leadership of our coaches in those
programs. And there will be military representatives.
Melissa Stockwell, an injured Iraqi vet, Army, is at our
training center right now as part of our veterans program. We
are providing all the support for her. Her goal is to make the
Paralympic Team and represent America a second time. And right
now, it looks--she made that decision in January. The only way
she was going to make the team is make the commitment to come
to Colorado Springs and train full time with our team. And it
looks right now that she will make the team based on her
progress in the last couple of months.
Mr. Boozman. Very good. Go ahead, Madam Chair, and then I
might have another thing or two. But I guess the important
thing, Dr. Scott, is that I am committed. I know the rest of
the Committee is committed to helping you in any way that we
can. And like I said, you just need to help us help you, I
guess is really what I am saying.
But go ahead, Madam Chair.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well and in that vein, you know, some
of the additional information that we would like to ask are
general funding issues.
Mr. Huebner, how is the Paralympics Program generally
funded? You also stated that you are in the process of setting
up permanent Paralympic Programs to serve injured military
servicemembers at the four DoD medical centers. Can you
anticipate the cost of doing that, and how are those programs
going to be funded?
Mr. Huebner. Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman. Up to this
time, we have funded everything privately. And when we look at
the investment being made right now, and, again, I use the term
Paralympic organizations, which would include groups like
BlazeSports and Disabled Sports USA.
There is more than $30 million being spent today, and I
believe that is a low estimate, of private dollars and
corporate dollars that have been raised by those organizations
on programs to support injured military personnel across the
country.
We feel very strongly. And that is why we are very pleased
about the legislation. We feel very strongly that a partnership
with our government will expedite and allow us to grow
significantly in a very cost efficient way, expanding the
number of programs available to injured military personnel,
with an expected emphasis on community-based programs.
And I think everybody else that testified today, everybody
talked about the need for community-based programs. There is a
lot of programs that exist today. But again, as I mentioned
early in my testimony, less than 10 percent of Americans with
physical disabilities are participating in physical activity.
Now we add 27,000 injured military personnel to that, there is
a significant need.
And we feel very strongly that the legislation that has
been proposed, will help along with the private dollars that
not only we will invest, but also increase our support
privately. And I believe I could probably speak for all the
organizations in here. Will have a significant impact on
growing programs.
So funding we believe is needed. To this time, it has been
all privately funded.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Even as you are getting ready to set
up permanent programs at the four major DoD medical facilities,
is all that private dollars?
Mr. Huebner. The majority of what we have done to date are
private dollars. We have secured in the past year some support
to begin expanding those programs with the programs in DoD
medical centers.
A key component of----
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Do you have support from DoD funding?
Mr. Huebner. Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay.
Mr. Huebner. A key component of that though is not just at
the medical center. And I will continue to emphasize our
biggest concern and what--the way we positioned everything is
we want to be an extension to VA facilities to medical centers,
because it is when you go home to community that is our biggest
concern and making sure that there is a community-based
program.
And I have had both injured veterans and military personnel
say this. Especially when you go back to the community is you
want to be involved and integrated into that community program.
You don't want to necessarily--and hopefully this isn't taken
the wrong way. But you don't want to go play basketball with
your buddies at the hospital. You want to do it at the Parks
and Recreation., or the local softball field, or on the local
ski hill, or fish on the local river.
And that collaboration between the VA, DoD, military
installations, and medical centers in community-based
organizations is going to be critical to make that happen.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Have there been any discussions that
you are aware of since we have moved within the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the medical centers to establishing what
we call Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) for purposes
of providing medical care to veterans in more remote rural
areas? Easier access, they still may have to drive, but they
are only driving 45 minutes to an hour instead of 4 to 6 hours.
Have there been any discussions with the VA that you are
aware of as it relates to an extension of VA facilities and
working with community-based organizations, where the
partnership would occur as it relates to the services provided
by the CBOCs as we call them?
Mr. Huebner. That is directed at me, correct? Yes. We have
had numerous discussions. And the conference that we have
created in April is all about working with military centers, VA
facilities, community-based organization, to teach them to
fish. We have talked a lot about fishing today. But to teach
them to fish. And that is basically how we can be an extension
and a support of those existing programs in those facilities.
So there have been ongoing discussions. Those discussions
are expanding significantly. And as mentioned, National
Recreation and Parks Association is another organization that
we brought into the fold that has resources. And, you know, one
of the key things for me, I believe, is that they have
resources in those rural communities.
In a lot of communities, we have member organizations like
the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCAs, and Parks and Recreation.
There is not a VA hospital in every community. But there is a
Parks and Recreation in 6,000 communities. And there is a Boys
and Girls Club in 4,000 communities.
Our role at the U.S. Olympic Committee is to try to
collaborate with those organizations to make sure those
entities have the expertise to implement a program. So somebody
doesn't have to drive 6 hours.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Very good. Dr. Scott, are you aware? I
would assume that Colorado has some community-based outreach
clinics. What has been your experience in working with folks
once a disabled veteran, who may come to Denver to the Medical
Center, is out back in the community? Is there any follow up?
What types of follow-up services are being provided after some
of the events that you have discussed as well as some of the
other activities that you described in the presentation?
Dr. Scott. The CBOCs, a lot of time, will continue the care
of the veteran that might get rehabilitation in a center such
as Denver.
The follow up as far as providing recreational
opportunities does not exist as I am aware. The CBOCs will
identify people that might want to participate in these
particular national events. And will send them to us. And we
will make sure that they are included in the events.
However, as far as on a day-to-day basis, we are
responsible for providing equipment as necessary to those
various individuals to continue their sports in their
community. If----
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well----
Dr. Scott. I am sorry, if I may.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. I think Mr. Huebner has something to
comment on. In light of that, if the CBOCs were formulating
relationships with community organizations for venues or other
opportunities. Do you continue through the medical center to
provide the equipment necessary to continue to participate on a
rehabilitative basis on those recreational activities?
Dr. Scott. That is correct.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay and Mr. Huebner.
Mr. Huebner. If I could just add on to that. Evaluation is
very important in everything we are doing. It is easy to
evaluate at the Paralympic Games. But more importantly in terms
of the outreach programs and initiatives we are implementing,
creating an evaluation tool, we very strongly believe that
physical activity, and we have some limited research that we
implemented in 2007, but that physical activity is an important
part of success in other aspects of life.
And for people with disabilities and physical disabilities
especially. It is about self esteem. It is about education. And
it is about employment. Those are things that we are tracking.
And we hope to report back not only to this organization, but
other national organizations about the impact, the health
impact, on people with physical disabilities.
We know physical activity reduces secondary medical
conditions. We know it improves self esteem.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. That is a very good point. I would
imagine too, and I think someone mentioned it previously, for
any other types of medical conditions, including psychological
conditions of depression and we know from some other data, the
survey data that you have just referred to would certainly be
helpful.
I believe we have one more vote that was somewhat
unanticipated. I am going to recognize the Ranking Member,
because he may have some follow-up questions.
Mr. Boozman. Let me just ask one other thing, Dr. Scott.
Mr. Ramos discussed, in his written testimony, about a rule
that is being proposed that would limit to a hand cycle or a
sports wheelchair versus both.
Can you tell us a little bit about that and the reasoning
behind that? And kind of where we are in that rulemaking
process.
Dr. Scott. It is my understanding that currently people who
require wheelchairs, have a backup chair. And the backup chair
is often used as their sports wheelchair.
Because several of these veterans want to participate in
multiple events and each chair might be quite expensive, it is
necessary for us to let them choose the type of chair that they
want, the type of sports chair, whether it be a racing bike, or
whether it be a sit ski to ski, or whether it be some other
type of equipment. That would be considered as their sports
chair.
Oftentimes the veteran is required to purchase their own
equipment beyond that just because of the numbers and the
resources available.
Mr. Boozman. When they do compete, is there generally a
cost to the veteran?
Dr. Scott. The first year we provide the entire way to the
games as far as their transportation to sponsor them,
transportation, food, lodging for the first year.
Then the veteran is responsible for finding some other type
of funding, whether it is through the local PVA or through an
organization who wants to sponsor them to come to the event as
a second year or third year participant in the games.
So these--our games are meant to be an initial entrance
into rehabilitation sports. And that is why we pay for the
first year.
Mr. Boozman. I did meet Mr. Huebner with my Parks people
today. You know, they are up here. I wish I was meeting with
them after we got through today. But I did meet with them. And
I think that really is an excellent idea. Those folks, as far
as reaching out to them, I think will be a great asset.
And that is the kind of thing as you are telling us what we
have to do to make this thing get all the way down to the grass
roots.
Mr. Huebner. Well, a key message there is efficiency. And
especially when we are talking about public resources and
funding. And if we can take the resources that we are all
generating, private and corporate support, and combine them
with some Federal support in an efficient manner, we can have a
significant impact. And that is the goal.
And the folks from Fayetteville and Little Rock last night
I think tackled me. So I am very excited to have programs up
and running in those communities by the end of this year.
Mr. Boozman. Very good. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Mr. Boozman. What is the
cost to the veteran and his or her family to participate, Mr.
Huebner, in the Paralympics if they make it that far?
Mr. Huebner. If they go to the Paralympics Games, the U.S.
Olympic Committee provide--Olympic or Paralympic Games, the
U.S. Olympic Committee provides all the funding.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. For the family as well?
Mr. Huebner. Not the family, no, the individual that makes
the team.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay.
Mr. Huebner. Yes.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Are you aware of whether or not--is it
private organizations that may assist the family in traveling?
Mr. Huebner. In most cases, families that attend the games
go on their own. We do have some sponsor programs that try and
support families at the games, both Olympic and Paralympic
Games. But in most cases family that attend the games go at
their own cost.
In many cases, and I remember Rulon Gardner from Wyoming.
His whole community raised funds to allow his family to go to
the games. And he grew up in a town of 2,000 people. And at his
welcome home parade, there were 12,500 people there. You
probably understand that.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Right.
Mr. Huebner. But that is the kind of community support that
is created around Olympians and Paralympians in many cases.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well, and in light of that, again, I
think it goes to the point Mr. Boozman was making and
commenting on your testimony, and the testimony of our first
panel, the importance of these community-based partnerships and
what more we can do.
I think that the VA has more of a role that they could play
in light of what is happening at the medical centers, in light
of the CBOCs, in a number of these communities to help take the
lead if necessary to ensure that the transition is a seamless
one as it relates to rehabilitation.
Then, also, being that network that makes sure that the
disabled veteran in his or her community, knowing the support
is there, can offer that in an ongoing basis over a course of a
number of years.
One final question that I have on behalf of a young man
that I represent who is a double amputee in OIF. I visited him
when he was at the Malone House at Walter Reed. His favorite
sport for which he participated in high school and still wanted
to make sure he got down to a game here at the Verizon Center
is hockey.
That sport requires a lot of skating and balance. As we saw
some of the double amputees participating in other sports, are
you familiar with any of our disabled veterans out there who
are getting up on some skates? Has hockey been integrated as
one of the activities and sports in the rehabilitation
programs?
Mr. Huebner. Absolutely. We hosted a clinic a couple of
weeks ago in Colorado Springs with members of our Paralympic
team and some injured military personnel, as well as non-
military personnel, introducing them to the sport of sled
hockey.
The United States is the proud host of the 2008 Sled Hockey
World Championships beginning March 27th in Boston. Our opening
ceremonies will be at a Bruins/Maple Leafs game. And for a week
in Boston, we will have the world here, ten countries
participating in sled hockey.
But there are numerous outstanding programs all over the
country. And if you have that young man contact me, I would be
more than happy to get him information and also connect him to
a local program.
Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Very good. I appreciate it very much.
We do have to get down to our vote. We appreciate your
testimony, for being here, and your insights and expertise.
Obviously, all the work that you are doing as we explore the
topic that we addressed in the Subcommittee today.
Thank you for what you are doing on behalf of our
servicemembers and veterans. The hearing now stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 3:15 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
----------
Prepared Statement of Hon. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Chairwoman,
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
Today's hearing will give the Subcommittee the opportunity to learn
more about Paralympic programs and how they are assisting our
servicemembers and veterans to heal from the wounds of war. The price
of war is not paid by money alone, it is the servicemember that is
called upon to serve on behalf of our country that pays the ultimate
price. This is especially true for those that have made the ultimate
sacrifice of life, and injury sustained while in service.
In my State of South Dakota, we have had at least 3,100 National
Guard soldiers and 730 airmen from the Air National Guard that served
in support of the Global War on Terror. Of these, we have bestowed 29
Guard members with the Purple Heart, 5 of which made the ultimate
sacrifice and had their medal presented posthumously.
I have had the honor of meeting some of these servicemembers from
my home State of South Dakota. Servicemembers such as Specialist Brian
Knigge, a South Dakota National Guard soldier who served with Yankton's
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom. On May 8, 2006, Specialist Knigge sustained injuries to
his arm and leg that resulted from an improvised fired projectile. This
soldier was later flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to be
treated for his injuries and receive rehabilitative physical therapy.
We owe it to servicemembers like Specialist Knigge to provide them
the best training and equipment to ensure they complete their mission
successfully, and post military services to help them live a healthy
and active lifestyle in their civilian life.
Many of my colleagues would agree that the Department of Veterans
Affairs provides world class care to our injured servicemembers and
veterans. Knowing this, I would like to explore ways for the VA to
continue to play a key role in the Paralympic Military Program to help
this population through a difficult transition in their lives. All
veterans should be afforded an opportunity to have a rewarding and
fulfilling life after their service to our country.
I look forward to working with Ranking Member Boozman and Members
of this Subcommittee to explore how rehabilitation programs assist our
servicemembers and veterans to recover from their injuries. I now
recognize Mr. Boozman for any opening remarks he may have.
Prepared Statement of Hon. John Boozman, Ranking Republican Member,
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
Good Afternoon everyone. Today's hearing topic is a bit out of the
ordinary for us and I am looking forward to some very interesting
testimony.
Everyone is aware of the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, China. What
most of us are not aware of is that shortly after the Olympic Games
conclude, a very special brand of athlete will compete on the same
venues recently used by our Olympic team. These special athletes are
those who have lost limbs or have other disabilities such as spinal
cord injuries that qualify them for the United States Paralympic Team.
The Paralympics originally began as a program to assist wounded
veterans in 1948 when German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttman created an
athletic competition in England for World War II veterans with spinal
cord injuries. By 1960 the Paralympic Games officially began in Rome,
providing Olympic-style athletic events for disabled athletes. In 1976,
the Paralympic Winter Games were introduced.
Today, the Paralympics are held the same year and in the same
location as the Olympic Games and feature elite international
competition in 19 different sports. In the 2004 Paralympic Games in
Athens, 3,806 athletes from 136 different countries competed.
Returning to the disabled veteran roots of the Paralympics, the
United States Paralympic Committee has formed a Military Program which
provides mentoring and support to injured servicemen and women by
reintroducing them to sports with adaptive techniques that fit their
lifestyle. By the 2012 Paralympic Games, some estimate that veterans
from OIF/OEF could comprise up to 15% of the U.S. Paralympic Team.
Our witnesses will raise some interesting points about the role of
sports in rehabilitation and I am eager to hear about the progress made
to use sports at all levels to advance the rehabilitation of disabled
veterans. I am also concerned about an issue raised by Mr. Ramos that
VA is considering revising a regulation to reclassify hand cycles as
wheelchairs and hope Dr. Scott from VA will address that issue.
Prepared Statement of Andy Krieger, Director of Sports and Recreation,
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Chairwoman Herseth-Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and members of
the Subcommittee, I am pleased to be here today on behalf of Paralyzed
Veterans of America (PVA) to offer our views on rehabilitation through
sports and recreation for severely injured servicemembers and veterans.
Perhaps no veterans' service organization understands the importance of
sports as a rehabilitation tool more than PVA.
Since its inception in 1946, PVA has recognized the important role
that sports and recreation play in the SCI rehabilitation process. In
fact, it was paralyzed veterans, injured during World War II, who first
started playing pick-up games of wheelchair basketball in VA hospitals.
This marked the birth of wheelchair sports. Doctors quickly realized
the significance of these types of activities and the powerful
therapeutic benefits on the physical, mental and social levels that
could be derived from participating in wheelchair sports. It is for
this reason that PVA developed, and annually administers, a
comprehensive sports and recreation program for its members and other
Americans with disabilities.
PVA sponsors a wide array of sports and outdoor recreation events
to improve the quality of life and health of veterans with severe
disabilities. Most notable of these activities is the National Veterans
Wheelchair Games (NVWG) which PVA has cosponsored with the Department
of Veterans Affairs for 23 years. Last year alone, the NVWG drew 514
veterans. In fact, PVA has one of the highest participation rates of
members in this event. Likewise, we fully support the activities of the
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans
Golden Age Games, and the National Creative Arts Festival.
PVA also runs a number of other sports and outdoor recreation
programs meant to get severely disabled veterans involved. Our Shooting
Sports Program consists of the PVA National Trapshoot Circuit, pistol
and rifle competitions and various hunting opportunities. The Trapshoot
Circuit includes 10 events annually that draw approximately 600
participants. Our Boating and Fishing Program consists of the PVA Bass
Tour and a variety of other fishing opportunities. The Bass Tour is
comprised of five events annually that draw more than 350 participants.
PVA, in association with the National Wheelchair Poolplayers'
Association, has developed a unique series of billiards tournaments for
people with disabilities. Last year, we conducted five events that drew
131 participants. Likewise, PVA has partnered with the American
Wheelchair Bowling Association to create a bowling tournament series.
Last year, we conducted five bowling tournaments that drew 259
participants. Finally, PVA also financially sponsors several National
Governing Bodies of Disabled Sport, including organizations that
conduct program opportunities for wheelchair basketball, quad rugby,
wheelchair bowling, wheelchair softball and wheelchair billiards to
strengthen existing infrastructure for wheelchair sports and recreation
participation.
In the past five years, PVA has conducted significant outreach at
Department of Defense (DOD) and VA hospitals to make its sports and
recreation programs available to recently injured Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans. In fact,
PVA was recognized last year by the staff at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center for our important work with the men and women being treated at
that facility. In addition, earlier this year PVA edited a chapter
entitled ``Sports and Recreation Opportunities for the Combat Amputee''
to be included in the soon to be released DOD medical handbook Care of
the Combat Amputee.
PVA became aware of the VA-United States Olympic Committee (USOC)
Military Paralympic Program by its association with VA, as co-presenter
of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The NVWG, established in
1981 by VA, is a week-long, multi-sport event designed to introduce the
newly injured veteran to a variety of wheelchair sports and recreation
activities in hopes that this participation will lead to a healthy
lifestyle. PVA's involvement began in 1985 due to its unique expertise
in sports and recreation programs for our members and other severely
disabled veterans. We have contributed countless financial and
personnel resources throughout the years to these types of programs.
Moreover, approximately 80 percent of the 550 total average
participants at the Games each year are PVA members. As a result, PVA
has a vested interest and commitment to the Games, and is quite curious
as to this new relationship that the VA has developed with the USOC. It
is true, however, that a handful of PVA members have been identified
and selected for future elite competition participation as a result of
this new program.
The mission of PVA's sports and recreation program is to expand the
quantity and quality of sports and recreation opportunities, especially
those that promote lifetime fitness and a healthy lifestyle, for PVA
members and other people with disabilities. Although elite competition
has its place in a comprehensive sports and recreation program, PVA's
primary goal for its sports and recreation program is all about health
care and rehabilitation first, something that we do not believe is the
ultimate focus of elite athletics.
We believe that only time will tell the true effect of this VA-USOC
arrangement. We do, however, have a couple of concerns or questions
regarding the VA-USOC Military Paralympic Program. First, will direct
health care dollars be diverted to fund this program? Funding for this
program should be done separately from direct health care funding.
Second, we are also concerned about the impact that this
arrangement will have on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between
VA and PVA to support sports and recreation opportunities for severely
disabled veterans. Likewise, the agreement between VA and the USOC
could impact the partnerships that the Disabled American Veterans and
Veterans of Foreign Wars have with the VA as co-presenters of the
Winter Sports Clinic and Golden Age Games, respectively. We would
certainly hope that there is no intent on VA's part to eventually
terminate these long-standing agreements with the veterans' service
organization community.
With these thoughts in mind, we would like to offer some comments
on a couple of pieces of legislation that have been introduced that
concern sports and recreation. First, PVA generally supports the
creation of an Office of National Disabled Veterans Sports Programs and
Special Events and a director position to oversee this Office as
outlined by H.R. 1370, the ``Disabled Veterans Sports and Special
Events Promotion Act of 2007.'' PVA has a special interest in this
Office as the chief presenter, along with the VA, of the National
Veterans Wheelchair Games. PVA supported similar legislation during the
109th Congress.
However, we would like to recommend that the Office be removed from
the VA Office of Public Affairs and be consolidated under the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA). The ultimate purpose of the Wheelchair
Games, Winter Sports Clinic, Golden Age Games and Creative Arts
Festival is to provide the best rehabilitative therapy possible to
maximize independence and enhance the quality of life for severely
disabled veterans. Given that rehabilitation is part of the mission of
VHA, we believe that it should be the controlling authority.
PVA also believes that a separate line-item appropriation should be
included in the VA budget to support these events. This would remove
some of the burden that the VA carries when trying to raise funds to
support these programs and allow it to focus on the actual purpose of
these events--rehabilitation. PVA, veterans' service organizations, and
other co-presenters of these events, could then continue to raise
additional funds to support the events.
PVA also generally supports H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic
Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007.'' However as recommended
above, we believe separate funding should be provided outside of the
direct health care dollars appropriated to the VA. Moreover, we remain
concerned about the long-term impact that this association between the
VA and the USOC could have on the programs that the veterans service
organizations have developed with VA that serve a similar purpose.
Ultimately, the concepts outlined in this legislation are what need to
be reinforced--that sports and recreation programs are about improved
health and rehabilitation, not elite competition.
As far as expanding veteran participation in the various sports and
recreation programs administered by the VA, we would like to offer a
few recommendations. These ideas are at least partially based on our
observations and experiences with severely injured active duty service
members at Walter Reed. First, it is critically important to remove
barriers to participation. In order to further facilitate seamless
transition, newly injured veterans should be provided timely access to
education and training regarding sports and recreation opportunities.
Furthermore, the VA and DOD should facilitate outreach efforts of
legitimate organizations promoting sports and recreation opportunities
by improving their access to newly injured veterans.
Interestingly, PVA found in a sports and recreation survey that we
conducted in 2002 that employment, whether full-time or part-time, is a
barrier to sports and recreation activities due to a lack of time to
participate. Furthermore, inadequate training, lack of local programs,
high equipment and licensing fees, and a shortage of accessible local
facilities are critical barriers to participation.
We also believe that the VA, in coordination with DOD, the
veterans' service organizations, and possibly the USOC, should develop
and implement a broad-based, comprehensive program that appeals to all
veterans, especially our newly injured veterans who are more inclined
to participate in non-traditional activities. Furthermore, the VA
should develop and implement a standardized curriculum for recreation
therapy to support VA national programs and special events. We do not
believe that VA recreation therapy programs are consistent across the
board. This emphasis will provide the training and awareness on the
local levels to support these programs and maximize their benefits.
PVA appreciates the focus being placed on these important programs.
With disabled servicemen and women exiting the military everyday,
especially from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, these
programs will provide a beacon of hope to those men and women who will
continue to face challenges every day of their lives. We look forward
to working with this Subcommittee to ensure that a wide range of sports
and recreation activities are available to the men and women who have
served and sacrificed.
I would like to thank you again for the opportunity to testify. I
would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.
Prepared Statement of Adrian M. Atizado,
Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:
Thank you for inviting the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), an
organization of 1.3 million service-disabled veterans, to testify at
this important hearing to discuss disability rehabilitation through
sports. We appreciate the opportunity to offer our views and experience
with the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.
Known as the ``Miracles on a Mountainside,'' the Winter Sports
Clinic is the world leader in promoting rehabilitation by instructing
veterans with disabilities in adaptive skiing, and introducing them to
a number of other adaptive recreational activities and sports. The
clinic is cosponsored by the DAV and Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA), as well as a number of generous corporate and individual donors.
As the largest annual disabled learn-to-ski clinic in the world,
the Winter Sports Clinic is an annual rehabilitation program open to
active duty service-members and veterans with spinal cord injuries,
orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, traumatic brain injuries,
certain neurological problems and other disabilities who receive care
at VA or military medical facilities. It provides the extrinsic
motivation of excitement and camaraderie, but more importantly, it
fosters the intrinsic motivation in each participant to find their
strength of purpose and achieve what can only be described as miracles
on a mountainside.
This event evolved from the pioneering efforts of the VA in
rehabilitation and adaptive sports. Mr. Sandy Trombetta, founder and
Director of the Winter Sports Clinic, began bringing VA patients to a
nearby mountain resort to participate in disabled ski programs in the
early 1980s. As a recreation therapist at the VA Medical Center in
Grand Junction, Colorado, he recognized the physical and mental healing
that skiing and other winter sports can provide to veterans with
disabilities. Just a few years after the first Winter Sports Clinic
held in 1987 with 20 staff members and about 90 veterans, it became
apparent more support was needed due to the therapeutic benefits and
popularity of the Clinic. The DAV answered that call and has become a
cosponsor of the event since 1991.
The Clinic has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. Last
year, more than 360 participants, including 82 injured OEF/OIF service-
members and veterans, attended from across the country along with 200
certified disabled ski instructors and several members of the U.S.
Disabled Ski Team. The Clinic holds a race training and development
program to help veterans develop their skiing abilities to an elite
level, with an ultimate goal of qualifying for U.S. Paralympic Team
participation. Several participants who learned to ski at the Clinic
are now members of the U.S. team.
Adaptive ski equipment is updated and modified for each Midwinter
Sports Clinic, and skiing is integrated with other exploratory
activities. In addition to learning Alpine and Nordic skiing,
participants are introduced to a variety of other activities and sports
such as rock climbing, scuba diving, trap shooting, horseback riding,
snowmobiling and sled hockey. The U.S. Secret Service also teaches a
self-defense course to participants who are in wheelchairs or are
visually impaired.
It is expected there will be more than 450 disabled veterans,
including nearly 120 recently injured OEF/OIF service-members and
veterans, who will ski the Rocky Mountains at the 22nd National
Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado
from March 30-April 4, 2008.
It is well established that recreation therapy plays a key role in
the rehabilitation of disabled veterans in VA medical centers
throughout the country. Correspondingly, this Clinic enhances the
physical, social, and emotional well-being of the veterans who
participate in this life changing event.
Some of these veterans have never skied before. Most have spent
months in hospitals, convinced their lives are over. A great many have
been told they would never walk again. Yet there on the majestic high
Alpine terrain of the Colorado Rockies, they learn otherwise and are
proof positive that empowerment allows them to determine their own
fate. Known for inspiring ``Miracles on a Mountainside,'' the Clinic
shows that the lives of disabled veterans can be changed forever when
they discover the challenges they can overcome. I invite you to view
the 2007 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sport Clinic DVD to get a
sense of the profound impact this event has on the participants and the
volunteers. It is an intense week that touches everyone involved.
The rehabilitation of disabled veterans through the annual Winter
Sports Clinic drives our commitment to the event as it truly reflects
DAV's mission of building better lives for our Nation's disabled
veterans and their families. In 1992 we instituted the DAV Freedom
Award at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. It is
given each year to the veteran who makes the most progress during the
week, showing outstanding courage and accomplishments in taking a giant
step forward in his or her rehabilitation process.
The award's inscription reads: ``Their accomplishments during the
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic have proven to the
world that physical disability does not bar the doors to freedom. We
salute your desire to excel so that others may follow.''
Last year's recipient, Jason Poole, hails from Cupertino,
California. He is a Marine infantryman who was injured by a massive
improvised explosive device (IED) more than two years ago while on
patrol near the Syrian border in Iraq. After two months in a coma,
Jason woke up to find his world shattered. Blind in his left eye, deaf
in his left ear, facing facial reconstruction and suffering from a
brain injury that left him unable to speak, read and walk, Jason
started out on the arduous road to recovery at the Polytrauma Center at
Palo Alto, California.
With courage, humility and the strength of a Marine, Corporal Poole
has hunkered down to do battle with the long-term effects suffered by
the thousands of servicemembers who have been injured by IED blasts in
our current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Those who have spoken with Jason noticed not only his upbeat
attitude, but also his British accent. Jason moved from England in his
teens and still carries a love for his native land. In fact, Jason was
not sworn in as a U.S. citizen until he was in recovery from his
injuries at Palo Alto. If you want to know anything about this young
man's character, know this: Jason Poole was walking point and placing
himself in harm's way for our Nation before he was fully vested as a
U.S. citizen.
Jason had progressed enough in his recovery to attend his first
Winter Sports Clinic, where he faced the intense challenge of the
mountain on his snowboard. He then took the sense of renewed
possibility and spirit of adventure bolstered by the Clinic, and went
back to Palo Alto to encourage his friends there to come with him when
he returned this year.
Everything Jason did at the 2007 National Disabled Veterans Winter
Sports Clinic was accomplished with buoyancy, enthusiasm, and
determination. He and other recipients before him serve as an example
to all participants by displaying diligence in pursuit of
rehabilitation.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement, and I will be pleased to
respond to any questions you or any Member of the Subcommittee may wish
to ask.
[The video presentation entitled, ``2007 National Disabled Veterans
Winter Sports Clinic DVD,'' is being retained in the Committee files.]
Prepared Statement of Jose Ramos, El Paso, TX (Veteran),
on behalf of Kirk M. Bauer, J.D., Executive Director, Disabled Sports
USA
Background On Disabled Sports USA
A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Disabled Sports USA was
established in 1967 by Disabled Vietnam Veterans and Veterans from the
10th Mountain Division to serve the war injured. Since that time it has
grown to serve both military and civilian adults as well as youth with
disabilities. Its chapter and national leadership still includes
disabled veterans of the Vietnam war, including its national Executive
Director who is a disabled Vietnam veteran.
Disabled Sports USA has 92 community based sports chapters
operating in 37 states offering over 20 different year round sports
programs. Sports offered include alpine and Nordic snow skiing,
snowboarding, golf, cycling, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, sailing,
outrigger canoeing, horseback riding, shooting, fishing, camping, track
and field, tennis and other activities. DS/USA's emphasis is on sports
rehabilitation and recreational activities that lead to an active and
healthy lifestyle. DS/USA also offers sports competitions and training
camps that provide a ``pipeline'' for emerging athletes who want to
train and compete for the Summer and Winter Paralympics.
Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project
For the past five years, since the war in Iraq was declared, DS/USA
in partnership with its chapters and Wounded Warrior Project has
conducted the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project. Under the
program, severely wounded servicemembers are provided the opportunity
to learn over 20 different sports as part of their rehabilitation,
while in the hospital. The types of sports conducted are determined by
the veterans themselves. Utilizing its 92 community chapters, these
disabled veterans can continue to participate in the program, in many
cases in their local communities, after they have left the hospital and
been discharged from the military; or remain on active duty. All
expenses for their participation are paid by DS/USA including airfare,
lodging, meals, adaptive sports equipment and training by experienced
adaptive sports instructors. Expenses for a family member are also
underwritten to allow the wounded warrior to share his or her
experience with the family; and keep them involved through shared
activities.
Programs are offered at the major military medical centers where
the severely wounded are treated, including Walter Reed Army Medical
Center, Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center in
San Antonio and Balboa Naval Medical Center. DS/USA also serves
patients with Traumatic Brain Injury at Palo Alto and Tampa Veterans
Hospitals. Since its inception, over 1600 severely wounded
servicemembers and their families have been served through more than
200 events in 20 different sports. Over 1,000 servicemembers and 600
family members have participated. See attached schedule of events for
2008.
The WWDSP model is based on offering immediate participation
opportunities as part of ongoing therapy and as part of recovery;
followed by continued opportunity at the community level once the
veteran is home.
Sports is particularly effective during rehabilitation because
basics of each sport can be taught in as little as one day. A quick,
successful experience learning sport, helps to provide a positive
outlook in the wounded warrior and shows him or her the way to an
active and successful future. From this new confidence the warrior is
able to progress in life in a positive way. This result is embodied in
DS/USA's motto: ``If I can do this, I can do anything!'' Currently, the
Army Center for Enhanced Performance (ACEP) (a mental skills program
based at Walter Reed Army Medical Center) is formulating a plan to
conduct outcome studies regarding the effectiveness of WWDSP
programming.
Disabled Sports USA Endorses the VA Support for Sports Festivals and
Winter and Summer Games
Disabled Sports USA endorses the Veterans Administration's support
of the Winter Sports Clinic and the PVA Summer Wheelchair Games as top
sports events that help disabled veterans become active and
competitive. It also endorses the Paralympic Sports Festivals held for
disabled veterans and active duty military at the U.S. Olympic Training
Centers. These programs help to introduce wounded warriors to the
opportunities in Paralympic and other competitive sports programs.
Disabled Sports Recommends Expanding and Modifying the VA Sports
Program
Based on 40 years' experience in disability sport and recreation,
Disabled Sports USA recommends that the VA consider expanding support
of programming, to include non-competitive, recreational activities in
or near the communities where the disabled veteran lives. These regular
activities, integrated with the community, help establish an active
lifestyle that will reduce health risks and make for a fuller life.
This also helps with the reintegration of the disabled veteran into
community life. This recommendation is based on evaluation tools,
conducted after every WWDSP activity, with feedback provided by both
the wounded warrior, family and medical staff.
The focus should be directed to providing active, healthy
recreational activities and lifestyles for disabled veterans, in their
local communities and away from emphasis on once-a-year, national
competitions. In this way will we all help create a generation of
physically active, disabled veterans who are physically, mentally and
emotionally healthier.
These activities should be supported in the communities where the
veterans live and not just at selected national events that occur once
or twice a year. This orientation will encourage regular exercise and a
healthier lifestyle, since the activities are available on a daily or
weekly basis, close to home. They should include Paralympic activities
such as track and field, power lifting and others; but should also
include recreational activities that promote an active lifestyle.
It is our experience based on serving more than 1000 injured
servicemembers since 2003, that the new generation of servicemembers
are demanding a new generation of sporting choices. For example SCUBA,
rock climbing, hiking, rafting, wake boarding, hunting, fishing,
snowboarding, kayaking and other extreme endurance and outdoor
activities are in demand.
Based on our experiences for 40 years, only a small percentage of
our overall participants actually engage in Paralympic level sports.
This includes disabled veterans. This runs between 2% and 5% of our
groups of both civilian and military disabled youth and adults. The
vast majority do not participate for a variety of reasons including
skill levels, time needed for training, family and work
responsibilities and cost.
True to this model, the majority of wounded warriors that DS/USA
has served during the past five years, want to stay active and
challenge themselves athletically; but they have no desire or time to
train to be Paralympians. Many want to pursue activities they love and
did before their injury, with fishing, hunting and winter sports being
among the most popular.
It is particularly difficult for those with Traumatic Brain Injury
to understand the distinctions between who is and isn't able to
compete--with the potential to face disappointment when they are
ultimately unable to compete alongside their comrades in Paralympic
Sport. TBI is one of the major categories of injury in OEF/OIF.
Many of the wounded warriors, who become disabled veterans with
disability ratings from the VA, do not have injuries that would qualify
them for the Paralympic Games. Thus an entire group of service-
connected disabled veterans do not ultimately qualify for or benefit
from the Paralympic agenda; but still need and want to become active
again in sports and recreation.
VA Policy Change Needed
In order to do this, the VA will need to change its policy of only
supporting events which are 100% veteran participation; and allow for
participation in events and activities in which the majority of
participants are non-veterans. This change would allow disabled
veterans to participate in their chosen activity at their skill level;
and not restrict veterans to what is available nationally. The VA can
draw precedent for taking this action in the recently passed
legislation with Department of Defense. Under that legislation, funding
is allowed for active duty military who want to pursue Paralympic
Sports at events where only 10% of participants are military.
VA Rule Change which May Adversely Affect Veterans in Wheelchairs
We would also like to draw attention to a little known rule change
which we have recently learned is being considered within the VA; which
may adversely affect sports participation for the disabled veteran who
uses a wheelchair. Presently, paralyzed veterans can secure a hand-
cycle as a piece of exercise equipment needed to promote fitness and
health. They are also authorized one sports wheelchair to participate
in sports like tennis, basketball and track and field.
We understand that the VA wants to reclassify the hand-cycle as a
sports wheelchair. If that happens, then the paralyzed veteran may have
to choose between securing a sports wheelchair and a hand-cycle, since
they are only authorized one sports wheelchair. If he or she chooses
the cycle, then that disabled veteran will not be able to secure a
sports wheelchair to participate in tennis, wheelchair basketball,
wheeling and other healthful activities.
Health Benefits and Reduced Healthcare Costs
By expanding its sports programs to include activities that are
recreational in nature and close to home, the VA will better serve
disabled veterans, promote fitness, provide a healthy lifestyle leading
to success in life. This is not only good for the veteran, it is good
for the government. Long term, regular exercise, along with more
healthful diets, will reduce health care costs to the VA.
Many studies have shown that 70% of our most severe illnesses
including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and
certain cancers; are due to lack of regular exercise and poor eating
habits. Maintaining regular physical activity and healthy eating habits
will reduce these diseases in the veteran.
For the population as a whole, studies show that Americans are
becoming increasingly obese and are inactive. Additional studies show
that those with disabilities are even more unfit with higher levels of
obesity and lower cardiovascular fitness. However, like their non-
disabled counterparts, those with a disability can benefit from
physical fitness activities and can see health and fitness improve
through regular exercise.
Costs for the programs recommended here can be contained by
restricting support only to those veterans with specific levels of
disability ratings and reimbursing for activities in which the veteran
participates on a regular basis and not just occasionally.
Prepared Statement of Dan D. Scott, M.D., National Medical Director,
National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado
Health Care System, Veterans Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman and members of the Subcommittee. I
am pleased to be here to discuss the ways the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) encourages rehabilitation through sports.
Rehabilitation is the process of returning an individual to a
rewarding and productive life following an injury or disease that
causes a functional decline in the individual's mental and/or physical
abilities. Most people have experienced or know someone who has
experienced such a decline. The immediate intervention usually involves
interaction with a medical professional and, in some cases,
hospitalization. After the acute disease process or injury has been
stabilized, physicians can determine if a loss of function has
occurred. This can result from loss of limb, cognitive impairment,
neurological injury or even de-conditioning from inactivity. The
psychological impact of functional decline can be difficult, and each
individual must first accept their condition and then learn to function
in a new and different capacity.
Acute rehabilitation usually involves an interdisciplinary model
with interventions from Physiatry, Nursing, Physical Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Recreation
Therapy, Psychology and Social Work or Case Management. These services
are usually begun while an inpatient. Once the individual has reached
the maximum level of functionality both physically and emotionally, he
or she is usually discharged from the hospital to continue his or her
recovery as an outpatient. At this point, the individual may need to
redefine his or her role identity based upon the injury.
VA is dedicated to ensuring every veteran involved in
rehabilitation is able to focus on his or her abilities to participate
fully in daily life. One of the most effective programs VA offers is
the National Rehabilitation Special Events Program, which consists of
four major events: the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the National
Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Creative
Arts Festival, and the National Veterans Golden Age Games. These four
events demonstrate VA's commitment to rehabilitation as each event
serves a specific population to provide a large cross section of
veterans with a wide range of rehabilitative services.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games
Wheelchair sports began in the United States after World War II,
when disabled veterans began playing basketball in VA medical centers
(VAMCs) across the country as a recreational and therapeutic exercise.
In 1980, VA established a Recreation Therapy Service, and began
developing the idea of using wheelchair athletics to promote
rehabilitation of disabled veterans. In 1981, the ``International Year
of Disabled Persons,'' 74 veterans from 14 states participated in the
first National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Richmond, VA. Tom Brown,
recreation therapist and current National Director, and two colleagues
founded this event, which offered a variety of sports where veterans
could participate. Events ranged from table tennis to weightlifting,
and was immensely popular and grew rapidly.
In 1985, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) joined with VA to host
the Games and offered expertise and resources to ensure these Games
would continue providing rehabilitative services to veterans with
disabilities. PVA recruited corporate sponsors and individual donors to
allow more veterans to participate. Each year, a different VAMC
volunteers to host the Games. Hosting requires a total commitment from
the VAMC and the local PVA chapter to ensure the success of each year's
Games. In planning the Games, the local VAMC and its employees
reinforce the value of rehabilitation through wheelchair sports and
become even more committed to providing the best care possible to
veterans. The Games require approximately 2,000 volunteers, most from
the host city, providing another avenue for promoting rehabilitation
through sports in the community-at-large and emphasizing the ability of
veterans to overcome everyday obstacles and lead productive lives. The
games are the largest annual wheelchair sporting event in the world. In
2007, 513 wheelchair athletes from 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the
United Kingdom competed at the Games in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Games
offer 17 medal events and one exhibition event, which is used to
introduce additional events to the competitors. These exhibitions have
proven extremely popular.
Table 1--Number of Athletes Competing in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, (1981-2007)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Location Number of Athletes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1981 Richmond, VA 74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982 Milwaukee, WI 137
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983 Long Beach, CA 178
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984 Brockton, MA 272
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 College Park, MD 280
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986 Dallas, TX 360
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 Ann Arbor, MI 389
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 San Antonio, TX 460
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989 Long Beach, CA 397
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 New Orleans, LA 550
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 Miami, FL 487
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 Dayton, OH 492
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993 San Antonio, TX 454
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 Kansas City, MO 473
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 Atlanta, GA 519
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 Seattle, WA 487
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 San Diego, CA 577
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 Pittsburgh, PA 539
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 San Juan, PR 555
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 San Antonio, TX 587
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 New York, NY 523
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 Cleveland, OH 484
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 Long Beach, CA 540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 St. Louis, MO 518
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 Minneapolis, MN 498
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 Anchorage, AK 527
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 Milwaukee, WI 513
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2--Annual Events
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Guns Quad Rugby
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archery Slalom
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basketball Softball
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bowling Swimming
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Events--Discus, Javelin, Shot Put Table Tennis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand Cycling Track
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motor Rally Trap Shooting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Ball Weightlifting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Power Soccer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exhibition Events (change from year to year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curling Sled Hockey
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wheelchair Golf Tennis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
In the early eighties, Sandy Trombetta, a recreation therapist at
the Grand Junction, Colorado, VAMC began taking veterans with
disabilities skiing as part of their rehabilitation program. Because of
the success of these early efforts, Mr. Trombetta, currently the
National Director of the Winter Sports Clinic, founded the National
Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in 1987 to teach veterans with
disabilities the benefits of overcoming their physical challenges
through participation in winter sports. In September 2008, VA will
launch a pilot program for a Summer Sports Clinic based upon the same
principles. The Winter Sports Clinic was first held at Powderhorn
Resort outside of Grand Junction, CO, with 90 participants and 20 VA
staff members sharing this amazing opportunity. The Winter Sports
Clinic has had three homes over its 21 year lifetime: Powderhorn
Resort, CO; Crested Butte, CO; and Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO.
In 1991, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) became a cosponsor of
this event and has assisted with corporate and individual fundraising
efforts to ensure the provision of hands-on instruction and
rehabilitation for America's veterans with disabilities. Participation
in this event is open to U.S. military veterans and active duty
military with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries,
amputations, visual impairments, neurological diseases, and other
disabilities. In the 2007 Winter Sports Clinic, in addition to other
veteran participants, 124 active duty servicemembers from Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) participated.
More than 200 certified ski instructors for the disabled and hundreds
of volunteers, both from VA and the community, make this event a
success every year. The Winter Sports Clinic teaches participants that
having a physical or visual disability does not preclude participating
in or achieving an active and rewarding life. It offers opportunities
to overcome challenges faced in their daily lives through learning
winter sports skills and participating in the adaptive workshops while
enjoying the camaraderie and support of other veterans.
Table 3--National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, (1987-2007)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Location Number of Participants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 Powderhorn Mountain, CO 90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 Powderhorn Mountain, CO 106
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989 Powderhorn Mountain, CO 151
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 Powderhorn Mountain, CO 171
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 Powderhorn Mountain, CO 186
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 226
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993 Crested Butte, CO 238
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 Crested Butte, CO 256
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 Crested Butte, CO 279
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 Crested Butte, CO 287
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 Crested Butte, CO 294
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 Crested Butte, CO 313
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 Crested Butte, CO 303
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 Crested Butte, CO 331
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 351
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 350
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 305
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 325
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 323
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 340
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO 370
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 4--National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic Activities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adaptive skiing with mono-skis and bi-skis
Instruction in adaptive Alpine (downhill)
Instruction in Nordic (cross-country) skiing for stand-up skiers,
including
the visually impaired
Scuba diving
Sled hockey
Snowshoeing
Snowmobiling
Rock climbing
Trap shooting
Fencing
Golf
Snow Cat/Gondola Rides
Educational and instructional workshops on self-defense and other topics
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival began as two separate
competitions: ``VET ARTS'', and ``The National Music Competition for
Veterans.'' The first was developed by Muriel Barbour, a recreation
therapist at the VAMC Center in Richmond, VA in 1981. The second
competition was a performing arts competition, created in 1982 by
Shirley Jefferies, a recreation therapist at the VAMC in Waco, TX.
These two programs merged in 1989 to become the National Veterans
Creative Arts Festival. Drama and dance divisions were added that year
to the Festival. In 2005, the fifth division, creative writing, was
added. The competition includes 50 art categories, with original
artwork to crafts and paint-by-number kits. There are 120 categories in
the areas of music, dance, drama and creative writing. Creative writing
includes original works in poetry, essay and short stories.
VA, the American Legion Auxiliary, Help Hospitalized Veterans
cosponsor the National Creative Arts Festival in conjunction with other
local and national sponsors.
The Festival showcases the artistic achievements in the five
divisions from veterans from VA hospitals across the United States.
This event does not represent a competition at the Festival itself as
all entries have been judged locally prior to being invited to the
national Arts Festival. More than 2,800 veterans from nearly 100 VA
medical facilities entered the competitions in 2007.
During the week of the Festival, community artists offer workshops
to the participants, educating them in various artistic modalities.
Each year highlights a live stage production, complete with orchestral
accompaniment, which is performed by participating veterans who have
achieved medal-winning status prior to attending. This production is
developed, rehearsed and presented at the culmination of the week's
activities.
The National Veterans Golden Age Games
This event was first held in 1985 in Albany, GA with 115
competitors from VA facilities across the country. The Golden Age Games
provide therapeutic recreation through sports and other events for
veterans 55 years of age and older who are receiving care at any VA
facility. The Games have become the ``premier senior adaptive
rehabilitation program'' in the United States. They offer multiple
sporting events, which have been adapted to meet the specific needs of
the competitors, including those with visual impairments and those
using wheelchairs. There are separate age groups and gender divisions.
The over-70 group makes up the largest category of competitors in the
Games, and the aging Vietnam veterans comprise the largest group by
period of service. The program has grown from 115 competitors in 1985
to 622 competitors in 2007, making it the largest of VA's
rehabilitative special events. This program emphasizes the importance
of wellness and fitness for our aging veteran population. (Table 5)
Table 5--National Veterans Golden Age Games, (1985-2008)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Location Host VA Medical Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 Albany, GA Atlanta and Dublin VAMCs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 Ft. Lyon, CO Ft. Lyon VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 Marion, IN Marion VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 Sherman, TX Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 St. Petersburg, FL Bay Pines VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992 Ypsilanti, MI Ann Arbor VA Medical Center
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993 Johnson City, TN Mountain Home VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 Lisle, IL Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Hospital
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 Dallas, TX Dallas VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 Riverside, CA Jerry L. Pettis VAMC, Loma Linda
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 Leavenworth, KS Dwight D. Eisenhower VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 Leesburg, VA VA Capitol Network
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 Geneva, NY Canandaigua VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 Topeka, KS VA Heartland Network
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 Duncanville, TX VA North Texas Healthcare System
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 Los Angeles, CA VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 Orono, ME Togus VAMC and Regional Office
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 Fresno, CA VA Central California Healthcare System
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 Norman, OK Oklahoma City VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 Hampton, VA Hampton VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007 Houston, TX Michael E. DeBakey VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 Indianapolis, IN Richard L. Roudebush VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion
The Department of Veterans Affairs National Rehabilitation Special
Events program demonstrates VA's commitment to the rehabilitative needs
of veterans. This program offers services for the acutely injured or
infirmed and for those with chronic or progressive disabilities to
encourage participation of the newly injured, both veterans and active
duty servicemembers. The participants in these programs act as mentors
and comrades to their fellow veterans, offering encouragement and
support as the newest participants learn the value of therapeutic
recreation as a means to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers in
their daily lives. Lessons learned by participating in these events
offer life-changing opportunities, which carryover for the novice and
for the most experienced participants.
The National Rehabilitation Special Events are managed by VA's
Office of National Programs and Special Events, which was established
in 2000. This office also oversees the National Veterans Day program
and other special events. In addition, it is also responsible for
implementing VA's current memorandum of understanding with the United
States Olympic Committee for Paralympic Athlete Development.
Table 6--Websites for the National Rehabilitation Special Events
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www1.va.gov/OPA/speceven/
http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/nvwg/2007/default.cfm
http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2007/default.cfm
http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/caf/2007/default.cfm
http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/gag/2007/default.cfm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[The PowerPoint presentation, entitled, ``Rehabilitation through
Sports,'' submitted by Dr. Scott, Director, National Veterans
Wheelchair Games, will be retained in the Committee files. The video
presentation entitled, ``National Disabled Veterans Sports Clinic,''
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs National Rehabilitation
Special Events, will be retained in the Committee files.]
Prepared Statement of Charles Huebner, Chief of Paralympics,
United States Olympic Committee
Good afternoon Madam Chairwoman and members of the Subcommittee. My
name is Charles Huebner and I am the Chief of Paralympics, for the
United States Olympic Committee (``USOC'') which is headquartered in
Colorado Springs, Colorado. I appreciate the opportunity to testify on
our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve those
men and women rehabilitating from injuries suffered while serving their
country.
In 1998 Congress gave the United States Olympic Committee the
additional responsibility of serving as the National Paralympic
Committee for the United States, a responsibility that in most
participating Olympic countries is undertaken by a separate
organization. Paralympic sport is athletic activity for physically
disabled men and women and the Paralympic Games are a world-class
competition for elite athletes conducted approximately two weeks after,
and at most of the same venues as the Olympic Games.
Over the last decade, and because of the joint efforts and programs
conducted by the USOC and a variety of organizations ranging from the
Department of Veterans Affairs to Disabled Sport USA, interest and
participation in Paralympic sport has grown exponentially in the United
States and now also involves thousands of injured military and veterans
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The focus on the military is most
appropriate since the Paralympic Movement began shortly after World War
II utilizing sports as a form of rehabilitation for the injured
warriors of the Greatest Generation.
I want to use this opportunity to thank Chairman Filner for
introducing H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic Committee Paralympic
Program Act of 2007,'' and Ranking Member Buyer for his bill, H.R.
1370, ``The Disabled Veterans Sports and Special Events Promotion Act
of 2007.'' Both legislative proposals would provide the USOC with much-
needed tools and resources that would enable us to expand our existing
efforts to provide services in DoD and VA medical centers and in the
home communities of our injured warriors throughout their transition
from active duty to veterans' status.
The USOC began its Paralympic Military Program in 2003 and since
that time over 1200 injured active duty military and veterans have
participated in our ``Paralympic Military Program'' including
Paralympic Sport Camps at USOC training facilities in Colorado Springs
and Chula Vista, California, which is in Chairman Filner's
Congressional District. The Military Sports Camps provide an
introduction to Paralympic Sport, but also the introduction of
Paralympians that serve as mentors to injured military personnel and
veterans. While these programs have been an unqualified success, it is
clear that these efforts constitute just the beginning of what is
required. We are now in the process of setting up permanent Paralympic
programs to serve our injured military at the four major DoD Medical
Centers, and in 2008 we expect to provide services for more than 2500
injured military personnel at a combination of locations and facilities
around the country that conduct programs for physically disabled men
and women.
Our next objective is to provide these Paralympic services to our
veterans in their communities. If either H.R. 4255 or H.R. 1370 is
enacted, the USOC will be able to set up major Paralympic programs near
the major VA rehabilitation hospitals and centers. We will also be able
to extend our reach into the communities to which our veterans will be
returning so that they will have continued access to Paralympic
programs as a tool for their rehabilitation and a vehicle for their
return to an active lifestyle. Components of the Paralympic Veterans
and Military Program include national training of community leaders to
implement Paralympic sport programs at the community level; Paralympic
clinics and mentor visits at military and VA installations, and
``Paralympic Military Sports Camps,'' conducted at our Olympic Training
Centers. We believe that we would not have made this much progress had
the USOC not developed a very positive and productive working
relationship with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which began with
a Memorandum of Understanding entered into in November 2005. Since then
we have collaborated on numerous activities including providing clinic
and mentor support at the National Veteran Games, Veterans Winter Sport
Clinics and the development of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Clinics in
Augusta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida.
Today there are more than 21 million Americans with a physical
disability. Less than 10% of those Americans participate in daily
physical activity. With an increase of more than 27,000 injured
military personnel, the system to support our heroes needs strategic
investment in infrastructure.
In the past year, the U.S. Olympic Committee has deployed a plan to
address this crisis with a specific emphasis on injured military
personnel and veterans. In April of this year the USOC is hosting the
inaugural Olympic University ``Developing Amazing Leaders'' conference
to train community and military leaders on how to develop self-
sustaining Paralympic community-based programs. Our goal is to have
established new Paralympic community-based programs in 75 communities
by the end of 2008, and 250 communities by the end of 2012.
This strategy in collaboration with Paralympic organizations and
groups like the National Recreation and Parks Association will allow us
to meet a critical need not only at the military installations, but
more importantly in the hometowns of returning veterans, especially in
rural areas that are currently not served. The hometown is an essential
area where that extension of rehabilitation and reintegration into
community is vital. These programs would be community extensions at
various Military Medical Centers, Military Installations, and VA
facilities that are identified in collaboration with our partners at
the Veterans Administration.
That is why Chairman Filner's proposed legislation, H.R. 4255, and
Ranking Member Buyer's bill, H.R. 1370, are so important. Both bills
provide necessary resources that will enable us to accomplish many of
these objectives and to serve our disabled veterans. With the
investment called for by these bills, along with the significant
contribution by the USOC and Paralympic organizations nationwide, we
will be able to better meet the growing need to serve our injured
Veterans and return them to active and productive lifestyles in their
communities.
I want to emphasize that we are currently and will continue to
engage in these activities regardless of what happens to this
legislation because injured military personnel are the soul of the
Paralympic Movement. And when I speak of the ``Paralympic Movement'' I
am not talking about an exclusive number of persons that will make
future Paralympic teams. Rather, I am speaking of a movement and
individuals with physical disabilities who are educated, employed,
active in their communities, promote excellence, ability and inspire
Americans to achieve and overcome obstacles. However, it is likely that
by 2008, there will be one or more former servicemembers that will
qualify to represent their country again at the Paralympic Games. And
that will be a great achievement and story for America, and the
American people.
The bills proposed by Chairman Filner and Congressman Buyer are
testimony to the need of veterans for activities and programs that
enable them to return to a full and active life. The United States
Olympic Committee, through its Paralympic Division, wants to be an
active participant in serving a most deserving segment of our
population. I would like to close with a brief video from one of our
Paralympic Military Sport Camps. Chairman and members, I believe this
video illustrates the power of Paralympic sport and Paralympic mentors
for our injured Veterans to not only rehabilitate physically, but also
mentally and spiritually. Thank you.
[The video presentation entitled, ``Paralympic Military Summit-San
Diego,'' dated November 2005, will be retained in the Committee files.]