[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 127 (Friday, October 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10855-S10856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND:
  S. 2956. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the 
Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to provide a support system 
for members of the Armed Forces who incur severe disabilities; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill of great 
importance to our most severely injured troops who are carrying the 
battle to the terrorists. This legislation will assist the Department 
of Defense by granting reprogramming authority to the Army to transfer 
funds to the Army's Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3) and by 
expanding the program to cover all the Armed Services.
  The Disabled Soldier Support System this legislation will support was 
established just this year by the former Vice Chief of Staff of the 
Army, General George W. Casey, who realized after visiting severely 
wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital that more support was 
needed to help these soldiers make the transition from military to 
civilian life.
  The program the Army currently has in place is budgeted for $ one 
million and has a staff of less than 10 people. It is reported to have 
helped over 200 soldiers but we have a much larger group of seriously 
wounded troops that need our help. Of the nearly 7,000 troops who have 
been wounded approximately 57 percent were so severely injured that 
they will not be able to return to active duty.
  The Administration is doing all it can but we know that the 
bureaucracy is sometimes slow to respond and react rapidly to changing 
conditions. The Army is not the only Service Component with a growing 
patient load. That is why this legislation will expand this worthy 
program to all branches of the Armed Services.
  The patriots who are wounded while serving in support of our defense 
deserve the best care and assistance this Nation can deliver. That is 
why I am honored to submit this legislation today. It is my hope that 
my colleagues will put their full support behind this legislation and 
find a way to get it passed when we return later this year.
  I thank my co-sponsors Senator's Kennedy, Burns and Nelson of Florida 
along with Congressman ``Dutch'' Ruppersberger who introduced this 
legislation in the House in early September and Steve Robinson, 
National Gulf War Resource Center, who referred Congressman 
Ruppersberger to my office.

[[Page S10856]]

  While the current debate continues regarding U.S. foreign policy 
there is no debate about doing all that is necessary to help our troops 
prevail on the battlefield--or to help those who are severely wounded 
on the field of battle to recover and make the transition from military 
to civilian life.
  As the Chairman of VA-HUD I continue to work with my distinguished 
colleague Senator Mikulski to make the transition from the military 
support system to the VA support system as seamless as possible. This 
legislation will help improve the support system in the Department of 
Defense and make the work we are doing with the VA that much easier.
  This legislation is vital for the welfare of our troops, their loved 
ones and families, and for the Department of Defense and the Department 
of Veterans Affairs. That is why I hope my colleagues will support this 
bill and work to get it passed before years end.
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