[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 152 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12954-S12955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CHAMBLISS:
  S. 2021. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish 
in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Office of National Veterans 
Sports Programs and Special Events; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce my bill, the 
``Disabled Veterans Sports and Special Events Promotion Act of 2005''.
  We discovered during World War II that sports and physical activity 
play a vital role in the rehabilitation of recently disabled military 
personnel. Young service members who had just returned from WWII and 
were undergoing rehabilitation were drawn to sports and other team 
activities. The appeal of sports for these veterans served as more than 
just a rehabilitation technique. In fact, sports served as a source of 
motivation as well as a path to a fuller life for young people in the 
aftermath of a disability. As would be expected, many of these veterans 
became exceptional athletes and sought opportunities for competition 
and excellence in the new world of competitive Paralympic sports.
  With the onset of hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq, a new 
generation of U.S. military personnel with disabilities has emerged. 
These newly-disabled men and women are young, ambitious, goal-oriented 
and in their physical prime. Sport, which played a fundamental role for 
returning veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, has the 
capacity to assist military personnel in adjusting to life with a 
disability. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and its 
Paralympic partners recognize the opportunity to play a key role in the 
lives of returning military personnel with newly acquired disabilities.
  The USOC Paralympic Military Program is a collaborative effort among 
the USOC, military installations and

[[Page S12955]]

commands, Veterans' Affairs (VA) offices and programs, and Paralympic 
organizations nationwide that are conducting Paralympic sport programs 
for active duty military personnel and veterans who have physical 
disabilities.
  The Program has been established to enable severely injured service 
members and veterans to enhance their rehabilitation, readiness and 
lifestyle through participation in Paralympic sports. The Program is 
designed for recently injured service members, 2001 and after, 
Paralympic-eligible disabilities; however, other service members and 
veterans with physical disabilities who are able to engage in program 
activities are welcome. Paralympic-eligible disabilities are: 
amputations, visual impairments, Brain injuries affecting physical 
mobility, spinal cord injuries and, other mobility-impairing 
disabilities.
  This bill would establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs 
an Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events which 
would establish and carry out sports programs for disabled veterans. In 
addition, the office would arrange for the VA to sponsor sports 
programs for disabled veterans conducted by other groups if the 
Secretary detennines that the programs are consistent with the VA's 
goals and missions. The office would provide for, facilitate, and 
encourage disabled veterans to participate in these programs. Finally, 
the office will cooperate with the USOC and their Paralympic Military 
Program to promote participation of disabled veterans in the 
Paralympics.
  This bill allows those injured in service to our country the option 
to regain a healthy, active lifestyle through sport and competition. 
Competing in sports such as cycling, fencing, shooting, sled hockey, 
table tennis, and sitting volleyball gives these injured veterans the 
opportunity to rehabilitate their bodies and minds while competing at 
the highest level. It is my hope that as we proceed with this bill, we 
keep the people at the receiving end of our decisions and deliberations 
foremost in our minds.
  I ask my colleagues to support this bill.
                                 ______