[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 20 (Thursday, February 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mr. Frist, Mr. Nelson of Florida, 
        and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 2293. A bill to authorize a military construction project for the 
construction of an advanced training skills facility at Brooke Army 
Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President I am reminded daily of the sacrifice of the 
men and women of this country who serve or have loved ones who serve in 
our armed forces. As a Tennessean I often think of the courage and 
honor displayed by members of the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell 
and the many Guardsmen and Reservists from my State who have served in 
both Iraq and Afghanistan. These soldiers, many of whom call Tennessee 
home, make great sacrifices for our Nation. I am saddened to think 
about those who have been wounded in recent military operations and in 
some cases are so severely injured that they require extensive medical 
care, along with years of treatment and rehabilitation. Their future 
quality of life and ability to provide for their families depends on 
the treatment and rehabilitation they receive from the country they 
have served.
  As a physician I marvel at the great work of my colleagues in the 
Armed Services Medical Commands who treat the most severely injured 
military personnel. The use of improvised explosive devices in Iraq has 
resulted in many injuries including amputations, head trauma, and in 
some cases partial and full paralysis. We must meet the care and 
rehabilitation needs of the soldiers who have sacrificed so much for 
our country.
  With this in mind I have joined with Senator Lieberman to sponsor a 
bill to authorize the construction of a world-class state-of-the-art 
advanced training skills facility at Brooke Army Medical Center. This 
center will not only serve military personnel disabled in operations in 
Iraq and Afghanistan, but will also provide care to those severely 
injured in other operations and in the normal performance of their 
duties, both combat and non-combat related.
  This center will provide necessary space and facilities for the 
rehabilitation needs of the patients and their caregivers. It will be 
constructed on a site sufficient in size to meet the needs of the 
center's patients and caregivers and will include top of the line 
indoor and outdoor facilities, a child care center, and other needed 
support facilities. I am proud of the service of our military personnel 
both past and present, and this new facility will go a long way in 
helping to meet their needs both now and into the future.
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