[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 109 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1288-E1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5856) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes:

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chair, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Brain 
Injury Task Force, I have spent the last eleven years I have fought for 
patients with brain injuries, both on and off the battlefield. We all 
know that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the signature wound of the 
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and while we made great progress on 
ensuring our soldiers have the best care, there is still more work to 
be done.
  An Institute of Medicine study was released last week about the 
effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on our troops who have 
served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am particularly concerned with the 
report's analysis of the Department of Defense's efforts to identify 
and treat PTSD. The 2010 Defense Authorization required this study as 
well as mandated the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to report a response to this report the relevant Committees by 
no later than January 1, 2013.
  As this report shows, there is still more work to be done when it 
comes to caring for our soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress 
Disorder. The report notes that the prevalence of PTSD in 2.6 million 
service members who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan is at a 
staggering rate of 13% to 20%. This statistic points to the importance 
of finding better ways to identify and treat this ailment. The report's 
many recommendations include the need for the Department of Defense to 
collect data on the delivery and effectiveness of all prevention, 
screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitative services currently 
in use to determine

[[Page E1289]]

best practices, as well as ensuring that PTSD screening occurs once a 
year. The report also points out barriers to care faced by returning 
soldiers to accessing care.
  It is clear that the Department of Defense must do more to ensure 
that soldiers who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are 
identified, the effectiveness of treatments are tracked, and that 
returning soldiers suffering from PTSD are encouraged to come out of 
the shadows. Making sure that funding for Defense Health programs and 
research into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder addresses the concerns 
raised in the IOM report is extremely important. This year's Defense 
Appropriations bill provides $125 million for traumatic brain injury 
and psychological health research, and $30 million for suicide 
prevention and outreach programs. We must continue to make the 
investments in these critical areas to ensure the health and safety of 
all our returning soldiers.
  I hope that going forward, these recommendations will be factored 
into the research and funding undertaken by the Department of Defense-
Defense Health Programs. With continued work and adequate funding for 
research and treatment for PTSD and TBI, I know our service members 
will be able to attain improved health outcomes, live more productive 
and satisfying lives, and ultimately, save our nation millions of 
dollars in future care costs.

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