[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5606-5607]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1230
 WE MUST LIVE UP TO OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION

  (Mr. TURNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I participated in a 
Government Reform hearing at Walter Reed Hospital.
  During that hearing, we heard from soldiers wounded in the defense of 
our Nation and their families. Like most Americans, I was disappointed 
and saddened by what we learned. What we heard represents an absolute 
failure of military leadership and accountability.
  Defense Secretary Gates has called for a review of all service branch 
medical facilities. Yesterday, the President announced the creation of 
a bipartisan commission to examine all U.S. military and veterans care 
facilities. The commission will be headed by former Senator Bob Dole 
and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala.
  In addition to the Government Reform Committee, I serve on the House 
Armed Services Committee and on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Both

[[Page 5607]]

committees have upcoming hearings on the care and condition of soldiers 
at Walter Reed Hospital.
  We take seriously the health care of those who have provided service 
to our Nation. There is no excuse for what happened at Walter Reed 
Hospital. We must live up to our obligations to those who have served 
our Nation at such personal sacrifice.

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