[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 6086]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER

  (Mr. KLINE of Minnesota asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to add my voice to 
those deeply disappointed by conditions found at Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center. The physical infrastructure and administrative problems 
revealed are absolutely inexcusable. As a Nation and as a military, we 
have a responsibility to provide both top-quality acute care and top-
quality outpatient treatment.
  The fine doctors and nurses in Iraq; at Landstuhl, Germany; and at 
Walter Reed provide excellent medical care that has saved countless 
lives. But it is clear that a lack of leadership and administrative 
initiative at the top created these shameful conditions.
  The American military has historically entrusted the ultimate 
responsibility and accountability to those in command. I was pleased 
that the Army leadership followed that proud tradition, and I am 
hopeful that Walter Reed's new commander, Major General Eric R. 
Schoomaker, will rebuild trust in the Army's medical service. I am also 
hopeful that a number of corrective actions announced last week by Army 
Chief of Staff Peter Schoomaker will help ensure each soldier receives 
the care which he or she deserves and that no one, no one, falls 
through the cracks.

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