[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5818-5819]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 75--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO APPOINT DOCTORS 
      OF CHIROPRACTIC AS COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE ARMED FORCES

  Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Mr. Harkin) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services:

                            S. Con. Res. 75

       Whereas the Secretary of Defense has statutory authority 
     under section 3070 of title 10, United States Code, to 
     appoint doctors of chiropractic as commissioned officers in 
     the Armed Forces, but has not yet made such appointments;
       Whereas the urgent needs of military personnel in the field 
     of operations include access to the widest possible range of 
     health care options, especially in the area of care of the 
     spine and related structures of the body;
       Whereas providing military personnel in the field of 
     operations with access to chiropractic care will increase the 
     cost effectiveness of military health care expenditures by 
     taking advantage of the conservative, drugless, and non-
     surgical care option offered by chiropractic care;
       Whereas back injuries are the leading cause of lost service 
     time and disability in the Armed Forces;

[[Page 5819]]

       Whereas military personnel in the field of operations or on 
     shipboard can access chiropractic care only through 
     commissioned chiropractic officers;
       Whereas access to chiropractic care through commissioned 
     chiropractic officers will enhance the combat readiness of 
     military personnel by offering a non-pharmaceutical option 
     for the health care needs of such personnel; and
       Whereas the appointment of doctors of chiropractic as 
     commissioned offices will make use of a highly skilled and 
     trained pool of health care professionals and help to meet 
     the growing demand for chiropractic care in the Armed Forces: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     Secretary of Defense should take immediate steps to establish 
     a career path for doctors of chiropractic to be appointed as 
     commissioned officers in all branches of the Armed Forces for 
     purposes of providing chiropractic services to members of the 
     Armed Forces.

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