    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [March 3, 2007]
    [Pages 226-228]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    March 3, 2007

        Good morning. One of my most solemn experiences as President is
    visiting men and women recovering from wounds they suffered in defense
    of our country. Spending time with these wounded warriors is also
    inspiring, because so many of them bring the same courage they showed on
    the battlefield to their battle for recovery.
        These service men and women deserve the thanks of our country, and
    they deserve the best care our Nation can provide. That is why I was
    deeply troubled by recent reports of substandard conditions at Walter
    Reed Army Medical Center. Most of the people working at Walter Reed are
    dedicated professionals. These fine doctors, nurses, and therapists care
    deeply about

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    our wounded troops, and they work day and night to help them. Yet some
    of our troops at Walter Reed have experienced bureaucratic delays and
    living conditions that are less than they deserve. This is unacceptable
    to me; it is unacceptable to our country; and it's not going to
    continue.
        On hearing the reports about Walter Reed, I asked Secretary of
    Defense Bob Gates to assess the situation
    firsthand and report back to me. He confirmed that there are real
    problems at Walter Reed, and he's taken action to hold people
    accountable, including relieving the general in charge of the facility. Secretary Gates has also formed
    an independent review group that will investigate how this situation was
    allowed to happen, how it can be fixed, and how we can prevent it from
    happening again. Walter Reed has a long tradition of outstanding medical
    service, and my administration will ensure that the soldiers recovering
    there are treated with the dignity and respect they have earned.
        As we work to improve conditions at Walter Reed, we're also taking
    steps to find out whether similar problems have occurred at other
    military and veterans hospitals. So I'm announcing that my
    administration is creating a bipartisan Presidential commission to
    conduct a comprehensive review of the care America is providing our
    wounded service men and women. This review will examine their treatment
    from the time they leave the battlefield through their return to
    civilian life as veterans, so we can ensure that we are meeting their
    physical and mental health needs. In the coming days, I will announce
    the members of this commission and set a firm deadline for them to
    report back to me with their recommendations.
        We will use the commission's recommendations as part of our ongoing
    effort to improve our service to our Nation's veterans. Since 2001,
    we've helped over one million more veterans take advantage of the VA
    health care system, and with my 2008 budget proposal, we will have
    increased the VA's health care budget by 83 percent over the past 6
    years, from about $20 billion to more than $36 billion. Overall, I'm
    asking Congress for more than $86 billion for veterans' services this
    year. If Congress approves my request, this would amount to a 77-percent
    increase since I took office and the highest level of support for
    veterans in American history.
        The men and women recovering at Walter Reed and our other military
    hospitals are remarkable individuals. Many have suffered wounds that
    even time will never fully heal. Yet they're facing the future with
    optimism and a determination to move forward with their lives.
        One of these brave warriors is Army Specialist Eduardo Leal-
    Cardenas. He was injured when an
    improvised explosive device blew up his vehicle in Iraq. The blast
    shattered bones in both legs, broke his ribs, and broke his back and
    neck. Some questioned whether he would ever regain the ability to walk.
    There was no doubt in Eduardo's mind, and he began his rehab while still
    bedridden. Today, he's left Walter Reed, he's walking again, and he has
    something else he is proud of: During his recovery, Eduardo became a
    U.S. citizen. I was proud to be with him at Walter Reed when he took his
    citizenship oath. If you ask Eduardo what American citizenship means to
    him, he answers with just one word: ``Freedom.''
        Our Nation is blessed to have so many fine Americans who are willing
    to serve. We're blessed to have so many compassionate volunteers who
    give their time to care for our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen, and
    marines. We're blessed to have so many fine medical professionals who
    dedicate their lives to healing our troops. This country has a moral
    obligation to provide our service men and women with the best possible
    care and treatment. They deserve it, and they will get it.
        Thank you for listening.

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    Note: The address was recorded at 9:25 a.m. on March 2 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 3. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 2, but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. Due to the
    1-hour time difference, the radio address was broadcast between the
    President's remarks in Enterprise, Alabama.