    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [November 8, 2007]
    [Pages 1449-1451]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Visit With Wounded Troops at Brooke Army Medical
    Center in San Antonio, Texas
    November 8, 2007

        Thank you all very much for having me here today. If anybody were to
    come to this center, they would have to leave inspired and thankful:
    inspired by the service men and women who are recovering from wounds
    with such courage; thankful that there are instructors and preachers and
    volunteers who are helping these people get back on their feet and
    getting their lives together.
        This center was funded entirely by contributions of more than
    600,000 Americans through what's called the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
    This center is a tribute to the generosity of the American people. Make
    no mistake about it, the American people support the men and women who
    wear our Nation's uniform. This center is a testament to our deep belief
    that someone wounded in the defense of America needs all the help he or
    she can get. The service men and women here have borne the burdens of
    battle. They have kept our country safe. We honor them and their
    families by helping them with all we can.
        I am here to highlight one of the world's top rehabilitation
    facilities, right here in my home State of San Antonio, Texas. It's a
    partnership between the private sector and the Federal Government. The
    Center for the Intrepid makes use of the best available technologies to
    give severely injured servicemembers and amputees the opportunity to
    lead full and productive lives. That's the mission. The mission is to
    take a good man who I've met before and help him live a full and
    productive life.
        This facilities include a pool, a--where's my man; there he is--a
    wave runner--by the way, this guy from Oklahoma handled those waves
    pretty well--an indoor running track, a two-story climbing wall, a
    prosthesis center, a virtual driving program that teaches patients how
    to control an automobile--that was my driver, right there--a fully
    furnished apartment that helps patients learn to adjust to disabilities
    in the real-life world.
        This center also provides compassionate support for the families.
    The Fisher House Program--and I want to thank the Fishers for joining us
    today--provides onsite housing for up to 57 families, who--they're here
    to visit their injured loved ones. The Fisher family, that has supported
    the Fisher Houses, is a remarkable family, and these good folks
    represent the true spirit of America, people coming forth to help a
    neighbor in need. Real proud you both are here.
        Medical advances have enabled facilities such as this one to provide
    wounded warriors with care that would have been unimaginable just a
    decade ago. The technology that's being used here is state of the art.
    Our system for managing the care, however, has fallen behind. The
    technology has advanced; our system needs to be modernized.
        We have an outdated system that can bog down some of those
    recovering in a maze of bureaucracy. And that's what happened at Walter
    Reed Army Medical Center. The care at Walter Reed is fantastic. Our
    military doctors and nurses are some of the best in the world. The
    United States owes a huge debt of gratitude to the care providers at
    Walter Reed and at rehabilitation facilities like this one. However,
    there were serious problems caused by bureaucratic delays and
    administrative failures. And that is unacceptable. It's unacceptable to
    me as the Commander in Chief, it's unacceptable to the families of those
    who deserve the best care, and it's unacceptable to the American people.
        And so at my request, I asked Senator Bob Dole, former Secretary of Health and

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    Human Services Donna Shalala to analyze the
    issue, to look at the problem, and to come up with specific
    recommendations for modernizing and improving our system of care. They
    came up with recommendations, and I strongly support them, and so should
    the United States Congress.
        Now, many of the recommendations require administrative action, and
    that's precisely what this administration is doing. For example, over
    the next few weeks, the first Federal recovery coordinators will be
    hired. These coordinators will guide seriously wounded servicemembers
    through their recuperation. We don't want people to fall through the
    cracks of care. We don't want people to be confused by the system. We
    want people's families to be comfortable with the care that their loved
    one is receiving, and therefore, we'll have these specially trained
    people to stay with a person throughout their rehabilitation.
        A pilot program to establish a single comprehensive disability exam
    is underway. This replaces the two difficult--two different, difficult
    exams that servicemembers must currently undergo through the Defense and
    Veterans Affairs Departments separately. It makes no sense. Somebody
    gets hurt, there ought to be one exam, not two. The whole purpose is to
    analyze somebody to make sure that they get that which they're entitled
    to as quickly as possible, without confusion.
        We're working to aggressively prevent and treat Posttraumatic Stress
    Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. A new National Center for
    Excellence for PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury has just hired its first
    staff members and moved into temporary offices. The purpose is to
    develop best practices. The real purpose is to make sure we help those
    coming out of combat to be able to adjust to real life as a civilian.
        The Defense Department is working to ensure that the best health
    professionals are kept on duty at Walter Reed. There's some concern that
    since Walter Reed will be shut down, that Walter Reed is not going to
    have the best there is. They don't have to worry about it. We'll make
    sure that those at Walter Reed are incented to stay there until there's
    a new facility opened in Washington, DC.
        And tomorrow the Department of Veterans Affairs will initiate two
    studies that will help provide the information necessary to modernize
    the veterans' disability system. The system needs to be modernized, and
    I want to make sure our men and women coming out of combat in
    Afghanistan and Iraq have a modern disability system. And that's what
    the studies are going to do.
        Now, some of the recommendations put forward by Dole-Shalala Commission
    require legislative action. And we're working with the Congress. I look
    forward to having quick action by the Congress on the Dole-Shalala
    Commission recommendations, just like I expect the United States
    Congress to get the Veterans Affairs appropriations bill to my desk.
    Now, look, there's obvious--some disagreements between me and the
    Congress, but there's no disagreement over the amount of money we're
    going to spend for veterans. And they need to get the bill--to do their
    job. They need to get the bill to the desk of the President as a stand-
    alone piece of legislation, so the veterans of this country understand
    that we're going to support them.
        Congress needs to take prompt action on measures that will send a
    clear signal that we support our troops in the field, and we support
    them when they're coming off the field; that we support those in harm's
    way, and that we support those through the best possible care and
    rehabilitation facilities.
        Servicemembers being treated here and at other veterans' facilities
    are focused on what they have left to give, rather than what they have
    lost. And they have high hopes for their future.
        Our country is inspired by Americans that we find in facilities like
    this. Christian Bagge is a guy I met over
    here at the

    [[Page 1451]]

    hospital. I'll never forget looking at Christian's eyes and wondering
    whether or not he was going to make it. See, both his legs were blown
    off, and he didn't look good. I knew he'd get the best possible care. I
    knew that this Government would do everything we could to help him heal.
    And after talking to him for a minute, I realized he had the courage
    necessary. He told me one thing--he looked at me, he said: ``Mr.
    President, you don't need to worry about me. Someday I'm going to come
    to the White House and run with you on the South Lawn.'' I looked at him
    and said, ``Come on, Christian, I'll be ready when you are,'' not sure
    whether or not this good man would really be able to do it; certain he
    wanted to, but unsure. And if you'd have been in my position, you would
    have too. After all, he'd just come off the battlefield and lost both
    his legs.
        Sure enough, the phone call came to the White House.
    Christian came. Guy who had both legs blown
    off, as a result of the care and compassion and as a result of the
    courage in his heart, came to run with the President at the White House.
    Plus, he outran me.
        The spirit of America is strong in facilities like this. Our country
    is a remarkable country that has produced men and women who volunteer to
    protect our Nation in the face of danger. And there's no better example
    of finding those type of citizens than right here, citizens who have
    shown incredible courage, citizens who love our country, and citizens
    whose resolve is inspiring.
        And so I appreciate you letting me come by. May God bless you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:27 p.m. at the Center for the Intrepid.
    In his remarks, he referred to Arnold Fisher, honorary chairman,
    Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund; Kenneth Fisher, chairman and chief
    executive officer, Fisher House Foundation, Inc.; and former Sen. Robert
    J. Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna E.
    Shalala, Cochairs, President's Commission on Care for America's
    Returning Wounded Warriors.