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Contact: Aaron Groen
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Wounded Warrior Assistance Act Receives Overwhelming Bipartisan Support

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today voted to ensure America’s injured and wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines receive the finest healthcare available through the military health system. The Wounded Warriors Assistance Act has the support of the senior Republicans and Democrats on both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

“This new law ensures that every member of the military, and especially the brave soldiers who have been injured or wounded in combat, gets the care they deserve,” Rep. Foxx said. “This legislation alleviates the administrative burdens on hospitalized soldiers so that these courageous Americans and their families can access the medical care they need in a more expeditious and streamlined manner.”

“Every American was upset by the circumstances at Walter Reed. Congress will do everything in its power to locate these kinds of problems and ensure that they don’t persist anywhere in the military medical system,” Rep. Foxx said.

“It is critical to underscore that fact that this discussion is not a reflection on the hard work and dedication exhibited day in and day out by the military medical professionals who are responsible for saving countless lives. They should be celebrated as the heroes they are,” Foxx said.”

H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, creates a new system of case managers, advocates and counselors for wounded troops returning from combat overseas to help them get the care they need and to help navigate the military's health care bureaucracy. It provides the people, training and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that wounded soldiers receive quality care and that the military health system will not fail them.

The legislation also sets the stage for much needed reform of administrative processes that will restore member confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the disability evaluation system and begin the process of achieving a truly seamless transition of service members to the Department of Veterans Affairs programs.

An overwhelming bipartisan majority voted in favor of the bipartisan Wounded Warrior Assistance Act for 2007 by 426-0.

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