Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (Senate - August 03, 2006)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I wish to speak about lupus, a chronic and devastating autoimmune disease which affects a growing number of military personnel, their family members, and veterans. I would like to have this disease included in the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. I am glad to see my friend Chairman STEVENS is on the floor to discuss this issue with me.

Mr. STEVENS. I am happy to discuss this program with the Senator from New York.

Mr. SCHUMER. For the past 2 years, Congress has included lupus as one of the diseases eligible for research funding through this highly regarded DOD program. This program has proven effective in filling essential gaps in research efforts funded by private industry and other public sources.

Mr. STEVENS. The Senator from New York is correct. This disease has been listed in the program by the Congress for priority consideration.

Mr. SCHUMER. This disease predominantly affects women and African Americans, which are a growing demographic in today's military. This debilitating disease damages vital organs and can cause disability or even death. Despite its prevalence and seriousness, lupus is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and no new treatments have been developed in more than 25 years.

Chairman STEVENS, because of the expert research that is conducted in this area through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program, I hope you agree, and support adding lupus to the list of diseases eligible for funding under the DOD Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.

Mr. STEVENS. I assure the Senator from New York I will do everything I can in conference to add this disease to the peer reviewed medical research list for consideration by the Department of Defense.

Mr. SCHUMER. I thank the chairman for his commitment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. SCHUMER. Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to speak about amendment No. 4783 which has been filed and accepted into this bill.

I would like to thank my colleagues, Chairman Stevens and Ranking Member Inouye, for agreeing to accept this amendment and for their management of this bill which is so critical to funding the needs of those who serve our country.

When our service men and women, fighting so bravely in the face of such grave danger, go into battle, they should have all the resources and technology they need to not only get the job done but come home healthy and safely to their families.

This is why I was dismayed to learn that our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are not equipped with the medical bandages they need to stop heavy bleeding from potentially fatal wounds. These hemostatic agents--which are small enough to be easily carried by all soldiers--can literally save lives.

Unfortunately, those supplies are being stockpiled in medical units and soldiers are writing home to their friends and families to say that they need these bandages on the front lines.

Take a moment to think about that. Imagine a mother or father, sitting in their living room, scared stiff every day that they might not see their son or daughter alive again, reading a letter begging them to send bandages so their son or daughter can take care of themselves if they are hurt.

We need to do better because sending these men and women into harm's way without the medical equipment they need is simply unacceptable.

Hemostatic agents are chemical compounds that have been tested and proven to help save soldiers' lives by forming powerful clots which halt blood loss so a wounded soldier has a better chance of getting to an operating room.

Stopping rapid blood loss from a wound is critically important because, according to the American Red Cross, half of all military deaths on the battlefield are a result of excessive blood loss.

Distribution problems can be no excuse. We must ensure that every single soldier has at least one of these bandages or packets with them at all times. And, of course, the medical units should have as many as they see fit.

Mr. President, it is more than obvious that our men and women who are risking their lives should have access to any and all life saving items, such as these hemostatic agents.

A group on Long Island called Jacob's Light Foundation has taken matters into its own hands and is raising money to buy these bandages and packets to send them directly to soldiers. I am grateful for their efforts, but the bottom line is, this is the military's responsibility, not the families'.

Families who have already sacrificed so much should not have to dip into their own pockets to ensure their children survive an attack.

That is why when we debated the Department of Defense Authorization bill a few weeks ago, we added language to ensure that there are plenty of the bandages to go around.

My amendment on this bill, which I am proud to note that Senators COLEMAN and CLINTON have joined me on, will ensure that sufficient funds are available during the fiscal year to make that happen. It provides $11 million to purchase these hemostatic agents and get them to our troops on the front lines.

Mr. President, we have the means to prevent unnecessary deaths on the battlefield instead, we are nickel and diming our troops.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov