House Passes Baldwin's Veterans Aid Bill Law Change Suggested by Madison Veteran
House Passes Baldwin's Veterans Aid Bill Law Change Suggested by Madison Veteran
The House of Representatives today passed (424-0) legislation introduced by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin on the suggestion of retired Madison ophthalmologist and Korean War veteran, Dr. James C. Allen.
The Dr. James C. Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act (H.R. 797) will aid veterans who sustained a significant loss of vision in one eye while serving their country. It changes existing law to allow these disabled veterans to receive greater compensation if they subsequently suffer loss of sight in the other eye.
"Our veterans have made many sacrifices for our country; their health care should be a priority," said Baldwin. "Few can imagine the trauma associated with losing sight in an eye while serving in the military, and we certainly shouldn't allow these veterans to struggle with further loss of sight and no additional assistance from the VA," she added.
Dr. James C. Allen, 78, is a retired Madison ophthalmologist who treated veterans at Madison's VA hospital from 1967-2000. Treating patients there, he recognized and researched the problem and brought the issue to Baldwin's attention in 2000, hoping she could initiate a change in the law.
"I'm very grateful to Dr. Allen for bringing this problem to my attention and for his service to his country and our veterans. The Dr. Allen bill reminds all of us of the difference one person can make in our democracy," said Congresswoman Baldwin.
"I contacted Congresswoman Baldwin because I was caring for veterans who were legally blind in both eyes but receiving compensation for injury to only one eye. This (bill) is the greatest thing that's happened in a long time for veterans. It will improve the benefits for our older veterans who have lost vision and those wounded now in action. I thank Congresswoman Baldwin for recognizing the need and fighting for this change," Dr. Allen said.
Baldwin's legislation makes a small, but practical change that allows veterans who have a complete loss of sight in one eye due to a service-connected injury to receive increased disability compensation if they begin to lose sight in the other eye, regardless of whether that loss of sight is service-connected. A 2002 federal law corrected a similar deficiency for those who suffered service-related hearing loss.
"Since I began working on this problem, the Blinded Veterans Association has identified more than 200 soldiers returning from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom who are blinded in one eye due to service-related injuries and could benefit from this legislation. This change in law would send a powerful signal to our nation's blinded veterans that we recognize the hardships they face and that they are not forgotten," Baldwin said.
Baldwin garnered strong bi-partisan support for the bill including, but not limited to: Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Reps. John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Republican Member of the Economic Opportunities Subcommittee, Rep. John Hall (D-NY), Chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, Jeff Miller (R-FL), Ranking Republican Member of the Health Subcommittee, and Rep. Stephanie Herseth, Chairwoman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee.
The bill passed today differs slightly from one Baldwin introduced in the previous session of Congress in that it now includes the offsets to pay for the costs incurred.
Baldwin, who counts honoring our obligations to veterans among her highest priorities, said, "By passing this bill, the House affirms its commitment to our veterans by providing adequate benefits for them. I urge the Senate to adopt this measure quickly and send it for the President's signature. The sacrifices of our veterans should be matched by our desire to improve the quality of life for them and their families."
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