Courtney Amendment Adds States to ‘Wounded Warrior' Pilot Program

Press Release

Congressman Joe Courtney today won House Armed Services Committee approval on an amendment he offered to H.R. 1538, Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 that would expand a pilot program in the bill to include state veterans' programs and agencies.

"There is no excuse for the long bureaucratic delays that our servicemen and women have experienced when transitioning out of active service in the military. My amendment will one day ensure that our wounded warriors receive the care and assistance they deserve from our federal and state veterans affairs agencies," stated Courtney. "I am listening to eastern Connecticut's veterans and will continue to advocate on their behalf in Washington, DC to make sure that their voices are heard."

In recent weeks Congressman Courtney has met with veterans around the district and state officials to learn about the difficulties in the system. This amendment is a result of the input Mr. Courtney has received from those discussions.

"At a time when over 50,000 injured and disabled service men and women have already come home from Iraq and Afghanistan, we must explore every avenue to assure that they receive the help they need without hassles and red tape," stated Linda Schwartz, Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, State of Connecticut. "Congressman Courtney's proposed amendment to provide improved communication on the status of these casualties to State Department of Veteran Affairs will expand the service and care network to assure that these heroes and their families receive vital information and access to services when they come home."

Section 10 of H.R. 1538 establishes a pilot program for the transition of servicemen and servicewomen from the Armed Services to Veterans Affairs. Under the proposed 12-month program, 5,000 disabled service members separating or retiring from the military would be provided a written transition plan for transition back into civilian life, and establish a formal process for transferring records and other critical information to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Congressman Courtney's amendment will expand the pilot program to include a requirement that a state veterans affairs agency or department in the service member's home state be notified when the transfer of records between the military and veterans affairs department occurs. The notification would include the name and contract information for the service member, so that the State VA can reach out and offer their resources and assistance.

Currently, states receive a separating member's discharge records several months after his separation from the military. This is often too late for a state veterans' affairs department to offer meaningful preventative or immediate assistance to a veteran.

The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act is a comprehensive measure that begins addressing many of the shortfalls in the Veterans Administration system exposed in the wake of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal.

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