Senate Passes Major Veterans Amendment That Includes Durbin Traumatic Brain Injury Bill

Press Release

Senate Passes Major Veterans Amendment That Includes Durbin Traumatic Brain Injury Bill

A major amendment was unanimously passed by the Senate late yesterday, which included United States Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) efforts strengthening the rights of service members and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Durbin, a leader in the Senate for improved care for victims of TBI, added provisions developing a standard of care for TBI cases, introduced a bipartisan bill, The Military and Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act (S.1349), which requires the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veteran Affairs (VA) to implement a comprehensive program to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate service members and veterans who have suffered a service-related traumatic brain injury. Today's amendment includes all of the major provisions of Durbin's bill. Durbin added additional provisions developing a standard of care for TBI cases, allowing for medical referrals for TBI patients, and establishing a set of patients' rights for medical care.

"We've promised these brave men and women that if they take an oath to defend America, we'll stand by them when they come home. Sadly we've broken our promise time and again," Durbin said. "This amendment will help. Today we're taking an important step forward by introducing a comprehensive military and veterans health care bill that will aid thousands of America's service members and veterans dealing with TBI."

Durbin's TBI provisions were part of the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which was added as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill, currently on the floor.

Traumatic brain injury is the signature injury of the Iraq war. The widespread use of improvised explosive devices (IED's) has created thousands of TBI victims, sometimes with no other visible signs of injury. The concussions from IED explosion cause sudden, violent head movements which often lead to a TBI. With symptoms similar to that of shaken baby syndrome, TBI's are difficult to diagnose. Injured service members may suffer from headaches, confusion, dizziness and lightheadedness in mild cases, to mood changes, loss of memory, convulsions, weakness or numbness in the extremities, and loss of coordination in more severe cases.

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