Baldwin Bill to Aid Wounded Veterans Becomes Law

Press Release

Baldwin Bill to Aid Wounded Veterans Becomes Law

7 Year Quest for Fair Benefits Ends in Success

A bill introduced by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin to aid wounded veterans, and passed unanimously in both houses of Congress law week, was signed into law yesterday by President Bush. The bill was suggested by, and bears the name of, Korean War veteran Dr. James C. Allen, a retired Madison ophthalmologist. The seven year odyssey of turning one doctor's observation from an idea into a bill into a law is a real lesson in civics and the power of one person to make a difference in our democracy.

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.

Dr. James C. Allen, 79, is a retired Madison ophthalmologist who treated veterans at Madison's VA hospital from 1967-2000. He recognized the problem in some of his patients, researched solutions and, along with Donald May of Lodi, met with Baldwin in 2000 hoping she could initiate a change in the law.

"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. It just wasn't right," Dr. Allen said.

Baldwin agreed, "Our veterans have made many sacrifices for our country; their health care should be a priority. 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 said.

Baldwin crafted legislation that 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.

Baldwin sought and received bi-partisan support for the measure, but from 2001 - 2006, the then-Republican House leadership refused to take it up. Meanwhile, the number of optic injuries to service members continued to grow.

"Since I began working on this problem, the Blinded Veterans Association has identified approximately 250 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. These are in addition to the more than 13,000 veterans blinded in previous wars and conflicts dating back to World War II. This change in law sends a powerful signal to our nation's blinded veterans that we recognize the hardships they face and that they are not forgotten," Baldwin said.

When Democrats gained a majority in the House in 2007, Baldwin's bill became a priority and moved through the committee process. To be fiscally responsible, Baldwin made sure that the bill included the offsets to pay for the costs incurred.

For Baldwin and Dr. James Allen, passage of the bill is a long overdue, but very welcome tribute, not to themselves, but to the nation's veterans. Baldwin said, "By passing this bill, Congress affirms its commitment to our veterans by providing adequate benefits for them. The sacrifices of our veterans should be matched by our desire to improve the quality of life for them and their families."

And, Baldwin added, "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."

For Dr. James Allen, passage of the bill is an unexpected Christmas present. "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.

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