Walz Announces Pain Care Legislation at Disabled American Veterans Convention

Press Release

In a keynote speech before the Minnesota Disabled American Veterans Convention today, Congressman Walz announced that he will introduce the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008 next week in the House of Representatives.

The bill will establish a comprehensive and integrated pain care initiative across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities. Walz said his legislation addresses concerns raised by veterans in the 1st District regarding the need for expanding pain care services across the VA, as well as providing for additional research, education and pain management training for VA staff.

"I recently spoke with a 65-year-old Navy veteran who lives in Mankato," said Walz. "Because of pain caused by his service to our country, he struggles with everyday tasks - he can't take a comfortable step or make it through one day without excruciating pain from head trauma he suffered in the Navy. If we can improve the VA's focus on pain management care, that will reduce the number of trips this veterans will have to make from Mankato to the Minneapolis VA."

"The VA has important pain care programs," said Walz. "But more veterans need access to comprehensive pain care on a consistent basis through the VA's health care system. We've got to make sure that the VA has the tools to address the needs of veterans who suffer from acute and chronic pain."

Acute and chronic pain afflicts many veterans as well as active duty military personnel, and is a leading cause of disability among veterans. Walz's bill would require the VA to increase its research and training in acute and chronic pain through a program that would identify, pursue and promote research priorities most relevant to the treatment of veterans. The bill would also establish cooperative centers for research and education on pain throughout the VA, with at least one of the centers having a special focus on central and peripheral nervous system damage, which Walz said is a particular problem for veterans of our current conflicts.

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