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Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009

Date: May 22, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense


DUNCAN HUNTER NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 -- (House of Representatives - May 22, 2008)

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Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding me the time.

I believe that the prevalence of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, among our servicemembers is a critically important issue that we must continue to focus on.

It is distressing that a rising number of our brave service men and women are coming back from conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq suffering from the signature injuries of this conflict, PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

I'm sure that my colleagues are aware of the recent Rand report that up to 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans may currently be suffering from PTSD or depression. My amendment would ensure that recommendations have been put forward to close identified gaps in access to care, to fight stigma and improve treatment are actually implemented.

Unfortunately, an Iraqi veteran in my district lost his battle with the PTSD, despite his parents' frenetic and futile efforts to get the desperately needed services.

We must never lose sight of the fact that it's our goal not just for DOD to have a plan, but to actually make the changes and do it in a timely manner.

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