Military Construction And Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010

Statement

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Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Chairman, the amendment that I bring forth today requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, commonly known as HBOT, in VA medical facilities. My active interests in hyperbaric therapy over the last 3 years has led me to more understanding of the critical function it has performed and performs even today, and the promising potential it has for injured active-duty soldiers and veterans.

I would like to briefly comment on the currently approved uses of HBOT and the promising research into hyperbaric therapy as a possible treatment for traumatic brain injury, known as TBI.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy uses a chamber to administer oxygen in particular dosages for already FDA-approved treatments, many of which provide remarkable benefits to our injured veterans. The oxygen acts as a catalyst in healing wounds which often fail to respond to other medical and surgical procedures and usually lack the blood circulation and blood oxygen levels necessary to heal.

These treatments include, but are not limited to: treating nonhealing diabetic foot wounds; advancing healing for crush injuries such as gunshot wounds, falls, and vehicle accidents; support for individuals suffering from exceptional blood loss; and advanced assistance in reconstructing complex wounds which require the transferring of tissues from one part of the body to another.

HBOT frequently saves a veteran from an expensive, painful, life-altering, and potentially life-threatening amputation of an arm, a leg or a foot. This therapy has been extremely impressive, and I look forward to hearing the VA's report on its current and planned use of hyperbaric therapy in its medical facilities.

Since 2006, I have been actively engaged in researching a new cross-application of hyperbaric therapy for treating another very common and life-threatening nonhealing wound: TBI,
traumatic brain injury. I have held numerous meetings with physicians, Ph.D.'s, scientists, government officials, and our servicemen and women, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, all regarding the treatment of TBI with hyperbaric therapy being available to them.

Over the past year, I have seen a multitude of evidence from numerous cases that show substantial progress in brain function of our injured soldiers after treatment with hyperbaric oxygen.

As we speak today, veterans all across our country are suffering from TBI, and they are in the process of receiving hyperbaric therapy from private physicians with amazing real-world results. Many of these soldiers who could not hold a job or properly care for their families, they sometimes can't even leave their own bed, or others who have suicidal tendencies, have returned to active duty, employment, school, and perhaps more importantly, to the life of their own families.

These results have led me to believe in the promising potential of healing our brain-injured soldiers suffering from TBI and PTSD.

The Defense Center on Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, under the command of Brigadier General Loree Sutton, is conducting a study into hyperbaric therapy for the treatment of TBI, and it is scheduled to be delivering study results in December of 2010. I highly encourage my colleague to join me over the next few months in engaging with General Sutton and the Department of Defense on this promising new application of hyperbaric therapy.

My amendment today is very simple. It asks for the VA to submit a report on their current and planned use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. By knowing today how it is used, we can have a greater understanding of how we can assist our injured veterans tomorrow. So we are asking how the VA uses it today and where those facilities are so we can be prepared to work, when the Department of Defense has their answer available soon, to where we then coincide that with the veterans who are home with us today.

Madam Chairman, I want to say that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) both engaged me yesterday in the Rules Committee on this amendment. I believe there could be widespread agreement that this is a good application for both of us to vote for.

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