Walz Legislation to Help Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Passes House of Representatives

Press Release

Today, the House of Representatives passed Walz legislation to improve care for veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

"Our wounded warriors deserve the best care and support we can give them," said Rep. Tim Walz, who is a 24 year veteran of the Army National Guard. "When a veteran suffering from TBI comes to the VA for treatment, they need to be presented with a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation that will allow them to recover function, achieve independence and fully integrate back into their communities. This bill ensures we provide comprehensive care instead of just physical rehabilitation, which is what is presently available to our injured veterans."

TBI has become a signature wound during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Unfortunately, because of ambiguities in current law, TBI treatment only narrowly focuses care on physical restoration. This legislation changes that so veterans also receive rehabilitation that addresses physical and mental health, as well as quality of life and prospects for long-term recovery and success.

Passage of this legislation comes the day Rep. Walz returned from a visit to Afghanistan to learn more about the treatment soldiers get in the field when they suffer from TBI and their journey to recovery. Walz's bill was a bipartisan effort by several members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

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