Senator Clinton Urges Congress To Enact Bill To Help Rising Number Of Veterans With 'Invisible Wounds'

Main Category: Mental Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Depression
Article Date: 07 Apr 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) joined Senator Daniel K. Akaka (HI) in introducing critical legislation to protect veterans in need of mental adjustment counseling and who apply for compensation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "Healing the Invisible Wounds Act of 2006," would protect PTSD compensation, enhance counseling and readjustment services available to Guard and Reserve members returning from a combat theater, and authorize additional funding for Vet Centers.

"Our Vet Centers provide crucial mental health counseling and outreach to our returning troops and their families. Our bill ensures that these centers have the resources and programs they need to help our brave service men and women and their loved ones as they transition home from war," said Senator Clinton.

"Many of the men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from some of the most severe physical injuries. However, even more of these brave servicemembers have invisible wounds - difficulties with adjusting to not being on the battlefield or dealing with long-lasting visions and experiences that they encountered," stated Senator Akaka. "This bill is intended to ensure that these men and women receive the readjustment counseling and mental health services necessary to transition into what we hope to be a full and productive life after combat," he said.

The bill includes:

-- Notice and wait requirements for modifications of handling of PTSD under the disability compensation rating system;

-- One-on-one counseling for returning Guard and Reserve members based on a New Hampshire program heralded as a "first line of defense to help soldiers return to their civilian lives" and group presentations to their families;

-- Authorization of $180 million for readjustment counseling and related mental health services provided at Vet Centers.

Additional co-sponsors of the bill are Senators John Kerry (MA) and Frank Lautenberg (NJ).