VA Secretary Nominee Stresses Health Care At Confirmation Hearing

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 07 Dec 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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Retired Army Lt. Gen. James Peake on Wednesday during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee pledged to "do the right thing" as an advocate for injured veterans if he is confirmed as Department of Veterans Affairs secretary, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports. He also said that he would not simply be an arm of the administration and would fight for the necessary funds to care for veterans.

"I understand I'm a part of the administration," Peake said, adding, "But I also have a responsibility to the administration and this committee to lay out the situation openly and honestly and to fight for the resources to do my job, which is to take care of veterans."

During the two-and-a-half-hour hearing, Peake promised to make significant headway in addressing treatment gaps and reduce delays in disability payments, although he did not offer specific solutions. Peake said he would be willing to consider a proposal that would guarantee a minimum annual funding level for the department -- a move that generally has been opposed by VA in the past.

During the hearing, Peake also discussed streamlining care and information sharing between the VA and the Department of Defense, as well as providing care to veterans in rural areas. He said he hopes to improve cooperation between VA and the Pentagon to boost treatment for mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The full Senate is expected to confirm Peake, possibly before the Christmas recess (Yen, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/6).

Editorial
Army officials "look ridiculous in their cruel pursuit of legal charges against" 1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside, a "woman injured in service to her country," a Washington Post editorial states. Whiteside, who had a "stellar record of service," attempted suicide in Iraq, prompting her commanders to press criminal charges against her and leaving her with the possibility of being court-martialed, the Post writes.

"The abuse of Lt. Whiteside raises questions about how far the military has really come in its treatment of mental health problems," the editorial continues. According to the Post, "That the case got as far as it did is a troubling indication of a culture in the military that give little credence to psychiatric ills," and although there "is no question that the Army has launched a number of worthy initiatives to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, ... the trend of disparate treatment continues."

The editorial states that it was "reassuring" to hear Peake during his confirmation hearing refer to treating veterans with PTSD as "a very high priority." The Post concludes, "As the country grapples with how to treat its 'invisible wounded,' it is important that there be a command structure that actually listens to doctors and that doesn't send the message that those in need of help will be punished" (Washington Post, 12/6).

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