Former Sen. Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, co-chairs of the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, briefed the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) on Sept. 19. Shalala said that problems with the military disability retirement system have been compounded in the past by piling on more legislation, so the commission had prepared a concise six-step plan to simplify the system. She said that the administration, the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) already had signified acceptance of the plan. She added that the White House is asking for legislation to provide lifetime Tricare benefits for all service members found unfit for service due to injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan–along with their family members. The six-step plan:
1. Congress should direct the VA to provide lifetime treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder incurred by service members while in Iraq or Afghanistan–without qualifications.
2. Lawmakers should arrange to provide respite care and aides for injured troops, so that their family members don’t have to leave their jobs to care for them.
3. The House should pass a provision similar to that passed by the Senate, that would extend unpaid leave authorized by the Family and Medical Leave Act from 12 weeks to six months for family members of combat-injured veterans.
4. The military services could continue to decide who is eligible to continue in service, but should discontinue awarding disability ratings, and leave all disability ratings solely to the VA.
5. All troops who are discharged for injuries received in combat anywhere or while supporting or preparing for combat should receive lifetime health care coverage, along with their families.
6. The VA should provide transition payments to help injured veterans return to civilian life, designed to offset their lower earning capacity and diminished quality of life.