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[House Hearing, 110 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                    U.S. PARALYMPIC MILITARY PROGRAM

=======================================================================

                                HEARING

                               before the

                  SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

                                 of the

                     COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                       ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS

                             SECOND SESSION

                               __________

                             MARCH 13, 2008

                               __________

                           Serial No. 110-77

                               __________

       Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                     U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

41-377                    WASHINGTON DC:  2008
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                     COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                    BOB FILNER, California, Chairman

CORRINE BROWN, Florida               STEVE BUYER, Indiana, Ranking
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas                 CLIFF STEARNS, Florida
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine            JERRY MORAN, Kansas
STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South     HENRY E. BROWN, Jr., South 
Dakota                               Carolina
HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona           JEFF MILLER, Florida
JOHN J. HALL, New York               JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
PHIL HARE, Illinois                  GINNY BROWN-WAITE, Florida
MICHAEL F. DOYLE, Pennsylvania       MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio
SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada              BRIAN P. BILBRAY, California
JOHN T. SALAZAR, Colorado            DOUG LAMBORN, Colorado
CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas             GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida
JOE DONNELLY, Indiana                VERN BUCHANAN, Florida
JERRY McNERNEY, California           VACANT
ZACHARY T. SPACE, Ohio
TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota

                   Malcom A. Shorter, Staff Director

                                 ______

                  SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

          STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN, South Dakota, Chairwoman

JOE DONNELLY, Indiana                JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas, Ranking
JERRY McNERNEY, California           JERRY MORAN, Kansas
JOHN J. HALL, New York               VACANT

Pursuant to clause 2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, public 
hearing records of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs are also 
published in electronic form. The printed hearing record remains the 
official version. Because electronic submissions are used to prepare 
both printed and electronic versions of the hearing record, the process 
of converting between various electronic formats may introduce 
unintentional errors or omissions. Such occurrences are inherent in the 
current publication process and should diminish as the process is 
further refined.

                            C O N T E N T S

                               __________

                             March 13, 2008

                                                                   Page
U.S. Paralympic Military Program.................................     1

                           OPENING STATEMENTS

Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.............................     1
    Prepared statement of Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin.............    31
Hon. John Boozman, Ranking Republican Member.....................     2
    Prepared statement of Congressman Boozman....................    31
Hon. Silvestre Reyes.............................................     3

                               WITNESSES

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dan D. Scott, M.D., National 
  Medical Director, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Veterans 
  Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Veterans Health 
  Administration.................................................    16
    Prepared statement of Dr. Scott..............................    38

                                 ______

Disabled American Veterans, Adrian M. Atizado, Assistant National 
  Legislative Director...........................................     6
    Prepared statement of Mr. Atizado............................    34
Disabled Sports USA, Jose Ramos, El Paso, TX, on behalf of Kirk 
  M. Bauer, J.D., Executive Director.............................     8
    Prepared statement of Mr. Ramos..............................    36
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Andy Krieger, Director of Sports 
  and Recreation.................................................     5
    Prepared statement of Mr. Krieger............................    32
United States Olympic Committee, Charles Huebner, Chief of 
  Paralympics....................................................    19
    Prepared statement of Mr. Huebner............................    43

 
                    U.S. PARALYMPIC MILITARY PROGRAM

                              ----------                              

                        THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008

             U.S. House of Representatives,
              Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity,
                            Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
                                                    Washington, DC.

    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 1:10 p.m., in 
Room 334, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Stephanie Herseth 
Sandlin [Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding.
    Present: Representatives Herseth Sandlin, and Boozman.
    Also Present: Representative Reyes.

        OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRWOMAN HERSETH SANDLIN

    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic 
Opportunity hearing on the U.S. Paralympic Military Program 
will now come to order.
    Today's hearing will give the Subcommittee the opportunity 
to learn more about Paralympic programs and how they are 
assisting our servicemembers and our veterans to heal from the 
wounds of war.
    The price of war is not paid by money alone, it is the 
servicemember that is called upon to serve on behalf of our 
country who pays the price. This is especially true for those 
that have made the ultimate sacrifice of life and injuries 
sustained while in service.
    In my State of South Dakota, we have had at least 3,100 
National Guard soldiers, 730 airmen and women from the Air 
National Guard, and countless others serving in active-duty 
components that have served in support of the Global War on 
Terror.
    Twenty-six of these servicemembers have lost their lives 
and many others have been wounded. I had the honor of meeting 
some of these wounded servicemembers from my home State of 
South Dakota, servicemembers such as Specialist Brian Knigge, a 
South Dakota National Guard soldier who served with Yankton's 
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
    On May 8, 2006, Brian sustained injuries to his arm and leg 
that resulted from an improvised fired projectile. This soldier 
was later flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to be 
treated for his injuries and receive rehabilitative physical 
therapy.
    We owe it to servicemembers like Specialist Knigge to 
provide them the best training and equipment to ensure they 
complete their mission successfully and provide post-military 
services to help them live a healthy and active lifestyle in 
their civilian life.
    Most of my colleagues would agree that the U.S. Department 
of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides world-class care to our 
injured servicemembers and veterans.
    Knowing this, I would like to explore ways for the VA to 
continue to play a key role in the Paralympic Military Program 
to help this population through a difficult transition in their 
lives. All veterans should be afforded an opportunity to have a 
rewarding and fulfilling life after their service to our 
country.
    I look forward to working with our distinguished Ranking 
Member, Mr. Boozman, and Members of this Subcommittee to 
explore how rehabilitation programs assist our servicemembers 
and veterans to recover from their injuries.
    I now recognize Mr. Boozman for his opening remarks.
    [The prepared statement of Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin 
appears on p. 31.]

             OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN BOOZMAN

    Mr. Boozman. Thank you, Madam Chair. Today's hearing topic 
is a little bit unusual, not quite ordinary for us. But it is 
something I have really been looking forward to and listening 
to some very interesting testimony. So we really do appreciate 
you guys being here.
    Everyone is aware of the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, 
China. What most of us are not aware of is that shortly after 
the Olympic games conclude, a very special brand of athlete 
will compete on the same venues recently used by our Olympic 
team.
    These special athletes are those who have lost limbs or 
have other disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, that 
qualify them for the United States Paralympic Team.
    The Paralympics originally began as a program to assist 
wounded veterans in 1948 when German neurologist Sir Ludwig 
Guttmann created an athletic competition in England for World 
War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. By 1960, the 
Paralympic Games officially began in Rome, providing Olympic-
style athletic events for disabled athletes. In 1976, the 
Paralympic Winter Games were introduced.
    Today, the Paralympics are held the same year and in the 
same location as the Olympic games and feature elite, 
international competition in 19 different sports.
    In the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, 3,806 athletes from 
136 different countries competed. Returning to the disabled 
veteran routes of the Paralympics, the United States Paralympic 
Committee has formed a military program, which provides 
mentoring and support to injured servicemen and women by 
reintroducing them to sports with adaptive techniques that fit 
their lifestyles.
    By the 2012 Paralympic Games, some estimate that veterans 
from Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/
OEF) could comprise up to 15 percent of the U.S. Paralympic 
Team.
    Our witnesses will raise some interesting points about the 
importance of sports and rehabilitation. I am eager to hear 
about the progress made to use sports at all levels to advance 
the rehabilitation of disabled veterans.
    I am also concerned about an issue raised by Mr. Imus that 
VA is considering revising a regulation to reclassify hand 
cycles as wheelchairs, and hope that Dr. Scott from the VA will 
address that issue.
    Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
    [The prepared statement of Congressman Boozman appears on
p. 31.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Mr. Boozman.
    I would like to welcome the witnesses on both of our panels 
testifying before this Subcommittee today. I would like to 
remind all our panelists that your complete written statements 
have been made part of the hearing record. Please limit your 
remarks so that we may have sufficient time to follow up with 
questions once everyone has had the opportunity to provide 
their testimony.
    Joining us in our first panel is Mr. Andy Krieger, Director 
of Sports and Recreation for the Paralyzed Veterans of America 
(PVA); Adrian Atizado, Assistant National Legislative Director 
for the Disabled American Veterans (DVA); and Mr. Jose Ramos, a 
veteran from El Paso, Texas, who is accompanied by Ms. Julia 
Ray, Manager of the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project for 
Disabled Sports USA (SD/USA).
    If you could all join us at the witness table. As you are 
making your way up, I would also like to welcome the 
distinguished Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence, Silvestre Reyes of El Paso, Texas.
    As some of you might know, Chairman Reyes served in the 
United States Army as a helicopter crewmen in Vietnam. Several 
of us had the pleasure of working with Chairman Reyes when he 
was a Member of our full Committee.
    We understand that you have a demanding schedule today, Mr. 
Chairman, so we would like to give you the opportunity now to 
introduce your constituent, Mr. Ramos, at this time.

           OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. SILVESTRE REYES

    Mr. Reyes. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Ranking Member 
Boozman. I guess I need to--in fairness of disclosure, I am 
still a Member of this Committee. I am just on a leave of 
absence while I have this great privilege of being the Chairman 
of the Intelligence Committee. So for me it is like coming 
home. And I appreciate the opportunity to be here this morning, 
to introduce to the Subcommittee an outstanding young man, and 
one that I think will provide some very poignant testimony 
about the subject of this hearing.
    And thank you for holding this hearing, because I think it 
is readily important that more people knowingly understand the 
kinds of programs that are so important to our wounded young 
men and women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.
    I am proud to be here with my constituent, who 
appropriately is a student at George Mason University. They are 
known as the Patriots. So I can think of no better example of a 
patriot than this young man, although there are so many of 
them, some of which joined us this morning at the ceremony at 
the Capitol.
    I wanted to let the Committee know that Jose Ramos is a 
native El Pasoan. He was assigned to a Marine unit during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. On July 28th, 2004, Jose suffered a 
life-threatening injury when he was hit with a rocket from a 
shoulder-fired weapon.
    And we are very fortunate that this young man was not a 
casualty of war in the sense that he made the ultimate 
sacrifice. But because of the type of weapon that he 
encountered, it took first-class medical care and treatment to 
help Jose survive his injuries.
    Although he has lost his left arm as a result of injury, 
this young man, I think, represents the spark that drives so 
many of our wounded warriors where even after the loss of a 
limb or limbs, looming in the case of Jose, this did not 
diminish his spirit, or his passion, or set him back in any 
way.
    He applied himself. While he was being treated for his 
wounds, he participated in the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports 
Project. As a result of his dedication, and his training, and 
discipline, he has demonstrated an impressive athletic ability, 
which I suspect he already possessed. Knowing also that he 
graduated from Montwood High School in El Paso. And their 
mascot is the Rams. I don't see any scars on his forehead, so 
he must have had the better deal of all those encounters as 
well.
    And we are just very proud of this young man and the fact 
that he comes from El Paso. The fact that he is pursing a 
degree in international affairs with a minor in languages. I 
have had an opportunity to talk to Jose.
    He comes from a pretty dynamic family. He has a sister that 
is living in Australia, another one that is living in Mexico 
City, and a brother who lives in San Antonio. His mom and dad 
still live in El Paso. And as such, are constituents of mine. 
And I know how proud they are of Jose.
    Thank you for the courtesy of allowing me to introduce this 
outstanding young man to the Subcommittee.
    And I appreciate, again, the fact that the Committee 
continues to do very outstanding work and working toward 
providing opportunities and very much-deserved and well-earned 
benefits to our warriors.
    And I look forward to coming back to the Committee in the 
future. Thank you.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is an 
honor for us to have you as our guest here today. While we look 
forward to welcoming you back after your leave of absence, we 
certainly appreciate your hard work and leadership as Chairman 
of the Intelligence Committee.
    We appreciate the laudatory remarks regarding Mr. Ramos, 
and the relationship that you have with him and his family. We 
look forward to his testimony today, as we all work together to 
ensure the best for our Nation's servicemen and women and 
veterans.
    Mr. Chairman, thank you, again, very much.
    Mr. Reyes. Thank you. And I just would ask you to excuse 
me. I came here from my own hearing.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Yes.
    Mr. Reyes. But I did not want to pass up the opportunity to 
recognize an outstanding young man like Mr. Ramos.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Most certainly. Thank you.
    Mr. Reyes. Thank you.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. A point of personal privilege. When I 
first came to the Congress almost 4 years ago, Mr. Reyes was 
very accommodating to ensure that I had a position on this 
Committee. Thank you for that as well.
    Again, we know you have another hearing to get to. We will 
look forward to reporting back to you on how well we know Mr. 
Ramos will do today in his testimony. Thank you.
    Mr. Krieger, why don't we begin with you. You will be 
recognized for 5 minutes. Again, your entire written statement 
has been made part of the hearing record.

STATEMENTS OF ANDY KRIEGER, DIRECTOR OF SPORTS AND RECREATION, 
  PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA; ADRIAN M. ATIZADO, ASSISTANT 
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS; AND 
JOSE RAMOS, EL PASO, TX (VETERAN), ON BEHALF OF KIRK M. BAUER, 
 J.D., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DISABLED SPORTS USA; ACCOMPANIED BY 
 JULIA RAY, MANAGER, WOUNDED WARRIOR DISABLED SPORTS PROJECT, 
                      DISABLED SPORTS USA

                   STATEMENT OF ANDY KRIEGER

    Mr. Krieger. Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member 
Boozman, and Members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to be 
here today on behalf of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) 
to offer our views on rehabilitation through sports and 
recreation for severely injured servicemembers and veterans.
    Since its inception in 1946, PVA has recognized the 
important role that sports and recreation play in the spinal 
cord injury rehabilitation process.
    In fact, it was paralyzed veterans during World War II who 
first started playing pick-up games of wheelchair basketball in 
VA hospitals. Doctors quickly realized the significance of 
these types of activities and the powerful therapeutic benefits 
on the physical, mental, and social levels that could be 
derived from participating in wheelchair sports.
    PVA sponsors a wide array of sports and recreation events 
to improve the quality of life and health of veterans with 
severe disabilities. Most notable of these activities is the 
National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which PVA has cosponsored 
with the Department of Veterans Affairs for the last 23 years.
    PVA also runs a number of other sports and recreation 
programs meant to get severely disabled veterans involved, 
including the National Bass Fishing Tour and the National Trap 
Shoot Circuit to name just a few.
    In the past 5 years, PVA has conducted significant outreach 
at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and VA hospitals to 
make its sports and recreation programs available to recently 
injured Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom 
veterans.
    In fact, PVA was recognized just last year by the staff at 
Walter Reed for our important work with the men and women being 
treated at that facility.
    The mission of PVA's sports and recreation program is to 
expand the quantity and quality of sports and recreation 
opportunities, especially those that promote lifetime fitness 
and a healthy lifestyle for PVA members and others with 
disabilities.
    Although elite competition has its place in a comprehensive 
sports and recreation program, PVA's primary goal for its 
sports and recreation program is all about healthcare and 
rehabilitation first, something that we do not believe is the 
ultimate focus of elite athletics.
    As far as expanding veteran participation in the various 
sports and recreation programs administered by the VA, we would 
like to offer a few recommendations.
    First, it is critically important to remove barriers to 
participation. In order to further facilitate seamless 
transition, newly injured veterans should be provided timely 
access to education and training regarding sports and 
recreation opportunities. One such educational material would 
be PVA Sports and Spokes Magazine, the Sports Illustrated for 
Disabled Sports, which was handed out recently to all of you I 
hope.
    Furthermore, the VA and DoD should facilitate outreach 
efforts of legitimate organizations promoting sports and 
recreation opportunities by improving their access to newly 
injured veterans.
    We also believe the VA should develop and implement a 
broad-based, comprehensive program that appeals to all 
veterans, especially our newly injured veterans who are more 
inclined to participate in non-traditional sports activities.
    For example, we have found that a number of these men and 
women would rather participate in activities like fishing and 
hunting, as opposed to a more traditional sport like wheelchair 
basketball.
    Furthermore, the VA should develop and implement a 
standardized curriculum for recreation therapy to support VA 
national programs and special events. We do not believe that VA 
recreation therapy programs are consistent across the board. 
This new emphasis will provide the training and awareness on 
the local levels to support these programs and maximize their 
benefits.
    I would like to thank you again for the opportunity to 
testify. And I would be happy to answer any questions that you 
might have.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Krieger appears on p. 32.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much, Mr. Krieger. Mr. 
Atizado, you are now recognized for 5 minutes.

                 STATEMENT OF ADRIAN M. ATIZADO

    Mr. Atizado. Ms. Chairwoman, Ranking Member Boozman, I 
thank you for inviting the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), an 
organization of 1.3 million service-disabled veterans, to 
discuss at this important hearing disability rehabilitation 
through sports.
    We appreciate the opportunity to share our experience with 
the Winter Sports Clinic. The clinic is the largest annual 
disabled learn-to-ski clinic in the world. And it is a 
rehabilitation program first and foremost.
    It is open to servicemembers and veterans with spinal cord 
injuries, amputations, visual impairments, traumatic brain 
injury, certain neurological problems, and other disabilities.
    Now just a few years after the first Winter Sports Clinic 
was held in 1987, with about 20 staff members and 90 veterans, 
it became apparent to our organization that more support was 
needed due to the therapeutic benefits and the popularity of 
the clinic. The DAV answered that, and has become a cosponsor 
with the Department of Veterans Affairs of the event since 
1991.
    The clinic has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. 
In fact, last year more than 360 participants, including 82 
injured OEF/OIF servicemembers and veterans, attended from 
across the country along with 200 certified disabled ski 
instructors and several members of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team.
    It is expected there will be more than 450 disabled 
veterans, including--at least nearly 120 OEF/OIF servicemembers 
and veterans who will ski the Rocky Mountains this year, 
actually at the end of this month, out of Snowmass Village, 
Colorado.
    Skiing with adaptive ski equipment is integrated with other 
exploratory activities, rock climbing, scuba diving, trap 
shooting, horseback riding, snowmobiling, golf, just to name a 
few.
    In fact, the U.S. Secret Service also teaches self-defense 
courses to participants who are in wheelchairs or are visually 
impaired.
    In addition, the clinic holds a race training and 
development program to help veterans develop their skills in 
skiing to an elite level. The ultimate goal of this training 
and development program is to qualify for the U.S. Paralympic 
Team. Several participants who learned to ski at that clinic 
are now members of the U.S. team.
    I invite you to view the 2007 National Disabled Veterans 
Winter Sports Clinic DVD. It is available to everybody in the 
public as well as the Members of this Committee. While it does 
not do justice to what can only be described on miracles on a 
mountainside, it does give you a sense of the profound impact 
this program has, not only on the participants, but on the 
volunteers themselves.
    Some of these veterans have never skied before. Most have 
spent months in hospitals and convinced that their lives are 
over. And a great many have been told that they would never 
walk again.
    Every year since 1992, our organization has given DAV 
Freedom Award to the veteran who makes the most progress during 
the week, shows outstanding courage and accomplishments in 
taking a giant step forward in his or her journey of 
rehabilitation.
    Last year's recipient was Jason Poole. He was a Marine 
infantryman on patrol in Iraq when he was injured by an 
improvised explosive device. Madam Chairwoman, he placed 
himself in harm's way for our Nation before even being fully 
vested as a citizen of this country. After 2 months of being in 
a coma, Jason woke up. He was blind in his left eye, deaf in 
his left ear, and suffered from traumatic brain injury where he 
couldn't talk, speak, or even walk. He received his topnotch 
care at the VA Polytrauma Center at Palo Alto, California.
    And he progressed enough to where he could actually 
participate in his first Winter Sports Clinic. And this was in 
2006. He went back and encouraged his friends, his OEF/OIF 
servicemembers and veterans in Palo Alto to come with him. And 
they did go to the 2007 Winter Sports Clinic in which he won 
the DAV Freedom Award.
    The Winter Sports Clinic itself capitalizes on 
rehabilitation through sports and fosters in each participant 
the extrinsic motivation of excitement and camaraderie. But 
more importantly, it fosters the intrinsic motivation in each 
participant to find their strength of purpose and achieve 
miracles on a mountainside.
    Madam Chairwoman, these participants learn and are proof 
positive that empowerment allows them to determine their own 
fate. In this we wholeheartedly support as an organization. 
This concludes my statement. I thank you for this opportunity 
and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Atizado appears on p. 34. 
The video presentation entitled, ``2007 National Disabled 
Veterans Winter Sports Clinic DVD,'' is being retained in the 
Committee files.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much. Mr. Ramos, 
welcome to the Subcommittee. We look forward to your testimony. 
You are recognized for 5 minutes.

                    STATEMENT OF JOSE RAMOS

    Mr. Ramos. Mrs. Chairman, Ranking Member Boozman, I would 
like to thank you for the opportunity to present today. I would 
also like to thank my Representative, Congressman Reyes, for 
such an honoring introduction.
    It is an honor to speak to you today on behalf of Kirk 
Bauer, Disabled Sports USA, and the Wounded Warrior Disabled 
Project. As a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Disabled 
Sports USA was established in 1967 to serve the war injured and 
later civilian, youth, and adults with disabilities.
    DS/USA now has 92 community-based sports chapters operating 
in 37 states, offering over 20 different year-round sports 
programs.
    For the past 5 years, Disabled Sports USA, in partnership 
with its chapters and Wounded Warrior Project, has conducted 
the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Program or Project.
    Under the program, severely wounded servicemembers are 
provided the opportunity to learn over 20 different sports as 
part of their rehabilitation, while in the hospital and while 
they return to their communities.
    Over 1,600 wounded family members and servicemembers have 
been served. Disabled Sports USA endorses the Veterans 
Administration's support of the Winter Sports Clinic and the 
PVA Summer Wheelchair Games as top sport events to help 
disabled veterans become active and competitive. It endorses 
Paralympic sports festivals for disabled veterans and active 
duty military at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
    There are, however, a few changes that we recommend are 
made. Disabled Sports USA recommends that the VA consider 
expanding support programming, to include recreational 
activities in and near the communities where the disabled 
veterans live.
    The focus should be directed to providing activity, healthy 
recreational activities for disabled veterans, with less 
emphasis on competitive Paralympic sports. By expanding its 
sports programs to include activities that are recreational in 
nature and close to home, the VA will better serve disabled 
veterans, promote fitness, and provide a healthy lifestyle, 
leading to success in life.
    These sports programs are already in existence through 
Disabled Sports USA chapters, Wheelchair Sports USA, U.S. 
Association of Blind Athletes, and others. All are members of 
the U.S. Olympics Committee and should be partnered with to 
offer community programs to veterans.
    Support should be offered by the U.S. Paralympic and the VA 
to capitalize and expand this existing structure. Studies have 
shown that 70 percent of our most severe illness, including 
diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity, and 
certain cancers are due to lack of regular exercise and poor 
eating habits. Maintaining regular physical activity and better 
eating habits, will reduce these diseases in veterans and 
reduce health costs for the veterans organizations.
    I know from personal experience how important it is to be 
physically active, both during and after rehabilitation. I 
don't believe that my recovery would have been as successful 
without such programs.
    In addition, with severe illnesses stated earlier, as an 
amputee I face an additional challenge. If my weight fluctuates 
ten pounds either way, I have to be refitted for a new 
prosthetic. This is not only time consuming, but it can also 
add to the expenses that the VA faces now.
    Once again, I want to thank this Subcommittee for the 
support and dedication. And I would be willing to answer any 
questions you may have. Thank you.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Ramos appears on p. 36.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much, Mr. Ramos.
    Well, let me just start out with a question, both for Mr. 
Krieger and Mr. Atizado, in terms of your cosponsorship of 
these programs that you have discussed, both the Winter Sports 
Clinic as well as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, along 
with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    Mr. Atizado, how many total sponsors are there for the 
Winter Sports Clinic?
    Mr. Atizado. Madam Chairwoman, I believe the total 
sponsorship actually hit an all-time high for this upcoming 
event. I think there was about 75 corporate sponsorship. But 
there are individual donors as well that aren't--I am including 
that number.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. That aren't included? So 75----
    Mr. Atizado. Corporate sponsors.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin [continuing]. Corporate and then 
individuals. Okay.
    Mr. Atizado. I believe so, yes.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Mr. Krieger, what does that entail for 
PVA to be a cosponsor with the Department of Veterans Affairs 
for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games?
    Mr. Krieger. The Wheelchair Games started in 1981 as a 
program of the VA. In 1985, PVA was asked to join in a 
partnership with them, due to the fact that we had an expertise 
in wheelchair sports programs. Also we could come--we could 
bring to the table a professional development department that 
could cultivate and solicit a host of sponsors that would help 
to pay for this event, which currently is anywhere close to 
$400,000 from the VA side and PVA side alike.
    So it is nearly a $1 million program that is held on an 
annual basis. So there are considerable funds that go into it 
that need to be raised and contributed both from the VA and the 
PVA side.
    In addition to that, I just want to add real quickly, is 
that over 80 percent of the participants are PVA members. So 
those are all spinal cord injured military veterans that 
participate in this event.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. You had mentioned in your testimony, 
both written and verbal today, the issue of your outreach 
efforts and talking about the need to improve access for 
outreach to injured servicemembers.
    Has the PVA at any time over the last 5 years met any 
resistance in their outreach efforts, either at DoD or VA 
hospitals and facilities?
    Mr. Krieger. No, not at all. I think PVA is an established 
organization. I think the VA and DoD recognized that. I have 
seen where some organizations that have--may have not been 
around so long--are also asking for those injured servicemen 
and women to participate in their programs that may have 
developed more recently than ours.
    So we have been recognized for our good work. And they know 
what we have to offer those injured troops. But that doesn't 
mean they could go further to, you know, establish a process to 
be able to welcome legitimate organizations into the rehab 
process. They are being hit up so hard right now from competing 
organizations and agencies and groups that want to associate 
themselves with injured men--servicemen and women.
    So they have to be hesitant to who they let have that 
access. But PVA hasn't experienced that.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. You had mentioned in your testimony, 
Mr. Krieger, and then, Mr. Ramos, the issue of different types 
of recreational activities and where they are located to be 
able to be accessed by folks more readily.
    You had specifically mentioned, Mr. Krieger, hunting and 
fishing. I don't know if that is something that any of you 
would like to comment on. Mr. Ramos, in your testimony, if that 
is something that either you or others that you have interacted 
with over the last few years have expressed a particular 
interest in certain types of activities that they feel as 
readily able to access now.
    I would be interested in hunting and fishing and the sort 
of sportsmen and women who are out there looking for those 
opportunities. And whether or not you are familiar with 
organizations that are trying to facilitate more opportunities 
either for those types of activities or others that weren't 
mentioned yet?
    Mr. Krieger. I thought you might appreciate the hunting and 
fishing aspect of it. But, no, it is true. Things have changed. 
I mean there have been disabled sports around for a very long 
time. Wheelchair basketball was the first and most popular.
    But times have changed. And the demographics that today's 
servicemen and women have, you know, are different. And they 
have an interest in hunting and shooting programs. And I think 
we have to be flexible to accommodate the needs of all the 
injured troops that are coming back.
    And we have adjusted our programming accordingly to the 
needs of our members. And the suggestion is that in order to 
facilitate the rehab process, you have to have a program in 
place in an event or an activity that appeals to everybody. So 
it doesn't matter if it is ping-pong, or deer hunting, bass 
fishing, or whatever.
    You have to have something that appeals to that person to 
get them out there, to participate in the event, and from 
there, the therapeutic benefits come to them.
    Mr. Ramos. I would like to add that not only has it been my 
experience but from the experience of the Wounded Warrior 
Disabled Project, that servicemembers of this generation are 
leaning more toward what you would consider extreme sports, 
scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, wakeboarding, 
snowboarding, kayaking, hunting, and fishing. There are 
programs now that offer that. But it is not something that is 
offered through the VA or the U.S. Paralympic Committee 
obviously.
    These are the sports that are not only physically 
challenging to do, hiking up a hill to go hunt, it can be 
strenuous for an amputee, but they also promote a healthier 
lifestyle, so you can be able to get out there and do that now.
    Just a quick example, from the beginning of the scuba 
diving program that they started at Walter Reed, within the 
first couple of months, we have had over 50 participants go 
through the program and certify as scuba divers. And it is 
actually one of the fastest growing programs that they have 
now.
    For anyone that has been scuba diving, you know that takes 
a lot of effort to do, especially for someone missing a leg or 
an arm.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you very much. I am out of time. 
I may come back for another question or two. Before recognizing 
Mr. Boozman, I think he agrees.
    We sometimes hear, whether it is in testimony here at this 
Subcommittee, the full Committee, or when we are back in our 
districts, this whole kind of concept of each generation of 
servicemembers and veterans are slightly different in terms of 
how the VA adapts to best meet their needs.
    I think you use that exact language in terms of what this 
generation may be looking for and how they have been socialized 
to seek out different recreational activities. I appreciate 
both your responses very much.
    Mr. Boozman.
    Mr. Boozman. Thank you, Madam Chair. Well it is encouraging 
that you can tell us about Walter Reed actually providing that 
course, in the sense that is not something that I was aware of. 
But those are the kind of things that we really do like to hear 
about.
    What sports have you been active in? What do you aspire to 
be better at? The Professional Golf Association has been very 
helpful in wanting to lend its expertise with instruction and 
equipment.
    And I was telling one of my buddies here that they were 
doing this. And he said, yeah, that he had been frustrated. 
That he placed and he had played with a person who was legally 
blind. And the guy just beat him like a drum. So it is amazing 
that with learning different techniques, what one can 
accomplish, which is really what we are hearing about today.
    But tell us what you would like today?
    Mr. Ramos. Well, sir, myself personally, I have been 
involved more with the extreme sports. I have done snow 
boarding, cycling, rock climbing, scuba diving. I used to be an 
avid rock climber and scuba diver prior to my injury. But I 
still do participate in traditional sports as cycling, and 
running, and swimming.
    Due to the nature of my injury, I need to keep my core 
stronger just to keep my body in line. But I guess as I stated 
earlier is we are looking for more than just the types of 
sports that the Paralympic Organization or Committee or you can 
compete in.
    Mr. Boozman. Right.
    Mr. Ramos. Not many veterans are interested in sitting 
there and lifting weights or----
    Mr. Boozman. Right.
    Mr. Ramos [continuing]. Things of that nature. We are 
more----
    Mr. Boozman. I think in your testimony, Mr. Ramos, and you 
are here with Ms. Ray, that you had 20 sports that you offered 
in your program. What are the top five or six most popular to 
the people that are out there?
    Mr. Ramos. I think Ms. Ray can answer more to that. But 
from my personal experience, I think skiing and snowboarding is 
probably one of the top most demanded sports. Scuba diving has 
been as well. And more snowboarding and things of that nature 
that we do are starting to pick up steam as we----
    Mr. Boozman. What about for non-athletic guys like Mike and 
I?
    Mr. Ramos. Well----
    [Laughter.]
    Mr. Boozman. Go ahead.
    Mr. Ramos [continuing]. They are partnered up with golf as 
well. And I think that is something that the more non-athletic 
guys like to do is go out there and hit a couple of golf balls. 
But I am sure Ms. Ray can answer that a little better than I 
can.
    Ms. Ray. Mr. Ramos is exactly right. We have offered a very 
successful golf program in partnership with the PGA. And he 
mentioned about the scuba diving, snow boarding, skiing. 
Extreme sports are very popular.
    We are about to take a group down to do the Bataan Death 
March at the end of this month, which involves hiking 26 miles 
in the White Sands Missile Range.
    So certainly we are noticing this younger generation being 
very proactive in demanding what types of things they like to 
see. We usually ask them to complete an evaluation after every 
activity. They tell us what they want to do. And that is how we 
have formulated these sports that we offer.
    Mr. Boozman. Very good. I think Mr. Krieger mentioned that 
you felt like there was some inconsistency with the VA 
recreation programs throughout the country.
    Are the rest of you experiencing that also? Do you all 
agree with that?
    Ms. Ray. Oh, sorry.
    Mr. Boozman. I am sorry.
    Ms. Ray. Sorry, could you repeat the question?
    Mr. Boozman. He mentioned that there was inconsistency in 
the VA recreation programs throughout the country. Do you all 
agree that you see inconsistency also with the quality of the 
programs that are out there?
    Ms. Ray. Yeah. I would say so. What we are seeing is a need 
for there to be more offered at the community level. The PVA 
Summer Games and the DAV Winter Games are both very high-
quality events. But we think there is more of a need for 
ongoing community programs throughout the year.
    And so that is what we are suggesting through our testimony 
is that there is a need through all these organizations that 
are performing these programs to do more ongoing work, rather 
than just the big flagship events.
    Mr. Boozman. Do you agree with that? Does DAV also agree 
with that or----
    Mr. Atizado. Well, Ranking Member Boozman, we--there is 
some variability. It really depends on who the servicemember 
gets in touch with at the local facility. There is some 
variability with them.
    But once the servicemember identifies a sport or has 
identified the equipment that he or she needs, I think the 
prosthetics and the department in VA has been very--supportive 
is not the word. Has been very accommodating. They have 
actually met with wounded servicemembers from Walter Reed in a 
panel-like setting and on a semi-regular basis in fact. And 
they are trying to work pretty aggressively, because we have 
been involved in that panel with addressing what, obviously, 
Mr. Ramos here has talked about, which is the extreme sports.
    You know, hand wheels, and sports wheelchairs, and 
snowboards, and mono-skis, and things of that nature are not 
very--I mean it is expensive enough to get involved in sports. 
But these are specialized equipment. So there is a price tag 
that is involved.
    I think Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin had mentioned an issue 
with regards to access. I think the issue is more with regard 
to barriers, and identifying those barriers, and taking them 
away. And I think VA, through these panels, are trying to do 
that.
    Mr. Boozman. Good. Thank you very much. I appreciate all of 
you being here. The work that you are doing is so important. I 
think it goes so in hand with the medical rehabilitation. 
Getting people where they are interested in something else, 
pursuing a goal. And then along with that is getting the 
meaningful employment. It makes so much difference down the 
line and prevents so many other problems. And whatever cost 
there is in getting the equipment that we need is going to be 
made up for many times in the future with preventing problems.
    So, again, thank you very much for what you are doing. Like 
I said, it is an important mission. Something you can be very 
proud of. Thank you.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Mr. Boozman. I have a 
couple of follow-up questions. This whole idea of enhancing 
community opportunities, the programs at the community level on 
an ongoing basis throughout the year. In your experience either 
Mr. Ramos or Ms. Ray, if you would like to respond, what is the 
best model to use to try to develop something like that? 
Assuming for the time being, we had some resources to expend 
here to make this available to as many disabled veterans as 
possible, who should take the lead? Should this be something 
that the VA takes the lead in its outreach, because they are 
able to identify where that injured servicemember or veteran 
may be, and then coordinate with the local chapters, either of 
DAV or PVA? Is this something that you think already has been 
and will continue to be better handled by local organizations, 
perhaps VSOs, or other groups that are supportive of the 
particular injured veteran, disabled veteran, and his or her 
family in that community? And then the VA would come in later 
to supplement, through some resources?
    This relates to a question that I wanted to pose to you, 
Mr. Krieger. In terms of whether or not your organization has 
identified an overall level of funding that may be necessary, 
if indeed, if we were able to have a separate line-item 
appropriation for sports and recreational activities and 
development for disabled veterans?
    Mr. Krieger. First of all, I believe that when you are 
talking about a seamless transition, it is important to have 
timely access. And in terms of PVA, that is--what I can speak 
to is that when there is a situation, our veterans benefits 
officers are in the hospitals to identify those people that are 
eligible for PVA membership.
    At that time, hopefully we can get with them to set up a 
schedule of rehabilitation programming and all their benefits. 
So if, in fact though, if we are not able to be--identify and 
they get shipped out to the local VA hospitals, there is a gap 
in service there.
    So what we are suggesting is that as soon as this--as soon 
as this process starts, the organizations--PVA are notified, so 
we can start providing the necessary treatment, and get the 
benefits, and the recreation programs established in order to 
prevent these people from falling through the cracks and going 
home.
    And then, you know, getting into the situation where they 
may be involved in drugs or alcohol, or feeling sorry for 
themselves, depression, or whatever. It is critically important 
that they be introduced to some sort of sports and recreation 
so they can experience and achieve a level of success and 
confidence that will carry through to help them mainstream into 
normal life.
    So that is how we see the role of sports and recreation at 
that level and when it needs to be introduced.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. Ms. Ray.
    Ms. Ray. Yeah. I would just like to add to Mr. Krieger's 
comments. I can speak to, as far as what Disabled Sports USA, 
and we would--we have been working with the major military 
medical centers, like Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical 
Center, since 2003, and actively get servicemembers signed up 
to the programs through that outreach.
    Once they are finished with their rehab inside the 
hospital, they then return home, at which point we plug them 
into our chapters, which are located throughout the United 
States, or other disabled sports organizations, depending on 
what that individual veteran is interested in doing.
    So, like Mr. Krieger said, it is very important that we 
don't lose touch once they do return home. And we feel very 
proud that we haven't done that at all over the 5 years. And we 
have been very successful in integrating Wounded Warriors into 
their home communities and various disabled sports organization 
within that.
    So that is just what I wanted to say. Thank you.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. Mr. Atizado, what kind of 
follow up occurs for the folks that participate in the Winter 
Sports Clinic? You identified someone in your testimony who 
participated in 2006 and received the Freedom Award when he 
came back and brought some other folks with him in 2007. During 
that time, was there follow up directly by folks affiliated 
with the program with him throughout the year?
    Mr. Atizado. I am not that intimately familiar with the 
program outside the actual 6-day event. I do know that VA is 
very good at taking very keen steps to ensure that the veterans 
that go through it, and the active servicemembers that go 
through the--to the Winter Sports Clinic, are followed up upon.
    In fact, I know in the 6-day event, the schedule is so jam 
packed that they have to shepherd them from one event to the 
next, because, I mean, first and foremost it is a 
rehabilitative event. I understand there are bands. And there 
are a lot of entertainment. But it is to rehabilitate 
themselves from their disabilities.
    But my--I was struck by what you--what was talked about 
earlier by this panel, as well as by the Committee, is the idea 
of who should take lead on at the community level.
    I can't speak intelligently about it. But I can tell you 
that when I was rehabilitating, this was a while back, I had to 
choose a sport that was available to me. In other words, I 
couldn't just jump on a ski, because of my disabilities. It 
ended up having to either be swimming or cycling.
    And I think what helped--what held me back in being able to 
get involved with sports was I was in school. I had no money. 
If, in fact, this was a rehabilitative program available to me 
at the time through the VA, I am sure I would have gotten 
involved with it much sooner and wouldn't be--I would probably 
be in better shape than I am now.
    But it is an interesting question. I sure would like to see 
what the next panel would say about the whole access at the 
community level.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. I appreciate that insight, 
because whether we are talking about rehabilitative services--
even a round table I had just 2 weeks ago with some OEF/OIF 
veterans as it related to education benefits, and they 
proactively brought up the issue of Post Traumatic Stress 
Disorder. One of the things they said is once you even overcome 
the avoidance issues, we may have to seek the counseling. We 
are in school full time, or we are working full time.
    And, to try to have some flexibility, to try to work in, 
and be available either for the individual sessions or more 
group sessions. I think that is a very good point you make in 
terms of identifying the barriers as well.
    Whether it is the sports that are available or that timely 
access that Mr. Krieger talked about through the VA and the 
partnerships that they have effectively developed. But also 
ensuring that we are giving the VA what they need to make 
maximum use out of these partnerships to ensure the seamless 
transition that Mr. Krieger mentioned.
    I appreciate the comments and the responses.
    Mr. Boozman, do you have anything further?
    Mr. Boozman. No thank you, Madam Chair. I think that we 
should send Juan and Mike though to accompany them on the 26-
mile march.
    [Laughter.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. I am glad you volunteered them and not 
the two of us.
    Mr. Boozman. Thank you all very much for all that you do.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you. we appreciate your service 
to the country, and service to fellow veterans, and your 
insights today. We appreciate it very much.
    Joining us on our second panel is Mr. Charles Huebner, 
Chief of U.S. Paralympics for the U.S. Olympic Committee 
(USOC); and Dr. Dan Scott of the Physical and Rehabilitation 
Service, the Denver VA Medical Center, the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
    Gentleman we appreciate it that you are with us. Again, 
your written statements have been made a part of the hearing 
record. We know that we have part of the presentation in a 
video presentation. I think you are going to offer some initial 
opening comments before we move to that.
    To make sure, why don't we start with Dr. Scott, because I 
think it is Mr. Huebner, you have the video portion. Rather 
than coming back, we will start with Dr. Scott for his opening 
statement. Then we will recognize Mr. Huebner.
    Dr. Scott, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

 STATEMENTS OF DAN D. SCOTT, M.D., NATIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR, 
 NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES, VETERANS AFFAIRS EASTERN 
 COLORADO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND CHARLES HUEBNER, CHIEF 
        OF PARALYMPICS, UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

                STATEMENT OF DAN D. SCOTT, M.D.

    Dr. Scott. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman and Ranking Member 
Boozman. I am here today to give a presentation on 
rehabilitation through sports.
    There are four sporting events that the VA offers. And my 
written testimony has been submitted. I would request--I am 
going to do a PowerPoint presentation so you can see some 
pictures from the various events.
    And I would like you to give me just a little bit more 
time, so I can finish this presentation. It is going to be a 
little more than 5 minutes.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. I think Mr. Huebner's will be as well. 
Please try to keep it within about eight to ten at the most.
    Dr. Scott. I can certainly do that.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay. All right, thanks.
    Dr. Scott. Thank you. The objectives today are to give you 
an overview of the four National rehabilitation events. 
Rehabilitation is a process by which an individual is restored 
to maximum independence and maximum function.
    The first event that I am going to talk about is the 
National Veterans Wheelchair Games. It was established in 1981. 
And PVA, as you heard earlier, joined us a cosponsor in 1985.
    This event is dedicated to rehabilitating individuals 
through competition and sports. On an average, 25 percent of 
these individuals have never participated in a wheelchair 
sporting event. So they are brand new, novice athletes. This is 
considered the largest annual wheelchair sporting event in the 
world.
    There are 17 medal events and one exhibition event, which 
offers the opportunity for people to experience new 
competitions as has been mentioned before. There are over 500 
athletes that participate in the Summer Wheelchair Games each 
year.
    Traumatic Brain Injury, spinal cord injury, and amputees, 
and other neurological disabilities, both static and 
progressive, such as multiple sclerosis. All branches of 
service are involved and veterans from World War II through the 
current conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan.
    Each year a new VA facility hosts these games. And this 
gives us an opportunity to have community involvement, as well 
as to have individuals from each VA hospital learn about 
rehabilitation and their mission and rededicate themselves to 
this mission of rehabilitation for veterans.
    These games started out in 1981 with 74 veterans. And in 
2007, we had 513 veterans in Milwaukee. Each year at the end of 
the games, they offer a Spirit of the Games Award, which is 
given by the athletes to the person who epitomizes the spirit 
of those games.
    I am going to show you some pictures now of the various 
events.
    [Slides shown.]
    Dr. Scott. One of the events is nine ball. This gentleman 
is using his prosthetic limb to stabilize the pool cue to play 
pool.
    Air guns is a very popular event. Both of these gentlemen 
have a spinal cord injury. One is a paraplegic and one is a 
quadriplegic. An opportunity to shoot--as I mentioned before, 
they are interested in hunting and fishing. Archery is a very 
popular event, both men and women, old and young. This 
gentlemen is stabilizing his bow with his prosthetic limb to 
shoot the arrows.
    Basketball is another popular event as you have heard. It 
is a very traditional event. Tall is better as you see. This 
fellow here is a tall fellow. You can't jump from these chairs. 
So he has got an advantage over all of his colleagues.
    The teams are made up of novices and experienced athletes 
so that there is no unfair competition here. Both men and women 
participate in the basketball event as well.
    There is bowling and ramp bowling. Ramp bowling is for 
individuals who can't grip--who can't grip the ball. They 
actually roll the ball down a ramp here toward the pins.
    Curling was the exhibition event in Milwaukee. It is a 
great event for those in the Midwest. They know it very well. 
The rest of us don't know it.
    The field events were held on Lake Michigan. You see it is 
shot put, javelin, and discus. It was a great day out by Lake 
Michigan. Hand cycling is a great way to provide upper-
extremity-aerobic exercise. And as you see, there are a variety 
of different hand cycles available.
    The Motor rally is for individuals in power wheel chairs. 
This fellow is a triple amputee. And you see there is a great 
variety of people who participate in this event as well.
    Power soccer, this fellow is using his chin to drive his 
power wheelchair. They use the white box at their feet to 
direct the ball through upright goals to score points.
    Quad rugby is a very popular event. It is a very aggressive 
event. If you look at the yellow wheel covers, you will see 
they are all smashed in from running into each other. It is a 
great crowd pleaser, as well as a great pleaser for the 
athletes themselves.
    Slalom is an obstacle course, which represents the 
obstacles that the individuals must overcome in their daily 
lives, such as curbs without curb cuts and stairs. They get 
points for going through the course.
    Softball is a very popular event, very well attended. Last 
year we added a standing track and field event for amputees. 
There was a drill in the first one. These folks are throwing 
discus and javelin.
    Swimming is another popular event for all disabilities, 
both quadriplegics, paraplegics, stroke, amputees, and a 
variety of other disabilities. Events include breaststroke, 
backstroke, and other events.
    Table tennis, although not quite as aggressive, is a 
sedentary event. But as you see, he is having a great time.
    Track, the fellow in the bottom left has a spinal cord 
injury. And the other fellow has a Traumatic Brain Injury. You 
see the community involvement here with the young cheerleaders 
from the high school, cheering the veterans on.
    Trap shooting was an exhibition event. It became a medal 
event last year. Weightlifting, another medal event. There is a 
great deal of strategy in this event.
    The Winter Sports Clinic, you have heard quite a bit about. 
I am going to show you a few pictures here. It was founded in 
1987. You have to be a U.S. military veteran or active duty-
personnel to be eligible to participate. The DAV came on as a 
sponsor in 1991.
    In 2007, 370 participants were involved with 124 OEF/OIF 
veterans. There are ten events during the week, as well as a 
variety of clinics and workshops. And you see here Secretary 
Nicholson was involved.
    This is downhill skiing. This fellow, if you will notice, 
is standing with a standing frame to ski in a standing 
position. The fellow behind is tethering, so he doesn't sail 
off down the hill. There are sit skis for those folks who have 
to sit to ski. You will notice that there are two skis in the 
yellow and green skis here and one on the others. Those are 
mono- and bi-skis.
    Here they are in action coming down the hill again. 
Somebody tethering, the instructor behind, and at the end of 
the week there is a race down a slalom course for time.
    The biathlon is a cross-country event where they stop and 
shoot at targets and move on.
    Snowshoeing here is for the folks to get out and walk 
through the wilderness. It is great for visually impaired 
people.
    If you look, there is snowmobiling, which all of us enjoy.
    Sled hockey is another very aggressive event. You will see 
the fellow in the bottom right has fallen over out of his sled. 
And he is having a great time.
    There is both scuba diving and rock climbing available 
here. If you will notice, the fellow in the upper left is a 
quadriplegic who is getting the opportunity to scuba dive at 
the Winter Sports Clinic.
    You have heard about the Freedom Award. The Freedom Award 
is given to the individual who makes the most progress during 
the week and shows the most courage while on the hill. The 
Creative Arts Festival is a little bit different. It is a 
cultural event. And it is a combination of two prior events 
founded in 1989, cosponsored by the VA, the American Legion 
Auxiliary, and the Help Hospitalized Veterans. Over 2,800 
veterans were involved in this event, with almost 100 VA 
medical facilities involved as well. The divisions involved 
here are visual arts, music, dance, drama, and creative 
writing.
    Here are some of the projects that they have submitted 
during the event. During the week, the participants are 
involved with writing, producing, and performing in a stage 
presentation. There are also workshops such as this painting 
workshop, which are offered to help the veterans hone their 
skills.
    The Golden Age Games are for veterans 55 years and up who 
are receiving care at the VA. In 1985, 115 veterans 
participated, in 2007, 602.
    This shows our commitment to the geriatric rehabilitation 
projects. It is the premier senior rehabilitation adaptive 
event, cosponsored by the VA, Veterans Canteen Services, and 
Help Hospitalized Veterans. There are 14 events in this 
particular Games. You see they are quite active from swimming, 
bicycling, and on down to sedentary events of dominos, 
checkers, and croquet.
    Here are some of the events. It works on agility. It works 
on balance. It works on their aerobic exercise. And you just 
want to make sure you stay out of the way of this lady on the 
bottom right. She is going to hit you if you don't get behind 
her.
    So these just show the diversity of the events that we 
have. And the able-bodied and disabled personnel that are 
affected by these games.
    I appreciate your time.
    [The prepared statement of Dr. Scott appears on p. 38. The 
PowerPoint presentation, entitled, ``Rehabilitation through 
Sports,'' submitted by Dr. Scott, Director, National Veterans 
Wheelchair Games, will be retained in the Committee files. The 
video presentation entitled, ``National Disabled Veterans 
Sports Clinic,'' provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
National Rehabilitation Special Events, will be retained in the 
Committee files.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Dr. Scott. Mr. Huebner, you 
are recognized.

                  STATEMENT OF CHARLES HUEBNER

    Mr. Huebner. Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman and also 
Ranking Member Boozman.
    I have some personal regards from my Chief Executive 
Officer who is from Mobridge, South Dakota. He passes on his 
well wishes to you. And also Mr. Register from the University 
of Arkansas. I am not going to do any slogans or sing any fight 
songs today, Congressman. But he did say to say hello. He 
actually is in Britain presenting to their military and 
Paralympic organization on the importance of physical activity 
for injured military personnel. So that is why he is not here 
today.
    Thank you very much for the opportunity. My name is Charles 
Huebner. I am the Chief of Paralympics for the United States 
Olympic Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify on 
our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
serve those men and women rehabilitating from injuries suffered 
while serving their country.
    Over the last decade, and because of the joint efforts and 
programs conducted by the USOC and a variety of Paralympic and 
veteran organizations, many are in this room today, the 
Paralympic movement has grown exponentially. More importantly 
than the Paralympic movement growing, the physical activity for 
persons with physical disabilities has grown exponentially. And 
that is a key message I want you to hear today.
    The focus on the military program that the U.S. Olympic 
Committee has created is most appropriate, because the 
Paralympic movement began after injured veterans returned from 
World War II.
    I want to use this opportunity to thank Chairman Filner for 
introducing H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic Committee 
Paralympic Program Act of 2007,'' and Ranking Member Buyer for 
his Bill, H.R. 1370, the ``Disabled Veterans Sports and Special 
Events Promotion Act of 2007.''
    Both proposals would provide veteran and Paralympic 
organizations with much needed tools and resources that would 
enable us to expand our existing efforts to provide in 
communities throughout the United States for injured military 
personnel.
    Our primary focus in expanding programs at the U.S. Olympic 
Committee and, key word, in collaboration with numerous 
partners, many, again, which are in this room, is to provide 
veterans' programs in their local community.
    There are numerous great events that have all been talked 
about today. And we have some or our own. We participate in 
many of the events that have been talked about today. Many of 
the organizations in the room today help us stage our events, 
primarily our Paralympic Military Sport Camps that we host at 
Olympic training centers. Those are critical.
    What we are most concerned about and what the two 
legislative proposals will provide for is what happens when a 
veteran or injured military personnel go home, especially to 
rural areas.
    It is our focus to create community-based programs targeted 
at military personnel that allow for injured military to attend 
and participate in programs at the community level on a daily 
basis. That is the primary emphasis of some of the new 
initiatives that we are promoting and implementing currently.
    Today, our issue is more than just injured military 
personnel and veterans. Today there are 21 million Americans 
with a physical disability. Less than 10 percent of those 
Americans participate in daily physical activity.
    We see on a daily basis with the pool of athletes and 
program participants the impact of physical activity on things 
way beyond representing your country at the Paralympic Games, 
life skills, self esteem, education, employment, all the other 
factors that make a successful human being. So we very much 
understand the importance of physical activity on persons with 
physical disabilities.
    The U.S. Olympic Committee has deployed a plan to address 
this crisis with a specific emphasis on injured military 
personnel and veterans. In April of this year, the USOC is 
hosting the inaugural Olympic University Developing Amazing 
Leaders Conference to train community and military leaders on 
how to implement a community-based Paralympic program.
    A key emphasis there when I talk about Paralympic 
community-based programs, although no doubt our emphasis is on 
24 Paralympic sports, the community-based programs also provide 
sports and activities in the areas of recreation, hunting, 
fishing, rock climbing.
    In June of this year, we will be hosting a Paralympic 
Military Sports Camp that will have skiing and shooting, trap 
shooting, that is not Paralympic sports. In October, we will be 
hosting a Paralympic Military Sport Camp that includes golf.
    So when I talk about Paralympic Military Programs and 
Paralympic Programs as a whole, what I am really talking about 
is physical activity. Although our emphasis is on Paralympic 
sport, many of the organizations that we are partnering with 
and working with provide a broad array of recreational and 
sports activities. And that is critical and very important. And 
we agree with that assessment.
    Our goal, our stated goal to our Chairman and our board, is 
by the end of this year we will have new programs in 75 
communities. By the end of 2012, we will have new Paralympic 
community-based programs in 250 U.S. communities.
    There are a lot of outstanding programs today. There is 
still a great need, specifically in rural areas for programs 
for persons with physical disabilities and especially for 
injured military personnel returning home.
    This strategy is in collaboration with Paralympic and 
veteran organizations. I don't want to sit here in front of you 
and say the USOC is leading this initiative by itself. Many of 
the organizations in the room we are collaborating with on the 
conference, on the implementation of Paralympic sport programs.
    Yesterday, I have spent the last 4 days, and hopefully some 
of you have met some of your representatives from the National 
Recreation and Parks Association, which has a footprint in 
6,000 U.S. communities.
    We are working with them to increase and implement the 
number of Paralympic community-based programs in collaboration 
with parks and rec. organizations throughout the United States.
    Another opportunity, as a member organization of the USOC, 
is for us to work efficiently with existing organizations that 
have existing infrastructure, staff. What they are lacking in 
many cases is expertise and equipment. That is what our 
conference is going to do is hopefully provide the expertise 
and equipment for numerous existing entities that can implement 
Paralympic sport programs with the specific emphasis on 
supporting and serving injured military personnel coming home.
    The legislation will allow us to, as I say and our Chairman 
says, ``grow the pie.'' That is our focus. This legislation 
will not bring dollars just Paralympic programs. But it will 
bring dollars to promoting programs of physical activity at the 
community level for all the entities that are here with us 
today as well as numerous others that are not. That is the 
primary focus of our pursuing of the legislation.
    I wanted to emphasize that we are currently, and will 
continue, to engage in these activities, regardless of what 
happens to the legislation, because injured military personnel 
are the soul of the Paralympic movement.
    And when I speak of the Paralympic movement, I am not 
talking about an exclusive number of persons that will make the 
Paralympic team. Rather I am talking about the young men and 
women that are active in the communities, educated, employed, 
promoting excellence, ability, and inspiring Americans to 
achieve and overcome obstacles.
    However, it is likely, and I am very proud of this, that in 
2008, several members of the Veterans and Paralympic Military 
Program will represent America at the Paralympic Games in 
Beijing. And that is a very exciting and very honorable 
opportunity for us in this country.
    The bills proposed are testimony of the need of veterans 
for activities and programs that enable them to return for a 
full and active life.
    I would like to show you a quick video that kind of gives 
you a capsule of the Paralympic Military Program, and what we 
are doing, and the importance. And, again, I just want to 
emphasize in this video this camp that we put on was done in 
collaboration with many of the organizations in the room today.
    Although it was hosted at a U.S. Olympic training center, 
we worked with military organizations, veteran organizations, 
the VA, the PVA, Disabled Sports USA, and numerous other 
organizations to identify and provide support. So thank you 
very much for your time. I will show the video. And then I will 
be open to any questions.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Huebner appears on p. 43. 
The video presentation shown entitled, ``Paralympic Military 
Summit--San Diego,'' dated November 2005, will be retained in 
the Committee files.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. We have a pending vote, but I think we 
will have enough time. Is it a 5- or 6-minute video?
    Mr. Huebner. Yes, ma'am.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. We will go ahead and watch that now. 
We will then have to break for the vote, it is just one vote. 
Then we will come back to pose some questions that we may have.
    It shouldn't be long, I would recommend that we go straight 
to questions and perhaps not to watch the video. Since it is 
just one and the Ranking Member with his schedule and with mine 
we can come back for a short series of questions if that works 
for you as well.
    Mr. Huebner. Whatever works best for you. We could leave 
the video if you choose. And you can watch it another time. 
Whatever really works better for you.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. No. I think we will go ahead and watch 
the video. In light of the previous conversations we had, we 
would like to see that.
    It is going to take us about 15-20 minutes getting there 
and back for the one vote. So that we can come back for a few 
questions. Okay? We will go ahead and watch the video.
    [Video shown.]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Very good. We enjoyed that. I know we 
have some questions. We are going to head out to our vote. We 
will be back in about 15 minutes, depending on how fast we can 
move. Right, Mr. Boozman? Okay.
    [Recess]
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well thank you both for waiting. 
Again, thank you for your testimony and your presentations. I 
will go ahead and start with Mr. Boozman for any questions he 
may have.
    Mr. Boozman. Well, thank you all for being here. And I 
appreciate the testimony and the presentations. They were 
excellent. Be sure and tell Mr. Register I said hi. He was a 
track star at the University of Arkansas. Arkansas, I will brag 
a little bit, is probably, the dynasty in track. They have run 
more track and field championships than anybody in the Nation 
by far.
    But I think he was like a four-time All American. I mean, 
with one leg, he could beat me running backward in my prime. 
You know, like I said, he is a world-class athlete.
    But besides that, he is such a great representative. He is 
just a quality person, him and his family. So I really do 
appreciate what you guys are doing.
    We are going to ask some questions about how we can 
improve. And we always want to do that. But I really do want to 
recognize how far the programs have come. The tremendous 
effort, that is being made. And, all that you all are doing, to 
continue that.
    Let me just ask, Dr. Scott, some of the staff members who 
have attended several of the Paralympic Military Sports Summits 
have come back and been told that there is significant 
resistance at the VA medical center level to funding 
recreational therapy programs.
    Can you describe their recreational therapy program at VA? 
And talk to us a little bit about funding. The impression is, 
that sometimes they have to kind of scrounge from whatever, you 
know, to get their funding at the local level. Can you address 
that?
    Dr. Scott. Congressman Boozman, I can only address--I am 
not a representative for the National Recreation Therapy 
Department here in Colorado, so I don't actually know the 
funding process to the various VAs.
    However, I can talk about my own VA in Denver. It is part 
of our department. And it is funded directly through our 
department. So that is all I have to say. I don't know about 
the funding from the national level for the Therapeutic 
Recreation Programs. They are well integrated into--throughout 
the VA system.
    Mr. Boozman. Okay.
    Dr. Scott. And they are the ones that implemented these 
programs initially.
    Mr. Boozman. Okay. It might be helpful if you could ask 
somebody that is familiar with that. I am not saying that is 
the case. I think one of our witnesses, in fact I know one of 
our witnesses, mentioned earlier that he had some concerns 
about that at the local level.
    And so if you could have somebody follow up on that for us, 
that would be really good.
    Dr. Scott. We will take that for the record and get back to 
you.
    [The information from VA follows:]

          Question: Can you please describe the recreational therapy 
        program at VA and provide some information about how these 
        projects are funded?

          Response: The Recreational Therapy Service is part of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) Rehabilitation Services 
        and provides treatment services to veterans at 153 VA Medical 
        Centers, 133 nursing homes, and 47 domiciliary programs. More 
        than 700 Recreational and Creative Arts Therapists treat and 
        maintain the physical, mental and emotional well-being of 
        veterans with disabilities, illness or other disabling 
        conditions using a variety of techniques, including sports, 
        arts and crafts, games, dance, music and community integration 
        activities.
          Recreational therapy programs at the local medical center 
        level are supported with appropriated funds. This is consistent 
        with the funding process for all medical care programs. 
        Specific levels are determined at the facility level based on 
        the demand and utilization of services, patient satisfaction 
        and treatment outcomes, overall program integration, and the 
        need for additional enhancements.
          Additionally, VA uses the General Post Fund (GPF), a trust 
        fund administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to 
        supplement local initiatives and to support specific special 
        activities and events for veterans across the country. GPF 
        allocations are prioritized to help VHA facilities administer 
        recreational projects, purchase specific equipment, support 
        national rehabilitation special events, and address other 
        needs. All VA medical centers are aware of, and are encouraged 
        to utilize, the GPF as appropriate. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, 
        the GPF Review Committee approved an additional $2 million in 
        funding across all VA medical centers for recreational therapy.
          Recreational therapists develop treatment goals related to 
        computerized gaming technologies to enhance functional 
        outcomes, improve cognition and memory, facilitate decision-
        making, and strengthen hand-eye coordination. For example, VA 
        uses the Nintendo WiiTM Play Bundle Game System as 
        an entertaining and therapeutic device to challenge patients 
        cognitively and physically and to promote appropriate social 
        interaction skills and teamwork.
          Recreational therapy is an important element of 
        rehabilitation plans for those with specific needs by 
        encouraging leisure awareness and healthy lifestyle choices. 
        Recreational therapists also serve as members of the 
        interdisciplinary treatment team in the VA Polytrauma System of 
        Care, providing therapy interventions that improve functional 
        outcomes and diversional activities that enhance life quality 
        and community reintegration.
          Recreational therapists also promote veterans' participation 
        in sports activities, such as therapeutic horseback riding and 
        adaptive kayaking programs. Many veterans who have benefited 
        from Recreation Therapy progress to participate in National 
        Rehabilitation Special Events, such as the National Disabled 
        Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Wheelchair 
        Games, the National Veterans Golden Age Games, the National 
        Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, and the National Veterans 
        Creative Arts Festival.

    Mr. Boozman. Let me ask you about the Beijing Paralympic 
Games. Will there be television coverage of those?
    Mr. Huebner. Hopefully in April, our U.S. Olympic Committee 
Media Summit will be happening in Chicago. And that event has 
more than 600 media signed up to attend. And our goal is to 
announce our coverage plans during the media summit in April.
    Mr. Boozman. So what is the outlook?
    Mr. Huebner. Pardon?
    Mr. Boozman. What is the outlook with our team?
    Mr. Blumenauer. Our team, we are very proud. The Paralympic 
movement has changed significantly in the last 4 years. Sixty 
percent of the medals are in track and field and swimming. We 
are projecting--I can't talk about these externally. But we are 
projecting to win the medal count in swimming. And we are also 
projecting to be in the top two in the world in track and 
field, because of the leadership of our coaches in those 
programs. And there will be military representatives.
    Melissa Stockwell, an injured Iraqi vet, Army, is at our 
training center right now as part of our veterans program. We 
are providing all the support for her. Her goal is to make the 
Paralympic Team and represent America a second time. And right 
now, it looks--she made that decision in January. The only way 
she was going to make the team is make the commitment to come 
to Colorado Springs and train full time with our team. And it 
looks right now that she will make the team based on her 
progress in the last couple of months.
    Mr. Boozman. Very good. Go ahead, Madam Chair, and then I 
might have another thing or two. But I guess the important 
thing, Dr. Scott, is that I am committed. I know the rest of 
the Committee is committed to helping you in any way that we 
can. And like I said, you just need to help us help you, I 
guess is really what I am saying.
    But go ahead, Madam Chair.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well and in that vein, you know, some 
of the additional information that we would like to ask are 
general funding issues.
    Mr. Huebner, how is the Paralympics Program generally 
funded? You also stated that you are in the process of setting 
up permanent Paralympic Programs to serve injured military 
servicemembers at the four DoD medical centers. Can you 
anticipate the cost of doing that, and how are those programs 
going to be funded?
    Mr. Huebner. Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman. Up to this 
time, we have funded everything privately. And when we look at 
the investment being made right now, and, again, I use the term 
Paralympic organizations, which would include groups like 
BlazeSports and Disabled Sports USA.
    There is more than $30 million being spent today, and I 
believe that is a low estimate, of private dollars and 
corporate dollars that have been raised by those organizations 
on programs to support injured military personnel across the 
country.
    We feel very strongly. And that is why we are very pleased 
about the legislation. We feel very strongly that a partnership 
with our government will expedite and allow us to grow 
significantly in a very cost efficient way, expanding the 
number of programs available to injured military personnel, 
with an expected emphasis on community-based programs.
    And I think everybody else that testified today, everybody 
talked about the need for community-based programs. There is a 
lot of programs that exist today. But again, as I mentioned 
early in my testimony, less than 10 percent of Americans with 
physical disabilities are participating in physical activity. 
Now we add 27,000 injured military personnel to that, there is 
a significant need.
    And we feel very strongly that the legislation that has 
been proposed, will help along with the private dollars that 
not only we will invest, but also increase our support 
privately. And I believe I could probably speak for all the 
organizations in here. Will have a significant impact on 
growing programs.
    So funding we believe is needed. To this time, it has been 
all privately funded.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Even as you are getting ready to set 
up permanent programs at the four major DoD medical facilities, 
is all that private dollars?
    Mr. Huebner. The majority of what we have done to date are 
private dollars. We have secured in the past year some support 
to begin expanding those programs with the programs in DoD 
medical centers.
    A key component of----
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Do you have support from DoD funding?
    Mr. Huebner. Yes, ma'am.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay.
    Mr. Huebner. A key component of that though is not just at 
the medical center. And I will continue to emphasize our 
biggest concern and what--the way we positioned everything is 
we want to be an extension to VA facilities to medical centers, 
because it is when you go home to community that is our biggest 
concern and making sure that there is a community-based 
program.
    And I have had both injured veterans and military personnel 
say this. Especially when you go back to the community is you 
want to be involved and integrated into that community program. 
You don't want to necessarily--and hopefully this isn't taken 
the wrong way. But you don't want to go play basketball with 
your buddies at the hospital. You want to do it at the Parks 
and Recreation., or the local softball field, or on the local 
ski hill, or fish on the local river.
    And that collaboration between the VA, DoD, military 
installations, and medical centers in community-based 
organizations is going to be critical to make that happen.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Have there been any discussions that 
you are aware of since we have moved within the Department of 
Veterans Affairs and the medical centers to establishing what 
we call Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) for purposes 
of providing medical care to veterans in more remote rural 
areas? Easier access, they still may have to drive, but they 
are only driving 45 minutes to an hour instead of 4 to 6 hours.
    Have there been any discussions with the VA that you are 
aware of as it relates to an extension of VA facilities and 
working with community-based organizations, where the 
partnership would occur as it relates to the services provided 
by the CBOCs as we call them?
    Mr. Huebner. That is directed at me, correct? Yes. We have 
had numerous discussions. And the conference that we have 
created in April is all about working with military centers, VA 
facilities, community-based organization, to teach them to 
fish. We have talked a lot about fishing today. But to teach 
them to fish. And that is basically how we can be an extension 
and a support of those existing programs in those facilities.
    So there have been ongoing discussions. Those discussions 
are expanding significantly. And as mentioned, National 
Recreation and Parks Association is another organization that 
we brought into the fold that has resources. And, you know, one 
of the key things for me, I believe, is that they have 
resources in those rural communities.
    In a lot of communities, we have member organizations like 
the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCAs, and Parks and Recreation. 
There is not a VA hospital in every community. But there is a 
Parks and Recreation in 6,000 communities. And there is a Boys 
and Girls Club in 4,000 communities.
    Our role at the U.S. Olympic Committee is to try to 
collaborate with those organizations to make sure those 
entities have the expertise to implement a program. So somebody 
doesn't have to drive 6 hours.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Very good. Dr. Scott, are you aware? I 
would assume that Colorado has some community-based outreach 
clinics. What has been your experience in working with folks 
once a disabled veteran, who may come to Denver to the Medical 
Center, is out back in the community? Is there any follow up? 
What types of follow-up services are being provided after some 
of the events that you have discussed as well as some of the 
other activities that you described in the presentation?
    Dr. Scott. The CBOCs, a lot of time, will continue the care 
of the veteran that might get rehabilitation in a center such 
as Denver.
    The follow up as far as providing recreational 
opportunities does not exist as I am aware. The CBOCs will 
identify people that might want to participate in these 
particular national events. And will send them to us. And we 
will make sure that they are included in the events.
    However, as far as on a day-to-day basis, we are 
responsible for providing equipment as necessary to those 
various individuals to continue their sports in their 
community. If----
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well----
    Dr. Scott. I am sorry, if I may.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. I think Mr. Huebner has something to 
comment on. In light of that, if the CBOCs were formulating 
relationships with community organizations for venues or other 
opportunities. Do you continue through the medical center to 
provide the equipment necessary to continue to participate on a 
rehabilitative basis on those recreational activities?
    Dr. Scott. That is correct.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay and Mr. Huebner.
    Mr. Huebner. If I could just add on to that. Evaluation is 
very important in everything we are doing. It is easy to 
evaluate at the Paralympic Games. But more importantly in terms 
of the outreach programs and initiatives we are implementing, 
creating an evaluation tool, we very strongly believe that 
physical activity, and we have some limited research that we 
implemented in 2007, but that physical activity is an important 
part of success in other aspects of life.
    And for people with disabilities and physical disabilities 
especially. It is about self esteem. It is about education. And 
it is about employment. Those are things that we are tracking. 
And we hope to report back not only to this organization, but 
other national organizations about the impact, the health 
impact, on people with physical disabilities.
    We know physical activity reduces secondary medical 
conditions. We know it improves self esteem.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. That is a very good point. I would 
imagine too, and I think someone mentioned it previously, for 
any other types of medical conditions, including psychological 
conditions of depression and we know from some other data, the 
survey data that you have just referred to would certainly be 
helpful.
    I believe we have one more vote that was somewhat 
unanticipated. I am going to recognize the Ranking Member, 
because he may have some follow-up questions.
    Mr. Boozman. Let me just ask one other thing, Dr. Scott. 
Mr. Ramos discussed, in his written testimony, about a rule 
that is being proposed that would limit to a hand cycle or a 
sports wheelchair versus both.
    Can you tell us a little bit about that and the reasoning 
behind that? And kind of where we are in that rulemaking 
process.
    Dr. Scott. It is my understanding that currently people who 
require wheelchairs, have a backup chair. And the backup chair 
is often used as their sports wheelchair.
    Because several of these veterans want to participate in 
multiple events and each chair might be quite expensive, it is 
necessary for us to let them choose the type of chair that they 
want, the type of sports chair, whether it be a racing bike, or 
whether it be a sit ski to ski, or whether it be some other 
type of equipment. That would be considered as their sports 
chair.
    Oftentimes the veteran is required to purchase their own 
equipment beyond that just because of the numbers and the 
resources available.
    Mr. Boozman. When they do compete, is there generally a 
cost to the veteran?
    Dr. Scott. The first year we provide the entire way to the 
games as far as their transportation to sponsor them, 
transportation, food, lodging for the first year.
    Then the veteran is responsible for finding some other type 
of funding, whether it is through the local PVA or through an 
organization who wants to sponsor them to come to the event as 
a second year or third year participant in the games.
    So these--our games are meant to be an initial entrance 
into rehabilitation sports. And that is why we pay for the 
first year.
    Mr. Boozman. I did meet Mr. Huebner with my Parks people 
today. You know, they are up here. I wish I was meeting with 
them after we got through today. But I did meet with them. And 
I think that really is an excellent idea. Those folks, as far 
as reaching out to them, I think will be a great asset.
    And that is the kind of thing as you are telling us what we 
have to do to make this thing get all the way down to the grass 
roots.
    Mr. Huebner. Well, a key message there is efficiency. And 
especially when we are talking about public resources and 
funding. And if we can take the resources that we are all 
generating, private and corporate support, and combine them 
with some Federal support in an efficient manner, we can have a 
significant impact. And that is the goal.
    And the folks from Fayetteville and Little Rock last night 
I think tackled me. So I am very excited to have programs up 
and running in those communities by the end of this year.
    Mr. Boozman. Very good. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Thank you, Mr. Boozman. What is the 
cost to the veteran and his or her family to participate, Mr. 
Huebner, in the Paralympics if they make it that far?
    Mr. Huebner. If they go to the Paralympics Games, the U.S. 
Olympic Committee provide--Olympic or Paralympic Games, the 
U.S. Olympic Committee provides all the funding.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. For the family as well?
    Mr. Huebner. Not the family, no, the individual that makes 
the team.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Okay.
    Mr. Huebner. Yes.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Are you aware of whether or not--is it 
private organizations that may assist the family in traveling?
    Mr. Huebner. In most cases, families that attend the games 
go on their own. We do have some sponsor programs that try and 
support families at the games, both Olympic and Paralympic 
Games. But in most cases family that attend the games go at 
their own cost.
    In many cases, and I remember Rulon Gardner from Wyoming. 
His whole community raised funds to allow his family to go to 
the games. And he grew up in a town of 2,000 people. And at his 
welcome home parade, there were 12,500 people there. You 
probably understand that.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Right.
    Mr. Huebner. But that is the kind of community support that 
is created around Olympians and Paralympians in many cases.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Well, and in light of that, again, I 
think it goes to the point Mr. Boozman was making and 
commenting on your testimony, and the testimony of our first 
panel, the importance of these community-based partnerships and 
what more we can do.
    I think that the VA has more of a role that they could play 
in light of what is happening at the medical centers, in light 
of the CBOCs, in a number of these communities to help take the 
lead if necessary to ensure that the transition is a seamless 
one as it relates to rehabilitation.
    Then, also, being that network that makes sure that the 
disabled veteran in his or her community, knowing the support 
is there, can offer that in an ongoing basis over a course of a 
number of years.
    One final question that I have on behalf of a young man 
that I represent who is a double amputee in OIF. I visited him 
when he was at the Malone House at Walter Reed. His favorite 
sport for which he participated in high school and still wanted 
to make sure he got down to a game here at the Verizon Center 
is hockey.
    That sport requires a lot of skating and balance. As we saw 
some of the double amputees participating in other sports, are 
you familiar with any of our disabled veterans out there who 
are getting up on some skates? Has hockey been integrated as 
one of the activities and sports in the rehabilitation 
programs?
    Mr. Huebner. Absolutely. We hosted a clinic a couple of 
weeks ago in Colorado Springs with members of our Paralympic 
team and some injured military personnel, as well as non-
military personnel, introducing them to the sport of sled 
hockey.
    The United States is the proud host of the 2008 Sled Hockey 
World Championships beginning March 27th in Boston. Our opening 
ceremonies will be at a Bruins/Maple Leafs game. And for a week 
in Boston, we will have the world here, ten countries 
participating in sled hockey.
    But there are numerous outstanding programs all over the 
country. And if you have that young man contact me, I would be 
more than happy to get him information and also connect him to 
a local program.
    Ms. Herseth Sandlin. Very good. I appreciate it very much. 
We do have to get down to our vote. We appreciate your 
testimony, for being here, and your insights and expertise. 
Obviously, all the work that you are doing as we explore the 
topic that we addressed in the Subcommittee today.
    Thank you for what you are doing on behalf of our 
servicemembers and veterans. The hearing now stands adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 3:15 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]

                            A P P E N D I X

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   Prepared Statement of Hon. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Chairwoman,
                  Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
    Today's hearing will give the Subcommittee the opportunity to learn 
more about Paralympic programs and how they are assisting our 
servicemembers and veterans to heal from the wounds of war. The price 
of war is not paid by money alone, it is the servicemember that is 
called upon to serve on behalf of our country that pays the ultimate 
price. This is especially true for those that have made the ultimate 
sacrifice of life, and injury sustained while in service.
    In my State of South Dakota, we have had at least 3,100 National 
Guard soldiers and 730 airmen from the Air National Guard that served 
in support of the Global War on Terror. Of these, we have bestowed 29 
Guard members with the Purple Heart, 5 of which made the ultimate 
sacrifice and had their medal presented posthumously.
    I have had the honor of meeting some of these servicemembers from 
my home State of South Dakota. Servicemembers such as Specialist Brian 
Knigge, a South Dakota National Guard soldier who served with Yankton's 
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery in support of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. On May 8, 2006, Specialist Knigge sustained injuries to 
his arm and leg that resulted from an improvised fired projectile. This 
soldier was later flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to be 
treated for his injuries and receive rehabilitative physical therapy.
    We owe it to servicemembers like Specialist Knigge to provide them 
the best training and equipment to ensure they complete their mission 
successfully, and post military services to help them live a healthy 
and active lifestyle in their civilian life.
    Many of my colleagues would agree that the Department of Veterans 
Affairs provides world class care to our injured servicemembers and 
veterans. Knowing this, I would like to explore ways for the VA to 
continue to play a key role in the Paralympic Military Program to help 
this population through a difficult transition in their lives. All 
veterans should be afforded an opportunity to have a rewarding and 
fulfilling life after their service to our country.
    I look forward to working with Ranking Member Boozman and Members 
of this Subcommittee to explore how rehabilitation programs assist our 
servicemembers and veterans to recover from their injuries. I now 
recognize Mr. Boozman for any opening remarks he may have.

                                 
  Prepared Statement of Hon. John Boozman, Ranking Republican Member,
                  Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
    Good Afternoon everyone. Today's hearing topic is a bit out of the 
ordinary for us and I am looking forward to some very interesting 
testimony.
    Everyone is aware of the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, China. What 
most of us are not aware of is that shortly after the Olympic Games 
conclude, a very special brand of athlete will compete on the same 
venues recently used by our Olympic team. These special athletes are 
those who have lost limbs or have other disabilities such as spinal 
cord injuries that qualify them for the United States Paralympic Team.
    The Paralympics originally began as a program to assist wounded 
veterans in 1948 when German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttman created an 
athletic competition in England for World War II veterans with spinal 
cord injuries. By 1960 the Paralympic Games officially began in Rome, 
providing Olympic-style athletic events for disabled athletes. In 1976, 
the Paralympic Winter Games were introduced.
    Today, the Paralympics are held the same year and in the same 
location as the Olympic Games and feature elite international 
competition in 19 different sports. In the 2004 Paralympic Games in 
Athens, 3,806 athletes from 136 different countries competed.
    Returning to the disabled veteran roots of the Paralympics, the 
United States Paralympic Committee has formed a Military Program which 
provides mentoring and support to injured servicemen and women by 
reintroducing them to sports with adaptive techniques that fit their 
lifestyle. By the 2012 Paralympic Games, some estimate that veterans 
from OIF/OEF could comprise up to 15% of the U.S. Paralympic Team.
    Our witnesses will raise some interesting points about the role of 
sports in rehabilitation and I am eager to hear about the progress made 
to use sports at all levels to advance the rehabilitation of disabled 
veterans. I am also concerned about an issue raised by Mr. Ramos that 
VA is considering revising a regulation to reclassify hand cycles as 
wheelchairs and hope Dr. Scott from VA will address that issue.

                                 
 Prepared Statement of Andy Krieger, Director of Sports and Recreation,
                     Paralyzed Veterans of America
    Chairwoman Herseth-Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and members of 
the Subcommittee, I am pleased to be here today on behalf of Paralyzed 
Veterans of America (PVA) to offer our views on rehabilitation through 
sports and recreation for severely injured servicemembers and veterans. 
Perhaps no veterans' service organization understands the importance of 
sports as a rehabilitation tool more than PVA.
    Since its inception in 1946, PVA has recognized the important role 
that sports and recreation play in the SCI rehabilitation process. In 
fact, it was paralyzed veterans, injured during World War II, who first 
started playing pick-up games of wheelchair basketball in VA hospitals. 
This marked the birth of wheelchair sports. Doctors quickly realized 
the significance of these types of activities and the powerful 
therapeutic benefits on the physical, mental and social levels that 
could be derived from participating in wheelchair sports. It is for 
this reason that PVA developed, and annually administers, a 
comprehensive sports and recreation program for its members and other 
Americans with disabilities.
    PVA sponsors a wide array of sports and outdoor recreation events 
to improve the quality of life and health of veterans with severe 
disabilities. Most notable of these activities is the National Veterans 
Wheelchair Games (NVWG) which PVA has cosponsored with the Department 
of Veterans Affairs for 23 years. Last year alone, the NVWG drew 514 
veterans. In fact, PVA has one of the highest participation rates of 
members in this event. Likewise, we fully support the activities of the 
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans 
Golden Age Games, and the National Creative Arts Festival.
    PVA also runs a number of other sports and outdoor recreation 
programs meant to get severely disabled veterans involved. Our Shooting 
Sports Program consists of the PVA National Trapshoot Circuit, pistol 
and rifle competitions and various hunting opportunities. The Trapshoot 
Circuit includes 10 events annually that draw approximately 600 
participants. Our Boating and Fishing Program consists of the PVA Bass 
Tour and a variety of other fishing opportunities. The Bass Tour is 
comprised of five events annually that draw more than 350 participants.
    PVA, in association with the National Wheelchair Poolplayers' 
Association, has developed a unique series of billiards tournaments for 
people with disabilities. Last year, we conducted five events that drew 
131 participants. Likewise, PVA has partnered with the American 
Wheelchair Bowling Association to create a bowling tournament series. 
Last year, we conducted five bowling tournaments that drew 259 
participants. Finally, PVA also financially sponsors several National 
Governing Bodies of Disabled Sport, including organizations that 
conduct program opportunities for wheelchair basketball, quad rugby, 
wheelchair bowling, wheelchair softball and wheelchair billiards to 
strengthen existing infrastructure for wheelchair sports and recreation 
participation.
    In the past five years, PVA has conducted significant outreach at 
Department of Defense (DOD) and VA hospitals to make its sports and 
recreation programs available to recently injured Operation Iraqi 
Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans. In fact, 
PVA was recognized last year by the staff at Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center for our important work with the men and women being treated at 
that facility. In addition, earlier this year PVA edited a chapter 
entitled ``Sports and Recreation Opportunities for the Combat Amputee'' 
to be included in the soon to be released DOD medical handbook Care of 
the Combat Amputee.
    PVA became aware of the VA-United States Olympic Committee (USOC) 
Military Paralympic Program by its association with VA, as co-presenter 
of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The NVWG, established in 
1981 by VA, is a week-long, multi-sport event designed to introduce the 
newly injured veteran to a variety of wheelchair sports and recreation 
activities in hopes that this participation will lead to a healthy 
lifestyle. PVA's involvement began in 1985 due to its unique expertise 
in sports and recreation programs for our members and other severely 
disabled veterans. We have contributed countless financial and 
personnel resources throughout the years to these types of programs. 
Moreover, approximately 80 percent of the 550 total average 
participants at the Games each year are PVA members. As a result, PVA 
has a vested interest and commitment to the Games, and is quite curious 
as to this new relationship that the VA has developed with the USOC. It 
is true, however, that a handful of PVA members have been identified 
and selected for future elite competition participation as a result of 
this new program.
    The mission of PVA's sports and recreation program is to expand the 
quantity and quality of sports and recreation opportunities, especially 
those that promote lifetime fitness and a healthy lifestyle, for PVA 
members and other people with disabilities. Although elite competition 
has its place in a comprehensive sports and recreation program, PVA's 
primary goal for its sports and recreation program is all about health 
care and rehabilitation first, something that we do not believe is the 
ultimate focus of elite athletics.
    We believe that only time will tell the true effect of this VA-USOC 
arrangement. We do, however, have a couple of concerns or questions 
regarding the VA-USOC Military Paralympic Program. First, will direct 
health care dollars be diverted to fund this program? Funding for this 
program should be done separately from direct health care funding.
    Second, we are also concerned about the impact that this 
arrangement will have on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between 
VA and PVA to support sports and recreation opportunities for severely 
disabled veterans. Likewise, the agreement between VA and the USOC 
could impact the partnerships that the Disabled American Veterans and 
Veterans of Foreign Wars have with the VA as co-presenters of the 
Winter Sports Clinic and Golden Age Games, respectively. We would 
certainly hope that there is no intent on VA's part to eventually 
terminate these long-standing agreements with the veterans' service 
organization community.
    With these thoughts in mind, we would like to offer some comments 
on a couple of pieces of legislation that have been introduced that 
concern sports and recreation. First, PVA generally supports the 
creation of an Office of National Disabled Veterans Sports Programs and 
Special Events and a director position to oversee this Office as 
outlined by H.R. 1370, the ``Disabled Veterans Sports and Special 
Events Promotion Act of 2007.'' PVA has a special interest in this 
Office as the chief presenter, along with the VA, of the National 
Veterans Wheelchair Games. PVA supported similar legislation during the 
109th Congress.
    However, we would like to recommend that the Office be removed from 
the VA Office of Public Affairs and be consolidated under the Veterans 
Health Administration (VHA). The ultimate purpose of the Wheelchair 
Games, Winter Sports Clinic, Golden Age Games and Creative Arts 
Festival is to provide the best rehabilitative therapy possible to 
maximize independence and enhance the quality of life for severely 
disabled veterans. Given that rehabilitation is part of the mission of 
VHA, we believe that it should be the controlling authority.
    PVA also believes that a separate line-item appropriation should be 
included in the VA budget to support these events. This would remove 
some of the burden that the VA carries when trying to raise funds to 
support these programs and allow it to focus on the actual purpose of 
these events--rehabilitation. PVA, veterans' service organizations, and 
other co-presenters of these events, could then continue to raise 
additional funds to support the events.
    PVA also generally supports H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic 
Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007.'' However as recommended 
above, we believe separate funding should be provided outside of the 
direct health care dollars appropriated to the VA. Moreover, we remain 
concerned about the long-term impact that this association between the 
VA and the USOC could have on the programs that the veterans service 
organizations have developed with VA that serve a similar purpose. 
Ultimately, the concepts outlined in this legislation are what need to 
be reinforced--that sports and recreation programs are about improved 
health and rehabilitation, not elite competition.
    As far as expanding veteran participation in the various sports and 
recreation programs administered by the VA, we would like to offer a 
few recommendations. These ideas are at least partially based on our 
observations and experiences with severely injured active duty service 
members at Walter Reed. First, it is critically important to remove 
barriers to participation. In order to further facilitate seamless 
transition, newly injured veterans should be provided timely access to 
education and training regarding sports and recreation opportunities. 
Furthermore, the VA and DOD should facilitate outreach efforts of 
legitimate organizations promoting sports and recreation opportunities 
by improving their access to newly injured veterans.
    Interestingly, PVA found in a sports and recreation survey that we 
conducted in 2002 that employment, whether full-time or part-time, is a 
barrier to sports and recreation activities due to a lack of time to 
participate. Furthermore, inadequate training, lack of local programs, 
high equipment and licensing fees, and a shortage of accessible local 
facilities are critical barriers to participation.
    We also believe that the VA, in coordination with DOD, the 
veterans' service organizations, and possibly the USOC, should develop 
and implement a broad-based, comprehensive program that appeals to all 
veterans, especially our newly injured veterans who are more inclined 
to participate in non-traditional activities. Furthermore, the VA 
should develop and implement a standardized curriculum for recreation 
therapy to support VA national programs and special events. We do not 
believe that VA recreation therapy programs are consistent across the 
board. This emphasis will provide the training and awareness on the 
local levels to support these programs and maximize their benefits.
    PVA appreciates the focus being placed on these important programs. 
With disabled servicemen and women exiting the military everyday, 
especially from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, these 
programs will provide a beacon of hope to those men and women who will 
continue to face challenges every day of their lives. We look forward 
to working with this Subcommittee to ensure that a wide range of sports 
and recreation activities are available to the men and women who have 
served and sacrificed.
    I would like to thank you again for the opportunity to testify. I 
would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

                                 
                Prepared Statement of Adrian M. Atizado,
  Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
    Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:
    Thank you for inviting the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), an 
organization of 1.3 million service-disabled veterans, to testify at 
this important hearing to discuss disability rehabilitation through 
sports. We appreciate the opportunity to offer our views and experience 
with the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.
    Known as the ``Miracles on a Mountainside,'' the Winter Sports 
Clinic is the world leader in promoting rehabilitation by instructing 
veterans with disabilities in adaptive skiing, and introducing them to 
a number of other adaptive recreational activities and sports. The 
clinic is cosponsored by the DAV and Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), as well as a number of generous corporate and individual donors.
    As the largest annual disabled learn-to-ski clinic in the world, 
the Winter Sports Clinic is an annual rehabilitation program open to 
active duty service-members and veterans with spinal cord injuries, 
orthopedic amputations, visual impairments, traumatic brain injuries, 
certain neurological problems and other disabilities who receive care 
at VA or military medical facilities. It provides the extrinsic 
motivation of excitement and camaraderie, but more importantly, it 
fosters the intrinsic motivation in each participant to find their 
strength of purpose and achieve what can only be described as miracles 
on a mountainside.
    This event evolved from the pioneering efforts of the VA in 
rehabilitation and adaptive sports. Mr. Sandy Trombetta, founder and 
Director of the Winter Sports Clinic, began bringing VA patients to a 
nearby mountain resort to participate in disabled ski programs in the 
early 1980s. As a recreation therapist at the VA Medical Center in 
Grand Junction, Colorado, he recognized the physical and mental healing 
that skiing and other winter sports can provide to veterans with 
disabilities. Just a few years after the first Winter Sports Clinic 
held in 1987 with 20 staff members and about 90 veterans, it became 
apparent more support was needed due to the therapeutic benefits and 
popularity of the Clinic. The DAV answered that call and has become a 
cosponsor of the event since 1991.
    The Clinic has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. Last 
year, more than 360 participants, including 82 injured OEF/OIF service-
members and veterans, attended from across the country along with 200 
certified disabled ski instructors and several members of the U.S. 
Disabled Ski Team. The Clinic holds a race training and development 
program to help veterans develop their skiing abilities to an elite 
level, with an ultimate goal of qualifying for U.S. Paralympic Team 
participation. Several participants who learned to ski at the Clinic 
are now members of the U.S. team.
    Adaptive ski equipment is updated and modified for each Midwinter 
Sports Clinic, and skiing is integrated with other exploratory 
activities. In addition to learning Alpine and Nordic skiing, 
participants are introduced to a variety of other activities and sports 
such as rock climbing, scuba diving, trap shooting, horseback riding, 
snowmobiling and sled hockey. The U.S. Secret Service also teaches a 
self-defense course to participants who are in wheelchairs or are 
visually impaired.
    It is expected there will be more than 450 disabled veterans, 
including nearly 120 recently injured OEF/OIF service-members and 
veterans, who will ski the Rocky Mountains at the 22nd National 
Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado 
from March 30-April 4, 2008.
    It is well established that recreation therapy plays a key role in 
the rehabilitation of disabled veterans in VA medical centers 
throughout the country. Correspondingly, this Clinic enhances the 
physical, social, and emotional well-being of the veterans who 
participate in this life changing event.
    Some of these veterans have never skied before. Most have spent 
months in hospitals, convinced their lives are over. A great many have 
been told they would never walk again. Yet there on the majestic high 
Alpine terrain of the Colorado Rockies, they learn otherwise and are 
proof positive that empowerment allows them to determine their own 
fate. Known for inspiring ``Miracles on a Mountainside,'' the Clinic 
shows that the lives of disabled veterans can be changed forever when 
they discover the challenges they can overcome. I invite you to view 
the 2007 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sport Clinic DVD to get a 
sense of the profound impact this event has on the participants and the 
volunteers. It is an intense week that touches everyone involved.
    The rehabilitation of disabled veterans through the annual Winter 
Sports Clinic drives our commitment to the event as it truly reflects 
DAV's mission of building better lives for our Nation's disabled 
veterans and their families. In 1992 we instituted the DAV Freedom 
Award at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. It is 
given each year to the veteran who makes the most progress during the 
week, showing outstanding courage and accomplishments in taking a giant 
step forward in his or her rehabilitation process.
    The award's inscription reads: ``Their accomplishments during the 
National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic have proven to the 
world that physical disability does not bar the doors to freedom. We 
salute your desire to excel so that others may follow.''
    Last year's recipient, Jason Poole, hails from Cupertino, 
California. He is a Marine infantryman who was injured by a massive 
improvised explosive device (IED) more than two years ago while on 
patrol near the Syrian border in Iraq. After two months in a coma, 
Jason woke up to find his world shattered. Blind in his left eye, deaf 
in his left ear, facing facial reconstruction and suffering from a 
brain injury that left him unable to speak, read and walk, Jason 
started out on the arduous road to recovery at the Polytrauma Center at 
Palo Alto, California.
    With courage, humility and the strength of a Marine, Corporal Poole 
has hunkered down to do battle with the long-term effects suffered by 
the thousands of servicemembers who have been injured by IED blasts in 
our current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    Those who have spoken with Jason noticed not only his upbeat 
attitude, but also his British accent. Jason moved from England in his 
teens and still carries a love for his native land. In fact, Jason was 
not sworn in as a U.S. citizen until he was in recovery from his 
injuries at Palo Alto. If you want to know anything about this young 
man's character, know this: Jason Poole was walking point and placing 
himself in harm's way for our Nation before he was fully vested as a 
U.S. citizen.
    Jason had progressed enough in his recovery to attend his first 
Winter Sports Clinic, where he faced the intense challenge of the 
mountain on his snowboard. He then took the sense of renewed 
possibility and spirit of adventure bolstered by the Clinic, and went 
back to Palo Alto to encourage his friends there to come with him when 
he returned this year.
    Everything Jason did at the 2007 National Disabled Veterans Winter 
Sports Clinic was accomplished with buoyancy, enthusiasm, and 
determination. He and other recipients before him serve as an example 
to all participants by displaying diligence in pursuit of 
rehabilitation.
    Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement, and I will be pleased to 
respond to any questions you or any Member of the Subcommittee may wish 
to ask.
    [The video presentation entitled, ``2007 National Disabled Veterans 
Winter Sports Clinic DVD,'' is being retained in the Committee files.]

                                 
        Prepared Statement of Jose Ramos, El Paso, TX (Veteran),
 on behalf of Kirk M. Bauer, J.D., Executive Director, Disabled Sports 
                                  USA
Background On Disabled Sports USA
    A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Disabled Sports USA was 
established in 1967 by Disabled Vietnam Veterans and Veterans from the 
10th Mountain Division to serve the war injured. Since that time it has 
grown to serve both military and civilian adults as well as youth with 
disabilities. Its chapter and national leadership still includes 
disabled veterans of the Vietnam war, including its national Executive 
Director who is a disabled Vietnam veteran.
    Disabled Sports USA has 92 community based sports chapters 
operating in 37 states offering over 20 different year round sports 
programs. Sports offered include alpine and Nordic snow skiing, 
snowboarding, golf, cycling, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, sailing, 
outrigger canoeing, horseback riding, shooting, fishing, camping, track 
and field, tennis and other activities. DS/USA's emphasis is on sports 
rehabilitation and recreational activities that lead to an active and 
healthy lifestyle. DS/USA also offers sports competitions and training 
camps that provide a ``pipeline'' for emerging athletes who want to 
train and compete for the Summer and Winter Paralympics.
Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project
    For the past five years, since the war in Iraq was declared, DS/USA 
in partnership with its chapters and Wounded Warrior Project has 
conducted the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project. Under the 
program, severely wounded servicemembers are provided the opportunity 
to learn over 20 different sports as part of their rehabilitation, 
while in the hospital. The types of sports conducted are determined by 
the veterans themselves. Utilizing its 92 community chapters, these 
disabled veterans can continue to participate in the program, in many 
cases in their local communities, after they have left the hospital and 
been discharged from the military; or remain on active duty. All 
expenses for their participation are paid by DS/USA including airfare, 
lodging, meals, adaptive sports equipment and training by experienced 
adaptive sports instructors. Expenses for a family member are also 
underwritten to allow the wounded warrior to share his or her 
experience with the family; and keep them involved through shared 
activities.
    Programs are offered at the major military medical centers where 
the severely wounded are treated, including Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center, Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center in 
San Antonio and Balboa Naval Medical Center. DS/USA also serves 
patients with Traumatic Brain Injury at Palo Alto and Tampa Veterans 
Hospitals. Since its inception, over 1600 severely wounded 
servicemembers and their families have been served through more than 
200 events in 20 different sports. Over 1,000 servicemembers and 600 
family members have participated. See attached schedule of events for 
2008.
    The WWDSP model is based on offering immediate participation 
opportunities as part of ongoing therapy and as part of recovery; 
followed by continued opportunity at the community level once the 
veteran is home.
    Sports is particularly effective during rehabilitation because 
basics of each sport can be taught in as little as one day. A quick, 
successful experience learning sport, helps to provide a positive 
outlook in the wounded warrior and shows him or her the way to an 
active and successful future. From this new confidence the warrior is 
able to progress in life in a positive way. This result is embodied in 
DS/USA's motto: ``If I can do this, I can do anything!'' Currently, the 
Army Center for Enhanced Performance (ACEP) (a mental skills program 
based at Walter Reed Army Medical Center) is formulating a plan to 
conduct outcome studies regarding the effectiveness of WWDSP 
programming.
Disabled Sports USA Endorses the VA Support for Sports Festivals and 
        Winter and Summer Games
    Disabled Sports USA endorses the Veterans Administration's support 
of the Winter Sports Clinic and the PVA Summer Wheelchair Games as top 
sports events that help disabled veterans become active and 
competitive. It also endorses the Paralympic Sports Festivals held for 
disabled veterans and active duty military at the U.S. Olympic Training 
Centers. These programs help to introduce wounded warriors to the 
opportunities in Paralympic and other competitive sports programs.
Disabled Sports Recommends Expanding and Modifying the VA Sports 
        Program
    Based on 40 years' experience in disability sport and recreation, 
Disabled Sports USA recommends that the VA consider expanding support 
of programming, to include non-competitive, recreational activities in 
or near the communities where the disabled veteran lives. These regular 
activities, integrated with the community, help establish an active 
lifestyle that will reduce health risks and make for a fuller life.
    This also helps with the reintegration of the disabled veteran into 
community life. This recommendation is based on evaluation tools, 
conducted after every WWDSP activity, with feedback provided by both 
the wounded warrior, family and medical staff.
    The focus should be directed to providing active, healthy 
recreational activities and lifestyles for disabled veterans, in their 
local communities and away from emphasis on once-a-year, national 
competitions. In this way will we all help create a generation of 
physically active, disabled veterans who are physically, mentally and 
emotionally healthier.
    These activities should be supported in the communities where the 
veterans live and not just at selected national events that occur once 
or twice a year. This orientation will encourage regular exercise and a 
healthier lifestyle, since the activities are available on a daily or 
weekly basis, close to home. They should include Paralympic activities 
such as track and field, power lifting and others; but should also 
include recreational activities that promote an active lifestyle.
    It is our experience based on serving more than 1000 injured 
servicemembers since 2003, that the new generation of servicemembers 
are demanding a new generation of sporting choices. For example SCUBA, 
rock climbing, hiking, rafting, wake boarding, hunting, fishing, 
snowboarding, kayaking and other extreme endurance and outdoor 
activities are in demand.
    Based on our experiences for 40 years, only a small percentage of 
our overall participants actually engage in Paralympic level sports. 
This includes disabled veterans. This runs between 2% and 5% of our 
groups of both civilian and military disabled youth and adults. The 
vast majority do not participate for a variety of reasons including 
skill levels, time needed for training, family and work 
responsibilities and cost.
    True to this model, the majority of wounded warriors that DS/USA 
has served during the past five years, want to stay active and 
challenge themselves athletically; but they have no desire or time to 
train to be Paralympians. Many want to pursue activities they love and 
did before their injury, with fishing, hunting and winter sports being 
among the most popular.
    It is particularly difficult for those with Traumatic Brain Injury 
to understand the distinctions between who is and isn't able to 
compete--with the potential to face disappointment when they are 
ultimately unable to compete alongside their comrades in Paralympic 
Sport. TBI is one of the major categories of injury in OEF/OIF.
    Many of the wounded warriors, who become disabled veterans with 
disability ratings from the VA, do not have injuries that would qualify 
them for the Paralympic Games. Thus an entire group of service-
connected disabled veterans do not ultimately qualify for or benefit 
from the Paralympic agenda; but still need and want to become active 
again in sports and recreation.
VA Policy Change Needed
    In order to do this, the VA will need to change its policy of only 
supporting events which are 100% veteran participation; and allow for 
participation in events and activities in which the majority of 
participants are non-veterans. This change would allow disabled 
veterans to participate in their chosen activity at their skill level; 
and not restrict veterans to what is available nationally. The VA can 
draw precedent for taking this action in the recently passed 
legislation with Department of Defense. Under that legislation, funding 
is allowed for active duty military who want to pursue Paralympic 
Sports at events where only 10% of participants are military.
VA Rule Change which May Adversely Affect Veterans in Wheelchairs
    We would also like to draw attention to a little known rule change 
which we have recently learned is being considered within the VA; which 
may adversely affect sports participation for the disabled veteran who 
uses a wheelchair. Presently, paralyzed veterans can secure a hand-
cycle as a piece of exercise equipment needed to promote fitness and 
health. They are also authorized one sports wheelchair to participate 
in sports like tennis, basketball and track and field.
    We understand that the VA wants to reclassify the hand-cycle as a 
sports wheelchair. If that happens, then the paralyzed veteran may have 
to choose between securing a sports wheelchair and a hand-cycle, since 
they are only authorized one sports wheelchair. If he or she chooses 
the cycle, then that disabled veteran will not be able to secure a 
sports wheelchair to participate in tennis, wheelchair basketball, 
wheeling and other healthful activities.
Health Benefits and Reduced Healthcare Costs
    By expanding its sports programs to include activities that are 
recreational in nature and close to home, the VA will better serve 
disabled veterans, promote fitness, provide a healthy lifestyle leading 
to success in life. This is not only good for the veteran, it is good 
for the government. Long term, regular exercise, along with more 
healthful diets, will reduce health care costs to the VA.
    Many studies have shown that 70% of our most severe illnesses 
including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and 
certain cancers; are due to lack of regular exercise and poor eating 
habits. Maintaining regular physical activity and healthy eating habits 
will reduce these diseases in the veteran.
    For the population as a whole, studies show that Americans are 
becoming increasingly obese and are inactive. Additional studies show 
that those with disabilities are even more unfit with higher levels of 
obesity and lower cardiovascular fitness. However, like their non-
disabled counterparts, those with a disability can benefit from 
physical fitness activities and can see health and fitness improve 
through regular exercise.
    Costs for the programs recommended here can be contained by 
restricting support only to those veterans with specific levels of 
disability ratings and reimbursing for activities in which the veteran 
participates on a regular basis and not just occasionally.

                                 
  Prepared Statement of Dan D. Scott, M.D., National Medical Director,
 National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado
          Health Care System, Veterans Health Administration,
                  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
    Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman and members of the Subcommittee. I 
am pleased to be here to discuss the ways the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) encourages rehabilitation through sports.
    Rehabilitation is the process of returning an individual to a 
rewarding and productive life following an injury or disease that 
causes a functional decline in the individual's mental and/or physical 
abilities. Most people have experienced or know someone who has 
experienced such a decline. The immediate intervention usually involves 
interaction with a medical professional and, in some cases, 
hospitalization. After the acute disease process or injury has been 
stabilized, physicians can determine if a loss of function has 
occurred. This can result from loss of limb, cognitive impairment, 
neurological injury or even de-conditioning from inactivity. The 
psychological impact of functional decline can be difficult, and each 
individual must first accept their condition and then learn to function 
in a new and different capacity.
    Acute rehabilitation usually involves an interdisciplinary model 
with interventions from Physiatry, Nursing, Physical Therapy, 
Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Recreation 
Therapy, Psychology and Social Work or Case Management. These services 
are usually begun while an inpatient. Once the individual has reached 
the maximum level of functionality both physically and emotionally, he 
or she is usually discharged from the hospital to continue his or her 
recovery as an outpatient. At this point, the individual may need to 
redefine his or her role identity based upon the injury.
    VA is dedicated to ensuring every veteran involved in 
rehabilitation is able to focus on his or her abilities to participate 
fully in daily life. One of the most effective programs VA offers is 
the National Rehabilitation Special Events Program, which consists of 
four major events: the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the National 
Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Creative 
Arts Festival, and the National Veterans Golden Age Games. These four 
events demonstrate VA's commitment to rehabilitation as each event 
serves a specific population to provide a large cross section of 
veterans with a wide range of rehabilitative services.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games
    Wheelchair sports began in the United States after World War II, 
when disabled veterans began playing basketball in VA medical centers 
(VAMCs) across the country as a recreational and therapeutic exercise. 
In 1980, VA established a Recreation Therapy Service, and began 
developing the idea of using wheelchair athletics to promote 
rehabilitation of disabled veterans. In 1981, the ``International Year 
of Disabled Persons,'' 74 veterans from 14 states participated in the 
first National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Richmond, VA. Tom Brown, 
recreation therapist and current National Director, and two colleagues 
founded this event, which offered a variety of sports where veterans 
could participate. Events ranged from table tennis to weightlifting, 
and was immensely popular and grew rapidly.
    In 1985, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) joined with VA to host 
the Games and offered expertise and resources to ensure these Games 
would continue providing rehabilitative services to veterans with 
disabilities. PVA recruited corporate sponsors and individual donors to 
allow more veterans to participate. Each year, a different VAMC 
volunteers to host the Games. Hosting requires a total commitment from 
the VAMC and the local PVA chapter to ensure the success of each year's 
Games. In planning the Games, the local VAMC and its employees 
reinforce the value of rehabilitation through wheelchair sports and 
become even more committed to providing the best care possible to 
veterans. The Games require approximately 2,000 volunteers, most from 
the host city, providing another avenue for promoting rehabilitation 
through sports in the community-at-large and emphasizing the ability of 
veterans to overcome everyday obstacles and lead productive lives. The 
games are the largest annual wheelchair sporting event in the world. In 
2007, 513 wheelchair athletes from 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the 
United Kingdom competed at the Games in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Games 
offer 17 medal events and one exhibition event, which is used to 
introduce additional events to the competitors. These exhibitions have 
proven extremely popular.

          Table 1--Number of Athletes Competing in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, (1981-2007)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Year                                    Location                          Number of Athletes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1981                                                                  Richmond, VA                           74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982                                                                 Milwaukee, WI                          137
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983                                                                              Long Beach, CA            178
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984                                                                  Brockton, MA                          272
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985                                                              College Park, MD                          280
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986                                                                    Dallas, TX                          360
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987                                                                 Ann Arbor, MI                          389
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988                                                               San Antonio, TX                          460
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989                                                                              Long Beach, CA            397
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990                                                                 New Orleans, LA                        550
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991                                                                      Miami, FL                         487
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992                                                                    Dayton, OH                          492
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993                                                               San Antonio, TX                          454
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994                                                               Kansas City, MO                          473
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995                                                                   Atlanta, GA                          519
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996                                                                   Seattle, WA                          487
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997                                                                 San Diego, CA                          577
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998                                                                Pittsburgh, PA                          539
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999                                                                  San Juan, PR                          555
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000                                                               San Antonio, TX                          587
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001                                                                  New York, NY                          523
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002                                                                 Cleveland, OH                          484
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003                                                                              Long Beach, CA            540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004                                                                          St. Louis, MO                 518
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005                                                               Minneapolis, MN                          498
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006                                                                 Anchorage, AK                          527
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007                                                                 Milwaukee, WI                          513
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Table 2--Annual Events
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Guns                                                     Quad Rugby
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archery                                                          Slalom
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basketball                                                     Softball
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bowling                                                        Swimming
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Events--Discus, Javelin, Shot Put                    Table Tennis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand Cycling                                                      Track
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motor Rally                                               Trap Shooting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Ball                                                    Weightlifting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Power Soccer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Exhibition Events (change from year to year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curling                                                     Sled Hockey
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wheelchair Golf                                                  Tennis
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
    In the early eighties, Sandy Trombetta, a recreation therapist at 
the Grand Junction, Colorado, VAMC began taking veterans with 
disabilities skiing as part of their rehabilitation program. Because of 
the success of these early efforts, Mr. Trombetta, currently the 
National Director of the Winter Sports Clinic, founded the National 
Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in 1987 to teach veterans with 
disabilities the benefits of overcoming their physical challenges 
through participation in winter sports. In September 2008, VA will 
launch a pilot program for a Summer Sports Clinic based upon the same 
principles. The Winter Sports Clinic was first held at Powderhorn 
Resort outside of Grand Junction, CO, with 90 participants and 20 VA 
staff members sharing this amazing opportunity. The Winter Sports 
Clinic has had three homes over its 21 year lifetime: Powderhorn 
Resort, CO; Crested Butte, CO; and Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO.
    In 1991, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) became a cosponsor of 
this event and has assisted with corporate and individual fundraising 
efforts to ensure the provision of hands-on instruction and 
rehabilitation for America's veterans with disabilities. Participation 
in this event is open to U.S. military veterans and active duty 
military with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, 
amputations, visual impairments, neurological diseases, and other 
disabilities. In the 2007 Winter Sports Clinic, in addition to other 
veteran participants, 124 active duty servicemembers from Operation 
Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) participated. 
More than 200 certified ski instructors for the disabled and hundreds 
of volunteers, both from VA and the community, make this event a 
success every year. The Winter Sports Clinic teaches participants that 
having a physical or visual disability does not preclude participating 
in or achieving an active and rewarding life. It offers opportunities 
to overcome challenges faced in their daily lives through learning 
winter sports skills and participating in the adaptive workshops while 
enjoying the camaraderie and support of other veterans.

                      Table 3--National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, (1987-2007)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Year                                    Location                        Number of Participants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987                                                       Powderhorn Mountain, CO                           90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988                                                       Powderhorn Mountain, CO                          106
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989                                                       Powderhorn Mountain, CO                          151
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990                                                       Powderhorn Mountain, CO                          171
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991                                                       Powderhorn Mountain, CO                          186
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          226
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          238
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          256
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          279
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          287
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          294
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          313
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          303
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000                                                             Crested Butte, CO                          331
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          351
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          350
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          305
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          325
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          323
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          340
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007                                                   Snowmass Village--Aspen, CO                          370
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       Table 4--National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic Activities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Adaptive skiing with mono-skis and bi-skis
                                                                   Instruction in adaptive Alpine (downhill)
                                           Instruction in Nordic (cross-country) skiing for stand-up skiers,
                                                                                                   including
                                                                                       the visually impaired
                                                                                                Scuba diving
                                                                                                 Sled hockey
                                                                                                 Snowshoeing
                                                                                                Snowmobiling
                                                                                               Rock climbing
                                                                                               Trap shooting
                                                                                                     Fencing
                                                                                                        Golf
                                                                                      Snow Cat/Gondola Rides
                                     Educational and instructional workshops on self-defense and other topics
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
    The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival began as two separate 
competitions: ``VET ARTS'', and ``The National Music Competition for 
Veterans.'' The first was developed by Muriel Barbour, a recreation 
therapist at the VAMC Center in Richmond, VA in 1981. The second 
competition was a performing arts competition, created in 1982 by 
Shirley Jefferies, a recreation therapist at the VAMC in Waco, TX. 
These two programs merged in 1989 to become the National Veterans 
Creative Arts Festival. Drama and dance divisions were added that year 
to the Festival. In 2005, the fifth division, creative writing, was 
added. The competition includes 50 art categories, with original 
artwork to crafts and paint-by-number kits. There are 120 categories in 
the areas of music, dance, drama and creative writing. Creative writing 
includes original works in poetry, essay and short stories.
    VA, the American Legion Auxiliary, Help Hospitalized Veterans 
cosponsor the National Creative Arts Festival in conjunction with other 
local and national sponsors.
    The Festival showcases the artistic achievements in the five 
divisions from veterans from VA hospitals across the United States. 
This event does not represent a competition at the Festival itself as 
all entries have been judged locally prior to being invited to the 
national Arts Festival. More than 2,800 veterans from nearly 100 VA 
medical facilities entered the competitions in 2007.
    During the week of the Festival, community artists offer workshops 
to the participants, educating them in various artistic modalities. 
Each year highlights a live stage production, complete with orchestral 
accompaniment, which is performed by participating veterans who have 
achieved medal-winning status prior to attending. This production is 
developed, rehearsed and presented at the culmination of the week's 
activities.
The National Veterans Golden Age Games
    This event was first held in 1985 in Albany, GA with 115 
competitors from VA facilities across the country. The Golden Age Games 
provide therapeutic recreation through sports and other events for 
veterans 55 years of age and older who are receiving care at any VA 
facility. The Games have become the ``premier senior adaptive 
rehabilitation program'' in the United States. They offer multiple 
sporting events, which have been adapted to meet the specific needs of 
the competitors, including those with visual impairments and those 
using wheelchairs. There are separate age groups and gender divisions. 
The over-70 group makes up the largest category of competitors in the 
Games, and the aging Vietnam veterans comprise the largest group by 
period of service. The program has grown from 115 competitors in 1985 
to 622 competitors in 2007, making it the largest of VA's 
rehabilitative special events. This program emphasizes the importance 
of wellness and fitness for our aging veteran population. (Table 5)

                            Table 5--National Veterans Golden Age Games, (1985-2008)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Year                           Location                    Host VA Medical Facilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985                                                 Albany, GA                        Atlanta and Dublin VAMCs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987                                                       Ft. Lyon, CO                                    Ft. Lyon VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988                                                 Marion, IN                                     Marion VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990                                                Sherman, TX            Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991                                          St. Petersburg, FL                                 Bay Pines VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992                                              Ypsilanti, MI                     Ann Arbor VA Medical Center
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993                                           Johnson City, TN                              Mountain Home VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994                                                           Lisle, IL    Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Hospital
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995                                                 Dallas, TX                                     Dallas VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996                                              Riverside, CA                                          Jerry L. Pettis VAMC, Loma Linda
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997                                                           Leavenworth, KS        Dwight D. Eisenhower VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998                                                           Leesburg, VA                  VA Capitol Network
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999                                                 Geneva, NY                                Canandaigua VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000                                                 Topeka, KS                            VA Heartland Network
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001                                            Duncanville, TX                VA North Texas Healthcare System
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002                                                           Los Angeles, CA                      VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003                                                  Orono, ME                  Togus VAMC and Regional Office
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004                                                 Fresno, CA         VA Central California Healthcare System
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005                                                 Norman, OK                              Oklahoma City VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006                                                Hampton, VA                                    Hampton VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007                                                Houston, TX                         Michael E. DeBakey VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008                                           Indianapolis, IN                                        Richard L. Roudebush VAMC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion
    The Department of Veterans Affairs National Rehabilitation Special 
Events program demonstrates VA's commitment to the rehabilitative needs 
of veterans. This program offers services for the acutely injured or 
infirmed and for those with chronic or progressive disabilities to 
encourage participation of the newly injured, both veterans and active 
duty servicemembers. The participants in these programs act as mentors 
and comrades to their fellow veterans, offering encouragement and 
support as the newest participants learn the value of therapeutic 
recreation as a means to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers in 
their daily lives. Lessons learned by participating in these events 
offer life-changing opportunities, which carryover for the novice and 
for the most experienced participants.
    The National Rehabilitation Special Events are managed by VA's 
Office of National Programs and Special Events, which was established 
in 2000. This office also oversees the National Veterans Day program 
and other special events. In addition, it is also responsible for 
implementing VA's current memorandum of understanding with the United 
States Olympic Committee for Paralympic Athlete Development.

                        Table 6--Websites for the National Rehabilitation Special Events
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            http://www1.va.gov/OPA/speceven/
                                                           http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/nvwg/2007/default.cfm
                                                            http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2007/default.cfm
                                                            http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/caf/2007/default.cfm
                                                            http://www1.va.gov/vetevent/gag/2007/default.cfm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [The PowerPoint presentation, entitled, ``Rehabilitation through 
Sports,'' submitted by Dr. Scott, Director, National Veterans 
Wheelchair Games, will be retained in the Committee files. The video 
presentation entitled, ``National Disabled Veterans Sports Clinic,'' 
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs National Rehabilitation 
Special Events, will be retained in the Committee files.]

                                 
      Prepared Statement of Charles Huebner, Chief of Paralympics,
                    United States Olympic Committee
    Good afternoon Madam Chairwoman and members of the Subcommittee. My 
name is Charles Huebner and I am the Chief of Paralympics, for the 
United States Olympic Committee (``USOC'') which is headquartered in 
Colorado Springs, Colorado. I appreciate the opportunity to testify on 
our partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve those 
men and women rehabilitating from injuries suffered while serving their 
country.
    In 1998 Congress gave the United States Olympic Committee the 
additional responsibility of serving as the National Paralympic 
Committee for the United States, a responsibility that in most 
participating Olympic countries is undertaken by a separate 
organization. Paralympic sport is athletic activity for physically 
disabled men and women and the Paralympic Games are a world-class 
competition for elite athletes conducted approximately two weeks after, 
and at most of the same venues as the Olympic Games.
    Over the last decade, and because of the joint efforts and programs 
conducted by the USOC and a variety of organizations ranging from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to Disabled Sport USA, interest and 
participation in Paralympic sport has grown exponentially in the United 
States and now also involves thousands of injured military and veterans 
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The focus on the military is most 
appropriate since the Paralympic Movement began shortly after World War 
II utilizing sports as a form of rehabilitation for the injured 
warriors of the Greatest Generation.
    I want to use this opportunity to thank Chairman Filner for 
introducing H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic Committee Paralympic 
Program Act of 2007,'' and Ranking Member Buyer for his bill, H.R. 
1370, ``The Disabled Veterans Sports and Special Events Promotion Act 
of 2007.'' Both legislative proposals would provide the USOC with much-
needed tools and resources that would enable us to expand our existing 
efforts to provide services in DoD and VA medical centers and in the 
home communities of our injured warriors throughout their transition 
from active duty to veterans' status.
    The USOC began its Paralympic Military Program in 2003 and since 
that time over 1200 injured active duty military and veterans have 
participated in our ``Paralympic Military Program'' including 
Paralympic Sport Camps at USOC training facilities in Colorado Springs 
and Chula Vista, California, which is in Chairman Filner's 
Congressional District. The Military Sports Camps provide an 
introduction to Paralympic Sport, but also the introduction of 
Paralympians that serve as mentors to injured military personnel and 
veterans. While these programs have been an unqualified success, it is 
clear that these efforts constitute just the beginning of what is 
required. We are now in the process of setting up permanent Paralympic 
programs to serve our injured military at the four major DoD Medical 
Centers, and in 2008 we expect to provide services for more than 2500 
injured military personnel at a combination of locations and facilities 
around the country that conduct programs for physically disabled men 
and women.
    Our next objective is to provide these Paralympic services to our 
veterans in their communities. If either H.R. 4255 or H.R. 1370 is 
enacted, the USOC will be able to set up major Paralympic programs near 
the major VA rehabilitation hospitals and centers. We will also be able 
to extend our reach into the communities to which our veterans will be 
returning so that they will have continued access to Paralympic 
programs as a tool for their rehabilitation and a vehicle for their 
return to an active lifestyle. Components of the Paralympic Veterans 
and Military Program include national training of community leaders to 
implement Paralympic sport programs at the community level; Paralympic 
clinics and mentor visits at military and VA installations, and 
``Paralympic Military Sports Camps,'' conducted at our Olympic Training 
Centers. We believe that we would not have made this much progress had 
the USOC not developed a very positive and productive working 
relationship with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which began with 
a Memorandum of Understanding entered into in November 2005. Since then 
we have collaborated on numerous activities including providing clinic 
and mentor support at the National Veteran Games, Veterans Winter Sport 
Clinics and the development of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Clinics in 
Augusta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida.
    Today there are more than 21 million Americans with a physical 
disability. Less than 10% of those Americans participate in daily 
physical activity. With an increase of more than 27,000 injured 
military personnel, the system to support our heroes needs strategic 
investment in infrastructure.
    In the past year, the U.S. Olympic Committee has deployed a plan to 
address this crisis with a specific emphasis on injured military 
personnel and veterans. In April of this year the USOC is hosting the 
inaugural Olympic University ``Developing Amazing Leaders'' conference 
to train community and military leaders on how to develop self-
sustaining Paralympic community-based programs. Our goal is to have 
established new Paralympic community-based programs in 75 communities 
by the end of 2008, and 250 communities by the end of 2012.
    This strategy in collaboration with Paralympic organizations and 
groups like the National Recreation and Parks Association will allow us 
to meet a critical need not only at the military installations, but 
more importantly in the hometowns of returning veterans, especially in 
rural areas that are currently not served. The hometown is an essential 
area where that extension of rehabilitation and reintegration into 
community is vital. These programs would be community extensions at 
various Military Medical Centers, Military Installations, and VA 
facilities that are identified in collaboration with our partners at 
the Veterans Administration.
    That is why Chairman Filner's proposed legislation, H.R. 4255, and 
Ranking Member Buyer's bill, H.R. 1370, are so important. Both bills 
provide necessary resources that will enable us to accomplish many of 
these objectives and to serve our disabled veterans. With the 
investment called for by these bills, along with the significant 
contribution by the USOC and Paralympic organizations nationwide, we 
will be able to better meet the growing need to serve our injured 
Veterans and return them to active and productive lifestyles in their 
communities.
    I want to emphasize that we are currently and will continue to 
engage in these activities regardless of what happens to this 
legislation because injured military personnel are the soul of the 
Paralympic Movement. And when I speak of the ``Paralympic Movement'' I 
am not talking about an exclusive number of persons that will make 
future Paralympic teams. Rather, I am speaking of a movement and 
individuals with physical disabilities who are educated, employed, 
active in their communities, promote excellence, ability and inspire 
Americans to achieve and overcome obstacles. However, it is likely that 
by 2008, there will be one or more former servicemembers that will 
qualify to represent their country again at the Paralympic Games. And 
that will be a great achievement and story for America, and the 
American people.
    The bills proposed by Chairman Filner and Congressman Buyer are 
testimony to the need of veterans for activities and programs that 
enable them to return to a full and active life. The United States 
Olympic Committee, through its Paralympic Division, wants to be an 
active participant in serving a most deserving segment of our 
population. I would like to close with a brief video from one of our 
Paralympic Military Sport Camps. Chairman and members, I believe this 
video illustrates the power of Paralympic sport and Paralympic mentors 
for our injured Veterans to not only rehabilitate physically, but also 
mentally and spiritually. Thank you.
    [The video presentation entitled, ``Paralympic Military Summit-San 
Diego,'' dated November 2005, will be retained in the Committee files.]

                                  
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