Date: 2011-05-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I rise to support the en bloc amendments and particularly my amendment dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder. My amendment sends a clear and resounding message that we take all wounds endured by our veterans seriously. Although their wounds may be invisible. we recognize that they should be properly treated. One of the best ways to increase the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder is to access treatment and to increase treatment in a number of local and community medical facilities. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for accepting this amendment and for recognizing the enormous burden that has come about through PTSD. According to the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database. the number of hospitalizations and outpatient visits in which PTSD was a primary diagnosis between 2000 and 2009 was 5.307 hospitalizations and 578.120 outpatient visits. I also rise today in honor of my friend and late colleague. Congressman John Murtha. who worked with me to establish an outsourcing clinic in the Houston area at the Riverside Hospital. What a difference it makes. If proper medical care is given. about 40 percent to 60 percent of people who develop PTSD can get better care. How many of us can even talk about this experience short of our Members who have experienced combat who are here in the United States Congress? The average American who has not does not know the trauma of experiencing danger every day in protecting themselves and their comrades. They come home. They deserve not only our celebration of their return but to be treated so that they can go on with their lives. Since October 2004. approximately 1.64 million U.S. troops have been deployed for the OEF and OIF in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lets say to our soldiers: You are deserving of our care. Let us provide more access to care for posttraumatic stress disorder. I appreciate your support for this en bloc amendment. Mr. Chair. I rise today in support of my amendment #112 to H.R. 1540. "National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2011." as it will send a clear message on the importance of increasing access to treatment for those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a Member of Congress from Texas. a state which has sustained more casualties in the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq than all but one other state. I am pleased to offer this amendment. My amendment is intended to address the urgent need for access to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment and counseling facilities servicing veterans. This includes veterans living in some of the more distressed areas of our country. We must encourage the establishment of innovative publicprivate partnerships for the treatment and research of PTSD in teaching hospitals across the country by placing a focus on the importance of caring for those who live with post traumatic stress disorder. We can never do enough to honor our wounded veterans. The Congressional Research Service puts the number of troops deployed since 2000 suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at nearly 67.000. Post traumatic stress disorder is one of the most prevalent and devastating psychological wounds suffered by the brave men and women fighting in far off lands to defend the values and freedom we hold dear. This country has the necessary resources to provide Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with world class care. I represent a district that is home to one of the largest populations of military service members and their families in the nation. There are over 200.000 veterans of military service who live and work in Houston. more than 13.000 are veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan. For the brave men and women who have been wounded in combat. help is on the way. Mr. Chair. my amendment sends the clear and resounding message that we take all wounds endured by our veterans seriously. Although a soldiers wounds are invisible to the naked eye. they are still wounds that should be properly treated. One of the best ways to increase access to treatment is to increase the number of medical facilities specializing in post traumatic stress disorder located in underserved urban areas. Access to post traumatic stress disorder treatment is especially important since veterans living in such areas are less likely to be diagnosed and treated for post traumatic stress disorder. In Houston the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) is the primary point of care for most returning veterans. It serves over 6.000 veterans in the area. 90% of those served at the VAMC are men. and 21% have been diagnosed with some form of depression or PTSD. We need to include community based health care providers to reach veterans living in underserved urban areas. The treatment of PTSD should be community based. As a senior member of the Judiciary and the Homeland Security Committees. I agree with President Obama and the Administration in reaffirming our commitment to supporting our veterans and military warriors. The $1.000.000 Department of Defense (DOD) awarded grant recognized the importance of expanded efforts in diverse communities around the country. as the government seals its promise to ensure our Military Personnel and Veterans have the best medical care available. It has been a long fought battle. as I have worked tirelessly with the late John Murtha. Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense. of the House Appropriations Committee and Senior Leaders from DOD for more than four years to secure $1.000.000 in federal funding in the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill for Riverside General Hospital. These funds provided facilities and services to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) for National Guardsmen. Reservists and Veterans discharged and/or on leave. These funds represented a major step towards providing expanded resources in the heart of the city of Houston for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. The DOD awarded grant recognized the importance of expanded efforts in diverse communities around the country. as the government seals its promise to ensure our veterans and warriors in uniform have the best medical care available. These funds provided trained experienced physicians. nurses. therapists and other healthcare professionals the necessary services to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorders for Military Personnel and Veterans discharged and/or on leave of duty. In addition. Riverside General Hospital is now able to provide psychiatric. medical emergency medical inpatient. and outpatient services. There are currently close to 200.000 military and civilian personnel in the state of Texas. many living in the Houston area. Riverside General Hospital. located in the 18th Congressional District. is the only hospital in Texas privately owned by AfricanAmericans. Riverside General Hospital was founded due to the heroic efforts of veterans in the First World War. Riverside General Hospital. formerly the Houston Negro Hospital. was erected in 1926 in memory of Lieutenant John Halm Cullinan. US. Army. Riverside General Hospital is the only private AfricanAmericanowned hospital in the state of Texas that is contracted to provide inpatient psychiatric and inpatient detoxification services to TRICARE beneficiaries.