Injured veterans program in danger
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/212678-injured-vets-program-in-danger
Injured veterans program in danger
By Martin Matishak - 07/19/14 11:14 AM EDT
A program that allows veterans with traumatic brain injuries to receive treatment in assisted living facilities is in danger of closing down.
With only two weeks to go before the August recess, Congress has yet to take action on legislation that would renew the pilot program before it expires on Sept. 30.
Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) proposed legislation this week that would prolong the treatment option for another three years at a cost of $46 million. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have tragically resulted in a generation of veterans with traumatic brain injuries. We have an obligation to support their recovery and their return to civilian life, Booker said in a statement.
But the treatment program is at risk being lost in the shuffle, with lawmakers in both chambers of Congress preoccupied with trying to reach an agreement on overhauling the troubled veterans healthcare system.
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