On June 14, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved, 25-0, the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act (S. 1606).
Sponsored by Chair Carl Levin (D-MI), the measure would address problems, such as the need to assist service members and their families during the transition from military to civilian life, which have been highlighted during recent committee hearings. S. 1606 would facilitate this transition by requiring the secretary of Defense and the secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive transition policy. The bill also would authorize $50 million for improved diagnosis and treatment of service members with traumatic brain injury or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
During consideration of the bill, the committee adopted, by voice vote, an amendment by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) that would require the secretary of Defense and the secretary of Veterans Affairs to consider and address the needs of women service members and veterans when implementing any provision of the bill. Additionally, any report required by the bill would have to include a description of how the needs of women service members and veterans were being addressed.
An amendment by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) that would require the secretary of Defense and secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a review of the need for mental health services for women service members and veterans, as well as the efficacy of current mental health services, was approved by voice vote. Sen. Lieberman’s amendment also would require the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a policy to address treatment and care of women service members and veterans who have experienced mental health problems, including PTSD.
