The Disabled American Veterans held their state convention in Rochester this weekend. KAAL-TV reports in Disabled Veterans Get Some Relief:
Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of disability among veterans.
The pain continues to affect many wounded soldiers making it difficult for them to go about their daily lives.
Congressman Tim Walz said he hopes to change that by introducing a new bill to help ease their pain.
Vietnam veteran Jim Sursely knows all about pain.
"In Vietnam I stepped on a land mine on January 11th 1969 and resulted in the loss of both of my legs and left arm," said Sursely.
It was a painful experience but he eventually overcame it.
Now he's advocating for all wounded soldiers, as many more are returning from the war zone with chronic pain.
"Asking congress for more money for research for pain management has been a critical issue,” said Sursely.
One that Congressman Tim Walz is responding to.
"We haven't seen a real consorted effort in terms of research and delivery of a broad based pain management system," said Congressman Walz.
Walz is introducing the "Veterans Pain Management Act of 2008."
The bill will require VA clinics to increase it's training and research on chronic pain.
It will also create centers for pain management, one with a special focus on central and peripheral nervous system damage.
"Making sure research is there so that our veterans get that pain management because most of them, years later, when they talk about the quality of life erode, it's the pain that they're dealing with," said Walz.
Army veteran James Gray thinks it's a good idea, one that should have come sooner.
"Should have happened at least 2 to 4 years ago as soon as they put the first troops in Iraq we should have had the money there rather than now appropriated but now it better than never," said Gray.
Sursely is advocating for many more changes in government policy to help those who are fighting for our country."We want to make sure that they are taken care of now, when they return…for a long time in the future," said Sursely.
He hopes this legislation is as sign of many more changes to come.Congressman Tim Walz says there's a wide support for this legislation. He hopes to get it passed and have it in effect by this fall.
The congressman's office sent out a release about the legislation:
In a keynote speech before the Minnesota Disabled American Veterans Convention today, Congressman Walz announced that he will introduce the Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008 next week in the House of Representatives.
The bill will establish a comprehensive and integrated pain care initiative across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities. Walz said his legislation addresses concerns raised by veterans in the 1st District regarding the need for expanding pain care services across the VA, as well as providing for additional research, education and pain management training for VA staff.
"I recently spoke with a 65-year-old Navy veteran who lives in Mankato," said Walz. "Because of pain caused by his service to our country, he struggles with everyday tasks - he can't take a comfortable step or make it through one day without excruciating pain from head trauma he suffered in the Navy. If we can improve the VA's focus on pain management care, that will reduce the number of trips this veteran will have to make from Mankato to the Minneapolis VA."
"The VA has important pain care programs," said Walz. "But more veterans need access to comprehensive pain care on a consistent basis through the VA's health care system. We've got to make sure that the VA has the tools to address the needs of veterans who suffer from acute and chronic pain."
Acute and chronic pain afflicts many veterans as well as active duty military personnel, and is a leading cause of disability among veterans. Walz's bill would require the VA to increase its research and training in acute and chronic pain through a program that would identify, pursue and promote research priorities most relevant to the treatment of veterans. The bill would also establish cooperative centers for research and education on pain throughout the VA, with at least one of the centers having a special focus on central and peripheral nervous system damage, which Walz said is a particular problem for veterans of our current conflicts.
KTTC-TV had noted the convention on Friday in Disabled Veterans Meet in Rochester.
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