Chairman House Veterans Affairs Committee praises VA Secretary for study of Vietnam Veterans

NEWS FROM...
CHAIRMAN BOB FILNER
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Kristal DeKleer at (202) 225-9756
http://veterans.house.gov

Filner Applauds VA Decision to Restart National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study

Washington, D.C. - House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement
upon the Department of Veterans Affairs recent decision to restart the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study:

"I commend VA Secretary Shinseki for agreeing to restart the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study -
a study that would contribute greatly to our knowledge of the Vietnam generation and their psychological and physical health.

VA initiated the study in 1984 as a result of a Congressional mandate, and the findings continue to provide valuable insight
to the long-term health consequences of service in the Vietnam War.

In 2000, Congress again acted to direct VA to reassess this generation of veterans in a follow-up study
and provide a report by October 2004.

This directive has been ignored by VA - until now !

"As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I strongly believe that when we put our men and women in harm's way,
it is our duty as a Nation to care for them when they return.

In order to better understand the consequences of war, we must increase our knowledge of the Vietnam generation
so we can better care for America's veterans.

"It is time for VA to return to the forefront of research and public policy - which is why I asked Secretary Shinseki to restart the study.

Findings from the study will inform policy regarding health services, rehabilitation, and compensation,
not only for this generation, but for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as well."