result #100624 - CENTER FOR WAR-RELATED BRAIN INJURIES FACES BUDGET CUT

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political : CENTER FOR WAR-RELATED BRAIN INJURIES FACES BUDGET CUT

[+] serious ballot by herzog
created Wed Aug 16, 06

Congress appears ready to slash funding for the research and treatment of brain injuries caused by bomb blasts, an injury that military scientists describe as a signature wound of the Iraq war.

House and Senate versions of the 2007 Defense appropriation bill contain $7 million for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center — half of what the center received last fiscal year.

Proponents of increased funding say they are shocked to see cuts in the treatment of bomb blast injuries in the midst of a war.

"I find it basically unpardonable that Congress is not going to provide funds to take care of our soldiers and sailors who put their lives on the line for their country," says Martin Foil, a member of the center's board of directors. "It blows my imagination."

The Brain Injury Center, devoted to treating and understanding war-related brain injuries, has received more money each year of the war — from $6.5 million in fiscal 2001 to $14 million last year. Spokespersons for the appropriations committees in both chambers say cuts were due to a tight budget this year.

"Honestly, they would have loved to have funded it, but there were just so many priorities," says Jenny Manley, spokeswoman for the Senate Appropriations Committee. "They didn't have any flexibility in such a tight fiscal year."

George Zitnay, co-founder of the center, testified before a Senate subcommittee in May that body armor saves troops caught in blasts but leaves many with brain damage. "Traumatic brain injury is the signature injury of the war on terrorism," he testified.

Zitnay asked for $19 million, and 34 Democratic and six Republican members of Congress signed a letter endorsing the budget request.

The House of Representatives approved its version of the spending bill June 20. A vote in the Senate is pending.

Scientists at the center develop ways to diagnose and treat servicemembers who suffer brain damage. The work is done at seven military and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, including the center's headquarters at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, and one civilian treatment site.

The center has clashed with the Pentagon in recent months over a program to identify troops who have suffered mild to moderate brain injuries in Iraq from mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs — the most common weapons used by insurgents.

Preliminary research by the center shows that about 10% of all troops in Iraq, and up to 20% of front line infantry troops, suffer concussions during combat tours. Many experience headaches, disturbed sleep, memory loss and behavior issues after coming home, the research shows.

The center urged the Pentagon to screen all troops returning from Iraq in order to treat symptoms and create a database of brain injury victims. Scientists say multiple concussions can cause permanent brain damage.

The Pentagon so far has declined to do the screening and argues that more research is needed.

USA today

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I'm all for reducing the budget, but not on something like this.

This smacks of pure idiocy.
How would you rank it?

1- not so bad	54%
5- probably the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time	20%
2	8%
3- pretty dumb	8%
4	8%

Ballot #100624: has 24 total votes.
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Comment:

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COMMENTS:
Voted : 1- not so bad
Not so bad because what the USA Today story doesn't tell us is that $7,000,000 is considered by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center to 100% funding for "necessary" services. The additional $12,000,000 that was requested was for enhanced services (i.e., discretionary). Not one serviceman will go without the care s/he needs.

by xxxxxxxx on Thu Aug 17, 06 4:38am [+]

Voted : 5- probably the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time
This is absolutely disgusting. The consequences of brain injury are far reaching and devastating. It can affect every aspect of a person's life. A person may have to relearn practically everything all over again. It isn't enough to just get someone up to some minimal level, they should be restored as completely as possible. I'll add that many problems are not evident early on and that funding should be provided for long-term care. If this was the "discretionary" funding, it should be restored.

by FiddleFaddleOnLSD on Thu Aug 17, 06 7:27am [+]

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