Lieberman Calls for Attention to Walter Reed Scandal in Democratic Radio Address

WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Senator Joe Lieberman delivers this week’s Democratic Radio Address, calling for immediate attention to the deplorable care for America’s wounded veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Our nation has no higher responsibility than to care for the brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to defend us, and Democrats are committed to ensuring that America’s veterans get the treatment and the support they deserve.

The text of the radio address, as delivered, is below.

Good morning. I’m Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut with a message about improving care for America’s military heroes — our wounded troops who have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recent reports in the Washington Post have uncovered completely unacceptable living conditions and inadequate services that some of our wounded warriors have been forced to endure at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

While it is clear that our soldiers do receive the best state of the art battlefield and in-patient medical treatment for their injuries, that high quality care has not extended to their out-patient treatment and recovery.

For instance, soldiers with brain injuries have gone weeks without being able to get doctors appointments. There is not enough staff with the right skills to treat and care for the severely injured troops. And rooms where some soldiers lived were found to be moldy and infested with rodents.

Our nation has no greater moral and patriotic responsibility than to ensure that these brave Americans receive first class treatment — not only immediately after their injuries, but for their entire lives, through the Veterans Administration.

The White House and Congress have an urgent obligation now to fix the neglect at Walter Reed and the longer term issues that affect our wounded veterans.

That means we must act immediately to bring the buildings there up to standard so that they are safe, clean, and comfortable. We must make sure enough of the right health care professionals are there to treat our service members.

We also must remove the bureaucratic red tape that overburdens our troops and their loved ones when they are most vulnerable. No injured soldier should have to spend a year waiting at Walter Reed to find out whether he or she will be reassigned to new duties or discharged from the Army as disabled.

It is our responsibility to take care of our service members not only when they are serving our country, but for their entire lives. It is outrageous that veterans are waiting months and months to see the doctors they need. It is unacceptable that service members and veterans suffering from mental illness are not receiving the proper care. We know what the needs of our returning troops and veterans will be and we must build a life-long treatment system that serves their needs fully.

Now, the President and Congress must hold the Pentagon and Army chain of command accountable for the neglect of our soldiers at Walter Reed; and together, we must prevent this from ever happening again.

We can all agree that taking care of our military veterans is one of America’s greatest responsibilities. We are and must continue to be united as a country to ensure that our heroes — those who have served us — receive the care that they deserve. This is no less than our moral imperative.

I’m Senator Joe Lieberman. Thank you for listening.

Senate Democratic Communications Center

CONTACT: Jim Manley or Rodell Mollineau of the Senate DemocraticCommunications Center, +1-202-224-2939