slatten

Senator Allison Slatten from Tennessee Minority Whip My Issue: Veterans Affairs   **__Biography:__** Senator Slatten was born in Columbia, South Carolina, to a family already involved in politics. After graduating from high school, she attended Harvard University, following in her parents footsteps and graduating with a degree in political science. Then she attended Rhodes College for graduate school and her family resides in Memphis and she is with them, when not on Capitol Hill. She was elected onto the Senate as a Republican and has continued to vote that way. Now she is serving her 10th year and has currently been chosen to be Minority Whip.

 **__The Problem:__** Veterans are not treated the way they should be upon return When the United States has chosen to fight a war, we send our husbands, wives, fathers, cousins, friends and children to support us. The least we can do is support them when they return. The treatment of Veterans has been an issue since the beginning of all wars and it has gone on too long. Our soldiers risk their lives for us and when they return home, they have to start over and fight for what they have owned and their rights. We owe it all to them so we need to start acting like it.

**The Senate**
 * 1st Session**


 * S.**

Improves the treatment of veterans suffering from TBI, who have served the United States, by increasing research, availability of treatment and healing methods


 * IN THE MCGEHEE CONGRESS**
 * April, 2009**

Sponsored by Senator Slatten of Tennessee Co-Sponsored by Senator Caffery of Arizona, Senator Diecidue of South Carolina, Senator Platt of Texas, Senator Levenson of Iowa

A Bill

Improves the treatment of veterans suffering from TBI, who have served the United States, by increasing research, availability of treatment and healing methods  //Be it enacted by the Members of the McG Congress// //of the United States of America in Congress assembled,// This Act may be cited as the “Return the Favor”
 * SECTION 1.** Return the Favor

Congress finds that: à Over the years, the physical protection of troops has improved but people still suffer from mental injuries like TBI à Many men and women who fight for our country return home wounded both mentally and physically. As a country, we owe it to them to treat their injuries well. 53% of soldiers that survived head injuries in Vietnam were found to have epilepsy à 22% of returning veterans suffer from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) o 69% injured by roadside bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and other blasts à 83% of wounded marines and sailors had brain injuries à As of September 2008, 22,000 veterans are being treated for TBI à TBI is becoming a more reoccurring injury, especially in the War in Iraq.
 * SECTION 2. FINDINGS**

The purpose of “Return the Favor” is to improve treatment for veterans who suffer with Traumatic Brain Injury as a result of their service in foreign wars by expanding access to treatment and by funding research into this type of injury.
 * SECTION 3: PURPOSE**

à Doctors and/or scientists involved in TBI research would be eligible to apply for research funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs
 * SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY**

à Treatment of TBI: increase access to care by providing federal funds to communities who lack Veterans Hospitals to hire a doctor to deal with type of injury specifically <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">à Treated in places other than the Veterans Hospitals <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">à At least 1 doctor must be able to treat TBI <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">à Research: provide federal funds to scientists/doctors who are actively researching this type of injury <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">à Soldiers: all newly discharged soldiers are offered a check up to test for TBI and if are diagnosed, will be put in touch with a specialist who will help develop a treatment plan <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">
 * SECTION 4. TERMS AND BENEFITS OF SERVICE**