Center for War-Related Brain Injuries Faces Budget Cuts

[Metta]

By Gregg Zoroya, USA Today, Tuesday 08-06 from www.truthout.org Catch the last paragraph.

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."



http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/080906D.shtml

[varkam]

1. So much for supporting the troops...

Especially since brain damage is quite common with troops wounded in Iraq.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Get a grip, people.

I'm glad to see Congress has its priorities straight. That $7 million cut almost adds up to the amount the average beneficiary of eliminating the Death Tax will gain when that law goes through. Would YOU want to have to be the person who tells some grieving multimillionaire heir that he's not gonna get his $7 mil because the government decided to blow the money instead on a buncha useless, brain-damaged veterans?