Political Quotes

“I rise to thank Chairman McCain and Ranking Member Reed for their support and for their help in passing the Peters amendment No. 4138 to the National Defense Authorization Act. I also would like to thank my colleagues Senators Daines, Tillis, and Gillibrand for joining me in this important bipartisan amendment. I would also like to thank all the Members who cosponsored the amendment, including Senators Tester, Stabenow, Kirk, Sanders, Stabenow, Blumenthal, Boxer, and Chairman McCain. We have far too many servicemembers who are suffering from trauma- related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, many of these servicemembers have received a less-than-honorable discharge, also known as a bad paper discharge. These former servicemembers can receive bad paper discharges for misconduct that is often linked to behavior seen from those suffering from PTSD, TBI, or other trauma-related conditions. The effects of traumatic brain injury can include cognitive problems, including headaches, memory issues, and attention deficits. In addition to combat-sustained injuries, PTSD and TBI can also be the result of military sexual trauma. Bad paper discharges make former servicemembers who are suffering from service-connected conditions ineligible for a number of the benefits they have earned and have become ineligible when they need them the most.…”