Jay Inslee: “We're offering a simple amendment that will make it much easier for our wounded warriors to obtain access to adaptive…”

“We're offering a simple amendment that will make it much easier for our wounded warriors to obtain access to adaptive recreational equipment. We have these proud men and women coming back from the field of battle with obviously very, very severe wounds; and what we have found is some of the best things they could do to get back with their lives and professional development is to have access to adaptive recreation, both services and equipment. And I know some of these folks do incredible things with paralysis skiing, with severe injuries riding adaptive bicycles, people who have lost their vision, wounded warriors getting back up on the slopes, and it has been a tremendous thing for these men and women to help restore their confidence, rebuild their strength, and get back into the swing of things. Research has shown this works not only from a psychological but also from a physical standpoint. But we have a little glitch that, whereas our veterans through the Veterans Administration can have access to this adaptive equipment, such as monoskis and adaptive hand-cranked bikes, our wounded warriors haven't necessarily had the authorization to be provided that equipment who are on active duty. So my amendment would simply authorize the Department of Defense to make that available. And I have been inspired by Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dudek, who until today has been the commanding officer of the Warrior Transition Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma.…”