At a Memorial Day event in an American Legion hall in Alton, N.H., beloved Utah Foster Child Mitt Romney lashed out at an Iraq War veteran who “complained that he hasn’t been able to get adequate medical care since returning from Iraq in January 2005.” [AP, 5/29/07] When asked by the man’s wife and friend about his problem getting treatment for a broken foot, Romney “questioned the man’s status, wondering why the military wouldn’t help him if he is active duty.” According to news accounts, when the man’s friend began to explain by saying, “He’s in the window,” Romney “cut him off” and snapped “Don’t give me, ‘he’s in the window’…He’s either active duty or not.” [AP, 5/29/07] Romney’s only response: the man should call his senator. [Concord Monitor, 5/29/07]

The “window” Romney’s questioner was referring to is the gap resulting from the persistent failure to form a seamless transition between Department of Defense and Veterans Administration health care programs. Too many injured active duty personnel lose their health coverage for a time when they are transferred from military health care to the VA system. While Democrats have been working to close that gap, Romney’s insensitive response shows both a lack of understanding of the issue and a lack of sensitivity to the hardships it causes.

Senate Democrats Added $2.5 Billion for Department of Defense Health Programs in Iraq Supplemental.

In the Supplemental Appropriations bill, Senate Democrats added $2.5 billion for the Department of Defense to be used for the care of returning Iraq and Afghanistan service members. That total is $1.3 billion over the President’s request. It includes funding for the two government agencies responsible for the care or returning soldiers – The Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. [Release, Office of Senator Patty Murray, 3/22/07]

Congressional Democrats Pass Legislation to Work Toward “Seamless Transition” Between DOD and VA Health Programs.

On March 27, 2007, the House passed H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act of 2007, “a great first step towards providing a ‘seamless transition’ between active duty and veterans’ status: one physical evaluation for both exit (from active duty) and entrance (to VA system) and one system for electronic health care records. The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act provides the people, training, and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that our wounded warriors feel secure that they will always receive committed quality care and that the system will not fail them.” [House Committee on Veterans Affairs, release, 3/27/07]