(Source: Sen. John Cornyn)

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today requested that the Department of Veterans Affairs report to Congress without delay on the validity of news reports indicating drugs with negative mental health side effects are being tested on U.S. combat veterans. After an initial inquiry to the VA this morning, Sen. Cornyn followed up with a letter to VA Secretary James B. Peake. The full text of the letter is here.

“I’ve requested that VA Secretary Peake look into the allegations and, if needed, take the immediate steps necessary to identify the responsible parties, provide appropriate care to any veterans who have undergone this testing, and ensure that any unethical practices are immediately brought to a halt,” Sen. Cornyn said. “Our wounded troops and veterans deserve the very best in care, but unfortunately, recent studies and incidents illustrate that some VA services have failed to live up to the standard of excellence that is expected. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure any negligence in the care of our troops and veterans is identified and properly addressed.”

Background:

According to a Washington Times/ABC News investigation released today, the government is testing drugs with severe side effects, like psychosis and suicidal behavior, on hundreds of military veterans, using small cash payments to attract patients into medical experiments that often target distressed troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Cornyn has requested the VA report back to Congress on the validity of this investigation.

In addition, recent figures released by the Pentagon indicate the number of troops diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder jumped by roughly 50 percent in 2007. Defense Department officials said nearly 40,000 troops have been diagnosed with the illness since 2003. Officials have estimated that roughly 50 percent of troops with mental health problems do not seek treatment because of embarrassment or fear it will harm their careers.

Further, a recent report from the Rand Corporation indicated 1 in 5 U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan now suffers from depression or stress disorders and that many are not receiving the proper care. The study also reports that of those troops suffering from mental health problems, only about half have sought treatment and even fewer of those with head injuries have seen doctors.

Sen. Cornyn’s recent efforts to bring greater attention to the mental health care needs of America’s veterans and military personnel:

· Following the release of the Rand study, Sen. Cornyn sent a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, urging him to carefully review the study and report back to Congress on whether Pentagon records confirm the Rand report, and if so, what more must be done to ensure the necessary attention and resources are being applied to research and treat these increasing conditions.

· Sen. Cornyn is hopeful a newly enacted law that he cosponsored in the Senate, the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, will be instrumental in assisting returning troops with brain injuries and mental health conditions, as well as their families. The legislation was signed into law on January 28 and takes several steps to improve the health care and benefits for recovering veterans, troops, and their families. Of note are provisions that expand the treatment and research for traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic eye injuries, along with a guarantee that combat veterans who request mental health evaluations receive them within 30 days from their request.

· Sen. Cornyn supported the Mental Health Care and Other Improvements Act of 2008, S. 2162. The bipartisan legislation, which passed the Senate unanimously in early June, would improve veterans' mental health and substance abuse care, enhance mental health outreach, and improve VA research on the invisible wounds of war

· Sen. Cornyn is a cosponsor of the Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Returning Warriors Act (HONOR Warriors Act), S.3008, legislation that would take several important steps to enhance mental health care services for veterans and members of our military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The HONOR Warriors Act would, among other initiatives, give active duty personnel access to community-based counseling centers and recruit and train more behavioral health specialists to meet their specialized needs.

· Sen. Cornyn is also a cosponsor of the Veterans' Mental Health Outreach and Access Act, requiring the VA to help veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and their families, including National Guard and Reservists, gain access to mental health care and readjustment services, especially for those who do not live near a VA facility.