We Need Your Voice!

Attn: Texas Servicemembers and Military Families

Come tell us your story…

It’s not news to many of our troops and their families that we need to do a better job addressing the needs of our returning troops. For instance, when members of the military have to wait weeks or even months for an appointment with a mental health professional after a long deployment in a combat zone, much work needs to be done. Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of President Obama when he was in the Senate, with support from VFA, a large-scale effort is underway to bring together in one place the realities of service in the military post-9/11.

The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act mandates a comprehensive assessment of the study of the physical, mental health, and other readjustment needs of members of the Armed Forces who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. The Institute of Medicine is conducting this study, and I testified at their first hearing in February.

This coming Monday, the IOM will hold a townhall near Fort Hood to hear from servicemembers and their families about their needs and concerns. I will be traveling to Texas for the townhall and would like to invite you to join me if you’re in the Fort Hood area.

Military personnel and families in Texas need to make their voices heard as lawmakers shape policies for addressing the situation facing OIF and OEF veterans and their communities.

Here’s the info:

Monday, April 27, 2009
7-9pm
Hilton Garden Inn
2704 O.W. Curry Drive
Killeen, TX

For more information, contact Joe Goodman at jgoodman@nas.edu or (202) 334-3414

We are moving closer to sensible and effective policies about how to best address the needs of our returning members of our Armed Forces, but we won’t get there without your input. If you have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or if you are a family member of a servicemember, I hope you will attend and make your concerns heard. If you cannot make it but know some who should, please pass this information along.

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