Congressman Pete Sessions’ Initiative to Expand Treatment Options for Troops with TBI & PTSD to be Signed into Law

My amendment with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA-01) to expedite access to innovative treatments for members of the Armed Services suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will be signed into law. Originally introduced as the TBI Treatment Act (H.R. 2344), this proposal was adopted as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.

For the past several years, I have worked to advance a proposal in Congress to expand treatment options for our nation’s soldiers who return from combat suffering from TBI and PTSD. I’m extremely grateful that my colleagues in both the House and Senate have joined me in supporting this important step for TBI and PTSD treatment and look forward to the pilot program being signed into law.

The Sessions-Thompson initiative creates a pilot program that will allow military patients to receive care from private physicians who provide innovative treatment options not necessarily available within military medical facilities. To reach the long-term objective of incorporating the best, cutting-edge medical practices into military hospitals, the treatment initiative requires an annual report to Congress on the results of the program.

Our nation’s brave service men and women have selflessly sacrificed for our country and deserve nothing less than to receive the highest quality health care in America. We have a solemn duty to ensure that they have access to leading-edge treatments, whether through government or private health care.