January 8, 2006
Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) Hundreds of servicemembers injured outside of Iraq and Afghanistan could benefit from new legislation introduced this week by U.S. Senator Larry Craig, the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

"The wounded warrior legislation we passed in 2005 has provided tremendous financial assistance to servicemembers who have been seriously injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. But some deserving individuals serving outside those theaters of war were left out of the original legislation, so we are moving forward to help them as soon as possible," said Craig, the immediate past chairman of the committee.

The new bill, S. 225, is cosponsored by new Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

Craig authored the original "Wounded Warrior" legislation two years ago after meeting with three young veterans who had either lost limbs or had been blinded in combat. In an overwhelming show of support for the troops, Congress passed the bill within weeks after it was introduced. It has since provided payments ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 ? an average of $65,000 per servicemember.

The money has helped the injured and their families cope with the financial impact of long recuperation periods following the loss of limbs, blindness, severe burns and other trauma.

But as Craig's original legislation moved forward two years ago, an amendment making the benefit retroactive to 2001 ? when the start on the war on terror began ? excluded those not in combat areas. The expanded definition in Craig's new legislation, if adopted by Congress, will allow servicemembers injured outside the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of war ? from October 7, 2001, but before December 1, 2005 ? to receive payment for their serious injuries. Those injured since 2005 are now covered irrespective of where their injuries occur.

Craig said that former Seaman Robert Roeder would be one of those who would benefit from the change. Last January, as the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk was steaming to the Middle East, Roeder's left leg was severed above the knee by an arresting wire during flight operations.

In a speech prepared for delivery on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Craig shared Roeder's story, while noting that "military service is universal in character" and that the proposed new law is consistent with how Congress handled retroactive payments for other benefit programs.

Under current law, over 2,800 servicemembers nationwide have received over $183 million. Eighteen of those individuals are in Craig's state of Idaho. Collectively those Idahoans have received $1.025 million.

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