Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) Retired U.S. Senator Bob Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala will testify Wednesday about their recently released Presidential report containing recommendations for improving care for our nation's wounded warriors.

The distinguished bipartisan leaders will be part of a multi-panel presentation which will also review three other reports on veteran's issues and make recommendations to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Sen. Richard Burr announced today.  Burr is the committee's top Republican.

The hearing will begin 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 17, in room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. It will be broadcast live on the Committee's website and available for viewing later http://veterans.senate.gov. Audio may also be available - during the hearing only - at http://www.capitolhearings.org.

• Honorable Bob Dole and Honorable Donna Shalala, Co-Chairs, President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors 

PANEL II

• Lt. Gen. James Terry Scott, USA (Ret), Chairman, Veterans' Disability Benefits Commision 
• Honorable Patrick W. Dunne, Assistant Secretary for Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning, representing the Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes
• Honorable Togo D. West, Jr. Co-Chair, Independent Review Group,  Report on Rehabilitative Care and Administrative Processes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center 

PANEL III

• Mrs. Ariana Del Negro, wife of Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran
• Colonel Peter J. Duffy, USARNG (Ret), Deputy Director, Legislative Programs, National Guard Association of the United States
• Mr. Gerald Manar, Deputy Director, National Veterans Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars, representing supporters of The Independent Budget
• Ms. Meredith Beck, National Policy Director, Wounded Warrior Project
• Colonel Steven P. Strobridge, USAF (Ret), Director, Government Relations, Military Officers Association of America

####