U.S. Congressman John Boozman 3rd District of Arkansas

House Seal Outline

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Washington, Jan 16, 2008 - U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today voted for key defense legislation which includes pay raises and expanded health coverage for members of the military, and a Boozman-authored plan aimed at improving the care of American troops affected by combat eye trauma.

Rep. Boozman voted for an amended version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, agreeing to change a portion of the original bill which was objected to by President Bush and resulting in a pocket veto. The bipartisan compromise includes the House version of the Military Eye Trauma Treatment Act, offered by Rep. Boozman in September. Boozman’s original bill, H.R. 3558, created a Center of Excellence within the Department of Defense specifically devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of military eye injuries.

“Serious eye wounds are among the most common injuries incurred by our troops in our current conflicts, and I am very glad that members of the House and Senate thought enough of my legislation to include it in this very important defense bill,” Boozman said.

In addition, the bill requires the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to work together to develop and implement an electronic health record system that allows for the immediate exchange of health care information between the two.

“I am pleased that the Congress chose to work together to address the objections of the President and put forward a bill, benefiting veterans and active duty military, that will become law,” Boozman said. “Promoting greater cooperation between the Defense Department and the VA is something I have long advocated. I am proud that the eye trauma bill can serve as a vehicle to bring them together to directly benefit those who have served our country proudly.”

The primary responsibility of the Center of Excellence would be the development of a “Military Eye Injury Registry,” containing up-to-date information on the diagnosis, treatment – including surgery – and follow-up for each serious eye injury received by any member of the armed forces while serving on active duty. The Registry will include input from optometrists and ophthalmologists from both the Department of Defense and the VA, and it must allow for the electronic exchange of information with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.