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In Dwight D. Eisenhower's first Inaugural Address he said, "We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid." President Eisenhower's eloquent words remind me of the sacrifice our strong and courageous men and women in uniform are making on behalf of all Americans every day. Our soldiers are daring all for our country and the values that sustain us. And when they are sick or wounded, the very least we can do is ensure they have the very best health care and medical attention possible.
Unfortunately, we have learned that this is not the case at one of the nation's best known military medical facilities. Recent reports of substandard conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center have dominated the news and brought about demands for change in how we treat our wounded soldiers. As one who represents a significant veteran population, as well as active duty military personnel, these reports are especially disturbing.
The problems at Walter Reed were largely caused by a failure of leadership. The Secretary of Defense has acted swiftly to put in place the personnel and protocols required to immediately address the issue. After visiting Walter Reed, Defense Secretary Robert Gates described the conditions there as "unacceptable" and said those who were responsible would be held accountable. On March 1, Major General George Weightman was relieved of his command at Walter Reed by Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey. Shortly thereafter, Secretary Harvey himself submitted his resignation to Secretary Gates.
In addition, the President has created a bipartisan commission to determine whether similar problems exist at other military and VA hospitals across the country. This panel will conduct a comprehensive review of conditions at all 154 U.S. military and veteran hospitals. These reviews will examine solder treatment from the time they leave the battlefield through their return to civilian life as veterans. The President has also directed the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs to lead a task force composed of seven members of the President's cabinet to focus on, and respond to, immediate needs.
The Army has also moved quickly to address issues regarding outpatient care at Walter Reed. An Army Action Plan to address shortcomings at all military health facilities has recently been implemented and I am hopeful that they will take very seriously the unacceptability of substandard health care for our wounded soldiers and take the steps necessary to immediately correct the problem.
It must be a priority of the Congress, the Army, and the Administration to work together to ensure our wounded soldiers are provided with the first-class medical care they deserve, and that something this unacceptable never happens again. As a Representative of tens of thousands of Oklahoma soldiers and veterans, I can assure you this will be a top priority for me.
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