Wednesday, June 4, 2008 | 7:16 p.m.
WASHINGTON - A sweeping veterans’ health care bill, named in part for a Las Vegas High grad who served in Iraq and died in VA care, has passed the Senate.
The Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 would beef up care for vets, including those returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and other health issues.
Like another vets’ bill that recently passed the House, the Senate legislation has a provision named after Justin Bailey, a Marine diagnosed with PTSD who overdosed on a self-administered supply of drugs given to him at a Veterans Affairs facility in Los Angeles where he sought help.
Sen. Daniel Akaka of Alaska, the chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called the bill “a tribute to Justin Bailey, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom… This was a tragedy that will live on with Justin's parents, who have so courageously advocated for improvements to VA mental health care.”
Nevada Republican Sen. John Ensign, who signed onto the bill as a co-sponsor, issued a statement saying he was “grateful for the work done by Justin’s parents, Tony and Mary Kaye, on behalf of this bill.”
Ensign said, “The story of Justin Bailey has stayed with me since I first heard of his death. As a Marine, he served both his family and his country proudly. However, our country, in many ways, failed to protect Justin and other veterans upon their return home from active duty.”
Both bills must still be approved by the other chamber before being sent to the president.
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