Stryker Brigade News

This legislation includes a provision that creates Traumatic Injury Insurance that will issue active duty service members a payment ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, should they incur a life altering injury while serving their nation. This provision, known as the Wounded Warrior Bill, was introduced as an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Funding Bill by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Senator Craig introduced the amendment at the urgent request of three injured soldiers from the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting the new generation of severely injured servicemen and women.

The Traumatic Injury Insurance will make an immediate payment to the service members and their families within days of the injury occurring; providing sorely needed financial relief so the soldiers and their loved ones can focus on healing and recovery.

Additionally, thanks to an amendment to the amendment (known as a second degree amendment), by Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH), the legislation passed will make Craig's measure retroactive to the start of Operation Enduring Freedom, which began in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001.

"This is a tremendous success for our wounded soldiers, and sends a clear vote of support to every active duty servicemember," said Ryan Kelly, 24, who lost his right leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq on July 14, 2003, while assigned to the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Abilene, Texas. "With this in place, the newly injured soldiers and their families can focus on recovery and reentering civilian life, without worrying so much about financial stresses and how their loved ones will be able to pay for the airfare or take time off work to come be with them in the hospital."

It was just four weeks ago that Senator Craig met with three soldiers, including Ryan -- two of whom had lost limbs and one who was blinded in Iraq - - about the need for this legislation. Such speed is rare and demonstrates the absolute necessity for this insurance.

"All servicemembers owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Craig for his unyielding leadership on getting this amendment onto the Emergency Supplemental Bill. He literally would not take no for an answer," said Jeremy Chwat of the Wounded Warrior Project. "We are also extremely grateful to Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ) who championed this issue in the House and was really the first elected official to see the need for this insurance," Chwat added. "His leadership was essential in moving this initiative forward."