GULF  WAR  VETERANS’  HILL  VISITS    

Research  has  shown  that  Gulf  War  Illness  (GWI)  –  a  complex,  chronic,  and  often  debilitating  disease,  affects  one-­‐third  of  1991  Gulf  War  veterans  –  is  physiologic  and  not  psychological  in  nature  and  was  likely  caused  by  the  interplay  between  Gulf  War  toxic  exposures  and  genetic  factors.    Additional  U.S.  forces  may  also  be  at  risk.  

The  persistent  and  debilitating  neurological  and  immune  dysfunction  present  in  Gulf  War  veterans  with  GWI  is  apparent  with  varying  symptoms,  which  can  include  debilitating  fatigue,  cognitive  and  other  neurologic  symptoms,  gastrointestinal  problems,  skin  problems,  chronic  widespread  pain,  persistent  headaches,  respiratory  issues,  and  others.    

There  are  elevated  rates  of  brain  cancer,  ALS  (Lou  Gehrig’s  Disease),  and  possibly  other  serious  health  conditions  among  1991  Gulf  War  veterans,  and  there  is  concern  among  researchers  that  GWI  may  develop  into  life-­‐threatening  neurological  disorders  as  this  population  ages.      

There  are  currently  no  effective  treatments.    Progress  towards  treatments  has  been  achieved  largely  through  the  work  of  two  organizations  created  by  Congress,  the  Gulf  War  Illness  research  program  of  the  DoD  Congressionally  Directed  Medical  Research  Programs  (CDMRP),  and  the  VA  Research  Advisory  Committee  on  Gulf  War  Veterans’  Illnesses  (RAC).    Both  currently  need  Congressional  action  in  order  to  continue.  

1)  H.R.  4261  /  S.  (TBD):    Gulf  War  Health  Research  Reform  Act  of  2014  

• History:    The  Persian  Gulf  War  Veterans  Act  of  1998  created  an  independent  oversight  body,  the  Research  Advisory  Committee  on  Gulf  War  Veterans’  Illnesses  (RAC-­‐GWVI),  to  evaluate  the  effectiveness  of  federal  Gulf  War  health  research  and  to  provide  advice  and  recommendations  to  the  federal  government  and  Congress  on  developing  effective  treatments.      

• Need:    This  necessary  remedial  legislation  is  the  first  update  to  that  landmark  legislation.    It  reflects  lessons  learned  since  that  time  and  will  significantly  enhance  and  strengthen  federal  Gulf  War  health  research.      

• Overview:    The  first  two-­‐thirds  of  the  bill  restructures  and  strengthens  the  RAC.    The  latter  third  of  the  bill  redirects  VA  to  fulfill  specified,  previously  statutorily-­‐mandated  health  research  related  to  Gulf  War,  OIF,  and  OEF  veterans  that  VA  has  failed  to  conduct.      

• Authors:    House:  HVAC  Oversight  &  Investigations  Chair  Rep.  Mike  Coffman  (R-­‐CO)  and  Ranking  Member  Rep.  Ann  Kirkpatrick  (D-­‐AZ),  HVAC  Ranking  Member  Rep.  Mike  Michaud  (R-­‐ME).    Senate:  TBD.  

• Cost:    Expected  to  be  revenue-­‐neutral  because  it  uses  the  existing  RAC  budget.      • Supported  by:  VFW,  AMVETS,  VVA,  Veterans  for  Common  Sense,  Sergeant  

Sullivan  Center,  National  Vietnam  &  Gulf  War  Coalition,  Independent  Budget  VSO’s  (IBVSO’s).    

Current  Status.    House:  Veterans’  Affairs  Subcommittee  hearing  held;  awaiting  markup.    Seeking  additional  cosponsors.    Senate:    Currently  awaiting  a  Senate  companion  bill.    Seeking  cosponsors.  

GULF  WAR  VETERANS’  HILL  VISITS,  ct’d.    

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2)  Gulf  War  Illness  CDMRP  –  FY15  Gulf  War  Illness  Treatment  Research  Funding  The  treatment-­‐focused  Gulf  War  Illness  Congressionally  Directed  Medical  Research  Program  (CDMRP)  is  a  unique  federal  program.  FY15  Defense  appropriation  needed.  

• History:  Began  in  FY06,  in  response  to  demonstrated  need  for  a  treatment-­‐focused  GWI  medical  research  program  outside  of  VA.  

• Need:    The  Institute  of  Medicine  (IOM)  and  the  RAC  have  both  found  that  effective  treatments  for  Gulf  War  Illness  can  likely  be  found  with  a  sustained  federal  research  effort.    This  Congressionally-­‐directed  program  must  be  specifically  funded  each  year,  or  it  will  die  on  the  vine.  

• Funding  Level:  Last  year’s  funding  (FY14,  which  was  the  same  as  FY13):  $20  million.    The  Senate  is  seeking  slight  increase  over  last  year’s  funding  level.    This  is  still  a  very  small  program  by  research  standards.      

• Successes:    Found  the  first  treatment  that  helps  some  GWI  symptoms:    CoQ10.      • Very  Different  from  VA:  Unique,  treatment-­‐focused  program.    VA  funds  only  VA  

researchers;  CDMRP  funds  any  qualified  researcher,  with  special  emphasis  on  broad,  diverse,  interdisciplinary  research  collaborations.    

• Supported  by:  American  Legion,  VFW,  DAV,  AMVETS,  VVA,  Veterans  for  Common  Sense,  Sergeant  Sullivan  Center,  Independent  Budget  VSO’s  (IBVSO’s),  National  Vietnam  &  Gulf  War  Coalition.    The  Independent  Budget  Veterans  Service  Organizations  (IBVSOs,  composed  of  AMVETS,  DAV,  PVA,  VFW,  and  53  other  organizations  that  serve  veterans)  report  that  the  GWI  CDMRP,  “has  made  great  strides  in  the  short  time  it  has  been  operating.”      

Current  Status.      

• HOUSE:    Michaud-­‐Roe  Dear  Colleague  garnered  69  House  cosigners,  the  largest  number  ever  (requesting  the  necessary  resources).    Now  awaiting  Defense  Appropriations  Subcommittee  “markup”.          

• SENATE:    Rockefeller-­‐Baldwin  Dear  Colleague  currently  seeking  Senate  cosigners  (Requesting  $25  million  for  FY15).  First  cosigner  was  Senate  Veterans’  Affairs  Committee  (SVAC)  Chair  Sen.  Bernie  Sanders  (I-­‐VT).    Staff  Contacts:    Seth  Gainer  in  Sen.  Rockefeller’s  office,  or  Danielle  Gilliam-­‐Moore  in  Sen.  Baldwin’s  office.    DEADLINE:    May  1st.  

 3)  H.R.  503/S.  995:  National  Desert  Storm  and  Desert  Shield  War  Memorial  Act  

There  is  not  yet  a  memorial  to  commemorate  the  service  of  the  veterans  of  the  1991  Gulf  War,  a major coalition victory that resulted in the removal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait, at a loss of 293 U.S. troops who died in theater, including 148 KIAs. This  bill  would  authorize  a  privately  funded  memorial  on  federal  land  in  DC.  

• Current  Status:    Seeking  Additional  Cosponsors,  Awaiting  Floor  Action.    HOUSE:      Authored  by  Rep.  Phil  Roe  (R-­‐TN)  +  107  cosponsors;  reported  out  of  Committee  (amended).      SENATE:  Authored  by  Sen.  John  Boozman  (R-­‐TN)  and  Sen.  Joe  Donnelly  (D-­‐IN);  reported  out  of  committee  without  amendment.