NAAOP is pleased to announce that the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights has been reintroduced in the 115th Congress as H.R. 2322! We thank Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and several bipartisan cosponsors of the legislation from North Carolina for their support for this important legislation. The Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights is not new legislation. It has been introduced in prior Congresses and even passed once in the House but did not make it through the Senate before Congress adjourned. The bill is designed to educate veterans with limb loss and other orthopedic injuries of their right to quality prosthetic and orthotic care. The bill requires the VA to prominently post a list of these rights in every VA prosthetic/orthotic clinic in the country, and on the VA website, so that veterans can become more aware of their rights and become their own best advocate for their care. Despite the best intentions of many VA officials, too many veterans experience inconsistent care across the VA and are denied access to appropriate technology, the practitioner of their choice, a second opinion for prosthetic/orthotic prescription, and other safeguards. The Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights is designed to make O&P care provided under the VA system more consistent, raise awareness of O&P standards across the country, and empower veterans to ensure they receive quality care. WE NEED YOUR HELP in attracting as many Congressional cosponsors as possible. Please contact your Representative and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 2322, the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights. 1. Go to the NAAOP Congressional Action Center (https://naaop.capwiz.com/naaop/issues/alert/?alertidw248626). You will be able to take the template letter, amend it if needed, and send it to your Representative electronically. 2. Please call your Representative’s office and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 2322. To contact your Congressman, call your local district office or dial the Capitol Switchboard in Washington, DC at 202-225-3121, provide your zip code and you will be routed to your Representative. Thank you for your support of NAAOP and the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights. Please visit our website at: www.naaop.org NAAOP 1501 M Street, NW 7th Floor Washington, DC 20005-1700 e-mail: [email protected] (800) 622-6740 (202) 624-0064 Phone (202) 785-1756 Fax www.naaop.org
