SE Connecticut News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Joe Courtney’s (CT-02) bipartisan amendment to help treat and rehabilitate wounded Ukrainian soldiers was passed in the House Armed Service Committee as an amendment to the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act. The provision will be voted on by the House later this year. 

Rep. Courtney’s amendment requires the Department of Defense to assess opportunities to establish a National Center of Excellence with the Government of Ukraine for the treatment and rehabilitation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers from Russia's illegal invasion.  

“In 2009, Congress created a Center of Excellence in the Pentagon to help research and treat wounds of war, including traumatic brain injuries. Because of our nation’s investment in this Center, we have developed sophisticated methods to treat wounded soldiers and veterans. My new amendment will allow us to share the information we have learned with our ally, Ukraine, and help them develop a National Center of Excellence to treat the hundreds of thousands of soldiers injured during Russia’s illegal invasion. I am especially grateful to Connecticut’s Carl Harvey and Myron Melnyk—members of the Ukrainian American Veterans Post 33 in New Haven—for visiting me last week in DC to advocate for this important bill. I look forward to seeing this provision pass out of the House in the coming weeks,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02).

Watch Rep. Courtney lead Committee passage of his amendment during the House Armed Services Committee  Markup. 

Original source can be found here.