Delivering weekly Democratic radio address, Lieberman blasts 'completely unacceptable living conditions' at Walter Reed
 Since losing the Connecticut primary election last summer, Senator Joe Lieberman is no longer a Democrat and was re-elected as an independent. However, Lieberman, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was tapped by the Democrats to deliver the party's weekly radio address.
Lieberman addressed the "completely unacceptable living conditions and inadequate services that some of our wounded warriors have been forced to endure at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C."
"Our nation has no greater moral and patriotic responsibility than to ensure that these brave Americans receive first-class treatment not only immediately after their injuries, but for their entire lives, through the Veterans Administration," Lieberman said. "The White House and Congress have an urgent obligation now to fix the neglect at Walter Reed and the longer-term issues that affect our wounded veterans."
Lieberman added, " That means we must act immediately to bring the buildings there up to standard so that they're safe, clean and comfortable. We must make sure enough of the right health care professionals are there to treat our service members. We also must remove the bureaucratic red tape that overburdens our troops and their loved ones when they are most vulnerable. No injured soldier should have to spend a year waiting at Walter Reed to find out whether he or she will be reassigned to new duties or discharged from the Army as disabled."
"Now the president and Congress must hold the Pentagon and Army chain of command accountable for the neglect of our soldiers at Walter Reed, and together we must prevent this from ever happening again," Lieberman said.
"Lieberman, who caucuses with the Senate's Democratic majority, backs President Bush's Iraq war policies and received strong Republican support in his 2006 re-election race," the Associated Press reports. "He has rejected speculation that he would caucus with Republicans."
The AP article continues, "He said recently, however, that switching to the Republicans -- and tipping the Senate's balance of power to the GOP -- is a remote possibility. Citing national security issues, Lieberman also has said he may vote for a Republican presidential candidate in 2008."
A spokesman told the AP that "the last time Lieberman gave the Democratic radio address was in September 2002."
Full transcript of speech:
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SEN. LIEBERMAN: Good morning. I'm Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut with a message about improving care for America's military heroes -- our wounded troops who have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Recent reports in The Washington Post have uncovered completely unacceptable living conditions and inadequate services that some of our wounded warriors have been forced to endure at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. While it is clear that our soldiers do receive the best state-of-the-art battlefield and inpatient medical treatment for their injuries, that high-quality care has not extended to their outpatient treatment and recovery.
For instance, soldiers with brain injuries have gone weeks without being able to get doctors appointments. There's not enough staff with the right skills to treat and care for the severely injured troops. And rooms where some soldiers lived were found to be moldy and infested with rodents.
Our nation has no greater moral and patriotic responsibility than to ensure that these brave Americans receive first-class treatment not only immediately after their injuries, but for their entire lives, through the Veterans Administration. The White House and Congress have an urgent obligation now to fix the neglect at Walter Reed and the longer-term issues that affect our wounded veterans.
That means we must act immediately to bring the buildings there up to standard so that they're safe, clean and comfortable. We must make sure enough of the right health care professionals are there to treat our service members. We also must remove the bureaucratic red tape that overburdens our troops and their loved ones when they are most vulnerable. No injured soldier should have to spend a year waiting at Walter Reed to find out whether he or she will be reassigned to new duties or discharged from the Army as disabled.
It is our responsibility to take care of our service members not only when they are serving our country, but for their entire lives. It is outrageous that veterans are waiting months and months to see the doctors they need. It's unacceptable that service members and veterans suffering from mental illness are not receiving the proper care. We know what the needs of our returning troops and veterans will be, and we must build a lifelong treatment system that serves their needs fully.
Now the president and Congress must hold the Pentagon and Army chain of command accountable for the neglect of our soldiers at Walter Reed, and together we must prevent this from ever happening again.
We can all agree that taking care of our military veterans is one of America's greatest responsibilities. We are and must continue to be united as a country to ensure that our heroes -- those who have served us -- receive the care that they deserve. This is no less than our moral imperative.
I'm Senator Joe Lieberman. Thank you for listening.
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