Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) highlighted important budget priorities included in the Democratic-led Congress’ 2009 budget proposal.
“This budget is a fiscally responsible budget that adheres to our pay-as-you-go rules and restores our country to a balanced budget by 2012. We are investing in important priorities including infrastructure to help provide long term stability to our economy, veterans’ and children’s health care, and homeland security,” said Perlmutter.
One key priority included in this budget is funding above the President’s requested levels to address the prevalence of epilepsy among veterans, especially those with traumatic brain injuries. Perlmutter is the sponsor of HR 2818, a bill that would create six Epilepsy Centers of Excellence within the VA health system. These Epilepsy Centers will provide the highest level care and treatment to veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Research conducted by the VA and Dept. of Defense found that about half of veterans who suffered penetrating head injuries developed epilepsy. These statistics are expected to rise with veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Our service men and women bravely fought for us, now it is time to fight for them and provide them with the best, highest quality medical care available,” said Perlmutter. “As the father of a daughter with epilepsy, I understand and am committed to making sure our nation provides the critical medical care and research necessary to give these brave veterans the highest quality medical treatment.”
Other important priorities in the budget that will impact Colorado include:
Increasing funding for homeland security above the President’s request which will aid Colorado’s first responder programs, firefighter assistance grants and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Increasing funding for transportation infrastructure projects above the President’s request which could ease funding for some of Colorado ’s transportation programs.
Accommodates up to a $50 billion increase to expand children’s health insurance to cover millions of uninsured children, in accordance with the pay-as-you go rule which could help provide health coverage to 57,000 Colorado children who are at risk of losing health insurance.
