Press Covers Congressional Investigative Hearing on Gulf War Illness Misdeeds

Testifying at Wednesday's Congressional investigative hearing on VA's ongoing mishandling of Gulf War Illness (and other veterans' deployment health issues) was intense, and today is a pretty rough health day so I apologize for the delay in posting.  However, here's some of the best of the press that has come out so far about yesterday's hearing.  Now, it's time for the real efforts of Congress (and VA leadership) to get going to help us.

My full written testimony (it's a very long read, yesterday's hearing was just a short edited version) includes a long list of legislative recommendations made by many Gulf War veterans, is at:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/130426553/Testimony-Hardie-Anthony-Gulf-War-Mar-13-2013

 Please feel free to use as you see fit with your own Rep's  and Senators in Congress.  Let's just hope all this finally helps all of us ill Gulf War and other vets suffering from Gulf War Illness.

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1.USA Today / Kelly Kennedy
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/13/whistleblower-alleges-veterans-affairs-cover-up/1979839/

2. Forbes / Rebecca Ruiz
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccaruiz/2013/03/13/whistleblower-alleges-va-neglected-suicidal-vets-suppressed-study-findings/

3. Daily Beast / Jamie Reno
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/13/whistleblower-veterans-affairs-covered-up-data-on-mental-health-gulf-war-syndrome.html
"The Department of Veterans Affairs routinely disseminated false information about the health of America’s veterans, withheld research showing a link between nerve gas and Gulf War syndrome, rushed studies out the door without taking recommended fixes by an independent board, and failed to offer crucial care to veterans who came forward as suicidal."

4. Associated Press / Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/former-va-researcher-criticizes-work-on-gulf-war-illness-lack-of-follow-up-with-troubled-vets/2013/03/13/292a145a-8c32-11e2-adca-74ab31da3399_story.html
"The secretary has directed the Office of Research Oversight to review the allegations and report their findings.”

5. C-HIT / Tamara Lytle
http://www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-vets-health-whistleblower-0314-20130313,0,3258238.story

6. FOX News / John Roberts
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/13/whistle-blower-says-va-ignored-data-that-could-have-helped-suicidal-sick/

7. Newser / Matt Cantor
http://www.newser.com/story/164364/va-fudges-vets-health-data-to-duck-costs.html

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VA Hides Gulf War Health Issues, Congress Told Truthdig - ‎19 hours ago‎ The Department of Veterans Affairs was accused before Congress this week of numerous accounts of negligence, including hiding or obscuring research data involving Gulf War veterans and failing to treat former soldiers outright. For example, roughly 2,000 ... Whistleblower: Veterans Affairs Covered Up Data on Mental Health, Gulf War ... Daily Beast - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ Gil Roman, a Gulf War veteran, in his war room with the medication he takes to combat symptoms associated with Gulf War syndrome. He takes 15 medications twice a day. Roman retired a full colonel in 1994. (Craig F. Walker/The Denver Post, via Getty) ... Former VA researcher criticizes work on Gulf War illness; lack of follow-up with ... Washington Post - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ WASHINGTON — At a hearing examining the state of health research into Gulf War illness, a former VA researcher accused the department of minimizing the problem and voiced concerns that it was not following up properly with veterans who indicated in ... There has been a vague representation concerning the reality of Gulf War illness Examiner.com - ‎Mar 14, 2013‎ The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) writes that a prominent condition which affects many Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, ... Baylor Epidemiologist Testifies Before Congressional Subcommittee on Gulf War ... Baylor University - ‎Mar 15, 2013‎ Lea Steele, Ph.D., research professor in the Baylor Institute of Biomedical Studies, focused on Gulf War illness and said the VA has been slow to clearly and accurately acknowledge the problem and has failed to establish an effective and strategic scientific ... Whistleblower alleges VA neglected suicidal vets, suppressed study findings Forbes - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ As the principal investigator on a 20-year study of 30,000 Gulf War veterans, Coughlin claims his requests made last year to have mental health providers contact the study participants were met with retaliation from superiors. Coughlin said he was asked to ... American Legion reacts to allegations by VA whistleblower Sacramento Bee - ‎Mar 15, 2013‎ In testimony this week before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, several witnesses claimed that VA has consistently failed to treat the multi-symptomatic disease known as Gulf War Illness (GWI) or Gulf ... Researcher alleges VA covered up adverse consequences to toxic exposures Washington Post (blog) - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ “Research on the health of Gulf War Veterans has been and continues to be a priority for VA,” the agency said in a statement. “The Department depends on this research to inform our decisions and guide our efforts in caring for Gulf War Veterans. Researcher says officials covered up vets' health data USA TODAY - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ "This applies to data regarding adverse health consequences of environmental exposures, such as burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, and toxic exposures in the Gulf War," Coughlin said. "On the rare occasions when embarrassing study results are released, ... VVA's growing backlog needs attention now Pocono Record - ‎14 hours ago‎ Gulf War veteran Paul Sullivan, a former senior VA project manager who became a leader in veterans causes and now works on those issues at the Washington area law firm of Bergmann and Moore, said in an interview, "The VA's claim delays and error rate ... Testimony: VA Withheld Health Studies Showing Links Between War Exposures ... Hartford Courant - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs suppressed information that showed links between health problems of veterans and the dangers they were exposed to in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf War, according to a whistleblower who testified to a House panel ... Whistle-blower says VA ignored data that could have helped suicidal, sick veterans Fox News - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ "Research on the health of Gulf War Veterans has been and continues to be a priority for VA. The Department depends on this research to inform our decisions and guide our efforts in caring for Gulf War Veterans. All allegations of malfeasance are taken ... Local veterans agree with Veteran's Affairs allegations KXXV News Channel 25 - ‎Mar 14, 2013‎ In a congressional hearing Wednesday, Steven Coughlin accuses VA of ignoring study results from environmental health consequences coming from Iraq, Afghanistan and theGulf War. Coughlin mentions burn pits that can expose toxic chemicals to soldiers. Veterans wait months for help from VA San Francisco Chronicle - ‎Mar 15, 2013‎ The VA also has made it easier for veterans to file claims for PTSD and Gulf War illness, Taylor said. In a separate statement, the agency argued that it "consistently provides our numbers during congressional hearings and briefings. What is not available ... Whistleblower: VA Hiding Veteran Health Data Military.com - ‎Mar 14, 2013‎ Steven Coughlin, who had worked more than four years for the VA before quitting over “serious ethical concerns” in December, said in testimony that leadership in the agency's public health office did not want to find or reveal evidence that Gulf War illness and ... VA doctor: Health data suppressed, manipulated AirForceTimes.com - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ Coughlin worked on two large population studies for VA, including a Gulf War study and the National Health Study of a New Generation before he resigned in protest last December over the handling of his work, he said. Coughlin's laundry list of charges ... Veterans Often Wait Over A Year For Benefits, Some Wait Up To 642 Days As VA ... Huffington Post - ‎Mar 14, 2013‎ He said the growth was due to a combination of increasing numbers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans returning home, broadening claims for PTSD and Gulf War illness, and new guidelines allowing Vietnam vets to request compensation for complications due ... VA Fudges Vets' Health Data to Duck Costs Newser - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ Coughlin cites data related to "burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, and toxic exposures in the Gulf War," USA Today reports. Research that would back claims of Gulf War illness is frequently hidden, he says. A 2010 study in which Coughlin was involved went ... LETTER: Program records veterans' stories Evansville Courier & Press - ‎Mar 13, 2013‎ This is a wonderful opportunity for family members of veterans, fellow veterans, or young people to interview a veteran of World War II, the Korean, Vietnam, or Persian Gulf Wars, or the most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These histories are compiled ... Committee Hears Case Involving Ignorance To Suicidal Veterans TopNews United States - ‎Mar 14, 2013‎ ... care provided for Gulf War veterans. Around 200,000 Gulf War veterans are reported to be suffering from chronic multi-symptom conditions that are characterized by headaches, fatigue, widespread pain, gastrointestinal problems and cognitive difficulties. » ... VA Scientist Resigned over Alleged Cover-Up of Burn Pit Danger Data AllGov - ‎Mar 15, 2013‎ Coughlin's research focused on the relationship between exposure to burn pits and cases of asthma and bronchitis among Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, including those who fought in the 1991 Gulf War. He said that his superior instructed him not to examine ...