Press Releases

Recently, Rep. Jack Bergman spoke on his legislation, H.R. 6373, the Veterans STAND Act, during a Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs hearing. Rep. Bergman engaged with Robert Thomas, the National President of Paralyzed Veterans of America to thank them for their advocacy and support of such an important bill.

Bergman explained that the Veterans Spinal Trauma Access to New Devices (Veterans STAND) Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer annual health evaluations of paralyzed Veterans, identify those who may be eligible for FDA-approved assistance devices such as powered exoskeletons under existing VA clinical guidance, and ensure those Veterans are actually able to receive such technologies.

Watch Rep. Bergman's full remarks here.

Highlighting the necessity of the Veterans STAND Act, Rep. Bergman released this statement:

“The fact is, we are systematically failing those Veterans paralyzed from service if they are being denied expeditious access to essential technology. The few heroes who have received these devices through VA have only been able to do so through extreme self-advocacy, months of delays, and often hundreds of miles of travel to find a VA doctor and facility willing to meet their needs. All of this is in spite of the fact that the VA’s own research has shown the tremendous physical and mental health benefits these technologies offer for Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).

“We must do better as individuals, as a legislature, and as a Nation to honor the brave servicemen and women who volunteered in our place to make unparalleled sacrifices without guarantee of their own safety. When innovation has the potential to grant SCI/D Veterans a new lease on life, Congress has the responsibility to bridge that gap and ensure VA is doing everything it can in service to those who served. That’s why I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6373, the Veterans STAND Act, and to join me in continuing the fight for the access and assistance our selfless Veterans deserve.”

A Success Story:

Last week, Rep. Jack Bergman met with Marine Corps Veteran Brittany Elliott, whom he has worked closely with as the formerly quadriplegic Veteran received a robotic exoskeleton that has helped her to regain her mobility and her freedom.

Due to innovations in robotics, many men and women like Brittany who were paralyzed during their service to our country have been able to stand, walk, and move about with mechanical mobility and a regained sense of independence. Brittany, through much perseverance, was able to receive this advanced technology that gave her a new lease on life, which she now uses to advocate for the Veterans STAND Act.

Rep. Bergman thanked her for her tenacity and unrelenting support of this vital legislation that will change the lives of our Nation’s heroes.