Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Joint Readiness And Military Personnel Of The House Committee On Armed Services - Hearing On The New Walter Reed: Are We On The Right Track

Statement

"Here we are again in a hearing about Walter Reed.

"History is important here. In 2004, the Military Personnel Subcommittee raised a number of concerns about how we were caring for our wounded warriors. The Department of Defense witnesses told us to trust them. That they would make sure wounded warriors, and their families, were properly cared for.

"Our reward for that trust were the revelations of almost three years ago at Walter Reed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, any response of ‘trust us' simply will not suffice today.

"While the name ‘Walter Reed' is the same, I need to make an important distinction. What was revealed at Walter Reed almost three years ago was shameful. Wounded warriors and their families were allowed to fall through the cracks. They were often left to fend for themselves for administrative tasks such as pay and housing.

"However, one thing that was never questioned during the scandal had to do with the quality of medical care provided at Walter Reed. It was and remains excellent.

"One of our key concerns is that the current plan and organizational structure are simply inadequate, and that patient care, wounded warrior care, will suffer as a result. Chairman Ortiz said it perfectly, there is only one acceptable standard of care for our wounded warriors, and that is the best.

"We have had concerns about the plans for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda from the beginning. In hearings and meetings we have had Vice Admiral Mateczun tell us in effect, ‘don't worry, everything is on track.' We have yet to be convinced that is true. In fact, we have yet to be convinced that the department takes our concerns seriously.

"In last year's National Defense Authorization Act, we required that an Independent Design Review be done to validate the current plan. That review was completed this past summer, and its results were simply unsettling.

"Among the troubling descriptions of the current plan were that it would not result in a world-class facility, that it would not meet Joint Commission accreditation standards, and that it was ambiguous about the visions, goals, and expectations of the new center.

"As disconcerting as the Independent Design Review's findings were, however, they pale in comparison to the department's response to those findings. For example, ‘…development of a world-class medical facility is not a destination but rather a journey of continuous improvement…'

"World-class is most decidedly a destination, one that Congress expects to new facility to arrive at before the new center opens its doors. The definition of ‘world-class' will no doubt evolve over time, but as the Independent Design Review has indicated, the current plan does not meet today's definition, and that is unacceptable.

"As Chairman Ortiz mentioned, four years have passed since the BRAC recommendations were reported. Two years have passed since Joint Task Force-Capital Medicine was established. Still, we do not actually know who has overall responsibility for this project. Key decisions about funding, staffing, and the chain of command have yet to be made. We do not feel that the plan meets all of the requirements spelled out in law and the BRAC recommendations. And we have an Independent Design Review that is highly critical of the current plan and organizational structure.

"Since this is our first hearing since the findings of the Independent Design Review were released, I would like to hear how the department plans to address the shortcomings identified. I also look forward to hearing directly from the chair of the Independent Design Review, Dr. Ken Kizer, and that hope that we will have a productive discussion about this incredibly important topic.

"When this hearing ends today, it is my sincere desire that we will leave with a better understanding of what needs to be done to ensure that the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda becomes everything it is supposed to be."

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