Senator Boxer: Helping Our Brave Military Personnel   

Monday, February 8, 2010  

Dear Friend:

Burn injuries make up about 5 to 10 percent of all war casualties and are among the worst wounds that can be suffered in combat.  Three years ago, I was alerted to the fact that treatment for military burn victims had not advanced as quickly as treatment for other types of injuries because of logistical difficulties involved in administering clinical trials for new burn technologies and treatments.

In order to accelerate this important research, I have been working with the American Burn Association (ABA) and have secured $10.9 million through the Department of Defense Appropriations bills to facilitate and oversee coordinated clinical burn research with the express purpose of establishing best practices and standards of care, particularly for military burn victims.

I know that that each individual -- military or civilian -- who is treated for burns at Brooke Army Medical Center receives outstanding care.  This care is constantly improving, but our nation has an obligation to keep pursuing better and more effective treatments.

Recently I was honored and humbled to receive the American Burn Association President’s Leadership Award.  As I told the ABA’s annual meeting, securing the funding to further military clinical burn research is one of my proudest accomplishments as a Senator.  

Although I wish that our brave young service men and women weren’t facing such injuries, we must ensure that they are given every opportunity to become whole again and that they receive the finest care our nation can offer.  You can count on me to keep working to see these goals fulfilled.

Sincerely,