Heeding Bipartisan Call from Congress Led by Shaheen, State Department Releases Report on Brain Injuries Experienced by American Public Servants & Their Families
**Transfer of report follows bipartisan call from Shaheen and a group of Senators requesting the National Academy of Sciences’ study be released to Congress**
**Shaheen has stood by these government employees and their families, spearheading legislative efforts to provide them benefits**
**The final defense bill released earlier this week includes language added by Shaheen to expand long-term, emergency care benefits she secured in previous legislation to all U.S. Government employees and their dependents**
(Washington, DC)— U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees – issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of State, heeding bipartisan calls in Congress led by Shaheen, transferred a National Academy of Sciences report to Congress that examines brain injuries experienced by federal employees and their families while serving in China and Cuba. Patients and public reports have indicated that these injuries are the result of a nefarious attack.
“The health effects from these mysterious injuries have tormented those afflicted. Their illnesses and suffering are real and demand a response from Congress,” said Shaheen. “American public servants and their families – who have been targeted – have requested that Congress receive and review this report, so I’m glad the State Department heeded our bipartisan call so we can get to work. I’m also pleased that efforts to provide emergency care benefits to those affected are making headway in Congress. In the National Defense Authorization Act released this week, I was able to include language that will allow all affected U.S. Government employees and their dependents to receive the long-term, emergency care benefits they need. While I’m encouraged by the progress we’re seeing, much more must be done to uncover the source of these incidents and ensure that no other public servant suffers in this way.”
In the final fiscal year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act released earlier this week, Shaheen successfully included language to expand long-term, emergency care benefits she secured in government funding legislation signed into law last year to all U.S. Government employees and their dependents who were mysteriously injured while working in China and Cuba. Shaheen’s measure to amend the law follows her letter with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) in May, calling on the administration to interpret the law as intended by Congress. Senator Rubio partnered with her on this effort. The New York Times and GQ recently detailed reports of these mysterious injuries and described them as the result of an attack. The Washington Post Editorial Board also voiced its support for Shaheen’s efforts.
