DJKucinich | Gulf War Illness: Remember Those Who Served @DJKucinich | Uploaded July 2012 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
Over 600,000 men and women were deployed to the Gulf War in the early 90s. They volunteered to put their lives and well-being on the line for their country. Many of those soldiers were exposed to pesticides that were heavily overused. The pesticides were infused in clothing, in tents and they were regularly sprayed on the grounds. They were even applied directly on skin.
Those soldiers were also told to take pills designed to protect them in case they were exposed to nerve gas.
Those pills and those pesticides are the primary reasons that at least 1 out of every 4 that served in the first Gulf War now suffer from Gulf War Illness. They have persistent symptoms such as chronic headache, widespread pain, cognitive difficulties, unexplained fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory symptoms, and other abnormalities that are not explained by traditional medical or psychiatric diagnoses. Research shows that as these brave soldiers age, they are at double the risk for ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease as their non-deployed peers. There may also be connections to Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. Sadly, there are no known treatments for the lifelong pain these veterans endure.
The Gulf War Illness research program in the Department of Defense is thriving and has been producing exciting progress toward treatments for Gulf War veterans using a very small investment. But after being told their health problems were all in their head for over ten years, Gulf War veterans are justifiably tired of waiting.
When the Defense Appropriations bill comes to the House floor this week, I will offer an amendment to significantly increase the amount of funding to the program in the Department of Defense that is dedicated to finding treatments for these soldiers.
Over 600,000 men and women were deployed to the Gulf War in the early 90s. They volunteered to put their lives and well-being on the line for their country. Many of those soldiers were exposed to pesticides that were heavily overused. The pesticides were infused in clothing, in tents and they were regularly sprayed on the grounds. They were even applied directly on skin.
Those soldiers were also told to take pills designed to protect them in case they were exposed to nerve gas.
Those pills and those pesticides are the primary reasons that at least 1 out of every 4 that served in the first Gulf War now suffer from Gulf War Illness. They have persistent symptoms such as chronic headache, widespread pain, cognitive difficulties, unexplained fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory symptoms, and other abnormalities that are not explained by traditional medical or psychiatric diagnoses. Research shows that as these brave soldiers age, they are at double the risk for ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease as their non-deployed peers. There may also be connections to Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. Sadly, there are no known treatments for the lifelong pain these veterans endure.
The Gulf War Illness research program in the Department of Defense is thriving and has been producing exciting progress toward treatments for Gulf War veterans using a very small investment. But after being told their health problems were all in their head for over ten years, Gulf War veterans are justifiably tired of waiting.
When the Defense Appropriations bill comes to the House floor this week, I will offer an amendment to significantly increase the amount of funding to the program in the Department of Defense that is dedicated to finding treatments for these soldiers.
