Washington, DC – Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA-15) have introduced the bipartisan Expanding Wounded in Action Notification Act, a bill requiring that Members of Congress be notified whenever a constituent serving in the armed forces is seriously wounded and hospitalized while on active duty.
Current law requires such notification only when a seriously wounded service member is transferred to a military hospital within the United States; this bipartisan bill would expand the requirement to include hospitalizations abroad as well.
“As the proud home of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, many in our community are defending our freedoms in all parts of the world,” Stefanik said. “Under current law, Members of Congress are only notified about a combat injury to one of our constituents serving in the military if the individual is transferred to a hospital in the United States. This legislation gives us a better chance to support their families in their time of need.”
“Every Member of Congress needs to know when a constituent who has put his or her life on the line for our nation is seriously wounded in action,” Swalwell said. “Our offices need this information, no matter where the service member is hospitalized, so that we can immediately reach out and do whatever we can to help meet their and their families’ needs.”
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