Page 8 - QT CURRENT EDITION #30

PAGE 8 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024

Gillibrand Stands With Veterans At Wounded Warrior Gillibrand Announces Legislation To
Project In Nyc To Announce Legislation To Address Cap The Cost Of Prescription Drugs
Epidemic Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Service High Drug Prices Can Force a year for an individual and $4,000
Members And Veterans New Yorkers Who Rely On Pre- a year for a family with private in-
scription Drugs To Cut Pills In surance. It would be life-changing
Following a disturbing report the country. Our service members Hendon. “It is an essential step Half Or Skip Doses Entirely; for older adults and the millions
showing that service members go through so much to protect the toward safeguarding the well- of Americans with chronic condi-
are sustaining crippling traumatic freedoms we hold dear including being and future of our veteran New Legislation Would Guar- tions and disabilities.”
brain injuries as a result of firing regularly firing heavy weapons and military community.” antee That Life-Saving Medica- Senators Bob Casey (D-PA),
their own weapons, U.S. Senator which can lead to increased brain Gillibrand was joined by New tion Is Affordable For Working Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Amy
Kirsten Gillibrand stood with vet- injury. It is important that we ad- York City Commissioner of Vet- Families Klobuchar (D-MN), John Fetter-
erans at Wounded Warrior Project dress this issue. Thank you again erans’ Services James Hendon, man (D-PA), Richard Blumenthal
in NYC to announce the Blast to Senator Gillibrand and I’m CEO of Wounded Warrior Project U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-
Overpressure Safety Act, legisla- looking forward to continuing to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walter Piatt, and held a virtual press conference to MD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM),
tion to address traumatic brain partner with you to fight for our veteran advocates. announce the Capping Prescrip- Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter
injuries among service members veterans across the state and the Specifically, the Blast Over- tion Costs Act, legislation that Welch (D-VT), and Mazie Hirono
and veterans. country the way they’ve fought for pressure Safety Act would: would cap the annual out-of- (D-HI) cosponsor this bill. Repre-
Service members who regu- us,” said New York State Senator 1. Mandate regular neurocogni- pocket cost of prescription drugs sentative Kathy Manning (D-NC)
larly fire heavy weapons are at Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. tive assessments over a service at $2,000 for individuals and leads companion legislation in the
increased risk of brain injury as a “According to Wounded War- member’s career, including a $4,000 for families with private House.
result of repeated exposure to ex- rior Project’s (WWP’s) 2022 baseline neurocognitive assess- insurance. The legislation builds Throughout her time in Con-
plosions or blasts from their own Annual Warrior Survey, 36.5% ment before training. on transformational drug pricing gress, Gillibrand has fought to
weapons and explosives - other- of WWP warriors self-reported 2. Create blast overpressure ex- reforms included in the Inflation lower the cost of prescription
wise known as blast overpressure. experiencing TBI due to military posure and TBI logs for all service Reduction Act of 2022, which drugs. In 2022, she helped pass
These brain injuries can cause service. Through our survey, and members. capped the price of insulin at $35 the Inflation Reduction Act, which
depression, anxiety, cognitive the programs we deliver, we have 3. Increase transparency regard- a month and out-of-pocket drug capped Medicare patients’ out-
problems, hallucinations, panic learned that TBI contributes to ing blast overpressure safety in the costs at $2,000 a year for Medi- of-pocket prescription drug costs
attacks, violent outbursts, suicidal a decline in quality of life, pres- weapons acquisition process. DoD care Part D beneficiaries. at $2,000 per year; empowered
tendencies, psychiatric disorders, ents as an elevated risk factor for must consider the minimization “No one should have to risk Medicare to negotiate prescription
dementia, and a variety of other suicide, and underlays increased of blast overpressure during the their health by skipping refills or drug prices; and regulated price
serious health problems. At least a mental health symptom and sub- acquisition process, require con- rationing life-saving medication increases by drug companies.
dozen Navy SEALs who have died stance use dependence,” said tracting entities to provide blast because they can’t afford the cost She is an original cosponsor of
by suicide over the past decade LTG Walt Piatt, U.S. Army (Ret.), overpressure safety data, and pub- of their prescriptions,” said Sena- the Medicare for All Act, which
were later found to have suffered Chief Executive Officer, WWP. lish blast overpressure safety data tor Gillibrand. “Under the Biden would provide every American
blast injuries, and many more ser- “That is why Wounded Warrior for weapons systems and its plans administration, we’ve already with prescription drug coverage.
vice members have complained of Project is proud to support the to better protect service members made huge strides by passing Last year, she joined a bipartisan
health issues after blast exposure. Blast Overpressure Safety Act from in-use weapons systems. legislation to allow Medicare to push to lower out-of-pocket costs
Despite this, the Pentagon has which will help protect Service 4. Improve data on concussive negotiate drug prices and cap the for prescription drugs by limiting
struggled to properly investigate members from blast overpressure and subconcussive brain injuries price of insulin at $35 a month the use of harmful “copay accu-
the impact of blast overpressure, and TBI; improve research and service members sustain. This in- for seniors. Now, I’m fighting mulators,” which prevent copay
effectively track the prevalence data collection regarding brain cludes information on discharges to get prices down on all drugs assistance from counting toward
of blast overpressure-related in- health and safety; and expand ac- related to and medical providers for all Americans. The Capping a patient’s deductible or out-of-
juries, or offer appropriate care cess to effective treatments and trained in these injuries, as well Prescription Costs Act imposes pocket maximum and make it
to service members and veterans. support for veterans with a brain as efforts with allies and partners caps on out-of-pocket prescription harder for patients to afford their
Gillibrand is calling for more injury. WWP applauds Senator to better address these injuries. drug costs: a maximum of $2,000 medications.
research and better treatment for Gillibrand and fellow senators 5. Enhance efforts to mitigate
those affected. for their leadership and efforts to exposure and help service mem- Attorney General James Announces
“After repeatedly being exposed address this critical issue.” bers access care. This includes
to blasts from their own weapons “We know that proximity to retaliation protections for those New Protections Against Deed Theft
during both training and combat, explosions and blast overpressure who seek care; modifying existing
our service members are sustain- has a detrimental effect on brain weapons system to reduce blast (Continued from page 4) property, one commercial mixed-
ing severe and crippling brain health, but these injuries can fly exposure; updating and making use property with at least one
trauma,” said Senator Gillibrand. under the radar far too often, not publicly available blast overpres- impacts elderly homeowners and residential unit, or two or more
“This bill will require the DoD only impacting a veteran’s well- sure thresholds and creating a homeowners of color, especially commercial properties, regardless
to investigate the prevalence and being and quality of life, but their waiver system for exceeding these New Yorkers in gentrifying neigh- of monetary value.
causes of these brain injuries; to ability to secure their earned ben- thresholds; training high-risk borhoods who live in homes that • Grand Larceny in the Third
track each service member’s expo- efits,” said DAV National Legisla- service members to help them have significantly increased in Degree, a Class D Felony applies
sure to blasts; and to help service tive Director Joy Ilem. “The Blast recognize exposure symptoms value over the years. to deed theft of one commercial
members access care. This is a Over Pressure Act would mandate and creating strategies to mitigate Under previous law in New real property, regardless of mon-
critical bill and I look forward to baseline brain cognitive function their risk; and expanding the types York state, deed theft itself was not etary value.
getting it passed in the NDAA.” tests before training, require the of technologies in the Warfighter a crime. This law amends penal • Extend the Statute of Limita-
“As Chair of the Veterans, military to record individual blast Brain Health Initiative pilot blast law to make deed theft a form of tions: This new law changes the
Homeland Security and Military exposures and regularly test ex- monitoring program. grand larceny, extends the statute statute of limitations to prosecute
Affairs committee in the NYS posed service members to check 6. Support service mem- of limitations to allow for more deed theft crimes so that prosecu-
Senate, I want to thank Senator for signs of injury. DAV is proud ber treatment by establishing a time to identify and investigate tion must begin within five years
Gillibrand for her work supporting to support this bill, and we thank Special Operations Comprehen- cases, and grants OAG the original of the theft or within two years
our veterans and for introducing Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for her sive Brain Health and Trauma criminal jurisdiction to prosecute after the rightful homeowner re-
legislation to address the epi- leadership in co-sponsoring this program, making the National deed theft crimes alongside district alizes their deed has been stolen,
demic of traumatic brain injuries vital piece of legislation.” Intrepid Center of Excellence attorneys statewide. These new whichever occurs later.
in service members and veterans. “This important legislation ad- (NICoE) a program of record and criminal provisions will increase • Grant OAG Original Criminal
On a personal note, I want to dresses the urgent need to protect requiring DoD to provide child enforcement opportunities and Jurisdiction: This new law grants
also thank her on behalf of my our service members from the care services to those seeking help keep New Yorkers in their OAG concurrent original juris-
military family for championing devastating effects of blast-related treatment there, and mandating homes. Attorney General James’ diction to prosecute deed theft
bipartisan legislation that would traumatic injuries,” said New York training for medical and training new law: crimes alongside district attorneys
also directly help my family and City Department of Veterans’ personnel on blast overpressure • Establish Deed Theft as a throughout the state.
so many military families across Services Commissioner James and exposure and TBI. Crime: Under this new law, deed Last year, the state legisla-
theft is now legally considered ture passed Attorney General
Red Cross Responds to Support 161 People in NYC Last Week grand larceny, and can be pros- James’ legislation co-sponsored
ecuted as such. by State Senator Kavanagh and
The American Red Cross in (7/15/24) viduals) after a fire on Prospect • Grand Larceny in the First Assemblymember Weinstein,
Greater New York is helping 161 • Six households (23 individuals) Avenue (7/22/24) Degree, a Class B Felony applies reforming New York’s civil laws
people after 19 emergencies in after a fire on St. Ann’s Avenue The Red Cross responded to to deed theft of a residential real to give New Yorkers more tools
the five boroughs between July (7/15/24) help 48 people affected by 4 emer- property that is occupied as a to protect their homes and stop
15 and July 22, 2024. • Two households (10 individu- gencies in Brooklyn: home by at least one person and is deed theft. Previously, there were
als) after a fire on Lyvere Street • Nine households (36 individu- a home that is owned by someone very few legal remedies available
The Red Cross responded to (7/17/24) als) after a fire on Evergreen Av- who is elderly, incapacitated, or to homeowners and prosecutors
help 61 people affected by 7 emer- • Four households (five individu- enue (7/16/24) physically disabled, or deed theft once a scammer had obtained
gencies in the Bronx: als) after a fire on Garden Street • Two households (seven indi- of three or more residential real the deed to someone’s home.
• Three households (11 individu- (7/18/24) viduals) after a fire on Flatbush properties, regardless of monetary Under Attorney General James’
als) after a fire on Creston Avenue • Two households (two individu- Avenue (7/16/24) value. law, prosecutors can now file a
(7/15/24) als) after a fire on Throop Avenue • One household (two individu- • Grand Larceny in the Second legal action on properties where
• One household (one individual) (7/20/24) Degree, a Class C Felony applies
after a fire on White Plains Road • Three households (nine indi- (Continued on page 10) to deed theft of one residential (Continued on page 10)