Sen. Boxer to TSA: Provide more information for injured military veterans
06/18/2012
The Hill
Keith Laing
California Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) is calling for the Transportation Security Administration to improve its handling of injured members of the U.S. military.
Boxer, who is a co-chairwoman of the Senate's Military Families Caucus, said Monday in a letter to TSA Administrator John Pistole that the agency was not providing accurate information on its website for the "Military Severely Injured Joint Services Operations Center" program.
"I am pleased that the TSA partnered with the Department of Defense to establish the Military Severely Injured Joint Services Operations Center Program, which works to ensure that these men and women are treated with dignity and respect during the screening process and have a smooth and expeditious travel experience," Boxer said in her letter. "However, it has come to my attention that the TSA’s website does not include accurate, direct contact information for the ... program."
Boxer said she was "deeply concerned" the lack of contact information for the program, which is administered by the TSA and the Department of Defense, was "preventing many of our severely injured veterans from accessing the care and services they need when traveling.
"I urge the TSA to immediately work to update its website with accurate and direct contact information for the Military Severely Injured Joint Services Operations Center Program," she said. "I also encourage the TSA to work with the Department of Defense, airlines and others to ensure that this valuable program is publicized to the fullest extent possible."