BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) a Senate Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Committee member, issued the following statement on President Donald J. Trump signing S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act:

“President Trump is a strong advocate for America’s veterans, fighting over the last four years to get those who served our country the help and care they need. The bill he signed is a comprehensive approach to addressing veterans’ mental health issues. It includes my legislation authorizing the VA to further study Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, an alternative and effective therapeutic which helps veterans struggling with issues like a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. I am grateful the president signed it and hope to see it implemented swiftly.”

Senator Cramer authored the HBOT portion of this comprehensive legislation from his seat on the Senate VA Committee, which passed the legislation in January. Learn more about the bill here. The senator’s HBOT provisions:

  • authorize the Secretary of the VA to enter into public-private partnerships to research the effectiveness of HBOT,
  • require the VA to use an objective test to measure the effectiveness of HBOT treatment, and
  • commission a comprehensive review and study of HBOT, both within the VA and in outside organizations. This study will be completed with a recommendation from the VA about the effectiveness of HBOT.

Senator Cramer presided over the Senate as the bill passed by unanimous consent in August. Learn more here.