Senators Peters, Perdue Introduce No Heroes Left Untreated Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and David Perdue (R-GA) today announced they introduced the No Heroes Left Untreated Act, legislation that would create a pilot program for innovative medical care for veterans to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other mental health issues.

“The effects of traumas, like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, chronic pain and opiate addiction weighs heavily on many of American’s veterans,” said Senator Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy technology has significant potential to successfully treat these conditions, and establishing a pilot program with the Department of Veterans Affairs will allow our veterans to benefit from this new medical advancement.”

“Our veterans sacrificed everything to defend our freedoms and it is our responsibility to make sure they get the care they were promised,” said Senator Perdue. “The No Heroes Left Untreated Act would establish a pilot program that explores innovative treatment options touted by many leaders in our active forces community. If successful, this pilot program could set a new treatment standard for veterans dealing with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is our duty to support our veterans and improve their health care options, and I look forward to doing all I can to advance this pilot program.”

The No Heroes Left Untreated Act would establish a pilot program at two medical centers within the VA network and enroll up to 50 veterans in Magnetic EEG/ECG-Guided Resonance Therapy for a one-year period. This is an individualized non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive neuromodulation procedure that applies magnetic stimulation to help facilitate neurorestoration of proper brain function. Over 400 veterans have reported a marked improvement in symptoms associated with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, chronic pain, and opiate addiction. The senators’ bill is companion legislation to Congressman Steve Knight’s No Heroes Left Untreated Act, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this year.

The following organizations have expressed their support in the No Heroes Left Untreated Act: U.S. Special Operations Command, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Blue Star Families, Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans Advantage, American Legion Post 281, 12th Calvary Regiment Association, Patriot Project, Rally Point 6, SEALink Inc, West Care.

As a former Lt. Commander in the Navy Reserve, Senator Peters has been a strong voice in Congress for Michigan’s veterans and servicemembers. A provision of his bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act was recently signed into law. This legislation will help veterans erroneously given an administrative, or “bad paper,” discharge due to behavior resulting from mental trauma or PTSD. An administrative discharge can prevent some veterans with PTSD from accessing VA mental health services. Peters also cosponsored the bipartisan Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention For American Veterans Act to improve mental health care and suicide prevention for veterans, and the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act to ensure every call, text message or email from a veteran in crisis to the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line is answered quickly by a live person.