By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says the Department of Veterans Affairs needs to do a better job of caring for combat veterans who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Illinois Democrat met with a group of veterans Thursday in Collinsville.
Durbin said he will introduce legislation that would require the VA to strengthen PTSD treatment by adding more staff.
"We're in a battle now about funding for the VA," Durbin said. "And I'll just tell you it's going to be a battle to the finish, because there are an awful lot of folks in my business who like to wave flags and applaud vets. Well they're going to get a chance to vote for some money for those vets, for the VA hospitals. And I think that's the way it ought to be."
Durbin says the VA does not know exactly how many people it is treating for PTSD.
But he says hospitals are unlikely to be able to meet the increased demand from returning Iraq war veterans.