Silent killer: Gillibrand pushing for federal action to help veterans coping with brain damage related to ‘blast overpressure’

Years after serving their country, American veterans are suffering in silence from the aftereffects of blast overpressure — brain injuries resulting from prolonged exposures to firearm discharges and other explosions on the battlefield, according to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who also serves as chair to the Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, backed the legislation proposal because she too knows the importance of protecting those who dedicate their lives in service of their country.

Scarcella-Spanton, the wife of a veteran previously stationed in Afghanistan, states that this issue is close to her heart.

“My husband did two tours in Afghanistan. In the infantry, he was a machine gunner. This issue is incredibly important to veterans across the entire country, and especially here in New York City. It’s critically important that we study how these blasts will affect these veterans down the line, how it affects their service, will they have to get out early. We don’t really have any idea yet. And I think that this is a really amazing step in the right direction,” Scarcella-Spanton said.

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