For Immediate Release

July 16, 2008

Contact:        Mark Bergman

                202-225-5206

Hodes Passes Two Bills Out of Full Committee Today

Michelle’s Law, Veterans’ Ombudsman Legislation Pass Committees on Bipartisan Vote

Washington, DC—Two bills sponsored by Congressman Paul Hodes were passed out full committee today. The Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 2851, Michelle’s Law, to allow seriously ill or injured college students to take up to one year of medical leave without losing their health insurance. The measure was passed by a vote of 40-0-2.

Michelle's Law is inspired by life and the memory of Michelle Morse. Michelle was a full time college student at Plymouth State University when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her doctors advised her to cut back on her course load while undergoing chemotherapy, but she could not because she would lose her family's health insurance when she needed it most. Michelle died as she struggled to regain her health while going to school full-time.

“No college student should be forced to undergo a full course load while being treated for a serious illness,” Congressman Hodes said. “Today, we took another step forward in passing this legislation in honor of Michelle’s memory and to ensure that no American student ever has to suffer her fate.”

Similar legislation has been enacted in several states around the nation including New Hampshire.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee also passed H.R. 2192 on a voice vote to create the Office of the Ombudsman in the Department of Veterans Health Administration to help veterans cut through  red tape and bureaucracy to get the benefits they have earned.

"With more veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and the mismanagement we witnessed at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, we need an independent office that advocates specifically for veterans and their families and helps them cut through red tape," Congressman Paul Hodes said.  “After fighting our wars abroad, the last thing we should do is force our veterans to fight bureaucracy here at home." 

The Office of the Ombudsman would deliver direct and timely assistance to those seeking help with their benefits.