A hearing on H.R. 608, the bill to commission DCs in the military, is scheduled for April 30, 1992 before a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. The Military Personnel and Compensation Subcommittee chaired by Beverly Byron (D-Maryland) will hear from a panel chosen by representatives of the ACA and ICA. The panel, yet to be selected, is expected to include not only testimony from DCs, but from a non-chiropractor, perhaps an M.D., or an M.D./D.C.
"We are currently working with the bill's chief sponsor, Congressman Lane Evans (D-Ill), and the committee staff to determine a suitable witness list," said Paul Kelly, the ACA's assistant director of government relations. "In fact," Mr. Kelly noted, "the ACA hosted a meeting with ICA this very morning (March 20) to help coordinate the preparation of pro-chiropractic testimony for the hearing."
The exciting news for chiropractic came when Richard Miller, ACA's director of government relations, told Dynamic Chiropractic that Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC), sponsor of the Senate's version of H.R. 608, will appear before the subcommittee as a witness in support of the legislation.
Mr. Miller said it was a bit unusual for a Senator to testify before a House committee in support of a bill and clearly reflected Senator Thurmond's deep support for the proposal.
"Thurmond is well respected by the Pentagon establishment," Mr. Miller observed, "and this should help send a signal to DOD that he and others in the Congress are serious in their support for this initiative."
There are currently 72 House co-sponsors of H.R. 608: 51 Democrats; 20 Republicans; and one independent. A majority (9) of the 16 member subcommittee are co-sponsors of H.R. 608: Barbara Boxer (D-CA); Albert Bustamente (D-TX); Gary Franks (R-CT); Dennis Hertel (D-MI); George Hochbrueckner (D-NY); Martin Lancaster (D-NC); Owen Pickett (D-VA); Arthur Ravenel Jr. (R-SC); and Ike Skelton (D-MO).
The "grassroots efforts of the profession are really paying off," said Mr. Miller. The tremendous House support of H.R. 608 is a tribute to every single individual who has let their representatives in Washington know that there is no justification to continue the discrimination against chiropractic in the military.
Now it's time the pontentates of the Pentagon and the Bush administration get the message.
Steve Kelly
Assistant Editor
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
