Shaheen Statement on Reports that a Russian Attack is Likely Responsible for TBI-Like Injuries Experienced by American Public Servants and Their Families

**Shaheen has stood by these government employees and their families, spearheading legislative efforts to provide them benefits due to their injuries**

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement following reports from the New York Times and GQ that mysterious injuries experienced by federal employees and their families while serving in China and Cuba are the result of a nefarious attack, likely by Russia.

“This report is deeply troubling and should spur the Trump administration to do everything in its power to protect federal employees from these attacks and investigate the full scope of this threat,” said Shaheen. “If it is true that these attacks have also occurred here in the United States, this would be one of the most brazen acts of hostility by an adversary on American soil.”

“This reporting is further vindication for these injured federal employees and their families. Their injuries, and the subsequent treatment by the U.S. Government, have been a living nightmare for these dedicated public servants. These findings should put an end to the foot-dragging, evasiveness and obstruction at the State Department to deliver benefits to all of these injured federal employees and their families, and get to the bottom about what happened. I’ve been successfully working across the aisle to deliver long-term emergency care benefits to these families – we need a better partner in the current administration. Despite the uncertainty that has surrounded the circumstances that led to these injuries, there is no reason for our government not to care for those who have sacrificed so much in the line of duty.”  

Shaheen recently added language to the pending National Defense Authorization bill, which expands long-term, emergency care benefits she secured in government funding legislation signed into law last year to all U.S. Government employees and their dependents who were injured internationally. Last year’s legislation and the benefits it provides currently, does not apply to non-State Department employees. The final defense bill is still being negotiated between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Shaheen’s measure to amend the law follows her bipartisan letter in May, calling on the administration to interpret the law as intended by Congress.