Dallas metal band Drowning Pool aims to testify before U.S. Congress

by Chad Jones

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indicates he's first in line to crowd surf during Drowning Pool's testimony.

Dallas-based metal/rock band Drowning Pool—whose debut release, Sinner, went platinum back in 2001—is looking to speak before the U.S. Congress.

The group spent months overseas performing for three USO tours in Baghdad and Kuwait. Ever since, they have become increasingly concerned about the medical treatment of America's military forces.

"These individuals are facing a steep uphill battle to reclaim their health after facing the trauma of war," reads part of an online petition created by the band to strum up support for the issue.

In April of this year, the band invited all current or past Servicemen and women to post their military and/or medical experiences onto the band's MySpace page. In a separate entry five days after, the band posts a list of what, specifically, they have learned during their time with the soldiers.

"We were startled to learn the following figures from the nonprofit organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association:

at least one in three Iraq veterans, and one in nine Afghanistan veterans, will face a mental health issue, including depression, anxiety or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder;
The average wait-time on a disability claim is 127 days;
In the past three years, the VA claims backlog increased by over 50%, to 378,000 pending disability claims;
Approximately 150,000 wounded veterans suffer from traumatic brain injuries; and
The VA has decreased full-time claims-processing staff since 2003

The four members of Drowning Pool. Left to right: Mike Luce, C.J. Pierce, Ryan McCombs and Stevie Benton.

Most recently, according to an author-less press release on Ultimate-Guitar.com, The White House has received a letter written by the band regarding these issues, a letter which "was placed in the President's personal reading file."

The press release also states that "several interior cabinets of The White House" have been in communication with the band, "one of which contacted Congress directly." So now, Drowning Pool awaits a Congressional hearing date.

Fans and activists will have to wait and see what happens next. In the meantime, Drowning Pool's official website offers a soft-spoken little song entitled, naturally, "Soldiers."