Congressmen Lou Correa (D-CA) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) reintroduced The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to perform clinical research on the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis in treating veterans’ post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. An identical version of this legislation was introduced by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Additionally, the legislation has the support of the House Veterans Affairs Chairman Mark Takano.
Rep. Lou Correa said, “With the opioid crisis raging across America, it is imperative to the health and safety of our veterans that we find alternative treatments for chronic pain and service-related injuries. Throughout my district, I consistently meet veterans who depend on cannabis to manage their pain. Numerous veterans attest to the treatment benefits of medical cannabis. It’s time the V
State Rep. Randall Frye
STATEHOUSE – Gov. Eric Holcomb recently signed into law State Rep. Randy Frye’s (R-Greensburg) legislation making it easier for police and fire departments across the state to hire more Hoosiers.
Frye’s bill eliminates a requirement for members of police and fire departments to live within a 50-mile radius of where they serve.
“Local departments are struggling with recruiting and finding applicants to keep our communities safe,” said Frye, chair of the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee. “This change will help combat the staffing shortages we’ve been seeing and provide our smaller, rural communities more flexibility in hiring qualified individuals.”
Lawmakers Want to Expand Care for Vets Sickened by Toxic Exposure. How Much Can They Get Done?
In this image from video, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, April 23, 2020. (House Television via AP)
27 Apr 2021
Congress is zeroing in on providing expanded health care for possibly millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic environments. It is considering a vast roster of bills that could usher in a new era in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system if those bills reach the president s desk.
This week in Congress: Getting back to budget basics March 14 Gen. Glen VanHerck, (center) head of U.S. Northern Command, meets with command leadership of Carrier Strike Group Two aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on Feb. 6, 2021. VanHerck is scheduled to testify before Congress this week. (Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Orion K. Shotton/Navy) The leaders of U.S. Southern and Northern Commands will visit Capitol Hill this week as lawmakers step up their annual defense budget work even as they wait for the White House’s official spending proposal. Typically by mid-March, lawmakers in the House and Senate are in full budget hearing mode, with multiple service officials testifying on future needs and program changes for the upcoming fiscal year.
For The Inter-Mountain
Photo Courtesy of West Virginia Legislative Photography
Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, makes a final plea for House members to support his discharge motion for the Defend the Guard Act.
CHARLESTON Once again, an attempt to move a bill prohibiting use of West Virginia’s civilian soldiers and airmen in combat except when Congress gives approval failed in the House of Delegates on Thursday.
Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, made a motion Thursday morning to discharge House Bill 2138, the Defend the Guard Act, from the House Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee where the bill has sat since Feb. 10. The motion would have sent the bill directly to the House Judiciary Committee. The motion failed 26-71 with bipartisan opposition.