It was a busy week on Capitol Hill for Veterans issues last week! The House Veterans Affairs Committee approved a large slate of veterans bills, sending them all to the House floor. They included three that addresses some of IAVA’s top priorities: Medical cannabis for vets, VA reform, and improving healthcare for women vets.

• The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act (H.R. 5520/S. 2796). The Committee unanimously approved this measure to authorize the VA to research the effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis to treat veterans. This is a HUGE deal and indicative of rapidly changing public opinion. TAKE ACTION to ask your Congressional delegation for their support HERE.
• The VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act (H.R. 5674) consolidates and reforms the many VA community healthcare programs into one, strengthen the VA’s ability to recruit quality medical personnel, and realign and modernize the VA’s healthcare infrastructure.
• The Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act (H.R. 4334) to require VA to submit an annual report on veteran access to gender-specific care under community care contracts and quarterly reports on environment of care standards for women veterans. This important bill is in line with IAVA’s She Who Borne the Battle campaign.

Also, TAKE ACTION on all of our top priorities HERE. So much more to come. Stay tuned!