May 15, 2019

Accomplishments For Our Veterans

Working For Those Who Serve

As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in a bipartisan manner to advocate for policies that fulfill our commitment to provide healthcare and earned benefits to our nation’s veterans and their families. 

HEALTHCARE

  • I introduced a resolution to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs to research the effectiveness in treating veterans’ chronic pain with cannabis in comparison to opioids
  • I introduced the Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act to require VA to provide reports to Congress on gender-specific healthcare received by women veterans in and out of the agency. The House passed the bill. 
  • I introduced the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act, which states VA has the authority to conduct research on the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis and requires VA to report to Congress on how it intends to exercise that authority.
  • I wrote a letter that asked for clarification of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ policy on medical cannabis usage in states where it is legally prescribed.
  • I wrote a letter asked for the inclusion of language in the subcommittee appropriations report that urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to research medical cannabis.
  • I introduced the VA Hiring Enhancement Act, which allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and hire doctors up to two years prior to the completion of required training, releases physicians from “non-compete agreements” for serving in the VHA, and updates the minimum standard for VHA physicians to include the completion of a postgraduate medical residency
  • I wrote a letter to President Trump to request the timely nomination of qualified candidates for senior-level positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs due to concerns about the lack of permanent leadership.  

SERVICES AND BENEFITS

  • I introduced the Servicemember Family Burial Act to allow VA to bury predeceased spouses and dependent children of active-duty servicemembers in national veteran cemeteries. The House passed the bill.
  • I introduced the Facilitating Veterans' Education Actto direct the Department of Defense to provide a copy of the Joint Services Transcript to servicemembers upon their discharge from the Armed Forces.
  • I joined a letter to VA Secretary Wilkie asking for communication to veterans on their GI Bill benefits.  

HONORING OUR VETERANS

  • I introduced a bill to name the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1075 North Tustin Street in Orange, California, as the "Specialist Trevor A. Win'E Post Office." The bill passed the House.