THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - Vet center services next month

Feb 25, 2018

In this issue- February 23, 2018:

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Vet Center Services next month

An important step towards our goal of a Vet Center in the Marianas: The Guam Vet Center will start outreach visits to our islands next Wednesday, February 28. Initially, this means needs assessments on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota with veterans and other stakeholders. Then, beginning in March both on-island and telehealth counseling services will be made available. The decision came out of my meeting with VA Secretary David Shulkin last week, an opportunity that comes with membership on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. I requested—and was granted—a special waiver to serve on this third committee and have been using my new position to push the VA to improve services in the Marianas. Committee membership also resulted in increased awareness and access to the Choice program, allowing our veterans to get care from private medical providers, and more regular visits from veterans benefits counselors. My top priorities remain, however, having a VA-staffed Marianas Veterans Clinic, providing out-patient medical care, and our own, stand-alone Vet Center providing no-cost mental health and readjustment services for our veterans, service members and military families. This week’s announcement moves us closer toward that second goal.
 

OPPORTUNITIES

Internships

Public Comment

LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

THIS WEEK

The House is on recess for the District Work Period.

NEXT WEEK

On the Floor

  • H.R. 1865 — Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017
  • H.R. 4296 — To place requirements on operational risk capital requirements for banking organizations established by an appropriate Federal banking agency
  • H.R. 4607 — Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act
  • H.R. 880 — MISSION ZERO Act
  • H.R. 1222 — Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2017
  • H.R. 2410 — Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2017
  • H.R. 2422 — Action for Dental Health Act of 2017
  • H.R. 767 — SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of 2018
  • H.Res. 443 — Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of trauma-informed care

Committee Activity

 Tuesday, February 27

  • Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Legislative Hearing
  • Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs Joint Hearing - Legislative Presentation of the Disabled American Veterans