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Sens. Moran, Tester Introduce Landmark Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Legislation
Legislation Builds on VA’s Success, Invests in Innovative Therapy, Expands Rural Access to Care
Mar 19 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – introduced landmark, bipartisan legislation to improve veterans’ access to mental healthcare.
The bipartisan Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act is a comprehensive and aggressive approach to connect more veterans with the mental healthcare they need and earned. Their bill seeks to improve VA care by bolstering the VA’s mental health workforce and increasing rural or hard-to-reach veterans’ access to VA care, while making sure veterans have access to alternative and local treatment options like animal therapy, outdoor sports and activities, yoga and acupuncture.
“One veteran lost to suicide is one too many, and Congress has an obligation to those who have bravely served our nation to help fix this tragedy,” said Sen. Moran. “As our servicemembers transition to civilian life, we can ease this difficult process by removing barriers to mental healthcare that our veterans need. This bipartisan legislation, which complements the President’s PREVENTS initiative, would expand efforts in local communities to provide veterans with mental healthcare, would allow the VA to hire and train more professionals in this field and would develop innovative methods for the delivery of this care. Our nation’s heroes deserve the best our nation has to offer and the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act offers critical next steps to help prevent veteran suicide.”
“Mental health is the universal issue facing every veteran, and we need all hands on deck to make sure no veteran is lost to suicide,” said Sen. Tester. “Our bill brings together the best ideas from the VA, Congress, veterans, providers, and advocates so our approach to mental healthcare is aggressive and united. Together, we can put innovative solutions to work to connect more veterans to the life-saving mental health care they earned.”
It is estimated that more than 20 veterans die by suicide every day. Of those, 14 have received no treatment or care from the VA. The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act will improve outreach to veterans and their mental healthcare options in five major ways:
- Bolster the VA’s mental health workforce to serve more veterans by giving the VA direct hiring authority for more mental health professions, offering scholarships to mental health professionals to work at Vet Centers, and placing at least one Suicide Prevention Coordinator in every VA hospital.
- Improve rural veterans’ access to mental healthcare by increasing the number of locations at which veterans can access VA telehealth services and offering grants to non-VA organizations that provide mental health services or alternative treatment to veterans.
- Strengthen support and assistance for service members transitioning out of the military by automatically giving every service member one full year of VA healthcare when they leave the military and improving services that connect transitioning veterans with career and education opportunities.
- Study and invest in innovative and alternative treatment options by expanding veterans’ access to animal, outdoor, or agri-therapy, yoga, meditation, and acupuncture and investing in VA research into the impact of living at high altitude on veterans’ suicide risk and identifying and treating mental illness.
- Hold the VA accountable for its mental healthcare and suicide prevention efforts by examining how the VA manages its suicide prevention resources and how the VA provides seamless care and information sharing for veterans seeking mental healthcare from both the VA and community providers.
The bill is endorsed by a growing number of veterans and mental health advocates, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), American Veterans (AMVETS), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Volunteers of America (VOA), American Psychological Association (APA), and American Association of Suicidology.
A one page summary of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act can be found online here. The full text of the bill can be found here.
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Sen. Moran Applauds U.S., Brazil Agreement Regarding Wheat Exports
Sen. Moran Last Week Led Senators in Urging POTUS to Resolve Long-Standing Trade Barrier
Mar 19 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture – today applauded the agreement announced by President Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro regarding American wheat exports to Brazil.
“Today’s announcement by President Trump and President Bolsonaro that Brazil will fulfill its commitment to establish a duty-free tariff rate quota for wheat comes as welcome news for Kansas farmers,” said Sen. Moran. “The elimination of the tariff currently applied to U.S. wheat imported by Brazil will allow our farmers to compete on a level playing field with foreign competitors like Argentina, resulting in increased U.S. wheat exports. As Kansas farmers continue to struggle with low commodity prices, it is critical that we continue working to expand new export markets.
“President Trump, as well as U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Chief Agricultural Negotiator Gregg Doud, ought to be commended for their efforts to secure today’s commitment from Brazil,” continued Sen. Moran. “I look forward to working with the administration to make certain Brazil quickly implements the wheat TRQ.”
Items to Note:
- Last week, Sen. Moran led a group of 11 senators in urging President Trump to resolve a longstanding trade barrier that U.S. agricultural producers face when exporting wheat to Brazil.
- In February, Sens. Moran and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) sent a letter to USTR Robert Lighthizer urging him to take action on the Brazil wheat TRQ.
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Sen. Moran, Bridenstine Discuss Wichita, STEM Education During Commerce Committee Hearing
Mar 18 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee – questioned National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jim Bridenstine during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the federal government’s strategy for maintaining leadership in space and ensuring space industry competitiveness on March 13, 2019.
Sen. Moran and Administrator Bridenstine discussed the importance of STEM education, as well as Administrator Bridenstine’s recent visit to Kansas. Last December, Sen. Moran hosted NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and NASA Astronaut Don Pettit for STEM events in Wichita and Hutchinson.
Highlights:
Sen. Moran (1:07): “I wanted you to know that, just a few weeks ago . . . a student who participated in our STEM event in Wichita, in which you spoke and an astronaut spoke, and we rekindled his boyhood dream of going to Mars and he now has decided that this is the career that he wants to pursue. And I’d just point out that those efforts at NASA, your efforts in particular in Wichita . . . you and an astronaut have such a capability of changing a person’s life.”
Sen. Moran (1:42): “I’m of the view that we change the world one person at a time, and I want you to know that we want to make certain that NASA remains that agency that inspires another generation, and highlighting just one student who was affected by what you had to say, and I wanted you to be aware of that.”
Administrator Bridenstine (2:22): “This is ultimately how we create that next generation of scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians, and I’m proud to do that. I would also say that that trip to Wichita was transformative for me.”
Administrator Bridenstine (3:05): “I will tell you, I enjoyed the trip very much, I learned a lot, and it has applicability that goes beyond aviation and into space. . . When we think about NASA – the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the first ‘A’ in NASA is Aeronautics. It is directly applicable to what we do in space.”
Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s full remarks.
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Sen. Moran Reintroduces Bill to Incentivize Grocery Stores, Help Eliminate Food Deserts
Bipartisan legislation would incentivize grocers and non-profits to fulfill need in rural & urban areas
Mar 18 2019
- New Store Construction – Companies that construct new grocery stores in a food desert will receive a onetime 15 percent tax credit after receiving certification.
- Retrofitting Existing Structures – Companies that make retrofits to an existing store’s healthy food sections can receive a onetime 10 percent tax credit after the repairs certify the store as an SAFP.
- Food Banks – Certified food banks that build new (permanent) structures in food deserts will be eligible to receive a onetime grant for 15 percent of their construction costs.
- Temporary Access Merchants – Certified temporary access merchants (i.e. mobile markets, farmers markets, and some food banks) that are 501(c)(3)s will receive grants for 10 percent of their annual operating costs.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection – today introduced the FCC Reporting Modernization Act, legislation that would update current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reporting requirements to include all Telephone Consumer Protection Act complaints and enforcement actions regarding robocalls and spoofed phone calls. These updated reports to Congress would provide a clearer analysis of the robocall and spoofing problem and identify patterns of these harmful practices impacting consumers.
“Not only are robocalls annoying and disruptive, but they can be dangerous – too often coercing unsuspecting Americans to provide sensitive personal and financial information with highly-sophisticated deceit tactics,” said Sen. Moran. “Being able to identify the patterns scammers use will help guide Congress’ lawmaking efforts to combat this pervasive issue. Therefore, this legislation requires the FCC to provide Congress with robust reports on robocalls and spoofed phone calls so we can continue to fight this problem.”
The FCC Reporting Modernization Act requires the FCC to report the following information to Congress every year:
- Number of complaints received by the FCC alleging that a consumer received a robocall or spoofed call;
- Number of citations issued by the FCC in enforcing against such complaints;
- Number of notices of apparent liability issued by the FCC to enforce policies against robocalls or spoofed calls, along with the amount of penalties involved, the recipient of the notice and the status of the proceeding.
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In Advance of Bolsonaro Meetings, Senators Urge POTUS to Take Action on Wheat Exports to Brazil
Mar 14 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) led a group of 11 senators in urging President Trump to take action and resolve a longstanding trade barrier U.S. agricultural producers face when exporting wheat to Brazil. President Trump plans to meet with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro next week at the White House.
“Brazil agreed to establish a 750,000 metric ton (MT) duty-free tariff rate quota (TRQ) for wheat at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over two decades ago,” wrote the senators. “Unfortunately, Brazil has failed to fulfill that commitment and continues to apply a 10 percent tariff on wheat from countries not included in the South American Mercosur trade bloc. As a result of the tariff, U.S. wheat faces a competitive disadvantage when exporting to Brazil, especially compared to Argentina.”
“We are encouraged by President Bolsonaro’s stated support for building a stronger relationship between the United States and Brazil, and believe eliminating this longstanding trade barrier for U.S. wheat exports would be a demonstrable action to strengthen the economic ties between our countries,” continued the senators. “Not only would establishing the TRQ increase export opportunities for American farmers, it would also benefit certain Brazilian flour mills that have petitioned their own government in the past to remove the tariff to increase their access to high-quality U.S. wheat.”
The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-S.D.) Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and John Thune (R-S.D.).
Item to note:
- On February 27, Sens. Moran and Roberts sent a letter to USTR Robert Lighthizer urging him to take action on the Brazil wheat TRQ.
Full text of the letter can be found here and below.
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Trump:
Thank you for your efforts to address foreign trade practices that harm American farmers and ranchers. We write to encourage you to prioritize the elimination of a longstanding trade barrier for U.S. wheat exports to Brazil during President Jair Bolsonaro’s visit to the United States.
Brazil agreed to establish a 750,000 metric ton (MT) duty-free tariff rate quota (TRQ) for wheat at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over two decades ago. Unfortunately, Brazil has failed to fulfill that commitment and continues to apply a 10 percent tariff on wheat from countries not included in the South American Mercosur trade bloc. As a result of the tariff, U.S. wheat faces a competitive disadvantage when exporting to Brazil, especially compared to Argentina.
We are encouraged by President Bolsonaro’s stated support for building a stronger relationship between the United States and Brazil, and believe eliminating this longstanding trade barrier for U.S. wheat exports would be a demonstrable action to strengthen the economic ties between our countries. Not only would establishing the TRQ increase export opportunities for American farmers, it would also benefit certain Brazilian flour mills that have petitioned their own government in the past to remove the tariff to increase their access to high-quality U.S. wheat.
It has been conservatively estimated establishing the TRQ would result in $75 to over $120 million in additional annual U.S. wheat sales to Brazil, depending on the portion of the TRQ filled by U.S. exporters. At a time when many farmers are struggling to make ends meet as a result of low prices and declining revenues, it is critical to work to expand market opportunities for U.S. farm commodities. We believe engaging the new Brazilian administration on the wheat TRQ as part of larger discussions to enhance the economic cooperation between our countries can result in eliminating a trade barrier that harms both American and Brazilian stakeholders.
We appreciate your administration’s efforts to hold other countries to trade obligations and look forward to working with you to eliminate trade barriers for U.S. wheat exports to Brazil.
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Sen. Moran Introduces Legislation to Update FCC Reporting Requirements to Congress
Requires the FCC to provide more robust reports to Congress on robocalls, spoofing
Mar 14 2019
- Number of complaints received by the FCC alleging that a consumer received a robocall or spoofed call;
- Number of citations issued by the FCC in enforcing against such complaints;
- Number of notices of apparent liability issued by the FCC to enforce policies against robocalls or spoofed calls, along with the amount of penalties involved, the recipient of the notice and the status of the proceeding.
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Sen. Moran Statement on Emergency Declaration
Mar 14 2019
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – today announced he will support H. J. Res. 46, the Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval.
“President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security,” wrote Sen. Moran. “…I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.”
“Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States,” continued Sen. Moran. “I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution. Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.”
Sen. Moran’s full written thoughts can be found here and below.
1. President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security.
2. Our borders are a matter of national sovereignty and control over who enters our country is vital in our fight against terrorism and battle against drugs and human trafficking.
3. Many Americans and most Kansans agree with the President that this is an important issue and must be dealt with.
4. The President has not been fairly treated by Democrats in Congress – a wall is not immoral and democrats have previously supported funding border barriers.
5. I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.
6. The President can advance the building of a wall with the funding just approved by Congress and can increase the funds available by reprogramming other accounts.
7. Therefore, the declaration of an emergency is not necessary.
8. The declaration of an emergency under these circumstances is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The laws passed by Congress years ago allowing the president emergency powers is flawed and needs to be repealed or amended.
9. In high school government class we all learned about our Founding Fathers and the three separate, but equal branches of government. This concept is one of the most significant in protecting America as a republic and maintaining citizen freedoms & liberties. Both government structure and the Bill of Rights matter.
10. Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution.
11. Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.
12. Kansans have criticized President Obama for abuse of executive orders, ignoring the laws and avoiding the requirements of negotiating a treaty when dealing with foreign powers. I agree and fought it.
13. I aggressively opposed the overreach of past presidents and believe that I can not pick and choose to now look the other way.
14. If the Constitution means one thing in the Obama administration and another in the Trump administration, the enduring value of the Constitution disappears and another generation of Americans will be less free.
15. The number one responsibility we have as American citizens is to pass to the next generation of Americans our constitutionally guaranteed liberties. There are days where it seems clear we are failing greatly.
16. How we do things – even good things – matters. We were raised that the ends don’t justify the means.
17. To find a loop hole on this issue and to vote another way might be an easier course. But my gut, my intellect, my understanding of history, tells me use of emergency powers is wrong. It can’t be an option to support something I believe wrong.
18. This country is filled with people who care, who are patriots, who served in our military. I try never to let anyone down. On my watch I always want to do right as I see it.
-Jerry
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