Weekly Script November 11th, 2023 WEEKLY SC℞IPT Friends, Thank you for taking time to read my weekly update. Below you'll learn more about what I'm doing in Washington to support Iowans in the first district. Visit My Website Veterans Day: Honoring Valiant Service Veterans Day is a time when the nation comes together to pay tribute to the men and women who have selflessly served in the United States military. It is a day dedicated to honoring their valor, sacrifices, and unwavering dedication to safeguarding our freedom and security. In Iowa, we are doing our part, daily, to ensure that veterans are able to have a smooth re-entry into society and that they receive premier care with programs like Home Base Iowa and the opening of the new Iowa City VA Clinic in Coralville, Iowa. Home Base Iowa is an initiative that connects businesses in Iowa with veterans and military spouses looking for career opportunities and it was instituted under the leadership of former Governor Terry Branstad during my time as Director of Public Health. The program is still helping our veterans and their spouses find work to this day. Another way that Iowa is leading in caring for our veterans is through innovative healthcare services. Over the summer, the new Iowa City Veteran Affairs (VA) Healthcare System in Coralville, Iowa opened its doors to serve our veterans. The new larger clinic utilizes the PACT model and is helpful for our veterans. The lay out ensures that care teams can work collaboratively as they coordinate patient care. The new clinic provides an additional 10,000 square feet, expands access for local veterans, and offers specialized services which further exemplifies the Iowa City VA’s dedication to prime veteran care in our community. In Congress, House Republicans are on a mission to support our veterans. This year, we passed the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, legislation to fully fund veterans’ healthcare programs, benefits, and VA programs, including the electronic health record modernization initiative. Additionally, House Republicans supported the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a 5.2 percent increase in servicemember pay – the most significant pay raise in over two decades. The NDAA also helps lower housing, healthcare, and childcare costs for our military families. As the Chairwoman of the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’ve worked tirelessly with my colleagues to take a comprehensive approach when addressing various shortfalls of the current system. Earlier this year, I hosted a roundtable with the VA, veterans, and industry leaders to discuss how MDMA-assisted therapy can be utilized to treat PTSD for servicemembers. Real-world data shows how effective MDMA-assisted therapy can be, and it is my goal to ensure that the VA is aware of options with the highest clinical benefit. I also sponsored the Veteran Care Improvement Act, legislation that aims to expand VA care at home. This legislation would codify current community care access standards, setting a baseline expectation for timeliness of care. It would also establish a defined access standard for the provision of residential substance abuse treatment, recognizing that when a veteran decides that help is needed, time is of the essence. Lastly, it requires the VA to be more transparent with veterans when they are deciding their best options for care, whether in the VA or in the Community. As we continue to work to pass legislation to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and break down the barriers that prevent our veterans from getting the benefits they deserve, we must remember to never take our servicemember’s sacrifices for granted. On Veterans Day, as we pause and remember the dedicated service of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen, let us never forget their valiant service and let us never stop fighting to safeguard their benefits and care. Iowans in DC It is always great to meet with Iowans while they are in Washington! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to residents of the First District allows me to stay informed of what is going on in their communities and what I can do to help. Psychedelic-assisted therapy can be an effective tool for mental healthcare. Thank you to members of the American Psychedelic Practitioners Association for the discussion about psychological health. I enjoyed meeting with telecommunications companies that serve Iowa this week to discuss increasing access to rural broadband service. I always enjoy meeting with constituents when they are in Washington. Thank you, Daniel Moe, a medical student at the University of Iowa, for stopping by. It was a pleasure for Rep. John Curtis and I to meet with American Conservation Coalition and Miss America, Grace Stanke, to discuss the importance of American leadership on advanced nuclear energy technologies. 20 County Tour It is always great to meet with Iowans as I travel across the first district! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to Iowans allows me to stay informed about what is happening in their communities and what I can do to help. Thank you to everyone who took time, shared their points of view, and attended this weekend's Listening Posts in Muscatine and Wapello. Veterans Day is a moment to express our profound gratitude for the defenders of our country’s freedom and values. It was an honor to attend the Eaton Corporation Veterans Day Ceremony in Davenport to honor our veterans. I attended the North Cedar National Honor Society’s Veterans Day Assembly to pay tribute to our nation’s veterans. Let us never forget the courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment that define our remarkable servicemembers. I attended the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Rock Island National Cemetery to remember the sacrifices of our veterans and acknowledge their service to our great nation. In the News I joined America Right Now with Tom Basile to discuss the latest developments in Israel and supporting our military. Committee Hearings This week, I participated in a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Oversight Hearing and highlighted Home Base Iowa, an initiative that connects businesses in Iowa with veterans looking for career opportunities. Vigil for Israel This week, we held a bipartisan solemn candlelight vigil and prayer acknowledging one month after the barbaric attacks on Israel and remembered 1,400 innocent women, children, infants and men murdered by Hamas. Legislative Roundup This week, I introduced the following legislation: The DRUG Act, Legislation that bans spread pricing, patient steering, and implements de-linking policies in the commercial insurance market. I voted in favor of the following legislation: H.Res. 845, Censuring Representative Rashida Tlaib for promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the State of Israel. H.R 1607, To clarify jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development. This bill transfers National Forest System land near the Salt River in Arizona to the Bureau of Reclamation to expand the area used for generating electric power for the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project. H.R. 359, The Fort San Gerónimo Preservation Act, legislation that establishes the Fort San Gerónimo del Boquerón in Puerto Rico as an affiliated area of the National Park System, which shall consist of the fort and grounds listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located near Old San Juan. Sincerely, Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks Be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more updates. ### Rep. Miller-Meeks | 1034 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]