April 30, 2015 

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 2029, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2016. 

Titus offered one amendment to the bill and cosponsored an amendment offered by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-3). Titus' amendment encourages the VA to fund and staff two data collection and analysis positions in the Center for Women Veterans to ensure the VA is able to identify and fulfil the requirements requested by our nation’s female veterans. It was adopted and included in final passage of H.R. 2029. The Blumenauer amendment allows VA medical providers to recommend the use of medical marijuana to veteran patients who live in states where medical marijuana is legal, including Nevada. The amendment failed in a close vote, 210-213, and was not included in the bill. 

“As Ranking Member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I am working every day to ensure that our nation’s heroes are receiving the care and benefits they have earned and deserve. While this bill includes many important provisions, including my amendment to improve services for female veterans, I'm extremely disappointed by the drastic cuts to veterans medical care,” said Titus. “These funding reductions undermine the progress we’ve made in improving the VA system and short change our veterans by downsizing critical resources and programs. These cuts are unconscionable; our nation’s heroes deserve better.” 

H.R. 2029 cuts $1.4 billion from the President's FY2016 budget request, including $690 million from VA medical services, which would equate to 70,000 fewer veterans receiving VA medical care. Veterans Services Organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion, all oppose this legislation because it fails to provide adequate resources for our nations heroes.