Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

Floor Speech

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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it.

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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Mast for his eloquent defense of this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I, too, rise in support of the veterans equal access amendment. Forty States, three territories, and the District of Columbia allow medical use of cannabis products, but not something for our veterans who live and work in those places.

For the nearly 200,000 veterans who call Nevada home, this commonsense amendment would allow healthcare professionals at the VA to just discuss cannabis for medical purposes with their patients. This includes providing information on the State's legal program, answering questions that the veteran may have about information that he has picked up out on the hustings.

It would also assist them in filling out any forms that might be required by the State to qualify for medical marijuana assistance.

Cannabis has proven to help with a wide variety of medical issues that veterans face, including pain management, PTSD, and opioid addiction. Instead of self-medicating and going outside the VA system, a veteran should be able to speak with a doctor honestly about what their options are.

Our veterans deserve the best healthcare they can get and should not be left behind because the Federal Government lags behind the States. They need to hear their options and make their choices.

Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment because it will be a meaningful step in the right direction for our veterans and for cannabis reform.

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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers.

In closing, I just want to thank Mr. Mast and Mr. Joyce for their leadership on this issue. Our veterans sacrifice everything for our country. We don't leave them behind on the field, and we shouldn't leave them behind when they come home. One way that we can serve them is providing this option when it comes to medical care.

They need to have an honest conversation with their doctors to understand what their options are and how they can best recover from the pains that continue after they have come home.

Mr. Chair, I proudly support this amendment. I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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