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Senator Angus King Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Enhance High-Cost Prescription Drug Coverage for Veterans in State Homes

Senator Angus King Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Enhance High-Cost Prescription Drug Coverage for Veterans in State Homes

Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has joined Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) in introducing the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act. This bipartisan bill aims to improve veterans' access to high-cost prescription drugs nationwide, specifically for those residing in State Veterans Homes (SVHs). The proposed legislation would mandate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse SVHs for expensive medications that exceed 8.5% of the homes' per diem rate. This mirrors existing arrangements between the VA and many private contract nursing homes. Additionally, the bill could require the VA to directly supply these medications to SVHs. Currently, severely disabled veterans in state-run facilities do not receive the same high-cost medication coverage as those in private nursing homes or living independently, leading to financial strain on SVHs. The Maine Veterans' Home (MVH) highlighted this issue in its Fiscal Year 2025 report, noting that unreimbursed expenses for medically necessary care widen the gap betw...
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Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans' Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications

Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans' Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has introduced bipartisan legislation, the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act, aimed at improving access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans residing in State Veterans Homes (SVHs). The proposed bill would mandate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to either reimburse SVHs for high-cost medications exceeding 8.5% of their per diem rate or directly provide these medications. This initiative seeks to align the support provided to SVHs with the existing arrangement for many private contract nursing homes, which currently receive direct reimbursement from the VA for such medications. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) is a lead co-sponsor of the bill. The National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) has expressed strong support for this legislation, highlighting its importance in ensuring that expensive medications do not limit long-term care options for aging and disabled veterans. Currently, the VA provides a per diem to SVHs but does not cover the cost of...
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Reps. Westerman and Gluesenkamp Perez Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand VA Home Loans for Rural Veterans

Reps. Westerman and Gluesenkamp Perez Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand VA Home Loans for Rural Veterans

Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) have introduced the Veterans Owner-Builders’ Rights Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding VA home loan access for rural veterans. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a five-year pilot program under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that would provide direct housing loans to veterans in rural areas for the construction of new homes. This initiative is designed to allow veterans with relevant skills to utilize their VA home loan benefits to build their own residences, addressing a current limitation where only about 30% of veterans use these loans. The bill also includes provisions for providing blueprints with American wood sourcing requirements, streamlining the permitting process by requiring permits within 45 days and covering associated fees, and offering technical assistance for construction and permit applications. Additionally, it includes a safeguard against home-flipping by requiring veterans to reside in the home for...
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Congressman Tony Wied Addresses Veteran Concerns Over Green Bay VA Mental Health Drug Discontinuation

Congressman Tony Wied Addresses Veteran Concerns Over Green Bay VA Mental Health Drug Discontinuation

Congressman Tony Wied is actively addressing concerns raised by veterans regarding the discontinuation of a specific mental health drug, esketamine (Spravato), at the Green Bay VA clinic. Michael Engel, a nine-year Army veteran, highlighted that the drug, which he has been taking since February of last year, is no longer available at the Green Bay facility due to the departure of the certified doctor and the lack of a replacement. This situation has forced Engel and other veterans to seek treatment at the Milwaukee VA, a two-hour commute each way, twice a month. Congressman Wied's office has confirmed contact with Engel and other affected veterans, stating they are advocating to the VA on their behalf to resolve the issue and ensure timely care.
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Sun rise, sunset times in Palm Beach County after daylight saving ends

Sun rise, sunset times in Palm Beach County after daylight saving ends

Sunrise and sunset times in Palm Beach County and in Florida before, after clocks fall back in November. What to know on effort to lock the clocks.
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The Latest: Trump’s new AI-powered ‘America.gov’ pivots political answers moments after launch

The Latest: Trump’s new AI-powered ‘America.gov’ pivots political answers moments after launch

President Donald Trump has unveiled the AI-powered America
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Reps. Gluesenkamp Perez and Westerman Introduce Veterans Owner-Builders’ Rights Act to Expand VA Home Loans for Rural Veterans

Reps. Gluesenkamp Perez and Westerman Introduce Veterans Owner-Builders’ Rights Act to Expand VA Home Loans for Rural Veterans

Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Bruce Westerman have introduced the Veterans Owner-Builders’ Rights Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to expand VA home loans, specifically enabling rural veterans to utilize these loans for building their own homes. The bill proposes a five-year pilot program under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide direct housing loans to veterans in rural areas for new home construction. The initiative seeks to address the shortage of starter homes, particularly in rural communities where housing demand often outpaces construction. Many veterans possess the skills to build homes but currently face limitations in using their VA home loan benefits for such projects. The legislation also includes provisions for blueprints with American wood sourcing requirements, streamlined permitting processes, and technical assistance for veterans, while safeguarding against home-flipping by requiring veterans to reside in the home for at least two years.
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Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act

Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act

Congressman Nick Langworthy has introduced the bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act, co-led by Democrat Congresswoman Kim Schrier. This legislation aims to provide states with dedicated federal resources to implement newborn screenings for serious health conditions listed on the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). The bill proposes an annual allocation of $35 million from Fiscal Year 2027 through Fiscal Year 2031 to strengthen state newborn screening infrastructure and ensure recommended screenings are put into practice. The initiative follows advocacy efforts by Congressman Langworthy and the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, which led to the federal recommendation for universal screening of Krabbe disease in July 2024. The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of rare-disease patient advocacy organizations, family foundations, and children’s health organizations.
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Representatives Grothman and Garcia Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Predatory Lending

Representatives Grothman and Garcia Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Predatory Lending

Congressman Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin's Sixth District and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia of Illinois have co-introduced the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting consumers from predatory lending practices. The proposed legislation seeks to extend the safeguards currently provided by the Military Lending Act to consumers nationwide. Additionally, the bill is designed to allow individual states to maintain and enforce stronger consumer protections where they already exist. Rep. Grothman emphasized that the bill would also preserve existing exceptions for mortgages, certain vehicle loans, and qualified federal credit union loans. He highlighted the detrimental impact of predatory lending, which can trap borrowers in cycles of debt, questioning why practices deemed too harmful for service members should be acceptable for the general public. The Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act has been referred to the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services for further consideration.
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U.S. Representative Mfume Introduces Bill to Rejoin World Health Organization and Address Ebola Outbreak

U.S. Representative Mfume Introduces Bill to Rejoin World Health Organization and Address Ebola Outbreak

U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (Democrat-MD-7th District) has introduced H.R.10345, a new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, which mandates the United States to rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO). The legislation, introduced on September 10, 2026, during the 119th Congress's regular session, aims to bolster the U.S. response to global infectious disease threats through renewed participation in the WHO. The bill specifically addresses the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa, highlighting the rapid spread of the 2026 outbreak and the necessity for a robust public health response to prevent a crisis similar to the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. The bill requires the President, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to reestablish U.S. membership in the WHO within 30 days of its enactment and to cooperate with the organization to combat the current outbreak. Additionally, it authorizes appropriations for restoring U.S. contributions to the WHO and supporting internatio...
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Congressman Jack Bergman Introduces SMILE for Veterans Act to Expand Dental Care Access for Rural Veterans

Congressman Jack Bergman Introduces SMILE for Veterans Act to Expand Dental Care Access for Rural Veterans

Congressman Jack Bergman, representing Michigan's Upper Peninsula, along with three House colleagues, has introduced the SMILE for Veterans Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to establish a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program designed to reimburse community-based dental providers for services rendered to rural veterans. Currently, only about 15% of the nearly nine million veterans enrolled in VA healthcare are eligible for VA dental services, with eligibility typically restricted to those with a service-connected dental condition, a 100% disability rating, or former prisoner-of-war status. The proposed act seeks to bridge this gap by utilizing existing local dental providers, thereby offering a practical solution to the limited access to dental care for veterans in rural communities. The initiative is supported by organizations such as AMVETS, the National Rural Health Association, and the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. A 2024 study funded by the CareQuest Institute highlighted signi...
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U.S. Representative Introduces Textile Waste Reduction Act to Combat Growing Landfill Crisis

U.S. Representative Introduces Textile Waste Reduction Act to Combat Growing Landfill Crisis

Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine, founder of the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus, has introduced the Textile Waste Reduction Act (TWRA). This legislation aims to establish a coordinated federal framework to address the significant issue of textile waste in the U.S. Approximately 11.3 million tons of textile waste are sent to U.S. landfills annually, with about 85% of all manufactured textiles ending up in landfills or incinerated. The average American discards between 70 and 82 pounds of clothing and textiles each year. Currently, only about 14.7% of post-consumer textiles are recycled or donated for reuse. The TWRA seeks to improve data collection and develop a national strategy to advance circularity within the textile industry, building upon a GAO report that identified textile waste as one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the U.S., largely driven by fast fashion.