Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of my amendment to H.R. 4366.

This amendment will ensure the VA conducts large-scale studies into the efficacy of drugs with FDA breakthrough therapy status to treat post-traumatic stress disorder through medication-assisted therapy trials.

Every day, roughly 20 veterans take their own life. This number has stayed high despite our best efforts here in Washington. Fortunately, new breakthrough therapies have offered significant help.

Under the Trump administration, the FDA granted breakthrough therapy status for MDMA-assisted therapy to treat PTSD. Since then, privately funded research has demonstrated clear, positive results in treating previously untreatable PTSD with little or no risk for patients.

This includes studies in cooperation with the VA, for instance, at the Bronx VA hospital.

Let me be clear. These trials are conducted with full FDA approval, under medical supervision, and in safe clinical environments.

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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself an additional 1 minute.

Additionally, Mr. Chair, because these medications are only ever administered directly in-person and in a clinical setting by medical professionals, there is no potential for misuse.

It is now time for the VA to do its part to expand research into these lifesaving therapies and refine best practices for our treatment for our veterans.

If psychedelic-assisted therapy can help treat a veteran's PTSD or prevent them from taking their own life, then we owe it to them to take an active role in researching these potentially lifesaving therapies.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague and partner, Representative Correa, for his remarks.

We have both worked long and hard on the commitment to our veterans in so many different ways. This is just one more example of Congress doing the right thing for our veterans.

This amendment will unlock potential treatments that have been shown to actually cure post-traumatic stress disorder, something current medicine and modern psychology have been unable to do; give our veterans a chance to live a long, happy life that we all take for granted.

Mr. Chair, I strongly urge all our Members to vote for our men and women--our heroes--who have served in uniform and to support the Bergman-Correa amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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