Congressman Luttrell Q2 Update

Morgan Luttrell | Official U.S. House headshot

By North Houston News Report

Jul 7, 2023

As the second quarter of the year comes to a close, I wanted to send along an update from Congressman Morgan Luttrell. The Congressman made impressive inroads in the first three months of the 118th Congress, and he hasn't let up the past three months either. From moving the National Defense Authorization Act out of Committee to addressing the border crisis and taking care of veterans, Congressman Luttrell has made sure the voices of TX-08 are well represented. Below are a few key takeaways from Q2.

House Armed Services Committee

On June 21, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) marked up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. The NDAA is annual legislation that determines policies and funding levels for the Department of Defense and other national security entities. The FY24 NDAA boosts defense spending to provide much-needed funding for our military and national security, as our nation faces unprecedented threats from around the globe. Congressman Luttrell secured over 40 provisions in the committee mark, including funding for counternarcotics activities within the Department of Defense, support for PTSD treatments, and improvements on cybersecurity infrastructure and AI based cyber threat detection. After over 14 hours of debate, including the consideration of over 800 amendments, the committee passed the NDAA by a bipartisan vote of 58-1. The bill will now head to the full House floor for consideration in July.

“The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act boosts defense spending to provide much-needed funding for our military and national security, as our nation faces unprecedented threats from around the globe. I am proud to see several of my amendments and priorities accepted, including clinical trials on psychedelic therapy to treat PTSD, funding for counter-narcotics support, and improvements on cybersecurity infrastructure and AI based cyber threat detection. This legislation will strengthen our national defense, making a stronger, safer America. I look forward to this coming to the House Floor for a vote.”

House Veterans' Affairs Committee

The Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) Subcommittee, which Congressman Luttrell chairs, conducted an oversight hearing on June 6 regarding the future of the VA benefits claims processing. Ten years ago, the VA underwent its first claims modernization initiative when it transformed from the paper-based system to an electronic claims environment. This was an important step for the VA to dig out of the last claims backlog crisis. Since then, the private financial sector has continued to leverage the latest technology to provide the best experience for their customers and employees. Unfortunately, the Veterans Benefit Administration has not kept pace with the private sector, resulting in unreliable and outdated systems. Consequently, the VA cannot handle the influx of claims due to the PACT Act. The VA estimates the claims backlog could peak in April 2024 at over 730,000 claims. The hearing examined the VA’s five-year modernization plan and the steps being taken to prioritize modernization investments.

Modernizing VA Disability Benefit Questionnaires Act

Last week, Congressman Luttrell introduced legislation to create a universal standard for contractors to use when transmitting Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs). DBQs are standardized forms used by the VA, private physicians, and contractors to perform disability examinations in support of a veteran’s claim for disability compensation as a result of a service-connected injury or illness. Current practice does not require VA contractors who perform disability exams to submit DBQs in a format that can be easily read by the VA’s claim automation software. Additionally, there is currently no convenient online portal that a veteran's private physician can use to submit a DBQ.

“Veterans shouldn’t be facing roadblocks and cutting through red tape to receive the benefits they have earned from the VA. When I speak to veterans in my district, and across the country, they always express the urgent need for more productive care. This legislation is a major step in the right direction to streamline the claims process for veterans, VA employees, and veterans’ private providers. Our veterans deserve expedient, effective care and I’ll continue working to make that a reality.”

The Modernizing VA Disability Benefit Questionnaires Act would create a universal standard for contractors to use when transmitting DBQs. The standard would require them to be readable by an automated program to simplify the claims process. It would also require the VA to submit a plan for a convenient online portal that veterans’ private physicians could use to complete DBQs. This bill would make DBQs more convenient and useful, allowing VA employees to focus on claims processing activities that require human intervention, such as rating claims and weighing evidence, rather than menial processing tasks. Lastly, President Biden officially signed S. 777, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023 into law. You can read more about this here.

House Committee on Homeland Security

In May, the House voted on and passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. The legislation passed included provisions specifically drafted by Congressman Luttrell:

Publication by CBP of Operational Statistics – Requires Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to report Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) hits and whether the individuals were released into the interior of the United States, in addition to reports on gotaway numbers.
Report to Congress on Terrorist Crossings – Requires a report to Congress detailing which terrorist organizations are attempting to exploit the northern, southern, and maritime borders to get their members in.

“I am proud to have helped craft and voted for the Secure the Border Act that will take back control of our borders, establish crucial immigration policies, and make our country safe again. It is unfortunate that rather than addressing one of the most important issues to Americans, my colleagues across the aisle railed against legislation that would secure President Biden’s open border, which has led to a fentanyl crisis, attempted crossings by terrorists, and unchecked child exploitation. While the Biden Administration and Democrats continue to be extraordinarily unserious about the border crisis, House Republicans are delivering on our promise to secure our border and keep Americans safe.”

Congressman Luttrell debated in favor of this bill on the House floor.

Additionally, Congressman Luttrell joined House Republican Leadership for a press conference pushing for the passage of this legislation.

This month, the House Committee on Homeland Security (CHS) began its oversight investigation into Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ dereliction of duty as Secretary of Homeland Security. You can review the preliminary report by the committee here. Texas is on the frontlines of this border crisis and communities in our district are feeling the direct impact. Congressman Luttrell has been working tirelessly with his colleagues to get this crisis under control, and will continue to call on the U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.

Congressman Luttrell Passes His First Amendment

The House of Representatives passed Congressman Luttrell’s amendment to H.R. 3091, which would allow retired federal law enforcement officers in good standing to purchase a retired service weapon from the federal agency that issued the handgun. Congressman Luttrell’s amendment to the legislation would allow retired federal law enforcement officers to also be eligible to purchase retired service weapons.

“As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I’m proud the House of Representatives passed my amendment to Congressman Fry’s common-sense legislation, which would remove red tape to allow law abiding, retired law enforcement officers to purchase service weapons. It will protect the Second Amendment rights of our federal officers, who sacrificed so much to protect us.”

Notable Legislation

Douglas ‘Mike’ Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act: Congressman Luttrell is an original co-sponsor of this legislation that would authorize the Department of Defense (DoD) to fund research into psychedelics for active-duty military members suffering from PTSD or TBI, giving those facing these issues another tool in the proverbial toolbox. It gives us the chance to save the lives of those that so graciously served our country. You can read more about these efforts here.

Congressman Luttrell, along with some of his colleagues, hosted a press conference to advocate for more research into this treatment.

Police Officers Protecting Children Act: Congressman Luttrell cosponsored this legislation that would provide an additional layer of security to schools by allowing off-duty and retired police officers to carry firearms on school grounds and zones.

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act: Congressman Luttrell cosponsored this bill that would require ATF to delete all existing firearm transaction records accumulated by the ATF, therefore dismantling their current database and preventing the possible creation of a federal gun registry.

VA Same Day Scheduling Act: Congressman Luttrell cosponsored this legislation that would ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA healthcare system contacts the VA to schedule an appointment for care at a VA facility, the scheduling for the appointment occurs during that phone call.

DoD Abortion Prohibition: Congressman Luttrell cosponsored this legislation that would prohibit the Department of Defense (DoD) from funding abortion services, including travel expenses to obtain an abortion. Exceptions include: where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or in a case in which the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.

Warrior Call Day Resolution: Congressman Luttrell cosponsored this legislation that would designate November 12, 2023 as National Warrior Call Day and encourage all Americans, especially active-duty & retired servicemembers, to contact someone who has worn or wears the uniform & connect struggling veterans with mental health services.

Military Academy Breakfast

On June 10, Congressman Luttrell hosted District Eight students, and their families, who have received appointments to the Military Academies for a send-off breakfast. Congressman Luttrell gave the Keynote Address, while Margaret Marlow, a Woodlands High School alum who will graduate from the United States Air Force Preparatory School in 2024, was the featured guest speaker. You can see more about this here.

Original source can be found here.

ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY

Texas' 8th Congressional District