Luttrell Introduces DAMA Bill to Support Veterans

Texas Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R) has introduced a bill that would support veterans. Rep. Luttrell is the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA).

Today, Rep. Luttrell introduced the Veterans Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act of 2024. The bill seeks to increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities, including the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain veterans as of December 1, 2024. This increase in Veterans Affairs benefits would equal the cost-of-living increase provided for certain Social Security benefits.

In a statement discussing the legislation, Rep. Luttrell expressed that lawmakers "have an obligation to support the veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country."

"The legislation I introduced today will make certain our veterans are able to meet their financial needs, especially in these challenging times. I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve the lives of veterans and their families," Rep. Luttrell added.

Having served as a United States Navy Seal, Rep. Luttrell has pursued a number of efforts that would help veterans. Namely, the Texas lawmakers introduced an amendment, subsequently passed by the House, to a Department of Defense appropriations bill that would allocate $15 million to conduct clinical trials concerning the use of psychedelic therapy for veterans that have experienced traumatic brain injuries.

Speaking on the effort, Rep. Luttrell commented that “our primary go-to is opioids or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and we are steadily digging an endless hole for veterans that they’ll fall down in, and it’s very difficult to climb out that. The addiction rates are astronomical, so if we can replace opioids, SSRIs, and other pharmaceuticals that are in place to treat these issues with something that’s a shorter term address that creates sustainable long term positive effects, that’s a win across the board.”