Office of Sen. Jerry Moran

WASHINGTON, DC–U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced legislation this week to increase the number of health professionals serving veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Sen. Moran’s bill, introduced with U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), will provide veterans who served as medics in the armed forces with the opportunity to attain the education and training needed to become a physician assistant.

“I am proud to introduce this initiative to support the servicemen and women who are transitioning back to civilian life,” Sen. Moran said. “The GOOD Pilot Program would allow veterans who have served their country and fellow service members as medics to leverage their unique skills and training to further their careers. It would also help to make certain their fellow veterans have greater access to timely, quality care.”

Currently, veterans who served as medics have the opportunity to work at the VA through the Intermediate Care Technicians (ICT) Pilot Program, but they do not receive the additional training they need to advance their careers at the VA.

Sen. Moran’s bill would authorize the Grow Our Own Directive (GOOD) Pilot Program for five years to advance training and education opportunities for participants of the ICT program, individuals who agree to work in VA facilities in underserved states, and former service members with military health experience. Once veterans are certified as physician assistants, they would be required to work at the VA for at least three years. Additionally, this bill would require the VA to establish competitive pay for physician assistants employed by the department.

Physician assistants are one of the most in-demand positions at the VA. In September, USA Today reported that there is a 23 percent vacancy rate at the VA for physician assistants. According to the Veterans Affairs Physicians Assistants Association, there are an estimated 30,000 open physician assistant positions in the United States, making it difficult for the VA to recruit and retain physician assistants.

This bill is endorsed by the Veteran Affairs Physician Assistant Association, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Blinded Veterans Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS).

“Ready access to quality patient care is among the most critical issues facing our nation’s veterans at VA healthcare facilities. We are thrilled that Senators Tester and Moran have sponsored legislation to increase the PA workforce, while creating a pathway for veterans to be educated in this critical healthcare profession. This creative model, along with needed policy improvements, holds great promise for the recruitment and retention of PAs at the VA,” said Jennifer L. Dorn CEO of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

To read the full text of Sen. Moran’s bill, click here.

Kansas Department of Agriculture

MANHATTAN–Water leaders from across the western United States convened in Manhattan this week for the fall meetings of the Western States Water Council. During the 3.5 days of meetings, the organization, which consists of leaders from state government, federal government representatives, and industry, held policy-related business meetings and educational sessions. The group also had the opportunity to tour Kansas’ largest lake, Milford Reservoir.

Established in 1965, the WSWC seeks to provide a platform for cooperation among western states on water-related issues and analysis of state and federal laws and regulations while maintaining individual state priorities.

“Conserving water resources and providing water users across Kansas with innovative water development and management tools is a top priority. But water issues do not stop at our state’s borders, and participation in groups like the WSWC allows us to better cooperate with our partners in the western United States,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey in a news release. “As federal laws and regulations become more complex, and sometimes overly burdensome, and as demands increase on water supplies, it is important to understand the challenges our neighboring states may face and also find areas of common agreement where we can work together.”

A significant portion of the fall meeting was spent developing a better understanding of the nexus between water quality and water quantity issues. Kansas Water Office Director Tracy Streeter said as Kansas and our partners throughout the western United States advance conservation, management and development priorities for water resources, focus must be put on water quality as well as water quantity. Pointing to specific policy initiatives and water project initiatives, Streeter highlighted how Kansas works to balance the issues.

“Reduction of sediment and nutrient runoff into our reservoirs is the cornerstone of our efforts to protect our water supply storage and reduce the occurrence of harmful blue-green algae outbreaks,” said Streeter. “There are many strategies in the Water Vision to address sediment such as increasing stream bank stabilization, riparian area restoration and encouraging filter strips above the reservoirs to reduce the sediment and nutrient impacts.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the WSWC group traveled to the Milford Reservoir, which provides water resources for flood control, navigation, recreation and fish and wildlife. The reservoir also provides water supply to communities and industry in northeast Kansas. Like other Kansas reservoirs, Milford Reservoir has lost capacity due to sedimentation, which has had a compounding effect of increased outbreaks of harmful algae blooms. The group also toured the Milford Fish Hatchery, one of only a few warm water, intensive-culture fish hatcheries in the country.

During subcommittee meetings, WSWC members heard from federal officials, including Shaun McGrath, Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 administrator. Administrator McGrath will provide an update on EPA issues during the final day of the WSWC meeting, but EPA’s Waters of the United States Rule, including discussions related to the multiple lawsuits filed over the rule as well as implementation guidelines, was a topic during multiple subcommittee meetings. In addition to the EPA, representatives from agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior provided updates on issues ranging from drought response, the Endangered Species Act, water transfers, tribal water rights and more.

For more information about the WSWC, visit http://www.westernstateswater.org/.