VIDEO: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Holds Press Conference on Bipartisan VA Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today held a press conference on the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act, bipartisan VA reform legislation aimed at providing safer and more effective pain management services to our nation’s veterans. Senator Baldwin was joined by the Simcakoski family, veterans service organizations and health care organizations. The press conference was held prior to Senator Baldwin’s appearance at the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act was considered.

WATCH a video of the press conference here.

“Families like the Simcakoski family, who we are grateful to have with us here today, have a story to tell that needs to be heard. A tragic story of loss. The loss of son, a husband, a father.  It is also a story of a sacred trust we should have with our veterans and their families. It is a story of how that trust has been broken,” said Senator Baldwin at the press conference. “Today, I am proud to stand with them—inspired by them—to fix what has been broken. That is why, with the support of the Simcakoski family and the veterans and health care organizations here today , I am honored to introduce the bipartisan Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act.”

Senator Baldwin, Marv Simcakoski and Heather Simcakoski were joined in speaking at the press conference by Carlos Fuentes of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); Ian de Planque of The American Legion; Dr. Gerald Marti of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM); Adrian Atizado of Disabled American Veterans (DAV); and John Rowan of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).

The bipartisan legislation has quickly gained support from over a dozen organizations and members of the Senate. Learn more about what people are saying about the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act here.

DOWNLOAD the press conference video file here. 

PHOTOS of the press conference are available here.