A bipartisan group of congressional members has proposed a $30 million funding plan to be provided annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs to create “Centers of Excellence” for psychedelics in VA facilities. Veterans would receive unique treatment that included substances like MDMA, ibogaine, psilocybin and other psychedelics.
The legislation from Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI)—co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus—is titled the “Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act.”
VA must designate at minimum five of its facilities as “centers for excellence” that will be tasked with conducting research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic syndrome (PTSD), and substance abuse.
Correa, in a Friday press release said: “Today is a major step in the fight we wage for Veterans returning home with invisible injuries.” “We have spent many years pressing the VA to investigate breakthrough therapies like psychedelics-assisted therapy because far too many veterans return home differently than they did when they first left.”
He said: “Now that VA has heard our request to provide funding to study these treatment options, it is time to build the dedicated centers that Veterans had been asking for to research the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs.” “Veterans need real solutions. Not more of the old.”
In the bill, lawmakers list several drugs that they want studied: MDMA DMT ibogaine ketamine psilocybin. VA Under Secretary could extend that list. They could also add other medical conditions to be studied.
Bergman said, “It’s time Congress and VA take action to help our Veterans with invisible war injuries.” Establishing VA centers for excellence in research into psychedelic treatments will help build upon the many years that I, Rep. Correa, as well as other Members have spent working to find promising solutions to mental health issues. “I’m proud that I can help to introduce this important piece of legislation.”
The bill has been cosponsored in addition to Correa by Bergman and Dan Crenshaw.
Luttrell said to MEDCAN24 that this legislation would directly benefit our vets by enhancing access to cutting-edge healthcare. We are ensuring that veterans have the best access to cutting edge treatments and therapies by designating centers.
He said that these centres will be the leaders in innovative care, whether it is mental health or physical rehab. They’ll ensure our veterans receive the cutting-edge treatment they require. Our VA system needs to fully support veterans, and this move is an important step.
VA will need to consider a variety of factors when selecting the locations that will host centers of excellence. These include regional distribution, partnerships between accredited medical schools and VA, the ability to hire scientists who are “committed to innovation and creativity” in their medical research, data collection abilities and much more.
The bill would allocate $30 million annually for VA research.
VA will be required to provide a detailed report on findings and recommended actions to congressional committees that are focused on veterans within the first two years following enactment, and then every subsequent year. The report must include, among other things: the activities carried out by the centers; key research findings and recommendations for ways to improve the “delivery of innovative therapies to Veterans.”
Melissa Lavasani said, in a release: “This moment is a turning point for veterans care and psychedelic medicine policy.” The data are clear. These therapies work. Veterans deserve access to safe, evidence-based treatments that address the root causes of their suffering—and this legislation delivers just that.”
Amy Rising is a PMC veteran advisor and advocate. She said that many veterans feel like they are in “a war of attrition.” The invisible burden of these veterans can be unbearable.
Rising stated that “the mental health issues we are facing, such as the tragic reality of accidental and suicide deaths, is an ongoing struggle.” Innovative therapies offer a way to heal, giving hope for the veterans who have passed away.
It’s not clear if the bill will advance or when, but it continues a trend that has emerged in Congress during recent years: bipartisan legislators finding more and more common ground regarding psychedelic research and therapy.
It could be a positive sign for the bill that the Trump Administration’s new VA secretary is actively pushing for the research of psychedelics. Recently, he revealed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) head and he had an “eye-opening conversation” about the subject.
VA Secretary Doug Collins (a former Republican Congressman) said that, while Congress is considering access pathways, he would be open to the idea to have the government issue vouchers for the veterans to receive psychedelic treatment outside of VA.
Rising said that Secretary Collins was mandated to make innovative therapies available to veterans after public pressure and conversations with Secretary Kennedy. “Secretary Collins understands that quick action is needed, and Congress must follow through.”
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Meanwhile, Bergman recently expressed optimism about the prospects of advancing psychedelics reform under Trump, arguing that the administration’s efforts to cut spending and the federal workforce will give agencies “spines” to tackle such complex issues.
Luttrell last month cheered news that the Department of Defense (DOD) has separately allocated nearly $10 million in funding for research into the therapeutic potential of MDMA for active-duty military members.
Below you can read the full text of Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act:
Hawaii House Panel approves bill for psychedelic assisted therapy research
Carlosemmaskype, Apollo and other photographers provided the images.
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