Three Buchanan amendments added to House-approved government funding measure

Three amendments offered by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) to curb U.S. military veteran suicides, examine rising manatee deaths, and combat drug overdoses have been included in a comprehensive government funding bill recently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’m pleased to see several of my top priorities pass the House this week with broad, bipartisan support and will work to see them enacted into law,” Rep. Buchanan said on July 29. “All three of these provisions focus on important issues that directly affect the people in our community and our environment.”

One of the congressman’s amendments would increase grants aimed at preventing prescription drug and opioid overdoses by $2 million, according to information provided by Rep. Buchanan’s office.

The second amendment would transfer $2 million to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to examine the record number of manatee deaths in Florida so far this year and report to Congress on ways to help protect the species, the information says.

The third amendment would provide $2 million for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate the link between highly addictive opioids and the high rate of suicides among veterans within the last five years, according to the information.

During the previous session of Congress, six of Rep. Buchanan’s legislative initiatives were enacted into law, his staff said, bringing the total number of legislative initiatives he has passed since taking office in 2007 to 23.