Posted on 11/14/2017 6:30:33 PM PST by mdittmar
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Patty Murray (D-WA), announced legislation to prohibit smoking at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation would repeal an antiquated 1992 law that requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to furnish and maintain designated indoor or outdoor smoking areas. Supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the bill would bring the VA in line with smoke-free policies across the federal government and in the private health care system.
“Simply put, this bill will help save lives. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, only 20% of veterans enrolled in the VA health care system are smokers,” said Durbin. “We must do everything we can to protect the brave men and women — who risked life and limb to protect us — from the deadly epidemic of tobacco use, secondhand smoke, and its effects. The health and well-being of our nation’s veterans should be treated with the utmost care and attention across the VA. For their lifetime of service and sacrifice, we owe them nothing less.”
(Excerpt) Read more at durbin.senate.gov ...
Here's an old song I like.
I’m surprised to learn smoking was still allowed at the VA.
Outside is the only place smoking is allowed at the VA Houston.
Just what our vets need, the nanny state telling them they can’t smoke.
Duh. Places that promote health, should obviously be smoke free.
Wonder if you can still score the little packs of smokes from c-rats ? The only way most got their smokes in the bush in the 60’s. Govt sponsored smoking then, criminalized now if you smoke less than 50ft from the doorway the security guards will be on you like you’re a felon.
Spend some time in the MC infantry, and them maybe I’ll respect your opinion, dick.
I was in for the end of c-rats. Long gone. It's all MREs that clog your digestive tract now.
How will it save lives?
By making Vets wait until they drive away from the VA hospital before they can light up?
Will Durbin be introducing a bill to prohibit homosexual sex for anyone treated at a VA hospital because it leads to AIDS and stopping the spread of AIDS will help save lives?
Fight for your country, get wounded for your country only to have libtards passing laws micromanaging your life and telling you when and where you can't light up a smoke.
Considering that you can be waiting there for hours on end I understand their being required to have a smoking area.
Considering how wearing dealing with the VA is I say they should keep them.
Ban Durbin from the VA is a better move. On second thought, just ban Durbin...put him under a turbin or something.
There will be a lot of vets who won’t get their treatment, appointments, due to the bill. Vets are suffering with ptsd among other illnesses and they smoke as a nervous outlet. I have never smoked but I would never take it away from people who served our country.
How about a bill prohibiting the military from wasting money on sex change operations and therapy?
Duh,I don’t need dick durbin telling me anything.
No, not for these Americans.
They can have a cig while looking at what’s left of their legs, arms, etc.
Saw a urologist at the VA yesterday. A few days before my cardiologist had taken me off blood pressure meds for some unknown reason. My BP was checked at the urologist office and it was 198/91. Close to stroke highs. They told me to get to the ER. After 3 hours in the ER I told them I was going home.
Went home and took my old meds and everything is fine. Saw my PCP today and she basically told me to ignore the cardiologist.
While in the ER I did get to drive a lunatic liberal nuts.
Ridiculous.
When my dad was dying (we didn’t know it at the time) he began hallucinating and my mom called me to take him to the VA hospital. I got him there and they put him on oxygen for about 2 hours until the doctor came in. He looked down at my dad and asked if he smoked. My dad said yes and the doctor asked him how many packs a day. My said 4-5 packs a day. the doctor asked him if he ever thought of quitting. My dad said “did you ever think about not supplying me with free cigarettes for 30 years of my life!”
The doctor never said another word.
Veterans just fought for freedom. God help you if you ever try and practice any by consuming a legal substance for sale in every gas station, convenience store and drug store in the land.
4 to 5 packs a day???? Yikes! I don’t know how he could even breathe!
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