Greetings from the fourth floor of your Missouri Capitol and another busy week of legislation. Reminders to all of you to get your flu shot if you have not, wash your hands regularly to avoid the many illnesses going around our community, and drink plenty of fluids.
In my previous columns I have mentioned the MU Veterans Law Clinic on the MU campus, and last week, a couple of my colleagues on the Veterans Committee and I visited the clinic for a presentation. We heard from the director, the dean of the law school, and two veterans who have benefited from the services offered by the clinic. Many of the veterans working their way through the VA benefits programs encounter difficulties and the clinic is a means of helping them maneuver through those obstacles. In many cases, they can help get their less-than-honorable discharge changed to honorable allowing them to remove that stigma from their record. While others get their disability status raised to the level it should be. Additionally, the law clinic works with the Veterans Commission's officers to get the best outcome for the veteran where everyone benefits from this program. A controversial issue came up with a bill for future funding that was filed by Rep. Chuck Bayse where a portion of the medical marijuana money would be used to fund the law clinic. Many feel this would take money away from the Veterans Commission. Their revenue is declining each year, and this would add additional strains on funding the veterans homes and veterans cemeteries. Discussion is still on going with the concerned groups with the outcome to provide what is best for the veteran community.
Throughout each week, various groups will stop by my office to discuss issues and bills that are of concern to them. Last week, a group from "Moms Demand Action" gathered at the Capitol to talk with their state representatives. They are concerned about spousal abuse and the presence of guns in the home. They would like to see the spouse have the right to get a court order removing the gun from the home until the case is adjudicated in court. I asked if they had talked with any judges or prosecutors concerning this issue and they had not. I recommended they have that conversation and have the judiciary weigh in with their thoughts. It certainly is an issue where there needs to be more discussion, but following due process is important to me as well as looking into the mental health side of the issue.
Then last Friday, I visited Algoa Correctional Center's Veterans Project. This is the fourth Veterans Project I have visited, and as I have said before, each one is different but very effective. I presented a resolution to Warden Kelly Morriss, his staff and the inmate veterans. I thanked them for the work they are doing with the inmates and encouraged the inmates to continue their good work. Last Christmas, they made stocking caps and donated them to the Samaritan Center and Salvation Army and then in the spring and summer they have a garden they take care of and donate that produce to the Samaritan Center as well. This is their way of giving back to our community and making a difference in others' lives. These men take various courses like anger management and conflict resolution as part of their rehabilitation program, and they said they just started an Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous group in their unit. These veterans projects are voluntary and the men who make up the "squad" are holding each other accountable on their road to becoming productive citizens in our community. Once again, thank you Department of Corrections for this wonderful program.
This week, my Veterans Committee passed out a very important bill, Buddy Check 22. This bill encourages all veterans and friends of veterans to call and check up on the "Buddy" on the 22nd of each month. No. 22 stands for the number of veterans who commit suicide every day, and this bill will hopefully help prevent some of these suicides by having an open dialogue and conversation with a veteran. So mark your calendar for the 22nd of each month, and call your buddy. In the same committee meeting, we heard from Dr. Daniel Slawski, who, along with his wife, Jo, own and manage Guardian Hills Veterans Healing Center. The Slawskis own a little more than 700 acres just outside of Kirksville, and they are converting this into a retreat center to help veterans with PTSD and moral injury. Their mission statement says it best, "Our mission is to provide the resources to facilitate the development of positive responses to the physical, emotional and relational injuries which impact those who have served as the guardians of our nation." Since 9/11, more than 2.5 million U.S. service members have been deployed overseas to combat terrorism in multiple theaters of operation. As a result, there has been an alarming increase among returning veterans in the incidence of post traumatic stress disorder, difficulties in assimilating back into civilian relationships and, most tragically, suicides. Veterans Administration sponsored studies have noted a 13.5 percent overall incidence of PTSD in Global War on Terror veterans, whether they have been deployed or not. This figure increases to 16-40 percent for those actually in combat zones. Annually, 140,000 new veterans apply for VA medical benefits with 41 percent of these meeting screening criteria for mental health services, with PTSD being among the most common diagnoses. Not surprisingly, there is now a significant shortfall in veteran mental health access that is projected to worsen in the immediate future.
In response to this need, they are developing a new short-duration, high impact residential treatment facility, Guardian Hills Veterans Healing Center, to serve the needs of Midwestern veterans and their immediate families who are dealing with the effects of service related PTSD and moral injury. There will be no charge to the participants. What a wonderful program that will be helping veterans deal with the after effects of war.
Finally, on Tuesday, I filed to run for my second term as your state representative. It is truly an honor to serve the fine people of the 60th District, and I sincerely appreciate all those who have stopped by my office, emailed or called me to discuss concerns you have with our district and state. I do not take lightly the trust you have given me nor do I take for granted the role I play in the legislative process. I study very carefully every decision I make on the floor and try my best to reflect the feelings of my district. While I may not always vote the way you might like, I can always explain the reasoning behind my vote. I want to once again thank you for electing me to this office and my promise to you is to always do my best, be honest with you and maintain the decorum deserving of this office.
Thank you once again, and as always, shop local and buy Missouri.
State Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 60th House District, and shares his perspective on statehouse issues twice a month.