The following is a statement issued Tuesday following the third and final meeting of the Senate Veterans Committee’s interim study of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The meeting focused on the results of the audit of the Department of Veterans Affairs that was requested by the Governor earlier this year, specifically the structure, duties, training and responsibilities of the War Veterans Commission.

State Sen. Frank Simpson will be filing legislation this coming session to prevent youth access to e-cigarettes. Rep. Pat Ownbey will be the House author for the bill, which will expand the definition of tobacco products in the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act to include all nicotine delivery products other than FDA-approved cessation aids.
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Under current Oklahoma law in order for a veteran to be eligible for state veterans’ benefits, including admission to an Oklahoma Veterans Center, they must meet the definition of a war veteran. Oklahoma statutes define these as veterans who served in a branch of the U.S. military during a period of war including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf Wars.

Two Senate bills to help better address the needs of Oklahoma’s veterans will soon be considered in the House. Sen. Frank Simpson is the principal Senate author of Senate Bills 1610 and 1970, which both received unanimous approval in the Senate last week.
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Oklahoma’s one-hundred percent disabled veterans who have been injured in the line of duty and their families along with the families of those veterans killed-in-action since September 11, 2001, may have the opportunity to further their education under legislation unanimously approved by the Senate Tuesday. Senate Bill 1223, by Sen. Frank Simpson, also known as the 9/11 G.I. Bill, would provide these veterans, their spouses, widows and children with free tuition to any Oklahoma technology center, college or university.
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The Senate approved legislation Monday adding four additional drugs to the state’s Trafficking in Illegal Drugs Act. House Bill 2589, by Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Pat Ownbey, adds Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Benzodiazepine to the list of controlled substances in the Act.
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The House gave final approval to legislation Wednesday putting into statute an agreement made in 2013 between the Governor and the War Veterans Commission addressing smoking in Oklahoma’s veterans centers. Senate Bill 1777, by Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Pat Ownbey, will permit smoking by the residents of the centers until January 2018.
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More than 20 veterans commit suicide every day in the United States and an estimated 60,000 are homeless. Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Tommy Hardin will be holding a joint interim study beginning next week to develop a better understanding of the two issues and figure out a solution to better assist Oklahoma veterans.

Simpson, a retired Navy veteran, said the statistics are disturbing and Oklahoma’s veterans deserve better.
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Inspired by the success and community support of the Coffee Bunker in Tulsa, Sen. Frank Simpson filed legislation this session to establish more veteran outreach centers around the state to help veterans who are struggling after returning from combat. On Thursday, the Senate Veterans Committee approved Senate Bill 713, which would require the development of seven peer-supported, drop-in centers for veterans.
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On Tuesday, the Senate passed two bills to provide more services for Oklahoma veterans and their families. Senate Bills 398 and 713 seek to help veterans both living and deceased. Sen. Frank Simpson, a retired Navy veteran and chairman of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, is the author of the measures.
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