The Power of the Pen: New Bills Signed into Law

 

On Friday, July 22, 2016, the President signed into law:

H.R. 4875, the “United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016,” which establishes the United States Semiquincentennial Commission to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the history of the United States leading up to its 250th anniversary;

H.R. 5588, the “Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016,” which provides for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the beneficiaries of veterans' disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation equal to the Social Security COLA;

S. 524, the “Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016,” which addresses prescription opioid abuse and addiction by, among other provisions:  (1) authorizing grant programs for abuse prevention and education, including prescription monitoring; (2) expanding access to treatment and recovery options, including medication-assisted treatment and overdose reversal drugs; (3) expanding law enforcement grants and prescription drug take-back programs; and (4) providing specific opioid abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery resources to veterans, women, and children; and

S. 2840, the “Protecting Our Lives by Initiating COPS Expansion (POLICE) Act of 2016,” which expands the allowable use of grant funds awarded through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services under the Department of Justice to include participation in active shooter training programs. 

 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary