Fourteen students from Cleveland Chiropractic College (CCC) joined hundreds of other chiropractic students and practitioners Feb. 26-March 2 in Washington, D.C., for the 2014 National Chiropractic Legislative Conference (NCLC). Held at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, the annual event offered something special for the group from CCC, as the keynote speaker was Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS). Not only does Moran share his home state of Kansas with the College, he also shares the same passion about chiropractic care for those in the armed forces.
Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III had the honor of introducing Moran, who is co-sponsor of S.422, Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act of 2013. The bill seeks to require chiropractic care and services for veterans be available at 75 Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers by Dec. 2014, and at all VA centers by 2016. A staunch advocate for the profession, Moran has long been committed to enhancing the quality of life for our nation’s veterans through chiropractic. Visit http://tinyurl.com/NCLCSpeech for a video of Sen. Moran’s speech.
Other NCLC speakers included Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and the sponsor of S. 422; Rep. Bill Enyart (D-Ill.) a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a co-sponsor of HR 741, the Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act, and Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo).
Clevelanders in attendance were able to meet with legislators on behalf of the profession to voice their support and concerns. They were able to walk the halls of the Capitol to explore where legislation is generated, and to gain an appreciation for the political process. There was also ample time to see the sites of our nation’s capital, making lasting memories from the beltway.
Michael Brucks, president of CCC’s Student American Chiropractic Association chapter, coordinated the trip. He has attended NCLC multiple times, and says it continues to be an illuminating experience.
“Every year we get an opportunity to talk with lawmakers about issues that are important to us,” Brucks said. “It is the most beneficial event that a student at any chiropractic college can experience. It shows students that there is something other than just class and tests to this profession. I’ve been three times, and it gets better every time.”
Brucks went on to say that the time in Washington, D.C., allowed current students to experience the depth of the profession beyond the textbooks, while contributing to their own personal development.
“It was beneficial being around other students that are as passionate about chiropractic as I am,” Brucks said. “It really gets me motivated to do more for my college and my profession.”
Those attending from CCC were Brucks, Chris Miller, Danielle Hill, Hollee Kirchner, Dennis Landfather, Christin Phillips, Angie Conway, Michelle Dick, Teresa Cordell, Aaron Lawson, Scott Runnels, Tyler Ediger, Jordan Tennant and Brian Asbury.
