Titus promotes Interstate 11, commercial drone testing to state lawmakers

CARSON CITY — Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., talked about the importance of constructing Interstate 11 and promoting Nevada’s commercial drone testing efforts in remarks Wednesday to the Legislature.

One of the few Nevada Democrats to have a reason to smile after the GOP juggernaut of Nov. 4, 2014, Titus also touched on the issue of adequate medical care for Nevada’s veterans in her remarks to lawmakers.

Titus told lawmakers that the development of the Interstate 11 corridor between Las Vegas and Phoenix is a critical infrastructure project for the state as part of the CanaMexCorridor.

“I am proud to be the co-chair of the Congressional I-11 Caucus, a bipartisan group of members from Nevada and Arizona working to convince our colleagues that this highway is not only critical to the Southwest, but to our national transportation strategy,” she said.

Titus, who served in the state Senate for 20 years from 1988 to 2008, said she is also working to complement Nevada’s efforts to foster the industry now testing Unmanned Aerial Systems, or drones.

“I lobbied FAA Administrator (Michael) Huerta to designate Nevada as one of the six drone test sites, pushed him to formulate the new rules of the sky for commercial use that were announced a few weeks ago, and am encouraging him to hold a public hearing on the proposed rules here in Nevada,” she said.

Titus said she is also working with Nevada officials to ensure the state’s veterans receive the benefits they earned and deserve.

“Unfortunately, the brand new VA hospital in Las Vegas struggles to recruit and retain doctors, so our veterans face unacceptably long wait times as a result,” she said. “To address this, I introduced successful legislation to increase the number of residencies at VA hospitals in underserved communities like Las Vegas. Now, the challenge is finding ways to support the educational programs for these new residents.

“As you continue discussions on the much-needed UNLV Medical School, keep in mind that by funding this effort, you’re supporting our nation’s heroes as well,” she said.

Titus also brought up Nevada’s medical marijuana law in reference to veterans, saying the nation’s outdated policies need to be updated to allow for more scientific testing of the drug for potential use in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and pain management.

Nevada also needs a strong voice in Washington to ensure the state’s interests in its medical marijuana program are protected, she said.