ARTICLE
January is officially here and, because it’s an odd-numbered year, that means one thing: It’s a legislative year in Texas. As someone who lives and breathes Texas politics, I can’t help but get excited. The next five to six months are when things get really interesting. It’s also TCA’s time to shine and drive the profession forward. Of course, nothing ever comes easy, not if you’re a Texas chiropractor. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted our daily lives and our practices. It also will completely transform the 87th Texas Legislative Session, which kicks off on January 12. We don’t know the rules of the game yet, but it won’t be business as usual. Access to the Capitol will be severely restricted, making face-to-face meetings challenging and forcing TCA’s advocacy team, led by Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Dr. Ryan Bailey, to conduct the majority of our activities virtually. Let me make one thing clear: TCA will not be deterred. Our main objective is to get a nerve bill passed during this session. We already have passed one hurdle, with Sen. Charles Perry filing SB 293 last week. We hope to have a similar bill introduced in the House soon, so stay tuned. While we await a decision from the Supreme Court of Texas in our TBCE & TCA v. TMA (VONT/nerve) lawsuit this year, we realize a legislative solution is required and will continue to push until it happens. While TCA has an incredible advocacy team of leaders and lobbyists, our big successes in the last two legislative sessions in 2017 and 2019 were due in part to our dedicated network of member volunteers, who built powerful connections with their legislators and paved the way for the signing into law of multiple pro-chiropractic bills. Guess what? TCA is counting on you again to step up and continue our momentum. Because of COVID concerns, there will be no in-person TCA Legislative Day in 2021. I will miss seeing hundreds of doctors of chiropractic, chiropractic students/faculty and chiropractic patients storm the Capitol. Aside from Chiro Texpo, it’s perhaps my favorite TCA event, but as the current health crisis has taught all us, we must go with the flow. I am thrilled to announce that TCA Legislative Week 2021 will take place the week of January 25-29. It will consist of dozens of virtual meetings with state legislators and staff. The goal is still the same; we want to educate elected officials about chiropractic and secure support for our nerve bill. Getting a bill passed requires sponsors and co-sponsors and it starts now! More details on TCA Legislative Week are coming soon, but I need you to commit now and participate in this event. You will be notified of the time/date of meetings with your representatives in the Senate and House, in addition to being briefed on our No. 1 bill. While many of us are fatigued of politics, we can’t afford to sit this one out. Now is the time for all Texas chiropractors to pull together. Please encourage your colleagues to sign up for TCA Legislative Week and, if they’re not TCA members, ask them to join now and get involved! It's an honor being your TCA President and I am proud to serve this wonderful profession. Let’s have some fun and get things done! Mo Jahadi, DC TCA President
January is officially here and, because it’s an odd-numbered year, that means one thing: It’s a legislative year in Texas. As someone who lives and breathes Texas politics, I can’t help but get excited. The next five to six months are when things get really interesting. It’s also TCA’s time to shine and drive the profession forward. Of course, nothing ever comes easy, not if you’re a Texas chiropractor. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted our daily lives and our practices. It also will completely transform the 87th Texas Legislative Session, which kicks off on January 12. We don’t know the rules of the game yet, but it won’t be business as usual. Access to the Capitol will be severely restricted, making face-to-face meetings challenging and forcing TCA’s advocacy team, led by Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Dr. Ryan Bailey, to conduct the majority of our activities virtually. Let me make one thing clear: TCA will not be deterred. Our main objective is to get a nerve bill passed during this session. We already have passed one hurdle, with Sen. Charles Perry filing SB 293 last week. We hope to have a similar bill introduced in the House soon, so stay tuned. While we await a decision from the Supreme Court of Texas in our TBCE & TCA v. TMA (VONT/nerve) lawsuit this year, we realize a legislative solution is required and will continue to push until it happens. While TCA has an incredible advocacy team of leaders and lobbyists, our big successes in the last two legislative sessions in 2017 and 2019 were due in part to our dedicated network of member volunteers, who built powerful connections with their legislators and paved the way for the signing into law of multiple pro-chiropractic bills. Guess what? TCA is counting on you again to step up and continue our momentum. Because of COVID concerns, there will be no in-person TCA Legislative Day in 2021. I will miss seeing hundreds of doctors of chiropractic, chiropractic students/faculty and chiropractic patients storm the Capitol. Aside from Chiro Texpo, it’s perhaps my favorite TCA event, but as the current health crisis has taught all us, we must go with the flow. I am thrilled to announce that TCA Legislative Week 2021 will take place the week of January 25-29. It will consist of dozens of virtual meetings with state legislators and staff. The goal is still the same; we want to educate elected officials about chiropractic and secure support for our nerve bill. Getting a bill passed requires sponsors and co-sponsors and it starts now! More details on TCA Legislative Week are coming soon, but I need you to commit now and participate in this event. You will be notified of the time/date of meetings with your representatives in the Senate and House, in addition to being briefed on our No. 1 bill. While many of us are fatigued of politics, we can’t afford to sit this one out. Now is the time for all Texas chiropractors to pull together. Please encourage your colleagues to sign up for TCA Legislative Week and, if they’re not TCA members, ask them to join now and get involved! It's an honor being your TCA President and I am proud to serve this wonderful profession. Let’s have some fun and get things done!
Mo Jahadi, DC
TCA President