Zachary Federico Testimony in New Hampshire: Medical Innovations for Veterans
ALEC Veterans and Military Affairs Task Force Director Zachary Federico submitted written testimony to the New Hampshire House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee on treating PTSD among veterans.
Read his testimony below:
Chairman MacDonald, Vice Chairman Mazur, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Zach Federico, and I serve as the Director of the Veterans and Military Affairs Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council. Thank you for the opportunity to share ALEC’s nonpartisan research and analysis as you consider this legislation to support clinical trials on the use of ibogaine.
ALEC is America’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets, and federalism. The ALEC Veterans and Military Affairs Task Force include more than 100 state legislators who collaborate to develop and advance policies that support our nation’s veterans, servicemembers, and military families.
In December, the ALEC Veterans and Military Affairs Task Force unanimously adopted a model policy to participate in a multistate consortium to conduct clinical trials using ibogaine as an investigational new drug. This policy was inspired by Texas allocating $50 million towards ibogaine research in 2025 and starting the multistate effort. Arizona soon followed by allocating $10 million.
In 2026, this issue has gained significant momentum in statehouses across the country. Eleven states are currently considering similar legislation, and West Virginia and Mississippi have already passed it through one chamber with overwhelming support.
These efforts represent a broad national movement to support emerging treatments for veterans who are struggling. Unfortunately, traditional PTSD treatments are limited at best. Trauma-focused therapy, the VA’s recommended first-line treatment, has an estimated dropout rate of 27.1%. For those who complete the treatment, around 50% still meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
Second-line treatments involving FDA-recommended medications only achieve remission in about 20-30% of patients and often cause adverse side effects. This reality has led many veterans to seek alternative treatments, including ibogaine-assisted therapy, in countries where it is not regulated.
In many cases, the results have been life changing. There is no shortage of anecdotal stories from veterans who have experienced complete remission from PTSD and other neurological conditions after a single session with ibogaine.
In 2024, Stanford Medicine published a study that found an 88% reduction in PTSD symptoms for combat veterans after a single session. While encouraging, these results demand deeper, more rigorous investigation.
These developments have spurred state legislators across the country into action. Since clinical trials on Schedule I substances are expensive and naturally occurring substances like ibogaine have little to no profit motive for pharmaceutical companies, state governments are working together to fund these clinical trials.
By joining this national effort, New Hampshire can help deliver real hope to veterans by advancing responsible, evidence-based research.