AFGE NATIONAL VA COUNCIL

Budget/Appropriations

FY 2022 Military Quality of Life Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 4355)-Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements.

TargetedSENATE · HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Veterans

Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension (C&P) Exams and bringing those exams back into the VA. Lobbied to keep all specialty C&P Exams including but not limited to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), veterans who served as Prisoners of War (POWs), veterans who suffered catastrophic injuries, and veterans who are currently eligible (or will likely soon be eligible) to pursue toxic exposure claims. Lobbied for the VA to utilize more internal C&P Providers by hiring more staff and returning staff to C&P positions who had previously been reassigned. Lobbied to keep Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Exams within the VA. Lobbied for the continued oversight of contract C&P Exams. Lobbied to make sure the VA is in compliance with Section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. Lobbied for the introduction of H.R. 6682, the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of the implementation of the withdrawal of President Trump's May 2018 Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. Lobbied in support of the implementation of President Biden's January 2021 Executive Order 14003: "Protecting the Federal Workforce in a timely fashion." Lobbied for oversight into the Biden Administration's implementation of Executive Order 14003. VA Infrastructure: VA HR Modernization: Lobbied to address problems created by VA reorganization of its human resources processes including centralization and implementation of new information technology systems, and practices and policies related to filling and posting unfilled positions. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied for the need for increased compensation for mid-grade Title 38 employees in positions covered by the "VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act." Lobbied on VA Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act to block the confirmation of the AIR Commission members and prevent implementation of recommendations to close facilities and reduce patient capacity. Lobbied for the VA to hire staff to fill its tens of thousands of vacancies. Lobbied for the inclusion of Questions for the Record to the VA Secretary on AIR Commission market assessment data transparency. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing titled "Building A Better VA: Addressing Healthcare Workforce Recruitment And Retention Challenges," Testimony of Ms. MJ Burke, AFGE NVAC 1st Executive Vice President (March 17, 2022). Letter to every representative in support of final passage of H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021," (PACT Act)" (March 2, 2022). Letter to the House Rules Committee for a hearing on H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021," (PACT Act)" (February 28, 2022). Letter to House Veterans' Affairs Committee for a Markup (February 2, 2022). Letter to every representative in support of final passage of H.R. 4673, the "Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act" or "EVEST Act." (January 12, 2022). Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 1948/S. 771 the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 962/S. 1888 the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act" and the importance of this bill to the VA Police Force. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3693, the "VA CPE Modernization Act," and its importance to VA Clinicians. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6682, the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4673, the "Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act" or "EVEST Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6411, the "Support The Resiliency of Our Nation's Great Veterans Act of 2022" or the "STRONG Veterans Act of 2022" Lobbied in support of H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021," Provided Comments on the A.N.S. to H.R. 5575, the "VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act." Lobbied in support of S. 3017, the "Veterans Dental Enhancement and Expansion Act." Lobbied for changes to H.R. 5575, the "VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act."