Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009

Caregivers Assistance for Disabled Veterans S.1963/S.801; Agent Orange claims at VA S. 1939/HR 2254; Veterans Employment Discrimination HR 466/HR 1089; and Medicare Reimbursement to VA HR 3365.

Client expense: $140,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

supported Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 (SAJA), S. 263, H.R. 1474; expressed concerns about Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009, H.R. 1089 and Wounded Veteran Job Security Act, H.R. 466.

Client expense: $28,278 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, White House Office

supported Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009 (SAJA), S. 263, H.R. 1474; expressed concerns about Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009, H.R. 1089 and Wounded Veteran Job Security Act, H.R. 466.

Client expense: $27,360 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, White House Office

HR 297--Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009--Increases the amount of monthly subsistence allowance payable to veterans participating in the veterans' vocational rehabilitation program (a program of training and rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities). Directs the VA Secretary, in the case of a veteran who has reached a point of employability and is participating only in a program of employment services, to pay such veteran a subsistence allowance for three months while the veteran is satisfactorily pursuing such program. HR 466--Wounded Veteran Job Security Act--Prohibits any employment discrimination or acts of reprisal against any person who has, or who has been treated for, an injury, illness, or disability determined by the VA Secretary to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service. HR 929--Amend title 38, USC, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes.--Directs the VA Secretary to carry out a program of job training in skills relevant to the job market for discharged veterans who are either currently not paid at more the 150% of the federal minimum wage, or: (1) had a military occupational specialty of limited transferability to the civilian job market; (2) are not otherwise eligible for veterans' education or training services; (3) have not acquired a marketable skill since leaving military service; (4) were discharged under conditions not less than honorable; and (5) have been unemployed for at least 90 of the previous 180 days. Designates the program as the MOST (military occupational specialty transition) Program. Directs the Secretary to contract with employers to provide on-the-job training or apprenticeship programs for such veterans. Limits payments under the program to $20,000 per veteran and 24 months in duration. HR 1088--Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009--Reduces from 3 years to 1 year the period during which a disabled veterans' outreach program specialist or a local veterans' employment representative must complete the training program provided by the National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. HR 1089--Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009--Provides for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by federal agencies. Authorizes such an individual to file a complaint with the Special Counsel. (Under current law, such individual may only file a complaint with the VA Secretary). HR 1157--Veterans Reassignment Protection Act--Prohibits a preference eligible federal employee (including a preference eligible serving in or under the U.S. Postal Service) from being involuntarily separated for failing to accept a directed reassignment to a position outside his or her commuting area or to accompany a position outside of such area pursuant to a transfer of function unless such preference eligible: (1) receives written notice of the reassignment at least 30 days before the effective date of the reassignment; and (2) is allowed to elect to have the selection of employees for release conducted in the same manner as would be required in the case of a reduction in force. Entitles a preference eligible involuntarily separated in the circumstances described above to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board any failure to comply with the requirements of this Act. HR 1168--Veterans Retraining Act of 2009--Directs the Secretary of Labor to pay to each covered veteran and assistance allowance for each month such veteran is enrolled in an employment and training program that teaches a skill in demand, as determined the Secretary. Includes as a covered veteran one who is: (1) unemployed for at least four consecutive months before applying for such assistance; (2) able to successfully complete the program, and (3) ineligible for other veterans' education or training assistance. Authorizes payment of a stipend to a covered veteran for moving expenses related to the receipt of such training. HR 1821--Equity for insured Veterans Act of 2009 LETTER--To assist and encourage eligible veterans to remain in vocational rehabilitation programs, search for employment and assist with living expenses. S 263--Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009--Waives a state's sovereign immunity with respect to the enforcement of uniformed services members' employment or reemployment rights or benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) Federal Contractor Compliance--Examine the Federal Contractors hiring practices--Ensure that U.S. (DOL), Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCCP) plays an important role in protecting service disables veterans and Vietnam War Veterans that they are not discriminated upon and are given an equal opportunity employment. Emergency Supplemental Appropriations--Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for FY 2009--Provide our service members and their commanders with the necessary funding to successfully execute their vital military missions.

Improving survivor benefits for widoes of deceased veterans and to restore and improve veterans benefits. S. 423, S. 546, S. 535, S. 801, S. 407, S. 728, S. 597, S. 734, S. 484, S. 728, S. 623, S. 1390, H.R. 1016, H.R. 2243, H.R. 1522, H.R. 1804, H.R. 1633, H.R. 775, H.R. 1982, H.R. 2647, H.R. 1701, H.R. 1821, H.R. 1089, H.R. 1098, H.R. 1211, H.R. 952, H.R. 2647, H.R. 2505, H.R. 809, H.R. 1256, H.R. 1821, H.R. 1474, H. Res. 225

Client expense: $609,696 · Firm income: Not reported

Advanced Funding for VA HR 1016/S. 423; Expand Eligibility of PTSD HR 952; Help Family Care Giver for Injured Vets S. 801; Shield Veterans from Employment Discrimination HR 466/ HR 1089; Veterans Insurance Benefit Enhancement S. 728; Veterans Entitlement to Service HR 1982; Family Care Givers for Disabled Veteran HR 2342;

Client expense: $140,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS -- January 28, 2009 -- before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs--our views and concerns on this years legislative priority goals for veterans. #16. Specific lobbying issues. VAs BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 -- March 10, 2009 before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on behalf of the Independent Budget (IB): AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, to produce a set of policy and budget recommendations that reflect what we believe would meet the needs of Americas veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the Independent Budget. Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: H.R. 32--McIntyrea bill that is directed towards improving access to outreach services and assistance programs of which veterans and their families deserve. H.R.147--a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.228 --Jackson-Leea bill which would direct the Secretary of Veteran Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program aimed at remedying the difficulty in recruiting new graduates of university programs specializing in blind rehabilitation. H.R.297--a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of subsistence allowance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation programs, and other purposes. H.R. 347--Schiffa bill which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for their dedicated service to our nation during World War II. H.R. 394--Browna bill which would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension by up to $1,000. H.R.466--a bill to extend protection from discrimination and acts of reprisal against veterans to include not only those who suffer illnesses, injuries and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the armed forces, but also to those receiving treatment for such service-connected health conditions. H.R. 666--SalazarThe Military Valor Roll of Honor Act. Legislation which will establish and maintain a database containing the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marines, and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or any other medal authorized by Congress. H.R. 667--Salazar--legislation which would dramatically improve the delivery of health care for those veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. H.R. 668--(and S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. H.R. 746--Adler--the Safeguarding Americas Seniors and Veterans Act. Legislation which will guarantee veterans and seniors who are not currently working an important and beneficial tax credit of $500 which will help to reduce the strain of financial hardship faced by many veterans in the current economic climate who would not otherwise qualify for the proposed Making Work Pay tax credit. H.R. 784--a bill to require the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to report quarterly to Congress on vacancies in the mental health profession: such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional mental health counselors in the VA. H.R. 785--a bill to establish a pilot program from FY 2010 to 2013 to educate and engage in outreach to college and university mental health centers relating to the mental health of recently separated service members. H.R. 819--Holdena reintroduction of legislation which provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits to surviving spouses of former prisoners of war (POW), which also seeks to extend the receipt of DIC benefits to surviving spouses of former POWs who died on or before September 30, 1999 and will ease the financial strain left on survivors of POWs who do not currently qualify for DIC benefits. H.R.929--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes. H.R.942--legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises H.R.950--legislation to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning. #16. Specific lobbying issues (contd.) H.R. 952--Hall--the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater (COMBAT) Act, to grant a presumptive service connection to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have actively served in a designated theater of combat. This will relieve the burden faced by many veterans who are forced to prove the events they faced while serving our Nation are the direct cause of their PTSD. H.R. 953--Heller--the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009 which would provide for a deduction for travel expenses to VA medical centers in connection with examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities. H.R.1088--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. H.R.1089--legislation to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. HR 1169--Boozman--legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by VA to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing, automobiles and equipment. H.R.1171--legislation which will amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize a Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant ProgramThis important bill and your amendment will improve VA assistance to the homeless so that it better suits the unique needs of women veterans and veterans with children. H.R. 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation that would improve benefits and services to female veterans, especially those who have served or are serving in OEF/OIF operations and Section 101, which would require VA to study barriers in providing comprehensive health care for women including: scope of services provided to women, effective outreach, mental health care and gender sensitivity of its health care providers. H.R. 1227--Halvorson--legislation which would waive the time limitations specified by law for the award of certain military decorations in order to allow the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller for actions while a member of the Navy during World War II. H.R. 1474--Davis--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, a bill which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers and veterans employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). H.R. 1803--Nye-- the Veterans Business Center Act of 2009legislation which would greatly expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners. A Draft bill to close existing loopholes in law, allowing VA to cover unmet emergency room treatment for veterans in certain cases which would allow VA to pay for of emergency care for veterans enrolled in VHA under certain cases. It closes a loophole that sticks many veterans unfairly with a large hospital bill. Section 1725 of Title 38 authorizes VA to reimburse veterans for medical expenses related to emergency care at non-VA facilities if the veteran is enrolled and using the VA health care system. This bill allows VA to be a secondary payer in those situations, so the vet will not have to pay out of pocket. Additionally, it removes care accidents where insurance pays out for medical coverage from the list of things that would bar VA from paying for emergency care. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. 263-- Casey--the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009, legislation which would strengthen the protections in current law to ensure that servicemembers' and veterans' employment and reemployment rights are effectively enforced under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). S. 274 --Baucus--legislation that would provide an employer incentive to hire unemployed veterans. S. 307--Senators Crapo and Wyden (and H.R. 668)--the Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, a beneficial bill that would exempt the number of beds veterans use at critical access hospitals (CAH) from counting toward the inpatient bed limitation. S. 404--Akaka--the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act--important legislation which would close a loophole in the law that can cost veterans thousands of dollars out of veterans' own pocket when they seek emergency care at non-VA facilities. S. 572--Webb--the Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which would designate the Purple Heart stamp as a commemorative "forever" stamp and ensure that the first-class postage stamp never expires or decreases in value. #16. Specific lobbying issues. S. 597-- Murray-- the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--legislation which would provide enhanced health care benefits to female veterans, especially those who are veterans of the current conflict era. S. 614-- Hutchisonlegislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots for the honorable service they rendered their country during World War II.

PL 111-8--Making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009--Makes appropriations for the remainder of FY 2009 for the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service, which includes programs for veterans job training. HR 297--Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009--Increases the amount of monthly subsistence allowance payable to veterans participating in the veterans' vocational rehabilitation program (a program of training and rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities). Directs the VA Secretary, in the case of a veteran who has reached a point of employability and is participating only in a program of employment services, to pay such veteran a subsistence allowance for three months while the veteran is satisfactorily pursuing such program. HR 466--Wounded Veteran Job Security Act--Prohibits any employment discrimination or acts of reprisal against any person who has, or who has been treated for, an injury, illness, or disability determined by the VA Secretary to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service. HR 929--Amend title 38, USC, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes--Directs the VA Secretary to carry out a program of job training in skills relevant to the job market for discharged veterans who are either currently not paid at more the 150% of the federal minimum wage, or: (1) had a military occupational specialty of limited transferability to the civilian job market; (2) are not otherwise eligible for veterans' education or training services; (3) have not acquired a marketable skill since leaving military service; (4) were discharged under conditions not less than honorable; and (5) have been unemployed for at least 90 of the previous 180 days. Designates the program as the MOST (military occupational specialty transition) Program. Directs the Secretary to contract with employers to provide on-the-job training or apprenticeship programs for such veterans. Limits payments under the program to $20,000 per veteran and 24 months in duration. HR 1088--Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009--Reduces from 3 years to 1 year the period during which a disabled veterans' outreach program specialist or a local veterans' employment representative must complete the training program provided by the National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. HR 1089--Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009--Provides for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by federal agencies. Authorizes such an individual to file a complaint with the Special Counsel. (Under current law, such individual may only file a complaint with the VA Secretary). HR 1098--Veterans' Worker Retraining Act LETTER--Ensuring the reinstatement of the on-the-job training benefit and the amount rate established by P.L. 108-454, making it permanent. HR 1157--Veterans Reassignment Protection Act--Prohibits a preference eligible federal employee (including a preference eligible serving in or under the U.S. Postal Service) from being involuntarily separated for failing to accept a directed reassignment to a position outside his or her commuting area or to accompany a position outside of such area pursuant to a transfer of function unless such preference eligible: (1) receives written notice of the reassignment at least 30 days before the effective date of the reassignment; and (2) is allowed to elect to have the selection of employees for release conducted in the same manner as would be required in the case of a reduction in force. Entities a preference eligible involuntarily separated in the circumstances described above to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board any failure to comply with the requirements of this Act.