To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment.

H.R. 1169: Amend title 38, USC, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment. -- To amend title 38, U.S.C., to increase the amount of assistance provided by the VA Secretary to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment. H.R. 1293: Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 -- Increases from (1) $4,100 to $6,800 the amount authorized to be paid by the VA for improvements and structural alterations for homes of veterans with service-connected disabilities of 50% or more; and (2) $1,200 to $2,000 the amount authorized for such purpose for veterans with service-connected disabilities of less than 50%, and certain other veterans. H.R. 2180: Amend title 38, USC, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service. -- Prohibits the VA Secretary from collecting a housing loan fee from any veteran who, but for the receipt of active service pay, would be entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability. H.R. 2559: Help Our Homeless Veterans Act -- To direct the VA Secretary to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless H.R. 2735: Amend title 38, USC, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans -- To amend title 38, USC, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans H.R. 3073: Amend title 38, USC, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. -- To amend title 38, USC, to direct the VA Secretary establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. H.R. 3949: Veterans Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 -- Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to add a new title authorizing the Attorney General to bring a civil action in U.S. district court to enforce provisions of the Act. Includes under such civil relief restraining orders and injunctions, damages, and penalties. Authorizes a private cause of action for such enforcement by a service member, dependent, or other protected person under the Act. H.R. 3976: Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2009 -- Amends the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to extend through December 31, 2015, specified protections for servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures. H.R. 4359: Warriors Adapting Residences with Mortgages for Energy Renovations Act (WARMER Act) -- Revises current provisions permitting the VA Secretary to guarantee loans for energy efficiency improvements to certain dwellings to also authorize the guarantee of loans to veterans for the construction of a new dwelling and the cost of making energy efficient improvements to the dwelling. Allows the Secretary to determine appropriate energy efficiency standards for purposes of such guaranteed loans, and to require that dwellings purchased, constructed, or improved meet such standards. Revises current provisions setting the maximum amount allowable for such a loan guaranty to set the maximum amount for such guaranty at 5% of the total value of the property, unless the Secretary specifically approves a higher amount. S. 1547: Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009 -- A bill to amend title 38, USC, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to enhance and expand the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness, and for other purposes.

Client expense: $6,800 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service

H.R. 84, the "Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act" H.R. 294, a bill to guarantee loans to veteran owned small businesses H.R. 761, a bill to clarify eligibility for burial in a national cemetery H.R. 949, to improve collective bargaining rights and procedures H.R. 1017, the "Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act" H.R. 1036, the "Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1075, the "RECOVER Act (Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery)" H.R. 1335/S. 821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastropically disabled veterans H.R. 1169, a bill to increase the specially adapted housing and automobile assistance grants H.R. 1293, the "Disabled Veterans Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 2461, the "Veterans Small Business Verification Act" H.R. 2504, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out homeless veterans programs from $150 million to $200 million H.R. 2559, the "Help Our Homeless Veterans Act" H.R. 2614, the "Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 2696, the "Servicemembers' Right Protection Act" H.R. 2698, the "Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act" H.R. 2699, the "Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act" H.R. 2713, the "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2735, a bill to make improvements to the comprehensive programs for homeless veterans H.R. 2770, a bill to modernize and clarify the laws governing VA Nonprofit Research Corporations H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2874, the "Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009" H.R. 2879/S. 658, the Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 3073, a bill to establish a grant program to assist veterans at risk of becoming homeless H.R. 3219, the "Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 3407, the "Severly Injured Veterans Benefits Improvement Act" H.R. 3441, a bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA health care system H.R. 3485, the "Veterans Pension Protection Act" H.R. 3544, the "National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009" H.R. 3926, the "Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act" H.R. 4006, the "Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 4241, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes Discussion draft legislation concerning various homeless veterans issues Discussion draft legislation to reform and expand the VA Supportive Housing Program carried out by HUD Discussion of the impact on veteran owned businesses by the Center for Veterans Enterprise Discussion draft legislation to improve VA continuing professional education Discussion draft legislation to waive certain requirements relating to VA mental health counselors Discussion draft legislation to make improvement to VA performance pay and collective bargaining rights S. 977, the "Prisoner of War Benefit Act of 2009" S. 1118, a bill to increase the rates of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation S. 1394, the "Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009" S. 1444, the "Combat PTSD Act" S. 1467, the Lance Corporal Josel Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers' Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009" S. 1518, the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009" S. 1752, a bill to provide compensation for veterans with Parkinson's disease S. 1753, a bill to increase the amount of Temporary Residence Assistance available S. 1963, the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009"

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- 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; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- 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; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and 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. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

HR 294: Veteran-Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 -- Would amend title 38, USC, to provide for the reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan program HR 1169: Will amend title 38, USC to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment HR 1293: Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 -- Increases from: (1) $4,100 to $6,800 the amount authorized to be paid by the VA for improvements and structural alterations for homes of veterans with service-connected disabilities of 50% or more; and (2) $1,200 to $2,000 the amount authorized for such purpose for veterans with service-connected disabilities of less than 50%, and certain other veterans HR 218: Amend title 38, USC, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service -- Prohibits the VA Secretary from collecting a housing loan fee from any veteran who, but for the receipt of active service pay, would be entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability HR 2559: Help Our Homeless Veterans Act -- Directs the VA Secretary to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless HR 2696: Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act -- Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to add a new title authorizing the Attorney General to bring a civil action in US District Court to enforce provisions of the Act. Includes such civil relief restraining orders and injunctions, damages and penalties. Authorizes a private cause of action for such enforcement by a servicemember, dependent or other protected person under the Act. HR 2735: Would amend title 38, USC, to make certain improvements to the comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans HR 3073: Will amend title 38, USC, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to provide assistance to veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless HR 3949: Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 -- Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to add a new title authorizing the Attorney General to bring a civil action in US district court to enforce provisions of the Act Includes under such civil relief restraining orders and injunctions, damages, and penalties. Authorizes a private cause of action for such enforcement by a service member, dependent, or other protected person under the Act S 842: Legislation to repeal the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, amending title 38, USC, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid balances on housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes -- Would amend the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to repeal the December 31, 2010 termination date on certain mortgage interest rates and foreclosure protections provided to servicemembeers. Authorizes the VA Secretary, regarding a veteran's housing loan guaranteed through the VA that is modified under federal bankruptcy laws, to pay the holder of the mortgage obligation its unpaid balance, but only upon the assignment and transfer to the Secretary all rights and interests with respect to the loan. S 1547: Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009 -- Would amend title 38, USC, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to enhance and expand the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness, and for other purposes

Improving survivor benefits for widows of deceased veterans and to restore and improve veterans benefits. HR 2017, HR 3554, S 832, HR 3548, S 1668, HR 1016, S 1963, HR 2561, HR 2419, HR 3082, S 1407, S 1780, HR, HR 2928, HR 952, HR 3337, HR 3787, S 423, HR 3467, HR 3577, HR 1169, HR 3657, HR 466, HR 3661, HR 2243, HR 775, HR 3548, HR 3082, HR 2243, S 1118, HR 3485, S 252, HR 1034, HR 3544, S 801, HR 3155, HR 303, HR 809, HR 1592, HR 333

Client expense: $146,857 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 294, a bill to guarantee loans to veterans owned small businesses H.R. 761, a bill to clarify eligibility for burial in a national cemetery H.R. 1016/S. 423, the "Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act: (Advance appropriations for VA Health Care) H.R. 1017, the "Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act." H.R. 1036, the "Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1335/S. 821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans H.R. 1169, a bill to increase the specially adapted housing and automobile assistance grants H.R. 2504, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out homeless veterans programs from $150 million to $200 million. H.R. 2559, the "Help Our Homeless Veterans Act" H.R. 2735, a bill to make improvements to the comprehensive programs for homeless veterans H.R. 2879/S. 658, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 2461, the "Veterans Small Business Verification Act" H.R. 2614, the "Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 2696, the "Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act" H.R. 2713, the "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2874, the "Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009" H.R. 3073, a bill to establish a grant program to assist veterans at risk of becoming homeless H.R. 3219, the "Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 3407, the Severely Injured Veterans Benefits Improvement Act" H.R. 3485, the "Veterans Pension Protection Act" H.R. 3441, a bill to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA health care system H.R. 3544, the National Cemeteriest Expansion Act of 2009" Discussion Draft legislation concerning various homeless veterans issues Discussion Draft legislation to reform and expand the VA Supportive Housing Program carried out by HUD S. 977, the "Prisoner of War Benefit Act of 2009" S. 1118, a bill to increase rates of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation S. 1394, the "Veterans Entitlement to Service Act of 2009" S. 1444, the "Combat PTSD Act" S. 1467, the :Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers' Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009" S. 1518, the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009" S. 1752, a bill to provide compensation for veterans with Parkinson's disease S. 1753, a bill to increase the amount of Temporary Residence Assistance available S. 1963, the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009"

HR 294--Veteran-Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009--Amend title 38, USC, to provide for the reauthorization of the Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan program. HR 1169--Amend title 38, USC, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment--Amend title 38, USC, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment. HR 1293--Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009--Increases from: (1) $4,100 to $6,800 the amount authorized to be paid by the VA for improvements and structural alterations for homes of veterans with service-connected disabilities of 50% or more; and (2) $1,200 to $2,000 the amount authorized for such purpose for veterans with service-connected disabilities of less than 50%, and certain other veterans. HR 2180--Amend title 38, USC, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service--Prohibits the VA Secretary from collecting a housing loan fee from any veteran who, but for the receipt of active service pay, would be entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability. HR 2696--Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act--Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief ct to add a new title authorizing the Attorney General to bring a civil action in U.S. district court to enforce provisions of the Act. Includes under such civil relief restraining orders and injunctions, damages, and penalties. Authorizes a private cause of action for such enforcement by a servicemember, dependent, or other protected person under the Act. S 842--A bill to repeal the sunset of certain enhancements of protections of servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, to amend title 38, USC, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay mortgage holders unpaid balances on housing loans guaranteed by Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes--Amends the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to repeal the December 31, 2010, termination date on certain mortgage interest rate and foreclosure protections provided to servicemembers. Authorizes the VA Secretary, with respect to a veterans' housing loan guaranteed through the VA that is modified under federal bankruptcy laws, to pay the holder of the mortgage obligation its unpaid balance, but only upon the assignment and transfer to the Secretary of all rights and interests with respect to the loan.

H.R. 294, a bill to guarantee loans to veteran owned small businesses H.R. 761, a bill to clarify eligibilty for burial in a national cemetery H.R. 1016/S. 423, the "Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act" (Advance appropriations for VA Health Care) H.R. 1335/S. 821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans H.R. 2879/S. 658, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1017, the "Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act" H.R. 1036, the "Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 1169, a bill to increase the specially adapted housing and automobile assistance grants H.R. 1182, the "Military Spouses Residency Relief Act" H.R. 2243, the Surviving Spouses" Benefit Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 2416 H.R. 2461, the " Veterans Small Business Verification Act" H.R. 2504 H.R. 2559, the "Help Our Homeless Veterans Act" H.R. 2614, the "Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 2696, the "Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act" H.R. 2713, the "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2735 H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2874, the "Helping Active Duty Depolyed Act of 2009" H.R. 2928 H.R. 2968 H.R. 3073 H.R. 3219, the "Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009" H.R. 3223 H.R. 3407, the "Severly Injured Veterans Benefits Improvement Act" H.R. 3441 H.R. 3485, the "Veterans Pension Protection Act" H.R. 3544, the "National Cemeteries Expansion Act of 2009" H.R. 3554 H.R. 3561 H.R. 3577, the "Educational Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents Act" Discussion Draft legislation concerning various homeless veterans issues S. 1495, the "Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009"

Improving survivor benefits for widows of deceased veterans and to restore and improve veterans benefits. S 252, HR 2770, HR 3082, HR 3155, HR 3266, HR 3407, HR 2559, HR 1169, HR 3073, HR 1017, HR 3441, HR 1036, HR 3082, HR 2735, S 1407, S 1676, HR 3219, S 1407, HR 1034, S 832, S 1668, HR 1169, HR 2614, HR 403, HR 952, HR 2928, HR 3155, HR 1016, HR 3554, HR 3389, HR 614, S 1026, S 423, S 157, HR 2393, HR 2014, HR 1016, S 1467

Client expense: $129,832 · Firm income: Not reported

Veterans Legislation: S.832, S. 1237, S. 1390, S. 1415, S. 1467, S. 1547, S. 1685 HR 403, HR 1169, HR 2254, HR 2735, HR 3073, HR 3199 HR 3467, HR 3590, H Con Res 170 and Amdts. To HR 3082

Client expense: $10,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY GOALS FOR VETERANS: [See Next Page] Contacts made on the following legislative initiatives: HR 23 -- Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would grant a $1,000 monthly benefit to individuals who served in the Merchant Marines between 12/07/41 and 12/31/46; HR 249 --The Tax Relief and Fulfilling Our Obligation to Patriotic Soldiers Act by not taxing enlistment and re-enlistment bonuses, legislation would enhance bonuses that attract new recruits into military specialties that are in high demand; HR 819 -- 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; HR 1168 -- The Veterans Retraining Act would provide veterans with the training they need to seek meaningful employment; HR 1169 -- 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; HR 1209 -- The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act; HR 1295 -- The Service Members' Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Act would ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not denied the first-time homebuyer tax credit granted to them under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a result of theircurrent station outside of the United States; HR 1681 -- The Veterans Transitional Assistance Act would rationalize the transition process from DOD to VA; HR 1701 -- The PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act; HR 1821 -- The Equity for Injured Veterans Improvement Act to give rise to many befeficial improvements tot h Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) assistance program by providing childcare assistance to single-parent veterans with children and extendining the period of eligibility from 12 years to a more adequate 15 years; HR 2017 -- legislation that would grant the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) a federal charter; HR 2082 -- The Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act to improve voting access and absentee ballot accountability for members of the armed services; HR 2126 -- The Correspondence With Our Heroes Act would allow active duty Armed Forces members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as service members who are hospitalized due to injury or disease incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, to receive one piece of mail per month free of charge to the sender; HR2243 -- The Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act would raise the amount of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to an amount equal to 55% of VA disability compensation for a 100% disabled veteran; HR 2352 -- The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act would expand the Small Veteran Business Center program within the Small Business Administration to serve as an outlet and resource for veteran business owners; HR 2379 -- The Veterans Group Life Insurance Act would allow those covered by Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to purchase additional coverage once every five years; HR 2393 -- The Military Voting Protection (MVP) Act would ensure that the ballots cast by service members stationed overseas are delivered to the appropriate state election officials by the jurisdiction's statutory deadline, while safeguarding voter privacy and ballot secrecy; HR 2410 -- would increase the likelihood that qualiofied individuals would become employees of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State; HR 2456 -- The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act; HR 2562 -- Service Members Home Ownership Act would extend the first-time homebuyer credit to members of the Armed Forces who are deployed during 2009; HR 2874 -- Helping Active Duty Deployed Act would discharge the student loans of students called to active duty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S. CON. RES. 20 would honor the World War 1 (WWI) veterans by permitting the last WWI veteran to lie in the rotunda of th Capitol upon his death; S. 263 -- the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act would close several loopholes and 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. 315 -- The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act would increase congressional oversight of the VA's outreach activities and authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with state, local and community-based organizations to perform outreach; S. 407 -- The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act alows our disaled veterans and their dependents to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services; S. 514 -- The Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act would require the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month n which the veteran participates in a VA rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5; S. 663 -- The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Marines of WWII Act would amend Title 46 USC to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the Merchant Marines during WWII; S. 691/S. 746 -- to allow the VA to establish national cemeteries in Eastern Nebraska and southern Colorado; S. 728 -- The Veterans Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act addresses a broad range of veterans benefits and improves services for both young and old veterans; S. 820 -- would improve the lives of the the nation's most seriously disabled service-connected veterans; S 842 -- provides needed foreclosure protection for military families; S. 847 -- would allow those receiving Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits to be exempt from the 48-month total educational benefits restriction; S. 1015 -- would enhance disability compensationf or disabled veterans in need of aid and attendance for residuals of tramatic brain injury and for disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses; S. 1106 -- Selected Reserve Continuum of Care Act would provide medical and dental treatment for members of the Guard and Reserve to guarantee medical readiness.

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.