Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009

HR 950: Amend chapter 33 of title 38, USC, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning -- Authorized the use of veterans' educational assistance for the pursuit of an approved program of education offered through distance learning. HR 1098: Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 -- Increases the amount of educational assistance payments made by the VA Secretary to individuals pursuing an apprenticeship or on-job training under (1) the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program; (2) the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans educational assistance program; (3) the Survivors and Dependents educational assistance program; and (4) the Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program. HR 1172: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet Website of Dept. of VA a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors and, of each such organization, a link to their Internet Website. HR 1821: Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009 -- Extends the period of eligibility for training and rehabilitation through the VA for veterans with service-connected disabilities until the end of the 15 (under current law, 12) year period after the veteran's discharge from active-duty service. Allows a service-disabled veteran a subsistence allowance for six (under current law, two) months of full-time employment training following completion of a vocational rehabilitation program. Allows such a veteran who has unused VA educational assistance entitlement to use such assistance to pursue a program of education as part of a vocational rehabilitation program, as long as the VA Secretary approves the educational, professional or vocational objective chosen by the veteran. Directs the Secretary to provide reimbursement for child care to a veteran who is participating in a vocational rehabilitation program and is the sole caretaker of a child. Requires the Secretary to include in annual budget material submitted to Congress information on veterans receiving vocational rehabilitation assistance who (1) become employed and (2) achieve independence in daily living. HR 1879: National Guard employment Protection Act of 2009 -- Provides employment and re-employment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. HR 2614: Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amend title 38, USC, to reauthorize the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education HR 2928: Amend title 38, USC, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program -- Amends requirements for the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program to entitle an eligible veteran of the Armed Forces (including eligible dependents) pursuing a full-time educational program of apprenticeship or other on-job training to a monthly benefit payment equal to (1) 85% of the national average cost of tuition at an institution of higher education for each of the first six months of the program; (2) 65% of such amount for each of the second six months of the program; and (3) 45% of such amount for each of the months following the first 12 months of the program. Reduces the payment an individual receives in any month in which the individual fails to complete 120 hours of training under the program of education. HR 3561: Amend title 38, USC, to increase the amount of educational assistance provided to certain veterans for flight training HR 3577: Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 -- Amend title 38, United State Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents. HR 3949: Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 -- To amend title 38, USC, to reauthorize the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education. Directs the VA Secretary to establish and carry out a scholarship program of financial assistance for individuals who (1) are accepted for, or currently enrolled in, a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in visual impairment or orientation and mobility, or both; and (2) enter into an agreement to serve, after program completion, as a full-time VA employee for three years HR 1037 / S 728: Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 -- Directs the VA Secretary to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of qualifying veterans' work-study activities, including positions available on site at educational institutions. HR 3554 / S 1668: National Guard Education Equality Act -- Amend title 38, USC, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes

Client expense: $6,600 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

lobbying on behalf of Advanced Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care (HR1016, S423); lobbying in oppositon of VA health care being included in the geenral health care reform legislation (HR3590, HR3962); lobbying to improve the speed,consistence, and accuracy of VA's claims adjudication process; lobbying in favor of increasing the amount of DIC payments (HR2243); lobbying in favor of allowing DIC recepients to retain their eligibility for DIC if they remarry at or after the age of 55 after the age of 55 (rather than the present 57) (HR809); lobbying in support of additonal improvements in wounded warrior care and seemless transition; lobbying in favor of strenghtening both the protections and the enforcement of the UNiformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) (S263, HR1089); lobbying in favor enlargement and improvments in the present vocational rehabilitation and employemnt assistance programs for veterans at the VA (HR1821): lobbying in favor of sufficient funding in the Military Construction and VA Appropriations Act (HR3082, S1407); lobbying in support of granting veterans status to non-veteran members of the Reserve components with 20 or more years of service (HR3787, S1780)

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

lobbying on behalf of Advanced Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care (HR1016, S423); lobbying in opposition of VA health care being included in general health care reform legislation (HR3590, HR3962); lobbying to improve speed,consistency and accuracy of VA's adjudication process; lobbying in favor of increasing DIC payments (HR2243); lobbying to permit DIC receipients to retain eligibility for DIC if they remarry at or after the age of 55 (HR809); lobbying in support of improvm favor of improvements in wounded warrior care and seemless transition; lobbying in more programs to prevent homelessness among veterans (HR1171); lobbying in favor of both the protections and the enforcement for the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployemnt Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) (S263, HR1089); lobbying in favor of enlargement and improvments of vocational rehabilitation and employemnt assistance programs for veterans at the VA (HR1821); lobbying in favor of sufficient funding in the Military Construction and VA Appropriations Act (HR3082, S1407); lobbying in support of granting veterans status to non-veteran members of the Reserve components with 20 or more years of service (HR3787, S1780)

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

HR 228--Direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility--Directs the VA Secretary to establish and carry out a scholarship program of financial assistance for individuals who: (1) are accepted for , or currently enrolled in, a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in visual impairment or orientation and mobility, or both, and (2) enter into an agreement to serve, after program completion, as a full-time VA employee for three years within the first six years after program completion. Sets maximum assistance amounts of $15,000 per academic year and $45,000 total. Requires pro rate repayment for failure to satisfy education or service requirements, while allowing the Secretary to waive or suspend such repayment whenever noncompliance is due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant, or when waiver or suspension is in the best interests of the United States. HR 950--Amend chapter 33 of title 38, USC to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning--Authorizes the use of veterans' educational assistance for the pursuit of an approved program of education offered through distance learning. HR 1037--Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009--Directs the VA Secretary to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of qualifying veterans' work-study activities, including positions available on site at educational institutions. HR 1098--Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009--Increases the amount of educational assistance payments made by the VA Secretary to individuals pursuing an apprenticeship or on-job-training under: (1) the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program, (2) the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans educational assistance program; (3) the Survivors and Dependents educational assistance program; and (4) the Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program. HR 1172--Direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors and, for each such organization, a link to their Internet website. HR 1821--Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009--Extends the period of eligibility for training and rehabilitation through the VA for veterans with service-connected disabilities until the end of the 15 (under current law, 12) year period after the veteran's discharge from active-duty service. Allows a service-disabled veteran a subsistence allowance for six (under current law, two) months of full-time employment training following completion of a vocational rehabilitation program. Allows such a veteran who has unused VA educational assistance entitlement to use such assistance pursue a program of education as part of a vocational rehabilitation program, as long as the VA Secretary approves the educational, professional, or vocational objective chosen by the veteran. Directs the Secretary to provide reimbursement for child care to a veteran who is participating in a vocational rehabilitation program and is the sole caretaker of a child. Requires the Secretary to include a annual budget materials submitted to Congress information on veterans receiving vocational rehabilitation assistance who: (1) became employed, and (2) achieved independence in daily living. HR 1879--National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009--Provides employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. HR 2614--Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009--Amend title 38, USC, to reauthorize the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education. HR 2928--Amend title 38, USC, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.--Amends requirements for the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program to entitle an eligible veteran of the Armed Forces (including eligible dependents) pursuing a full-time educational program of apprenticeship or other on-job training to a monthly benefit payment equal to: (1) 85% of the national average cost of tuition at an institution of higher education for each of the first six months of the program; (2) 65% of such amount for each of the second six months of the program; and (3) 45% of such amount for each of the months following the first 12 months of the program. Reduces the payment an individual receives in any month in which the individual fails to complete 120 hours of training under the program of education. HR 3554--National Guard Education Equality Act--Amend title 38, USC, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9//11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. HR 3561--Amend title 38, USC, to increase the amount of educational assistance provided to certain veterans for flight training--Amend title 38, USC, to increase the amount of educational assistance provided to certain veterans for flight training. HR 3577--Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009--Amend title 38, USC, to provided authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents. S 847--A bill to amend title 38, USC, to provide that utilization of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs--Exempts survivors' and dependents' educational assistance from the 48-month time limit on the use of assistance under various veterans' and related educational assistance programs. Revives any entitlement reduced by the 48-month limit. The Evolution of State Approving Agencies--Examine the SAAs needs to continue to approve programs of study at established institutions and approving programs of study at community colleges or trade schools--Review the current role that the State Approving Agencies(SAAs) are playing in approving and supervising programs of study. HR 3467 LETTER--Veterans Education Enhancement and Fairness Act of 2009--Ensure that veterans do not receive a lesser benefit when they are pursuing their education credit by distance learning. National Guard Education Equality Act LETTER--National Guard Education Equality Act--Extend benefits to title 32 Active Guard Reserve (AGR) service members under there Post-9/11 GI Bill. HR 3221 LETTER--Amendment to HR 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009--Permit students to transfer education credits between institutions of higher learning (IHLs) that receive Federal grants while serving in the military. HR 294, 1169, 1182, 2416, 2696, 2874, 2928, 3223, 3554, 3561, 3577 and draft legislation--Legislation of various bills--Provide for an increase in the amount of the reporting fees payable to educational institutions that enroll veterans receiving educational assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Lobbying in favor of 2 years Advanced Appropriations for VA health care funding HR1016, S423; In favor of adequate and suffient funding for VA Health care; in favor of improving the deprtment of Veteran Affairs adjudication process in both speed and accuracy; In favor of increasing the DIC paynments HR 2243; In favor of allowing DIC receipients to retain eligiblity after reaching the age of 55 rather than the present 57; in favor of improvement of wounded warrior health care; In favor of improvements in both the protections and the enforcemnt mechanisms for the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) S263, HR1089; In favor of increasing the payments of the education benefits for survivors of members of the Uniformed Services who died on Active Duty or as a result of a service connectd disability (Chapter 35) to be the same as the present payments under the Montgomery GI Bill HR3507 In favor of increases in vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance in the VA HR1821; Improving services for Homeless vets and to prevent homelessness among veterans HR1171; In favor of suffiencet funding in Military Construction and VA Appropriations HR3082, S1407; In favor of granting veterans status to non- veteran members of the Reserve components who have served 20 or more years

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Lobbying to assure sufficient and adequate funding for VA health care; lobbying in support of 2 year advanced appropriations for VA health care funding HR1016, S423; improving the VA's adjudication in both speed and accuracy; in support of allowing DIC receipients to retain eligibility if they remarry after reaching the age of 55 HR809; in support of granting veterans status to present non-veteran military retirees (non-regular service without 30 day active duty call-up); to improve the both the increase the monthly amount of DIC statute and enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) S263 and improve its enforcement in federal agencies HR1089; increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance programs HR1821; improve homeless vet programs HR1171

Client expense: $100,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

HR 228--To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility--Directs the VA Secretary to establish and carry out a scholarship program of financial assistance for individuals who: (1) are accepted for, or currently enrolled in, a program of study leading to a degree or certificated in visual impairment or orientation and mobility, or both; and (2) enter into an agreement to serve, after program completion, as a full-time VA employee for three years within the first six years after program completion. Sets maximum assistance amounts of $15,000 per academic year and $45,000 total. Requires pro rate repayment for failure to satisfy education or service requirements, while allowing the Secretary to waive or suspend such repayment whenever noncompliance is due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant, or when waiver or suspension is in the best interests of the United States. HR 950--Amend chapter 33 of title 38 USC, to increase educational assistance for certain veterans pursuing a program of education offered through distance learning--Authorizes the use of veterans' educational assistance for the pursuit of an approved program of education offered through distance learning. HR 1037--Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009--Directs the VA Secretary to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of qualifying veterans' work-study activities, including positions available on site at educational institutions. HR 1098--Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009--Increases the amount of educational assistance payments made by the VA Secretary to individuals pursuing an apprenticeship or on-job training under: (1) the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program; (2) the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans educational assistance program; (3) the Survivors and Dependents educational assistance program; and (4) the Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program. HR 1172--Direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors and, for each such organization, a link to their Internet website. HR 1821--Equity for injured Veterans Act of 2009--Extends the period of eligibility for training and rehabilitation through the VA for veterans with service-connected disabilities until the end of the 15 (under current law, 12) year period after the veteran's discharge from active-duty service. Allows a service-disabled veteran a subsistence allowance for six (under current law, two) months of full-time employment training following completion of a vocational rehabilitation program. Allow such a veteran who has unused VA educational assistance entitlement to use such assistance to pursue a program of education as part of a vocational rehabilitation program, as long as the VA Secretary approves the educational, professional or vocational objective chosen by the veteran. Directs the Secretary to provide reimbursement for child care to a veteran who participating in a vocational rehabilitation program and is the sole caretaker of a child. Requires the Secretary to include in annual budget materials submitted to Congress information on veterans receiving vocational rehabilitation assistance who: (1) became employed; and (2) achieved independence in daily living. HR 1879--National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009--Provides employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. S 847--A bill to amend title 38, USC, to provide that utilization of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs.--Exempts survivors' and dependents' educational assistance from the 48-month time limit on the use of assistance under various veterans' and related educational assistance programs. Revives any entitlement reduced by the 48-month limit. Higher Education Act of 1965--Amend Section 484B of Higher Education Act of 1965 LETTER--To forgive certain loans for service members who withdraw from an institution of higher education as a result of service in the uniform services.

PL 111-37--Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009--Directs the VA Secretary of to increase, as of December 1, 2009, the rates of veterans' diability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under the title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. HR 1197--Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009--Assigns priority status for hospital care and medical services provided through VA to certain veterans who are recipients of the Medal of Honor. HR 1211--Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act--Amend title 38 USC, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operations Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. HR 1302--Amend title 38, USC, to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health--Establishes within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the VA the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services, who shall report to the VHA's Under Secretary for Health on all matters relating to the education and training, employment, appropriate utilization, and optimal participation of physician assistants within VHA programs and initiatives. Requires the VA Secretary to ensure that an individual is serving in such position no later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act. HR 1335--Amend title 38, USC, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.--Prohibits the collection by the VA of copayments or other fees for hospital or nursing home care in the case of catastrophically disabled veterans. HR 1546--Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009--Directs the VA Secretary to establish within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) the Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury to continually assess VHA capability to meet the treatment and rehabilitation needs of veterans with traumatic brain injury. HR 1681--No Title--Improve coordination between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs during the seamless transition process of injured servicemembers and veterans. HR 1701--PTSD/TBI Guaranteed Review for Heroes Act--Establish special review board to consider discharge upgrade petitions from former servicemembers diagnosed with PTSD and TBI separated with less than honorable discharges and also mandate that current members suffering from these conditions receive a complete evaluation by a Physical Evaluation Board prior to discharge. HR 1821--Equity for Insured Veterans Act of 2009--Increase dollar amounts of VA vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance benefits. HR 2583--No Title--Improve health care for women veterans. HR 2734--Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009--Amend section 1781 of title 38, USC, to provide medical care to family members of disabled veterans who serve as caregivers to such veterans. HR 2738--Amend title 38, USC, to provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities--Amend title 38, USC, to provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities. HR 2990--Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act--Provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes. S 315--Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2009--Directs the Secretary of Veterans to establish a separate account for the funding of outreach activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and a separate subaccount for the funding of outreach activities of the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. S 347--Amend title 38, USC, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to distinguish between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and a qualifying loss of a non-dominant hand for purposes of traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, and for other purposes.--Amend title 38, USC, to allow the VA Secretary to distinguish between the severity of a qualifying loss of a dominant hand and qualifying loss of a non-dominant hand for purposes of traumatic injury protection under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, and for other purposes. S 475--Military Spouses Residency Relief Act--Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to prohibit, for purposes of voting for a federal, state, or local office, deeming a person to have lost a residence or domicile in a state, acquired a residence or domicile in any other state, or become a resident in or of any other state solely because the person is absent from a state because the person is accompanying the person's spouse who is absent from the state in compliance with military or naval orders. Prohibits a servicemember's spouse from either losing or acquiring a residence or domicile for purposes of taxation because of being absent or present in any U.S. tax jurisdiction solely to be with the servicemember in compliance with the servicemember's military orders if the residence or domicile is the same for the servicemember and the spouse. Prohibits a spouse's income from being considered income earned in a tax jurisdiction if the spouse is not a resident or domiciliary of such jurisdiction when the spouse is in that jurisdiction solely to be with a servicemember serving under military orders. S 514--Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009--Requires the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month in which the veteran participates in a Department of Veterans Affairs (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. Authorizes the VA Secretary to reimburse a veteran who successfully completes a VA rehabilitation program for costs incurred as a direct consequence of program participation, including child care expenses. Repeals the 2600 per-fiscal-year limit on veterans who may participate in the VA program of independent living services and assistance. S 546--Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009--Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability (under current law, only a disability rated at 50% or more). Makes eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability. S 691--A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans in southern Colorado region, and for other purposes.--Directs the VA Secretary to establish a national cemetery in El Paso County, Colorado. S 711--No Title--Require mental health screenings for members of the Armed Forces who are deployed in connection with a contingency operation. S 728--Veterans Insurance and Benefits Act of 2009--Directs the VA Secretary to grant level-premium term life insurance to veterans under age 65 with service-connected disabilities. Increases from $20,000 to $30,000 the maximum amount of supplemental insurance provided through the VA for totally disabled veterans. Removes a condition on the qualification of certain individuals for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance. Increases the maximum loan guarantee amount under the veterans' mortgage life insurance program from $90,000 to $150,000, then to $200,000 after January 1, 2012. Establishes an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the temporary payment of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to a veteran's surviving spouse with one or more children under the age of 18. Provides eligibility requirements for the payment of a special monthly pension based on disability for veterans who already qualify for a service pension based upon age. Increases amounts of DIC payable to surviving spouses and parents of deceased veterans. Increases, and authorizes the annual adjustment of, pension amounts payable to hospitalized veterans and certain children of veterans of a period of war. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to pay a: (1) supplemental benefit for the funeral and burial expenses of veterans, making such amount $900 with respect to a non-service-connected death and $2,100 with respect to a service-connected death; and (2) supplemental burial plot allowance for veterans eligible for the current allowance. Authorizes the provision of specially adapted housing assistance for disabled veterans whose disability is due to a severe burn injury. Authorizes the Secretary to pay a supplemental benefit, for assistance in the purchase of automobiles and other conveyances, for disabled veterans currently eligible for such assistance. S 746--A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County region to serve veterans in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri.--Directs the VA Secretary to establish a national cemetery in the Sarpy County, Nebraska, region to serve the needs of veterans and their families in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. S 820--Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009--Increases from $11,000 to $22,500 the amount authorized to be provided by the VA to certain disabled veterans for the purchase of an automobile and any necessary adaptive equipment. HR 775, S 535--Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act--To repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. HR 1016, S 423--Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009--Requires, beginning with FY 2011, a two-fiscal-year discretionary new budget authority for the following accounts of the VA: (1) Medical Services; (2) Medical Support and Compliance; (3) Medical Facilities; (4) Information Technology; and (5) Medical and Prosthetic Research Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the adequacy and accuracy of VA baseline model projections for health care expenditures. HR 3082, S 1407--Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2010--Making appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. HR 1037, 1098, 1168, 1172, 1821, 1879, 2180--Legislation of various bills--Enhance benefits and services to veterans and their families. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services-Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services--Provide Vocational Rehabilitation assistance to veterans with disabilities incurred during military service. General Testimony--VA Claims Backlog. General Testimony--Assessing Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) and the future of VA Health Infrastructure. General Testimony--Funding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of the future. Legislative Testimony (Senate Veterans Affairs Committee)--Testimony on the following benefits-related bills: S 263, 315, 347, 407, 475, 514, 691, 663, 728, 746, 820, 842, 847. Draft Legislation--Provide for the internment of unclaimed cremated remains of veterans. General Support Letter--Applaud Conference Committee for the Budget Resolution FY 2010 recommendation for $53.4 billion in discretionary funding (an increase of $5.6 billion above current funding level) for VA. Legislative Testimony (House Veterans Affairs Committee)--Testimony on the following health care-related bills: HR 2379, 2713, 2774, 2968, 2770, 2898, 1293, 1197, 1302, 1335, 1546, 2374, 2738. General Support Letter--Support for full appropriations of the authorized $10 million for the 2010 United States Paralympic Integrated Adaptive Sports Program. General Support Letter--Support for the request of utilization of Value Based insurance Design by Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reduce copayments charged to veterans for specified conditions.

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

H.R. 147, the "Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund" H.R. 228, the "Visual Improvement and Orientation and Mobility Professionals Education Assistance Program" H.R. 297, the "Veterans Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improve Act of 2009" H.R. 446, the "Wounded Veteran Job Security Act" H.R. 784, a bill to require the VA to provide quarterly reports on vacancies in the mental health profession H.R. 785/S. 597, the "Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act" H.R. 929, a bill to provide for job training skills relevant to the job market for qualified veterans H.R. 942, a bill to conduct a pilot project to allow veterans to use educational assistance to apply to training costs when purchasing a franchise H.R. 950, a bill to increase educational assistance for certain veterans H.R. 1016/S. 423, the "Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act" (Advance appropriations for VA Health Care) H.R. 1037, a bill to establish a pilot program that will expand the current scope of the work-study program H.R. 1088, the "Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009" H.R. 1098, the "Veterans' Worker Retaining Act of 2009" H.R. 1168, the "Veterans' Retraining Act of 2009" H.R. 1171, the "Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009" H.R. 1172, a bill that directs the VA to include on its internet website a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their surviors H.R. 1197, the "Medal of Honor Health Care Equity Act of 2009" H.R. 1302, a bill to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services at VA H.R. 1335/S821, a bill to eliminate co-payments for catastropically disabled veterans H.R. 1546, the "Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2009" H.R. 1821, the "Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009" H.R. 1879, the "National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009" H.R. 2180, a bill to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service H.R. 2713, "Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Enhancement Act" H.R. 2379, the "Veterans Group Life Insurance Imporovements Act of 2009" H.R. 2734, the "Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009" H.R. 2738, a bill to proved travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities H.R. 2774, the "Families of Veterans Financial Security Act of 2009" H.R. 2770, the "Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009" H.R. 2879/S. 658, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009" H.R. 2898, the "Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act" H.R. 2968, a bill to eliminate the required reduction in the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable to certain terminally-ill persons insured under SGLI an VGLI S. 226, a bill to desigante the Merril Lundman Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic S. 239, the "Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009" S. 246, the Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act" S. 252, the "Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009" S. 263, the Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2009" S. 315, the Veterans Outreach Improve Act of 2009" S. 347 S. 362, a bill to improve collective bargaining rights and prcedures for VA employees S. 404, the "Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009" S. 407, the "Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009" S. 475, the "Military Spouses Residency Relief Act" S. 498, a bill to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents S. 509, a bill to authorize a VA medical facility in Walla Walla Washington S. 514, the "Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009" S. 543, the "Veteran and Servicemember Caregiver Support Act of 2009" S. 663, the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II" S. 669, the "Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act" S. 691, to establish a national cemetery in Southern Colorado S. 699, the "Far South Texas Veterans Medical Center Act of 2009" S. 728, the "Veterans' Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009" S. 734, the "Rural Veterans Health Care Access and Quality Act of 2009" S. 746, to establish a national cemetery in Sarpy County, Nebraska S. 772, the "Honor Act of 2009" S. 793, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Scholars Act of 2009" S. 801, the "Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009" S. 820, the "Veterans Mobility Enhancement Act of 2009" S. 842 S. 847

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.

Improving survivor benefits for widows of deceased veterans and to restore and improve Veterans benefits. S.252,S.263,S.423,S.475,S.484,S.597,S.731,S.801 HR32,HR84,HR108,HR190,HR235,HR568,HR667,HR972,HR1016,HR1211,HR1335,HR1377,HR1474,HR1821

Client expense: $368,093 · Firm income: Not reported

Improving survivor benefits for widows of deceased veterans and to restore and improve Veterans benefits. S.252,S.263,S.423,S.475,S.484,S.597,S.731,S.801 HR32,HR84,HR108,HR190,HR235,HR568,HR667,HR972,HR1016,HR1211,HR1335,HR1377,HR1474,HR1821

Client expense: $368,093 · Firm income: Not reported