Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009

PL 111-81: Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 -- Beginning with FY2011 requires a two-fiscal-year discretionary new budget authority for the following accounts of the VA: (1) Medical Services; (2) Medical Support and Compliance; and (3) Medical Facilities Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the adequacy and accuracy of VA baseline model projections for health care expenditures PL 111-82: Authorizes major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes PL 111-97: 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 persons spouse who is absent from the state in compliance with military or naval orders Prohibits a service members spouse from either losing or acquiring a residence or domicile for purposes of taxation because of being absent or present in any US tax jurisdiction solely to be with the service member in compliance with the service members military orders if the residence or domicile is the same for the service member and the spouse Prohibits a spouses 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 service member serving under military orders PL 111-98: A bill to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington, and for other purposes PL 111-117: Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY 2010 -- Makes appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010 HR 23 / S 663: Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 -- Establishes in the Treasury the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund for payments by the VA Secretary of a monthly benefit of $1,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, was a documented member of the US merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was operated in US waters by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation and under contract to, or the property of, the United States Requires such individuals to: (1) apply for such benefit before October 1, 2009; and (2) not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 HR 174 / S 691: Legislation directing 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 HR 1017 / S 1204: Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act -- Amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 and title 38, USC, to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services HR 1302 / S 1155: Amend title 38, USC, to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Health HR 953: Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act --Help veterans afford medical treatment and ensure proper compensation without complicated programs. HR 1036: Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 -- Would amend title 38, USC, to establish the position of Director of Physical Therapy Service within the Veterans Health Administration and to establish a fellowship program for physical therapists in the areas of geriatrics, amputee rehabilitation, polytrauma care, and rehabilitation research HR 1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act -- Would amend title 38, USC, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes 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 2504: Would amend title 38, USC, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans HR 2990: Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act -- Provides 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 HR 3082: FY 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill -- Support amendment to increase funds by $1 million to the Medical Services account at the Department of Veterans Affairs with an offset to the General Operating Expenses account in order to offer educational debt forgiveness for mental health professionals who agree to employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs. HR 3441: To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes HR 3949: Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 -- Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to improve the equitable relief available for servicemembers called to active duty, and for other purposes HR 3961: Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 -- Amend title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment system for determining the annual updates to the Medicare physician fee schedule. 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 669: Veterans Second Amendment Protection Ac t -- Clarify that Department of Veterans Affairs determinations of mental incompetency should not constitute adjudication as a mental defective with regard to that veterans inclusion in the National Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which governs who can legally purchase firearms. S 977: Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 -- Amend title 38, USC, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and for other purposes S 1109: Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2009 -- A bill to provide veterans with individualized notice about available benefits, to streamline application processes or the benefits, and for other purposes S 1118: Amend title 38, USC, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs , and for other purposes S 1302: Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 -- Provide for the introduction of pay-for-performance compensation mechanisms into contracts of the Department of Veterans Affairs with community-based outpatient clinics for the provisions of health care services, and for other purposes S 1427: Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009 -- Amend title 38, USC, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and for other purposes S 1444: Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act -- Amend title 38, USC, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities S 1467: Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Servicemembers Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009 -- Amend title 38, USC, to provide coverage under Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for adverse reactions to vaccinations administered by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes S 1483: Designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota as the "Max J. Beilke Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic" S 1518: Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009 -- A bill to amend title 38, USC, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune S 1531: Department of Veterans Affairs Reorganization Act of 2009 -- A bill to amend title 38, USC, to establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs the position of Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction, 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)

H.R. 796, to repeal the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into private debt collection contracts H.R. 673, Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act H.R. 1655, Putting our Resources Toward Security (PORTS) Act H.R. 1722, Telework Improvement Act H.R. 1867, Border Violence Prevention Act of 2009 H.R. 1448, Border Reinforcement and Violence Reduction Act of 2009 H.R. 495, Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act of 2009 H.R. 1517, CBP Overseas Employment Bill H.R. 264, Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2009 H.R. 958, FERS Unused Sick Leave Credit H.R. 1804, the Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 H.R. 1256, FDA tobacco regulation H.R. 1263, Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 S. 629, Part-Time Annuitant Rehire Legislation, Senate S. 469, CSRS Part-Time Service Annuity Computation H.R. 1198, CSRS Part-Time Service Annuity Computation H.R. 235, Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 S. 484, Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act S. 354, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act H.R. 1507, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 S. 507, Non-Foreign COLA Act H.R. 1266, Non-Foreign COLA Act S. 707, Telework Act S. 515, Patent Reform Act H.R. 3126, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act H.R. 3114, Patent and Trademark fee bill S. 1358, Patent and Trademark fee bill H.R. 2990, Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 H.R. 2647, Department of Defense Authorization Act, FY 2010 S. 1390, Department of Defense Authorization Act, FY 2010 S. 629, Reemployed Part-time Annuitants Bill S. 982, FDA Tobacco Regulation H.R. 828, FERS Redeposit Act H.R. 2736, To Ensure Efficient Performance of Agency Functions S. 924, To Ensure Efficient Performance of Agency Functions S. 736, Federal Hiring Process H.R. 2200, TSA Authorization Act S. 1631, the Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2009 Draft Senate Financial Regulatory Reform Bill Draft House National Banking Supervision Bill H.R. 3264, Federal Internship Improvement Act S. 1177, Long Term Care Insurance Act of 2009 H.R. 2647, House FY 2010 Department of Defense Authorization Act Comprehensive Hiring Reform H.R. 4173, Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (Senate)

Client expense: $187,076 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Election Commission (FEC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Customs & Border Protection

H.R.2647-2010 Defense Authorization Act H.R.2990-Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000

Government targets: Energy, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE

FERS sick leave credit (H.R. 958/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390); Extending locality pay parity (S. 507/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390); Reemploying federal annuitants (S.629/S.1390); Mandatory Managerial Training (S.674); DOD's National Security Personnel System (H.R. 2647); Increased funding for SSA (H.R. 3293); Civil service pay system reform; Labor-Management relations; FERS Redeposit Act (H.R. 828/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390); Health care reform and its impact on federal employees.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA)

Lobbying in opposition to including any of the TRICARE plans in the proposed healthcare reform bills (HR3590,HR3962): lobbying against any increases of co-pays, deductibles, or enrollment fees in any of the TRICARE programs (including in support of HR816): lobbying in favor of HR270, S731,s1106 allowing National Guard and Reserve "Gray Area" retirees to purchase TRS at full cost; and then lobbying against "Gray Area" TRICARE as a different program than TRS with a different d and higher cost basis and lobbying in favor of the programs quick implementation; lobbying in favor of allowing the survivors of a military retiree who dies to retain the full last month of his or hers retired pay (HR613); lobbying in support of the present early retirement of National Guard and Reserves bill to be enlarged to apply to thse who were activated on or after 9/11/01 (Section 660 of S1390 NDAA Conference Report and HR1695); lobbying in support of increasing pay under the National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009 (S644); lobbying in support of allowing longevity military retirees with less than a 50% VA rated service connected disability to receive without offset both their full retired pay and their full disability pay; and in support of Military Medical Retirees (Chapter 61) with less than 20 years service to receive both their retired pay and their VA disability pay (S546, HR333, HR303, HR811, HR2990); lobbying in favor of adequate funding for DoD healthcare and other needed DoD funding (HR3326); lobbying in support of the National Defense Appropriations Act including increases in active duty pau (HR2647); lobbying in favor of increasing the time a called-up member of the Guard or Reserve qualifies for TRICARE prior to activation to 180 days from the former 90 days; lobbying in favor of ending the SBP/DIC offset (HR775, S536, HR1804, HR2243); lobbying in favor of changes and improvments in the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA); lobbying in favor of the voting procedures for active duty service members and their families who are serving and living abroad; lobbying in support of adequate funding in the Military Construction and VA Appropriations Act (HR3082, S1407): lobbying in favor of additional benefits (including health care, stipends and education benefits) for caretakers of our wounded warriors (HR2647); lobbying in favor of permitting a "Special Needs Trust" for disabled beneficiaries who qualify for SBP

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

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

Lobbying in opposition to including any of the TRICARE plans in the proposed health care reforms (HR3590, HR3962); Lobbbying against any possible increases of co-pays, deductibles, or enrollment fees in any of th TRICARE programs (including in support of HR816); lobbying in favor of HR270, S731, S1106 allowing National Guard and Reserve Gray Area Retirees to purchase TRS at full cost; lobbying against interpreting Gray Area TRICARE as a different program than TRS with a different cost basis; lobbying in favor with a different cost basis; and lobbying in favor of quick implementation; lobbying in favor of allowing the survivors of a military retiree who dies to retain the last month of his or hers retired pay (HR613); lobbying in support of early retirement og National Guard and Reserves to apply for those who served on or after 9/11/01 (Sec 660 of S1390 NDAA Conference Report and HR1695 ); lobbying in support of increasing pay under the National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act for 2009 S644; lobbying in support of allowing longevity military retirees with less than a 50% rated VA service connected disability to receive both their retired pay and their disability pay; and in support Military Medical retirees (Chapter 61) with less than 20 years service to receive both their retired pay and their VA disability pay (including support of S546, HR333, HR303, HR811, HR2990; lobbying in favor of additional improvements in military health care including wounded warrior programs, improved DoD provided health care for retirees in rural areas and improvements in mental health care; (S658) lobbying in favor of adequate funding for DoD health Care and other needed DoD funding (including HR3326); lobbying in support of Defense Appropriations Act including increases in active duty pay (HR2647) lobbying in favor increasing the time a called up Guard or Reserve member has TRICARE prior to activation to 180 days from the former 90 days; lobbying in favor of ending the SBP/DIC offset (HR775, S536, HR1804, HR2243); lobbying in favor of changes and improvmentd in the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) lobbying in favor of improvements in voting procedures for active duty service members and their families who are serving and living abroad; lobbying in support adequate funding in the of Military Construction and VA Appropriations (HR3082, S1407); lobbying in favor of additional benefits (including health care, stipends and education benefits) for caretakers of our wounded warriors (HR2647); lobbying in favor of creating a "Special Needs Trust" for disabled beneficiaries who qualify for SBP

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

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

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: 3949, HR 3491, HR 3155, HR 3082, HR 2990, HR 2898, HR 2879, HR 2770, HR 2738, HR 2734, HR 2583, HR 2573, HR 2419, HR 2389, HR 2342, HR 2254, HR 2180, HR 1818, HR 1546, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1171, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 811, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 466, HR 456, HR 341, HR 333, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, H.RES. 261, HR 177, HR 114, HR 108, H.Con. Res 85, HR 32, S 1963, S 1939, S 1779, S 1407, S 1204, S 944, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 801, S 728, S 658, S 642, S 597, S 423, S 407, S 404, S 277, S 252, S 66, S.Con.Res. 13

Client expense: $190,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service

H.R.2918 - Require the USPS to prefund postal retiree health premiums S.1796 - Tax on health plans with certain premiums including FEHBP H.R.2990 - Provision to permit FERS employees to credit unused sick leave toward retirement

Client expense: $47,500 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

FERS sick leave credit (H.R. 958/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390); Extending locality pay parity (S. 507/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390); Reemploying federal annuitants (S.629/S.1390); Mandatory Managerial Training (S.674); DOD's National Security Personnel System (H.R. 2647); Pay parity in the average annual pay raise; Increased funding for SSA (H.R. 3293); Civil service pay system reform; Labor-Management relations; FERS Redeposit Act (H.R. 828/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390)

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA)

HR 952--No Title--Amend title 38, USC, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for the purposes of service connectiion of disabilities. HR 953--Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act--Help veterans afford medical treatment and ensure proper compensation without complicated programs. 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 Operation 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 for Health on all matters relating to the educations 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 2254-- Draft Bill (Senate)--Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009--Establish presumption of Agent Orange/herbicide exposure for Blue Water Navy 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 2874--Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009--Amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to improve the equitable relief available for servicemembers called to active duty, and for other purposes. 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. HR 3200--America's Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009--Address veteran concerns in national health care reform legislation with an emphasis on maintaining the independence of the VA health care system. HR 3365--Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2009--Provide Medicare reimbursement to VA medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare eligible veterans for non service-connected conditions. 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 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 1467--Lance Corporal Josef Lopez Fairness for Service Members Harmed by Vaccines Act of 2009--Extend TSGLI benefit to service members with severe disabilities/injuries due to vaccines. HR 23, S 663--A Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009--Establishes in the Treasury the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund for payments by the VA Secretary of a monthly benefit of $1,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941and December 31, 1946, was a documented member of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was operated in U.S. waters by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation and under contract to, or the property of, the United States. Requires such individuals to: (1) apply for such benefit before October 1, 2009; and (2) not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. HR 174, S691--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. HR 1016, S423--Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009--Requires, beginning with FY2011, 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 1163, 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. HR 1182, S 745--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 service member'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 service member in compliance with the service member's military orders if the residence or domicile is the same for the service member 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 service member serving under military orders. HR 3082, S 1407--Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010--Making appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. House Resolution 679, Senate Resolution 260--A resolution designating September 16, 2009, as "The American Legion Day"--A resolution designating September 16, 2009, as "The American Legion Day". Testimony--FY 2011 Department of Veterans Affairs Budget and Legislative priorities of The American Legion. General Support Letters--Timely passage of the FY 200 Militry Construction, Veterans' Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriation Act. General Support Letter--Increased funding for Gulf War Veteran' Illness research. General Support Letter--Legislation to automatically enroll service members returning from combat zones into The Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. General Support Letter--Better access to VA health Care for veterans residing in rural areas.\ General Support Letter--Support for advance appropriation for VA health Care.

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

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), State, Dept of (DOS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Lobbbying in opposition to any possible increases of co-pays, deductibles or enrollment fees in any of the TRICARE programs including in favor of HR816; lobbying in favor of allowing Grey Area retirees (NG and Reserves) to purchase TRS at full costs prior to the age 60 HR270, S731, S1106; lobbying in favor of HR613 forgiving of last month's retired pay to survivors; in favor of all longevity and Medical retirees with less than 20 years of service to receive full retired pay and VA disability pay (CRDP) including S546, HR333, HR303, HR811, HR2990 In favor of Early Retirement for Guard/Reserves S1390 sec 660 In favor of reduction in minimum age to qualify for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service HR1695 In favor of improvments in military health care including wounded warriors treatment, improve health care for retirees in rural areas, mental health care included in HR2647 In favor of of apprpriate funding for DoD health care HR3326 In favor of increases in active duty pay HR2647 In favor of increase to 180 days from the present 90 for called up members of the Guard and Reserve to qualify for TRICARE before mobilization In favor of improvements in voting procedures for active duty service members and families who are serving abroad; In favor of ending the SBP/DIC offset including HR775, S536, HR1804, HR2243 In favor of further benefits for caregivers of our wounded warriors HR2647 In favor of creating a Special Needs Trust for disabled beneficiaries who qualify for SBP

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

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

H.R.2647-2010 Defense Authorization Act H.R.2990-Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $20,000

Government targets: Energy, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

H.R. 796, to repeal the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into private debt collection contracts H.R. 673, Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act H.R. 1655, Putting our Resources Toward Security (PORTS) Act H.R. 1722, Telework Improvement Act H.R. 1867, Border Violence Prevention Act of 2009 H.R. 1448, Border Reinforcement and Violence Reduction Act of 2009 H.R. 495, Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act of 2009 H.R. 1517, CBP Overseas Employment Bill H.R. 264, Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2009 H.R. 958, FERS Unused Sick Leave Credit H.R. 1804, the Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 H.R. 1256, FDA tobacco regulation H.R. 1263, Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 S. 629, Part-Time Annuitant Rehire Legislation, Senate S. 469, CSRS Part-Time Service Annuity Computation H.R. 1198, CSRS Part-Time Service Annuity Computation H.R. 235, Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 S. 484, Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act S. 354, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act H.R. 1507, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 S. 507, Non-Foreign COLA Act H.R. 1266, Non-Foreign COLA Act S. 707, Telework Act S. 515, Patent Reform Act H.R. 3126, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act H.R. 3114, Patent and Trademark fee bill S. 1358, Patent and Trademark fee bill H.R. 2990, Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 H.R. 2647, Department of Defense Authorization Act, FY 2010 S. 1390, Department of Defense Authorization Act, FY 2010 S. 629, Reemployed Part-time Annuitants Bill S. 982, FDA Tobacco Regulation H.R. 828, FERS Redeposit Act H.R. 2736, To Ensure Efficient Performance of Agency Functions S. 924, To Ensure Efficient Performance of Agency Functions S. 736, Federal Hiring Process H.R. 2200, TSA Authorization Act S. 1631, the Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2009 Draft Senate Financial Regulatory Reform Bill Draft House National Banking Supervision Bill H.R. 3264, Federal Internship Improvement Act S. 1177, Long Term Care Insurance Act of 2009 H.R. 2647, House FY 2010 Department of Defense Authorization Act

Client expense: $189,304 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Election Commission (FEC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Customs & Border Protection

HR 469: Produced Water Utilization Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy issues. HR 1404: Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act (FLAME Act); Provisions regarding land management. HR 1462: Study of Ways to Improve the Accuracy of the Collection of Federal Oil, Condensate, and Natural Gas Royalties Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy impacts. HR 1666: Safe Markets Development Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy impacts. HR 1698: To establish the Green Bank to assist in the financing of qualified clean energy projects and qualified energy efficiency projects; Provisions regarding funding mechanisms. HR 1759: Emission Migration Prevention with Long-Term Output Yields Act (EMPLOY Act); Provisions regarding energy/environment impacts. HR 1787: Low Carbon Fuel Standard Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy impacts. HR 1835: New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy impacts. HR 2212: 21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act; Provisions regarding energy and technology issues. HR 2227: American Conservation and Clean Energy Independence Act; Provisions regarding energy issues. HR 2300: American Energy Innovation Act; Provision regarding energy issues. HR 2454: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009; All provisions of the bill. HR 2475: Limitation on Nuclear Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates Act of 2009; Congressional review of the agreement. HR 2828: American Energy Innovation Act; Title I Subtitle G Sec 1607: hydraulic fracturing; Title I Subtitle H Part 2: permitting reform; Title I Subtitle J: natural gas; Title III production; and provisions regarding energy issues. HR 2990: Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009; Provisions regarding the energy fund. HR 2998: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy impacts. HR 3082: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2010; Provisions regarding energy issues. Draft House Natural Resources Committee Energy Bill (no number): Federal Lands and Resources Energy Development Act of 2009; Section 2 definitions; Title I - consolidation of federal lands and waters energy leasing programs; Title II outer continental shelf energy coordination and planning; Title III - onshore energy siting and development planning; Title IV - new onshore leasing authority; Title V - oil and gas royalty reform; Title VI - onshore reforms; Title VII - offshore reforms; and Title VIII - miscellaneous provisions. Rahall Draft: Federal Lands and Resources Energy Development Act of 2009; Provisions regarding development. S 22: Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009; Provisions regarding water issues. S 548: Save American Energy Act; Provisions regarding energy impacts. S 598: Appliance Standards Improvement Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy markets, access to resources, and heavy oils/oil sands. S 774: National Energy Security Act of 2009 (NESA of 2009); Sec. 361inventory of outer continental shelf oil and gas resources, Sec. 363environmental stewardship and allowable activities; Sec. 364moratorium of oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico; Provisions regarding energy impacts, energy markets, access to resources, and heavy oils/oil sands. S 807: Sound Management of Americas Resources and Technologies for Energy Act of 2009 (SMART Energy Act of 2009); TITLE II: Section 202--Tax on crude oil and natural gas produced from the outer continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico; Chapter 56--Tax on severance of crude oil and natural gas from the outer continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico; Title III: Section 301: Prohibition on export of outer continental shelf oil and gas production, Special Commission on Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing, and Production Incentives Fee; provisions regarding energy impacts. S 949: 21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act; Provisions regarding energy markets, access to resources, heavy oils/oil sands and energy and technology issues. S 967: Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy markets, access to resources, and heavy oils/oil sands. S 1013: Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program Amendments Act of 2009; Provisions regarding energy markets, access to resources, heavy oils/oil sands and location of projects for carbon capture and sequestration for natural gas. Draft Senate ENR Committee Energy Bill (no number): American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009; Title III, Section Dfederal oil and gas development General discussions regarding oil shale leasing, increased domestic production, climate change policy, energy, climate change and pricing issues.

Client expense: $4,270,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Interior, Dept of (DOI), SENATE, White House Office

H.R.2647 - Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization - Incorporated H.R. 2990 which included the provision to permit FERS employees to credit unused sick leave towards retirement

Client expense: $47,500 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R.2990 - Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act - Provision to permit FERS employees to credit unused sick leave towards retirement H.R.1256 - S.982 - Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act with and without the FERS Sick Leave Provision

Client expense: $47,500 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

1) Canadian Oil Sands - HR2454 and HR 2990

Client expense: $3,269,993 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Interior, Dept of (DOI), Minerals Management Service, Natl Security Agency (NSA), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office

H.R. 1256: To amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. H.R. 1804: To amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. H.R. 235 and S. 484: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. H.R. 626 and S. 354: To provide that 4 of the 12 weeks of parental leave made available to a Federal employee shall be paid leave, and for other purposes. H. Con. Res. 85 and S. Con. Res 13: Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2010 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 and 2011 through 2014. H.R. 1266 and S. 507: A bill to provide for retirement equity for Federal employees in nonforeign areas outside the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. H.R. 2990 and H.R. 2647 and S.1390: To amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. S. 629: A bill to facilitate the part-time reemployment of annuitants, and for other purposes. H.R. 1198 and S. 469: Amend chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to modify the computation for part-time service under the Civil Service Retirement System. H.R. 3170 and S. 1432: Making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. H.R. 2517 and S. 1102: A bill to provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees.

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 1804: to amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirment System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. H.R. 1256: To amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. H.R. 2990 and H.R. 2647 and S. 1390: To amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. S. 629: A bill to facilitate the part-time reemployment of annuitants, and for other purposes. H.R. 1198 and S. 469: Amend chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to modify the computation for part-time service under the Civil Service Retirement System.

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Lobbying in opposition of possible TRICARE programs' enrollment fees, deductibles and co-pays; in opposition of creation of enrollment fees for TRICARE Standard and TRICARE for Life HR816; lobbying in favor of allowing Grey Area Guard and Reserve retirees to continue to purchase TRS HR270 S731 S1106; lobbying in favor of forgiving "overpayments of retired pay to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces (forgiveness of last months retired pay) HR 613; in support of all military retirees longevity or Chapter 61 medical retirement) to qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and thus receive their full retired pay and their full VA disability pay including S546, HR333, HR 303, HR 811 and HR2990; Improvments in National Guard and Reservist pay and benefits including HR208, S644 Reduction of minimum age when retiree of non-regular service is qualified to receive military retired pay HR1695; Improvments in health care (TRICARE) for active duty, families, wounded warriors and their families and survivors including the National Defense Authorization Act HR2647, National Defense Appropriations Act; improvement in rural healthcare S658 Lobbying for increases of military pay Lobbying to improve voting laws to allow service members and their families to have effective voting rights; Lobbying for improved benefits for caregivers of Service members; Ending the SBP/DIC offset including HR775, S536, HR1804; Permintting the creation of a Special Needs Trust for disabled beneficiaries who qualify for SBP

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

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

FERS sick leave credit (H.R. 958/H.R.1804/H.R.1256/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390); Extending locality pay to employees in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. Territories (S. 507/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390); Reemploying federal annuitants (S.629/S.1390); Mandatory Managerial Training (S.674); DOD's National Security Personnel System; Pay parity in the average annual pay raise; Increased funding for SSA; Civil service pay system reform; FERS Redeposit Act (H.R. 828/H.R. 1804/H.R. 1256/H.R.2647/H.R.2990/S.1390

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA)

PL 111-32--Supplemental Appropriations Act 2009--Supplemental funding for certain DoD programs to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. HR 2647--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010--A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year. HR 2892, S 1298--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010--Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. HR 3082, S 1407--Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act 2010--Making appropriations for military construction, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. Senate Joint Resolution 10--A joint resolution supporting a base Defense Budget that at the very minimum matches 4 percent of gross domestic product.--Declares that it is U.S. policy to commit a minimum of 4% of the nation's gross domestic product to the base defense budget in order to meet the fundamental U.S. national security requirements. HR 2990--Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act--To 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. 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. S 475--Military Spouses Residency Relief Act--Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to prohibit, for purposes of voting for 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 accompanying the person's spouse who is absent from the state in compliance with military of 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 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.

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

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), State, Dept of (DOS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

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.

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

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), State, Dept of (DOS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

H.R. 796, to repeal the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into private debt collection contracts H.R. 673, Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act H.R. 1655, Putting our Resources Toward Security (PORTS) Act H.R. 1867, Border Violence Prevention Act of 2009 H.R. 1448, Border Reinforcement and Violence Reduction Act of 2009 H.R. 495, Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act of 2009 H.R. 1517, CBP Overseas Employment Bill H.R. 264, Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2009 H.R. 958, FERS Unused Sick Leave Credit H.R. 1804, the Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 H.R. 1256, FDA tobacco regulation H.R. 1263, Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 S. 629, Part-Time Annuitant Rehire Legislation, Senate S. 469, CSRS Part-Time Service Annuity Computation H.R. 1198, CSRS Part-Time Service Annuity Computation H.R. 235, Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 S. 484, Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act S. 354, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act H.R. 1507, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 S. 507, Non-Foreign COLA Act H.R. 1266, Non-Foreign COLA Act S. 707, Telework Act S. 515, Patent Reform Act H.R. 3126, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act H.R. 3114, Patent and Trademark fee bill S. 1358, Patent and Trademark fee bill H.R. 2990, Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 H.R. 2647, Department of Defense Authorization Act, FY 2010 S. 1033, Department of Defense Authorization Act, FY 2010 S. 629, Reemployed Part-time Annuitants Bill S. 982, FDA Tobacco Regulation H.R. 828, FERS Redeposit Act H.R. 2736, To Ensure Efficient Performance of Agency Functions S. 924, To Ensure Efficient Performance of Agency Functions S. 736, Federal Hiring Process

Client expense: $166,844 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Election Commission (FEC), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Customs & Border Protection

H.R.958, Federal Employees Retirement Sick Leave Equity Act, to make unused sick leave creditable, for purposes of the Federal Employees' Retirement System, in the same manner as provided for under the Civil Service Retirement System. H.R. 2990, Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009, extends through 2010 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2009 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve Armed Forces, with respect to federal employees: (1) credit for certain unused sick leave; (2) a limited expansion of the class of individuals eligible to receive an actuarially reduced annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS); (3) a computation of certain annuities based on part-time service; (4) the authority to deposit refunds under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS); and (5) retirement credit for certain employees transferred from District of Columbia service to federal service. H.R. 1804, Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009, to make unused sick leave creditable, for purposes of the Federal Employees Retirement System, in the same manner as provided for under the Civil Service Retirement System; automatic enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan; creates a Roth individual retirement account option for federal employees. H.R. 1256, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, to make unused sick leave creditable, for purposes of the Federal Employees Retirement System, in the same manner as provided for under the Civil Service Retirement System; automatic enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan; creates a Roth individual retirement account option for federal employees. H.R. 626, Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, to allow federal employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child; or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. Makes available for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) four administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved; and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave. S. 354, Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, to allow federal employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child; or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. Makes available for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) four administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved; and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave. H.R. 1203, Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow civilian and military retirees to pay health premiums on a pretax basis. S. 491, Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis.

Client expense: $70,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Transportation, Dept of (DOT)