To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes.

Lobbying on behalf of giving Veterans Status to non-veteran members of the Reserve components with 20 years or more of service (military retirees) HR3787, S1780; on behalf of amending USC title 38 to improve efficiency of processing VA claims HR5928; on behalf of increased flexibility in payments for State Veterans Homes HR4241; on behalf of including every child of a veteran when determining qualification for medical services HR4465; on behalf of increasing vocational, rehabilitation & employment assistance available at the VA, HR1821; on behalf of setting the DIC payment amount as 55% of the 100% VA Disability payment level, HR2243; on behalf of improvement of enforcment methods and provisions of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 S263; and enforcing USERRA provesions in the federal government HR1089; on behalf of improvements in programs to prevent homelessness among veterans, HR1171; on behalf of covering vocational and other technical education courses under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, S3447, S3171, HR3813

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

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

lobbying to assure that VA health care (including CHAMPVA and spina bifida coverage) be qualified as "minimum essential coverage" under HR HR3962; lobbying to improve the speed, accuracy and consistency of the VA's Claim Adjudication process; lobbying in support of increasing DIC payments HR2243; lobbying to require the VA to take into account veteran's number of minor children when determining financial need of medical services HR4465; lobbying in support of retention of DIC payments upon remarriage on or after the age of 55 HR809; lobbying to grant Veterans Status to non-veteran members of the Reserve components with 20 years or more of sservice HR3787, S1780; lobbying on behalf of increased flexibility in payments of State Veterans Homes HR4241; lobbying in favor of strenghtening the protections granted by USERRA and increased and effective enforcment S263, HR1089; lobbying to permit Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to cover vocational and other technical education S3171, HR3813; lobbying to increase vocational rehabilitation and employemnt assistance programs HR1821; lobbying to prevent homelessness among veterans HR1171

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

Implementation of P.L. No. 109-461. H.R. 4241, to amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State Veterans Homes.

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

HR4241, a bill to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes; to urge support for passage.

Client expense: $400,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 84: Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act -- Makes the standard for access to care for a veteran seeking primary care from the Department of Veterans Affairs 30 days from the date the veteran contacts the Department. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe an appropriate standard for waiting times at Department health-care facilities as measured from the time a visit is scheduled until the time the veteran is seen. Directs the Secretary to periodically review the performance of Department health-care facilities in meeting such standards. Authorizes the Secretary to contract for health care services in non-Department facilities in a case in which the Secretary is unable to meet access standards. Prohibits such contracting-out with respect to a Department geographic service area that has a compliance rate in meeting such standards of 90 percent or more. Requires quarterly reports from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the Department's experience with respect to waiting times. H.R. 1036: Veterans Physical Therapy Services Improvement Act of 2009 -- To 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 H.R. 1075: RECOVER Act (Restoring Essential Care for Our Veterans for Effective Recovery Act) -- Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, if a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility that would otherwise provide covered medical services to veterans residing in an area for which a major disaster is declared is unable to provide such services for at least 180 days due to such disaster, to contract with one or more non-VA facilities in that area to provide such services to veterans who reside within 150 miles of the VA facility that is unable to provide the services. Makes such requirement inapplicable to a VA facility that is closed, or that the Secretary intends to close, as part of the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) process. Makes this Act applicable to any VA facility unable to provide covered services on or after August 29, 2005, by reason of a major disaster. H.R. 1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act -- To amend title 38, U.S.C., 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. H.R. 1335: To 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. H.R. 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. H.R. 2504: To 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. -- To amend title 38, USC, to provide for an increase in the annual amount authorized to be appropriated to the VA Secretary to carry out comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans. H.R. 2698: Veterans and Survivors Behavioral Health Awareness Act -- Directs the VA Secretary to provide scholarships to individuals pursuing education or training in behavioral health care specialties that are critical to the operations of Vet Centers (centers for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans) in order to recruit and retain individuals with such specialties for service in Vet Centers. Conditions the scholarship on the recipient's agreeing to serve in such a capacity for whatever period the Secretary specifies in the agreement. Directs the Secretary, on receipt of a request for counseling from an individual who has been discharged or released from active service, to: (1) provide referrals to assist the individual in obtaining mental health care and services outside the VA; and (2) if pertinent, advise such individual of the individual's rights to apply for review of the discharge or release. Directs the Secretary to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide emotional support services for survivors of deceased members of the Armed Forces and deceased veterans through the survivors' peers. H.R. 2699: Armed Forces Behavioral Health Awareness Act -- Makes any member of the Armed Forces who is deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom eligible for readjustment counseling and related mental health services through Vet Centers (centers for such counseling and services for veterans), regardless of the member's duty status. Directs the Secretary of Defense to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide emotional support services for family members of members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserves. Requires the Secretary of the Army to carry out a pilot program to enhance awareness of post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) among members of the Army. H.R. 2701: FY 2010 Intelligence Authorization Act -- Support of the retention of section 348 which would require a declassification review of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) records that may be pertinent to the health problems being suffered by as many as 175,000 Desert Storm veterans. H.R. 2879: Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 -- Authorizes the VA Secretary to pay travel expenses for veterans receiving treatment at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities at the rate of 41.5 cents per mile. (Under current law the rate is that provided to federal employees in connection with the performance of official duties.) Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish and operate at least one and up to five centers of excellence for rural health research, education, and clinical activities; (2) establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas; (3) carry out demonstration projects to examine alternatives for expanding care for veterans in rural areas; (4) establish a program to provide peer support, readjustment, and mental health services to veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (and related services to their family members); (5) assign an Indian Veterans Health Care Coordinator for each of the ten VA facilities that serve communities with the greatest per capita number of Indian veterans; (6) report to Congress jointly with the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the advisability of the joint establishment and operation by the VAs Veterans Health Administration and the Indian Health Service of health clinics to serve populations of Indian reservations, including Indian veterans; and (7) report annually to Congress on matters related to VA care for veterans residing in rural areas. H.R. 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. H.R. 3257, H.R. 3484, H.R. 3579, H.R. 3813, H.R. 3948, H.R. 3976, H.R. 4079, H.R. 4203, H.R. 4359; H.R. 4469: Legislation of various bills -- Enhanced benefits and services for veterans and their families H.R. 3441: To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes -- To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes H.R. 3926: Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act -- Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly conduct a study on the incidence of breast cancer among members of the Armed Forces and veterans and report study results to Congress. H.R. 3949: Veterans Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 -- To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to improve the equitable relief available for servicemembers called to active duty, and for other purposes. H.R. 4006: Rural, American Indian Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 -- Directs the VA Secretary to assign an Indian Veterans Health Care Coordinator for each of the ten VA facilities that serve communities with the greatest per capita number of Indian veterans. Includes among Coordinator duties: (1) improving outreach to tribal communities; (2) coordinating the medical needs of Indian veterans on Indian reservations with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Indian Health Service (HIS); and (3) acting as an ombudsman for Indian veterans enrolled in the VHA health care system. Directs the Secretary to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of the Interior to ensure the electronic transfer of health records of Indian veterans between HIS and VA facilities. Requires the VA Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report jointly to Congress on the advisability of the joint VHA-HIS establishment and operation of health clinics to serve populations of Indian reservations, including Indian veterans. H.R. 4241: To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes -- Authorizes the VA Secretary, in lieu of making payments to state homes for furnishing nursing home care to veterans, to enter into agreements with such homes to furnish such care under federal provisions which allow the Secretary to transfer to non-VA homes (at the expense of the United States) veterans who have been furnished such care in a facility under the jurisdiction of the VA. Replaces provisions providing for payment of nursing home care at the lesser of the prevailing rate or the cost of daily care with provisions providing for payment at the rate determined for a state home that is the applicable or prevailing rate payable in the geographic area in which the state home is located. H.R. 4632: Renovate and Enhance Veterans Meeting Halls and Posts Act (REVAMP Act) - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible veterans service organizations for repairs and rehabilitation of their existing facilities. Defines "eligible veterans service organization" as: (1) a tax-exempt entity organized on a local or area basis; and (2) a local or area chapter, post, or other unit of a national, regional, statewide, or other larger entity of which local or area chapters, posts, or units are members (but not any such national, regional, statewide, or other larger entity itself). Prohibits an eligible veterans service organization from receiving such grant amounts, for any single fiscal year, in an amount exceeding the lesser of the cost of the proposed repair or rehabilitation or $200,000. Makes a grant recipient ineligible to receive another such grant until after five succeeding fiscal years. Prohibits the use of such grants for construction or acquisition of a new facility. H.R. 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, 1941, and 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. H.R. 174, 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. H.R. 1302, S. 1155: A bill to 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. -- A bill to 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. H.R. 1428, S. 1752: A bill to amend title 38, USC, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson's disease. -- A bill to amend title 38, USC, to direct the VA Secretary to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson's disease. 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. 977: Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2009 -- A bill to amend title 38, USC, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war, and for other purposes. S. 1444: Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act -- A bill to 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 -- A bill to 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: A bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Alexandria, Minnesota, as the "Max J. Beilke Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic". -- A bill to 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. S. 1556: Veteran Voting Support Act of 2009 -- A bill to require the VA Secretary to permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes. S. 1753: Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2009 -- A bill to amend title 38, USC, to increase assistance for disabled veterans who are temporarily residing in housing owned by a family member, and for other purposes. S. 1963 [S. 252, S. 597, S. 801]: Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009A bill to amend title 38, USC, to provide assistance to caregivers of veterans, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, to improve the provision of health care to veterans. -- Specific support for the mental health care provisions, care giver provisions, rural health care provisions and enhancements and improvements for women veterans health care within the Department of Veterans Affairs. [This measure contains provisions of S. 252, S. 597, and S. 801] General Support Letter for Buyer/Mckeon Amendment to HR 4872 -- Ensure both VA and DoD beneficiaries are exempted in any national health care reform legislation. General Support Letter -- Funding for Gulf War research in DoD FY 2011 appropriations bill. Letter to chairman ofHouse Veterans AffairsCommittee Sub-Committee on DisabilityAssistance & MemorialAffairs -- Concerns and comments of The American Legion regarding the VAs Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. General Support Letter -- Support of legislation to enable State Veterans Homes to furnish nursing home care to parents whose child died while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Testimony (HVAC Roundtable meeting) -- Organizations legislative priorities for 2010. Testimony -- Veteran/military transition issues. Testimony -- Status update on implementation of Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (PL 110-389). Testimony -- Review of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Contract Health Care: Project HERO Testimony -- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for FY 2011 and FY 2012 Testimony -- The Veterans Health Administrations Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Testimony -- H.R. 4241, to amend Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code (USC), to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State Veterans Homes. Testimony (HVAC Claims Summit 2010) -- Department of Veterans Affairs claims processing issues. Testimony -- Examination of VA Regional Office Disability Claims Quality Review Methods Is VBAs Systematic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR) Making the Grade? Testimony -- Various health care bills (H.R. 949, H.R. 1075, H.R. 2698, H.R. 2699, H.R. 2879, H.R. 3926, H.R. 4006, H.R. 84, and 3 Discussion Drafts). General Support Letter for Buyer/Mckeon Amendment to HR 4872 -- Ensure both VA and DoD beneficiaries are exempted in any national health care reform legislation. General Support Letter -- Funding for Gulf War research in DoD FY 2011 appropriations bill. General Support Letter -- Support $10 million in funding in FY 2011 DoD authorization bill for the Eye Trauma and Vision Research Program. General Support Letter -- Support of legislation to enable State Veterans Homes to furnish nursing home care to parents whose child died while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Testimony (HVAC Roundtable meeting) -- Organizations legislative priorities for 2010. Testimony -- Veteran/military transition issues. Testimony -- Status update on implementation of Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (PL 110-389). Testimony -- Review of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Contract Health Care: Project HERO Testimony -- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for FY 2011 and FY 2012 Testimony -- The Veterans Health Administrations Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Testimony -- H.R. 4241, to amend Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code (USC), to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State Veterans Homes. Testimony (HVAC Claims Summit 2010) -- Department of Veterans Affairs claims processing issues. Testimony -- Examination of VA Regional Office Disability Claims Quality Review Methods Is VBAs Systematic Technical Accuracy Review (STAR) Making the Grade? Testimony -- Various health care bills (H.R. 949, H.R. 1075, H.R. 2698, H.R. 2699, H.R. 2879, H.R. 3926, H.R. 4006, H.R. 84, and 3 Discussion Drafts). General Support Letter -- Support $10 million in funding in FY 2011 DoD authorization bill for the Eye Trauma and Vision Research Program. Letter to Chairman, House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs -- Concerns and comments of The American Legion regarding the VAs Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program.

Implementation of P.L. No. 109-461. H.R. 4241, to amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State Veterans Homes.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $130,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

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

See Next Page For Listing Signed onto The Military Coalitions(TMC) Testimony before the Armed Services Personnel Sub-Committee regarding numerous issues affecting members of the Armed Services and their families. No specific bill numbers; Signed onto TMC letters to members of House/Senate in support of S. 1963 The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 and H.R.3155, H.R.1211, H.R.1293, and H.R. 2770. Also sent a separate letter from MOPH in support of H.R. 1963; Letter & Testimony before Joint Senate/House Veterans Affairs Committees in support of H.R.4403 SPACE-A Travel Act of 2009; Letter & Testimony before joint Senate/House Veterans Affairs Committees in support of H. R. 731 Jennys Law Worked go gain support for the Issues that were included in testimony before the Joint Senate/House Veterans Committees on March 4, 2010: 1) Requesting that Congress continue to urge VA to improve the timelessness and accuracy of the VA Claims System. No specific legislation; 2) Urging Congress to continue to urge DOD/VA to increase the support of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Support S. 1963 Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009; 3) Support for H.R. 775 Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act and S. 535 To amend Title 10, U.S. Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of Survivor Annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by Veterans Dependency and Indemnity Compensation; 4) Support for S. 546 Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009 and H.R. 333 Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act; 5) Support for S. 572 Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act and H.R. 1305 To Provide for the issuance of a forever stamp to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart; 6) MOPH would support legislation that would authorize payment of health insurance premiums for TRICARE supplements and TRICARE dental plan on a pre-tax basis (No current legislative vehicle); 7) Support for H. R. 4241 To amend Chapter 17, Title 38 U.S. Code to allow for increased flexibility in payments for state veteran homes; 8) Support for any legislation that would link the COLA for recipients of the VA Compensation and Pensions programs to the COLA increases for Federal Employees (No current legislation introduced); 9) Support for amending Public Law 106-117 which was the Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act of 2000 to provide priority to combat wounded veterans in VA extended care facilities (No current legislation introduced); 10) Support for an amendment to Public Law 109-461 that would expand the VA acquisition market for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses and Veteran Owned Business to include purchases made utilizing the Federal Supply Schedule (No current legislation introduced); 11) Support for H.R. 4045 Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2009; 12) Support for H.R. 3365 Medicare Reimbursement Act of 2009; 13) Support for H.R. 666 Military Valor Roll of Honor Act; 14) Support for H.R. 1633 Honor the Wish Act; 15) Support for H.R. 731 Jennys Law; 16) Support for H.R. 3943 and S. 1932 Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act; 17) Support SJR 15 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States and HJR 47 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. 18) Support H.R. 4403 Space-A Travel Act of 2009; 19) Support S.66 Travel on Military Aircraft of certain disabled former members of the Armed Forces; 20) Support for SCR 36 and HCR 168 National Purple Heart Recognition Day; 21) Signed onto a letter of support from The Military Coalition to Senator Lincoln for H.R. 613 The Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act; 22) Renewed support to Rep. King (NY) for H. Res. 111 establishing a select committee on POW and MIA Affairs; 23) TMC letter to DOD urging improvements in the Physical Disability Board of Review outreach procedures; 24) Letter to Rep. Filner and Buyer supporting changes to the VA Benefits Claim System; 25) Supported TMC letter to Rep Walter Jones thanking him for initiating a discharge petition (111-10) concerning HR 775, The Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act.

Twenty year Reservists get Veterans Status HR 3787; Extend VA Authority to treat Agent Orange and Gulf War Syndrome HR 2926; Outreach for Veterans Act S. 1109; Payments to State Veterans Home HR 4241; Support caregivers S. 1963; Medicare Subvention for VA HR 3365; Agent Orange expansion S. 1939 & HR 2254.

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

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

Implementation of P.L. No. 109-461. H.R. 4241, to amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to allow for increased flexibility in payments for State Veterans Homes.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $90,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE