Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act

United Spinal Supports H.R. 5428 - The Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights As part of the Independence through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, United Spinal Association signed on to a letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee in support of HR 5428 - the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights. This bill would establish a written list of rights that all injured and amputee veterans have access to high quality orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) care. O&P care, consisting of orthopedic braces, artificial limbs, and the clinical services necessary to treat the patient, is vital to veterans who have lost limbs or have sustained injuries or disorders of the arms, legs, back and neck. Supported the GI Bill Consumer Awareness Act of 2012 (S. 2241). Supported the Honoring Americas Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (HR 1627). This omnibus legislation contains many provisions that we have advocated for including access for service dogs to VA facilities. Discussed access to VA mental health services with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration. Supported the Veterans I.D. Card Act (H.R. 2985). This legislation directs the Secretary of VA to issue a veteran's identification card to any veteran who requests such card and is neither entitled to military retired pay nor enrolled in the VA system of patient enrollment. Supported the Veterans Data Breach Timely Notification Act (H.R. 3730). Requires the VA Secretary, in the event of a data breach with respect to sensitive personal information that is processed or maintained by the Secretary, to notify Congress and each individual whose sensitive personal information is involved in the data breach. Supported the Veterans Affairs Employee Accountability Act (H.R. 4481). Directs the VA Secretary to ensure that no employee of VA who violates any civil law covered by the Federal Acquisition Regulation receives any retention incentive, payment, or award for or during the year of such violation. Supported the Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 5948). Supported the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012 (S. 3313). Supported the Mental Health Access to Continued Care and Enhancement of Support Services Act (S. 3340) Discussed legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to consider the resources of individuals applying for pension that were recently disposed of by the individuals for less than fair market value when determining the eligibility of such individuals for such pension, and for other purposes (S. 3270). Supported legislation that would amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for coverage under the beneficiary travel program of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain disabled veterans for travel for certain special disabilities rehabilitation, and for other purposes (S. 1755). Discussed the Veteran Voting Support Act of 2011 (S. 1264). Directs the VA Secretary to provide mail voter registration application forms to each veteran who: (1) seeks to enroll in VA health care system at the time of such enrollment; and (2) is already enrolled in such system when there is a change in the veteran's enrollment status or when there is a change in the veteran's address. Discussed with VA the long-term care benefits available to birth children of Korean and Vietnam conflict veterans who have spina bifida. Discussed the Consolidating Veteran Employment Services for Improved Performance Act of 2012 (H.R. 4072). This legislation would consolidate programs currently carried out by DOLs Veterans Employment and Training Service in VA. It would also consolidate the disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives into a single provision establishing veteran employment specialists, which shall perform both tasks. Supported the Military and Veterans Educational Reform Act (S. 2179). This legislation would make needed reforms to ensure that veterans and servicemembers receive the full benefit of their DOD and VA educational benefits. Supported the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (H.R. 674/Pub. Law 112-56). This legislation includes provisions to increase employment opportunities for veterans and represents a blend of proposals that were included in H.R. 2433 and S. 951. Discussed the Veteran Voting Support Act of 2011 (S. 1264). This legislation would require VA to provide voter registration applications and assistance in absentee voting for certain veterans. Urged Congress and the Administration to address the treatment of our nations veterans by some for-profit educational institutions. This includes amending the 90/10 rule. Supported the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (H.R. 2433). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans receive the training, transition, and placement assistance they need to allow them to gain meaningful employment opportunities. Supported the Helping Our Homeless Heroes Act (H.R. 2559). This legislation would make improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs that assist homeless veterans and their families. Supported the CAL Undiagnosed Diseases Research and Collaboration Network Act of 2011 (H.R. 2671). This legislation would help to track undiagnosed diseases and facilitate collaboration between physicians, researchers, and government agencies by creating a patient registry to be maintained by the National Institutes of Health. Supported the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198). This legislation would direct the VA Secretary to carry out a pilot program for assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of service dog training and handling for veterans with disabilities. Also discussed Senate companion bill (S. 1838). Supported H.R. 2074, as amended. The amended legislation includes H.R. 198 and H.R. 1154. Supported S. 914, as amended. The amended legislation includes S. 769, S. 411, and S. 957. Discussed the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 (S. 951) and the need to ensure that there are platforms for the development of internship opportunities for wounded warriors with private employers. Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S. 411/H.R. 1133). This legislation would allow changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services. Supported the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act of 2011 (S. 957). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans with traumatic brain injuries receive the critical rehabilitation services needed to allow them to maximize their independence. Supported the Housing, Employment, and Living Programs (HELP) for Veterans Act of 2011 (H.R. 117). This legislation includes provisions that would not only reform the VAs Special Home Adaptation grant program to allow veterans who meet the nationally accepted standard of legal blindness to receive assistance with critical home modification, but also increase the amount of grant funding available for this program and the Specially Adapted Housing grant program. Supported the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act (H.R. 1671). This legislation would extend until December 31, 2016, the authority of the VA Secretary to provide adaptive housing assistance under the Temporary Residence Adaptation grant program to veterans with disabilities who are temporarily residing with family members. Supported legislation establishing an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights (H.R. 805). This legislation directs the VA Secretary to ensure that an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights is printed on signage in accessible formats and displayed prominently and conspicuously in each VA prosthetics and orthotics clinic. It also requires VA employees who work at such clinics, as well as patient advocates of veterans who receive care there, to receive training on the Bill of Rights and directs the Secretary to conduct outreach to inform veterans about it. Supported the Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act (VETS Dogs Act) (H.R. 1154/S. 769). The VETS Dogs Act states that the VA Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs in VA facilities or on VA property. Discussed the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 115/S. 490). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]). Urged Congress to expand the extended caregivers program authorized by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (P.L. 111-163) to include all veterans who are eligible for VA health care and meet certain needs-based criteria. Urged Congress to expand VA home and community-based services for veterans with disabilities. Urged Congress to increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits and to eliminate the offset of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. Urged Congress to provide appropriate oversight for and resources to address the VAs benefits claims processing backlog. Urged VA to accept the authority granted to them by states through the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to serve as a voter registration agency.

Client expense: $110,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 5880, HR 5833, HR 5799, HR 5712, HR 5683, HR 5653, HR 5650, HR 4978, HR 4740, HR 4482, HR 4481, HR 4310, HR 4299, HR 4246, HR 4288, HR 4142, HR 4118, HR 4115, HR 4114, HR 4072, HR 4051, HR 4048, HR 4023, HR 3895, HR 3850, HR 3758, HR 3721, HR 3712, HR 3687, HR 3670, HR 3670, HR 3638, HR 3612, HR 3610, HR 3546, HR 3473, HR 3438, HR 3355, HR 3337, HR 3329, HR 3279, HR 3064, HR 3016, HR 2996, HR 2875, HR 2711, HR 2559, HR 2590, HR 2534, HR 2530, HR 2433, HR 2424, HR 2318, HR 2187, HR 2148, HR 2053, HR 2052, HR 2046, HR 1979, HR 1947, HR 1941, HR 1930, HR 1826, HR 1811, HR 1854, HR 1742, HR 1671, HR 1657, HR 1454, HR 1285, HR 1260, HR 1178, HR 1133, HR 1092, HR 813, HR 812, HR 810, HR 809, HR 806, HR 805, HR 803, HR 802, HR 539, HR 465, HR 333, HR 329, HR 309, HR 303, HR 248, HR 240, HR 186, HR 178, HR 120, HR 115, HR 26, HR 7, H RES 636, H RES 445, H RES 376, H CON RES 112 S 3210, S 3052, S 2299, S 2246, S 2259, S 2130, S 2128, S 2004, S 1866, S 1849, S 1847, S 1823, S 1799, S 1798, S 1689, S 1631, S 1629, S 1474, S 1391, S 1334, S 1253, S 1184, S 1172, S 1154, S 1148, S 1147, S 1124, S 1123, S 1104, S 1060, S 1017, S 951, S 935, S 914, S 910, S 894, S 874, S 873, S 816, S 798, S 769, S 696, S 658, S 633, S 536, S 490, S 423, S 411, S 344, S 260, S 223, S 68, S 67, S CON RES 13, S RES 333, S RES 160

Client expense: $160,000 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 3630, Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, issues related to the R&D tax credit and bonus depreciation. S. 2240 / H.R. 4196, To extend bonus depreciation. S. 1813, MAP-21 (highway bill), as it relates to pension funding relief. H.R. 1834, Freedom to Invest Act, and H.R. 1671, Foreign Earnings Reinvestment Act. Issues related to the taxation of U.S. multinational corporations and corporate tax reform.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $57,500

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

Submitted testimony to the House Veterans Affairs Committee regarding community supports for veterans. Discussed the Consolidating Veteran Employment Services for Improved Performance Act of 2012 (H.R. 4072). This legislation would consolidate programs currently carried out by DOLs Veterans Employment and Training Service in VA. It would also consolidate the disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives into a single provision establishing veteran employment specialists, which shall perform both tasks. Supported the Military and Veterans Educational Reform Act (S. 2179). This legislation would make needed reforms to ensure that veterans and servicemembers receive the full benefit of their DOD and VA educational benefits. Supported the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (H.R. 674/Pub. Law 112-56). This legislation includes provisions to increase employment opportunities for veterans and represents a blend of proposals that were included in H.R. 2433 and S. 951. Discussed the Veteran Voting Support Act of 2011 (S. 1264). This legislation would require VA to provide voter registration applications and assistance in absentee voting for certain veterans. Urged Congress and the Administration to address the treatment of our nations veterans by some for-profit educational institutions. This includes amending the 90/10 rule. Supported the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (H.R. 2433). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans receive the training, transition, and placement assistance they need to allow them to gain meaningful employment opportunities. Supported the Helping Our Homeless Heroes Act (H.R. 2559). This legislation would make improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs that assist homeless veterans and their families. Supported the CAL Undiagnosed Diseases Research and Collaboration Network Act of 2011 (H.R. 2671). This legislation would help to track undiagnosed diseases and facilitate collaboration between physicians, researchers, and government agencies by creating a patient registry to be maintained by the National Institutes of Health. Supported the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198). This legislation would direct the VA Secretary to carry out a pilot program for assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of service dog training and handling for veterans with disabilities. Also discussed Senate companion bill (S. 1838). Supported H.R. 2074, as amended. The amended legislation includes H.R. 198 and H.R. 1154. Supported S. 914, as amended. The amended legislation includes S. 769, S. 411, and S. 957. Discussed the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 (S. 951) and the need to ensure that there are platforms for the development of internship opportunities for wounded warriors with private employers. Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S. 411/H.R. 1133). This legislation would allow changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services. Supported the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act of 2011 (S. 957). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans with traumatic brain injuries receive the critical rehabilitation services needed to allow them to maximize their independence. Supported the Housing, Employment, and Living Programs (HELP) for Veterans Act of 2011 (H.R. 117). This legislation includes provisions that would not only reform the VAs Special Home Adaptation grant program to allow veterans who meet the nationally accepted standard of legal blindness to receive assistance with critical home modification, but also increase the amount of grant funding available for this program and the Specially Adapted Housing grant program. Supported the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act (H.R. 1671). This legislation would extend until December 31, 2016, the authority of the VA Secretary to provide adaptive housing assistance under the Temporary Residence Adaptation grant program to veterans with disabilities who are temporarily residing with family members. Supported legislation establishing an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights (H.R. 805). This legislation directs the VA Secretary to ensure that an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights is printed on signage in accessible formats and displayed prominently and conspicuously in each VA prosthetics and orthotics clinic. It also requires VA employees who work at such clinics, as well as patient advocates of veterans who receive care there, to receive training on the Bill of Rights and directs the Secretary to conduct outreach to inform veterans about it. Supported the Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act (VETS Dogs Act) (H.R. 1154/S. 769). The VETS Dogs Act states that the VA Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs in VA facilities or on VA property. Discussed the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 115/S. 490). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]). Urged Congress to expand the extended caregivers program authorized by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (P.L. 111-163) to include all veterans who are eligible for VA health care and meet certain needs-based criteria. Urged Congress to expand VA home and community-based services for veterans with disabilities. Urged Congress to increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits and to eliminate the offset of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. Urged Congress to provide appropriate oversight for and resources to address the VAs benefits claims processing backlog. Urged VA to accept the authority granted to them by states through the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to serve as a voter registration agency.

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 4142, HR 4118, HR 4115, HR 4114, HR 4072, HR 4051, HR 4048, HR 4023, HR 3895, HR 3850, HR 3758, HR 3721, HR 3712, HR 3687, HR 3670, HR 3638, HR 3612, HR 3610, HR 3546, HR 3473, HR 3438, HR 3355, HR 3337, HR 3329, HR 3279, HR 3064, HR 3016, HR 2996, HR 2875, HR 2711, HR 2559, HR 2590, HR 2534, HR 2530, HR 2433, HR 2424, HR 2318, HR 2187, HR 2148, HR 2053, HR 2052, HR 2046, HR 1979, HR 1947, HR 1941, HR 1930, HR 1826, HR 1811, HR 1854, HR 1742, HR 1671, HR 1657, HR 1454, HR 1285, HR 1260, HR 1178, HR 1133, HR 1092, HR 813, HR 812, HR 810, HR 809, HR 806, HR 805, HR 803, HR 802, HR 539, HR 465, HR 333, HR 329, HR 309, HR 303, HR 248, HR 240, HR 186, HR 178, HR 120, HR 115, HR 26, HR 7, H.RES 445, H. RES. 376, S 2130, S 2128, S 2004, S 1849, S 1847, S 1823, S 1799, S 1798, S 1689, S 1631, S 1629, S 1474, S 1391, S 1334, S 1253, S 1184, S 1172, S 1154, S 1148, S 1147, S 1124, S 1123, S 1104, S 1060, S 1017, S 951, S 935, S 914, S 910, S 894, S 874, S 873, S 816, S 798, S 769, S 696, S 658, S 633, S 536, S 490, S 423, S 411, S 344, S 260, S 223, S 68, S 67, S.CON.RES. 13, S. RES. 333, S. RES. 160

Client expense: $150,000 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R. 115, the "CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011" H.R. 117, the "HELP Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 198, the "Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act of 2011" H.R. 303, the "Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011" H.R. 544, a bill concerning the servicemembers' Civil Relief Act H.R. 807/S. 572, VA Collective Bargaining H.R. 802 H.R. 811, the "Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act" H.R. 814, the "Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011" H.R. 923/S. 780, the "Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011" H.R. 1133/S. 411, the "Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 1154/S. 769, the "Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011" H.R. 1383/S. 745, "Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011" H.R. 1407/S. 894, the "Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011" H.R. 1441/S. 698, Arlington Cemetery H.R. 1484, the "Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011" H.R. 1591/S. 815, "Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 1671, the "Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act" H.R. 1627 H.R. 1647, the "Veterans' Choice in Filing Act of 2011" H.R. 1657 H.R. 1854/S. 935, the "Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011" H.R. 1855/S. 957, the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act of 2011" H.R. 1863/S. 910, the "Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011" S. 277, the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009" S. 396, the "Meeting the Inpatient Health Care Needs for Far South Texas Veterans Act of 2011" S. 423, a bill concerning veterans; disability compensation S. 486, the "Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011" S. 490, a bill to increase the age of a CHAPVA eligible dependent child Implementation of P.L. 111-163, the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2011" S. 491, the "Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011" S. 536 S. 666, the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011" S. 696, Vet Centers S. 873 S. 874 S. 914, Teleheath Co-payments S. 928 S. 951, the "hiring Heroes Act of 2011" S. 1017, the "Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2011" S. 1060, the "Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011" S. 1104, Transition Assistance Program (TAP) S. 1123, the "Assistance to Veterans Affected by Natural Disasters Act" S. 1124, the "Veterans Telemedicine Act of 2011" S. 1127, the "Veterans Rural Health Improvement Act of 2011" S. 1148, the "Veterans Programs Improvement act of 2011"

Supported the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (H.R. 674/P.L. 112-56). This legislation includes provisions to increase employment opportunities for veterans and represents a blend of proposals that were included in H.R. 2433 and S. 951. Discussed the Veteran Voting Support Act of 2011 (S.1264). This legislation would require VA to provide voter registration applications and assistance in absentee voting for certain veterans. Urged Congress and the Administration to address the treatment of our nation's veterans by some for-profit educational institutions. This includes amending the 90/10 rule. Supported the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (H.R. 2433). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans receive the training, transition, and placement assistance they need to allow them to gain meaningful employment opportunities. Supported the Helping Our Homeless Heroes Act (H.R. 2559). This legislation would make improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs that assist homeless veterans and their families. Supported the CAL Undiagnosed Diseases Research and Collaboration Network Act of 2011 (H.R. 2671). This legislation would help to track undiagnosed diseases and facilitate collaboration between physicians, researchers, and government agencies by creating a patient registry to be maintained by the National Institutes of Health. Supported the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198). This legislation would direct the VA Secretary to carry out a pilot program for assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of service dog training and handling for veterans with disabilities. Also discussed Senate companion bill (S. 1838). Supported HR 2074, as amended. The amended legislation includes H.R. 198 and H.R. 1154. Supported S. 914, as amended. The amended legislation includes S. 769, S. 411 and S. 957. Discussed the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, (S. 951) and the need to ensure that there are platforms for the development of internship opportunities for wounded warriors with private employers. Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S.411/H.R. 1133). This legislation would allow changes to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services. Supported the Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011 (S. 957). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans with traumatic brain injuries receive the critical rehabilitation services needed to allow them to maximize their independence. Supported the Housing, Employment, and Living Programs (HELP) for Veterans Act of 2011 (H.R 117). This legislation includes provisions that would not only reform the VA's Special Home Adaptation grant program to allow veterans who meet the nationally accepted standard of legal blindness to receive assistance with critical home modification, but also increase the amount of grant funding available for this program and the Specially Adapted Housing grant program. Supported the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act (H.R. 1671). This legislation would extend until December 31, 2016, the authority of the VA Secretary to provide adaptive housing assistance under the Temporary Residence Adaptation grant program to veterans with dsiabilities who are temporarily residing with family members. Supported legislation establishing an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights (H.R. 805). This legislation directs the VA Secretary to ensure that an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights is printed on signage in accessible formats and displayed prominently and conspicuously in each VA and prosthetics and orthotics clinic. It also requires VA emplyees who work at such clinics, as well as patient advocates of veterans who receive care there, to receive training on the Bill of Rights and directs the Secretary to conduct outreach to inform veterans about it. Supported the Veterans Equal treatment for Service Dogs Act (VETS Dogs Act) (H.R. 1154/S. 769). The VETS Dogs Act states that the VA Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs in VA facilities or on VA property. Discussed the CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 115/S. 490). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]). Urged Congress to expand the extended caregivers program authorized by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (P.L. 111-163) to include all veterans who are eligible for VA health care and meet certain needs-based criteria. Urged Congress to expand VA home and community-based services for veterans with disabilities. Urged Congress to increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits and to eliminate the offset of milittary Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. Urged Congress to provide appropriate oversight for and resources to address the VA's benefits claims processing backlog. Urged VA to accept the authority granted to them by states through the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to serve as a voter registration agency.

S. 1549, American Jobs Creation Act; S. 1660, American Jobs Act; H.R. 3123, American Job Creation and Investment Act; H.R. 3630, Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act; HR 3765, Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act; and issues related to the R&D tax credit. HR 674, the 3% Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act. HR 1834, Freedom to Invest Act, and HR 1671, Foreign Earnings Reinvestment Act. Issues related to the taxation of U.S. multinational corporations and corporate tax reform.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $57,500

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 3355, HR 3337, HR 3329, HR 3279, HR 3064, HR 3016, HR 2996, HR 2875, HR 2711, HR 2559, HR 2590, HR 2534, HR 2530, HR 2433, HR 2424, HR 2318, HR 2187, HR 2148, HR 2053, HR 2052, HR 2046, HR 1979, HR 1947, HR 1941, HR 1930, HR 1826, HR 1811, HR 1854, HR 1742, HR 1671, HR 1657, HR 1454, HR 1285, HR 1260, HR 1178, HR 1133, HR 1092, HR 813, HR 812, HR 810, HR 809, HR 806, HR 805, HR 803, HR 802, HR 539, HR 465, HR 333, HR 329, HR 309, HR 303, HR 248, HR 240, HR 186, HR 178, HR 120, HR 115, HR 26, H.RES 445, H. RES. 376, S 1849, S 1847, S 1823, S 1799, S 1798, S 1689, S 1629, S 1474, S 1391, S 1334, S 1253, S 1184, S 1172, S 1154, S 1148, S 1147, S 1124, S 1123, S 1104, S 1060, S 1017, S 951, S 935, S 914, S 910, S 894, S 874, S 873, S 816, S 798, S 769, S 696, S 658, S 536, S 490, S 423, S 411, S 344, S 260, S 223, S 68, S 67, S.CON.RES. 13, S. RES. 160

Client expense: $150,000 · Firm income: Not reported

H.R.1Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2011 H.R.24 To redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps; H.R. 26 To direct the Secretary of Defense to adopt a program of professional and confidential screenings to detect mental health injuries acquired during deployment in support of a contingency operation and ultimately to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. H.R.28Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2011 H.R.46Fallen Heroes Family Act of 2011 H.R.115To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program. H.R.117To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. H.R.120To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses of certain totally-disabled veterans. H.R.136To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes. H.R.152To utilize the National Guard to provide support for the border control activities of the United States Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. H.R.159To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretaries make payments for certain treatments of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. H.R.168To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. H.R.169To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the main page of the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website and to publicize such Internet website. H.R.178To amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. H.R.179To amend title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits. H.R.180To amend the National Guard Youth Challenge Program under title 32, United States Code, to exclude nondefense funds made available by other Federal agencies for the Program from the matching requirements of the Program. H.R.181To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes. H.R.186To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members' disability rating percentage. H.R.198To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy. H.R.208To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the reimbursement of mental health counselors under TRICARE, and for other purposes. H.R.210To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. H.R.240To amend title 38, United States Code, to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. H.R.248To provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members, and for other purposes. H.R.287Homes for Heroes Act of 2011 H.R.290War Memorial Protection Act H.R.303Retired Pay Restoration Act H.R.319To require employers to provide veterans with time off on Veterans Day. H.R.329Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act H.R.332Military Environmental Responsibility Act H.R.333Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act H.R.337Restore Military Readiness Act of 2011 H.R.396TBI Treatment Act H.R.403Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training Practices ActBEST Practices Act H.R.413To reduce the budget of the Department of Defense to the level provided for fiscal year 2008 and to freeze the budget at such level through fiscal year 2016. H.R.465To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises. H.R.493To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death. H.R.544To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permanently extend the period of protections for servicemembers against mortgage foreclosures, and for other purposes. H.R.545 Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act; H.R.561 Veterans Employment Tax Credit Act of 2011 H.R.573 To amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay may be submitted; H.R.575 HEALTHY Vets Act of 2011Help Establish Access to Local Timely Healthcare for Your Vets Act of 2011; H.R.614Post 9/11 G.I. Bill Dependent Coverage Improvement Act H.R.637 To amend the procedures regarding military recruiter access to secondary school student recruiting information. H.R.644 Guardians of Freedom Act of 2011; H.R.652To amend title 10, United States Code, to limit the increase of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health care provided under the TRICARE program. H.R.687 Military Spouses Employment Act; H.R.768Soldiers Targeted by Offensive Profiteering Act of 2011 (STOP Act) H.R.781 Veterans' Employment Transition Support Act of 2011VETS Act of 2011; H.R.791 To amend title 37, United States Code, to provide flexible spending arrangements for members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes. H.R.802 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a VetStar Award Program; H.R.803 Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2011; H.R.804 To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.805To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes. H.R.806 End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2011; H.R.807 To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the prohibition on collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions regarding compensation of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs other than rates of basic pay, and for other purposes; H.R.809To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to display in each facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs a Women Veterans Bill of Rights. H.R.810 Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2011; H.R.811 Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act H.R.812 Agent Orange Equity Act of 2011; H.R.813 To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death. H.R.814 Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011; H.R.834Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act of 2011 H.R.865 Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011; H.R.923 Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011 H.R.924 Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011; H.R.930 To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. H.R.943 K-9 Companion Corps Act H.R.948 Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011 H.R.1110 Combat Act; H.R.1003To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members, former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving spouses and dependents of such members and former members. H.R.1019To ensure that members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who were killed or wounded in certain attacks in 2009 and 2011 directed at members or employees outside of a combat zone are treated in the same manner as members and employees who are killed or wounded in combat zones. H.R.1025To amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law. H.R.1046 Honor the WISH ActHonor the Written Intent of our Soldier Heroes Act; H.R.1089 Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act; H.R.1092Military Retirees Health Care Protection ActMilitary Retirees Health Care Protection Act H.R.1130 Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011; H.R.1133Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011; H.R.1142 Global Combat Zone Recognition Act; H.R.1154 Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs ActVETS Dogs Act H.R.1169To amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States Code, to eliminate inequities in the treatment of National Guard technicians, to reduce the eligibility age for retirement for non-Regular service, and for other purposes. H.R.1178To amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents. H.R.1260 Support for Survivors Act; H.R.1263To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures. H.R.1284 Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Act of 2011; H.R.1285Military Health Care Affordability Act H.R.1297 Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011; H.R.1298 Veterans' Efficiencies Through Savings Act of 2011VETS Act of 2011; H.R.1312Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011; H.R.1318South Texas Veterans Health Care Expansion Act H.R.1354 American Jobs Matter Act of 2011; H.R.1362 To ensure that members of the Armed Forces continue to receive their pay and allowances despite a shutdown of the Federal Government and in the event that the debt of the United States Government reaches the statutory limit; H.R.1383 Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 H.R.1407 Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011; H.R.1425 Creating Jobs Through Small Business Innovation Act of 2011; H.R.1435To amend chapter 141 of title 10, United States Code, to include disclosures made by Department of Defense contract employees to their immediate employers in the provisions providing protections against reprisals for certain disclosures; H.R.1441 To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify the prohibition against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes. H.R.1451 Post 9/11 GI Bill Payment Restoration Act; H.R.1460 To provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system, and for other purposes. H.R.1484 Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011; H.R.1529 Defense Sexual Trauma Response Oversight and Good Governance ActDefense STRONG Act; H.R.1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012; H.R.1566 Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011; H.R.1570 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to employers for the value of the service not performed during the period employees are performing service as members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard. H.R.1591 Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011SERVE Act of 2011; H.R.1612 To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a commission on urotrauma; H.R.1627 Honoring American Veterans Act of 2011 H.R.1657To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. H.R.1671 Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act; H.R.1679 WE CARE ActWomen's Excellence of Care and Accessibility Review and Evaluation Act; H.R.1709 Force Protection and Readiness Act; H.R.1742 Janey Ensminger Act H.R.1799 St. Albans VA Veteran Cares Act of 2011; H.R.1811National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011 H.R.1826To amend title 38, United States Code, to reinstate criminal penalties for persons charging veterans unauthorized fees; H.R.1832 Servicemembers' Telemedicine and E-Health Portability Act of 2011STEP Act H.R.1854 Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011; H.R.1855 Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011; H.R.1863 Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011; H.R.1898 Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act H.R.1910To extend for one year the authority of certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans to transfer unused Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits to family members. H.R.1911 Protecting Veterans' Homes Act; H.R.1930 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements relating to the immunization of veterans, and for other purposes; H.R.1941 Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 H.R.1979To amend title 10, United States Code, to expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include additional chapter 61 disability retirees, to coordinate eligibility for combat-related special compensation and concurrent receipt, to eliminate the reduction of SBP survivor annuities by dependency and indemnity compensation, and to enhance the ability of members of the reserve components who serve on active duty or perform active service to receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay. H.R.2002To amend title 38, United States Code, to permit disabled or injured members of the Armed Forces to transfer Post 9/11 Educational Assistance benefits after retirement, and for other purposes. H.R.2048To expand the eligibility for the provision of Government headstones, markers, and medallions for veterans buried at private cemeteries. H.R.2051 Veterans Missing in America Act of 2011; H.R.2052Fort McClellan Health Registry Act H.R.2053 Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of 2011; H.R.2074 Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act H.R.2082Work Opportunity Credit Improvements Act H.R.2148Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act H.R.2159PROSTATE ActProstate Research, Outreach, Screening, Testing, Access, and Treatment Effectiveness Act of 2011; H.R.2203 To establish a pilot program under which veterans in the State of Alaska may receive health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs at non-Department medical facilities; H.R.2243Veterans Employment Promotion Act H.R.2266To amend title 10 to reform Department of Defense energy policy, and for other purposes. H.R.2274To amend title 38 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress annual reports on the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes. H.R.2288To amend title 10 to provide for certain treatment of autism under TRICARE. H.R.2300To amend title 38 to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team. H.R.2301To amend title 38 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make payments to educational institutions under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program at the end of a quarter, semester, or term. H.R.2302To amend title 38 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of conferences sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs. H.R.2305To amend title 38 to make memorial headstones and markers available for purchase on behalf of members of reserve components who performed inactive duty training or active duty for training but did not serve on active duty. H.R.2318To amend title 38 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $500. H.R.2329To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for certain requirements for financial institutions that are creditors for obligations and liabilities covered by that Act. H.R.2345To amend title 38 to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to United States Paralympics, Inc. H.R.2349To amend title 38 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to annually assess the skills of certain employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes. H.R.2355To amend title 38 to exclude individuals who have been convicted of committing certain sex offenses from receiving certain burial-related benefits and funeral honors which are otherwise available to certain veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and related individuals; H.R.2377To amend title 38 to provide for expedited procedures for the consideration of certain veterans claims; H.R.2383To amend title 38 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use electronic communication to provide required notice to claimants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes; H.R.2384To amend title 38 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct cost-benefit analyses of certain contracts; H.R.2388To amend title 38 to improve the submission of information by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Congress; H.R.2403To authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to State National Guards to provide counseling and reintegration services for members of reserve components of the Armed Forces ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation, members returning from such active duty, veterans of the Armed Forces, and their families. H.R.2419COMBAT PTSD ActCompensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act; H.R.2433 To amend title 38 to make certain improvements in the laws relating to the employment and training of veterans; H.R.2470E-SERV ActEnsuring Servicemembers' Electronic Records' Viability Act H.R.2477 To amend title 38 to establish a Department of Veterans Affairs Medal for Distinguished Public Service to honor veterans who make remarkable and distinguished contributions to their communities. H.R.2496Payment Reliability for our Obligations to Military and Investors to Secure Essential Stability ActPROMISES Act H.R.2498Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act; H.R.2506Making Work and Marriage Pay Act of 2011 H.R.2530To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for increased flexibility in establishing rates for reimbursement of State homes by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for nursing home care provided to veterans. H.R.2550 Spouses of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act; H.R.2559 Helping Homeless Heroes Act of 2011 H.R.2590 Seniors Protection Act of 2011; H.R.2619Veterans Affairs Active Shooter Training Act of 2011 H.R.2646 Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011; H.R.2654 Don't Default on Military Families Act H.R.2711 Supporting Our Seniors COLA Act of 2011; H.R.2720 To clarify the role of the Department of Veterans Affairs in providing a benefit or service related to the interment or funeral of a veteran. H.R.2751 Joining Forces for Military Mental Health Act; H.R.2773To amend titles 10, 32, and 37 of the United States Code to authorize the establishment of units of the National Guard in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. H.R.2848 Veterans' Religious Freedom Act; H.R.2875Wounded Veteran Job Security Act H.R.2886SHIELD Act of 2011Strengthening Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Essential Law Enforcement Departments Act of 2011 H.R.2954To improve the health of minority individuals, and for other purposes. S.67A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit former members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to travel on such aircraft; S.68A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores. S.90A bill to establish the Military Family-Friendly Employer Award for employers that have developed and implemented workplace flexibility policies to assist the working spouses and caregivers of service members, and returning service members, in addressing family and home needs during deployments; S.146 Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011; S.242 Guardians of Freedom Act of 2011; S.243 Citizen Soldier Support Act; S.260A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation; S.277Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011; S.325Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011; S.344Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011; S.367Hire A Hero Act of 2011 S.387Spending Control Act of 2011; S.390Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2011 S.411Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011; S.423A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation in connection with applications that are fully-developed at submittal, and for other purposes; S.472Service Members Permanent Change of Station Relief Act S.486Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011; S.490 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, and for other purposes; S.491Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011; S.514Gold Star Fathers Act of 2011 S.532Patriot Express Authorization Act of 2011; S.536 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide that utilization of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs; S.542National Guard, Reserve, "Gray Area"" Retiree; S.572A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the prohibition on collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions regarding compensation of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs other than rates of basic pay, and for other purposes; S.579 Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act; S.658 Support for Survivors Act; S.666 Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011; S.696 A bill to amend title 38 to treat Vet Centers as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities; S.698 A bill to amend title 38 to codify the prohibition against the reservation of gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery; S.724Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011 S.745A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to protect certain veterans who would otherwise be subject to a reduction in educational assistance benefits, and for other purposes. S.769Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011; S.780Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011 S.815Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011SERVE Act of 2011; S.842Military Spouse Employment Programs Evaluation Act; S.855 Pay Our Troops Act; S.866Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act S.873A bill to amend title 38 to provide benefits for children with spina bifida of veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era outside Vietnam; S.874 A bill to amend title 38 to modify the provision of compensation and pension to surviving spouses of veterans in the months of the deaths of the veterans, to improve housing loan benefits for veterans; S.894Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011; S.910 Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011; S.914 A bill to amend title 38 to authorize the waiver of the collection of copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans; S.928 A bill to amend title 38 to limit the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use bid savings on major medical facility projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand or change the scope of a major medical facility project of the Department; S.935Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011; S.951Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 S.957Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011 S.981A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2012 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. S.1017 Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2011; S.1060A bill to improve education, employment, independent living services, and health care for veterans, to improve assistance for homeless veterans, and to improve the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs; S.1080PRO-VETS Act of 2011Providing Real Outreach for Veterans Act of 2011; S.1089Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2011; S.1104A bill to require regular audits of, and improvements to, the Transition Assistance Program; S.1123 A bill to amend title 38 to improve the provision of benefits and assistance under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans affected by natural or other disasters; S.1124A bill to amend title 38 to improve the utilization of teleconsultation, teleretinal imaging, telemedicine, and telehealth coordination services for the provision of health care to veterans.

See next page. Supported the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (H.R. 2433). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans receive the training, transition, and placement assistance they need to allow them to gain meaningful employment opportunities. Supported the Helping Our Homeless Heroes Act (H.R. 2559). This legislation would make improvements to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs that assist homeless veterans and their families. Supported the CAL Undiagnosed Diseases Research and Collaboration Network Act of 2011 (H.R. 2671). This legislation would help to track undiagnosed diseases and facilitate collaboration between physicians, researchers, and government agencies by creating a patient registry to be maintained by the National Institutes of Health. Supported the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198). This legislation would direct the VA Secretary to carry out a pilot program for assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of service dog training and handling for veterans with disabilities. Also discussed Senate companion bill. Supported H.R. 2074, as amended. The amended legislation includes provisions similar to H.R. 198 and H.R. 1154. Supported S. 914, as amended. The amended legislation includes provisions similar to S. 769 and S. 411. Discussed the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 (S. 951) and the need to ensure that there are platforms for the development of internship opportunities for wounded warriors with private employers. Urged Congress to address the treatment of our nations veterans by some for-profit educational institutions. This includes whether the 90/10 rule should be amended. Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S. 411/H.R. 1133). This legislation would allow changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services. Supported the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act of 2011 (S. 957). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans with traumatic brain injuries receive the critical rehabilitation services needed to allow them to maximize their independence. Supported the Housing, Employment, and Living Programs (HELP) for Veterans Act of 2011 (H.R. 117). This legislation includes provisions that would not only reform the VAs Special Home Adaptation grant program to allow veterans who meet the nationally accepted standard of legal blindness to receive assistance with critical home modification, but also increase the amount of grant funding available for this program and the Specially Adapted Housing grant program. Supported the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act (H.R. 1671). This legislation would extend until December 31, 2016, the authority of the VA Secretary to provide adaptive housing assistance under the Temporary Residence Adaptation grant program to veterans with disabilities who are temporarily residing with family members. Supported legislation establishing an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights (H.R. 805). This legislation directs the VA Secretary to ensure that an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights is printed on signage in accessible formats and displayed prominently and conspicuously in each VA prosthetics and orthotics clinic. It also requires VA employees who work at such clinics, as well as patient advocates of veterans who receive care there, to receive training on the Bill of Rights and directs the Secretary to conduct outreach to inform veterans about it. Supported the Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act (VETS Dogs Act) (H.R. 1154/S. 769). The VETS Dogs Act states that the VA Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs in VA facilities or on VA property. Discussed the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 115/S. 490). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]). Urged Congress to expand the extended caregivers program authorized by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (P.L. 111-163) to include all veterans who are eligible for VA health care and meet certain needs-based criteria. Urged Congress to expand VA home and community-based services for veterans with disabilities. Urged Congress to increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits and to eliminate the offset of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. Urged Congress to provide appropriate oversight for and resources to address the VAs benefits claims processing backlog. Urged VA to accept the authority granted to them by states through the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to serve as a voter registration agency. Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S. 411/H.R. 1133). This legislation would allow changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services.

H.R. 115, "CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011" H.R. 117, the "HELP Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 120, the "Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans Act" H.R. 198, the "Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act of 2011" H.R. 240 H.R. 303, the "Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011" H.R. 807/S. 572, VA Collective Bargaining H.R. 802 H.R. 811, the "providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act" H.R. 814, the "Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011 H.R. 923/S. 780, the "Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011" H.R. 1025 H.R. 1133/S. 411, the "Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 1154/S. 769, the "Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011" H.R. 1263, amends the "Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act" H.R. 1383/S. 745, "Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011" H.R. 1407/S. 894, the "Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011" H.R. 1441/S. 698, Arlington Cemetery H.R. 1484, the "Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011" H.R. 1591/S. 815, "Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 1671, the "Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act" H.R. 1627 H.R. 1647, the "Veterans' Choice in Filing Act of 2011" H.R. 1657 H..R. 1854/S. 935, the "Veterans Outreach Enchancement Act of 2011" H.R. 1855/S. 957, the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rebabilitative Services' Imporvements Act of 2011" H.R. 1863/S. 910, the "Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011" H.R. 1911, the "Protecting Veterans' Homes Act" H.R. 2074, the "Veterans Sexual Assualt Prevention and Health Care Enhancement Act" H.R. 2243, the "Veterans Employment Promotion Act" H.R. 2274 H.R. 2301, the "Streamling Education Claims Processing Act of 2011" H.R. 2302 H.R. 2329, the "Ensuring a Response For Servicemembers Act" H.R. 2349, the "Veterans Benefit Act of 2011" H.R. 2383, the "Modernizing Notice to Claimants Act" H.R. 2388, the "Access to Timely Information Act" H.R. 2433, the "Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011" H.R. 2470, the "E-Serv Act" H.R. 2646, the "Veterans Health Care Capital Facilities Improvement Act of 2011" S. 277, the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009" S. 423, a bill concerning veterans' disability compensation S. 486, the "Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011" S. 490, a bill to increase the age of a CHAMPVA eligible dependent child S. 491, the "Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011" S. 536 S. 666, the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011" S. 873 S. 874 S. 914, the "Veterans' Programs Improvement Act of 2011 S. 928 S. 951, the "Hiring Heroes Act of 2011" S. 1017, the :Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2011" S. 1060, the "Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011" S. 1104, Transition Assistance Program (TAP) S. 1123, the "Assistance to Veterans Affected by Natural Disasters Act" S. 1124, the "Veterans Telemedicine Act of 2011" S. 1127, the "Veterans Rural Health Improvement Act of 2011" S. 1148, the "Veterans Programs Improvements Act of 2011" Implementation of P.L. 111-163, the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2011"

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 3016, HR 2996, HR 2875, HR 2711, HR 2559, HR 2590, HR 2534, HR 2530, HR 2433, HR 2424, HR 2318, HR 2187, HR 2148, HR 2053, HR 2052, HR 2046, HR 1979, HR 1947, HR 1941, HR 1930, HR 1826, HR 1811, HR 1854, HR 1742, HR 1671, HR 1657, HR 1454, HR 1285, HR 1260, HR 1178, HR 1133, HR 1092, HR 813, HR 812, HR 810, HR 809, HR 806, HR 805, HR 803, HR 802, HR 539, HR 465, HR 333, HR 329, HR 309, HR 303, HR 248, HR 240, HR 186, HR 178, HR 120, HR 115, HR 26, H. RES. 376, S 1474, S 1391, S 1334, S 1253, S 1184, S 1172, S 1154, S 1148, S 1147, S 1124, S 1123, S 1104, S 1060, S 1017, S 951, S 935, S 914, S 910, S 894, S 874, S 873, S 816, S 798, S 769, S 696, S 658, S 536, S 490, S 423, S 411, S 344, S 260, S 223, S 68, S 67, S.CON.RES. 13, S. RES. 160

Client expense: $170,000 · Firm income: Not reported

See next page. Testified before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs regarding the need to improve employment opportunities for veterans with significant disabilities. The written testimony covered issues relating to the Workforce Investment Act, Social Security, vocational rehabilitation, and attitudinal barriers to the employment of people with disabilities. Supported the Helping our Homeless Veterans Act (S. 411/HR 1133). This legislation would allow changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program to ensure that homeless veterans receive more effective case management services. Discussed the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act of 2011 (H.R. 115). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]). Urged Congress to expand the extended caregivers program authorized by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (P.L. 111-163) to include all veterans who are eligible for VA health care and meet certain needs-based criteria. Urged Congress to expand VA home and community-based services for veterans with disabilities. Urged Congress to increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits and to eliminate the offset of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. Discussed the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 (S. 951). This legislation seeks to improve employment opportunities for veterans. Urged Congress to provide appropriate oversight for and resources to address the VAs benefits claims processing backlog. Urged VA to accept the authority granted to them by states through the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to serve as a voter registration agency. Supported the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act of 2011 (S. 957). This legislation would help to ensure that veterans with traumatic brain injuries receive the critical rehabilitation services needed to allow them to maximize their independence. Supported proposed House legislation that would develop a patient registry to help facilitate collaboration and research regarding undiagnosed diseases. Supported the Housing, Employment, and Living Programs (HELP) for Veterans Act of 2011 (H.R. 117). This legislation includes provisions that would not only reform the VAs Special Home Adaptation grant program to allow veterans who meet the nationally accepted standard of legal blindness to receive assistance with critical home modification, but also increase the amount of grant funding available for this program and the Specially Adapted Housing grant program. Supported the Andrew Connolly Veterans Housing Act (H.R. 1671). This legislation would extend until December 31, 2016, the authority of the VA Secretary to provide adaptive housing assistance under the Temporary Residence Adaptation grant program to veterans with disabilities who are temporarily residing with family members. Supported the proposed amendment in the nature of a substitute to the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act (H.R. 198). This legislation directs the VA Secretary to carry out a pilot program for assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through a therapeutic medium of service dog training and handling for veterans with disabilities. Supported legislation establishing an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights (H.R. 805). This legislation directs the VA Secretary to ensure that an Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights is printed on signage in accessible formats and displayed prominently and conspicuously in each VA prosthetics and orthotics clinic. It also requires VA employees who work at such clinics, as well as patient advocates of veterans who receive care there, to receive training on the Bill of Rights and directs the Secretary to conduct outreach to inform veterans about it. Supported the Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act (VETS Dogs Act) (H.R. 1154/S. 769). The VETS Dogs Act states that the VA Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs in VA facilities or on VA property.

H.R. 115, the "CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011" H.R. 117, the "HELP Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 198, the "Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act of 2011" H.R. 303, the "Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011" H.R. 544, a bill concerning the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act H.R. 807/S. 572, VA Collective Bargaining H.R. 802 H.R. 811, the "Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act" H.R. 814, the "Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011" H.R. 923/S. 780, the "Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011" H.R. 1133/S. 411, the "Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 1154/S. 769, the "Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011" H.R. 1383/S. 745, "Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011" H.R. 1407/S. 894, the "Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011" H.R. 1441/S. 698, Arlington Cemetery H.R. 1484, the "Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011" H.R. 1591/S. 815, "Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011" H.R. 1671, the "Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act" H.R. 1627 H.R. 1647, the "Veterans' Choice in Filing Act of 2011" H.R. 1657 H.R. 1854/S. 935, the "Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011" H.R. 1855/S.957, the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act of 2011" H.R. 1863/S. 910, the "Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011" S. 277, the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009" S. 396, the "Meeting the Inpatient Health Care Needs of Far South Texas Veterans Act of 2011" S. 423, a bill concerning veterans; disability compensation S. 486, the "Protecting Servicemembers from Morgage Abuses Act of 2011" S. 490, a bill to increase the age of a CHAPVA eligible dependent child Implemention of P.L. 111-163, the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2011" S. 491, the "Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011" S. 536 S. 666, the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011" S. 696, Vet Centers S. 873 S. 874 S. 914, Teleheath Co-payments S. 928 S. 951, the "Hiring Heroes Act of 2011" S. 1017, the "Disabled Veteran Caregiver Housing Assistance Act of 2011" S. 1060, the "Honoring All Veterans Act of 2011" S. 1104, Transistion Assistance Program (TAP) S. 1123, the "Assistance to Veterans Affected by Natural Disasters Act" S. 1124, the :Veterans Telemedicine Act of 2011" S. 1127, the "Veterans Rural Health Improvement Act of 2011" S. 1148, the Veterans Programs Improvement Act of 2011"

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: HR 5360, HR 5225, HR 5120, HR 4894, HR 4887, HR 4477, HR 4048, HR 3949, HR 3491, HR 3219, HR 3155, HR 3082, HR 2990, HR 2980, HR 2898, HR 2879, HR 2770, HR 2738, HR 2734, HR 2713, HR 2583, HR 2573, HR 2443, HR 2419, HR 2389, HR 2388, HR 2383, HR 2377, HR 2342, HR 2300, HR 2254, HR 2187, HR 2180, HR 2148, HR 2055, HR 2053, HR 2052, HR 2046, HR 1979, HR 1947, HR 1941, HR 1930, HR 1879, HR 1854, HR 1826, HR 1818, HR 1811, HR 1742, HR 1671, HR 1657, HR 1546, HR 1454, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1285, HR 1260, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1178, HR 1171, HR 1169, HR 1133, HR 1092, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 813, HR 812, HR 811, HR 810, HR 809, HR 806, HR 805, HR 803, HR 802, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 539, HR 466, HR 465, HR 456, HR 411, HR 341, HR 333, HR 329, HR 309, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, HR 248, HR 240, H.RES. 261, HR 186, HR 178, HR 177, HR 120, HR 115, HR 114, HR 108, H. Con. Res 85, HR 32, HR 26, S 3234, S 3148, S 1963, S 1939, S 1779, S 1407, S 1237, S 1204, S 1184, S 1172, S 1154, S 1148, S 1147, S 1127, S 1124, S 1123, S 1104, S 1060, S 1017, S 951, S 944, S 935, S 914, S 910, S 894, S 874, S 873, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 816, S 801, S 798, S 769, S 728, S 696, S 658, S 642, S 597, S. 546, S 536, S 535, S 490, S 423, S 411, S 407, S 404, S 344, S 277, S 260, S 252, S 223, S 66, S 68, S 67, S. Con. Res 60, S. Con. Res. 13, S. Res. 160

Client expense: $180,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Vets Status for Reservists, S. 491 & HR 1025; No co-pay for Vets Telemedicine, S. 914; Vets Appeals Improvement, HR 1484; Vets Sexual Assault Prevention, HR 2074; Healthy Vets Act, HR 575; Veterans Housing HR 1671; Vets salute Flag, HR 648; Agent Orange for Blue Water Navy, HR 812; Restoring GI Bill Fairness, HR 1383. veterans Star Program for Employers, HR 802; Equity for Injured Veterans, HR 803; Help veterans, HR 117; Hiring Heros Act, S.951; Military Construction and VA Spending, HR 2055.

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

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