Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act

Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 (H.R. 2988) Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act (H.R. 8510)

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

NRC-DOE S 2896 Special Investigator general for Law Enforcement Act HR 6762 Strengthening Whisteblower Protections at the Department of the Veterans Affairs Act HR 8510 Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act HR 2988 Rules Amendment for NDAA affirmative defense for espionage act prosecutions of intelligence whisteblowers S 225 Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act of 2021

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

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

Lobbied for changes to Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) employee performance standards. Lobbied for increased oversight and changes to performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied to require the VA to include VA employee input when making changes to the claims process, employee performance standards, and training for claims processors. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for reimbursement for bar membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for changes to the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act that improperly authorizes an agency IG to issue testimonial subpoenas to former employees and others without the safeguards provided to current employees. Lobbied for changes to prior to the introduction of H.R. 8510, the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act to remove provisions that would improperly expand the Office of Special Counsel's authority at the expense of the neutral Merit Systems Protection Board and afford overly broad protections to SES members. C&P Exams: Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension (C&P) Exams and bringing those exams back into the VA. Lobbied to keep all specialty C&P Exams including but not limited to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), veterans who served as Prisoners of War (POWs), veterans who suffered catastrophic injuries, and veterans who are currently eligible (or will likely soon be eligible) to pursue toxic exposure claims. Lobbied for the VA to utilize more internal C&P Providers by hiring more staff and returning staff to C&P positions who had previously been reassigned. Lobbied to keep Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Exams within the VA. Lobbied for the continued oversight of contract C&P Exams. Lobbied to make sure the VA is in compliance with Section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied for H.R. 6682, the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1948/S. 771, the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of the implementation of the withdrawal of President Trump's May 2018 Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. Lobbied in support of the implementation of President Biden's January 2021 Executive Order 14003: "Protecting the Federal Workforce in a timely fashion." Lobbied for oversight into the Biden Administration's implementation of Executive Order 4003. VA Infrastructure: VA HR Modernization: Lobbied to address problems created by VA reorganization of its human resources processes including centralization and implementation of new information technology systems, and practices and policies related to filling and posting unfilled positions. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 304/S. 4221 "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3693, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied for the need for increased compensation for mid-grade Title 38 employees in positions covered by the "VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act." Lobbied for the increase use of market pay surveys for Title 38 employees, and for Congress to perform oversight over the VA to ensure these surveys are being completed regularly and accurately. VA Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act: Lobbied to block the confirmation of the AIR Commission members and prevent implementation of recommendations to close facilities and reduce patient capacity. Lobbied to repeal the AIR Act and in support of S. 4297, the "Elimination of the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission Act of 2022", a draft House companion bill, and a proposed amendment to H.R. 7900, the "National Defense Authorization Act", substantially similar to S. 4297. Lobbied to amend H.R. 8238, the "Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2023" and parallel draft Senate legislation to prohibit closure of VA health care facilities based on certain VA recommendations to the AIR Commission. Lobbied for the VA to hire staff to fill its tens of thousands of vacancies. Lobbied for the inclusion of Questions for the Record to the VA Secretary on AIR Commission market assessment data transparency. Lobbied in support introduction of legislation, existing legislation, and amendments to repeal the AIR Commission. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: Letter to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a Legislative Hearing on July 13, 2022 Letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for a Markup on July 19, 2022. Provided questions to members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a hearing on July 27, 2022. Letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for a Markup on September 21, 2022. Provided questions to members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a hearing on September 21, 2022. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 1948/S. 771, the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 962/S. 1888, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act" and the importance of this bill to the VA Police Force. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3693, the "VA CPE Modernization Act," and its amended version. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of S. 4156, the VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, Performance Pay, Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees, and changes for protections for former federal employees in relation to IG investigations. H.R. 304/S. 4221, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6682, the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4673, the "Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act" or "EVEST Act Lobbied in support of S. 3372, To amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of S. 3548, the Veterans Hearing Benefits Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of S. 4141, A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs as Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of S. 4308, the Veterans Marriage Recognition Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8888, the Food Security for All Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2800, the Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act Lobbied for changes to and supported H.R. 8510, the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs as amended. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6823, the Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Service for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2022 as amended. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8260, the Faster Payments to Veterans Survivors Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5776, the Serving Our LGBTQ Veterans Act Lobbied for in support of and for technical changes to H.R. 8003, the Restore Veterans Dignity Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the amended version of H.R. 8313, the House Every Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to the amended version of H.R. 291 the COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act Made comments on H.R. 6647, a bill to make certain improvements relating to the eligibility of veterans to receive reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished through the Veterans Community Care program, and for other purposes. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 7188, the Modernizing Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Benefit Questionnaires Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3373, the "Honoring the PACT Act," Lobbied against SA 5185 (Blackburn) to S. 3373 Lobbied against SA 5186 (Toomey) to S. 373

Supported the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act (H.R. 8510)

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

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Lobbied for changes to Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) employee performance standards. Lobbied for increased oversight and changes to performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied to require the VA to include VA employee input when making changes to the claims process, employee performance standards, and training for claims processors. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for changes to the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act that improperly authorizes an agency IG to issue testimonial subpoenas to former employees and others without the safeguards provided to current employees. Lobbied for changes prior to the introduction of H.R. 8510, the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act to remove provisions that would improperly expand the Office of Special Counsel's authority at the expense of the neutral Merit Systems Protection Board and afford overly broad protections to SES members. C&P Exams: Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension (C&P) Exams and bringing those exams back into the VA. Lobbied to keep all specialty C&P Exams including but not limited to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), veterans who served as Prisoners of War (POWs), veterans who suffered catastrophic injuries, and veterans who are currently eligible (or will likely soon be eligible) to pursue toxic exposure claims. Lobbied for the VA to utilize more internal C&P Providers by hiring more staff and returning staff to C&P positions who had previously been reassigned. Lobbied to keep Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Exams within the VA. Lobbied for the continued oversight of contract C&P Exams. Lobbied to make sure the VA is in compliance with Section 2002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied for H.R. 6682, the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1948/S. 771, the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of the implementation of the withdrawal of President Trump's May 2018 Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. Lobbied in support of the implementation of President Biden's January 2021 Executive Order 14003: "Protecting the Federal Workforce in a timely fashion." Lobbied for oversight of the Biden Administration's implementation of Executive Order 4003. VA HR Modernization: Lobbied to address problems created by VA reorganization of its human resources processes including centralization and implementation of new information technology systems, and practices and policies related to filling and posting unfilled positions. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 304/S. 4221 "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3693, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied for increased compensation for mid-grade Title 38 employees in positions covered by the "VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act." Lobbied for the increased use of Market Pay Surveys for Title 38 employees, and for Congress to perform oversight over the VA to ensure these surveys are being completed regularly and accurately. VA Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act Lobbied to block the confirmation of the AIR Commission members and prevent implementation of recommendations to close facilities and reduce patient capacity. Lobbied to repeal the AIR Act and in support of S. 4297, the "Elimination of the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission Act of 2022", a draft House companion bill, and a proposed amendment to H.R. 7900, the "National Defense Authorization Act", substantially similar to S. 4297. Lobbied to amend H.R. 8238, the "Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2023" and parallel draft Senate legislation to prohibit closure of VA health care facilities based on certain VA recommendations to the AIR Commission. Lobbied for the VA to hire staff to fill its tens of thousands of vacancies. Lobbied for the inclusion of Questions for the Record to the VA Secretary on AIR Commission market assessment data transparency. Lobbied in support new legislation, existing legislation, and amendments to repeal the AIR Commission. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: (Add Apostrophe after Veterans for both committees) Letter to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a Legislative Hearing on July 13, 2022. Letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for a Markup on July 19, 2022. Provided questions to members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a hearing on July 27, 2022. Letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for a Markup on September 21, 2022. Provided questions to members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a hearing on September 21, 2022. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 1948/S. 771, the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 962/S. 1888, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act" and the importance of this bill to the VA Police Force. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3693, the "VA CPE Modernization Act," and its amended version. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of S. 4156, the VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, Performance Pay, Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees, and changes for protections for former federal employees in relation to IG investigations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 304/S. 4221, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6682, the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4673, the "Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition Act" or "EVEST Act Lobbied in support of S. 3372, To amend title 38, United States Code, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of S. 3548, the Veterans Hearing Benefits Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of S. 4141, A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs as Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of S. 4308, the Veterans Marriage Recognition Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8888, the Food Security for All Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2800, the Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act. Lobbied for changes to and supported H.R. 8510, the Strengthening Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs as amended. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6823, the Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Service for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2022 as amended. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8260, the Faster Payments to Veterans Survivors Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5776, the Serving Our LGBTQ Veterans Act. Lobbied for in support of and for technical changes to H.R. 8003, the Restore Veterans Dignity Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the amended version of H.R. 8313, the House Every Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to the amended version of H.R. 291 the COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act. Made comments on H.R. 6647, a bill to make certain improvements relating to the eligibility of veterans to receive reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished through the Veterans Community Care program, and for other purposes. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 7188, the Modernizing Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Benefit Questionnaires Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3373, the "Honoring the PACT Act." Lobbied against SA 5185 (Blackburn) to S. 3373. Lobbied against SA 5186 (Toomey) to S. 373.