Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

Issues related to veteran access to care and community care scheduling S. 654 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes. H.R.3482 Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

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

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

Issues related to veteran access to care and community care scheduling S. 654 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes. H.R.3482 Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related to veteran access to care and community care scheduling S. 654 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes. H.R.3482 Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related to veteran access to care and community care scheduling S. 654 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes. H.R.3482 Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

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

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

Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and its delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents and survivors: H.R. 1004, H.R. 1039, H.R. 1041, H.R. 109, H.R. 1107, H.R. 1230, H.R. 1242, H.R. 1286, H.R. 1288, H.R. 1289, H.R. 1298, H.R. 1336, H.R. 1344, H.R. 136, H.R. 1364, H.R. 1391, H.R. 1400, H.R. 1411, H.R. 1413, H.R. 1458, H.R. 149, H.R. 1527, H.R. 1578, H.R. 1644, H.R. 1646, H.R. 1663, H.R. 1685, H.R. 1732, H.R. 1733, H.R. 1741, H.R. 1793, H.R. 1803, H.R. 1815, H.R. 1823, H.R. 1860, H.R. 1884, H.R. 1912, H.R. 1937, H.R. 1947, H.R. 1957, H.R. 1960, H.R. 1965, H.R. 1970, H.R. 1971, H.R. 1972, H.R. 1987, H.R. 2034, H.R. 2055, H.R. 2068, H.R. 2077, H.R. 210, H.R. 2102, H.R. 211, H.R. 2137, H.R. 2138, H.R. 2148, H.R. 2149, H.R. 217, H.R. 219, H.R. 2195, H.R. 220, H.R. 2201, H.R. 2228, H.R. 2229, H.R. 2234, H.R. 224, H.R. 2245, H.R. 2268, H.R. 2278, H.R. 241, H.R. 2426, H.R. 2576, H.R. 2605, H.R. 2623, H.R. 2625, H.R. 2640, H.R. 2717, H.R. 2721, H.R. 2780, H.R. 2791, H.R. 2801, H.R. 2878, H.R. 2942, H.R. 2954, H.R. 2963, H.R. 3013, H.R. 3014, H.R. 3027, H.R. 303, H.R. 3055, H.R. 3088, H.R. 3183, H.R. 3185, H.R. 3195, H.R. 3219, H.R. 3261, H.R. 3309, H.R. 3312, H.R. 333, H.R. 3386, H.R. 3387, H.R. 3400, H.R. 3481, H.R. 3482, H.R. 3489, H.R. 3509, H.R. 3558, H.R. 3560, H.R. 3578, H.R. 3610, H.R. 3611, H.R. 3627, H.R. 3639, H.R. 3643, H.R. 3694, H.R. 3710, H.R. 3753, H.R. 3767, H.R. 3812, H.R. 3833, H.R. 3834, H.R. 3863, H.R. 3886, H.R. 3951, H.R. 4063, H.R. 4105, H.R. 4114, H.R. 4160, H.R. 4169, H.R. 4188, H.R. 438, H.R. 439, H.R. 4446, H.R. 4469, H.R. 4509, H.R. 4527, H.R. 4540, H.R. 4594, H.R. 4637, H.R. 467, H.R. 4792, H.R. 4794, H.R. 4837, H.R. 4855, H.R. 4928, H.R. 496, H.R. 5035, H.R. 5203, H.R., 5277, H.R. 530, H.R. 5339, H.R. 5420, H.R. 5529, H.R. 553, H.R. 5535, H.R. 5539, H.R. 554, H.R. 5593, H.R. 5611, H.R. 5634, H.R. 5635, H.R. 5665, H.R. 5683, H.R. 5734, H.R. 585, H.R. 586, H.R. 5919, H.R. 5930, H.R. 5936, H.R. 5943, H.R. 5949, H.R. 5957, H.R. 5965, H.R. 5981, H.R. 5985, H.R. 5992, H.R. 5994, H.R. 5995, H.R. 5996, H.R. 5997, H.R. 5999, H.R. 6000, H.R. 6001, H.R. 6002, H.R. 6003, H.R. 6004, H.R. 6005, H.R. 6011, H.R. 6017, H.R. 602, H.R. 6024, H.R. 6026, H.R. 6027, H.R. 6033, H.R. 6034, H.R. 6038, H.R. 6047, H.R. 6118, H.R. 6231, H.R. 6376, H.R. 6454, H.R. 647, H.R. 657, H.R. 658, H.R. 6583, H.R. 6587, H.R. 659, H.R. 6595, H.R. 6655, H.R. 6648, H.R. 6649, H.R. 6652, H.R. 6662, H.R. 680, H.R. 683, H.R. 6835, H.R. 6843, H.R. 6848, H.R. 6858, H.R. 695, H.R. 6993, H.R. 7047, H.R. 7049, H.R. 7091, H.R. 7280, H.R. 740, H.R. 748, H.R. 7489, H.R. 770, H.R. 7735, H.R. 7841, H.R. 790, H.R. 803, H.R. 8066, H.R. 818, H.R. 828, H.R. 865, H.R. 877, H.R. 913, H.R. 962, H.R. 965, H.R. 968, H.R. 970, H.R. 980, H.R. 981, H.R. 982, H.R. 984, H. Res. 670, H. Res. 684, H. Res. 864, S. 1032, S. 1116, S. 1127, S. 1134, S. 1157, S. 1204, S. 1245, S. 1267, S. 1308, S. 1311, S. 1320, S. 138, S. 1410, S. 1415, S. 1441, S. 1533, S. 1537, S. 1543, S. 1614, S. 1644, S. 1650, S. 1657, S. 1665, S. 1714, S. 1726, S. 183, S. 1835, S. 1846, S. 1853, S. 1932, S. 201, S. 2055, S. 2061, S. 2096, S. 2101, S. 2134, S. 2220, S. 2264, S. 2328, S. 2333, S. 2344, S. 2392, S. 2393, S. 2397, S. 2494, S. 2501, S. 2510, S. 2518, S. 2534, S. 2623, S. 264, S. 2673, S. 2683, S. 275, S. 2827, S. 2833, S. 2943, S. 2981, S. 2988, S. 2996, S. 3040, S. 3042, S. 3098, S. 3130, S. 3136, S. 3137, S. 3138, S. 3139, S. 3143, S. 3144, S. 3155, S. 3170, S. 3171, S. 3209, S. 3245, S. 3265, S. 3271, S 3280, S. 3314, S. 3395, S. 342, S. 3436, S. 3532, S. 3647, S. 3739, S. 3758, S. 3771, S. 410, S. 4140, S. 423, S. 478, S. 492, S. 506, S. 585, S. 599, S. 605, S. 607, S. 609, S. 610, S. 611, S. 654, S. 668, S. 701, S. 702, S. 778, S. 784, S. 793, S. 800, S. 812, S. 827, S. 831, S. 862, S. 879, S. 892, S. 926, S. 972, S.J. Res. 103, S. Res. 385, S. Res. 485.

Staffing: Lobbied against use of contractors to replace VA workers. Lobbied against proposed 80,000 and subsequent 32,000 worker Reduction in Force at VA. Lobbied against President Trumps Presidential Memorandum, Return to In-Person Work. Lobbied the Trump Administration to exempt the VA from the Trump Administration Executive Order, Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. Lobbied for oversight of VA worker exemptions from the federal employee hiring freeze ordered by President Trump. Lobbied in support of S.1068, the Putting Veterans First Act of 2025, which reinstates fired veteran employees, puts limitations on hiring freezes, and creates civil service protections for federal employees. Privatization: Lobbied against H.R. 1972, the Standardizing Treatment and Referral Times Act of 2025, which would establish that the period during which the referral of a veteran to a private provider remains valid begins on the day of the first appointment. This provision allows private providers to skirt timeliness requirements altogether by giving them an indefinite period in which they can provide services. Lobbied against H.R. 740/S. 275, the Veterans Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025. AFGE specifically opposes the provisions codifying the access standards, making veteran preference to go to a private provider a criterion for what constitutes best medical interest, and creating a three-year pilot program where veterans could access outpatient mental health and substance use services without referral or preauthorization. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, that would have increased funding for community care by 50%, thereby diverting funding from direct care. Program Efficiency: Lobbied in support of the H.R.4077 Guarantee Utilization of All Reimbursements for Delivery of (GUARD) Veterans' Health Care Act, which closes a loophole that allows private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to collect premiums for health care while veterans receive free or low-cost care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), with taxpayers footing the bill twice. Quality: Lobbied against H.R.9438, the "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act," which eliminates the requirement that previous recipients of grants reapplying to the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program show evidence of efficacy. Scheduling: Lobbied to improve H.R. 3482, the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, which would require VA to create a scheduling program that would allow a scheduler to schedule appointments either within the VA or with a private provider in the Veterans Community CareProgram. VA Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 472/S. 124, the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 932, the Protecting VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550/S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act as it relates to VA employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3261, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of draft legislation, the VA Correct Compensation Act. Lobbied Members of Congress to urge Secretary Collins to exempt as many VA employees as possible from President Trumps Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs Executive Order 14251. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 493/S. 126, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Veterans Benefits Administration and Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for changes to and oversight of 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, and catastrophic injury claims. Lobbied on the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to prevent compassion fatigue for certain claims processors. Lobbied against contracting out of VA Disability Exams (C&P Exams) Lobbied for reforms to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied for oversight and improvements into VBA employee training. Lobbied on VBAs use of Performance Improvement Plans. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2303, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 659, the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act. Lobbied in support of parts of H.R. 2201, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2137, the Review Every Veterans Claims Act. Provided commentary on H.R. 1741, the Veterans Appeals Transparency Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2701, the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3854, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3951, the Rural Veterans Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025. Lobbied for changes to draft legislation related to the use of Artificial Intelligence in the VBA claims process. Lobbed in support of Ramirez Amendment #1 (amendment in the nature of a substitute) to H.R. 3951, to affirm the right of VA Employees to collectively bargain. On July 22, 2025, AFGE testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversights and investigations at a hearing titled Counting the Money: Preventing Fraud and Abuse in VAs Bonus Payment Practices for VA Employees.

Staffing: Lobbied against use of contractors to replace VA workers. Lobbied against proposed 80,000 and subsequent 32,000 worker Reduction in Force at VA. Lobbied against President Trumps Presidential Memorandum, Return to In-Person Work. Lobbied the Trump Administration to exempt the VA from the Trump Administration Executive Order, Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. Lobbied for oversight of VA worker exemptions from the federal employee hiring freeze ordered by President Trump. Lobbied in support of S.1068, the Putting Veterans First Act of 2025, which reinstates fired veteran employees, puts limitations on hiring freezes, and creates civil service protections for federal employees. Privatization: Lobbied against H.R. 1972, the Standardizing Treatment and Referral Times Act of 2025, which would establish that the period during which the referral of a veteran to a private provider remains valid begins on the day of the first appointment. This provision allows private providers to skirt timeliness requirements altogether by giving them an indefinite period in which they can provide services. Lobbied against H.R. 740/S. 275, the Veterans Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025. AFGE specifically opposes the provisions codifying the access standards, making veteran preference to go to a private provider a criterion for what constitutes best medical interest, and creating a three-year pilot program where veterans could access outpatient mental health and substance use services without referral or preauthorization. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, that would have increased funding for community care by 50%, thereby diverting funding from direct care. Program Efficiency: Lobbied in support of the H.R.4077 Guarantee Utilization of All Reimbursements for Delivery of (GUARD) Veterans' Health Care Act, which closes a loophole that allows private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to collect premiums for health care while veterans receive free or low-cost care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), with taxpayers footing the bill twice. Quality: Lobbied against H.R.9438, the "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act," which eliminates the requirement that previous recipients of grants reapplying to the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program show evidence of efficacy. Scheduling: Lobbied to improve H.R. 3482, the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, which would require VA to create a scheduling program that would allow a scheduler to schedule appointments either within the VA or with a private provider in the Veterans Community CareProgram. VA Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 472/S. 124, the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 932, the Protecting VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550/S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act as it relates to VA employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3261, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of draft legislation, the VA Correct Compensation Act. Lobbied Members of Congress to urge Secretary Collins to exempt as many VA employees as possible from President Trumps Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs Executive Order 14251. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 493/S. 126, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Veterans Benefits Administration and Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for changes to and oversight of 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, and catastrophic injury claims. Lobbied on the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to prevent compassion fatigue for certain claims processors. Lobbied against contracting out of VA Disability Exams (C&P Exams) Lobbied for reforms to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied for oversight and improvements into VBA employee training. Lobbied on VBAs use of Performance Improvement Plans. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2303, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 659, the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act. Lobbied in support of parts of H.R. 2201, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2137, the Review Every Veterans Claims Act. Provided commentary on H.R. 1741, the Veterans Appeals Transparency Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2701, the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3854, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3951, the Rural Veterans Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025. Lobbied for changes to draft legislation related to the use of Artificial Intelligence in the VBA claims process. Lobbed in support of Ramirez Amendment #1 (amendment in the nature of a substitute) to H.R. 3951, to affirm the right of VA Employees to collectively bargain. On July 22, 2025, AFGE testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversights and investigations at a hearing titled Counting the Money: Preventing Fraud and Abuse in VAs Bonus Payment Practices for VA Employees.

H.R. 4581 / S.2372, 340B PATIENTS Act, all provisions; H.R. 3178 / S. 1600, The Save Healthcare Workers Act, all provisions; H.R. 929 / S. 266, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act, all provisions; H.R. 1585 / S. 709, Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, all provisions; S. 1874Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act, all provisions; S. 1784 / H.R. 4191, The Mapping America's Pharmaceutical Supply (MAPS) Act, all provisions; H.R. 5283 / S. 2759, Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, all provisions; H.R. 5428, Medical Student Education Authorization Act, all provisions; S. 1929, SEPSIS Act, all provisions; H.R. 2483, SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, all provisions; S. 2062, Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Reserve (RAPID) Reserve Act, all provisions; S. 921, Tyler's Law, all provisions; H.R. 3482, Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, all provisions; HR 3483, Forcing Real Accountability for Unlawful Distributions Act (FRAUD) Act of 2025, all provisions; HR 3494, VA Hospital Inventory Management System Authorization Act, all provisions; H.R. 3413, Physician and Patient Safety Act, all provisions; H.R. 2936, Addressing Boarding and Crowding in the Emergency Department, all provisions; Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), AHRQ 2025-001 Request for Information; Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation to Make America Healthy Again, Comments on easing administrative burdens and encouraging innovation in health care; Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA); Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, Comments pertaining to 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program; Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Extension of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits; Rural Health Care Access, Issues to protect access to rural health care; 340B Program, Issues pertaining to protecting 340B Program, including 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program; Maternal and Child Health, Access to maternal and child health care and addressing related workforce shortages, conditions of participation (COP), funding priorities; Behavioral Health, Issues related to expanding access to care and reducing regulatory barriers; Workforce, Issues pertaining to workforce development grants and supporting health care workforce; Health Plan Accountability, Issues specific to prior authorization, patient access to care, adequate provider networks, inappropriate denials, reducing account receivables, prompt pay; Health Care Resiliency & Preparedness, Issues pertaining to natural disasters, cyberattacks, cybersecurity workforce, and securing supply chains; Price Transparency, Issues related to hospital price transparency; Post Acute Care, Issues pertaining to expanding patients' access and easy regulatory burdens to crucial services provided by Long-term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies; Tax-exempt status, Issues pertaining to not-for-profit hospitals' tax exempt status and tax-exempt private activity bonds; Immigration, Proposed H1-B Visa Program changes and impact to health care workforce; Organ Procurement, Issues pertaining to organ procurement and transplantation.

Staffing: Lobbied against use of contractors to replace VA workers. Lobbied against proposed 80,000 and subsequent 32,000 worker Reduction in Force at VA. Lobbied against President Trumps Presidential Memorandum, Return to In-Person Work. Lobbied the Trump Administration to exempt the VA from the Trump Administration Executive Order, Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. Lobbied for oversight of VA worker exemptions from the federal employee hiring freeze ordered by President Trump. Lobbied in support of S.1068, the Putting Veterans First Act of 2025, which reinstates fired veteran employees, puts limitations on hiring freezes, and creates civil service protections for federal employees. Privatization: Lobbied against H.R. 1972, the Standardizing Treatment and Referral Times Act of 2025, which would establish that the period during which the referral of a veteran to a private provider remains valid begins on the day of the first appointment. This provision allows private providers to skirt timeliness requirements altogether by giving them an indefinite period in which they can provide services. Lobbied against H.R. 740/S. 275, the Veterans Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025. AFGE specifically opposes the provisions codifying the access standards, making veteran preference to go to a private provider a criterion for what constitutes best medical interest, and creating a three-year pilot program where veterans could access outpatient mental health and substance use services without referral or preauthorization. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, that would have increased funding for community care by 50%, thereby diverting funding from direct care. Program Efficiency: Lobbied in support of the H.R.4077 Guarantee Utilization of All Reimbursements for Delivery of (GUARD) Veterans' Health Care Act, which closes a loophole that allows private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to collect premiums for health care while veterans receive free or low-cost care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), with taxpayers footing the bill twice. Quality: Lobbied against H.R.9438, the "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act," which eliminates the requirement that previous recipients of grants reapplying to the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program show evidence of efficacy. Scheduling: Lobbied to improve H.R. 3482, the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, which would require VA to create a scheduling program that would allow a scheduler to schedule appointments either within the VA or with a private provider in the Veterans Community CareProgram. VA Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 472/S. 124, the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 932, the Protecting VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550/S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act as it relates to VA employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3261, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of draft legislation, the VA Correct Compensation Act. Lobbied Members of Congress to urge Secretary Collins to exempt as many VA employees as possible from President Trumps Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs Executive Order 14251. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 493/S. 126, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Veterans Benefits Administration and Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for changes to and oversight of 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, and catastrophic injury claims. Lobbied on the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to prevent compassion fatigue for certain claims processors. Lobbied against contracting out of VA Disability Exams (C&P Exams) Lobbied for reforms to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied for oversight and improvements into VBA employee training. Lobbied on VBAs use of Performance Improvement Plans. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2303, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 659, the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act. Lobbied in support of parts of H.R. 2201, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2137, the Review Every Veterans Claims Act. Provided commentary on H.R. 1741, the Veterans Appeals Transparency Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2701, the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3854, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3951, the Rural Veterans Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025. Lobbied for changes to draft legislation related to the use of Artificial Intelligence in the VBA claims process. Lobbed in support of Ramirez Amendment #1 (amendment in the nature of a substitute) to H.R. 3951, to affirm the right of VA Employees to collectively bargain. On July 22, 2025, AFGE testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversights and investigations at a hearing titled Counting the Money: Preventing Fraud and Abuse in VAs Bonus Payment Practices for VA Employees.

Staffing: Lobbied against termination of probationary VA workers. Lobbied against proposed 80,000 and subsequent 32,000 worker Reduction in Force at VA. Lobbied against President Trumps Presidential Memorandum, Return to In-Person Work. Lobbied the Trump Administration to exempt the VA from the Trump Administration Executive Order, Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. Lobbied for oversight of VA worker exemptions from the federal employee hiring freeze ordered by President Trump. Lobbied in support of S.1068, the Putting Veterans First Act of 2025, which reinstates fired veteran employees, puts limitations on hiring freezes, and creates civil service protections for federal employees. Privatization: Lobbied against H.R. 1972, the Standardizing Treatment and Referral Times Act of 2025, which would establish that the period during which the referral of a veteran to a private provider remains valid begins on the day of the first appointment. This provision allows private providers to skirt timeliness requirements altogether by giving them an indefinite period in which they can provide services. Lobbied against H.R. 740/S. 275, the Veterans Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025. AFGE specifically opposes the provisions codifying the access standards, making veteran preference to go to a private provider a criterion for what constitutes best medical interest, and creating a three-year pilot program where veterans could access outpatient mental health and substance use services without referral or preauthorization. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, that would have increased funding for community care by 50%, thereby diverting funding from direct care. Quality: Lobbied against H.R.9438, the "No Wrong Door for Veterans Act," which eliminates the requirement that previous recipients of grants reapplying to the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program show evidence of efficacy. Scheduling: Lobbied to improve H.R. 3482, the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, which would require VA to create a scheduling program that would allow a scheduler to schedule appointments either within the VA or with a private provider in the Veterans Community Care Program. VA Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 472/S. 124, the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 932, the Protecting VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act as it relates to VA employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3261, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of draft legislation, the VA Correct Compensation Act. Lobbied Members of Congress to urge Secretary Collins to exempt as many VA employees as possible from President Trumps Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs Executive Order 14251. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 493/S. 126, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Veterans Benefits Administration and Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for changes to and oversight of 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, and catastrophic injury claims. Lobbied on the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to prevent compassion fatigue for certain claims processors. Lobbied against contracting out of VA Disability Exams (C&P Exams). Lobbied for reforms to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied for oversight and improvements into VBA employee training. Lobbied on VBAs use of Performance Improvement Plans. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2303, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 659, the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1578, the Veterans Claims Education Act. Lobbied in support of parts of H.R. 2201, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2137, the Review Every Veterans Claims Act. Provided commentary on H.R. 1741, the Veterans Appeals Transparency Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2701, the Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3854, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3951, the Rural Veterans Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025. Testimony and Comments: AFGE member James Swartz testified at a House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing titled Examining VA Efforts to Decrease Delays in Veterans Disability Compensation Claims On April 9, 2025. AFGE member LaVawn Green participated in a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Spotlight forum on May 14, 2025. AFGE sent a letter to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a hearing on Pending Legislation on May 21, 2025. AFGE member Dr. Sheila Elliott participated in a Democratic Steering Committee Field Hearing on June 3, 2025. AFGE submitted a Statement for the Record for a House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing on Pending Legislation on June 24, 2025. AFGE sent a letter of endorsement on July 14, 2025 to the cosponsors of the of H.R. 4077/S.2145, the GUARD Veterans Health Care Act, which would allow the VA to bill Medicare Advantage plans for services provided to veterans enrolled in these plans, preventing taxpayers from having to pay twice for veteran care.