SKILL Act

General discussions regarding the expiration of key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and other tax-related priorities. H.R. 9438 - Supporting Knowledge through Industry-Led Learning (SKILL) Act - all provisions of the bill.

Client expense: $550,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

S.3319 - Workforce of the Future Act of 2025 S.1213 - Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act H.R.6371 - No Robot Bosses Act S.262 - Stop Spying Bosses Act H.R.6356 - Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025 S.2750 - SANDBOX Act S.4214 - Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act Federal preemption of AI H.R. 8893-Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act People First Chatbot Act The Great American AI Discussion Draft H.R.9125 - Sectoral AI Governance Act of 2026 S.4591 - NO FAKES Act of 2026 Better Jobs Through Evidence and Innovation Act H.R.9363 - AI Security and Innovation Act AI and labor law compliance HR 7334 National Commission on Robotics Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act H.R.9438 - SKILL Act S.4476 - Workforce Transparency Act of 2026 S.1748 - Kids Online Safety Act S.3339 - AI Workforce PREPARE Act AI Displacement/Workforce Policies H.R.3460 - AI Whistleblower Protection Act S.4046 - Economy of the Future Commission Act of 2026 S.3952 - Future of Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act of 2026 WARN Act & AI AI GAO Study Bill National Robotics Strategy Bill

Client expense: $760,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (IRC Section 48D) issues Pillar 2 global minimum tax issues H.R.33/S.199, A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide special rules for the taxation of certain residents of Taiwan with income from sources within the United States, Entirety H.R.802, Semiconductor Technology Advancement and Research Act of 2025 (STAR Act of 2025), Entirety H.R.6055/S.1642, SEMI Investment Act, Entirety H.R.9438, Supporting Knowledge through Industry-Led Learning Act (SKILL Act), Entirety H.R.8780, Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act, Entirety Critical mineral supply, Tax related issues

Client expense: $470,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Security Council (NSC), Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

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.

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.

Staffing: Lobbied against termination of probationary VA workers. Lobbied against 80,000 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. 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. 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 draft legislation, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of draft legislation, the VA Correct Compensation Act. 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 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. 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. Testimony and Comments: AFGE submitted a statement for the record for a House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee titled VA First, Veteran Second: The Biden-Harris Legacy on February 6, 2025. AFGE submitted a statement for the record for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Hearing on Pending Legislation on February 25, 2025. AFGE submitted a statement for the record for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Hearing on Pending Legislation on March 11, 2025. AFGE submitted comments to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health for a Hearing on Pending Legislation on March 11, 2025. AFGE submitted a statement for the record to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs for Hearing on Pending Legislation on March 26, 2025.