Homeless Veterans and Other Veterans Health Care Authorities Act of 2010

S. 3772, The Paycheck Fairness Act; S. 1237, The Homeless Veterans And Other Veterans Health Care Authorities Act of 2010

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: SENATE

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 2419, HR 2389, HR 2342, HR 2254, HR 2180, HR 1879, HR 1818, HR 1546, HR 1388, HR 1377, HR 1335, HR 1302, HR 1293, HR 1211, HR 1204, HR 1203, HR 1197, HR 1171, HR 1169, HR 1088, HR 1017, HR 1016, HR 953, HR 952, HR 816, HR 811, HR 775, HR 667, HR 658, HR 612, HR 593, HR 466, HR 456, HR 341, HR 333, HR 303, HR 297, HR 296, HR 295, HR 294, HR 293, H. RES. 261, HR 177, HR 114, HR 108, H. Con. Res 85, HR 32, S 3447, S 3234, S 3148, S 1963, S 1939, S 1779, S 1407, S 1237, S 1204, S 944, S 847, S 821, S 820, S 801, S 728, S 658, S 642, S 597, S. 546, S. 535, S 423, S 407, S 404, S 277, S 252, S 66, S. Con. Res 60, S. Con. Res. 13.

Client expense: $190,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Veterans Employment & Training Service

See next page. Discussed with House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs staff concerns about legislation proposed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to address the claims backlog. The proposed legislation is the Veterans Benefit Programs Improvement Act of 2010. Urged Congress to consider methods for addressing the VA benefits claims processing backlog. Discussed the Rating and Processing Individuals Disability (RAPID) Claims Act (H.R. 5549). Discussed and submitted correspondence to Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Daniel Akaka (D-HI) concerning the Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2010 (S. 3517). Supported Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act (H.R. 1037/S. 728)includes increases for the Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance program. Supported H.R. 1169would provide a significant increase in the VAs Specially Adapted Housing grant, the Special Home Adaptation grant, and the grant to purchase an automobile. Supported the Veterans Training Act (H.R. 3813)would grant veterans access under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to non-degree granting training programs and schools. Supported Surviving Spouses Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2243)would replace the current rate of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC )with a formula setting the rate of DIC at a rate equal to 55 percent of the rate paid to a veteran with a total disability rating. Supported Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act (H.R. 775) and S. 535would eliminate the offset to the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for families who receive VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Supported the Improving Veterans Electronic Transition Services Act (H.R. 5225)would give veterans electronic access to their official military personnel files and require an assessment of the feasibility of using a centralized web portal to improve veterans access to benefits and records. Supported the Severely Injured Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R. 3407)would increase the rate of special monthly compensation available to veterans who have been severely injured and grant eligibility to veterans with traumatic brain injuries to receive aid and attendance benefits. Supported the Homeless Veterans and Other Health Care Authorities Act of 2010 (S. 1237), which includes provisions of the Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009 (S. 1547). Supported the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010 (H.R. 4810), which includes provisions of H.R. 2504, the Help Our Homeless Veterans Act (H.R. 2559), H.R. 2735, and H.R. 3906. Supported H.R. 5014which clarifies that the health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs constitutes minimum essential coverage for the purposes of health reform. Supported the Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theatre (COMBAT) Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2009 (H.R. 952)which would expand the definition of combat with the enemy to include active duty service in a theatre of combat operations during a period of war. Supported the Veterans Employment Transition Act (S. 3398/H.R. 5400)which would simplify the process employers must follow to receive tax credits for hiring veterans who meet certain classifications. Supported the Veterans Employment Transition Act (S. 3398)which would simplify the process employers must follow to receive tax credits for hiring veterans who meet certain classifications. Discussed with House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs staff concerns about legislation proposed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to address the claims backlog. The proposed legislation is the Veterans Benefit Programs Improvement Act of 2010. Urged Congress to consider methods for addressing the VA benefits claims processing backlog. Discussed the Rating and Processing Individuals Disability (RAPID) Claims Act (H.R. 5549). Discussed the Claims Processing Improvement Act of 2010 (S. 3517). Supported HR 2059 to enable military personnel who have a family member with a disability to designate a special needs trust to receive military retiree and survivor benefits annuities rather than a natural person. Without this bill, if benefits are paid directly to the family member, the payments can jeopardize that persons eligibility for Social Security and Medicaid benefits. Supported the Veterans Benefits Act of 2010 (H.R. 3219)omnibus veterans legislation that includes increases for the Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance program. Supported the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights (H.R. 5428). Supported the Post-9/11 Veterans Education al Assistance Improvements Act (S. 3447/H.R. 5933)which would make needed modifications to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, including adding additional types of educational training programs for which veterans would be eligible to receive assistance. Supported the Housing, Employment and Living Programs for Veterans Act (H.R. 5360)which 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. Submitted testimony to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity as a co-chair of the CCD Veterans Task Force regarding federal contractor compliance with affirmative action requirements concerning veterans. Urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to accept the authority granted to them by six states through the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to serve as a voter registration agency. Discussed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009 (H.R. 4121) which includes proposed improvements to the VAs appeals process and the establishment of the Veterans Judicial Review Commission. Discussed the Veterans' Disability Claims Efficiency Act of 2010 (H.R. 5928) which would improve the efficiency of processing certain claims for disability compensation by veterans through the use of interim disability ratings and fast track review of initial claims for benefits.

Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)