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Income and expense are whole-filing amounts associated with this lobbyist, not personal compensation or an allocated share.
No topic inference: each bill number appears in source LDA issue text assigned to this lobbyist.
Shutdown Fairness Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Specific issues are shown only where the LDA source assigned them to this lobbyist. Targets apply to the associated filing.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 · second_quarter · 2A
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Source: Senate LDA
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Shutdown Fairness Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Shutdown Fairness Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Shutdown Fairness Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Shutdown Fairness Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied for Lori Chavez DeRemer to be confirmed as the Secretary of Labor. Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for DOL employees. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to federal pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 /S. 126, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in opposition to significant staffing and budget cuts to DOL including at the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Lobbied in support of H.R. 989 to codify Executive Order 11246 titled "Equal Employment Opportunity" and fight to protect the OFCCP. Lobbied to oppose cuts to pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act" allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose, prescribe treatment, and certify an injury and the extent of disability for the purpose of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Lobbied House and Senate Members regarding staffing and funding challenges facing the Social Security Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4734 to prohibit the Social Security Administration from ordering staffing reductions and field offices closures that would jeopardize the efficient delivery of services to retirees, people with disabilities, and survivors. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 opposing provisions that proposed cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rights to pay for tax cuts.
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 opposing provisions that proposed cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace right to pay for tax cuts.
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act. Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupor to be the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 (and lobbied for the introduction of a Senate companion), the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate and provide back pay to probationary federal employees who were unjustly fired in 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210/S. 511, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174/S. 1597, the Paycheck Protection Act
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations.
Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act.
Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Russell Vought to be Director, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2906 the SERVICE Act to prevent an agency from reducing its workforce by 5% or greater in a given fiscal year without itself conducting a full impact analysis of those cuts on the agency's ability to carry out its mission, and GAO evaluating the accuracy of that evaluation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2905, the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act to amend 5 USC 3101 ("Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by chapter 51 of this title as Congress may appropriate for from year to year."), the general authority provision that allows the government to employ, from a 'may employ' to a '*shall* employ', and requires an agency to justify their inability or refusal to comply with the requirement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2692 the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the tax subsidy for employer efforts to influence their workers' exercise of their rights around labor organizations and engaging in collective action.
Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act. Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupor to be the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 (and lobbied for the introduction of a Senate companion), the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate and provide back pay to probationary federal employees who were unjustly fired in 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210/S. 511, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174/S. 1597, the Paycheck Protection Act
Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Eric’s Law
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BoP facilities. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of SBA from Washington, D.C. to another location in the United States Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Equal Remedies Act. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for salaries and expenses (S&E) and buildings and facilities (B&F). Lobbied in opposition to the use of augmentation or reassignment at BOP. Lobbied in support of hiring additional correctional officers. Lobbied in support of increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied in support of S. 307, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Ossoff (D-GA) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons.
Eric’s Law
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to the closure of FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIF
Eric’s Law
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Eric’s Law
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BOP facilities. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for BOP and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of SBA from Washington, D.C. to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied in support of S. 307, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Ossoff (D-GA) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons. Lobbied in opposition to potential lease terminations of EEOC facilities. Lobbied in support of Rep. Golden (D-ME) discharge petition #6 on H.R. 2550.
Eric’s Law
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Eric’s Law
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to the closure of FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIF
Eric’s Law
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veterans Claims Education Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Russell Vought to be Director, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2906 the SERVICE Act to prevent an agency from reducing its workforce by 5% or greater in a given fiscal year without itself conducting a full impact analysis of those cuts on the agency's ability to carry out its mission, and GAO evaluating the accuracy of that evaluation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2905, the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act to amend 5 USC 3101 ("Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by chapter 51 of this title as Congress may appropriate for from year to year."), the general authority provision that allows the government to employ, from a 'may employ' to a '*shall* employ', and requires an agency to justify their inability or refusal to comply with the requirement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2692 the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the tax subsidy for employer efforts to influence their workers' exercise of their rights around labor organizations and engaging in collective action.
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act. Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupor to be the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 (and lobbied for the introduction of a Senate companion), the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate and provide back pay to probationary federal employees who were unjustly fired in 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210/S. 511, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174/S. 1597, the Paycheck Protection Act
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Veteran Jobs Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Veteran Appeals Transparency Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
MERIT Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
MERIT Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
MERIT Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
MERIT Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act. Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupor to be the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 (and lobbied for the introduction of a Senate companion), the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate and provide back pay to probationary federal employees who were unjustly fired in 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210/S. 511, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174/S. 1597, the Paycheck Protection Act
MERIT Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
MERIT Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
MERIT Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Russell Vought to be Director, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2906 the SERVICE Act to prevent an agency from reducing its workforce by 5% or greater in a given fiscal year without itself conducting a full impact analysis of those cuts on the agency's ability to carry out its mission, and GAO evaluating the accuracy of that evaluation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2905, the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act to amend 5 USC 3101 ("Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by chapter 51 of this title as Congress may appropriate for from year to year."), the general authority provision that allows the government to employ, from a 'may employ' to a '*shall* employ', and requires an agency to justify their inability or refusal to comply with the requirement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2692 the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the tax subsidy for employer efforts to influence their workers' exercise of their rights around labor organizations and engaging in collective action.
Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied against H.R. 1968, the Continuing Resolution that was enacted on March 14 2025. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts.
START Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
START Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
START Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
START Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
START Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
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.
Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act. Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupor to be the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 (and lobbied for the introduction of a Senate companion), the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate and provide back pay to probationary federal employees who were unjustly fired in 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210/S. 511, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174/S. 1597, the Paycheck Protection Act
Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Russell Vought to be Director, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2906 the SERVICE Act to prevent an agency from reducing its workforce by 5% or greater in a given fiscal year without itself conducting a full impact analysis of those cuts on the agency's ability to carry out its mission, and GAO evaluating the accuracy of that evaluation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2905, the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act to amend 5 USC 3101 ("Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by chapter 51 of this title as Congress may appropriate for from year to year."), the general authority provision that allows the government to employ, from a 'may employ' to a '*shall* employ', and requires an agency to justify their inability or refusal to comply with the requirement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2692 the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the tax subsidy for employer efforts to influence their workers' exercise of their rights around labor organizations and engaging in collective action.
Protect Our Probationary Employees Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Securing American Agriculture Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905. Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Securing American Agriculture Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296). Lobbied in support of House NDAA Amendment Log 5206 that would not authorize funds to be appropriated to implement Executive Order 14251. Lobbied opposing Amendment #1146 to the H.R. 3838, the House National Defense Authorization Act, that would strike Section 1110 in the bill. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 1995/S. 905, the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act,. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 759, the Federal Firefighters Families First Act. Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Securing American Agriculture Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905. Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Securing American Agriculture Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296). Lobbied in support of House NDAA Amendment Log 5206 that would not authorize funds to be appropriated to implement Executive Order 14251. Lobbied opposing Amendment #1146 to the H.R. 3838, the House National Defense Authorization Act, that would strike Section 1110 in the bill. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 1995/S. 905, the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act,. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 759, the Federal Firefighters Families First Act. Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Securing American Agriculture Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 1071). Lobbied in opposition to H.Res. 936, the closed rule to provide for consideration of S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905). Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Securing American Agriculture Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296). Lobbied in support of House NDAA Amendment Log 5206 that would not authorize funds to be appropriated to implement Executive Order 14251. Lobbied opposing Amendment #1146 to the H.R. 3838, the House National Defense Authorization Act, that would strike Section 1110 in the bill. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 1995/S. 905, the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act,. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 759, the Federal Firefighters Families First Act. Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Securing American Agriculture Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 1071). Lobbied in opposition to H.Res. 936, the closed rule to provide for consideration of S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905). Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to the closure of FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIF
Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BoP facilities. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of SBA from Washington, D.C. to another location in the United States Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Equal Remedies Act. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for salaries and expenses (S&E) and buildings and facilities (B&F). Lobbied in opposition to the use of augmentation or reassignment at BOP. Lobbied in support of hiring additional correctional officers. Lobbied in support of increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied in support of S. 307, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Ossoff (D-GA) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons.
Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to the closure of FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIF
Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BOP facilities. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for BOP and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of SBA from Washington, D.C. to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied in support of S. 307, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Ossoff (D-GA) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons. Lobbied in opposition to potential lease terminations of EEOC facilities. Lobbied in support of Rep. Golden (D-ME) discharge petition #6 on H.R. 2550.
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act. Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupor to be the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 (and lobbied for the introduction of a Senate companion), the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate and provide back pay to probationary federal employees who were unjustly fired in 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210/S. 511, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174/S. 1597, the Paycheck Protection Act
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Russell Vought to be Director, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2906 the SERVICE Act to prevent an agency from reducing its workforce by 5% or greater in a given fiscal year without itself conducting a full impact analysis of those cuts on the agency's ability to carry out its mission, and GAO evaluating the accuracy of that evaluation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2905, the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act to amend 5 USC 3101 ("Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by chapter 51 of this title as Congress may appropriate for from year to year."), the general authority provision that allows the government to employ, from a 'may employ' to a '*shall* employ', and requires an agency to justify their inability or refusal to comply with the requirement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2692 the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the tax subsidy for employer efforts to influence their workers' exercise of their rights around labor organizations and engaging in collective action.
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Rights for the TSA Workforce Act
Client: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · Firm: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Will amend.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 · first_quarter · 1A
Will amend.
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 · first_quarter · Q1
Will amend.
Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 7148, the Continuing Appropriations, Act, 2026 providing appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and providing continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, 2026. It also extends various expiring programs and authorities. Lobbied the House in support of H.R. 7147 as amended and passed by the Senate on March 27, the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of S. 3168 / H.R. 7137, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends. Advised House and Senate members on FY27 appropriations with respect to the federal workforce as the FY27 appropriations process began.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 · third_quarter · 3A
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to FSIS's budget. Lobbied against closure, relocation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate support of a continuing resolution to maintain funding of government agencies in the absence of a full year FY26 appropriations package.
Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for Department of Labor employees. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2873, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to 139 EPA employees put on administrative leave for signing a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin opposing cuts to employees and administrative budget and functions. Lobbied in support of strong language to support the Office of Research and Development at EPA in Senate Appropriations report language. Lobbied in support of National Science Foundation employees and opposed cuts to staffing and budget and retaliatory practices. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
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.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296). Lobbied in support of House NDAA Amendment Log 5206 that would not authorize funds to be appropriated to implement Executive Order 14251. Lobbied opposing Amendment #1146 to the H.R. 3838, the House National Defense Authorization Act, that would strike Section 1110 in the bill. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 1995/S. 905, the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act,. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 759, the Federal Firefighters Families First Act. Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) full-time staffing given current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget cuts that lead to staffing cuts at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against elimination, consolidation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service and FSIS positions across the country. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837 the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilities. Lobbied to oppose closure of HUD facilities and transfer to National Science Foundation (NSF) facilities without adequate consultation with unions. Lobbied to oppose closure and consolidation of HUD offices and cuts to funding and reductions in force. Lobbied in opposition to retaliation against employees with disabilities and employees with reasonable accommodation. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 · fourth_quarter · 4A
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to the closure and consolidation of USDA facilities. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) budget. Lobbied against closure, relocation, reductions in force (RIFs) and budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied the House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, to maintain funding of government agencies in the absence of a full year FY26 appropriations package. Lobbied in support of S. 3012, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure essential federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends.
Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for DOL employees. Lobbied in support for NCFLL priorities including heat and cold exposure workplace safety protections. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2873, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in support of inclusion of language in House and Senate appropriations bills including language to retain staff, funding and resources at ORD. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to 139 EPA employees put on administrative leave for signing a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin opposing cuts to employees and administrative budget and functions. Lobbied in support of strong language to support the Office of Research and Development at EPA in Senate Appropriations report language. Lobbied in support of National Science Foundation employees and opposed cuts to staffing and budget and retaliatory practices. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2738, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for reclassifications of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety Inspectors to be competitive with private industry in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 971) Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied in support of adequate funding and staffing and support for NIOSH workers. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2738, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for reclassifications of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety Inspectors to be competitive with private industry in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 971) Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied in support of adequate funding and staffing and support for NIOSH workers. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to the closure of FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIF
Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 1071). Lobbied in opposition to H.Res. 936, the closed rule to provide for consideration of S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905). Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) full-time staffing given current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget cuts that lead to staffing cuts at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against elimination, consolidation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service and FSIS positions across the country. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against massive budget cuts and reductions in force (RIFs) and termination of probationary employees at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Lobbied opposing cuts to USAID in rescissions bill. Lobbied against any potential RIF at US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Lobbied against termination of probationary employees and elimination of the Voice of America at USAGM Lobbied in opposition to USAID being eliminated. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837 the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilities. Lobbied to oppose closure of HUD facilities and transfer to National Science Foundation (NSF) facilities without adequate consultation with unions. Lobbied to oppose closure and consolidation of HUD offices and cuts to funding and reductions in force. Lobbied in opposition to retaliation against employees with disabilities and employees with reasonable accommodation. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 · third_quarter · 3A
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to FSIS's budget. Lobbied against closure, relocation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate support of a continuing resolution to maintain funding of government agencies in the absence of a full year FY26 appropriations package.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 · fourth_quarter · Q4
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2738, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for reclassifications of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety Inspectors to be competitive with private industry in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 971) Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied in support of adequate funding and staffing and support for NIOSH workers. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2738, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for reclassifications of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety Inspectors to be competitive with private industry in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 971) Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied in support of adequate funding and staffing and support for NIOSH workers. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 · third_quarter · Q3
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2873, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to 139 EPA employees put on administrative leave for signing a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin opposing cuts to employees and administrative budget and functions. Lobbied in support of strong language to support the Office of Research and Development at EPA in Senate Appropriations report language. Lobbied in support of National Science Foundation employees and opposed cuts to staffing and budget and retaliatory practices. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 · second_quarter · Q2
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BOP facilities. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for BOP and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of SBA from Washington, D.C. to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied in support of S. 307, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Ossoff (D-GA) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons. Lobbied in opposition to potential lease terminations of EEOC facilities. Lobbied in support of Rep. Golden (D-ME) discharge petition #6 on H.R. 2550.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 · first_quarter · Q1
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to FSIS's budget. Lobbied against budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act" Lobbied in support of H.R. 2626, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2025.
Lobbied against H.R. 1968, the Continuing Resolution that was enacted on March 14 2025. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2024 · fourth_quarter · Q4
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for a 7.4% increase in federal by for 2025 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, H.R. 8773. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of Income Rates) Act, H.R. 7127 and S. 3688 to provide a 7.4% increase to federal employees pay in 2025. Lobbied for a minimum of parity in the 2025 pay between military and civilian employees to provide at least a 4.5% pay raise. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the Presidents FY 2025 budget request to continue GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied in support of the Fund the TSA Act," H.R. 3394. Lobbied in support of the TSA Commuting Fairness Act, H.R. 8662. Lobbied in support of the Rights for the "TSA Workforce Act," H.R. 8370 / S. 4334 to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of additional security measures for scheduled charter flights so they are fully subject to TSA screening. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. 3029, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied against FY 2025 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Lobbied for changes to S. 4043, the Telework Transparency Act of 2024 to prevent arbitrary office space reductions and/or telework restrictions. Lobbied against a proposed Romney amendment to S. 4043 to impose remote surveillance on teleworking federal employees. Lobbied against the Perry amendment to the NDAA bill (H.R. 8070) to question to role of official time by ordering a biased reporting its use in the federal workplace. Lobbied against a proposed Scott amendment to the NDAA bill (H.R. 8070) to curtail collective bargaining rights for dual status technicians employed by the Defense Department. Lobbied against H.R 4848, the Censorship Accountability Act, which would expose federal employees performing their lawful duties to personal civil liability over purported intrusions into the First Amendment. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023, hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service, provision which was enacted in the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to OPMs proposed governmentwide cybersecurity workforce proposal to preserve title 5 provisions, protect collective bargaining rights, and avoid pay banding systems that are associated with arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. Lobbied against H.R. 9594 the Protect Taxpayers Wallets Act which would effectively end official time for federal unions. Lobbied against H.R. 8314 the No Foreign Election Interference Act which would have interfered with the functioning of union political action committees. Lobbied against S. 4321 the No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act which may have punished federal healthcare providers who provided reproductive care. Lobbied against S. 4667 the Risky Research Review Act which would impose criminal penalties and other sanctions on federal workers reviewing or performing medical research. Lobbied in favor of S. 131 to improve federal workers ability to access workers compensation benefits in case of work-related injury. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2024 · third_quarter · Q3
FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations - Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied in support of $160,000 in funding for each position. Lobbied for report language directing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review position classification standards of railroad safety inspectors to reflect the increased technological requirements of their positions. Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use. Lobbied to highlight bad faith bargaining at HUD. Lobbied in support of diversity, equity and inclusion and disability accommodations. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2024 · second_quarter · Q2
Lobbied the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on issues affecting the federal workforce as they began work on the following FY 2025 appropriations bills: Defense Homeland Security Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Agriculture Energy and Water Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD FY25 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations: Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2025 Financial Services General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of language in the FY 2025 FSGG Appropriations bill to adjusts federal employee pay by at least 4.5%. Lobbied in support of the 7.4% pay raise for federal employees in 2025 proposed in the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act (S. 3688/H.R. 7127). Lobbied in support of section 741 prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76. Lobbied in support of amending section 737 pertaining to wage grade pay. Lobbied in opposition to any limitation of, reduction of, constraint to, or interference with official time in representing federal employees. Lobbied in support of discretionary funding above the $205 million requested in the Administrations Budget for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). FY25 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations: Opposed amendments offered during House consideration of Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (H.R. 8580) that would have reduced funding from the VA General Administration, implemented VA Privatization, and restricted the VAs ability to take reasonable actions to protect veterans, VA employees, and the public-at-large from firearms violence. FY25 Homeland Security Appropriations: Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, H.R. 8752. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for more resources for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied against a proposal to eliminate TSO Staffing of Exit Lanes. Lobbied for adequately funding of FEMA to hire more full time Title 5 employees. Lobbied for more funding for nurses at the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC). Lobbied for more funding for the Federal Protective Service to help hire more FPS employees. FY25 Transportation-HUD Appropriations: Lobbied for additional funds for more Rail Safety Inspectors and better pay for inspectors in the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2025 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, H.R. 9028 and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). FY25 Labor-HHS Appropriations (H.R. 9029): Lobbied in support of increased FY25 funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Lobbied in support of upgrading SSA legal assistants and customer service representatives positions. Lobbied in support of report language directing SSA to roll back the average call handling time goal at teleservice centers and mandate call waiting time estimates to the public. Lobbied in support of funds to renovate and restore National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) facilities in Bruceton and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Lobbied in support of language stating that the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) user fees collected for leading the national respirator conformity assessment activities, including certification of respirators, will not expire with the fiscal year. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). FY25 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 8774): Lobbied in support of language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent an analysis of the effects of such reduction on workload and military readiness of the armed forces. Lobbied against any proposal to prohibit military exchanges and commissaries from selling Chinese-made products. Lobbied against an amendment authorizing direct hire authority for any position supporting the military mission or posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Lobbied in opposition to an amendment 315 prohibiting telework and remote work for certain DoD employees and contractors. Lobbied against an amendment prohibiting funding for Executive Order 14019, relating to Promoting Access to Voting. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to reduce the salaries of various DoD officials. Lobbied against an amendment prohibiting the use of funds to carry out a mask mandate regarding the spread of COVID-19 on military instillations. Lobbied against an amendment to eliminate funding for important DEIA programs at the Defense Department. Lobbied in support of amendments to ensure that federal civilian employees who serve in the D. C. National Guard are treated the same as all other federal civilian employees who serve in the National Guard. FY25 Interior Appropriations (H.R. 8998): Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in support of hiring more EPA employees, in support of improving recruitment efforts at the EPA, and in opposition to relocations, consolidation and closure of EPA Facilities. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). FY25 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 9026): Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for salaries and expenses (S&E) and buildings and facilities (B&F). Lobbied in support of increased funding for BOP Salary Special Pay Table Increase. Lobbied in opposition to the use of augmentation or reassignment at BOP. Lobbied in support of hiring additional correctional officers. Lobbied in support of increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions. Lobbied in support of report language to direct the Bureau of Prisons to give nurses full time-and-a-half overtime pay. Lobbied in support of increased funding for staffing at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Lobbied in support of Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) to include report language stating that no funds shall be used to transfer functions of JPATS Las Vegas, Nevada Hub to Kansas City, Missouri. Lobbied in support increased funding for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). FY25 Energy and Water Appropriations: Lobbied in opposition to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) facilities. Lobbied in support of report language that directs the Army Corps of Engineers to recognize the duty station for crew on a dredge to be the dredges home port and to pay for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals on all dredges when they travel further than 100 miles from the home port. FY25 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations (H.R. 8771): Lobbied in support of report language blocking any funds to implement a reduction in force (RIF) of any USAGM employees. Lobbied against an amendment prohibiting funding for Executive Order 14019, relating to Promoting Access to Voting. Lobbied against an amendment prohibit funding to eliminate USAID funding. FY25 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 9027): Lobbied in support of Fully Funding the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Lobbied in support of directing USDA FSIS to ensure that staffing levels are not reduced. Lobbied in support of fully utilizing travel funds to fill vacant positions across the country by detailing employees to vacant positions. Lobbied in support of Protecting Awards and Expanding Hiring Bonuses for FSIS Employees. Lobbied in support of requiring FSIS to Evaluate Safety Inspectors Pay. Lobbied in support of percent increase over the FY 2024 appropriation of $1.79 billion enacted in early March. The FY 2024 appropriation was only a $44 million increase over ARSs FY 2023 appropriation. Lobbied in support of full funding for the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). Lobbied in support of full funding for the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied in support of filling vacancies at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2024 · first_quarter · Q1
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · fourth_quarter · 4A
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130/S. 459, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Lobbied in opposition to removing Puerto Rican holidays from SBA employees in Puerto Rico. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · fourth_quarter · 4A
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied for confirmation of Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied for confirmation Kalpana Kotagal to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and her ultimate confirmation on July 14, 2023. Lobbied in support ofH.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment oflncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority when nominations are received from the Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · third_quarter · 3A
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · fourth_quarter · 4A
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130 and S. 459, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · fourth_quarter · Q4
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of Martin OMalley to be confirmed as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority when nominations are received from the Administration.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · third_quarter · Q3
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130/S. 459, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Lobbied in opposition to removing Puerto Rican holidays from SBA employees in Puerto Rico. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · second_quarter · Q2
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Lobbied for a clean increase to the federal debt ceiling to avoid a default; opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 187 the, "Default Prevention Act," which in lieu of raising the debt ceiling would seek to avoid a default by creating a tiered payment system prioritizing Treasury payments to bondholders at the expense of federal employees, contractors, and others. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal pay for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2023 · first_quarter · Q1
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130/S. 459, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Lobbied in opposition to removing Puerto Rican holidays from SBA employees in Puerto Rico. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2024. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Time Off to Vote Act requiring employers, upon the request of an employee, to provide the employee with a minimum of two consecutive hours of paid leave to vote in a federal election. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2024 CJS Appropriations bill to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2022 · fourth_quarter · Q4
Lobbied for passage of H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 302, the Preventing a Patronage System Act or the PPSA Act. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2988, the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 and against including protections for noncareer SES political appointees. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8873, the Presidential Election Reform Act. Lobbied to amend and improve the "Safe Federal Workplaces Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 4623, the AGILE Procurement Act of 2022 to avoid creating loopholes to cost accounting rules for federal contractors. Lobbied in support of H.R. 521, the RETIRE Act of 2021 to provide equitable retirement benefits to first responders and law enforcement officers injured on the job. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7376/S. 3474, the "Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 6967/S. 3423, the "Chance to Compete Act." Lobbied to restrict or eliminate agency waivers of the bills provisions. Lobbied for changes to provisions of H.R. 4521, the "America COMPETES Act." Lobbied in opposition to expanding noncompetitive hiring at the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development. Lobbied in support for a strong collective bargaining contract with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act" to protect the right to vote, especially its inclusion of the "Time Off to Vote Act" and District of Columbia Statehood. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8861, the District of Columbia Home Rule Expansion Act of 2022 eliminating the Congressional review period for D.C. legislation. Lobbied for passage of the "Time Off To Vote Act." Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, COVID response and return to office space. Lobbied in support of S. 4365/ H.R. 8005, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Supported Senate letter to president urging appointments for SSAs Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner positions. Lobbied on behalf of S. 4421/H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act" to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 /S. 3518, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act" to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied against S. 3672 RETURN Act and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for S.Res. 275 introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) acknowledging the mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals in all levels of federal service. Specifically, this resolution would apologize for the mistreatment of, discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the United States Armed Forces, Foreign Service and Federal civil service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 795l, the "Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act" to encourage expanded telework and ensure managers are informed as to its benefits and use. Lobbied against S. 471, the "Members of Congress Pension Opt Out Clarification Act" that undermines the value of the earned benefit of the retirement annuity in federal service and politicizes its acceptance by members of Congress. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for inclusion of the legislations provisions in the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied to expand presumption of workplace illness workers' compensation through the Federal Employee Compensation Act for Covid-19 cases beyond 2030. Lobbied to renew paid emergency leave for federal employees for Covid-19 personal and family illness and childcare and school needs. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Department's mission, including protecting students' civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097 - Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, S. 1330 - Facilitating Federal Employee. Reskilling Act, S. 1324 (Rosen)- Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, and S. 407 the Air America Act. Provided technical background and comment on draft legislation to improve process for evaluation of applicants within the competitive service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the "Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2021 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of S. 1302, the companion legislation to H.R. 82. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5723 and S. 3071, the "Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust" Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Provided technical background and comment on H.R. 5314, the "Protecting Our Democracy Act" and specifically its Hatch Act provisions. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 6104 the "Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act" to protect veterans' preference and to prevent undue private influence on federal hiring decisions. Lobbied in support of the U.S. Mint releasing its internal report on racial issues at the agency. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2617) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2023.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2022 · third_quarter · Q3
Lobbied to impress upon lawmakers the impact of cuts, freezes or insufficient COLAs on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for the federal workforce for FY 2023 and for fairer locality adjustments. FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) -- Lobbied in support of additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2023 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 8236) -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2023 Military Quality of Life Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 8238) -- Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 8238) -- Lobbied in support of funding for VA healthcare and benefit staff and police officers; lobbied to restrict funding for the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission. FY 2023 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 8262) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 8295) -- Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. FY 2023 Appropriations (H.R. 8294) - partial omnibus appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023; Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2023; Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023; Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023 - lobbied for passage and commented on numerous amendments and provisions. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and Congressional assistance on the status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 8254) -- Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256) -- Lobbied in support of AFGE Council of Prison Locals legislative priorities including higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations (H.R. 8294) -- Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors. FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) -- Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers and lobbied in support of good faith bargaining negotiations between AFGE EEOC Council leaders and management specifically related to health and safety provisions related to return to work and adequate telework flexibility. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564 / S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees paid leave to cover all instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act including to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition, care for somebody's own serious health condition, or address circumstances relating to an immediate family member's active-duty. service in the Armed Forces. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 appropriations bills to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2022 · second_quarter · 2A
Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security appropriations bill, H.R. 8257, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
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 and 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 the creation of a Journeyman GS-15 Attorney position at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied against provisions of S. 2687, the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act that would improperly authorize an agency IG to issue testimonial subpoenas to former employees and others without the safeguards provided to current employees. Lobbied against provisions of draft VA whistleblower legislation that would improperly expand the Office of Special Counsels authority at the expense of the neutral Merit Systems Protection Board and afford overly broad protections to SES members. Lobbied against provisions of H.R. 3967, the Honoring the PACT Act, that would unnecessarily expand direct hire authority at the VA. 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 the introduction of 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 changes to a Draft Bill to make certain improvements to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 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 Marked 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: House Veterans Affairs Committee Markup on Pending Legislation (April 6, 2022). Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing on The VA Workforce: Assessing Ways To Bolster Recruitment And Retention (May 3, 2022). Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing on Pending Legislation (Hearing postponed, statement submitted for the record) (May 24, 2022). Letter to all Senators with vote recommendations on the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021," and potential floor amendments. House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Pending Legislation (June 22, 2022). Letter to Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate in support of amendment to VA appropriations to prohibit the closure of VA health care facilities based on certain VA recommendations to the AIR Commission. 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 importance to VA Clinicians. 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, 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 H.R. 6411, the "Support The Resiliency of Our Nation's Great Veterans Act of 2022" or the "STRONG Veterans Act of 2022" Lobbied in support of H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021. 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 in opposition to SA 5051 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5063 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5064 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5071 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5075 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3017, the "Veterans Dental Enhancement and Expansion Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 5738, the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7335, the Improving Military Sexual Trauma Claims Coordination Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2428, the VA OIG Testimonial Subpoena Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. H.R. 7158, the Long Term Care Veterans Choice Act Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7153, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act." Lobbied in support of S. 4156, the VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 291, the COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1216, the Modernizing Veterans Health Care Eligibility Act. Lobbied for oversight of H.R. 6273, the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1957, the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of H.R. 345, the Reproductive Health Information for Veterans Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6422, the VA STRONG Act. Lobbied for changes to a Draft Bill to make certain improvements to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Military Construction, VA appropriations bill, H.R. 8238 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2022 · second_quarter · Q2
Defense Appropriations Lobbied on the following issues H.R. 8236, the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriations Act: 1.Supported retaining section 8012 language that clearly prohibits using appropriated funds to arbitrarily constrain the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent personnel caps, End Strength, or maximum number of employees. Provision also prohibits arbitrary reductions of the programmed civilian full-time equivalents projected over the Future Years Defense Program years absent an appropriate analysis of the impacts on readiness, lethality, stress on the force, operational effectiveness, military force structure, workload and fully burdened costs. Opposed Administration proposal from the Presidents Budget to strike this provision and replace with a section 8008 that would permit the Department of Defense to constrain the civilian workforce to arbitrary personnel caps and arbitrarily reduce it for any reason. 2.Supported inclusion in section 8012 additional language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for term or temporary hiring for enduring functions. 3.Supported inclusion of language in the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Lobbied on the following issues for H.R. 7900, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023 NDAA) both in the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee Members based on Member Requests proposals for Amendments for committee and subcommittee markup on the following issues (Senate bill number not assigned yet). 1.Inclusion of language in the FY 2023 NDAA that would strengthen total force management within the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution system of the DoD: a.By reviving the Enterprise Contractor Manpower Reporting Application process for collecting fully burdened cost data from contractors; b.By ensuring near- and long-term strategic readiness includes data analytics for identifying DoD civilian contributions to readiness, leveraging Center for Naval Analysis study previously asked for in the Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA. c.By strengthening and clarifying statutory framework to ensure program and budget reviews challenge, compete, and prioritize contract services requirements instead of the default practice of cutting the DoD civilian workforce. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA to repeal the remaining arbitrary personnel caps on headquarters functions in sections 143, 155, 194, 7014, 8014 and 9014 of title 10. 3.Continuation of the public-private competition moratorium on OMB Circular A-76. Inclusion of language strengthening implementation of section 815 of the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA depending on the Departments implementation of those provisions to enforce compliance with existing statutory restrictions on converting civilian positions to contract performance and to ensure the Department is complying with statutory requirements to consider civilian employees for performance of closely associated with inherently governmental and critical functions. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA that continues the prohibition of another round of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). 5.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA encouraging the DoD to hire civilian backfills when converting military medical structure to operational requirements in the Military Medical Treatment Facilities. 6.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA encouraging Commissaries to address food insecurity among military families by ending variable pricing and establishing specific pilot programs to provide free produce to eligible military families. 7.Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA to improve sustainment planning for major weapon system acquisitions by re-establishing the manpower estimate report process prior to milestone B and C decision on the appropriate mix between Active Component and Reserve Component military. civilian employees, host nation and contract support for operating, training and maintaining major weapon systems. This became section 804. 8.Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA terminating authority for alternative compensation frameworks by repealing authority for the Acquisition Demo project which has been documented as discriminatory to women and minorities. 9.Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA prohibiting the misuse of term and temporary hiring authorities for enduring missions. 10.Inclusion in the FY2023 NDAA H.R. 903, The Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2021, as reported in the House Homeland Security Committee. 11.Inclusion of H.R. 962 and S. 1888, The Law Enforcement Equity Act, in the FY2023 NDAA. 12.Inclusion of H.R. 2499 and S. 1116, The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, in the FY20223 NDAA. 13.Inclusion of H.R. 6967 and S. 3423, Chance to Compete Act of 2022, in the FY2023 NDAA. 14.Inclusion of directive report language in the FY2023 NDAA requesting an Administrative Conference of United States review of the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness from a due process perspective of DoD and government security clearance determinations, as well as a Federally Funded Research and Development demographic survey on whether security clearance adjudications within DoD and other federal agencies have been applied in a discriminatory manner against protected Civil Rights categories and in favor of certain hate groups. 15.Consideration of the adverse effects of limited access to technical data in the organic industrial base and limits to governmental access to certified cost and pricing data under the Truth in Negotiations Act resulting from recent expansions of commercial items and services definitions through the NDADA to sole source procurements that have contributed to escalating sustainment costs and cybersecurity risks for DoD weapon systems. 16.Inclusion of H.R. 3086 and S. 1561, the Locality Pay Equity Act of 2021, in the FY2023 NDAA. Provided input to Rep. Norcross staff on potential floor amendment that would request a GAO review addressing this issue in the shipyards. Recommended expanding amendment to include depots, arsenals and Defense Logistics Agency sites. 17.Inclusion of H.R. 8007 and S. 4374, Stop Price Gauging the Military Act, in the FY2023 NDAA. 18.Clarification of the calculation of deport workload carryover calculations in Readiness subcommittee mark. This became section 367. 19.Opposed inclusion of Rep. Green (R-TN) language prohibiting Commissaries and Exchanges from selling Chinese-manufactured goods because of its impact on 40K Non-Appropriated Fund workers when no such restriction was being proposed for private sector competitors. This became section 631. 20.Clarification of the increase of minimum capital investment in depots from 6 percent to 8 percent in section 363. 21.Opposed inclusion of Air Force proposal entitled, Improvement to use of Cyber and Information Technology Workforce for Enterprise Information Technology, a proposal essentially to exempt the Cyber and IT workforce from the public-private competition moratorium and the underlying requirement to perform public-private competitions. 22.Discussed with Senator Shaheen staff the possibility of language that would help DoD civilian employees and their families, along with military, to take leave to get abortions. 23.Supported Amendment Number 5 proposed by Rep. Norton (D-D.C.) and Rep. Brown (D.-MD) to give the Mayor of the District of Columbia the same authority over the National Guard (NG) that the governors of states and territories have. 24.Supported Amendment Number 11 proposed by Rep. Brownley (D-CA) that would allow FAA Air Traffic Controllers to work at Contract Tower facilities without losing federal retirement benefits. 25.Supported Amendment Number 23 proposed by Rep. Cicilline (D-RI) that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate productivity expectations for readjustment counselors of Vet Centers, including by gaining feedback from counselors that must be audited annually for five years by the Government Accountability Office. This amendment would also require the VA to develop and implement a staffing model for Vet Centers, standardize position description responsibilities, and award grants to address food insecurity among veterans and family members of veterans who receive services through Vet Centers or other VA facilities. 26.Supported Amendment Number 28 proposed by Rep. Kilmer (D-WA) that would remove the 180 day waiting period for hiring retired members of Armed Forces into military health system positions. 27.Supported Amendment Number 113 proposed by Rep. Correa (D-CA) that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report on women veterans access to gender specific services under arrangements entered into by the VA with non-VA medical providers for the provision of hospital care or medical services. 28.Opposed the following amendments proposed by Rep. Gaetz (R-FL), such as amendment number 2 that combating extremism in the ranks should not be a priority of the Department of Defense; amendment number 3 disparaging the Secretary of Defense; amendment number 7 that would weaken compliance of military members with the vaccine mandate; amendment number 8 that would impede DoD from making PCS moves when the reason for the PCS move is a military members disagreement with state or local law. 29.Opposed the amendment number 9 proposed by Rep. Van Duyne (R-TX) that would permanently suspend the vaccine mandate for DoD contractors. AFGE sent the following letters to Congress and the Department of Defense in connection with FY2023 NDAA: 1.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee, on Defense Appropriation Member Request Priorities dated April 26, 2022. 2.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Appropriations Committee, Financial Services General Government Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee, Financial Services General Government Subcommittee, on FSGG Appropriation Member Request Priorities dated April 26, 2022. Two issues related to carrying forward section 741 language continuing the government-wide public-private competition moratorium and proposing new language prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to interfere with collective bargaining agreements. 3.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee, copied to Office of Management and Budget and Secretary of Defense, and dated May 23, 2022, strongly opposing Administration proposal to replace section 8012 with section 8008, reinstituting arbitrary personnel caps. Interviewed on Federal News Network about letter and provided interview to Congress, DoD and OMB. 4.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to Defense Business Board dated May 27, 2022, on Upgrading DoD Civilian Talent Management. Letter copied to Congress. 5.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Armed Services Committee pertaining to FY2023 NDAA markup dated June 12, 2022. 6.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Rules Committee on H.R. 7900 Amendments dated July, 2022. Other NDAA related activities: Provided several questions for record to SASC Personnel Subcommittee Hearing on April 27, 2022, regarding military and civilian workforce programs in the Department of Defense. The questions for record were submitted by Senator Tillis related to the USD (P&R) total force management responsibilities and how increased use of the civilian workforce could reduce stress on the militarys high demand low density military occupational specialties when insufficient accessions were occurring resulting in military end strength reductions. The questions for record on the Departments plans to program and budget for services contracts and implement standard total force management guidelines to improve compliance with statutory privatization limitations were submitted by Senator Warren. There were later re-packaged for HAC-D Defense Budget Hearing to counter Ranking Member Calverts suggestion that the civilian workforce should be proportionately reduced with military end strength reductions. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2022 · first_quarter · Q1
Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7376/S. 3474, the "Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 6967/S. 3423, the "Chance to Compete Act." Lobbied for changes to provisions of H.R. 4521, America COMPETES. Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act to protect the right to vote, especially its inclusion of the Time Off to Vote Act and District of Columbia Statehood. Lobbied on introduction of the Time Off To Vote Act. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce to increase agency funding, allow the use of telework, reopen the collective bargaining agreement, and ensure a safe return to office space. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5723, the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 1302, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2021 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied on behalf of H.R. 304, the Equal Cola Act to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 /S. 3518 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied to make the billionaires pay their fair share of taxes to better fund the government. Lobbied for passage of the Postal Service Reform Act, H.R. 3076. Lobbied against S. 3672, the "RETURN Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of the Presidents FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied to expand presumption of workplace illness workers compensation through the Federal Employee Compensation Act for Covid-19 cases beyond 2030. Lobbied to renew paid emergency leave for federal employees for Covid-19 personal and family illness and childcare and school needs. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097, the "Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act," S. 1330, the" Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act," S. 1324, the "Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act," and S. 407, the "Air America Act." Provided technical background and comment on draft legislation to improve process for evaluation of applicants within the competitive service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82/S. 1302 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5723, the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Provided technical background and comment on H.R. 5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act and specifically its Hatch Act provisions. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2021 · fourth_quarter · Q4
Lobbied for the following floor amendments to S. 2792, refiled as a Senate Amendment (SA) 3867 to H.R. 4350, the House version of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (FY2022 NDAA): SA No. 3891 filed by Sen. Casey (D-PA) that would codify Senate Armed Services Committee markup directive report language for the Office of Personnel Management to align the wage grade localities to the General Schedule localities where discrepancies exist. SA No. 4525 filed by Sen. Schatz (D-HI) that would provide collective bargaining rights to the Transportation Security Administration workforce. SA No. 4387 filed by Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) that would allow federal fire fighters to trade shifts across multiple pay periods without decreasing their regular pay or overtime pay requirements. SA No. 4538 filed by Sen. Warner (D-VA) that would establish educational assistance for cybersecurity. SA No. 4530 filed by Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) that would establish The Foreign Service Families Act of 2021, including a provision requiring every Federal Agency to establish a policy enumerating when employees may be permitted to temporarily telework from approved overseas locations when there is a related Foreign Service assignment. SA No. 3869 filed by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) that would establish presumptive benefits for military and civilian employees exposed to burn pits and other toxins in a country where the U.S. was performing a contingency operation after August 2, 1990. SA No. 3881 filed by Sen. Portman (R-OH) that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve information sharing on best practices for veterans homelessness. SA No. 3902 filed by Sen. Warnock (D-GA) that would direct a review of overall workforce requirements by cyber operations, information operations, and software engineering. SA No. 3899 filed by Sen. Warren (D-MA) that would establish protections whistleblowers related to COVID-19 pandemic response. SA No. 4099 filed by Sen. Lankford (R-OK) related to the blended workforce that would establish a government-wide policy against arbitrary personnel caps as impediments to human capital planning and further provide for contractor inventory. SA No. 4064 and 4079 filed by Sen. Ossoff (D-GA) that would require a report on capacity of child development centers in the Department of Defense. SA No. 4036 filed by Sen. Baldwin (D-WI) that would provide additional whistleblower protections for members of Reserve Component. SA No. 4086 filed by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) that would provide protections for employees, former employees, and applicants for employment, with federal agencies, contractors and grantees, whose right to furnish information to Congress is interfered with or denied. SA No. 4391 filed by Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) that would extend National Guard mobilization authorities to the Mayor of the District of Columbia. SA No. 4379 and 4380 filed by Sen. Warner (D-VA) that would establish a senior official responsible for combating food insecurity among members of the Armed Forces serving in the Department of Defense. SA No. 4381 filed by Sen. Warner (D-VA) that would require the Department of Defense file a report with Congress providing its analysis for realigning military medical billets from Military Medical Treatment Facilities, focusing on whether there have been sufficient backfills of realigned military and the potential effects on healthcare networks in the surrounding community. SA No. 4318 filed by Sen. Booker (D-NJ) that would establish a pilot program on potential doula support for veterans. SA No. 4181 filed by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) that would require establishing workforce development plans that cover accessions, training, education, recruitment, retention, fair and competitive compensation, enlistment standards, and screening tools, in connection with total force management requirements on the mix between active and reserve military, as well as civilian employees performing cyber and information operation functions. SA No. 4199 filed by Sen. Cortez-Masto (R-NV) that would require a Comptroller General assessment of the quality and nutrition of food provided to members of the Armed Forces. SA No. 4205 filed by Sen. Warner (D-VA) that would establish a pilot program for provision of fresh produce to members of the Armed Forces. SA No. 4219 filed by Sen. Braun (R-IN) that would require Department of Defense to provide a contracting-related fraud risk assessment report to Congress. SA No. 3845 filed by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) that would authorize States to use National Guard during State-directed responses to domestic incidents. SA No. 4080 filed by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) that would prohibit closing or relocating the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Lobbied against the following floor amendments to S. 2792, refiled as a Senate Amendment (SA) 3867 to H.R. 4350, the "House version of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act" (FY2022 NDAA): SA No. 4101 filed by Sen. Lankford (R-OK) that would allow the extension of term appoints for up to six years. SA No. 4109 filed by Sen. Lankford (R-OK) that would modify the criteria for granting direct hire to federal agencies. SA No. 4292 filed by Sen. Portman (R-OH) that contained provisions on reskilling the workforce and a rotational cyber workforce. SA No. 4548 filed by Sen. Lankford (R-OK) that would delay vaccine mandate for members of the Armed Forces. SA No. 4093 filed by Sen. Marshall (R-KS) that would prohibit adverse actions against members of Armed Forces for declining to comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandate. SA No. 4052 filed by Sen. Cruz (R-TX) that would provide a natural immunity exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the Armed Forces. SA No. 4329 filed by Sen. Sullivan (R-AK) that would prohibit contract clauses requiring compliance with COVID-19 vaccination requirements. SA No. 4524 filed by Sen. Sanders (D-VT) that would arbitrarily reduce the Defense appropriation by 14 percent, excluding military pay and defense health appropriations. SA No. 4536 filed by Sen. Grassley (R-IA) that would arbitrarily reduce by one percent any Defense Component or organization that failed to obtain an unqualified audit opinion in DoDs consolidated financial statements. SA No. 4522 filed by Sen. Peters (D-MI) that would provide Other Transaction Authority to the Department of Homeland Security. SA No. 4462 filed by Sen. Peters (D-MI) called the "Inspector General Independence and Empowerment Act of 2021, that would provide Agency Inspector Generals subpoena power with respect to former federal employees. SA No. 4461 filed by Sen. Warner (D-VA) called the "Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, that would establish security clearance adjudication and appeal procedures in federal agencies. SA No. 3877 filed by Sen. Portman (R-OH) that would extend the hiring authority for the Global Engagement Center. SA No. 4436 filed by Sen. Grassley (R-IA) that would establish a Defense Financial Systems Commission. SA No. 4350 filed by Sen. Rubio (D-FL) that would impose restrictions on Thrift Savings Plan investments. SA No. 4233 filed by Sen. Braun (R-IN) that would provide a Sense of Senate that national debt is threat to national security. Expressed concerns about following amendments while not opposing them: SA No. 4420 filed by Sen. Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Rosen (D-NV) that would establish further requirements for Civilian Cyber Security Reserve pilot. SA No. 4028 filed by Sen. Bennet (D-CO) that would establish a National Digital Reserve managed out of the General Services Administration. Lobbied on the following Conference issues for H.R. 4350, the FY2022 NDAA by supporting the following provisions: House Section 361, Inclusion of information regarding borrowed military manpower in readiness reports. Senate Section 413, End strengths for military technicians (dual status). House Section 554, Expansion and codification of matters covered by diversity training in the Department of Defense. House Section 814, Standard guidelines for the evaluation of services contracts. House Section 1104, Civilian personnel management, pertaining to prohibiting personnel caps and misusing term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. House Section 1107, Guidelines for reductions in civilian positions. House Section 1108, Repeal of 2-year probationary period. House Section 1111, Treatment of hours worked under a qualified trade-of-time arrangement. House Section 1114, Limiting the number of local wage areas defined within a pay locality. Senate Section 1109, Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Pilot. House Section 1119, Repeal of crediting amounts received against pay of Federal employee or DC employee serving as a member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia. House Section 1122, Parental bereavement leave for Federal employees. Lobbied on the following Conference issues for H.R. 4350, the FY2022 NDAA by opposing the following provisions in the House bill: Senate Section 802, Improving the use of available data to manage and forecast service contract requirements. House Section 811, Extension of authorization for the defense civilian acquisition workforce personnel demonstration project. Senate Section 1101, Civilian personnel management. Senate Section 1102, Consideration of employee performance in reductions in force for civilian positions in the Department of Defense. House Section 1115, National Digital Reserve Corps. SA No. 4461 filed by Sen. Warner (D-VA) that was included in Senate managers package, The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, establishing security clearance adjudication and appeal procedures. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2021 · third_quarter · Q3
Lobbied for H.R. 302, Preventing a Patronage System Act or the PPSA Act. Lobbied for H.R. 326, Saving the Civil Service Act. Lobbied for H.R. 1272 and S. 392, the COST of Relocations Act. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act" to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 393, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal fire fighters. Lobbied in support of H. R. 521 / S. 129, the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act, to ensure federal firefighters, law enforcement officials, Border Patrol officers, and other federal first responders qualify for full retirement benefits if they are injured on the job. Lobbied in support of H.R. 938, the Wildland Firefighter Classification bill, to require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to create a classification that more accurately reflects the vital role of wildland firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 231, the PFAS bill, which directs FEMA to train employees on PFAS cancer causing chemicals in firefighting foam materials. Lobbied in support of H.R. 962 and S. 1888, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied in support of the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 603, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 1902 the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 564, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act," that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA and AFGE President Kelley testified at hearing entitled, Leading by Example: The Need for Comprehensive Paid Leave for the Federal Workforce and Beyond on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Lobbied for increased funding for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency and the Pretrial Services Agency to help them deal with the surge in offenders they have to supervise as a result of the near total shutdown of the courts in D.C. during the pandemic. Lobbied in support of an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 900 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020, that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 249, the Protecting Federal Workers Act, To provide that certain Executive orders with respect to Federal employee collective bargaining and workplace rights shall have no force or effect. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1357 / S. 476, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of restoration of annual leave lost by certain Federal employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of maximum telework benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1065, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of restoration of leave that is lost by federal employees during a public health emergency relating to a pandemic. Specifically, restoration of leave for employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government that was lost because the employee's accumulated leave exceeded the maximum amount that is otherwise allowable. Lobbied in support of H.R. 978, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act to ensure that personal protective equipment and other equipment and supplies needed to fight coronavirus are provided to employees required to return to Federal offices, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 212, the COVID PREPARE Act, to require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 348, the Wear Your Mask Act, to require face masks in Federal facilities to prevent the transmission of SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act, to establish a Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Task Force, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of increasing the amount available under the "Defense Production Act of 1950," to respond to the coronavirus epidemic and expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the "Defense Production Act of 1950. Lobbied in support of a flexible award for front line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account. Lobbied in support of a program for providing portable benefits to eligible workers. Lobbied in support of providing Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied on the following issues with the House and Senate Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee Members to submit amendments on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 FSGG Appropriation (H.R. 4345): 1. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that adjusts federal employee pay by 3.2 percent. 2. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that upholds the Public-Private competition moratorium from Section 742 of the FY 2021 FSGG Appropriations bill. 3. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that aligns Federal Wage System Areas with General Schedule Locality Pay Areas. 4. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that prohibits any limitation of, reduction of, constraint to, or interference with official time in representing federal employees with respect to workplace discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. 5. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill for additional funds for the Office of Personnel Management to allow OPM to increase staffing, invest in information technology, improve overall human capital services, and shift away from the fee-for-service model. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392 / S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act," to increase pay for federal employees by 3.2%. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2062 / S. 880 the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021, revising the evidentiary standard for age discrimination by establishing an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age was a motivating factor allowing for a mixed motive claim. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and S. 1260, the Endless Frontier Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1097, the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1330, the Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1324, the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act. Lobbied in support of S. 407, the Air America Act. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, Covid response and return to office space. Lobbied for the dismissal of SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul and Deputy Commissioner David Black. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097 - Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, S. 1330 - Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act, S. 1324 (Rosen) - Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, and S. 407 the Air America Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82 / S. 1302 would fully repeal GPO and WEP. Continuing Resolution: Lobbied for passage of the CR to fund the federal government until December 3, 2021 and avert federal employee furloughs. Lobbied against allowing the surface transportation authorization to lapse, which resulted in furloughs of 3,700 employees at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2021 · second_quarter · Q2
Lobbied BOP to provide additional safety measures for correctional officers during the COVID-19 pandemic. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, Erics Law, which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied Department of Justice to maintain the statutory labor rights of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) and to review and urge reversal of the Federal Labor Relations Authoritys (FLRA) November 2, 2020 decision that stripped the NAIJ of their unit certification by incorrectly classifying all of the 500 non-supervisory Immigration Judges as management officials. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular its provisions to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and its support for statehood for the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 1065, the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2021 · first_quarter · Q1
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2020 · fourth_quarter · 4A
FY 2021 Budget Resolution - lobbied against the Presidents FY 2021 budget. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied against privatizing of airport screening jobs. FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to restore health insurance for part-time Transportation Security Officers and to restore cleaning of checkpoint lanes at airports. FY 2021 Defense Appropriations -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. House directive report language. FY 2021 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding of EPA, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, issues related to contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2021 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied for an amendment to defund the EEOC official time proposed rule. Lobbied in support of blocking the EEOC official time proposed rule from being finalized in the federal register and lobbied in support of blocking the final rule in the Congressional Review Act in the 117th Congress. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5885/S. 3104, the "Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act." Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2020 · fourth_quarter · Q4
FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for parity with military pay increase. Lobbied in support of a technical fix to the paid parental leave provision in the FY 2020 NDAA that would ensure all federal employees have access to federal paid parental leave. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5399/S. 3015, the "Locality Pay Equity Act" to limit the number of local wage areas allowable within a General Schedule pay locality. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for inclusion of H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act in H.R. 2 and lobbied for passage of H.R. 2, the INVEST Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increase various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied on appointees to the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 582, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534/S. 1174, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6906 the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act to provide compensation for injuries to any individual, or their families, who are deemed an essential worker and required to leave their home to perform services and who have become ill or died as a result of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6139 the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020 that would direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6955 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020 that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of S. 4347, the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6246, the "Protecting Collective Bargaining and Official Time for Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6909, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3677/H.R. 6559, the "COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act." Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6733, the "Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act." Lobbied in support of S. 3561, the "Emergency Telework Act of 2020." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8457/S. 4777, the Federal Worker Leave Fairness Act to restore leave lost by Federal employees during certain public health emergencies, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7340, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act to ensure that personal protective equipment and other equipment and supplies needed to fight coronavirus are provided to employees required to return to Federal offices, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7496, the COVID PREPARE Act to require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7524/S. 4610, the Wear Your Mask Act to require face masks in Federal facilities to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Lobbied in support of S. 4347, the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act to establish a Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Task Force, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7076/S. 3855, the Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics (CORE) Act to ensure ethical and accountable use of COVID-19 relief funds, to prevent corruption and bias in the disbursement and supervision of those funds. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6373 to increase the amount available under the "Defense Production Act of 1950" to respond to the coronavirus epidemic. Lobbied in support of S. 3570 to provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the "Defense Production Act of 1950." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 the Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act to direct certain actions to procure equipment necessary to prevent, identify, and mitigate cases of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Lobbied in support of S. 3763 the Pandemic Responder Service Award Act to provide a flexible award for front line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account to help workers purchase housing, save for retirement or establish a childrens savings account for their dependents. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6390/S. 3568, the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act of 2020 directing the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6410 directing the President to use authority under the "Defense Production Act of 1950" to ensure an adequate supply of equipment necessary for limiting the spread of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6746, the Emergency Benefits for Independent Workers Program Act to require the Secretary of Labor to establish a program for providing portable benefits to eligible workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6442/S. 3513, the Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act of 2020 to provide Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. Lobbied in support of H.R. 933 a congressional resolution recognizing COVID-19 frontline workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8349 to provide hazard pay to frontline essential workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in opposition to forced suspension of withholding FICA taxes from federal employees payroll Sept.-Dec. 2020 to be repaid Jan.-Apr. 2021 and for waiving or extending the repayment plan. Lobbied for legislation to make the payroll tax deferral optional for federal employees. Provided statement for the record to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on its hearing, Modernizing Federal Telework: Moving Forward Using the Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Lobbied for emergency funding for the aviation industry to protect jobs of airline and airport workers. Lobbied for H.R. 9052, a bill to nullify the Presidents Executive Order creating Schedule F by imposing limits on excepting competitive service positions from the competitive service. Lobbied for H.R. 8687, Saving the Civil Service Act, a bill to nullify the Presidents Executive Order creating Schedule F. Lobbied for H.R. 8629 and S. 4810, Protecting Employees from Surprise Taxes Act of 2020, a bill to prohibit employers from deferring payment of payroll taxes unless affected employees provide written consent to a deferral. Lobbied against confirmation of John Gibbs to be director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2020 · second_quarter · 2A
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied against S. 3730 which allows for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation and effects of pandemic related pay cuts. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied on proposed Air Travel Task Force legislation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, the "DHS MORALE Act" to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied for more PPE for TSOs, for requiring passengers to wear masks and on the notion of TSOs doing temperature screenings at checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6647, the "Health Care Opportunities for Transportation Security Administration Employees Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6655, the "Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6656, the "Coronavirus Workers' Compensation for TSA Employees Act." Lobbied in support of USCIS employees and in opposition to the furlough of 13,400 employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2020 · first_quarter · 1A
FY 2021 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2021 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act" to provide federal employees with a 3.5% salary adjustment in 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3463/S. 1970, the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiated Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474/S. 1306, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2020 · third_quarter · Q3
Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against confirmation of John Gibbs to be director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act" to provide federal employees with a 3.5% salary adjustment in 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3463/S. 1970, the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiated Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474/S. 1306, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Lobbied against the nomination of Keith Sonderling (R) and Andrea Lucas (R) nominees for the EEOC. Lobbied in support of Jocelyn Samuels (D) nominee for the EEOC. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7574, the "Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2020 · second_quarter · Q2
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against draft legislation that would expand the eligibility of contractors to perform C&P Exams Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to change the performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied for the inclusion of an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard at the VA. Lobbied on reforms related to VA police. Lobbied on changes to the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the "VA MISSION Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied to change Section 601 of S. 785 to prevent outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied to improve S. 221 because original bill would eliminate right of every VA employee to obtain clear record agreements and would report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied against certain provision in the draft legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020. Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for the VA providing equipment to employees to facilitate their ability to telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied against keeping in person computer trainings active during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for expanded use of Safety and Weather Leave for employees who cannot telecommute during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for additional PPE to be sent to VA Medical Centers and Regional Offices. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. AFGE provided a statement for the record for the hearing on Assessing VAs Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: 90 Days Later in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on June 11, 2020. AFGE testified at the Virtual Forum: Veterans' Disability Examinations in the Time of COVID-19: A Way Forward on May 27, 2020. AFGE provided a statement for the record for the hearing on Building a More Resilient VA Supply Chain in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on July 9, 2020. AFGE participated in a roundtable about compensation and pension exams with the House Veterans Affairs Committee. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2020 · first_quarter · Q1
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Budget Resolution - lobbied against the Presidents FY 2021 budget. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied against privatizing of airport screening jobs. FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2021 Defense Appropriations -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. House directive report language (pp. 12-13) FY 2021 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding of EPA, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, issues related to contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2021 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support to provide FY 2021 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5885/S. 3104, the "Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · third_quarter · 3A
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY 2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied in H.R. 3351 to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 264, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which provides FY 2019 appropriations to agencies responsible for regulating the financial, telecommunications, and consumer products industries; collecting taxes and assisting taxpayers; managing federal buildings and the federal workforce; and operating the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, and the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 265, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service, which is included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Farm Credit Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 266, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY 2019 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides annual appropriations for most of the Department of the Interior Lobbied in support of H.R. 267, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY 2019 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · second_quarter · 2A
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, the 2020 Census Accountability Act; HR 4013, the 2020 American Census Investment Act; and S 2366, the Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression.
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · third_quarter · 3A
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · fourth_quarter · 4A
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against confirmation of David Black to be Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S. 426 and H.R. 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · second_quarter · 2A
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · fourth_quarter · Q4
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
Lobbied against Senator Inhofe proposed skinny NDAA. H.R. 2500/S. 1790--Lobbied in support of the "National Defense Authorization Act for FY2020. Lobbied to exclude anti-labor and anti-title 5 civilian at will personnel authorities in Space Force provisions. Lobbied to repeal Defense Agency targets, which was rejected in Conference. Lobbied to support 12 weeks of paid family leave which became 12 weeks of paid parental leave in Conference. Lobbied to repeal civilian personnel full time equivalent caps and requirements to offset any civilian employee growth with arbitrary reductions in section 1103. Lobbied for reduction of probationary period to one year; lobbied for compromise report language on demographic impacts of extended probationary period in section 1102. Lobbied in support of continuation of annual pay authorities in combat zone and overseas in section 1104 and 1105. Lobbied to clarify limitations on converting civilian positions to military in section 1106. Lobbied to limit expansion of direct hire authorities and for federally funded research and development center study on hiring process in section 1109. Lobbied to prohibit reorganization of office of personnel management pending an independent report by NAPA in section 1112. Lobbied in support of service contract planning, programming and budgeting responsibility clarification in section 817. Lobbied in support of limiting reorganization of Defense Media activities pending Congressional report in section 922. Lobbied in support of section 375 directing GAO review of personal property movements management. Lobbied in support of section 413 limitations on involuntary conversions of dual status military technicians to Active Guard Reserve status, with provision of authority to increase military technician end strength if there are insufficient voluntary conversions. Lobbied in support of Defense Resale governance provisions in section 631 and for prohibition of merger of Commissaries with Exchanges pending acceptance of a GAO review in section 633. Lobbied in support of following studies and audits in HASC report language: Optimizing Total Force Management (p. 254); audit of readiness impact of borrowed military manpower (p. 255); audit on misuses of term and temporary hiring authorities (p. 255-6); review of conflicts of interest in organization analysis of DoD (pp. 267-8). Lobbied in support of moratorium on privatized lodging, rejected in Conference, but GAO review of privatized lodging retained (see. Pp. 360-1).
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · second_quarter · 2A
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · third_quarter · Q3
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY 2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied in H.R. 3351 to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 264, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which provides FY 2019 appropriations to agencies responsible for regulating the financial, telecommunications, and consumer products industries; collecting taxes and assisting taxpayers; managing federal buildings and the federal workforce; and operating the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, and the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 265, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service, which is included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Farm Credit Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 266, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY 2019 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides annual appropriations for most of the Department of the Interior Lobbied in support of H.R. 267, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY 2019 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · second_quarter · Q2
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget and House FY 2020 Budget Resolution. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and Several independent agencies Lobbied in support of H.R. 264, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which provides FY2019 appropriations to agencies responsible for regulating the financial, telecommunications, and consumer products industries; collecting taxes and assisting taxpayers; managing federal buildings and the federal workforce; and operating the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, and the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 265, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service, which is included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Farm Credit Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 266, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides annual appropriations for most of the Department of the Interior Lobbied in support of H.R. 267, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. Lobbied in support of H.R. 268, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, providing $12.1 billion in FY2019 supplemental appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to the consequences of recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. Lobbied in support of H.J. Res. 28 - Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, providing continuing FY2019 appropriations to several federal agencies through the earlier of February 15, 2019, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations legislation. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and ends the partial government shutdown that began after the existing CR expired on December 21, 2018, because seven of the remaining FY2019 appropriations bills have not been enacted. Lobbied in support of H.R. 648, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 6 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 2157, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, providing $17.2 billion in FY2019 supplemental appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to the consequences of recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2019 · first_quarter · Q1
Lobbied on HR 2045, Veterans Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019 or the VET OPP Act (draft legislation) and establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2018 · second_quarter · 2A
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, to grant TSOs rights under Title 5 of U.S. Code and MSPB rights; and increased funding for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Lobbied for HR 2283, the DHA Morale, Recognition, Learning and Engagement Act of 2017, that establishes an employee engagement steering committee. Lobbied in support of HR 5534, TSA Workforce Flexibility Act, to remove statutory TSA screener cap. Lobbied in support of HR 99, Honoring our Fallen TSA Officers Act, grants public safety officer death and injury benefits to TSOs if killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 2309, the Rights for TSA Officers Act, that places TSOs under title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied against: Proposed TSA budgets cuts. Elimination of the TSA Behavior Detection Officer and Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response Team. Lobbied against HR 2997, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (AIRR) Act, that would privatize the Air Traffic Control functions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lobbied against HR 1351, the TSA Misconduct Act. Lobbied in support of HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, to retain a provision mandating discussion and a report on the TSA personnel system. S 1872, TSA Modernization Act, lobbied to address concerns of the TSO workforce's lack of statutory workplace rights and protections that apply to majority of federal workers, including workers at DHS. Lobbied in support of HR 4611, the Disaster Response Workforce Flexibility Act of 2017.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2018 · third_quarter · 3A
FY 2019 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations. Lobbied for report language in FY 2018 Mil-Con VA to direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbying against HR 1364 to limit and eliminate the use of official time for all federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 3269, Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017,to repeal federal employees' increased retirement contribution within the Federal Employees Retirement System. Continued to lobby on SSA's Vision 2025 Report and its adverse impact on SSA Field Offices that account for 50% of SSA employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757 and S 255 to increase federal employee pay for FY 2018/FY 2019 by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of HR 964 and S 424, to expand the definition of a federal law enforcement officer. Lobbied against any attempts to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Government-wide. Lobbied against the nominations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position of Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Recommended Julia Clarke for nomination. Lobbied against the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United Stated Supreme Court.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2018 · fourth_quarter · 4A
FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, union representation, contractor compensation caps and telework report. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform with Federal-Postal Coalition to oppose Title V section that would unfairly cut FECA compensation benefits for disabled federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rate (FAIR) Act--to provide both the General Schedule and Wage Grade federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018. Lobbied in support of S 255 to increase the rate of pay under the GS schedule and for prevailing rate employees by 3.2%. S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act--lobbied in support of granting Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of HR 1022/S 362, the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act--to provide up to six weeks of paid leave to federal workers upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Honoring the Fallen TSA Officers Act, a bill granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against the excessive premium increases for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) sold to federal employees and how OPM intends to represent the interests of those who purchase FLTCIP's plan in the future. Lobbied against HR 559, the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act of 2017 for its adverse impact on federal employees with continued attacks on rights of the civil service to collectively bargain and on the due process system necessary when defending themselves. Lobbied against the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Reauthorization Act and its failure to address the lack of ongoing personnel and resources that plague the MSPB and delays justice for federal workers who file appeals. AFGE is very concerned with Section 7 of the Act that limits VA appeals to MSBB. Lobbied for HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to establish a more accurate computation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the Federal Government. Lobbied against HR 4182, the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017" which would arbitrarily extend the probationary period for a minimum of two years for newly hired federal employees because of its lack of addressing issues involving employee performance evaluation or management's ability to properly evaluate employees during this period. Lobbied against S 1886, the Temporary and Term Appointments Act of 2017, that would extend competitive temporary and term appoints at agency discretion. HR 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied against the requirement that OPM submit an annual report to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. HR 1385, Civil Service Incentives Integrity Act of 2017, a bill we lobbied against because it requires the retraction and repayment of recruitment and relocation bonuses paid to federal employees who have spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Additionally, a retention bonus may not be paid to any such employee who, for a period of 6 consecutive months of service associated with the bonus, has spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Official time is time spent by federal employees performing representational work for a bargaining unit in lieu of their regularly assigned work. HR 3303, First Responders Fair Retirement Act, lobbied in support of this bill that permits disabled law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled. HR 5300, Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. Lobbied against this bill that provides the authority of a federal agency to take action to restrict or prohibit access to a website, or to test, deploy, or update a cybersecurity measure, if the agency determines such action is necessary to carry out its responsibilities, shall not be: (1) limited by a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement entered into before, on, or after this bill's enactment pursuant to federal labor-management relations provisions; or (2) negotiated under such provisions. Lobbied in support of the Warner Amendment SA 3761, to preserve an apolitical federal government employee workforce. Lobbied against the Hatch Amendment SA 3922, which would waive limitations on staff years for defense Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). Lobbied that this funding should be based on actual requirements rather than fulfilling a mandate. Lobbied against S 3208, the Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. It does not increase federal IT security, but would take collective bargaining rights away from federal employees when it comes to issues involving IT. Lobbied against S 3137/HR 6787, the Reforming Government Act of 2018, which expands current authority given to the Administration to reorganize federal government agencies but without increased oversight of the Administration's reform and reorganization plans. Lobbied against S 3437, the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2018, which would establish a federal "rotational cyber workforce program." Specifically, we oppose Section 4(b)(9) and (b)(10) that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for employees in this program. Lobbied against HR 6891, a measure which would make it easier to fire, demote, or suspend federal employees who violate the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA). The ADA already provides severe penalties, including termination for workers violating this Act. Lobbied against Senate amendment to HR 88, the Retirement, Savings, and Other Tax Relief Act of 2018, which would provide additional tax cuts for corporations and wealthy.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2018 · second_quarter · 2A
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CBP, CIS, TSA, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees.
FY 2019 Financial Services Appropriations--lobbied on provisions involving contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of federal employees in Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2018 · fourth_quarter · Q4
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, to grant TSOs rights under Title 5 of U.S. Code and MSPB rights; and increased funding for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Lobbied in support of HR 5534, TSA Workforce Flexibility Act, to remove statutory TSA screener cap. Lobbied in support of HR 99, Honoring our Fallen TSA Officers Act, grants public safety officer death and injury benefits to TSOs if killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 2309, the Rights for TSA Officers Act, that places TSOs under title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied against: Proposed TSA budgets cuts. Elimination of the TSA Behavior Detection Officer and Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response Team. Lobbied against HR 2997, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (AIRR) Act, that would privatize the Air Traffic Control functions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lobbied against HR 1351, the TSA Misconduct Act. Lobbied in support of HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, to retain a provision mandating discussion and a report on the TSA personnel system. S 1872, TSA Modernization Act, lobbied to address concerns of the TSO workforce's lack of statutory workplace rights and protections that apply to majority of federal workers, including workers at DHS. Lobbied to address concerns in: HR 6659, the Screening with Dignity Act HR 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act. Lobbied in support of TSA perso0nnel management system review in HR 302, FAA Reauthorization Act.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2018 · third_quarter · Q3
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs its potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied against taking up S.J.Res. 28, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the final FSIS rule establishing a mandatory inspection program for "all fish of the order Siluriformes," including catfish and its products, because of the public health threat posed by importation of adulterated catfish products.
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO via AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2018 · second_quarter · Q2
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2019 Financial Services Appropriations--lobbied on provisions involving contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of federal employees in Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Lobbied against HR 4242, House VA Committee proposal to establish a new permanent private care program to replace the Choice Program. Lobbied against S 2372, Senate VA Committee proposal to replace the Choice Program. Lobbing against HR 1461, a bill to severely limit the use of VA official time, allow union members to drop their dues at any time, and extend probation from 12 to 18 months. Lobbied against S 1477, Serve Veterans First Act of 2017, a bill to severely restrict VA official time based on wait times. Lobbied in support of HR 3459, the VA Staffing and Vacancies Transparency Act of 2017, providing for vacancy transparency at the VA. Lobbied in support of S 1723, Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017, providing for more money for the VA to hire medical professionals. Lobbied against S 2107, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act, a bill to require VA to report major adverse actions of clinicians to a national data bank and state licensing boards. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against HR 4243, the "Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017, as a real threat to the survival of the VA's health care system. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims.
Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for Department of Labor employees. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2873, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to 139 EPA employees put on administrative leave for signing a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin opposing cuts to employees and administrative budget and functions. Lobbied in support of strong language to support the Office of Research and Development at EPA in Senate Appropriations report language. Lobbied in support of National Science Foundation employees and opposed cuts to staffing and budget and retaliatory practices. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
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.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296). Lobbied in support of House NDAA Amendment Log 5206 that would not authorize funds to be appropriated to implement Executive Order 14251. Lobbied opposing Amendment #1146 to the H.R. 3838, the House National Defense Authorization Act, that would strike Section 1110 in the bill. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 1995/S. 905, the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act,. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 759, the Federal Firefighters Families First Act. Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) full-time staffing given current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget cuts that lead to staffing cuts at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against elimination, consolidation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service and FSIS positions across the country. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837 the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilities. Lobbied to oppose closure of HUD facilities and transfer to National Science Foundation (NSF) facilities without adequate consultation with unions. Lobbied to oppose closure and consolidation of HUD offices and cuts to funding and reductions in force. Lobbied in opposition to retaliation against employees with disabilities and employees with reasonable accommodation. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837 the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilities. Lobbied to oppose closure of HUD facilities and transfer to National Science Foundation (NSF) facilities without adequate consultation with unions. Lobbied to oppose closure and consolidation of HUD offices and cuts to funding and reductions in force. Lobbied in opposition to retaliation against employees with disabilities and employees with reasonable accommodation. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for DOL employees. Lobbied in support for NCFLL priorities including heat and cold exposure workplace safety protections. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2873, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in support of inclusion of language in House and Senate appropriations bills including language to retain staff, funding and resources at ORD. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to 139 EPA employees put on administrative leave for signing a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin opposing cuts to employees and administrative budget and functions. Lobbied in support of strong language to support the Office of Research and Development at EPA in Senate Appropriations report language. Lobbied in support of National Science Foundation employees and opposed cuts to staffing and budget and retaliatory practices. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to the closure and consolidation of USDA facilities. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) budget. Lobbied against closure, relocation, reductions in force (RIFs) and budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied the House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate in support of H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, to maintain funding of government agencies in the absence of a full year FY26 appropriations package. Lobbied in support of S. 3012, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure essential federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to the closure of FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIF
Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 1071). Lobbied in opposition to H.Res. 936, the closed rule to provide for consideration of S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905). Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) full-time staffing given current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget cuts that lead to staffing cuts at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against elimination, consolidation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service and FSIS positions across the country. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against massive budget cuts and reductions in force (RIFs) and termination of probationary employees at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Lobbied opposing cuts to USAID in rescissions bill. Lobbied against any potential RIF at US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Lobbied against termination of probationary employees and elimination of the Voice of America at USAGM Lobbied in opposition to USAID being eliminated. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
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.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837 the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilities. Lobbied to oppose closure of HUD facilities and transfer to National Science Foundation (NSF) facilities without adequate consultation with unions. Lobbied to oppose closure and consolidation of HUD offices and cuts to funding and reductions in force. Lobbied in opposition to retaliation against employees with disabilities and employees with reasonable accommodation. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for Department of Labor employees. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to FSIS's budget. Lobbied against closure, relocation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate support of a continuing resolution to maintain funding of government agencies in the absence of a full year FY26 appropriations package.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) headquarters staff and office space from Washington, D.C., to another location in the United States. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 3838). Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296). Lobbied in support of House NDAA Amendment Log 5206 that would not authorize funds to be appropriated to implement Executive Order 14251. Lobbied opposing Amendment #1146 to the H.R. 3838, the House National Defense Authorization Act, that would strike Section 1110 in the bill. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 1995/S. 905, the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act,. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 759, the Federal Firefighters Families First Act. Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) full-time staffing given current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget cuts that lead to staffing cuts at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against elimination, consolidation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service and FSIS positions across the country. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550 / S. 2837, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Railroad Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Natl Science Foundation (NSF), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905. Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied is support of U.S. Code Title 10, Section 129a, General policy for total force management. Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied in support of the Department of Defenses right to repair military equipment by requiring DOD agencies to only enter procurement contractors if the contractor agrees to provide fair and reasonable access to repair materials. Lobbied opposing efforts to privatize Department of Defense commissary services. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rights to pay for 2017 tax cuts.
Lobbied for Lori Chavez DeRemer to be confirmed as the Secretary of Labor. Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for DOL employees. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to federal pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 /S. 126, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in opposition to significant staffing and budget cuts to DOL including at the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Lobbied in support of H.R. 989 to codify Executive Order 11246 titled "Equal Employment Opportunity" and fight to protect the OFCCP. Lobbied to oppose cuts to pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act" allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose, prescribe treatment, and certify an injury and the extent of disability for the purpose of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Lobbied House and Senate Members regarding staffing and funding challenges facing the Social Security Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4734 to prohibit the Social Security Administration from ordering staffing reductions and field offices closures that would jeopardize the efficient delivery of services to retirees, people with disabilities, and survivors. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 opposing provisions that proposed cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rights to pay for tax cuts.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at EPA. Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to 139 EPA employees put on administrative leave for signing a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin opposing cuts to employees and administrative budget and functions. Lobbied in support of strong language to support the Office of Research and Development at EPA in Senate Appropriations report language. Lobbied in support of NSF employees and opposed cuts to staffing and budget and retaliatory practices.
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.
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 opposing provisions that proposed cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace right to pay for tax cuts.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to FSIS's budget. Lobbied against closure, relocation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to FSIS full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget and staffing cuts to the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to modify the beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act" Lobbied in support of H.R. 2626, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2025" Lobbied against elimination, consolidation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service and FSIS positions across the country.
Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 1 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB and changes to Title 5 workplace rules to pay for the bills tax cuts. Lobbied the House and Senate on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to oppose rescissions to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Lobbied House and Senate appropriators about FY26 appropriations. Lobbied in support of Discharge Petition 6 that would make in order H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied against the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act. Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupor to be the director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550 (and lobbied for the introduction of a Senate companion), the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget. Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate and provide back pay to probationary federal employees who were unjustly fired in 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210/S. 511, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174/S. 1597, the Paycheck Protection Act
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 862/S. 1483, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1159, the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1691, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act. Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA. Lobbied against S. 1180, the Abolish TSA Act.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of HUD facilities. Lobbied to oppose closure of HUD facilities and transfer to NSF facilities without adequate consultation with unions. Lobbied to oppose closure and consolidation of HUD offices and cuts to funding and reductions in force. Lobbied in opposition to retaliation against employees with disabilities and employees with reasonable accommodations.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of HUD facilities. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts.
Lobbied for Lori Chavez DeRemer to be confirmed as the Secretary of Labor. Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 /S. 126, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of expanded paid leave for instances of stillbirth. Lobbied in support of expanded paid bereavement leave to cover adult children under 26 years old. Lobbied in opposition to significant staffing and budget cuts to DOL including at the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Lobbied in support of H.R. 989 to codify Executive Order 11246 titled "Equal Employment Opportunity" and fight to protect the OFCCP. Lobbied to oppose cuts to pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act" allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose, prescribe treatment, and certify an injury and the extent of disability for the purpose of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA).
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at EPA. Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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.
Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2692, the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the tax subsidy for employer efforts to influence their workers' exercise of their rights around labor organizations and engaging in collective action.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BoP facilities. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2027 and S. 298 the Return SBA to Mainstreet Act to relocate 30% of SBA from Washington, D.C. to another location in the United States Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Equal Remedies Act. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for salaries and expenses (S&E) and buildings and facilities (B&F). Lobbied in opposition to the use of augmentation or reassignment at BOP. Lobbied in support of hiring additional correctional officers. Lobbied in support of increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied in support of S. 307, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Ossoff (D-GA) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied Congress in support of the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, H.R. 1995/S. 905. Lobbied Congress in support of the Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759). Lobbied in support of incentives and policies in support of domestic shipbuilding. Lobbied opposing Reductions in Force (RIFs) to civilian Department of Defense employees. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions.
Lobbied Congress in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to FSIS full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget and staffing cuts to the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act" Lobbied in support of H.R. 2626, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2025"
Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2249, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act Lobbied against the confirmation of Russell Vought to be Director, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Scott Kupur to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget Lobbied against the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to rescind the Trump Executive Order eliminating federal collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies. Lobbied the House and Senate on FY 2026 reconciliation opposing cuts to FERS and FEHB to pay for 2017 tax cuts. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 473, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493 and S. 126 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of amendments to the House and Senate budget resolutions to restore collective bargaining rights. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1835 the Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act to reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by Donald Trump and Elon Musks DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers. In addition to rehiring these workers, the MERIT Act gives them the back pay they deserve. Lobbied in support of H.R. 492 and S. 134, the Saving the Civil Service Act to prevent the politicization of the non-partisan civil service by limiting the conversion of federal jobs from the competitive service to the excepted service without congressional approval. Lobbied in support of H.R. 759 the Federal Firefighter's Families First Act to include mandatory overtime hours worked into the calculation of retirement benefits Lobbied in support of H.R. 1637 and S. 914 the Protect Veterans Jobs Act to reinstate veterans who were fired from their jobs a during the Trump Administration and DOGE purge of federal employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1989 the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act to ensure that if terminated probationary employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do the important work of the American people. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2470 the COST of Relocations Act to require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agencys mission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2906 the SERVICE Act to prevent an agency from reducing its workforce by 5% or greater in a given fiscal year without itself conducting a full impact analysis of those cuts on the agency's ability to carry out its mission, and GAO evaluating the accuracy of that evaluation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2905, the Ensuring Agency Service Quality Act to amend 5 USC 3101 ("Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by chapter 51 of this title as Congress may appropriate for from year to year."), the general authority provision that allows the government to employ, from a 'may employ' to a '*shall* employ', and requires an agency to justify their inability or refusal to comply with the requirement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2692 the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to end the tax subsidy for employer efforts to influence their workers' exercise of their rights around labor organizations and engaging in collective action.
Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits including cuts and modifications to FERS and FEHB in reconciliation instructions to pay for tax cuts Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB.
Lobbied against RIFs and termination of probationary employees at FEMA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2086 and S. 997 the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied for Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 7.4%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of expanded paid leave for instances of stillbirth. Lobbied in support of expanded paid bereavement leave to cover adult children under 26 years old. Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and in support of the confirmation of Anne Wagner to be a member of the Authority. FY 2025 Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations (H.R. 9029): Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA), in support of upgrading SSA legal assistants and customer service representatives positions, in support of report language directing SSA to roll back the average call handling time goal at teleservice centers and mandate call waiting time estimates to the public, in support of funds to renovate and restore National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) facilities in Bruceton and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, in support of language stating that the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) user fees collected for leading the national respirator conformity assessment activities, including certification of respirators, will not expire with the fiscal year, and in support of increased funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Lobbied in support of H.R. 618 / S. 131, the "Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act" allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose, prescribe treatment, and certify an injury and the extent of disability for the purpose of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Lobbied in support of the Equal Remedies Act of 2024 to eliminate statutory damage caps and enhance protections for workers in discrimination cases. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25 NDAA) (H.R. 5009 / Public Law 118-159): Lobbied in support of a pay raise for Fiscal Year 2025 for Defense Department civil service employees. Lobbied in support of maintaining minimal staffing requirements for Department of Defense firefighters at military installations. Lobbied in support of ending the five-year limit for overseas Defense Department civil service positions. Lobbied in support of increasing military leave accrual and accumulation for federal civil service employees who are in the National Guard or military reserves. Lobbied in support of making reforms to improve Department of Defense child care centers. Lobbied against an amendment to establish a fiscal commission as part of the FY25 National Defense Authorization act. Lobbied against an amendment that would prohibit the payment of annuities to Defense Department civilian employees convicted of certain offenses. Lobbied against proposals in the House and Senate NDAA to expand the Department of Defenses direct hire authority for vacant civil service positions. Lobbied against proposals in the House and Senate NDAA to limit or eliminate offices of diversity, equity, and accessibility (DEIA) in the Department of Defense. Lobbied against proposals to restrict the authority of federal agencies to maintain alternative workplace arrangements. FY25 Department of Defense Appropriations (H.R. 8774 / S. 4921): Lobbied for passage of H.R. 10545 (Public Law 118-158), the American Relief Act, to continue to fund the federal government, including the U.S. Department of Defense, through March 14, 2025.
Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full-time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act, H.R. 8370/S. 4334. Lobbied for H.R. 8662, the TSA Commuting Fairness Act to study the possibility of credit or compensation to TSOs for their extended travel time from remote parking lots to their duty posts. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Provided technical assistance on the development of multiple pieces of legislation to end the fee, including provisions for technology investments. Lobbied for a requirement that Public Charter Flights be subject to passenger screening when they are on fixed routes, sell tickets by the seat and have more than nine passengers. Lobbied for additional regulations on private screening providers in California. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for basic medical and technology supplies for nurses serving in the ICE Health Services Corps (IHSC). Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470). Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in 2025 NDAA. Lobbied on approach to cyber workforce proposal affecting DHS and other agencies. Emphasized concerns with a separate pay system and waiver of title 5 authority. FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations: Lobbied in support of the administrations FY25 funding request for TSA, in support of increased ICE funding to continue hiring for the Office of Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), and in opposition to the administrations proposal to eliminate TSO staffing of exit lanes. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024. Lobbied for passage of an additional continuing appropriation (H.R. 10545) through March 14, 2025 as the only alternative to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act for special retirement benefits for Federal Protective Service (FPS) employees.
Lobbied the House and Senate in Support of H.R. 10445, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025, that the House and Senate were expected to vote on during the week of December 14 but withdrew. Lobbied in support of H.R. 10545, the Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025, that Congress passed on December 20 to extend federal spending and avert a government shutdown through March 14, 2025.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 for the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8994, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2024." Lobbied on the Farm Bill to ensure more labor friendly provisions. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
FY 2025 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase in FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8994, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2024." Lobbied on the Farm Bill to ensure more labor friendly provisions. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to protect increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. Lobbied to make sure the Trump tax cuts set to sunset in 2025 expire as scheduled. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
VA budget: Lobbied for Congress to provide funding to plug a $15 billion budget shortfall for FY 2024 and FY 2025. Veterans Benefits Administration: 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. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for the introduction and in support of H.R. 9046, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act including the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position and the career path to a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Lobbied for additional training for Board of Veterans Appeals Attorneys. Lobbied in support of ANS to H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023. 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023 and for its introduction in the Senate. Lobbied in support of S. 4046/H.R. 9855, the "VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of and for changes to S. 2679, the Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development (LEAD) Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 and 2025 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. VA Quality: Lobbied to amend H.R. 6330, the Veterans Sentinel Act to include data collection and analysis for suicides that happen when veterans are served at non-VA facilities. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied against an amendment to H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 forcing VA to apply the same access standards for Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as for primary care, specialty care, and non-institutional extended care services. Lobbied against amendments to H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that would codify Trump-Era access standards responsible for rapid privatization of the VA, prohibit VA from modifying access standards to allow telehealth to satisfy these access standards and require VA to meet strict timeframes evaluating high-risk veterans for referral to residential treatment and rehabilitative programs without providing any additional funding to staff these new obligations. Lobbied against amendments to H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that would require VA to meet 72-hour evaluation timeframe for evaluating high-risk veterans for residential treatment centers without providing adequate funding or putting equivalent credentialing and quality requirements on private programs. Lobbied against a proposal to create a pilot program under which the Secretary would contract out to fill vacancies at a medical facility with non-department health care providers. Lobbied against a provision in H.R. 9438, the No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, reduces the wait time for VA mental health care from the current 20 day to just 3 days. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 9146, Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, which would require the Secretary to include continuity of care as one of the criteria used to determine when private care would be in the best medical interest (BMI) of a veteran undermining VAs ability to decide when returning a veteran to the VA is the in the best interest of the veteran. Lobbied against the Veterans Mental Health Access Act, which would create a parallel private mental health program that supplants VAs direct care system rather than supplement it when veterans cannot reasonably access VA care. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied for oversight of new VA private contracting program, the Integrated Critical Staffing Program. Lobbied for oversight of VA staffing reductions. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters. Lobbied for better information on scheduling and appointment times for both in-house VA and private care. Lobbied for more information about the costs of VA care. Lobbied against VA raising the ceiling for payment to third party private, Community Care contractors. Lobbied against prohibiting public health care programs from using QALYs to determine price. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, and urge that it be defeated on the House floor. H.R. 485 would increase already high healthcare costs for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which covers the vast majority of AFGE members and their families. In additional to FEHBP, the bill would prohibit Medicaid, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, Medicare Part D Plans (PDPs), the VA, and the Defense Health Agency from using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) - a measure that ascertains the value of a drug - to make decisions about a drugs price. Medicare already prohibits the use of QALYs in ways that discriminate against the elderly (such as by valuing the extension of life of an older person as less than extending the life of a younger person). Lobbied against amendments to H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that would: 1) codify Trump-Era access standards responsible for rapid privatization of the VA, prohibits VA from modifying access standards to allow telehealth to satisfy these access standards and requires VA to meet strict timeframes evaluating high-risk veterans for referral to residential treatment and rehabilitative programs without providing any additional funding to staff these new obligations and 2) require VA to meet 72-hour evaluation timeframe for evaluating high-risk veterans for residential treatment centers without providing adequate funding or putting equivalent credentialing and quality requirements on private programs. Lobbied against Amendment to H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 forcing VA to apply the same access standards for Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as for primary care, specialty care, and non-institutional extended care services that would not apply to private RRTP facilities, promoting privatization. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 8371, the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act that would allow decisions between a veteran and a doctor to remain final without VA authorization and provisions that would require strict timeframes for placement of high-risk veterans in mental health treatment programs for VA programs but not private programs. Lobbied in support of final passage of S. 141, the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. Statements and Correspondence: Testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health on December 17, 2024 legislative hearing. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the "VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of S. 4046/H.R. 9855, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure, and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at VA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S. 2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support and for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to S. 2649, the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1315, the HEALTH Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Act, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse‐ patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3176, Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which creates a three-year pilot program allowing veterans to obtain hospital care, medical services, psychological services, and extended care bypassing VA authorization and the need to meet access standards. Lobbied in opposition to H.R.5287, the Veterans Access to Direct Primary Care Act, would establish Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) funded by the VA that veterans could use for private healthcare. Veterans electing these HSAs would be completely barred from accessing VA healthcare services. Lobbied in opposition to the Complete the Mission Act (No bill number). This proposal codifies the Community Care access standards, modifies 38 USC 1703(d)(2) to make veteran preference to go to a private provider a criterion for what constitutes best medical interest and creates a pilot three-year pilot program in at least five locations where veterans could access outpatient mental health and substance use services. AFGE opposes this provision as it would circumvent VAs ability to coordinate care and is unsustainable for the VA in the long term. Lobbied to preserve changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 7765, the VA Security Screening Pilot Program Act Lobbied for the introduction and support of the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7793 the Veterans Appeals Operations Expansion Act of 2024; Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7917, the Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2024; Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7919, the Veterans Claims Quality Improvement Act of 2024. Lobbied or changes to H.R. 7883, the Toxic Exposures Examination Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 7734 the Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act of 2024 Lobbied in support of H.R. 9046, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act Lobbied in support of H.R. 2971, the Veterans Claims Education Act of 2023 Lobbied for changes to H.R. 8874, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 8879, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act Lobbied for changes to H.R. 8881, the Rural Veterans Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2024. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024. Lobbied in support of final passage of S. 141, the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. Lobbied against expanding use of Schedule F for VA employees.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should any future fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for a deficit deal or appropriations compromises. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception and IVF. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024 and for an additional continuing resolution through March 14, 2025 as a means of preventing government shutdown.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BoP facilities. Lobbied in support of funding a 25% Special Salary Rate for BOP employees in the FY2025 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2025 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130 and S. 459, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, "Eric's Law" which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3019, Federal Prison Oversight Act. Lobbied in support of S. 4142, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8298 / S. 4327, the Equal Remedies Act of 2024. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for salaries and expenses (S&E) and buildings and facilities (B&F). Lobbied in support of increased funding for BOP Salary Special Pay Table Increase. Lobbied in opposition to the use of augmentation or reassignment at BOP. Lobbied in support of hiring additional correctional officers. Lobbied in support of increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions. Lobbied in support of report language to direct the Bureau of Prisons to give nurses full time-and-a-half overtime pay. Lobbied in support of increased funding for staffing at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Lobbied in support of Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) to include report language stating that no funds shall be used to transfer functions of JPATS Las Vegas, Nevada Hub to Kansas City, Missouri. Lobbied in support increased funding for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024. Lobbied in support of S. 5062, the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Ossoff (D-GA) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons. Lobbied in opposition to the closure of BOP facilities.
Lobbied the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of (1) increased funding for the Immigration and Custom Enforcements Office of Principal Legal Advisor, the legal representative of the federal government in immigration enforcement matters that come before immigration courts, (2) more resources for the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), the office within ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) responsible for providing health care for noncitizens detained in ICE custody; (3) more funding for the Citizenship and Immigration Services humanitarian programs, including refugee and asylum programs, through direct appropriation rather than fees; and (4) the establishment of a mandatory E-Verify program.
Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at EPA. H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed to H.R. 8997 when the House considered the measure that would have arbitrarily reduced that salaries of various officials whose agencies are funded by the bill, blocked enforcement of Executive Order 14019 - Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting, and reduced or eliminated funding for offices and programs at agencies covered by the bill. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in support of hiring more EPA employees, in support of improving recruitment efforts at the EPA, and in opposition to relocations, consolidation and closure of EPA Facilities. Lobbied in opposition to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) facilities. Lobbied in support of report language that directs the Army Corps of Engineers to recognize the duty station for crew on a dredge to be the dredges home port and to pay for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals on all dredges when they travel further than 100 miles from the home port. Lobbied in support of funds to renovate and restore National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) facilities in Bruceton and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, in support of language stating that the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) user fees collected for leading the national respirator conformity assessment activities, including certification of respirators, will not expire with the fiscal year. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations - Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied in support of $160,000 in funding for each position. Lobbied for report language directing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review position classification standards of railroad safety inspectors to reflect the increased technological requirements of their positions. Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use. Lobbied to highlight bad faith bargaining at HUD. Lobbied in support of diversity, equity and inclusion and disability accommodations. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 for the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8994, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2024." Lobbied on the Farm Bill to ensure more labor friendly provisions. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 7070 / S. 4638): Lobbied in support of a pay raise for Fiscal Year 2025 for Defense Department civil service employees. Lobbied in support of maintaining minimal staffing requirements for Department of Defense firefighters at military installations. Lobbied in support of ending the five-year limit for overseas Defense Department civil service positions. Lobbied in support of increasing military leave accrual and accumulation for federal civil service employees who are in the National Guard or military reserves. Lobbied in support of making reforms to improve Department of Defense child care centers. Lobbied against an amendment to establish a fiscal commission as part of the FY25 National Defense Authorization act. Lobbied against an amendment that would prohibit the payment of annuities to Defense Department civilian employees convicted of certain offenses. Lobbied against proposals in the House and Senate NDAA to expand the Department of Defenses direct hire authority for vacant civil service positions. Lobbied against proposals in the House and Senate NDAA to limit or eliminate offices of diversity, equity, and accessibility (DEIA) in the Department of Defense. Lobbied against proposals to restrict the authority of federal agencies to maintain alternative workplace arrangements. FY25 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 8774): Lobbied in support of language included in previous Defense Appropriations bill prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent an analysis of the effects of such reduction on workload and military readiness of the armed forces. Lobbied against any proposal to prohibit military exchanges and commissaries from selling Chinese-made products. Lobbied against an amendment authorizing direct hire authority for any position supporting the military mission or posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Lobbied in opposition to an amendment which would have prohibited telework and remote work for certain DoD employees and contractors. Lobbied against an amendment prohibiting funding for Executive Order 14019, relating to Promoting Access to Voting. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to reduce the salaries of various DoD officials. Lobbied against an amendment prohibiting the use of funds to carry out a mask mandate regarding the spread of COVID-19 on military instillations. Lobbied against an amendment to eliminate funding for important diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) programs at the Defense Department. Lobbied in support of amendments to ensure that federal civilian employees who serve in the DC National Guard are treated the same as all other federal civilian employees who serve in the National Guard. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in support of legislation and funding to address exposure to toxic substances including fentanyl, K2 and spice sent through the mail to BoP facilities. Lobbied in support of funding a 25% Special Salary Rate for BOP employees in the FY2025 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2025 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130 and S. 459, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, "Eric's Law" which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3019, Federal Prison Oversight Act. Lobbied in support of S. 4142, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8298 / S. 4327, the Equal Remedies Act of 2024. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for salaries and expenses (S&E) and buildings and facilities (B&F). Lobbied in support of increased funding for BOP Salary Special Pay Table Increase. Lobbied in opposition to the use of augmentation or reassignment at BOP. Lobbied in support of hiring additional correctional officers. Lobbied in support of increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions. Lobbied in support of report language to direct the Bureau of Prisons to give nurses full time-and-a-half overtime pay. Lobbied in support of increased funding for staffing at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Lobbied in support of Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) to include report language stating that no funds shall be used to transfer functions of JPATS Las Vegas, Nevada Hub to Kansas City, Missouri. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to protect increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. Lobbied to make sure the Trump tax cuts set to sunset in 2025 expire as scheduled. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for a 7.4% increase in federal by for 2025 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, H.R. 8773. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of Income Rates) Act, H.R. 7127 and S. 3688 to provide a 7.4% increase to federal employees pay in 2025. Lobbied for a minimum of parity in the 2025 pay between military and civilian employees to provide at least a 4.5% pay raise. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the Presidents FY 2025 budget request to continue GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied in support of the Fund the "TSA Act," H.R. 3394. Lobbied in support of the Rights for the "TSA Workforce Act," H.R. 8370 / S. 4334 to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of additional security measures for scheduled charter flights so they are fully subject to TSA screening. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. 3029, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied against FY 2025 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Lobbied for changes to S. 4043, the Telework Transparency Act of 2024 to prevent arbitrary office space reductions and/or telework restrictions. Lobbied against a proposed Romney amendment to S. 4043 to impose remote surveillance on teleworking federal employees. Lobbied against the Perry amendment to the NDAA bill (H.R. 8070) to question to role of official time by ordering a biased reporting its use in the federal workplace. Lobbied against a proposed Scott amendment to the NDAA bill (H.R. 8070) to curtail collective bargaining rights for dual status technicians employed by the Defense Department. Lobbied against H.R 4848, the Censorship Accountability Act, which would expose federal employees performing their lawful duties to personal civil liability over purported intrusions into the First Amendment. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023, hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service, provision which was enacted in the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to OPMs proposed governmentwide cybersecurity workforce proposal to preserve title 5 provisions, protect collective bargaining rights, and avoid pay banding systems that are associated with arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. Lobbied against H.R. 9594 the Protect Taxpayers Wallets Act which would effectively end official time for federal unions. Lobbied against H.R. 8314 the No Foreign Election Interference Act which would have interfered with the functioning of union political action committees. Lobbied against S. 4321 the No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act which may have punished federal healthcare providers who provided reproductive care. Lobbied against S. 4667 the Risky Research Review Act which would impose criminal penalties and other sanctions on federal workers reviewing or performing medical research. Lobbied in favor of S. 131 to improve federal workers ability to access workers compensation benefits in case of work-related injury. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD
Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full-time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act, H.R. 8370/S. 4334. Lobbied for H.R. 8662 to study the possibility of credit or compensation to TSOs for their extended travel time from remote parking lots to their duty posts. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Provided technical assistance on the development of multiple pieces of legislation to end the fee, including provisions for technology investments. Lobbied for a requirement that Public Charter Flights be subject to passenger screening when they are on fixed routes, sell tickets by the seat and have more than nine passengers. Lobbied for additional regulations on private screening providers in California. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for basic medical and technology supplies for nurses serving in the ICE Health Services Corps (IHSC). Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470). Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in 2025 NDAA. Lobbied on approach to cyber workforce proposal affecting DHS and other agencies. Emphasized concerns with a separate pay system and waiver of title 5 authority. FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations: Lobbied in support of the administrations FY25 funding request for TSA, in support of increased ICE funding to continue hiring for the Office of Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), and in opposition to the administrations proposal to eliminate TSO staffing of exit lanes. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act for special retirement benefits for Federal Protective Service (FPS) employees.
Lobbied for Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 7.4%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of expanded paid leave for instances of stillbirth. Lobbied in support of expanded paid bereavement leave to cover adult children under 26 years old. Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and in support of the confirmation of Anne Wagner to be a member of the Authority. FY 2025 Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations (H.R. 9029): Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA), in support of upgrading SSA legal assistants and customer service representatives positions, in support of report language directing SSA to roll back the average call handling time goal at teleservice centers and mandate call waiting time estimates to the public, in support of funds to renovate and restore National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) facilities in Bruceton and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, in support of language stating that the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) user fees collected for leading the national respirator conformity assessment activities, including certification of respirators, will not expire with the fiscal year, and in support of increased funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Lobbied in support of H.R. 618 / S. 131, the "Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act" allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose, prescribe treatment, and certify an injury and the extent of disability for the purpose of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Lobbied in support of the Equal Remedies Act of 2024 to eliminate statutory damage caps and enhance protections for workers in discrimination cases. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at EPA. H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed to H.R. 8997 when the House considered the measure that would have arbitrarily reduced that salaries of various officials whose agencies are funded by the bill, blocked enforcement of Executive Order 14019 - Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting, and reduced or eliminated funding for offices and programs at agencies covered by the bill. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in support of hiring more EPA employees, in support of improving recruitment efforts at the EPA, and in opposition to relocations, consolidation and closure of EPA Facilities. Lobbied in opposition to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) facilities. Lobbied in support of report language that directs the Army Corps of Engineers to recognize the duty station for crew on a dredge to be the dredges home port and to pay for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals on all dredges when they travel further than 100 miles from the home port. Lobbied in support of funds to renovate and restore National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) facilities in Bruceton and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, in support of language stating that the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) user fees collected for leading the national respirator conformity assessment activities, including certification of respirators, will not expire with the fiscal year. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should any future fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for a deficit deal or appropriations compromises. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception and IVF. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of (1) increased funding for the Immigration and Custom Enforcements Office of Principal Legal Advisor, the legal representative of the federal government in immigration enforcement matters that come before immigration courts, (2) more resources for the ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), the office within ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) responsible for providing health care for noncitizens detained in ICE custody; (3) more funding for the Citizenship and Immigration Services humanitarian programs, including refugee and asylum programs, through direct appropriation rather than fees; and (4) the establishment of a mandatory E-Verify program. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
FY 2025 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase in FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8994, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2024." Lobbied on the Farm Bill to ensure more labor friendly provisions. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
VA budget: Lobbied for Congress to provide funding to plug a $15 billion budget shortfall for FY 2024 and FY 2025. Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 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. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for the introduction and in support of H.R. 9046, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act including the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position and the career path to a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Lobbied for additional training for Board of Veterans Appeals Attorneys. Lobbied in support of ANS to H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023. 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023 and for its introduction in the Senate. Lobbied in support of S. 4046/H.R. 9855, the "VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of and for changes to S. 2679, the Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development (LEAD) Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 and 2025 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. VA Quality: Lobbied to amend H.R. 6330, the Veterans Sentinel Act to include data collection and analysis for suicides that happen when veterans are served at non-VA facilities. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied against an amendment to H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 forcing VA to apply the same access standards for Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as for primary care, specialty care, and non-institutional extended care services. Lobbied against amendments to H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that would codify Trump-Era access standards responsible for rapid privatization of the VA, prohibit VA from modifying access standards to allow telehealth to satisfy these access standards and require VA to meet strict timeframes evaluating high-risk veterans for referral to residential treatment and rehabilitative programs without providing any additional funding to staff these new obligations. Lobbied against amendments to H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that would require VA to meet 72-hour evaluation timeframe for evaluating high-risk veterans for residential treatment centers without providing adequate funding or putting equivalent credentialing and quality requirements on private programs. Lobbied against a proposal to create a pilot program under which the Secretary would contract out to fill vacancies at a medical facility with non-department health care providers. Lobbied against a provision in H.R. 9438, the No Wrong Door for Veterans Act, reduces the wait time for VA mental health care from the current 20 day to just 3 days. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 9146, Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act, which would require the Secretary to include continuity of care as one of the criteria used to determine when private care would be in the best medical interest (BMI) of a veteran undermining VAs ability to decide when returning a veteran to the VA is the in the best interest of the veteran. Lobbied against the Veterans Mental Health Access Act, which would create a parallel private mental health program that supplants VAs direct care system rather than supplement it when veterans cannot reasonably access VA care. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied for oversight of new VA private contracting program, the Integrated Critical Staffing Program. Lobbied for oversight of VA staffing reductions. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters. Lobbied for better information on scheduling and appointment times for both in-house VA and private care. Lobbied for more information about the costs of VA care. Lobbied against VA raising the ceiling for payment to third party private, Community Care contractors. Lobbied against prohibiting public health care programs from using QALYs to determine price. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, and urge that it be defeated on the House floor. H.R. 485 would increase already high healthcare costs for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which covers the vast majority of AFGE members and their families. In additional to FEHBP, the bill would prohibit Medicaid, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, Medicare Part D Plans (PDPs), the VA, and the Defense Health Agency from using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) - a measure that ascertains the value of a drug - to make decisions about a drugs price. Medicare already prohibits the use of QALYs in ways that discriminate against the elderly (such as by valuing the extension of life of an older person as less than extending the life of a younger person). Lobbied against amendments to H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that would: 1) codify Trump-Era access standards responsible for rapid privatization of the VA, prohibits VA from modifying access standards to allow telehealth to satisfy these access standards and requires VA to meet strict timeframes evaluating high-risk veterans for referral to residential treatment and rehabilitative programs without providing any additional funding to staff these new obligations and 2) require VA to meet 72-hour evaluation timeframe for evaluating high-risk veterans for residential treatment centers without providing adequate funding or putting equivalent credentialing and quality requirements on private programs. Lobbied against Amendment to H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 forcing VA to apply the same access standards for Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as for primary care, specialty care, and non-institutional extended care services that would not apply to private RRTP facilities, promoting privatization. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 8371, the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act that would allow decisions between a veteran and a doctor to remain final without VA authorization and provisions that would require strict timeframes for placement of high-risk veterans in mental health treatment programs for VA programs but not private programs. Statements and Correspondence: Submitted a statement for the record for a September 11, 2024 House Veterans Affairs Committee, Health Subcommittee legislative hearing. Submitted a statement for the record for a September 18, 2024 House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing titled Examining VAs Challenges with Ensuring Quality Contracted Disability Compensation Examinations. Testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs at a July 23, 2024 hearing on Is the Veterans Benefits Administration Properly Processing and Deciding Veterans Claims? Testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs at a July 10, 2024, hearing on Pending Legislation. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the "VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of S. 4046/H.R. 9855, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure, and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at VA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S. 2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support and for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to S. 2649, the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1315, the HEALTH Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Act, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse‐ patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied to preserve changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 7765, the VA Security Screening Pilot Program Act Lobbied for the introduction and support of the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7793 the Veterans Appeals Operations Expansion Act of 2024; Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7917, the Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2024; Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7919, the Veterans Claims Quality Improvement Act of 2024. Lobbied or changes to H.R. 7883, the Toxic Exposures Examination Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 7734 the Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act of 2024 Lobbied in support of H.R. 9046, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act Lobbied in support of H.R. 2971, the Veterans Claims Education Act of 2023 Lobbied for changes to H.R. 8874, the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 8879, the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act Lobbied for changes to H.R. 8881, the Rural Veterans Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2024. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Lobbied the House on the six FY 2025 appropriation bills that the House considered: H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed for H.R. 8580 when the House considered the measure that would have arbitrarily reduced the salary of a VA official, encouraged the VA to use untested AI for the purpose of expediting claims, restricted the VAs ability to reduce the risk of firearms violence by veterans, and expanded privatization of VA services. Lobbied in support of amendments that would have enabled the VA to help protect veterans from firearms violence, protected the VAs ability to respond to a future COVID-19 outbreak, improved sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training for VA nurses, protected the VAs DEI programs, and addressed childcare deficiencies at military installations. H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed for H.R. 8752 when the House considered the measure that would have arbitrarily reduced the salaries of various Homeland Security officials, reduced funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and blocked enforcement of Executive Order 14019 - Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting. Lobbied in support of amendments proposed for H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025, that would have restored funding levels for the TSA National Explosive Detection Canine Teams Program. H.R. 8771, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed to FY 8771 when the House considered it that would have prohibited funding to USAID, arbitrarily reduced the salaries of various officials, and blocked enforcement of Executive Order 14019 - Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting. H.R. 8774, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed for H.R. 8774 when the House considered the measure that would have arbitrarily reduced the salaries of various Defense Department officials, expanded the Defense Departments direct hire authority, blocked enforcement of Executive Order 14019 - Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting, restricted the Defense Departments authority to take certain health measures on military installations in the event of a future COVID-19 outbreak, prohibited certain telework and remote work for employees and contractors of the DoD. and restricted Defense Department diversity and inclusion programs. Lobbied in support of an amendment that would have prohibited the use of funds to collect payments from members of the District of Columbia National Guard who were federal civilian employees or D.C. employees entitled to leave without loss in pay or time from their civilian employment during mobilization. H.R. 8997, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed to H.R. 8997 when the House considered it that would have arbitrarily reduced that salaries of various officials whose agencies are funded by the bill, blocked enforcement of Executive Order 14019 - Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting, and reduced funding for various Department of Energy offices and programs. H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025: Lobbied against amendments proposed to H.R. 8997 when the House considered the measure that would have arbitrarily reduced that salaries of various officials whose agencies are funded by the bill, blocked enforcement of Executive Order 14019 - Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting, and reduced or eliminated funding for offices and programs at agencies covered by the bill. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 9494, the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 to continue to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Rights for the "TSA Workforce Act," H.R. 8370/S. 4334. Lobbied for H.R. 8662 to consider the possibility of credit or compensation to TSOs who for their travel time from remote parking lots to their duty posts. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Provided technical assistance on the development of multiple pieces of legislation to end the fee, including provisions for technology investments. Lobbied for a requirement that Public Charter Flights be subject to passenger screening when they are on fixed routes, sell tickets by the seat and have more than nine passengers. Lobbied for additional regulations on private screening providers in California. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for basic medical and technology supplies for nurses serving in the ICE Health Services Corps (IHSC). Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470). Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied on approach to cyber workforce proposal affecting DHS and other agencies. Emphasized concerns with a separate pay system and waiver of Title 5 authority. FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8752): Lobbied in support of the administrations FY25 funding request for TSA, in support of increased ICE funding to continue hiring for the Office of Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), and in opposition to the administrations proposal to eliminate TSO staffing of exit lanes.
Lobbied for Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 7.4%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and in support of the confirmation of Anne Wagner to be a member of the Authority. Lobbied in support of Suzanne Summerlin to be general counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. FY 2025 Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations (H.R. 9029): Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA), in support of upgrading SSA legal assistants and customer service representatives positions, in support of report language directing SSA to roll back the average call handling time goal at teleservice centers and mandate call waiting time estimates to the public, in support of funds to renovate and restore National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) facilities in Bruceton and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, in support of language stating that the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) user fees collected for leading the national respirator conformity assessment activities, including certification of respirators, will not expire with the fiscal year, and in support of increased funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Lobbied in support of H.R. 618 / S. 131, the "Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act" allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to diagnose, prescribe treatment, and certify an injury and the extent of disability for the purpose of compensating federal workers under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA).
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should any future fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for a deficit deal or appropriations compromises. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to preserve language in H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for reforms to the VBA National Work Queue. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re- instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Lobbied for additional training for Board of Veterans Appeals Attorneys. Lobbied in support of ANS to H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023. 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023 and for its introduction in the Senate. Lobbied in support of S. 4046 of "VA Employee Fairness Act, and for its reintroduction in the House of Representatives. Lobbied in support of and for changes to S. 2679, the Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development (LEAD) Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 7765, the VA Security Screening Pilot Program Act 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 and 2025 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied for oversight of new VA private contracting program, the Integrated Critical Staffing Program. Lobbied for oversight of VA staffing reductions. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters. Lobbied for better information on scheduling and appointment times for both in-house VA and private care. Lobbied for more information about the costs of VA care. Lobbied against VA raising the ceiling for payment to third party private, Community Care contractors. Lobbied against prohibiting public health care programs from using QALYs to determine price. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, and urge that it be defeated on the House floor. H.R. 485 would increase already high healthcare costs for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which covers the vast majority of AFGE members and their families. In additional to FEHBP, the bill would prohibit Medicaid, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, Medicare Part D Plans (PDPs), the VA, and the Defense Health Agency from using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) - a measure that ascertains the value of a drug - to make decisions about a drugs price. Medicare already prohibits the use of QALYs in ways that discriminate against the elderly (such as by valuing the extension of life of an older person as less than extending the life of a younger person). Lobbied against amendments to H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 that would: 1) codify Trump-Era access standards responsible for rapid privatization of the VA, prohibits VA from modifying access standards to allow telehealth to satisfy these access standards and requires VA to meet strict timeframes evaluating high-risk veterans for referral to residential treatment and rehabilitative programs without providing any additional funding to staff these new obligations and 2) require VA to meet 72-hour evaluation timeframe for evaluating high-risk veterans for residential treatment centers without providing adequate funding or putting equivalent credentialing and quality requirements on private programs. Lobbied against Amendment to H.R. 8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 forcing VA to apply the same access standards for Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as for primary care, specialty care, and non-institutional extended care services that would not apply to private RRTP facilities, promoting privatization. Lobbied against provisions In H.R. 8371, the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act that would allow decisions between a veteran and a doctor to remain final without VA authorization and provisions that would require strict timeframes for placement of high-risk veterans in mental health treatment programs for VA programs but not private programs. Statements and Correspondence: Sente a letter to the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs for an April 16, 2024 subcommittee markup. Sent a letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for a May 1, 2024 full committee markup. Testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on May 16 at a hearing titled Ensuring VA's Security: How Can Congress Best Support VA's Law Enforcement? Testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee on June 13, 2024 at hearing titled A Call to Action: Meeting the Needs of the Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders (SCI/D) Veteran Community. Testified before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs at a hearing titled Examining Shortcomings with VAs National Work Queue Veterans Benefits Claims Management System. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the "VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of S. 4046, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure, and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at VA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support and for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to S. 2649, the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1315, the HEALTH Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse‐ patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied to preserve changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 7765, the VA Security Screening Pilot Program Act Lobbied for the introduction and support of the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7793 the Veterans Appeals Operations Expansion Act of 2024; Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7917, the Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act of 2024; Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7919, the Veterans Claims Quality Improvement Act of 2024. Lobbied or changes to H.R. 7883, the Toxic Exposures Examination Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 7734 the Personnel Integrity in Veterans Affairs Act of 2024
FY 2025 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern.
FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations - Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied in support of $160,000 in funding for each position. Lobbied for report language directing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review position classification standards of railroad safety inspectors to reflect the increased technological requirements of their positions. Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at EPA. FY 2024 and FY 2025 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in support of hiring more EPA employees, in support of improving recruitment efforts at the EPA, and in opposition to relocations, consolidation and closure of EPA Facilities. Lobbied in opposition to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) facilities. Lobbied in support of report language that directs the Army Corps of Engineers to recognize the duty station for crew on a dredge to be the dredges home port and to pay for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals on all dredges when they travel further than 100 miles from the home port. Lobbied in support of funds to renovate and restore National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) facilities in Bruceton and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, in support of language stating that the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) user fees collected for leading the national respirator conformity assessment activities, including certification of respirators, will not expire with the fiscal year.
FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8752): Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees including at CIS and ICE. Lobbied in support of the administrations FY25 funding requests, including in support of increased ICE funding to continue hiring for the Office of Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA). Lobbied for basic medical and technology supplies for nurses serving in the ICE Health Services Corps (IHSC). Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to protect increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. Lobbied to make sure the Trump tax cuts set to sunset in 2025 expire as scheduled.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for a 7.4% increase in federal by for 2025 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, H.R. 8773. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of Income Rates) Act, H.R. 7127 and S. 3688 to provide a 7.4% increase to federal employees pay in 2025. Lobbied for a minimum of parity in the 2025 pay between military and civilian employees to provide at least a 4.5% pay raise. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the Presidents FY 2025 budget request to continue GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied in support of the Fund the "TSA Act," H.R. 3394. Lobbied in support of the Rights for the "TSA Workforce Act," H.R. 8370 / S. 4334 to provide full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of additional security measures for scheduled charter flights so they are fully subject to TSA screening. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. 3029, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied against FY 2025 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Lobbied for changes to S. 4043, the Telework Transparency Act of 2024 to prevent arbitrary office space reductions and/or telework restrictions. Lobbied against the Perry amendment to the NDAA bill (H.R. 8070) to question to role of official time by ordering a biased reporting its use in the federal workplace. Lobbied against a proposed Scott amendment to the NDAA bill (H.R. 8070) to curtail collective bargaining rights for dual status technicians employed by the Defense Department. Lobbied against H.R 4848, the Censorship Accountability Act, which would expose federal employees performing their lawful duties to personal civil liability over purported intrusions into the First Amendment. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023, hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service, provision which was enacted in the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to OPMs proposed governmentwide cybersecurity workforce proposal to preserve title 5 provisions, protect collective bargaining rights, and avoid pay banding systems that are associated with arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD
Lobbied against proposals in the Senate and House for the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act to (1) expand the Defense Departments direct hire authority for various vacant civilian positions, (2) direct DoD to issue a misleading report on official time, (3) change the employment status of dual service military technicians, (4) expand Title 5 preference eligibility for DoD civilian positions, and (4) make changes to the Defense Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project. Lobbied in support of restoring language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate analysis of the effects of these reductions on Defense Department capabilities. Lobbied in support of language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent an analysis of the effects of such reduction on workload and military readiness of the armed forces. Lobbied against any proposal to prohibit military exchanges and commissaries from selling Chinese-made products. Lobbied against an amendment authorizing direct hire authority for any position supporting the military mission or posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Lobbied in opposition to an amendment 315 prohibiting telework and remote work for certain DoD employees and contractors. Lobbied against an amendment prohibiting funding for Executive Order 14019, relating to Promoting Access to Voting. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to reduce the salaries of various DoD officials. Lobbied against an amendment prohibiting the use of funds to carry out a mask mandate regarding the spread of COVID-19 on military instillations. Lobbied against an amendment to eliminate funding for important DEIA programs at the Defense Department. Lobbied in support of amendments to ensure that federal civilian employees who serve in the D. C. National Guard are treated the same as all other federal civilian employees who serve in the National Guard.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 for the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8994, the "Pigs and Public Health Act of 2024." Lobbied on the Farm Bill to ensure more labor friendly provisions.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2025 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130 and S. 459, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, "Eric's Law" which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3019, Federal Prison Oversight Act. Lobbied in support of S. 4142, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8298 / S. 4327, the Equal Remedies Act of 2024. Lobbied in support of increased funding for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for salaries and expenses (S&E) and buildings and facilities (B&F). Lobbied in support of increased funding for BOP Salary Special Pay Table Increase. Lobbied in opposition to the use of augmentation or reassignment at BOP. Lobbied in support of hiring additional correctional officers. Lobbied in support of increasing Unit Officer Staff at High Security Institutions. Lobbied in support of report language to direct the Bureau of Prisons to give nurses full time-and-a-half overtime pay. Lobbied in support of increased funding for staffing at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Lobbied in support of Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) to include report language stating that no funds shall be used to transfer functions of JPATS Las Vegas, Nevada Hub to Kansas City, Missouri. Lobbied in support increased funding for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied Senate staff engaged in negotiating provisions of the bipartisan Murphy-Lankford-Sinema measure on border security that the Senate failed to advance in February, specifically on the effect that certain changes to asylum law would have on USCIS asylum operations and procedures along the southwest border and U.S. obligations under international law.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to protect increased funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act."
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should a fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for a deficit deal or appropriations compromises. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for a 7.4% increase in federal by for 2025 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates) Act, H.R. 7127, and S. 3688 to provide an 7.4% increase in federal employees' pay in 2025. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the Fund the TSA Act, H.R. 3394, and for full title 5 collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of additional security measures for scheduled charter flights so they are fully subject to TSA screening. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. 3029, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied against FY 2024 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Lobbied for changes to S. 4043, the Telework Transparency Act of 2024 to prevent arbitrary office space reductions and/or telework restrictions. Lobbied against H.R 4848, the Censorship Accountability Act, which would expose federal employees performing their lawful duties to personal civil liability over purported intrusions into the First Amendment. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023, hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service, provision which was enacted in the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to OPMs proposed governmentwide cybersecurity workforce proposal to preserve title 5 provisions, protect collective bargaining rights, and avoid pay banding systems that are associated with arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills and CRs: Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD Opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits in appropriations and the continuing resolution and against a government shutdown. Lobbied for a 7.4% in federal by for 2025 in the FY 2025 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for more resources for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied for additional Social Security Administration (SSA) funding in the FY 2024 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of full-year appropriations for FY24 and for short-term continuing appropriations that do not include arbitrary and harmful across-the-board cuts to federal agencies, establish a fiscal commission that would likely recommend deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal civil service, and any number of other essential programs and services. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5779, H.R. Fiscal Commission Act of 2023; S. 3262, the Fiscal Stability Act of 2023; and H.R. 710, the Sustainable Budget Act and any other efforts to create a commission charged with cutting or eliminating benefits for federal employees. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 6276, the Use It Act of 2023 and pointed out its detrimental effects on morale, recruitment and retention of employees. Commented on legislation in development in the Senate to incorporate similar building occupancy and utilization assessments. Lobbied in support of language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent an analysis of the effects of such reduction on workload and military readiness of the armed forces. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2882, an FY 2024 minibus appropriations bill, to fund federal agencies, secure pay increases for Transportation Security Officers, and other purposes.
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied for Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 7.4%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and in support of the confirmation of Anne Wagner to be a member of the Authority.
Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at EPA. FY 2024 and FY 2025 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of lnterior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Lobbied in support of language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts to restore language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate analysis of the effects of these reductions on Defense Department capabilities. The language was not included in the package of FY24 appropriations bills that was enacted in March. Arranged meetings between AFGE members employed by Army, Navy, and Marine Corps fire departments and DoD fire chiefs to discuss labor-management issues.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130 and S. 459, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3019, Federal Prison Oversight Act.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 for the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to preserve language in H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for reforms to the VBA National Work Queue. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Lobbied for additional training for Board of Veterans Appeals Attorneys. Lobbied in support of ANS to H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023. 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023 and for its introduction in the Senate. Lobbied in support S. 4046 of "VA Employee Fairness Act, and for its reintroduction in the House of Representatives. Lobbied in support of and for changes to S. 2679, the Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development (LEAD) Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 7765, the VA Security Screening Pilot Program Act 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 7127/S. 3688, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied for oversight of new VA private contracting program, the Integrated Critical Staffing Program. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters. Lobbied for better information on scheduling and appointment times for both in-house VA and private care. Lobbied for more information about the costs of VA care. Lobbied against VA raising the ceiling for payment to third party private, Community Care contractors. Lobbied against prohibiting public health care programs from using QALYs to determine price. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, and urge that it be defeated on the House floor. H.R. 485 would increase already high healthcare costs for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which covers the vast majority of AFGE members and their families. In additional to FEHBP, the bill would prohibit Medicaid, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, Medicare Part D Plans (PDPs), the VA, and the Defense Health Agency from using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) - a measure that ascertains the value of a drug - to make decisions about a drugs price. Medicare already prohibits the use of QALYs in ways that discriminate against the elderly (such as by valuing the extension of life of an older person as less than extending the life of a younger person). Statements and Correspondence: Testified at a March 21, 2024, House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing on Pending Legislation Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the "VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of S. 4046, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure, and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at YA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 6531, the TRAIN VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support and for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to S. 2649, the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1315, the HEALTH Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse‐ patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied to preserve changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 3979, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 7765, the VA Security Screening Pilot Program Act
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations -- Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act and in the National Defense Authorization Act, and for stand-alone legislation. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for basic medical and technology supplies for nurses serving in the ICE Health Services Corps (IHSC). Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470). Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in negotiating provisions of the bipartisan Murphy-Lanford-Sinema measure on border security that the Senate failed to advance in February, specifically on the effect that certain changes to asylum law would have on USCIS asylum operations and procedures along the southwest border and U.S. obligations under international law. Lobbied on approach to cyber workforce proposal affecting DHS and other agencies. Emphasized concerns with a separate pay system and waiver of title 5 authority. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Lankford-Sinema Telework Reform Act of 2023 to preserve competitive hiring and collective bargaining agreements.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates) Act, H.R. 536 and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees' pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. ____, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act Lobbied against FY 2024 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets Lobbied for changes to Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023 hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits in appropriations and the continuing resolution and against a government shutdown. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5525, the Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024, legislation to implement arbitrary and harmful across-the-board cuts to most federal agencies and establish a fiscal commission that would likely recommend deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal civil service, and any number of other essential programs and services. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to implement the Holman Rule to reduce salaries of several federal officers to $1, cut DEIA programs in federal agencies, reduce health and safety protections including mask mandates, and amendments to cut funding for several agencies to several appropriations bills: H.R. 4820, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4367, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2024 H.R. 4665, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 Lobbied in support of SA 1092 to the bill H.R. 4366 in the Senate Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5779, Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 and any other efforts to create a commission charged with cutting or eliminating benefits for federal employees. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied on the following issues in the H.R. 2670 Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Authorization in the House and S. 2226 Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate: Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit military commissaries and exchanges from selling Chinese-made good. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to H.R. 2670 that would undermine the Defense Departments authority to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the civilian workforce. Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit official time from being authorized for Department of Defense employees. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would direct the Defense Department to establish a safety performance rating system for prospective contractors based on their record of worker health and safety violations. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would lower the mandatory disclosure threshold for contractors to provide certified cost and pricing information from $2,000,000 to $750,000. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would reform and increase pay for federal wildland firefighters. Lobbied for defeat of amendment offered to S. 2226 that would limit the authority of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to make decisions about its investment offerings. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to S. 2226 that would restrict the use of official time by Defense Department employees engaged in workplace representation. Sent numerous letters to Members of Congress expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 2670 and S. 2226. Provided analysis and feedback to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on provisions in S. 2226 and H.R. 2670 affecting DoD civilian employees. Provided input to a House inquiry concerning proposed changes to the Navys Fleet Readiness Centers aircraft maintenance protocols that would affect civilian employees. Lobbied the House of Representatives on H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 that the House adopted in September: Lobbied against amendments that would prohibit telework for Defense Department civilian employees, reduce the salaries of senior Defense Department officers, and prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Lobbied in support of an amendment that would restore language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate analysis of the effects of these reductions on Defense Department capabilities. Sent numerous letters to House members expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 4365 Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied in support of strong DEIA protections in EPA bargaining contract and comprehensive scientific integrity in the labor contract to ensure that employees can perform the mission of the agency with dignity and respect. Lobbied in support of strong protections for all employees including transgender employees. FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department oflnterior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied against H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Specifically lobbied against amendments to H.R. 4368 that proposed to reduce the salaries of various Agriculture Department and FDA officials and to reduce funding for the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act and in the National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470) Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters to raise awareness about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should a fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for deficit control. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to raise awareness among House and Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement ofGS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. 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 (TB!), 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied to amend 38 USC 7422. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act. , which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: Statements and Correspondence: Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 12, 2023, legislative hearing. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health for its July 18, 2023 markup. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 19, 2023, markup. Sent a joint union letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for its July 26, 2023, markup. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee July 26, 2023 hearing titled Implementing the PACT Act: One Year Later. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee July 26, 2023 hearing titled VA Disability Exams: Are Veterans Receiving Quality Services? Specific Legislation: Lobbied for reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at YA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of YA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the "VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act." Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied for confirmation of Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied for confirmation Kalpana Kotagal to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and her ultimate confirmation on July 14, 2023. Lobbied in support ofH.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment oflncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority when nominations are received from the Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits in appropriations and the continuing resolution and against a government shutdown. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5525, the Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024, legislation to implement arbitrary and harmful across-the-board cuts to most federal agencies and establish a fiscal commission that would likely recommend deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal civil service, and any number of other essential programs and services. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to implement the Holman Rule to reduce salaries of several federal officers to $1, cut DEIA programs in federal agencies, reduce health and safety protections including mask mandates, and amendments to cut funding for several agencies to several appropriations bills: H.R. 4820, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4367, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2024 H.R. 4665, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 Lobbied in support of SA 1092 to the bill H.R. 4366 in the Senate Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5779, Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 and any other efforts to create a commission charged with cutting or eliminating benefits for federal employees. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates) Act, H.R. 536 and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees' pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. ____, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act Lobbied against FY 2024 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets Lobbied for changes to Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023 hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement ofGS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. 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 (TB!), 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied to amend 38 USC 7422. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act. , which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: Statements and Correspondence: Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 12, 2023, legislative hearing. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health for its July 18, 2023 markup. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 19, 2023, markup. Sent a joint union letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for its July 26, 2023, markup. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee July 26, 2023 hearing titled Implementing the PACT Act: One Year Later. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee July 26, 2023 hearing titled VA Disability Exams: Are Veterans Receiving Quality Services? Specific Legislation: Lobbied for reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at YA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of YA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the "VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act." Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied on the following issues in the H.R. 2670 Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Authorization in the House and S. 2226 Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate: Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit military commissaries and exchanges from selling Chinese-made good. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to H.R. 2670 that would undermine the Defense Departments authority to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the civilian workforce. Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit official time from being authorized for Department of Defense employees. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would direct the Defense Department to establish a safety performance rating system for prospective contractors based on their record of worker health and safety violations. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would lower the mandatory disclosure threshold for contractors to provide certified cost and pricing information from $2,000,000 to $750,000. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would reform and increase pay for federal wildland firefighters. Lobbied for defeat of amendment offered to S. 2226 that would limit the authority of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to make decisions about its investment offerings. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to S. 2226 that would restrict the use of official time by Defense Department employees engaged in workplace representation. Sent numerous letters to Members of Congress expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 2670 and S. 2226. Provided analysis and feedback to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on provisions in S. 2226 and H.R. 2670 affecting DoD civilian employees. Provided input to a House inquiry concerning proposed changes to the Navys Fleet Readiness Centers aircraft maintenance protocols that would affect civilian employees. Lobbied the House of Representatives on H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 that the House adopted in September: Lobbied against amendments that would prohibit telework for Defense Department civilian employees, reduce the salaries of senior Defense Department officers, and prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Lobbied in support of an amendment that would restore language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate analysis of the effects of these reductions on Defense Department capabilities. Sent numerous letters to House members expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 4365 Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should a fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for deficit control. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied against H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Specifically lobbied against amendments to H.R. 4368 that proposed to reduce the salaries of various Agriculture Department and FDA officials and to reduce funding for the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to raise awareness among House and Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act and in the National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470) Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters to raise awareness about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130/S. 459, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Lobbied in opposition to removing Puerto Rican holidays from SBA employees in Puerto Rico. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied in support of strong DEIA protections in EPA bargaining contract and comprehensive scientific integrity in the labor contract to ensure that employees can perform the mission of the agency with dignity and respect. Lobbied in support of strong protections for all employees including transgender employees. FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department oflnterior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied to raise awareness among House and Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130/S. 459, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Lobbied in opposition to removing Puerto Rican holidays from SBA employees in Puerto Rico. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied on the following issues in the H.R. 2670 Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Authorization in the House and S. 2226 Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate: Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit military commissaries and exchanges from selling Chinese-made good. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to H.R. 2670 that would undermine the Defense Departments authority to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the civilian workforce. Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit official time from being authorized for Department of Defense employees. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would direct the Defense Department to establish a safety performance rating system for prospective contractors based on their record of worker health and safety violations. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would lower the mandatory disclosure threshold for contractors to provide certified cost and pricing information from $2,000,000 to $750,000. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would reform and increase pay for federal wildland firefighters. Lobbied for defeat of amendment offered to S. 2226 that would limit the authority of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to make decisions about its investment offerings. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to S. 2226 that would restrict the use of official time by Defense Department employees engaged in workplace representation. Sent numerous letters to Members of Congress expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 2670 and S. 2226. Provided analysis and feedback to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on provisions in S. 2226 and H.R. 2670 affecting DoD civilian employees. Provided input to a House inquiry concerning proposed changes to the Navys Fleet Readiness Centers aircraft maintenance protocols that would affect civilian employees. Lobbied the House of Representatives on H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 that the House adopted in September: Lobbied against amendments that would prohibit telework for Defense Department civilian employees, reduce the salaries of senior Defense Department officers, and prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Lobbied in support of an amendment that would restore language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate analysis of the effects of these reductions on Defense Department capabilities. Sent numerous letters to House members expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 4365 Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits in appropriations and the continuing resolution and against a government shutdown. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5525, the Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024, legislation to implement arbitrary and harmful across-the-board cuts to most federal agencies and establish a fiscal commission that would likely recommend deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal civil service, and any number of other essential programs and services. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to implement the Holman Rule to reduce salaries of several federal officers to $1, cut DEIA programs in federal agencies, reduce health and safety protections including mask mandates, and amendments to cut funding for several agencies to several appropriations bills: H.R. 4820, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4367, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2024 H.R. 4665, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 Lobbied in support of SA 1092 to the bill H.R. 4366 in the Senate Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5779, Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 and any other efforts to create a commission charged with cutting or eliminating benefits for federal employees. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement ofGS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. 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 (TB!), 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied to amend 38 USC 7422. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act. , which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: Statements and Correspondence: Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 12, 2023, legislative hearing. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health for its July 18, 2023 markup. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 19, 2023, markup. Sent a joint union letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for its July 26, 2023, markup. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee July 26, 2023 hearing titled Implementing the PACT Act: One Year Later. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee July 26, 2023 hearing titled VA Disability Exams: Are Veterans Receiving Quality Services? Specific Legislation: Lobbied for reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at YA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of YA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the "VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act." Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act and in the National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470) Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters to raise awareness about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied against H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Specifically lobbied against amendments to H.R. 4368 that proposed to reduce the salaries of various Agriculture Department and FDA officials and to reduce funding for the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates) Act, H.R. 536 and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees' pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. ____, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act Lobbied against FY 2024 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets Lobbied for changes to Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023 hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied for confirmation of Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied for confirmation Kalpana Kotagal to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and her ultimate confirmation on July 14, 2023. Lobbied in support ofH.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment oflncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority when nominations are received from the Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied in support of strong DEIA protections in EPA bargaining contract and comprehensive scientific integrity in the labor contract to ensure that employees can perform the mission of the agency with dignity and respect. Lobbied in support of strong protections for all employees including transgender employees. FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department oflnterior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should a fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for deficit control. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 for the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied against H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Specifically lobbied against amendments to H.R. 4368 that proposed to reduce the salaries of various Agriculture Department and FDA officials and to reduce funding for the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied in support of strong DEIA protections in EPA bargaining contract and comprehensive scientific integrity in the labor contract to ensure that employees can perform the mission of the agency with dignity and respect. Lobbied in support of strong protections for all employees including transgender employees. FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of lnterior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to defund the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities in H.R. 4821, the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.
Lobbied Senate staff and USCIS staff engaged in negotiating provisions of the Biden administrations requested emergency appropriations supplemental on the effect that certain changes to asylum law would have on USCIS asylum operations and procedures along the southwest border and U.S. obligations under international law.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations -- Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should a fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for a deficit dead or appropriations compromises. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to preserve language in H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Lobbied for additional training for Board of Veterans Appeals Attorneys. Lobbied in support of ANS to H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023. 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 (TB!), 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the introduction of H.R. 6538, the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023. Lobbied for the introduction of "VA Employee Fairness Act" subsequent to the passage of the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023. Lobbied in support of and for changes to S. 2679, the Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development (LEAD) Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act., which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied for oversight of new VA private contracting program, the Integrated Critical Staffing Program. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters. Lobbied for better information on scheduling and appointment times for both in-house VA and private care. Lobbied for more information about the costs of VA care. Statements and Correspondence: Provided a Statement for the Record for a October 25, 2023 Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing titled VA Accountability and Transparency: A Cornerstone of Quality Care and Benefits for Veterans. Testified at a November 29, 2023, House Veterans Affairs Committee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee titled Examining the VA Appeals Process: Ensuring High-Quality Decision-Making for Veterans Claims on Appeal. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the "VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure, and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at YA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of YA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support and for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to S. 2649, the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1315, the HEALTH Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied to preserve changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates) Act, H.R. 536, and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees' pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. 3029, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied against FY 2024 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023, hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service, provision which was enacted in the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to OPMs proposed governmentwide cybersecurity workforce proposal to preserve title 5 provisions, protect collective bargaining rights, and avoid pay banding systems that are associated with arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act and in the National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470) Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in negotiating provisions of the Biden administrations requested emergency appropriations supplemental on the effect that certain changes to asylum law would have on USCIS asylum operations and procedures along the southwest border and U.S. obligations under international law. Lobbied on approach to cyber workforce proposal affecting DHS and other agencies. Emphasized concerns with a separate pay system and waiver of title 5 authority. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Lankford-Sinema Telework Reform Act of 2023 to preserve competitive hiring and collective bargaining agreements.
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of Martin OMalley to be confirmed as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority when nominations are received from the Administration.
Lobbied on the following issues in the H.R. 2670 Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Authorization in the House, S. 2226 Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate, and the FY24 NDAA conference report enacted in December 2023: Lobbied for removal of a provision in H.R. 2670 that would prohibit military commissaries and exchanges from selling Chinese-made good. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 2670 that would undermine the Defense Departments authority to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the civilian workforce. Sent numerous letters to Members of Congress expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 2670 and S. 2226. Provided analysis and feedback to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on provisions in S. 2226 and H.R. 2670 affecting DoD civilian employees. Provided input to a House inquiry concerning proposed changes to the Navys Fleet Readiness Centers aircraft maintenance protocols that would affect civilian employees. DoD Appropriations: Lobbied against amendments made in order during House debate of H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, proposing to (1) prohibit regular telework and remote work for Defense Department civilian employees and contractors; (2) strip the Defense Department of its authority to set policy as it pertains to the prevention of COVID-19; (3) invoke the so-called Holman Rule to either reduce the annual salaries of various DoD officials; and (4) reverse important strides the Defense Department has made in recent years to recruit and retain a diverse civilian workforce. Lobbied in favor of a provision to retain language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent a rigorous analysis of the effects of these reductions on workload.
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the, Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern.
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills and CRs: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD Opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits in appropriations and the continuing resolution and against a government shutdown. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional Social Security Administration (SSA) funding in the FY 2024 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of full-year appropriations for FY24 and for short-term continuing appropriations that to not include arbitrary and harmful across-the-board cuts to federal agencies, establish a fiscal commission that would likely recommend deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal civil service, and any number of other essential programs and services. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5779, H.R. Fiscal Commission Act of 2023; S. 3262, the Fiscal Stability Act of 2023; and H.R. 710, the Sustainable Budget Act and any other efforts to create a commission charged with cutting or eliminating benefits for federal employees. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to implement the Holman Rule to reduce salaries of several federal officers to $1, cut DEIA programs in federal agencies, reduce health and safety protections including mask mandates, and amendments to cut funding for several agencies to several appropriations bills: H.R. 4820, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4367, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2024. H.R. 4665, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4664, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2024. Lobbied in support of SA 1092 to the bill H.R. 4366 in the Senate. Lobbied in opposition to an amendment to H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, to prohibit regular telework and remote work for Defense Department civilian employees and contractors. Lobbied in support of an amendment to H.R. 4365 to restore language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent an analysis of the effects of such reduction on workload and military readiness of the armed forces. Lobbied in opposition to an amendment to H.R. 4664 that would prohibit funds from being used to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed OPM rule that would prohibit a future administration from transforming thousands of merit-based positions in the Executive Branch into partisan appointments and undermine the merit-based civil service system.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act and in the National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470) Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in negotiating provisions of the Biden administrations requested emergency appropriations supplemental on the effect that certain changes to asylum law would have on USCIS asylum operations and procedures along the southwest border and U.S. obligations under international law. Lobbied on approach to cyber workforce proposal affecting DHS and other agencies. Emphasized concerns with a separate pay system and waiver of title 5 authority. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Lankford-Sinema Telework Reform Act of 2023 to preserve competitive hiring and collective bargaining agreements.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied in support of strong DEIA protections in EPA bargaining contract and comprehensive scientific integrity in the labor contract to ensure that employees can perform the mission of the agency with dignity and respect. Lobbied in support of strong protections for all employees including transgender employees. FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of lnterior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to defund the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities in H.R. 4821, the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should a fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for a deficit dead or appropriations compromises. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception.
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills and CRs: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD Opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits in appropriations and the continuing resolution and against a government shutdown. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional Social Security Administration (SSA) funding in the FY 2024 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of full-year appropriations for FY24 and for short-term continuing appropriations that to not include arbitrary and harmful across-the-board cuts to federal agencies, establish a fiscal commission that would likely recommend deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal civil service, and any number of other essential programs and services. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5779, H.R. Fiscal Commission Act of 2023; S. 3262, the Fiscal Stability Act of 2023; and H.R. 710, the Sustainable Budget Act and any other efforts to create a commission charged with cutting or eliminating benefits for federal employees. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to implement the Holman Rule to reduce salaries of several federal officers to $1, cut DEIA programs in federal agencies, reduce health and safety protections including mask mandates, and amendments to cut funding for several agencies to several appropriations bills: H.R. 4820, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4367, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2024. H.R. 4665, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. H.R. 4664, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2024. Lobbied in support of SA 1092 to the bill H.R. 4366 in the Senate. Lobbied in opposition to an amendment to H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, to prohibit regular telework and remote work for Defense Department civilian employees and contractors. Lobbied in support of an amendment to H.R. 4365 to restore language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent an analysis of the effects of such reduction on workload and military readiness of the armed forces. Lobbied in opposition to an amendment to H.R. 4664 that would prohibit funds from being used to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed OPM rule that would prohibit a future administration from transforming thousands of merit-based positions in the Executive Branch into partisan appointments and undermine the merit-based civil service system.
Lobbied on the following issues in the H.R. 2670 Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Authorization in the House, S. 2226 Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate, and the FY24 NDAA conference report enacted in December 2023: Lobbied for removal of a provision in H.R. 2670 that would prohibit military commissaries and exchanges from selling Chinese-made good. Lobbied against provisions in H.R. 2670 that would undermine the Defense Departments authority to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the civilian workforce. Sent numerous letters to Members of Congress expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 2670 and S. 2226. Provided analysis and feedback to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on provisions in S. 2226 and H.R. 2670 affecting DoD civilian employees. Provided input to a House inquiry concerning proposed changes to the Navys Fleet Readiness Centers aircraft maintenance protocols that would affect civilian employees.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations -- Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates) Act, H.R. 536, and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees' pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. 3029, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied against FY 2024 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets. Lobbied for changes to S. 3015, the Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023, hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service, provision which was enacted in the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to OPMs proposed governmentwide cybersecurity workforce proposal to preserve title 5 provisions, protect collective bargaining rights, and avoid pay banding systems that are associated with arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation - HUD
Lobbied Senate staff and USCIS staff engaged in negotiating provisions of the Biden administrations requested emergency appropriations supplemental on the effect that certain changes to asylum law would have on USCIS asylum operations and procedures along the southwest border and U.S. obligations under international law.
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the, Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to preserve language in H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Lobbied for additional training for Board of Veterans Appeals Attorneys. Lobbied in support of ANS to H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023. 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 (TB!), 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the introduction of H.R. 6538, the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023. Lobbied for the introduction of "VA Employee Fairness Act" subsequent to the passage of the VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023. Lobbied in support of and for changes to S. 2679, the Leadership, Engagement, Accountability, and Development (LEAD) Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act., which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied for oversight of new VA private contracting program, the Integrated Critical Staffing Program. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters. Lobbied for better information on scheduling and appointment times for both in-house VA and private care. Lobbied for more information about the costs of VA care. Statements and Correspondence: Provided a Statement for the Record for a October 25, 2023 Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing titled VA Accountability and Transparency: A Cornerstone of Quality Care and Benefits for Veterans. Testified at a November 29, 2023, House Veterans Affairs Committee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee titled Examining the VA Appeals Process: Ensuring High-Quality Decision-Making for Veterans Claims on Appeal. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 6538, the "VA Correct Compensation Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. 3194, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure, and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at YA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of YA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4906 "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support and for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition to S. 2649, the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1315, the HEALTH Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied to preserve changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 for the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied against H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Specifically lobbied against amendments to H.R. 4368 that proposed to reduce the salaries of various Agriculture Department and FDA officials and to reduce funding for the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130 and S. 459, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the "SHOW UP Act" and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of lncome Rates) Act, H.R. 536 and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees' pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bills including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2023" to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied for passage of S. ____, the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act Lobbied against FY 2024 appropriations amendments to require excessive reporting on telework and remote work, ban mask mandates, and reduce federal spending below Fiscal Responsibility Act targets Lobbied for changes to Telework Reform Act of 2023 to protect competitive service hiring. Provided technical assistance to House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce for its September 14, 2023 hearing: Oversight of Federal Agencies Post-Pandemic Telework Policies. Lobbied against Senate proposal to expand excepted hiring in the Defense Departments Artificial Intelligence Office. Lobbied for expansion of FMLA eligibility expansion to credit military service. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied for confirmation of Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied for confirmation Kalpana Kotagal to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and her ultimate confirmation on July 14, 2023. Lobbied in support ofH.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment oflncome Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees. Urged Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to move with all due consideration and speed to confirm nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority when nominations are received from the Administration. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill. Lobbied against H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Specifically lobbied against amendments to H.R. 4368 that proposed to reduce the salaries of various Agriculture Department and FDA officials and to reduce funding for the Agricultural Research Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Pursued requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Opposed measures to cut federal employees pay and benefits in appropriations and the continuing resolution and against a government shutdown. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personnel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 1674/S. 576). Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5525, the Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act, 2024, legislation to implement arbitrary and harmful across-the-board cuts to most federal agencies and establish a fiscal commission that would likely recommend deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal civil service, and any number of other essential programs and services. Lobbied in opposition to amendments to implement the Holman Rule to reduce salaries of several federal officers to $1, cut DEIA programs in federal agencies, reduce health and safety protections including mask mandates, and amendments to cut funding for several agencies to several appropriations bills: H.R. 4820, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4367, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2024 H.R. 4665, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 Lobbied in support of SA 1092 to the bill H.R. 4366 in the Senate Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 5779, Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 and any other efforts to create a commission charged with cutting or eliminating benefits for federal employees. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Pointed out threats to federal employee health benefits should a fiscal commission be allowed to consider this as a source for deficit control. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied in support of strong DEIA protections in EPA bargaining contract and comprehensive scientific integrity in the labor contract to ensure that employees can perform the mission of the agency with dignity and respect. Lobbied in support of strong protections for all employees including transgender employees. FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department oflnterior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied on the following issues in the H.R. 2670 Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Authorization in the House and S. 2226 Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate: Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit military commissaries and exchanges from selling Chinese-made good. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to H.R. 2670 that would undermine the Defense Departments authority to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the civilian workforce. Lobbied for defeat of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would prohibit official time from being authorized for Department of Defense employees. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would direct the Defense Department to establish a safety performance rating system for prospective contractors based on their record of worker health and safety violations. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would lower the mandatory disclosure threshold for contractors to provide certified cost and pricing information from $2,000,000 to $750,000. Lobbied for adoption of an amendment offered to H.R. 2670 that would reform and increase pay for federal wildland firefighters. Lobbied for defeat of amendment offered to S. 2226 that would limit the authority of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to make decisions about its investment offerings. Lobbied for defeat of amendments offered to S. 2226 that would restrict the use of official time by Defense Department employees engaged in workplace representation. Sent numerous letters to Members of Congress expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 2670 and S. 2226. Provided analysis and feedback to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on provisions in S. 2226 and H.R. 2670 affecting DoD civilian employees. Provided input to a House inquiry concerning proposed changes to the Navys Fleet Readiness Centers aircraft maintenance protocols that would affect civilian employees. Lobbied the House of Representatives on H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024 that the House adopted in September: Lobbied against amendments that would prohibit telework for Defense Department civilian employees, reduce the salaries of senior Defense Department officers, and prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Lobbied in support of an amendment that would restore language included in previous Defense Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate analysis of the effects of these reductions on Defense Department capabilities. Sent numerous letters to House members expressing AFGEs views on H.R. 4365 Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of including workforce language to make sure that bargaining unit employees retain their rights during a transition in a bill that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), returning it to being an independent agency. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act and in the National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied for reauthorization of the CFATS program (H.R. 4470) Lobbied for Menendez amendment to H.R. 4367, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, to support CFATS inspector training. Lobbied for inclusion of CFATS reauthorization in Murray ANS to H.R. 3935, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters to raise awareness about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to raise awareness among House and Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4963 and S. 738, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act. Lobbied for H.R. 4535 and S. 1174, a bill to ensure the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share to Americas social insurance programs, known as the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement ofGS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. 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 (TB!), 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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. Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied to amend 38 USC 7422. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VA's authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VA's own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 1315, the Health Act and S. 2649, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 3146, the Veterans Health Care Freedom Act. , which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VA's own healthcare. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: Statements and Correspondence: Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 12, 2023, legislative hearing. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health for its July 18, 2023 markup. Sent letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for its July 19, 2023, markup. Sent a joint union letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for its July 26, 2023, markup. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee July 26, 2023 hearing titled Implementing the PACT Act: One Year Later. Submitted a Statement for the Record to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee July 26, 2023 hearing titled VA Disability Exams: Are Veterans Receiving Quality Services? Specific Legislation: Lobbied for reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act" to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the "Veterans' Appeals Backlog Improvement Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of2023." Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support" (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at YA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of YA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the "VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act." Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the "Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied for changes to S. 2679, the VA LEAD Act of 2023. Lobbied in opposition H.R. 3520, the Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the "VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the "VA Medical Center Security Report Act." Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act," which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the "Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act," which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, "Veterans Health Care Freedom Act," which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Ace, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act," which would set minimum nurse patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including YA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Lobbied in support of S. 2718, the Medical Disability Exam Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 3738, a bill To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied for a clean appropriations bill or CR covering these issues that does not cut federal pay or benefits.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses in the FY 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 130/S. 459 the, "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of S. 529, "Eric's Law" which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "One America Many Voices Act." Lobbied in opposition to removing Puerto Rican holidays from SBA employees in Puerto Rico. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration.
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of Nancy Anderson Speight to be a Member and Chair of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and Suzanne Elizabeth Summerlin to be General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied for confirmation of Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied for confirmation Kalpana Kotagal to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of extending the COVID presumption of workplace exposure for eligibility for FECA from the year 2030 to a later date to allow all eligible recipients to receive the benefit for longer period. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied in support of S. 272 and H.R. 805 the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill.
Lobbied to raise awareness among House and Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers. Lobbied for provisions in FY 2024 Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund humanitarian services at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services including refugee and asylum applications through appropriations rather than through fees for other services. Lobbied for appropriated funds for USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security in place of funding these services through fees because this function is vital to the legal immigration system and border security.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Opposed efforts to increase employee contributions to FEHB. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. Lobbied to remove barriers to contraception.
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) AFGE lobbied on the following issues in the Defense Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2024: 1.Carrying forward section 8012 of Pub. L. 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Division C (Dec. 29, 2022) without alteration in opposition to proposal of House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee Chair Ken Calvert (R-CA41) to establish an arbitrary backfill ratio based on attrition to reduce Department of Defense (DoD) civilian workforce. 2.Adding a new provision that would require that contract services comply with budgetary requirements of section 4506 of title 10 to produce funding tables for contracted services in the same appropriations for which funding tables are currently displayed in the Defense Appropriation for DoD civilian employees. AFGE also provided questions for the record to House and Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittees on total force management, DoD civilian hiring and talent management, and the Defense Health Activity reorganization. Lobbied on the following issues in the Financial Services General Government Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2024: 1.Carrying forward section 741 from of Pub. L. 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Division E (Dec. 29, 2022) that would prohibit public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. 2.Modifying section 737 from Pub. L. 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Division E (Dec. 29, 2022) by raising the cap on Wage Grade pay increases so that hourly workers get the prevailing rates they are meant to receive while maintaining the floor so that every Wage Grade employee gets at least the average General Schedule raise in the locality where they work. Lobbied on the following issues in the H.R. 2670 Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Authorization in the House and the yet to be numbered Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate: 1.Proposed markup amendment to strengthen total force management through amendment of section 129a of title 10. The proposal would amend subsection (b) to clarify the process for documenting DoD civilian workforce sizing decisions. The proposal further amends subsection (c) clarifying responsibilities of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness). The proposal amends subsection (d) to improve the completeness of the contractor inventory. The proposal would add a new subsection (f) that would require the Department of Defense to brief Congress in each budget submission with specific data analytics linking the DoD civilian workforce to readiness, lethality and stress on the force metrics. The proposal would add a new subsection (g) that would require service contracts be subjected to the same workload validation and prioritization requirements currently applied to military and civilian force structure; and finally, the proposal would add a new subsection (h) that would require funding tables for services contracts similar to the funding tables in each National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriation for the DoD civilian workforce. 2.Proposed consideration of a floor amendment for H.R. 1322 and S. 1888, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act, currently re-introduced as H.R. 1322, after its markup in the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. 3.Proposed converting Department of Defense Non-Appropriated Fund Child Care workforce to appropriated fund and raising their pay; commented on a Department of the Army proposal that would allow Non-Appropriated Fund personnel to take on more than one job. 4.Proposed a scholarship program for the medical workforce similar to section 1535 of the H.R. 1776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. 5.Lobbied for a repeal or waiver of section 865 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) pertaining to the presumptions on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation expenditures by the government versus the private sector for weapon systems relevant to negotiations for access to intellectual property. 6.Lobbied for repeal or waiver of the definition of commercial item in section 103 and 103a of title 41 for sole-source non-competitive procurements of weapon systems. 7.Lobbied for ceasing use of arbitrary time limits on depot carryover. 8.Lobbied for the Department of Defense to use Section 1108, Eligibility of Department of Defense employees in time-limited appointments to compete for permanent appointments to convert term appointments to permanent positions in the ammunition plants, Anniston Army depot and throughout the organic defense industrial base. 9.Lobbied for the Department of Defense to improve its compliance with sections 2464 (core logistics rule), 2466 (50-50 rule) and 2476 (capitol investment requirements for depots) of title 10. 10.Lobbied for the Department of Defense to support amendment of section 737 of the Financial Services General Government (FSGG) appropriation by raising the cap on Wage Grade pay while retaining the floor to improve recruitment and retention of Department of Defense civilian workforce within the organic industrial base. 11.Lobbied the Department of Defense and Congress to increase its use of the organic industrial base to address ammunition, missile, artillery, armored vehicle shortfalls in Ukraine and replenish shortages needed to deter China and other threats to national security. 12.Lobbied Congress and the Department of Defense for repeal or amendment of section 1595 of title 10 to afford faculty at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) worker protections under title 5. Additionally lobbied to modify section 1595 of title 10 to require strategic human capital risk assessments by restricting the use of annual renewable term appointments for enduring functions of the Future Years Defense. Requested a study to determine whether DLIFLC was handicapped in the program and budget process by having the Army as its Executive Agent; proposed additional funds and Full Time Equivalents to retain Pashtu faculty to avoid under-execution. 13.Lobbied Congress against the DoD legislative proposal, Application of Acquisition Demonstration Project to Department of Air Force Employees Assigned to Support United States Strategic Command and United States Space Command Enterprises; further lobbied Congress to discontinue the Acquisition Demonstration pay-for-performance system. 14.Lobbied Congress to support the DoD legislative proposal for One Year Extension of Temporary Authority to Grant Allowances, Benefits and Gratuities to Civilian Personnel on Official Duty in a Combat Zone. 15.Lobbied Congress to support the DoD legislative proposal for One year extension of Authority to Waive Annual Limitation on Premium Pay and Aggregate Limitations on Pay for Federal Civilian Employees working Overseas. 16.Lobbied to place limitations on the DoD legislative proposal for Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense, amending section 9905 of title 5 related to (1) support operations positions, and (2) positions in support of public safety, law enforcement, and first response. 17.Lobbied against the DoD legislative proposal, Improvements to Use of Cyber and Information Technology Workforce for Enterprise Information Technology, unless conditions laid out in the Strengthening Force Management amendment proposal are enacted and implemented. 18.Lobbied in support of the DoD legislative proposal, Removal of Washington Headquarters Service Direct Support From Personnel Limitation on the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 19.Lobbied to retain limitations on the DoD legislative proposal for Consolidation of Direct Hire Authorities for Candidates with Specified Degrees at Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratories. 20.Lobbied on the DoD legislative proposal for Authority to Provide for Increased Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay for Civilian Employees of the Department of Defense. 21.Provided general arguments against direct hire authority proposals of the Department of Defense and with respect to the Cyber Excepted Service. 22.Lobbied against an Air Force proposal to provide authority for Department of Defense Service Secretaries to establish classification, qualification and pay setting standards for occupations designated as Mission Critical Occupational Series. 23.Lobbied the Defense Business Board on civilian talent management and on behalf of AFGE Local 1263 relating to faculty at Defense Language Institute. 24.Commented on a proposed amendment from Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) that would establish a temporary Cyber Reserve pilot program, limited to 50 personnel, to urge public disclosure of conflicts of interest. Also expressed concerns with an alternative Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) markup amendment that would establish a permanent government-wide Digital Reserve run out of the General Services Administration. 25.Lobbied against privatization of Navy and Air Force lodging. 26.Lobbied against renewal of a proposal to restrict Military Exchanges from selling goods with any component parts manufactured in China. 27.Lobbied for supplementing the Non-Appropriated Fund workforce with Appropriated Funds in response to inflationary impacts. 28.Lobbied against amendment that would limit the investments in the Thrift Savings Plan that would limit investment in issuers where 50 percent or more of their revenue came from countries listed as National Security risks. 29.Lobbied against amendment that targeted the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Director for reduction through a manpower study targeting the DoD civilian workforce, 30.Lobbied against amendment that proposed eliminating the Director Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. 31.Lobbied against Navy proposals to privatize Department of Defense civilian employees currently supporting Program Executive Officer for Nuclear-Powered General Purpose Attack Submarines program. In addition, AFGE legislative staff: 1.Provided questions for the record to Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee hearings related to the Cyber Excepted Service, Artificial Intelligence, Commercial Technologies, Contract Services, Total Force Management, Talent Management, Hiring Reform, Competitive Service, Stealth Privatization, Child Development Centers and Child Care Workforce, Defense Health Activity Reorganization, and the 4th Estate. 2.Provided input to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) discrediting a 2013 McKinsey Study claiming $125 billion in savings from cutting 4th estate DoD organizations that was resurrected during an April 26, 2023, House hearing. GAO will be responding to question for the record on that study. 3.Provided input to the Congressional Budget Office concerning covering all services contracts in Future Years Defense Program analyses. AFGE sent letters to Congress and the Department of Defense opposing proposed DoD civilian workforce reductions, improving civilian talent management, opposing improper use of term and temporary hiring, and supporting the organic industrial base.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied against IRS funds being reduced as part of a debt ceiling deal. Lobbied in support of the Worker Tax Fairness Act.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied in support of diverse workforce at EPA and strong protections for all employees including transgender employees FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL.
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support of inclusion of title 5 collective bargaining rights and GS pay for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act to end the diversion of the passenger security fee to non-aviation security purposes, increase the fee and index it to inflation, and designation a portion of the proceeds to pay and bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers as well as for important technology investments. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory (OPLA) at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied for OPLA attorneys Public Liability Insurance to be paid by the agency. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Lobbied Senate staff engaged in immigration and homeland security matters to raise awareness about the impact of the Department of Homeland Securitys Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Final Rule on USCIS asylum and refugee officers.
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the SHOW UP Act and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of Income Rates) Act, H.R. 536 and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against enactment of new excepted service and direct-hire authorities proposed in various bill including the NDAA. Lobbied for greater ethics disclosures for contractors working within the federal government, e.g., within the Cyber Reserve service. Lobbied in favor of higher bonuses for federal workers who recommend cost-saving improvements in their agencies. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act;" lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank-and-file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the "DC Admissions Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the "Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act." Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the "Chance to Compete Act of 2023," and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the "Military Spouse Employment Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements). Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals. 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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 the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied to amend 38 USC 7422. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act. 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for restriction on VAs authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Privatization: Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VAs own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied against H.R. 3520, the Veteran Improvement Act, S 1315, Veterans HEALTH Act of 2023, and the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act (not introduced as of 7-14-23), which would codify community care access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VAs own healthcare. Lobbied against potential closure or privatization of services at VA Medical Centers in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: Sent a letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee for an April 28, 2023, Committee Markup. Provided a Statement for the Record for the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing titled Reviewing VAs Implementation of the PACT Act on May 16, 2023. Submitted Testimony on behalf of MJ Burke, First Executive Vice President, National VA Council, AFGE who testified at a House Veterans Affairs Committee joint subcommittees on Health and Oversight and Investigation hearing, VHA Recruitment and Retention: Is Bureaucracy Holding Back a Quality Workforce? on May 17, 2023. Submitted Testimony on behalf of AFGE Member David Bump, who testified on behalf of AFGE at a House Veterans Affairs Committee joint subcommittees on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Technology Modernization hearing titled From Months to Hours: The Future of VA Benefits Claim Processing on June 6, 2023. Sent a Letter to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees calling for additional oversight at the Board of Veterans Appeals on May 22, 2023. Sent a letter to Senate Veterans Affairs Committee commenting on bills under consideration at the July 12, 2023, legislative hearing. Sent a letter to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Health Subcommittee commenting on bills under consideration at the June 21, 2023, legislative hearing. Specific Legislation: Lobbied for reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the "Social Security Fairness Act to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322 the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act and S. 1658, the Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R. 1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure and certification reimbursement, covid leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at VA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the "VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act." Lobbied for oversight of the "Honoring Our PACT Act." Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 4278 / S.2158, the Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 366, Korean American VALOR Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1089, the VA Medical Center Facility Transparency Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1530, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2023. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3504, the VA Medical Center Security Report Act. Lobbied in support of, S. 1951, the Department of Veterans Affairs Income Eligibility Standardization Act, which would eliminate subcategories of priority for enrollment to make more veterans eligible for enrollment in VA health care. Lobbied in support of the, S. 1954, the Improving Whole Health for Veterans with Chronic Conditions Act, which would create a pilot to provide dental benefits to veterans with diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Lobbied in opposition to S. 1545, Veterans Health Care Freedom Act, which would set up a pilot program to allow veterans to choose community providers at their preference without the need for referral by the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans Health Care Eligibility Acc, which establishes the Commission on Eligibility (staffed with bipartisan congressional and presidential appointees) to examine veterans' eligibility for health care from the VA. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 41, VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023, which requires the VA to ensure that when a veteran enrolled in the VA health care system contacts the VA by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at a VA facility, the appointment must be scheduled on that same call. Lobbied in support of S. 1113, the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act, which would set minimum nurse-patient staffing requirements for public and private health care systems, including VA and Department of Defense medical facilities. Lobbied in support of H.R. 542, the "Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act." Brown staffing ratio bill. Same day scheduling bill.
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Lobbied for USDA to improve conditions for workers at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. Lobbied in support of S. 272 and H.R. 805 the, "Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023" led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied against passage of H.R. 139, the SHOW UP Act and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied to explain the benefits of telework and remote work for federal employees, for the economy and the environment. Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the FAIR (Federal Adjustment of Income Rates) Act, H.R. 536 and S. 124 to provide an 8.7% increase in federal employees pay in 2024. Lobbied against cutting services at federal agencies, pay and benefits of federal employees, Social Security and Medicare as a precondition of raising the debt ceiling. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 140, the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act; lobbied to limit the definition of censorship, to reduce or eliminate penalties for rank and file government workers, and to defeat the Perry amendment related to use of union official time. Lobbied in support of the DC Admissions Act, H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied against resolutions of disapproval to overturn DC Laws, including H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and H.J. Res. 26, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of the joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, S.J. Res. 4. Lobbied in support of inclusion of public financial disclosure provisions in S. 885, the Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act. Lobbied in support to H.R. 866, the Equal COLA Act for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefits rather than arbitrarily cut by one full percentage point. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 159 / S. 59, the Chance to Compete Act of 2023, and lobbied against proposed changes to weaken provisions of the bill by providing opt-outs, delaying implementation, and eliminating the passing score requirement. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, and recruitment and retention benefits. Lobbied in support of S. 393, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, H.R. 871, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against expansion of a GAO study on remote work considered as an amendment to S. 349, the Military Spouse Employment Act. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82 and S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD. Lobbied S. 272 and H.R. 805 of the Industrial Agricultural Accountability Act of 2023 led by Sen. Booker and Rep. McGovern. Lobbied for progressive, worker friendly provisions in the Farm Bill.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, or any changes to FEHB retiree benefits. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.
Submitted requests for appropriations, report language and legislative language affecting the federal workforce in the following appropriations bills: Agriculture Commerce, Justice, Science Defense Energy and Water Financial Services and General Government Homeland Security Interior, Environment Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Military Construction, Veterans Affairs State, Foreign Operations Transportation-HUD Lobbied for a clean increase to the federal debt ceiling to avoid a default. Lobbied against passage of H.R. 187 the Default Prevention Act, which in lieu of raising the debt ceiling would seek to avoid a default by creating a tiered payment system prioritizing Treasury payments to bondholders at the expense of federal employees, contractors, and others Lobbied for an 8.7% increase in federal by for 2024 in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for funds for hiring additional personal at the Federal Labor Relations Authority in the FY 2024 Financial Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for pay for Transportation Security Officers in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for personnel in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for personnel who conduct work in refugee, asylum and other humanitarian programs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services be funded through appropriated funds rather than through fees for other CIS services in the FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied for additional funds for more Railroad Safety Inspectors and better pay for existing inspectors at the Federal Railroad Administration in the FY 2024 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill. Lobbied to restore budget and personnel cuts at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, funded through the State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill
Lobbied on the following issues in the Defense Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2024: 1.Carrying forward section 8012 of Pub. L. 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Division C (Dec. 29, 2022) without alteration in opposition to proposal of House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee Chair Ken Calvert (R-CA41) to establish arbitrary backfill ratio based on attrition to reduce Department of Defense (DoD) civilian workforce. 2.Adding new provision that would require contract services comply with budgetary requirements of section 4506 of title 10 to produce funding tables for contracted services in the same appropriations for which funding tables are currently displayed in the Defense Appropriation for DoD civilian employees. Provided questions for record to House and Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittees on total force management, DoD civilian hiring and talent management, and the Defense Health Activity reorganization. Lobbied on the following issues in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024: 1.Proposed markup amendment as member request to strengthen total force management through amendment of section 129a of title 10. The proposal would amend subsection (b) to clarify the process for documenting DoD civilian workforce sizing decisions. The proposal further amends subsection (c) clarifying responsibilities of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness). The proposal amends subsection (d) to improve the completeness of the contractor inventory. The proposal would add a new subsection (f) that would require the Department of Defense to brief Congress with each budget submission specific data analytics linking the DoD civilian workforce to readiness, lethality and stress on the force metrics. The proposal would add a new subsection (g) that would require service contracts be subjected to the same workload validation and prioritization requirements processes currently applied to military and civilian force structure; and finally the proposal would add a new subsection (h) that would require funding tables for services contracts similar to the funding tables in each National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriation for the DoD civilian workforce for services contracts paid out of the same appropriations as the DoD civilian workforce. 2.Proposed markup and floor amendment for H.R. 159 Chance to Compete Act. 3.Proposed consideration of floor amendment for H.R. 1322 and S. 1888, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act, currently re-introduced as H.R. 1322, after its markup in the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. 4.Proposed converting Department of Defense Non-Appropriated Fund Child Care workforce to appropriated fund. 5.Proposed scholarship program for medical workforce similar to section 1535 of the H.R. 1776, James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. 6.Lobbied for repeal or waiver of section 865 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) pertaining to the presumptions on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation expenditures by the government versus the private sector for weapon systems relevant to negotiations for access to intellectual property. 7.Lobbied for repeal or waiver of the definition of commercial item in section 103 and 103a of title 41 for sole-source non-competitive procurements of weapon systems. 8.Lobbied for ceasing use of arbitrary time limits on depot carryover. 9.H.R. 1776, James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 Section 1108, Eligibility of Department of Defense employees in time-limited appointments to compete for permanent appointments. 10.Lobbied for the Department of Defense to use of Section 1108 Section 1108, Eligibility of Department of Defense employees in time-limited appointments to compete for permanent appointments to convert such appointments to permanent positions in the ammunition plants, Anniston Army depot and throughout the organic defense industrial base. 11.Lobbied for the Department of Defense to improve its compliance with sections 2464 (core logistics rule), 2466 (50-50 rule) and 2476 (capitol investment requirements for depots) of title 10. 12.Lobbied for the Department of Defense to support amendment of section 737 of the Financial Services General Government (FSGG) appropriation by raising the cap on Wage Grade pay while retaining the floor to improve recruitment and retention of Department of Defense civilian workforce within the organic industrial base. 13.Lobbied the Department of Defense and Congress to increase it use of the organic industrial base to address ammunition, missile, artillery, armored vehicle shortfalls in Ukraine and replenish shortages needed to deter China and other threats to national security. 14.Lobbied Congress and the Department of Defense for repeal of section 1595 of title 10 to afford faculty at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) education in force and other protections under title 5. Additionally lobbied for a study to determine whether DLIFLC was handicapped in the program and budget process by having the Army as its Executive Agent; as well as proposed additional funds and Full Time Equivalents to retain Pashtu faculty to avoid under-execution. 15.Lobbied Congress against DoD legislative proposal, Application of Acquisition Demonstration Project to Department of Air Force Employees Assigned to Support United States Strategic Command and United States Space Command Enterprises. 16.Lobbied Congress to Support DoD legislative proposal for One Year Extension of Temporary Authority to Grant Allowances, Benefits and Gratuities to Civilian Personnel on Official Duty in a Combat Zone. 17.Lobbied Congress to support DoD legislative proposal for One year extension of Authority to Waive Annual Limitation on Premium Pay and Aggregate Limitations on Pay for Federal Civilian Employees working Overseas. 18.Lobbied to place limitations on DoD legislative proposal for Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense, amending section 9905 of title related to (1) support operations positions, and (2) positions in support of public safety, law enforcement, and first responder. Also suggested that the Departments opposition H.R. 1322 and S. 1888, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act, currently re-introduced as H.R. 1322, is at the root of its hiring problems for Law Enforcement Officers. 19.Lobbied against DoD legislative proposal, Improvements to Use of Cyber and Information Technology Workforce for Enterprise Information Technology, and offering to withdraw opposition if all conditions laid out in Strengthening Force Management amendment proposal were enacted and implemented. 20.Lobbied in support of DoD legislative proposal, Removal of Washington Headquarters Service Direct Support From Personnel Limitation on the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 21.Lobbied to retain limitations on DoD legislative proposal for Consolidation of Direct Hire Authorities for Candidates with Specified Degrees at Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratories. 22.Lobbied on DoD legislative proposal for Authority to Provide for Increased Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay for Civilian Employees of the Department of Defense. 23.Provided general arguments against direct hire authority proposals of the Department of Defense and with respect to the Cyber Excepted Service. 24.Lobbied Defense Business Board on civilian talent management and on behalf of AFGE Local 1263 relating to faculty at Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center to support repeal of section 1595 of title 10, oppose recommendations to expand use of term or temporary hiring and direct hire authorities. Provided copies to Senate and House Armed Services Committees and lobbied Congress on same issue. AFGE sent the following letters to Congress and the Department of Defense in connection with Defense-related Issues: 1.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to Senate and House Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee, copied to Senate and House Armed Services Committee Members opposing proposed reductions of the DoD civilian workforce dated February 23, 2023. 2.AFGE National President Letter to Defense Business Board, copied to Congress, on civilian talent management dated February 30, 2023. 3.AFGE Local 1263 President Letter to Defense Business Board, copied to Congress, opposing extension of term and temporary hiring and supporting repeal of section 1595 of title 10 dated March 15, 2023. 4.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to Senate and House Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee on appropriations member requests dated March 16, 2023. 5.AFGE National President Letter to Secretary of Defense, copied to Congress, on organic industrial base dated March 27, 2023.
Lobbied for provisions in FY 2024 Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund humanitarian services at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services including refugee and asylum applications through appropriations rather than through fees for other services. Lobbied for appropriated funds for USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security in place of funding these services through fees because this function is vital to the legal immigration system and border security.
Lobbied for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied for confirmation of Julie Su to serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor. Lobbied for confirmation Kalpana Kotagal to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 8.7%. Lobbied in support of extending the COVID presumption of workplace exposure for eligibility for FECA from the year 2030 to a later date to allow all eligible recipients to receive the benefit for longer period. Lobbied in support of H.R. 856/S. 274, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees twelve weeks of paid leave for instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees.
Veterans Benefits Administration: 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 for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Board of Veterans Appeals: Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership dues for attorneys working at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied for the re-instatement of GS-14 career ladder position. Lobbied for the creation of a journeyman GS-15 position. Lobbied for the re-instatement of experience requirements for Board of Veterans Appeals Members (Veterans Law Judgements), Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. 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 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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 the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to repeal parts of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." 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. Lobbied to have Congress require the VA to return the HR functions back to VA facilities and to appropriate funding for it. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322/S. (pending reintroduction), the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act as it pertains to VA Police Officers. VA Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act: Lobbied for restriction on VAs authority to close or reduce services at rural healthcare facilities in the 2024 VA Military Construction appropriations bill. Lobbied against continued increased spending on community care at the expense of VAs own staffing and infrastructure. Lobbied against Congress codifying the community access standards that create a bias toward referral to community care over VAs own healthcare. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: Provided a Statement for the Record for the House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing Building an Accountable VA: Applying Lessons Learned to Drive Future Success on February 28, 2023. Provided a Statement for the Record for the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on Accountability at VA: Leadership Decisions Impacting its Employees and Veterans on March 9, 2023. Provided a Statement for the Record for the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on Strengthening Methods of Recruitment and Retention for VAs Workforce, March 22, 2023. Provided comments to the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee hearing for a March 29, 2023, legislative hearing on: H.R. 41 VA Same-Day Scheduling Act of 2023; H.R. 754, Modernizing Veterans Health Care Eligibility Act; and H.R. 542, Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act. Provided comments to Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for February 16, 2023, markup of S.10, The VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act. Provided questions to committee members for the House Appropriations Committee, subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, March 29, 2023. Specific Legislation: Lobbied for reintroduction of the "VA Employee Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 536/S. 124, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 866/S. (pending reintroduction) "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82/S. 597, the Social Security Fairness Act to protect VA employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Lobbied in support of H.R. 543, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1322/S. (pending reintroduction), the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to H.R.1378, the Veterans Appeals Backlog Improvement Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 10 the " VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act of 2023. Lobbied for changes to S. 10, the "VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act related to market pay, performance pay, cost of living adjustments, licensure and certification reimbursement, COVID leave flexibility, and recruitment and retention at VA community living centers. Also lobbied for specific changes to the bill related to the inclusion of VA Police Pensions, Continuing Professional Education Benefits, and Collective Bargaining Rights for Title 38 Employees. Lobbied to renew a defunded corpsmen and medic vocational education and training program Grow Our Own. Lobbied for the reintroduction of the "Protecting VA Employees Act" to amend parts of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. Lobbied for oversight of the Honoring Our PACT Act.
FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
Lobbied to ensure the wealthiest American individuals and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 884 and S. 357, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 638, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high‐level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly. Lobbied to ensure Congress raise taxes on the rich and corporations and use the money to make major investments benefiting working families while also reducing the deficit.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. FY 2024 Interior and Environmental Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. Lobbied in support of full funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL.
FY 2024 Agriculture Appropriations - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for reintroduction of the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act."
FY 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE-Professionals, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for full funding for FEMA and adequate numbers of full time FEMA employees. Lobbied in support the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act" and its pending reintroduction. The legislation would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) collective bargaining rights and GS pay under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2024 budget request for GS-level pay for Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 871, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied for additional positions at the Office of Principal Legal Advisory at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to provide parity in legal teams with immigration judges at the Department of Justice. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256). Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Lobbied in opposition to unilateral return to in person work for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2617) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2023. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7489, the "Time Off to Vote Act" requiring employers, upon the request of an employee, to provide the employee with a minimum of two consecutive hours of paid leave in order to vote in a federal election. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 CJS Appropriations bill, H.R. 8256, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the "For the 99.5% Act." Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied for H.R. 7502, the "Babies Over Billionaires Act" to make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes to fund federal education and health programs. Lobbied in support of new tax revenues in the "Inflation Reduction Act." Lobbied to ensure workers at the U.S. Mint have a safe workplace where they are treated equitably and fairly.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. FY 2023 Interior and Environmental Appropriations (H.R. 8262) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in opposition to the NOAA Commissioned Officers Corps initiative to bypass competitive hiring.
FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of OHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for passage of S. 2293 the Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act of 2021 to grant certain employee rights to FEMA reservist employees. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6856, the Securing Air Travel Act to increase penalties for firearms violations at TSA checkpoints. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 2616, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against S. 4769, the "Registered Traveler Act of 2021 that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 and S. 2717, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the "Transportation Security Preparation Act of 2021" to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the "Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of 2021" to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Lobbied to make Congress aware of changes to the accounting system at the Coast Guard which resulted in lengthy lapses in payments, mandatory overtime and uniformed personnel stepping in to assist in clearing the backlog. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, H.R. 8257 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied to impress upon lawmakers the impact of cuts, freezes or insufficient COLAs on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for the federal workforce for 2023 and for fairer locality adjustments. FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) -- Lobbied in support of additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2023 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 8236) -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2023 Military Quality of Life Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 8238) - Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 8238) - Lobbied in support of funding for VA healthcare and benefit staff and police officers; lobbied to eliminate funding for the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission. Lobbied to include Senate-proposed language to restrict closure of rural VA healthcare facilities. FY 2023 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 8262) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 8295) -- Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. FY 2023 Appropriations (H.R. 8294) - partial omnibus appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023; Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2023; Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023; Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023 - lobbied for passage and commented on numerous amendments and provisions. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and Congressional assistance on the status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 8254)-Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256)--Lobbied in support of AFGE Council of Prison Locals legislative priorities including higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations (H.R. 8294) --Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors. FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) --Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers and lobbied in support of good faith bargaining negotiations between AFGE EEOC Council leaders and management specifically related to health and safety provisions related to return to work and adequate telework flexibility. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564 / S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees paid leave to cover all instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act including to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition, care for somebody's own serious health condition, or address circumstances relating to an immediate family member's active-duty. service in the Armed Forces. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 appropriations bills to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2617) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2023.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.
Requested Senate assistance on treatment of labor union and recognized bargaining unit employees at the Export-Import Bank. Lobbied for confirmation of Ernest DuBester to serve as Chair, Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); for Kirk Rumsfeld to serve as General Counsel of FLRA and for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of passage of H.R. 8466, the Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces of 2022 to better protect the federal workforce in the face of the current Covid-19 Pandemic and future pandemics. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied in support of extending the COVID presumption of workplace exposure for eligibility for FECA from the year 2030 to a later date to allow all eligible recipients to receive the benefit for longer period of time. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564/S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" Lobbied in support of COVlD-19 health and safety protections for workers and good faith negotiations between labor and management related to return to in-person work for a number of agency employees including at EPA and EEOC. Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied in support of adequate health and safety protections and good faith negotiations between labor and management for Bureau of Labor Statistics employees relocating from Washington, DC to Suitland, Maryland. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees.
FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, H.R. 8294 - Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lobbied to prevent the aggressive expansion of AI in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and ensure there is adequate oversight over existing AI use.
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 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 in support of the A.N.S. to 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 C&P Exams available in every VA Medical Center. 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 202 l 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 in support of H.R. 962/S. 1888, the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of and for changes to S. 4156, the VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022. 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: Provided a Statement for the Record for the House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing Fulfilling our Pact: Ensuring Effective Implementation of Toxic Exposure Legislation on December 7, 2022. Provided questions to committee members for the House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing Fulfilling our Pact: Ensuring Effective Implementation of Toxic Exposure Legislation on December 7, 2022. SFR for December 13, 2022 HVAC hearing on Review of the Role of the VA's Fourth Mission and Pandemic Response. 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 for oversight of the "Honoring the PACT Act." Lobbied in support of report language related to Department of Veterans affairs in H.R. 2617, the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023," Including: - Support for the Cleland Dole Act and preferred changes to certain provisions. - Support for report language related to the VBA National Work Queue and performance standards for VBA Claims processors. - Support for report language exploring expanded dental coverage for eligible veterans. - Support for the filling of vacancies throughout the department. - Support for funding for the implementation of the "PACT Act" and the Toxic Exposure Fund.
Lobbied to prevent new line speed waivers and reduce existing waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COYID-19 Act." FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) - Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to ensure USDA fixes critical health safety issues at its facilities in Beltsville, MD.
Lobbied on the following issues in H.R. 4373, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2023, which provides fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations to Federal agencies through December 30, 2022, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government. Division C Defense: 1. Supported retaining section 8012 language that clearly prohibits using appropriated funds to arbitrarily constrain the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent personnel caps, End Strength, or maximum number of employees. Provision also prohibits arbitrary reductions of the programmed civilian full-time equivalents projected over the Future Years Defense Program years absent an appropriate analysis of the impacts on readiness, lethality, stress on the force, operational effectiveness, military force structure, workload and fully burdened costs. 2. Supported inclusion in section 8012 additional language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for term or temporary hiring for "enduring functions." 3. Supported inclusion of language in the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). 4. Verified that continuing resolution carried forward existing Omnibus FY2022 appropriation riders, such as section 8012. 5. Confirmed that FSGG Appropriation Rider No. 741 prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76 was carried forward. Lobbied on the following provisions within the H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023: 1. Lobbied to strike S. 4543, Section 1107, Modification of the effective date of repeal of two-year probationary period for employees, which was stricken from final bill. 2. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 5705, "Limitation on exception of competitive service requirements," and corresponding S. Amendment No. 5886 that would prevent any position in the competitive service from being reclassified to an excepted service schedule that was created after September 30, 2020, and limits federal employee reclassifications to the five excepted service schedules in use prior to fiscal year 2021. These were not included in the final bill. 3. Lobbied to include S. 3423, Chance to Compete Act and exclude the significantly different H.R. 6967, Chance to Compete Act, pertaining to modernizing and strengthening the competitive service, with the result that nothing was included in the final bill. 4. Lobbied to clarify H.R. 7900, Section 1533, "Comprehensive review of Cyber Excepted Service" and S. 4543, Section 1114, "Report on Cyber Excepted Service," which were included in final bill as Section 1541: Comprehensive Review of Civilian Cyber Excepted Service. 5. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Title LVIII, Subtitle B, "Rights of the TSA Workforce Act of2022", that includes sections 5931 that would enhance the security operations of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and stability of the transportation security workforce. This was not included in Division G in the final bill. 6. Lobbied against S. 4542, Section 1112, "Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Pilot," H.R. 7900, Section 1112, "National Digital Reserve Corps," and S. Amendment No. 6279 that would establish a civilian Cyber Security Reserve Pilot at the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency. These became Section 1540: Independent assessment of Civilian Cyber Security Reserve for Department of Defense. 7. Lobbied to change and improve H.R. 7900, Section 5867, Department of Defense Cyber and Digital Service Academy, S. 4542, Section 1111, Department of Defense Cyber and Digital Service Academy, and S. Amendment No. 6211, which became Section 1535: Department of Defense Cyber and Digital Service Academy. 8. Lobbied against H.R. 7900 section 631, "Prohibition on sale of Chinese goods in commissary stores and military exchanges," which became Section 651: Prohibition of the sale of certain goods from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in commissaries and exchanges. 9. Lobbied against H.R. 7900 section 2814, "Privatization of Navy and Air Force transient housing," and S. Amendment 6375 which was not include but instead directive report language on page 412 of the Joint Explanatory Statement to Accompany H.R. 7776 requires a report to address GAO findings. 10. Lobbied to make adjustments to the Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide Funding tables in H.R. 7900 addressed in the July 12, 2022, Statement of Administration Policy to prevent the use of a Reduction in Force in certain Defense Agencies and Field Activities." Further lobbied to make reductions to contract services accounts working in headquarters but mis-reported in non-headquarters program elements. 11. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900 Section 804, "Life cycle management and product support," which became Section 806: Life cycle management and product support. 12. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 367, "Clarification of calculation for certain workload carryover of Department of Army," which became Section 377, Clarification of calculation for certain workload carryover of the Department of the Army. 13. Lobbied to clarify H.R. 7900 Section 831, "Key experiences and enhanced pay authority for acquisition workforce excellence," to ensure that participation in "public-private talent exchanges" remains voluntary. This became Section 831: Key experiences and enhanced pay authorities for acquisition workforce excellence. 14. Lobbied to clarify H.R. 7900, Section 802 and S. 4542 Section 822 on "Data requirements for commercial item pricing not based on adequate price competition, which became Section 803: Data requirements for commercial products for major weapon systems. 15. Lobbied to support S. 4542, Section 827, "Progress payment incentive pilot," which was not included in the final bill. 16. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Title LXII, "District of Columbia National Guard Horne Rule" reflected in Sections 6251 through 6255 and S. Amendment No. 6155, which were not included in the final bill. 17. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900 Section 5907, "Presumption of cause of disability or death due to employment in fire protection activities," and S. Amendment No. 5837 Fairness for Federal Firefighters, which became Section 5305: Fairness for Federal Firefighters in the final bill. 18. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900 Section 5107, "Elimination of Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission," which was not included in the final bill. 19. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 609E, "Pay for DoD and Coast Guard childcare providers: studies; adjustment." 20. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 1107, "Inflation bonus pay for certain Department of Defense civilian employees," which was not included in the final bill. 21. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 1109, "GAO study on Federal Wage System parity with local prevailing wage rate," which was not included in the final bill. 22. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 5127, "Competitive pay for health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs," which became Section 5122, Competitive pay for health care providers of Department of Veterans Affairs. In the final bill. 23. Lobbied to support R.R. 7900, Section 868, "Prohibition on contracting with employers that violated the National Labor Relations Act;" as well as Section 5817, "Prohibition on contracting with persons with willful or repeated violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938," and corresponding S. Amendment No. 6157 on which were not included in the final bill. 24. Lobbied to strike S. 4543, Section 525, "Prohibition on considering State laws and regulations when determining individual duty assignments," which was not included in the final bill. 25. Lobbied to support R.R. 7900, Section 780, "Limitation On Realignment or Reduction of Military Medical Manning End Strength; Certification Requirement and Other Reforms," which was included in the final bill as Section 741: Limitation on reduction of military medical manning and strength certification requirements and other reforms. 26. Lobbied to support and modify H.R. 7900, Section 387, "National Standards For Federal Fire Protection At Military Installations," which became Section 388, "National Standards For Federal Fire Protection At Military Installations, in the final bill. 27. Lobbied to include S. 1888 "The Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act," as an amendment and no amendment was offered. 28. Lobbied about the issue of compliance with existing title 10 "total force management" provisions enacted in prior National Defense Authorization Acts since 2017. 29. Lobbied in support of the $750 million increase in the Defense Commissary Agency Working Capital (DeCA) appropriation in R.R. 7900, and S. Amendment No. 6256 asking for a $550 million increase. The final bill authorized a $350 million increase. 30. Lobbied to support Sec. 1102, Modification and extension of authority to waive annual limitation on premium pay and aggregate limitation on pay for Federal civilian employees working overseas. 31. Lobbied to support Sec. 1103, One-year extension of temporary authority to grant allowances, benefits, and gratuities to civilian personnel on official duty in a combat zone. 32. Lobbied to support Sec. 1104, Standardized credentials for law enforcement officers of the Department of Defense. 33. Commented on Sec. 1106, Enhanced pay authority for certain research and technology positions in science and technology reinvention laboratories. 34. Commented on Sec. 1107, Flexible workplace programs. 35. Lobbied to support Sec. 1108, Eligibility of Department of Defense employees in time-limited appointments to compete for permanent appointments. 36. Commented on Sec. 1109. Modification to personnel management authority to attract experts in science and engineering. 37. Commented on Sec. 1110, Modification and extension of pilot program on dynamic shaping of the workforce to improve the technical skills and expertise at certain department of defense laboratories. 38. Lobbied and suggested modifications to Sec. 1111, Modification of temporary expansion of authority for noncompetitive appointments of military spouses by federal agencies. 39. Lobbied and suggested modifications to Sec. 1112, Modification to pilot program for the temporary assignment of cyber and information technology personnel to private sector organization. 40. Lobbied to support S. Amendment No. 6228, that would increase death gratuities and funeral allowances for federal employees. 41. Lobbied to support S. Amendment No. 6184, First Responders Fair Retirement, that would allow disabled federal first responders (e.g., law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, and firefighters) to continue receiving federal retirement benefits in the same manner as though they had not been disabled. This was not included in final bill. 42. Lobbied to support S. Amendment No. 6251, requiring a review of the pay for Department of Defense and Coast Guard Child Care providers. 43. Lobbied to support Section 665: Studies on compensation for DoD childcare providers. 44. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 6043, that would expand the so- called pilot program on enhanced personnel management system for cybersecurity and legal professionals in the Department of Defense, to the rest of the Departments civilian workforce. This was not included in final bill. 45. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 5548, that would allow the extension of term appointments for up to six years. This was not included in the final bill. 46. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 5542 that would modify the Criteria for granting direct-hire authority to agencies. This was not included in the final bill. 47. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 5555 that would permanently exempt Domestic Defense Industrial Base Facilities, Major Range and Test Facilities Base and the Office of the Director of Test and Evaluation from the examination, certification and appointment provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code. This was not included in the final bill. 48. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 5550, that would raise the threshold from 15 percent to 25 percent for hiring recent college graduates into professional or administrative positions in the competitive service without regard to the examination, certification and appointment requirements of title 5. This was excluded from the final bill. 49. Lobbied to oppose S. Amendment No. 5559 that limited the use of scientific information in rulemaking by federal agencies. This was not included in the final bill. 50. Lobbied to oppose S. Amendment No. 5547 that would make changes to the socioeconomic labor threshold for service contracts. This was not included in the final bill. 51. Lobbied to modify S. Amendment No. 5620, relating to the hiring practices in the Department of State Authorization Act related to Section 5502 on the Cyber workforce. This was included in the final bill. 52. Lobbied to support S. Amendment No. 5463, that would regulate how access to public education is to be considered when making basing decisions for the Department of Defense. This was excluded from the final bill. 53. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5631, that prohibits the reduction of Senior Executive Service positions at the Navy Laboratories and Naval Surface Warfare Centers. 54. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5632, that prohibits elimination of Chemical Biological Incident Response Force of the Marine Corps. 55. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5629, that regulates the movement or consolidation of the Joint Spectrum Center to Fort Meade or another appropriate location. 56. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 5622, directing a study to identify duplicative research programs within the Department of Defense. 57. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 5623, providing a Sense of the Senate regarding recognizing National debt as a threat to National Security. 58. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5613, directing a briefing to Congress on the source of the repair decision-making process for depots and the costs and risks to readiness resulting from those decisions. This briefing would include an objective balance of workload between the public and private sectors. 59. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5604, directing an Air Force assessment of combat-to-dwell policy and health within the remotely piloted aircraft community. 60. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5598, that directed an assessment of conflicts of interest among consulting firms, such as Deloitte and McKinsey & Company. 61. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5582, that requires the Department to clarify the roles and responsibilities for force modernization within the Army. 62. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6349, The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, ensuring non-discrimination and reasonable accommodations among employers of pregnant workers. 63. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6398, The Electoral Count Reform Act, which was not included in this bill. 64. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6440, requiring a report and training related to food insecurity among military personnel and their families. 65. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6081, prohibiting indefinite detention of citizens and lawful permanent residents. 66. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 6110, arbitrarily restricting Internal Revenue Service hiring, which was not included in the final bill. 67. Lobbied against S. Amendments No. 6217 and 6218, that would require a GAO report on alternative modeling for locality pay formulations, which were not included in the final bill. 68. Lobbied to support S. Amendment No. 5852, providing for leave relating for abortion care and services for members of the Armed Forces, suggesting the need for a similar provision for federal employees and their families. 69. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5855, requiring a study and report on the rate of cancer -related morbidity and mortality for individuals assigned to Pease Air Force Base and Pease Air National Guard Base. 70. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5880, requiring disclosure to Congress of Presidential Emergency Action documents. 71. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5902, of the PLUM Act, that requires a periodically updated public website on political appointee positions. 72. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 6156, that would arbitrarily reduce by one percent any amount available to a Defense Component in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. This was not included in the final bill. 73. Commented on of S. Amendment No. 5950, The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which was included in the final bill. 74. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 5561 on the blended workforce that would undercount the number of contractors providing services to federal agencies by relying on counting only contractors with access to agency property or computer systems. 75. Lobbied in support S. of Amendment No. 6294, on the Department of Defense providing support to Defense-affiliated families (military and civilian) supplanted from the Departments child development centers. 76. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6295, that affirms as one of the main objectives of the NDAA to include the capacity of public shipyards to meet current and anticipated needs of the Navy to maintain and repair ships. 77. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6326, that would provide that the scorecard for basing decisions used by the military departments be coordinated with the Secretary of Defense to ensure consistency and be published for public comment in the Federal Register. 78. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5922, directing a Department of Defense report on the adequacy of the cost-of-living allowance for members of the military, requesting it also include the impact on the Departments civilian workforce. 79. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5819, that would expand the Commissary store doorstop delivery pilot program. 80. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6007, that would require the Department of Defense to provide its rationale for Active and Reserve end strengths and its civilian workforce projections. 81. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6013, establishing a framework for Congressional review of National Emergencies. 82. Lobbied in support S. Amendment No. 5729, directing a review by the Department of the Army of its execution of food service contracts. 83. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6174, requiring a report on credit and debit card user fees imposed on veterans and caregivers at Commissary stores and MWR facilities. 84. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5831, that would require a report on blood testing of Department of Defense firefighters for exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 85. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 5751, requiring the Department of Defense to appoint a senior official responsible for addressing food insecurity. 86. Lobbied in support of S. Amendment No. 6046 that would rescind the medals of honor awarded to Soldiers who participated in the Wounded Knee massacre on December 29, 1890. This was not included in the final bill. 87. Lobbied against S. Amendment No. 6049 that would establish a White House position at Cabinet level equivalency that overlaps with the responsibilities of the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, and state and tribal governments pertaining to volunteer, Defense and civil service positions. This was not included in final bill. 88. Lobbied in support of Section 665: Studies on compensation for DoD childcare providers. 89. Lobbied in support of Section 714: Maintenance of Core Casualty Receiving Facilities to improve medical force readiness. 90. Lobbied in support of Section 715: Congressional notification requirement to modify scope of services provided at military medical treatment facilities. 91. Lobbied in support of Section 731: Briefing and report on reduction or realignment of military medical manning and medical billets. 92. Commented on Section 742: Feasibility study on establishment of Department of Defense internship programs relating to civilian behavioral health providers. 93. Commented on Section 833: Modifications to Defense Civilian Training Corps. 94. Lobbied in support of Section 2703: Prohibition on conducting additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round. 95. Lobbied in support of Section 5124: Technical corrections to honoring our PACT Act of 2022. 96. Commented on TITLE LII-INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE AND EMPOWERMENT MATTERS. AFGE sent the following letters to Congress in connection with FY2023 NDAA: 1. AFGE Legislative Department Letter to Senate Members on Floor Amendments dated October 12, 2022. 2. AFGE Legislative Department Letter to Senate and House Leaders and Appropriators on FY2023 OMNIBUS addressed the TSA Workforce in both the NDAA and appropriation.
FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act."
Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security appropriations bill, H.R. 8257, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Requested Senate assistance on treatment of labor union and recognized bargaining unit employees at the Export-Import Bank. Lobbied for confirmation of Ernest DuBester to serve as Chair, Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); for Kirk Rumsfeld to serve as General Counsel of FLRA and for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of passage of H.R. 8466, the Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces of 2022 to better protect the federal workforce in the face of the current Covid- 19 Pandemic and future pandemics. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied in support of extending the COVID presumption of workers compensation for FECA from the year 2030 to allow all eligible recipients to receive the benefit for longer. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564/S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" Lobbied in support of COVlD-19 health and safety protections for workers and good faith negotiations between labor and management related to return to in-person work for a number of agency employees including at EPA and EEOC. Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied in support of adequate health and safety protections and good faith negotiations between labor and management for Bureau of Labor Statistics employees relocating from Washington, DC to Suitland, Maryland. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Lobbied in support of good faith bargaining and strong union role in return to work bargaining for EEOC employees.
Defense Appropriations Lobbied on the following issues in H.R. 8236, the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriations Act: 1. Supported retaining section 8012 language that clearly prohibits using appropriated funds to arbitrarily constrain the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent personnel caps, End Strength, or maximum number of employees. Provision also prohibits arbitrary reductions of the programmed civilian full-time equivalents projected over the Future Years Defense Program years absent an appropriate analysis of the impacts on readiness, lethality, stress on the force, operational effectiveness, military force structure, workload and fully burdened costs. Opposed Administration proposal from the President's Budget to strike this provision and replace with a section 8008 that would permit the Department of Defense to constrain the civilian workforce to arbitrary personnel caps and arbitrarily reduce it for any reason. 2.Supported inclusion in section 8012 additional language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for term or temporary hiring for "enduring functions." 3.Supported inclusion of language in the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). 4.Supported provision added by HAC-D that protects the ability of Department of Defense personnel to obtain abortions. 5.Verified that continuing resolution carried forward existing Omnibus FY2022 appropriation riders, such as section 8012. 6.Provided input on impact on Defense-related issues in the House Mini-bus appropriations amendments review for FY2023. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 1.Lobbied to strike S. 4543, Section 1107, Modification of the effective date of repeal of two-year probationary period for employees. 2.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 5705, Limitation on exception of competitive service requirements. 3.Lobbied to clarify H.R. 7900, Section 1533, Comprehensive review of Cyber Excepted Service and S. 4543, Section 1114, Report on Cyber Excepted Service. 4.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Title LVIII, Subtitle B, Rights of the TSA Workforce Act of 2022, that includes sections 5931 that would enhance the security operations of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and stability of the transportation security workforce. 5.Lobbied against S. 4542, Section 1112, Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Pilot, and H.R. 7900, Section 1112, National Digital Reserve Corps. 6.Lobbied against H.R. 7900 section 631, Prohibition on sale of Chinese goods in commissary stores and military exchanges. 7.Lobbied against H.R. 7900 section 2814, Privatization of Navy and Air Force transient housing. 8.Lobbied to make adjustments to the Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide Funding tables in H.R. 7900 addressed in the July 12, 2022, Statement of Administration Policy to prevent the use of a Reduction in Force in certain Defense Agencies and Field Activities. Further lobbied to make reductions to contract services accounts working in headquarters but mis-reported in non-headquarters program elements. 9.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900 Section 804, Life cycle management and product support. 10.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 367, Clarification of calculation for certain workload carryover of Department of Army. 11.Lobbied to clarify H.R. 7900 Section 831, Key experiences and enhanced pay authority for acquisition workforce excellence, to ensure that participation in public-private talent exchanges remains voluntary. 12.Lobbied to clarify H.R. 7900, section 802 and S. 4542 Section 822 on Data requirements for commercial item pricing not based on adequate price competition. 13.Lobbied to support S. 4542, Section 827, Progress payment incentive pilot. 14.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Title LXII, District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule reflected in Sections 6251 through 6255. 15.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900 Section 5907, Presumption of cause of disability or death due to employment in fire protection activities. 16.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900 Section 5107, Elimination of Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission. 17.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 609E, Pay for DoD and Coast Guard childcare providers: studies; adjustment. 18.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 1107, Inflation bonus pay for certain Department of Defense civilian employees. 19.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 1109, GAO study on Federal Wage System parity with local prevailing wage rate. 20.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 5127, Competitive pay for health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 21.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 868, Prohibition on contracting with employers that violated the National Labor Relations Act; as well as Section 5817, Prohibition on contracting with persons with willful or repeated violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. 22.Lobbied to strike S. 4543, Section 525, Prohibition on considering State laws and regulations when determining individual duty assignments. 23.Lobbied to repudiate the directive report language in S. 4543 that suggests DoD should not continue its efforts to root out extremism in the ranks. Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 1036, Report on threat posed by domestic terrorists and Section 5814, Interagency report on extremist activity. 24.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 780, Limitation On Realignment or Reduction of Military Medical Manning End Strength; Certification Requirement and Other Reforms. 25.Lobbied to support H.R. 7900, Section 387, National Standards For Federal Fire Protection At Military Installations. 26.Lobbied to include in S. 4543, The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2023, S. 1888 The Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act. 27.Lobbied about the issue of compliance with existing title 10 total force management provisions enacted in prior National Defense Authorization Acts since 2017. 28.Lobbied in support of the $750 million increase in the Defense Commissary Agency Working Capital (DeCA) appropriation in H.R. 7900. AFGE sent the following letters to Congress se in connection with FY2023 NDAA: 1.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee on Pre-Conference issues dated August 18, 2022. 2.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee on Pre-Conference issues dated September 16, 2022.
Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security appropriations bill, H.R. 8257, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition of augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied in support of time and a half true overtime for BOP nurses. FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256) -- Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, Eric's Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Lobbied in opposition to unilateral return to in person work for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied in support of full multilingual opportunities and adequate compensation for employees at the Small Business Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7489, the "Time Off to Vote Act" requiring employers, upon the request of an employee, to provide the employee with a minimum of two consecutive hours of paid leave in order to vote in a federal election. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 CJS Appropriations bill, H.R. 8256, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) -- Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of OHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied for passage of S. 2293, the "Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act of 2021" to grant certain employee rights to FEMA reservist employees. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6856, the Securing Air Travel Act to increase penalties for firearms violations at TSA checkpoints. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 2616, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against S. 4769, the "Registered Traveler Act of 2021 that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 and S. 2717, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the "Transportation Security Preparation Act of 2021" to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the "Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of 2021" to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Lobbied to make Congress aware of changes to the accounting system at the Coast Guard which resulted in lengthy lapses in payments, mandatory overtime and uniformed personnel stepping in to assist in clearing the backlog. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, H.R. 8257 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COYID-19 Act." Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations bill, H.R. 8239 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees' right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees' ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.
FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act."
Lobbied for passage of H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 302, the Preventing a Patronage System Act or the PPSA Act. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2988, the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021, and against including protections for noncareer SES political appointees. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8873, the Presidential Election Reform Act. Lobbied to amend and improve the Safe Federal Workplaces Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 4623, the AGILE Procurement Act of 2022, to avoid creating loopholes to cost accounting rules for federal contractors. Lobbied in support of H.R. 521, the RETIRE Act of 2021, to provide equitable retirement benefits to first responders and law enforcement officers injured on the job. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7376/S. 3474, the "Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act." Lobbied for passage of H.R. 6967/S. 3423, the "Chance to Compete Act." Lobbied for changes to provisions of H.R. 4521, the "America COMPETES Act." Lobbied in opposition to expanding noncompetitive hiring at the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development. Lobbied in support for a strong collective bargaining contract with full rights and protections for EPA workers. Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act" to protect the right to vote, especially its inclusion of the "Time Off to Vote Act" and District of Columbia Statehood. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8861, the District of Columbia Home Rule Expansion Act of 2022 eliminating the Congressional review period for D.C. legislation. Lobbied for passage of the "Time Off To Vote Act." Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, Covid response and return to office space. Lobbied in support of S. 4365/ H.R. 8005, the "Social Security Expansion Act" to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Supported Senate letter to president urging appointments for SSAs Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner positions. Lobbied on behalf of S. 4421/H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act" to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 /S. 3518, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act" to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied against S. 3672 RETURN Act and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for S.Res. 275 introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) acknowledging the mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals in all levels of federal service. Specifically, this resolution would apologize for the mistreatment of, discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the United States Armed Forces, Foreign Service and Federal civil service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7951, the "Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act" to encourage expanded telework and ensure managers are informed as to its benefits and use. Lobbied against S. 471, the "Members of Congress Pension Opt Out Clarification Act" that undermines the value of the earned benefit of the retirement annuity in federal service and politicizes its acceptance by members of Congress. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for inclusion of the legislations provisions in the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied to expand presumption of workplace illness workers' compensation through the Federal Employee Compensation Act for Covid-19 cases beyond 2030. Lobbied to renew paid emergency leave for federal employees for Covid-19 personal and family illness and childcare and school needs. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Department's mission, including protecting students' civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097 - Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, S. 1330 - Facilitating Federal Employee. Reskilling Act, S. 1324 (Rosen)- Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, and S. 407 the Air America Act. Provided technical background and comment on draft legislation to improve process for evaluation of applicants within the competitive service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the "Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2021 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of S. 1302, the companion legislation to H.R. 82. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5723 and S. 3071, the "Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust" Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Provided technical background and comment on H.R. 5314, the "Protecting Our Democracy Act" and specifically its Hatch Act provisions. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 6104 the "Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act" to protect veterans' preference and to prevent undue private influence on federal hiring decisions. Lobbied in support of the U.S. Mint releasing its internal report on racial issues at the agency.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the "For the 99.5% Act." Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied for H.R. 7502, the "Babies Over Billionaires Act" to make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes to fund federal education and health programs. Lobbied in support of new tax revenues in the Inflation Reduction Act.
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.
Lobbied in support of a strong collective bargaining agreement with full rights and protections for EPA workers. FY 2023 Interior and Environmental Appropriations (H.R. 8262) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in opposition to the NOAA Commissioned Officers Corps initiative to bypass competitive hiring.
FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, H.R. 8294 - Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of OHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Provided written and oral testimony and responded to questions for the record for House Homeland Security Hearing: "On the Frontlines in Turbulent Times: Workforce Perspectives on the State of Transportation Security." Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Provided comments at markup of H.R. 6827 to accelerate computed technology for TSA screening. Lobbied in support of the Security Air Travel Act to increase penalties for firearms violations at TSA checkpoints. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 2616, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against any legislation that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Provided background on legislation to establish a temperature check pilot in airports to combat the spread of disease. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 and S. 2717, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the "Transportation Security Preparation Act of 202 l" to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the "Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of2021" to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Lobbied against confirmation of William Valdez to serve as Undersecretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security. Lobbied to make Congress aware of changes to the accounting system at the Coast Guard which resulted in lengthy lapses in payments, mandatory overtime and uniformed personnel stepping in to assist in clearing the backlog. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Securitys Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, H.R. 8257 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Defense Appropriations Lobbied on the following issues H.R. 8236, the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriations Act: 1.Supported retaining section 8012 language that clearly prohibits using appropriated funds to arbitrarily constrain the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent personnel caps, End Strength, or maximum number of employees. Provision also prohibits arbitrary reductions of the programmed civilian full-time equivalents projected over the Future Years Defense Program years absent an appropriate analysis of the impacts on readiness, lethality, stress on the force, operational effectiveness, military force structure, workload and fully burdened costs. Opposed Administration proposal from the Presidents Budget to strike this provision and replace with a section 8008 that would permit the Department of Defense to constrain the civilian workforce to arbitrary personnel caps and arbitrarily reduce it for any reason. 2.Supported inclusion in section 8012 additional language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for term or temporary hiring for enduring functions. 3.Supported inclusion of language in the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Lobbied on the following issues for H.R. 7900, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023 NDAA) both in the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee Members based on Member Requests proposals for Amendments for committee and subcommittee markup on the following issues (Senate bill number not assigned yet). 1.Inclusion of language in the FY 2023 NDAA that would strengthen total force management within the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution system of the DoD: a.By reviving the Enterprise Contractor Manpower Reporting Application process for collecting fully burdened cost data from contractors; b.By ensuring near- and long-term strategic readiness includes data analytics for identifying DoD civilian contributions to readiness, leveraging Center for Naval Analysis study previously asked for in the Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA. c.By strengthening and clarifying statutory framework to ensure program and budget reviews challenge, compete, and prioritize contract services requirements instead of the default practice of cutting the DoD civilian workforce. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA to repeal the remaining arbitrary personnel caps on headquarters functions in sections 143, 155, 194, 7014, 8014 and 9014 of title 10. 3.Continuation of the public-private competition moratorium on OMB Circular A-76. Inclusion of language strengthening implementation of section 815 of the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA depending on the Departments implementation of those provisions to enforce compliance with existing statutory restrictions on converting civilian positions to contract performance and to ensure the Department is complying with statutory requirements to consider civilian employees for performance of closely associated with inherently governmental and critical functions. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA that continues the prohibition of another round of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). 5.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA encouraging the DoD to hire civilian backfills when converting military medical structure to operational requirements in the Military Medical Treatment Facilities. 6.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA encouraging Commissaries to address food insecurity among military families by ending variable pricing and establishing specific pilot programs to provide free produce to eligible military families. 7.Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA to improve sustainment planning for major weapon system acquisitions by re-establishing the manpower estimate report process prior to milestone B and C decision on the appropriate mix between Active Component and Reserve Component military. civilian employees, host nation and contract support for operating, training and maintaining major weapon systems. This became section 804. 8.Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA terminating authority for alternative compensation frameworks by repealing authority for the Acquisition Demo project which has been documented as discriminatory to women and minorities. 9.Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA prohibiting the misuse of term and temporary hiring authorities for enduring missions. 10.Inclusion in the FY2023 NDAA H.R. 903, The Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2021, as reported in the House Homeland Security Committee. 11.Inclusion of H.R. 962 and S. 1888, The Law Enforcement Equity Act, in the FY2023 NDAA. 12.Inclusion of H.R. 2499 and S. 1116, The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, in the FY20223 NDAA. 13.Inclusion of H.R. 6967 and S. 3423, Chance to Compete Act of 2022, in the FY2023 NDAA. 14.Inclusion of directive report language in the FY2023 NDAA requesting an Administrative Conference of United States review of the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness from a due process perspective of DoD and government security clearance determinations, as well as a Federally Funded Research and Development demographic survey on whether security clearance adjudications within DoD and other federal agencies have been applied in a discriminatory manner against protected Civil Rights categories and in favor of certain hate groups. 15.Consideration of the adverse effects of limited access to technical data in the organic industrial base and limits to governmental access to certified cost and pricing data under the Truth in Negotiations Act resulting from recent expansions of commercial items and services definitions through the NDADA to sole source procurements that have contributed to escalating sustainment costs and cybersecurity risks for DoD weapon systems. 16.Inclusion of H.R. 3086 and S. 1561, the Locality Pay Equity Act of 2021, in the FY2023 NDAA. Provided input to Rep. Norcross staff on potential floor amendment that would request a GAO review addressing this issue in the shipyards. Recommended expanding amendment to include depots, arsenals and Defense Logistics Agency sites. 17.Inclusion of H.R. 8007 and S. 4374, Stop Price Gauging the Military Act, in the FY2023 NDAA. 18.Clarification of the calculation of deport workload carryover calculations in Readiness subcommittee mark. This became section 367. 19.Opposed inclusion of Rep. Green (R-TN) language prohibiting Commissaries and Exchanges from selling Chinese-manufactured goods because of its impact on 40K Non-Appropriated Fund workers when no such restriction was being proposed for private sector competitors. This became section 631. 20.Clarification of the increase of minimum capital investment in depots from 6 percent to 8 percent in section 363. 21.Opposed inclusion of Air Force proposal entitled, Improvement to use of Cyber and Information Technology Workforce for Enterprise Information Technology, a proposal essentially to exempt the Cyber and IT workforce from the public-private competition moratorium and the underlying requirement to perform public-private competitions. 22.Discussed with Senator Shaheen staff the possibility of language that would help DoD civilian employees and their families, along with military, to take leave to get abortions. 23.Supported Amendment Number 5 proposed by Rep. Norton (D-D.C.) and Rep. Brown (D.-MD) to give the Mayor of the District of Columbia the same authority over the National Guard (NG) that the governors of states and territories have. 24.Supported Amendment Number 11 proposed by Rep. Brownley (D-CA) that would allow FAA Air Traffic Controllers to work at Contract Tower facilities without losing federal retirement benefits. 25.Supported Amendment Number 23 proposed by Rep. Cicilline (D-RI) that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate productivity expectations for readjustment counselors of Vet Centers, including by gaining feedback from counselors that must be audited annually for five years by the Government Accountability Office. This amendment would also require the VA to develop and implement a staffing model for Vet Centers, standardize position description responsibilities, and award grants to address food insecurity among veterans and family members of veterans who receive services through Vet Centers or other VA facilities. 26.Supported Amendment Number 28 proposed by Rep. Kilmer (D-WA) that would remove the 180 day waiting period for hiring retired members of Armed Forces into military health system positions. 27.Supported Amendment Number 113 proposed by Rep. Correa (D-CA) that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report on women veterans access to gender specific services under arrangements entered into by the VA with non-VA medical providers for the provision of hospital care or medical services. 28.Opposed the following amendments proposed by Rep. Gaetz (R-FL), such as amendment number 2 that combating extremism in the ranks should not be a priority of the Department of Defense; amendment number 3 disparaging the Secretary of Defense; amendment number 7 that would weaken compliance of military members with the vaccine mandate; amendment number 8 that would impede DoD from making PCS moves when the reason for the PCS move is a military members disagreement with state or local law. 29.Opposed the amendment number 9 proposed by Rep. Van Duyne (R-TX) that would permanently suspend the vaccine mandate for DoD contractors. AFGE sent the following letters to Congress and the Department of Defense in connection with FY2023 NDAA: 1.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee, on Defense Appropriation Member Request Priorities dated April 26, 2022. 2.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Appropriations Committee, Financial Services General Government Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee, Financial Services General Government Subcommittee, on FSGG Appropriation Member Request Priorities dated April 26, 2022. Two issues related to carrying forward section 741 language continuing the government-wide public-private competition moratorium and proposing new language prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to interfere with collective bargaining agreements. 3.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee, Defense Subcommittee, copied to Office of Management and Budget and Secretary of Defense, and dated May 23, 2022, strongly opposing Administration proposal to replace section 8012 with section 8008, reinstituting arbitrary personnel caps. Interviewed on Federal News Network about letter and provided interview to Congress, DoD and OMB. 4.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to Defense Business Board dated May 27, 2022, on Upgrading DoD Civilian Talent Management. Letter copied to Congress. 5.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Armed Services Committee pertaining to FY2023 NDAA markup dated June 12, 2022. 6.AFGE Legislative Department Letter to House Rules Committee on H.R. 7900 Amendments dated July, 2022. Other NDAA related activities: Provided several questions for record to SASC Personnel Subcommittee Hearing on April 27, 2022, regarding military and civilian workforce programs in the Department of Defense. The questions for record were submitted by Senator Tillis related to the USD (P&R) total force management responsibilities and how increased use of the civilian workforce could reduce stress on the militarys high demand low density military occupational specialties when insufficient accessions were occurring resulting in military end strength reductions. The questions for record on the Departments plans to program and budget for services contracts and implement standard total force management guidelines to improve compliance with statutory privatization limitations were submitted by Senator Warren. There were later re-packaged for HAC-D Defense Budget Hearing to counter Ranking Member Calverts suggestion that the civilian workforce should be proportionately reduced with military end strength reductions. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, H.R. 8294 - Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Requested Senate assistance on treatment of labor union and recognized bargaining unit employees at the Export-Import Bank. Lobbied for confirmation of Ernest DuBester to serve as Chair, Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); for Susan Tsui Grundmann to serve as a member of FLRA; for Kirk Rumsfeld to serve as General Counsel of FLRA and for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Chai Suthammanont Act of 2022 to better protect the federal workforce in the face of the current Covid-19 Pandemic and future pandemics. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied in support of extending the COVID presumption of workers compensation for FECA from the year 2030 to allow all eligible recipients to receive the benefit for longer. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564/S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" Lobbied in support of COVID-19 health and safety protections for workers and good faith negotiations between labor and management related to return to in-person work for a number of agency employees including at EPA and EEOC. Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied in support of adequate health and safety protections and good faith negotiations between labor and management for Bureau of Labor Statistics employees relocating from Washington, DC to Suitland, Maryland. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education.
Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7376/S. 3474 Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 6967/S. 3423 Chance to Compete Act. Lobbied for changes to provisions of H.R. 4521 America COMPETES Act. Lobbied in opposition to expanding noncompetitive hiring at the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development. Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act to protect the right to vote, especially its inclusion of the Time Off to Vote Act and District of Columbia Statehood. Lobbied for passage of the "Time Off To Vote Act." Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, Covid response and return to office space. Lobbied in support of S. 4365/ H.R. 8005, Social Security Expansion Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied on behalf of S. 4421/H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act" to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 /S. 3518 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied against S. 3672 RETURN Act and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for S.Res.275 introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) acknowledging the mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals in all levels of federal service. Specifically, this resolution would apologize for the mistreatment of, discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the United States Armed Forces, Foreign Service and Federal civil service. Expressed concerns about a provision in H.R. 6104, the Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act with respect to competitive service examination credits for internships. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7951, the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act to encourage expanded telework and ensure managers are informed as to its benefits and use. Lobbied against S. 471, the Members of Congress Pension Opt Out Clarification Act that undermines the value of the earned benefit of the retirement annuity in federal service and politicizes its acceptance by members of Congress. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of the Presidents FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied to expand presumption of workplace illness workers compensation through the Federal Employee Compensation Act for Covid-19 cases beyond 2030. Lobbied to renew paid emergency leave for federal employees for Covid-19 personal and family illness and childcare and school needs. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097 - Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, S. 1330 - Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act, S. 1324 (Rosen) - Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, and S. 407 the Air America Act. Provided technical background and comment on draft legislation to improve process for evaluation of applicants within the competitive service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82 / S. 1302 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5723, the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of S. 4365/ H.R. 8005, the Social Security Expansion Act, to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Provided technical background and comment on H.R. 5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act and specifically its Hatch Act provisions. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 6104 the Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act to protect veterans preference and to prevent undue private influence on federal hiring decisions. Lobbied on behalf of S. 4421 / H.R. 304, the "Equal Cola Act" to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of the U.S. Mint releasing its internal report on racial issues at the agency.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the "For the 99.5% Act." Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied for H.R. 7502, the Babies Over Billionaires Act to make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes to fund federal education and health programs. Lobbied in support of $3.6 trillion in new tax revenues outlined in President Biden's Made in America Tax Plan to finance the important investments included in the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan.
FY 2023 Interior and Environmental Appropriations (H.R. 8262) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in CARES Act and USICA.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.
Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COYID-19 Act." Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations bill, H.R. 8239 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied to impress upon lawmakers the impact of cuts, freezes or insufficient COLAs on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for the federal workforce for FY 2023 and for fairer locality adjustments. FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) --Lobbied in support of additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2023 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 8236) --Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2023 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 8238)-Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations, H.R. 8238,- Lobbied in support of funding for VA healthcare and benefit staff and police officers; lobbied to restrict funding for the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission. FY 2023 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 8262) --Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 8295)-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 8254) -Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256)--Lobbied in support of AFGE Council of Prison Locals legislative priorities including higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations (H.R. 8294) --Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors. FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) --Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers and lobbied in support of good faith bargaining negotiations between AFGE EEOC Council leaders and management specifically related to health and safety provisions related to return to work and adequate telework flexibility. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564 / S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees paid leave to cover all instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act including to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition, care for somebodys own serious health condition, or address circumstances relating to an immediate family member's active-duty service in the Armed Forces. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 appropriations bills to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act."
Lobbied Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256) Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, Erics Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7489, the Time Off to Vote Act requiring employers, upon the request of an employee, to provide the employee with a minimum of two consecutive hours of paid leave in order to vote in a federal election. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 CJS Appropriations bill, H.R. 8256, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COYID-19 Act." Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations bill, H.R. 8239 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7376/S. 3474 Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 6967/S. 3423 Chance to Compete Act. Lobbied for changes to provisions of H.R. 4521 America COMPETES Act. Lobbied in opposition to expanding noncompetitive hiring at the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development. Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act to protect the right to vote, especially its inclusion of the Time Off to Vote Act and District of Columbia Statehood. Lobbied for passage of the "Time Off To Vote Act." Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, Covid response and return to office space. Lobbied in support of S. 4365/ H.R. 8005, Social Security Expansion Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied on behalf of S. 4421/H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act" to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 /S. 3518 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied against S. 3672 RETURN Act and its provisions that would abrogate collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for S.Res.275 introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) acknowledging the mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals in all levels of federal service. Specifically, this resolution would apologize for the mistreatment of, discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served in the United States Armed Forces, Foreign Service and Federal civil service. Expressed concerns about a provision in H.R. 6104, the Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act with respect to competitive service examination credits for internships. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7951, the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act to encourage expanded telework and ensure managers are informed as to its benefits and use. Lobbied against S. 471, the Members of Congress Pension Opt Out Clarification Act that undermines the value of the earned benefit of the retirement annuity in federal service and politicizes its acceptance by members of Congress. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of the Presidents FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee and lobbied this issue in the FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied to expand presumption of workplace illness workers compensation through the Federal Employee Compensation Act for Covid-19 cases beyond 2030. Lobbied to renew paid emergency leave for federal employees for Covid-19 personal and family illness and childcare and school needs. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097 - Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, S. 1330 - Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act, S. 1324 (Rosen) - Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, and S. 407 the Air America Act. Provided technical background and comment on draft legislation to improve process for evaluation of applicants within the competitive service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82 / S. 1302 to fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5723, the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of S. 4365/ H.R. 8005, the Social Security Expansion Act, to expand Social Security benefits, improve solvency and repeal GPO and WEP. Provided technical background and comment on H.R. 5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act and specifically its Hatch Act provisions. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 6104 the Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act to protect veterans preference and to prevent undue private influence on federal hiring decisions. Lobbied on behalf of S. 4421 / H.R. 304, the "Equal Cola Act" to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of the U.S. Mint releasing its internal report on racial issues at the agency.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. Lobbied in support of protecting federal employees right to use existing paid sick leave policies to travel across state lines for medical care, including to get an abortion or other reproductive health services. Lobbied in opposition to provisions to limit federal employees ability to use existing paid sick leave to access certain types of healthcare services including abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.
Requested Senate assistance on treatment of labor union and recognized bargaining unit employees at the Export-Import Bank. Lobbied for confirmation of Ernest DuBester to serve as Chair, Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); for Susan Tsui Grundmann to serve as a member of FLRA; for Kirk Rumsfeld to serve as General Counsel of FLRA and for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Chai Suthammanont Act of 2022 to better protect the federal workforce in the face of the current Covid-19 Pandemic and future pandemics. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates" (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied in support of extending the COVID presumption of workers compensation for FECA from the year 2030 to allow all eligible recipients to receive the benefit for longer. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564/S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" Lobbied in support of COVID-19 health and safety protections for workers and good faith negotiations between labor and management related to return to in-person work for a number of agency employees including at EPA and EEOC. Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA. Lobbied in support of adequate health and safety protections and good faith negotiations between labor and management for Bureau of Labor Statistics employees relocating from Washington, DC to Suitland, Maryland. Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education.
FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations, H.R. 8294 - Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2023 Interior and Environmental Appropriations (H.R. 8262) -- Lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in CARES Act and USICA.
FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) - Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act."
Lobbied to impress upon lawmakers the impact of cuts, freezes or insufficient COLAs on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for the federal workforce for FY 2023 and for fairer locality adjustments. FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) --Lobbied in support of additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2023 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 8236) --Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2023 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 8238)-Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations, H.R. 8238,- Lobbied in support of funding for VA healthcare and benefit staff and police officers; lobbied to restrict funding for the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission. FY 2023 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 8262) --Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2023 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 8295)-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 8254) -Lobbied for a 5.1% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256)--Lobbied in support of AFGE Council of Prison Locals legislative priorities including higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations (H.R. 8294) --Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors. FY 2023 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 8239) --Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 8255) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers and lobbied in support of good faith bargaining negotiations between AFGE EEOC Council leaders and management specifically related to health and safety provisions related to return to work and adequate telework flexibility. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564 / S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act" to give federal employees paid leave to cover all instances covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act including to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition, care for somebodys own serious health condition, or address circumstances relating to an immediate family member's active-duty service in the Armed Forces. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 appropriations bills to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security appropriations bill, H.R. 8257, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
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 and 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 the creation of a Journeyman GS-15 Attorney position at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Lobbied against provisions of S. 2687, the Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act that would improperly authorize an agency IG to issue testimonial subpoenas to former employees and others without the safeguards provided to current employees. Lobbied against provisions of draft VA whistleblower legislation that would improperly expand the Office of Special Counsels authority at the expense of the neutral Merit Systems Protection Board and afford overly broad protections to SES members. Lobbied against provisions of H.R. 3967, the Honoring the PACT Act, that would unnecessarily expand direct hire authority at the VA. 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 the introduction of 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 changes to a Draft Bill to make certain improvements to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 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 Marked 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: House Veterans Affairs Committee Markup on Pending Legislation (April 6, 2022). Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing on The VA Workforce: Assessing Ways To Bolster Recruitment And Retention (May 3, 2022). Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing on Pending Legislation (Hearing postponed, statement submitted for the record) (May 24, 2022). Letter to all Senators with vote recommendations on the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021," and potential floor amendments. House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Pending Legislation (June 22, 2022). Letter to Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate in support of amendment to VA appropriations to prohibit the closure of VA health care facilities based on certain VA recommendations to the AIR Commission. 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 importance to VA Clinicians. 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, 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 H.R. 6411, the "Support The Resiliency of Our Nation's Great Veterans Act of 2022" or the "STRONG Veterans Act of 2022" Lobbied in support of H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021. 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 in opposition to SA 5051 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5063 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5064 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5071 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in opposition to SA 5075 to H.R. 3697, the "Honoring our PACT Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3017, the "Veterans Dental Enhancement and Expansion Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 5738, the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7335, the Improving Military Sexual Trauma Claims Coordination Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 2428, the VA OIG Testimonial Subpoena Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. H.R. 7158, the Long Term Care Veterans Choice Act Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7153, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act." Lobbied in support of S. 4156, the VA Workforce Improvement, Support, and Expansion (WISE) Act of 2022. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 291, the COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1216, the Modernizing Veterans Health Care Eligibility Act. Lobbied for oversight of H.R. 6273, the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1957, the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of H.R. 345, the Reproductive Health Information for Veterans Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6422, the VA STRONG Act. Lobbied for changes to a Draft Bill to make certain improvements to the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Military Construction, VA appropriations bill, H.R. 8238 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 8257) - Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of OHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Provided written and oral testimony and responded to questions for the record for House Homeland Security Hearing: "On the Frontlines in Turbulent Times: Workforce Perspectives on the State of Transportation Security." Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Lobbied in support of the President's FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Provided comments at markup of H.R. 6827 to accelerate computed technology for TSA screening. Lobbied in support of the Security Air Travel Act to increase penalties for firearms violations at TSA checkpoints. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of H.R. 2616, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against any legislation that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Provided background on legislation to establish a temperature check pilot in airports to combat the spread of disease. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 and S. 2717, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the "Transportation Security Preparation Act of 202 l" to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the "Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of2021" to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Lobbied against confirmation of William Valdez to serve as Undersecretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security. Lobbied to make Congress aware of changes to the accounting system at the Coast Guard which resulted in lengthy lapses in payments, mandatory overtime and uniformed personnel stepping in to assist in clearing the backlog. Lobbied in support of changes to the Department of Homeland Securitys Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program during its next reauthorization, including improved training for inspectors, cyber-attack preparation. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, H.R. 8257 to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the "No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act." Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the "For the 99.5% Act." Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the "Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act," require large, publicly traded corporations to disclose high level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied for H.R. 7502, the Babies Over Billionaires Act to make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share of taxes to fund federal education and health programs. Lobbied in support of $3.6 trillion in new tax revenues outlined in President Biden's Made in America Tax Plan to finance the important investments included in the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan.
Lobbied Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. FY 2023 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 8256) Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, Erics Law which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7489, the Time Off to Vote Act requiring employers, upon the request of an employee, to provide the employee with a minimum of two consecutive hours of paid leave in order to vote in a federal election. Government Funding: Lobbied for provisions in FY 2023 CJS Appropriations bill, H.R. 8256, to address the needs of the federal workforce and for timely action throughout the appropriations process to avert the need for continuing resolutions or a government shutdown.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505)--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of introduction of the Time Off to Vote Act. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the One America Many Voices Act. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
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 and 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 the creation of a Journeyman GS-15 Attorney position at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. 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 the introduction of H.R. 6682, the Protecting VA Employees Act to repeal parts of the VA Accountability 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 14003. 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 for the need for increased compensation for mid-grade Title 38 employees in positions covered by the "VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act." VA Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act Lobbied AIR to block the confirmation of the AIR Commission members and prevent implementation of recommendations to close facilities and reduce patient capacity. 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. Testimony, Statements for the Record, and Letters: House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing titled Building A Better VA: Addressing Healthcare Workforce Recruitment And Retention Challenges, Testimony of Ms. MJ Burke, AFGE NVAC 1st Executive Vice President (March 17, 2022). Letter to every representative in support of final passage of H.R. 3697, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021, (PACT Act) (March 2, 2022). Letter to the House Rules Committee for a hearing on H.R. 3697, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021, (PACT Act) (February 28, 2022). House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Hearing titled Honoring Our Promise: Reviewing the Effectiveness Of Services For Dependents And Survivors, Statement for the Record (February 8, 2022). Letter to House Veterans' Affairs Committee for a Markup (February 2, 2022). Letter to every representative in support of final passage of H.R. 4673, the Ensuring Veterans Smooth Transition Act or EVEST Act. (January 12, 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 importance to VA Clinicians. 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. 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 H.R. 6411, the Support The Resiliency of Our Nations Great Veterans Act of 2022 or the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022 Lobbied in support of H.R. 3697, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act of 2021, Provided Comments on the A.N.S. to H.R. 5575, the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3017, the "Veterans Dental Enhancement and Expansion Act." Lobbied for changes to H.R. 5575, the "VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act." Lobbied for changes to draft legislation (now H.R. 7153), the Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Benefits Automation Act. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act. Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the For the 99.5% Act. Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, require large, publicly-traded corporations to disclose high-level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied in support of $3.6 trillion in new tax revenues outlined in President Bidens Made in America Tax Plan to finance the important investments included in the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied to impress upon lawmakers the impact of cuts, freezes or insufficient COLAs on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 4431) --Lobbied in support of additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2022 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 4432) --Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2022 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 4355)-Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2022 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 4372) --Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 4502)-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 4345) -Lobbied for a 3.2% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - Lobbied in support of a 5.1% pay increase for all federal employees. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505)--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations (H.R. 4550) --Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356) --Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 4549/S. 2605) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of safe return to the office for EEOC employees with open and fair negotiations with the union. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564 / S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act." Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied for an increase in pay and staffing of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Requested Senate assistance on treatment of labor union and recognized bargaining unit employees at the Export-Import Bank. Lobbied for confirmation of Ernest DuBester to serve as Chair, Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); for Susan Tsui Grundmann to serve as a member of FLRA; for Kirk Rumsfeld to serve as General Counsel of FLRA and for Cathy Harris to serve as a member of and Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398/S. 3518 the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act to increase pay for federal employees by 5.1%. Lobbied in support of extending the COVID presumption of workers compensation for FECA from the year 2030 to allow all eligible recipients to receive the benefit for longer. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564/S. 1158 the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act Lobbied in support of COVID-19 health and safety protections for workers and good faith negotiations between labor and management related to return to in-person work for a number of agency employees including at EPA and EEOC Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at the Department of Labor including at OSHA and MSHA Lobbied in support of adequate health and safety protections and good faith negotiations between labor and management for Bureau of Labor Statistics employees relocating from Washington, DC to Suitland, Maryland. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
FY 2022 Interior and Environmental Appropriations (H.R. 4372) -- lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 4549/S. 2605) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and S. 1260, the Endless Frontier Act. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied in support of the U.S. Mint releasing its internal report on racial issues at the agency. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356) --Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied on the following issues H.R. 2471, the Fiscal Year 2022 OMNIBUS Subdivision C pertaining to the Defense Appropriation, and continued lobbying on these issues for the Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Appropriation: 1. Supported House section 8012 markup language that clearly prohibited using appropriated funds to arbitrarily constrain the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent personnel caps, an End Strength, or maximum number of employees, leveraging the good outcome in section 902 of the S. 1605 Fiscal Year 2022 NDAA to strengthen the case for the House language. 2. Supported House version of section 8012 that would also prohibit the use of appropriated funds for term or temporary hiring for enduring functions. This provision did not make it into final bill and submitted member request for the fiscal year 2023 Defense Appropriation on this issue to Rep. Barbara McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). 3. Supported inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). Leveraged S. 1605 FY2022 NDAA language to strengthen the case for this added proposed rider. This provision did not make it into final bill and submitted member request for the fiscal year 2023 Defense Appropriation on this issue to Rep. Barbara McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). 4. Lobbied Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) staff about a rider for the government-wide section of the Financial Services and General Government appropriation that would prohibit overriding collective bargaining agreements. 5. Lobbied Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D=MD) staff on carrying forward of the public-private competition moratorium language in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2023, separately submitting member request to each office on this issue. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Lobbied on the following issues for [Bill number not assigned yet] the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023 NDAA) both in the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee Members based on Member Requests proposals for Amendments for committee and subcommittee markup on the following issues. (While every member of the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee was specifically lobbied, separate member requests were submitted to the following members: Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), Salud Carbajal (D CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Elaine Luria (D-VA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Blake Moore (R-UT), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Liz Cheney (R-CO); Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK); Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CN), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Joe Manchin (D. WV), Sen Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). 1. Inclusion of language in the FY 2023 NDAA that would strengthen total force management within the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution system of the DoD: a. By reviving the Enterprise Contractor Manpower Reporting Application process for collecting fully burdened cost data from contractors; b. By ensuring near and long term strategic readiness includes data analytics for identifying DoD civilian contributions to readiness, leveraging Center for Naval Analysis study previously asked for in the Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA. c. By strengthening and clarifying statutory framework to ensure program and budget reviews challenge, compete, and prioritize contract services requirements instead of the default practice of cutting the DoD civilian workforce. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA by repealing the remaining arbitrary personnel caps on headquarters functions in sections 143, 155, 194, 7014, 8014 and 9014 of title 10. 3.Continuation of the public-private competition moratorium on OMB Circular A-76. 4.Inclusion of language strengthening implementation of section 815 of the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA depending on the Departments implementation of those provisions to enforce compliance with existing statutory restrictions on converting civilian positions to contract performance and to ensure the Department is complying with statutory requirements to consider civilian employees for performance of closely associated with inherently governmental and critical functions. 5. Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA that continues the prohibition of another round of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). 6. Inclusion of language in the FY2023 NDAA encouraging the DoD to hire civilian backfills when converting military medical structure to operational requirements in the Military Medical Treatment Facilities. 7. Inclusion of language in the FY20223 NDAA encouraging Commissaries to address food insecurity among military families by ending variable pricing and establishing specific pilot programs to provide free produce to eligible military families. 8. Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA to improve sustainment planning for major weapon system acquisitions by re-establishing the manpower estimate report process prior to milestone b and C decision on the appropriate mix between Active Component and Reserve Component military. civilian employees, host nation and contract support for operating, training and maintaining major weapon systems. 9. Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA terminating authority for alternative compensation frameworks by repealing authority for the Acquisition Demo project which has been documented as discriminatory to women and minorities. 10. Inclusion of language in FY2023 NDAA prohibiting the misuse of term and temporary hiring authorities for enduring missions. 11. Inclusion in the FY2023 NDAA H.R. 903, The Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2021, as reported in the House Homeland Security Committee. 12. Inclusion of H.R. 962 and S. 1888, The Law Enforcement Equity Act, in the FY2023 NDAA. 13. Inclusion of H.R. 2499 and S. 1116, The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, in the FY20223 NDAA. 14. Inclusion of H.R. 6967 and S. 3423, Chance to Compete Act of 2022, in the FY2023 NDAA. 15. Inclusion of directive report language in the FY2023 NDAA requesting an Administrative Conference of United States review of the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness from a due process perspective of DoD and government security clearance determinations, as well as a Federally Funded Research and Development demographic survey on whether security clearance adjudications within DoD and other federal agencies have been applied in a discriminatory manner against protected Civil Rights categories and in favor of certain hate groups. 16. Consideration of the adverse effects of limited access to technical data in the organic industrial base and limits to governmental access to certified cost and pricing data under the Truth in Negotiations Act resulting from recent expansions of commercial items and services definitions through the NDADA to sole source procurements that have contributed to escalating sustainment costs and cybersecurity risks for DoD weapon systems. 17. Inclusion of H.R. 3086 and S. 1561, the Locality Pay Equity Act of 2021, in the FY20223 NDAA. AFGE National President sent following letters to Congress and the Department of Defense in connection with FY2023 NDAA: 1. AFGE NP Everett Kelley Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, copied to Congressional Committees, on the Planning, Programing, Budgeting and Execution System Reform Commission, dated January 21, 2022. 2. AFGE NP Everett Kelley Letter Assistant Secretary of Defense Shawn Skelly, copied to Congressional Committees, on identifying metrics for linking the DoD civilian workforce to readiness, dated January 31, 2022. 3. AFGE NP Everett Kelley Letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Ranking Member James Comer on January 19, 2022 Hearing on Price Gauging in Military Contracts, dated February 2, 2022. 4. AFGE Testimony For the Record provided to House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Military Personnel on Military Personnel Talent Management Modernization and the Effects of Legacy Processes, on February 8, 2022. Testimony focused on the importance of the DoD civilian workforce to DoDs missions and DoD civilian development, talent management and hiring. 5. AFGE Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, copied to Congressional Committee on commercial items and competition issues, dated March 1, 2022. Other NDAA related activities: Provided talking points for use of HASC Chairman Adam Smith in meeting with the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) Gil Cisneros on Congressional oversight of FY2023 NDAA issues (of interest to AFGE). Met with Senator Bernie Sanders staff (D-VT) and Matt Williams, analyst for Congressional Budget Office, on capturing services contract fully burdened costs when developing budget costing models for Defense Budget. Met with Senator Bob Caseys staff (D-PA) on wage grade locality and the separate issue of fully burdened costs for contractors in Pennsylvania. Met with Karen Thornton (House Armed Services Committee Counsel), Melanie Harris (House Armed Services Committee Readiness Subcommittee Counsel, Ian Bennit (House Armed Services Committee Professional Staff Member) and Kyle Noyes (House Armed Services Professional Staff Member) on all our member requests. Met with Karen Thornton about privatization report language on cloud computing and provided edits to the report language that required compliance with risk assessments for closely associated with inherently governmental functions and critical functions, as well as changing language so that vendors were not directing Department of Defense on what its requirements should be. Met with Melanie Harris on the PB-22 Report for headquarters, showing that military pay and contract services spending were not included in the report, and only spending for civilian compensation. Met with Jonathan Clark, (Professional Staff Member for Senate Armed Services Committee) and Sean OKeefe (Professional Staff Member for Senate Armed Services Committee) on all member requests for the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization bill. Provided suggested language to Mandy Smithburger, personal staff for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on proposals for capping contract services spending, with pros and cons on different approaches. Prepared and submitted questions for record for hearing before House Armed Services Committee on the Defense Budget by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley on April 6, 2022. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 4431) --lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Provided written and oral testimony and responded to questions for the record for House Homeland Security Hearing: On the Frontlines in Turbulent Times: Workforce Perspectives on the State of Transportation Security. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Lobbied in support of the Presidents FY 2023 budget request for GS-level pay from Transportation Security Officers and an end to the diversion of the passenger security fee. Provided comments at markup of H.R. 6827 to accelerate computed technology for TSA screening. Lobbied in support of the Security Air Travel Act to increase penalties for firearms violations at TSA checkpoints. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," (H.R. 2616) ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against any legislation that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Provided background on legislation to establish a temperature check pilot in airports to combat the spread of disease. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 and S. 2717, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the Transportation Security Preparation Act of 2021 to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of 2021 to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Lobbied against confirmation of William Valdez to serve as Undersecretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security. Lobbied to make Congress aware of changes to the accounting system at the Coast Guard which resulted in lengthy lapses in payments, mandatory overtime and uniformed personnel stepping in to assist in clearing the backlog. Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Lobbied for an increase FSIS's budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COYID-19 Act." Government Funding: Lobbied for passage of a full-year omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2471) and against a year-long continuing resolution for FY 2022. Supported an additional continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 75) as a means of achieving the full-year omnibus passage. Lobbied on the effects and costs to the public of government shutdowns and extended delays to programmatic changes.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356) --Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act to protect the right to vote, especially its inclusion of the Time Off to Vote Act and District of Columbia Statehood. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, Covid response and return to office space. Lobbied for H.R. 302, Preventing a Patronage System Act or the PPSA Act. Lobbied for H.R. 326, Saving the Civil Service Act. Lobbied for H.R. 1272 and S. 392, the COST of Relocations Act. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act" to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 393, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of H.R. 521 / S. 129, the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act, to ensure federal firefighters, law enforcement officials, Border Patrol officers, and other federal first responders qualify for full retirement benefits if they are injured on the job. Lobbied in support of H.R. 938, the Wildland Firefighter Classification bill, to require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to create a classification that more accurately reflects the vital role of wildland firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 231, the PFAS bill, which directs FEMA to train employees on PFAS cancer causing chemicals in firefighting foam materials. Lobbied in support of H.R. 962 and S. 1888, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied in support of the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 603, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 1902 the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 564, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act," that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA and AFGE President Kelley testified at hearing entitled, Leading by Example: The Need for Comprehensive Paid Leave for the Federal Workforce and Beyond on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Lobbied for increased funding for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency and the Pretrial Services Agency to help them deal with the surge in offenders they have to supervise as a result of the near total shutdown of the courts in D.C. during the pandemic. Lobbied in support of an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 900 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020, that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 249, the Protecting Federal Workers Act, To provide that certain Executive orders with respect to Federal employee collective bargaining and workplace rights shall have no force or effect. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1357 / S. 476, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of restoration of annual leave lost by certain Federal employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of maximum telework benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1065, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of restoration of leave that is lost by federal employees during a public health emergency relating to a pandemic. Specifically, restoration of leave for employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government that was lost because the employee's accumulated leave exceeded the maximum amount that is otherwise allowable. Lobbied in support of H.R. 978, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act to ensure that personal protective equipment and other equipment and supplies needed to fight coronavirus are provided to employees required to return to Federal offices, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 212, the COVID PREPARE Act, to require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 348, the Wear Your Mask Act, to require face masks in Federal facilities to prevent the transmission of SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act, to establish a Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Task Force, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of increasing the amount available under the "Defense Production Act of 1950," to respond to the coronavirus epidemic and expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the "Defense Production Act of 1950. Lobbied in support of a flexible award for front line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account. Lobbied in support of a program for providing portable benefits to eligible workers. Lobbied in support of providing Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied on the following issues with the House and Senate Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee Members to submit amendments on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 FSGG Appropriation (H.R. 4345): 1. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that adjusts federal employee pay by 3.2 percent. 2. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that upholds the Public-Private competition moratorium from Section 742 of the FY 2021 FSGG Appropriations bill. 3. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that aligns Federal Wage System Areas with General Schedule Locality Pay Areas. 4. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that prohibits any limitation of, reduction of, constraint to, or interference with official time in representing federal employees with respect to workplace discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. 5. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill for additional funds for the Office of Personnel Management to allow OPM to increase staffing, invest in information technology, improve overall human capital services, and shift away from the fee-for-service model. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392 / S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act," to increase pay for federal employees by 3.2%. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2062 / S. 880 the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021, revising the evidentiary standard for age discrimination by establishing an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age was a motivating factor allowing for a mixed motive claim. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and S. 1260, the Endless Frontier Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1097, the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1330, the Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act. Lobbied in support of S. 1324, the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act. Lobbied in support of S. 407, the Air America Act. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, Covid response and return to office space. Lobbied for the dismissal of SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul and Deputy Commissioner David Black. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097 - Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, S. 1330 - Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act, S. 1324 (Rosen) - Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, and S. 407 the Air America Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82 / S. 1302 would fully repeal GPO and WEP. Provided technical background and comment on H.R. 5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act and specifically its Hatch Act provisions. Provided comment on a proposal to increase special pay for employees of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Urged confirmation of nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority and its General Counsel. Continuing Resolution: Lobbied for passage of the CR to fund the federal government until February 18, 2022 and avert federal employee furloughs. Lobbied against allowing the surface transportation authorization to lapse a second time, the first of which resulted in furloughs of 3,700 employees at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act. Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the For the 99.5% Act. Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, require large, publicly-traded corporations to disclose high-level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied in support of $3.6 trillion in new tax revenues outlined in President Bidens Made in America Tax Plan to finance the important investments included in the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Requested Senate assistance on treatment of labor union and recognized bargaining unit employees at the Export-Import Bank. Lobbied for appointment and confirmation of a quorum to the Merit Systems Protection Board to address the growing case backlog. Provided comments to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions staff on behalf of Department of Education Office of Civil Rights employees on the qualifications of Catherine Lhamon to head the office. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of the right of federal employees who are furloughed to be eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of back pay for employees in the event of a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of extended leave carryover due to COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392/S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act," to provide federal employees with a 3.2% salary adjustment in 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82 / S. 1302 would fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7/S. 205, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 1902 to eliminate the use of official time by federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors. Lobbied for H.R. 603/S. 53, the Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842/S. 420, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Urged confirmation of nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority and its General Counsel. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356) - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
FY 2022 Interior and Environmental Appropriations (H.R. 4372) -- lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 4549/S. 2605) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and S. 1260, the Endless Frontier Act. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) 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 and 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 the creation of a Journeyman GS-15 Attorney position at the Board of Veterans Appeals. 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 the introduction of legislation that would make changes to the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of the implementation of the withdrawal of President Trumps May 2018 Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. Lobbied in support of the implementation of President Bidens January 2021 Executive Order 14003: Protecting the Federal Workforce in a timely fashion. Lobbied for oversight into the Biden Administrations implementation of Executive Order 14003. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act repeal. Lobbied for the VA to hire staff to fill its tens of thousands of vacancies. Lobbied for the nomination of Mr. Richard C. Loeb as a nominee for the VA AIR Commission. Lobbied for the inclusion of Questions for the Record to the VA Secretary on AIR Commission market assessment data transparency. Reconciliation: Supported the $18 billion investment in VA infrastructure as part of FY 22 reconciliation. Military Construction-VA Appropriations (H.R. 4355) Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied Milcon-VA for language to defund the VA AIR Commission. Lobbied Milcon-VA for specific funding related to the Veteran Benefits Administration to hire additional staff, pay for additional overtime, fix technological issues, expand telework, and restore the pre-decisional review process. Lobbied the VA Committee to insert language into Milcon-VA to limit the contracting out of specialty C&P Exams. AFGE Submitted Testimony, Statements for the Record, letters, or Questions for the Record for the following hearings: House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health Legislative Hearing (October 13, 2021). House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs titled Supporting Survivors: Assessing VA's Military Sexual Trauma Programs" (November 17, 2021). Senate Veterans Affairs Committee An End-Of-Year Look at the State of VA (December 1, 2021). Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Markup (December 15, 2021). Comments for the Federal Register on VA MISSION Act access standards (December 6, 2021). 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 for H.R. 3693, the VA CPE Modernization Act, and its importance to VA Clinicians. Lobbied against S. 2041, the VA Provider Accountability Act. Lobbied for H.R. 392/S. 561, the FAIR Act to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied for H.R. 5562, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care from the Department of Veterans Affairs to include veterans of World War II. Lobbied in support of S. 1664, the Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 1944, the Vet Center Improvement Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 3293, the Post-9/11 Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 3025, the Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 3163, the RURAL Exams Act of 2021. Lobbied against Draft Legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on substance use and alcohol use disorder recovery for homeless veterans, and for other purposes. Lobbied for changes to Draft Legislation to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on grants for care for elderly homeless veterans, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of S. 3017, the Veterans Dental Enhancement and Expansion Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 5575, the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act. Lobbied in support of prior changes made to S. 1093, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 4626, the VA AIM Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 2041, the Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act. Lobbied against S. 1863, the Guaranteeing Healthcare Access to Personnel Who Served Act. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 4431) --lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Provided written and oral testimony and responded to questions for the record for House Homeland Security Hearing: On the Frontlines in Turbulent Times: Workforce Perspectives on the State of Transportation Security. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Provided technical assistance and communications with Committee members in preparation for House Homeland Security Committee markup of H.R. 903 on July 28, 2021. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," (H.R. 2616) ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against any legislation that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Provided background on legislation to establish a temperature check pilot in airports to combat the spread of disease. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 and S. 2717, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the Transportation Security Preparation Act of 2021 to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of 2021 to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Provided statement for the record for House Homeland Security Committee hearing: 20 Years After 9/11: The State of the Transportation Security Administration. September 29, 2021. Provided suggested changes to draft legislation to create a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Lobbied Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide additional safety measures for correctional officers during the COVID-19 pandemic. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505) --Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505)--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT," to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, Erics Law, which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied Department of Justice to maintain the statutory labor rights of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) and to review and urge reversal of the Federal Labor Relations Authoritys (FLRA) November 2, 2020 decision that stripped the NAIJ of their unit certification by incorrectly classifying all of the 500 non-supervisory Immigration Judges as management officials. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular its provisions to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and its support for statehood for the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 1065, the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3992, the Protect Older Job Applicants (POJA) Act to prohibit employers from limiting, segregating, or classifying job applicants based on an applicant's age. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3110, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act to expand workplace protections for employees with a need to express breast milk. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Lobbied to impress upon lawmakers the impact of cuts, freezes or insufficient COLAs on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 4431) --Lobbied in support of additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2022 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 4432)--Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2022 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 4355)-Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2022 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 4372)--Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 4502)-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 4345) -Lobbied for a 3.2% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505)--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations (H.R. 4550) --Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors. FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356)--Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 4549/S. 2605) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers including monitoring and ensuring the EEOC official time final rule is not implemented. Lobbied in support of a Congressional Review Act disapproval for the EEOC conciliation final rule and lobbied in support of empowering EEOC employees by granting subpoena power to administrative judges. Lobbied in opposition to a GAO study of EEOC ordered by Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-VA). Lobbied in support for ensuring cases are adequately handled and adjudicated at EEOC Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support for the FAST Act and the reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund to ensure AFGE EPA Council 238 members at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration were not furloughed. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act. Lobbied in support of universal paid family leave in the Build Back Better Budget Reconciliation to include all federal employees through Medicare HI tax eligibility. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. Continuing Resolution: Lobbied for passage of the CR to fund the federal government until February 18, 2022 and avert federal employee furloughs. Lobbied against allowing the surface transportation authorization to lapse a second time, the first of which resulted in furloughs of 3,700 employees at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - including paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees and supporting the bills provisions for universal pre-K, extension of the child tax credit, home health care and Medicare provision of hearing loss care.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356) - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356) --lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act. Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the For the 99.5% Act. Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, require large, publicly-traded corporations to disclose high-level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied in support of $3.6 trillion in new tax revenues outlined in President Bidens Made in America Tax Plan to finance the important investments included in the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 4431) --lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Provided technical assistance and communications with Committee members in preparation for House Homeland Security Committee markup of H.R. 903 on July 28, 2021. Lobbied to encourage cosponsors of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," (H.R. 2616) ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against any legislation that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Provided background on legislation to establish a temperature check pilot in airports to combat the spread of disease. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 and S. 2717, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the Transportation Security Preparation Act of 2021 to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of 2021 to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Provided statement for the record for House Homeland Security Committee hearing: 20 Years After 9/11: The State of the Transportation Security Administration. September 29, 2021. Provided suggested changes to draft legislation to create a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
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 on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for reimbursement for Bar Membership attorneys working at the Board of Veterans Appeals. 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. Collective Bargaining Rights: Shared proposals for a bill to eliminate two provisions of the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for the withdrawal of President Trumps May 2018 Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. Lobbied in support of the implementation of President Bidens January 2021 Executive Order 14003: Protecting the Federal Workforce in a timely fashion. Lobbied for oversight into the Biden Administrations implementation of Executive Order 14003. Lobbied for the introduction of the VA Employee Fairness Act H.R. 1948/S. 771 VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act repeal. Lobbied for the VA to hire staff to fill its tens of thousands of vacancies. Lobbied for the nomination of Mr. Richard C. Loeb as a nominee for the VA AIR Commission VA Budget: Reconciliation: Supported the $18 billion investment in VA infrastructure as part of FY 22 reconciliation. Military Construction-VA Appropriations (H.R. 4355) Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied Milcon-VA for language to defund the VA AIR Commission. Lobbied Milcon-VA for specific funding related to the Veteran Benefits Administration to hire additional staff, pay for additional overtime, fix technological issues, expand telework, and restore the pre-decisional review process. Lobbied the VA Committee to insert language into Milcon-VA to limit the contracting out of specialty C&P Exams. National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4350): Advocated in support of the Newman (D-IL) Amendment that Directs the Department of Defense to conduct a study on herbicide agent exposure, such as Agent Orange and Agent Purple in the Panama Canal Zone between January 1, 1958 - December 31, 1999, or the day in which a member of armed services departed from official duty in the Panama Canal Zone. Advocated in support of the Lynch (D-MA) and Green (R-TX) Amendment that establishes a presumption of service connection for veterans with diseases associated with toxic exposure, during deployments for support missions into Afghanistan between 2001 to 2005, to substances found at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan. Advocated in support of the Meng (D-NY) Amendment that Includes veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1980 as radiation-exposed under the Department of Veterans Affairs presumption of service-connection for specified cancers, which would allow these veterans to be awarded health care benefits and disability compensation for conditions that are presumed to be caused by circumstances of military service in the Enewetak Atoll. AFGE Submitted Testimony, Statements for the Record, or letters for the following hearings: House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs titled VA Appeals Program: Examining the State of Modernization Efforts." Gillian Slovick, a member of AFGE Local 17, testified on AFGEs behalf during this hearing (July 13, 2021). House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations titled Modernizing the VA Police Force: Ensuring Accountability. (July 13, 2021). House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Health Legislative Hearing (July 14, 2021). Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Markup (June 23, 2021). 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 certain provisions of H.R. 2429, the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act. Lobbied for H.R. 3693, the VA CPE Modernization Act, and its importance to VA Clinicians. Lobbied against S. 2041, the VA Provider Accountability Act. Lobbied for S. 458, the Veterans Claim Transparency Act of 2021. Lobbied for small changes to S. 1031, To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disparities associated with race and ethnicity with respect to certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 392/S. 561, the FAIR Act to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied against S. 1071, the VA AID Act of 2021. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 5575, the VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act. Lobbied in support of prior changes made to S. 1093, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 4626, the VA AIM Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 2041, the Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act. Lobbied against S. 1863, the Guaranteeing Healthcare Access to Personnel Who Served Act. Local Issues: Lobbied Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representative Jason Smith (R-MO) on mold issues at the Poplar Bluff, MO VA Medical Center. Lobbied Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) on reported suicides at the Seattle, WA VBA Regional Office. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Interior and Environmental Appropriations (H.R. 4372) -- lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 4549/S. 2605) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and S. 1260, the Endless Frontier Act. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied to impress upon lawmakers the impact of cuts, freezes or insufficient COLAs on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations (H.R. 4431) --Lobbied in support of additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2022 Defense Appropriations (H.R. 4432)--Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2022 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 4355)-Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2022 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 4372)--Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations (H.R. 4502)-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 4345) -Lobbied for a 3.2% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505)--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations (H.R. 4550) --Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356)--Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. (Sandra) FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations (H.R. 4549/S. 2605) --Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers including monitoring and ensuring the EEOC official time final rule is not implemented. (Fiona) Lobbied in support of a Congressional Review Act disapproval for the EEOC conciliation final rule and lobbied in support of empowering EEOC employees by granting subpoena power to administrative judges. Lobbied in opposition to a GAO study of EEOC ordered by Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-VA). Lobbied in support for ensuring cases are adequately handled and adjudicated at EEOC Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support for the FAST Act and the reauthorization of the Highway Trust Fund to ensure AFGE EPA Council 238 members at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration were not furloughed. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act and AFGE President Kelley testified at hearing entitled, Leading by Example: The Need for Comprehensive Paid Leave for the Federal Workforce and Beyond on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Lobbied in support of universal paid family leave in the Build Back Better Budget Reconciliation to include all federal employees through Medicare HI tax eligibility. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. Continuing Resolution: Lobbied for passage of the CR to fund the federal government until December 3, 2021 and avert federal employee furloughs. Lobbied against allowing the surface transportation authorization to lapse, which resulted in furloughs of 3,700 employees at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied for appointment and confirmation of a quorum to the Merit Systems Protection Board to address the growing case backlog. Provided comments to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions staff on behalf of Department of Education Office of Civil Rights employees on the qualifications of Catherine Lhamon to head the office. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of the right of federal employees who are furloughed to be eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of back pay for employees in the event of a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of extended leave carryover due to COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392/S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act," to provide federal employees with a 3.2% salary adjustment in 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82 / S. 1302 would fully repeal GPO and WEP. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7/S. 205, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 1902 to eliminate the use of official time by federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors. Lobbied for H.R. 603/S. 53, the Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842/S. 420, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide additional safety measures for correctional officers during the COVID-19 pandemic. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505) --Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations (H.R. 4505)--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT," to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3151 and S. 1721, Erics Law, which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied Department of Justice to maintain the statutory labor rights of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) and to review and urge reversal of the Federal Labor Relations Authoritys (FLRA) November 2, 2020 decision that stripped the NAIJ of their unit certification by incorrectly classifying all of the 500 non-supervisory Immigration Judges as management officials. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular its provisions to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and its support for statehood for the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 1065, the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3992, the Protect Older Job Applicants (POJA) Act to prohibit employers from limiting, segregating, or classifying job applicants based on an applicant's age. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3110, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act to expand workplace protections for employees with a need to express breast milk. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied on Department of Defense Senate Confirmed Nominations with Questions and Questions for Record and Proposed Advanced Policy Questions related to Secretary of Navy Carlos Del Torro, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gilbert Cisneros Jr., Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Kathleen Miller, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities Dr. Mara Karlin, and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor. Lobbied on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act by requesting House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee Members based on Member Requests Amendments previously submitted on the following issues: 1. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that clarifies the civilian personnel cap prohibition in Section 129 of title 10 by removing ambiguous and contradictory language and clarifying prohibitions against using term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. 2. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that requires compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). This became section 802 of the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairmans mark and the Norcross Amendment 717 (adopted Chairmans Mark En Bloc Nr. 1), which became section 814 of H.R. 4350. 3. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that aligns the Federal Wage System Areas with General Schedule Locality Pay Areas. This became directive report language in the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairmans mark and the Norcross amendment 713 (adopted Readiness Subcommittee En Bloc Nr. 1), which became section 1114 of H.R. 4350. 4. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that requires compliance of Reductions in Force procedures under Section 3502 of Title 5 (Seniority, Veterans Preference, Performance) repealing inconsistent provisions included in Section 1597(f) of title 10, United States Code, enacted in section 1101 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. This was included in the Chairmans mark section 1107 of H.R. 4350. 5. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that prohibits the downsizing of military medical treatment facilities by requiring Military Department Surgeon General Certifications and Government Accountability Office reviews addressing TRICARE quality of care standards and capacity; third party collections; readiness impacts; and efforts to backfill military structure with government civilian employees. 6. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 prohibiting the merger of commissaries with exchanges, carrying forward and making permanent the prohibition in the FY 2021 NDAA. This was mooted by August 2021 communication by the Department of Defense to Congress committing not to merge commissaries and exchanges that acknowledged this would not result in savings. 7. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA prohibiting global household goods contracts, repealing the authority for this exception to normal procurement practices and the public-private competition moratorium that was provided in Section 375 of the FY 2020 NDAA. 8. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA clarifying governmental access to technical data for spare parts for major weapon systems, repealing Section 865 of the FY 2019 NDAA. 9. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA to improve workforce planning for major weapon systems sustainment by mandating the manpower estimate requirement of the military civilian and contract support requirements for operating, maintaining, and sustaining major weapon systems, formerly required by Section 2434 of title 10 that was repealed in the FY 2017 NDAA. 10. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that would require reporting of borrowed military manpower, reviving the reporting requirement that was in Section 482 of title 10, prior to repeal in the FY 2013 NDAA. 11. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA requiring a Government Accountability Office review on whether DoD security clearance determinations have been applied in a discriminatory manner. This was revised to instead ask for an Administrative Conference of United States review of the procedures and demographic survey by a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, such as RAND. 12. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 to provide paid family and medical leave to federal employees by including care of a sick child, spouse, or parent. This was mooted by activity surrounding the reconciliation process and American Recovery Act still on-going. 13. Inclusion of language repealing Section 1599e of title 10 that provides a two-year probationary period to DoD employees as an exception to the one-year probationary period applicable across the rest of the federal government in sections 3321 and 3393(d) of title 5. This was included in section 1108 of Chairmans mark of H.R. 4350. Lobbied against proposals under consideration for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act from the Final Recommendations and Report of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service in the following sections: Subtitle C: Modernization of Federal Personnel System Sec. 344. Noncompetitive eligibility for high-performing civilian employees. Sec. 345. Flexibility for Temporary and Term Appointments. Sec. 346. Criteria for granting direct hire authority to agencies. Sec. 347. Cafeteria Plan for Federal Employees. Sec. 348. Modern Benefits Pilot Program. Sec. 349. Demonstration Project Flexibility for Office of Personnel Management. Sec. 350. Advanced Assessment Tools for Executive Agency Hiring. Sec. 351. Competency Standards for Human Resources Specialists for downsized HR offices to better service their customers. Sec. 352. Evaluation of Improvements to the Federal Civil Service Personnel System. Sec. 353. Proposals for Modern Talent Management System. Sec. 354. Annual Report on Blended Federal Workforce. Subtitle D: Students, Recent Graduates, and Critical Skills Sec. 361. Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center. Sec. 362. Public Service Corps. Sec. 363. Public Service Academy Grants. Sec. 364. Public Service Cadet Programs at Military Service Academies. Sec. 366. Establishment of Pathways Program. Sec. 368. Aggregate Number of Hires of Recent College Graduates and Post-Secondary Students. Sec. 372. Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Pilot Project. Sec. 374. Personnel Policy Demonstration Project for federal Agencies with Employees in STEM fields. Sec. 375. Development of proposal for simplified personnel system for Veterans Health Administration. Lobbied against the following proposals under consideration for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act from the Final Recommendations of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence: 1. Part-time reserve digital service corps; and 2. Digital Academy as pathway into Civil Service. Lobbied against three proposals from industry coalitions related to commercial items determinations by contracting officers. Lobbied on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriation by requesting of House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense and Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense members that they submit the following amendment proposals for committee markup: 1. Reintroducing House section 8012 markup language from the FY 2021 Defense Appropriation that had been rendered ambiguous in Conference for the FY2021 Omnibus. Lobbied against Government Accountability Office recommendations to reduce DoD civilian Full Time Equivalent funding based on under-execution in various Defense Components. 2. Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). Leveraged H.R. 4350 section 814 language and prior House directive report language. Lobbied House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee in support of directive report language relating to DoD civilian career programs and human capital planning in effort to strengthen title 5 and require plans for eliminating title 10 exceptions to title 5. Discussed the application of operations research queueing theory to the federal hiring process. Lobbied House Armed Services Committee to repeal title 10 personnel caps on headquarters in sections 143, 194, 7014, 8014 and 9014 of title 10, specifically in connection with what became directive report language in the Readiness subcommittee markup on the reductions previously made to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Lobbied against changes proposed in the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee for public-private talent exchanges inconsistent with what was negotiated for section 1599g in title 10 in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied against extension of the Acquisition Demonstration pay for performance system in section 1762 of title 10. Lobbied against proposals to create preference for hiring military family member dependents in overseas areas. Lobbied against reductions in the Naval audit service. Lobbied to ask Senator Mark Kelly (AZ) and Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (1st C.D. AZ) assistance in sending a letter to the Pentagon on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base resistance to implementing Presidents Executive Order on strengthening the federal workforce based on Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) litigation against the base. Discussed with the National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Defense and Office of Personnel Management in support of President Bidens Revitalization of the National Security Workforce Inter-Agency Working Group: Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on stealth privatization and services contracts budgeting dated April 5, 2021, copied to Defense committees in Congress. Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on title 10 exceptions to title 5 and their adverse impacts in recruiting and retaining civilian employees in DoD dated May 5, 2021, copied to Defense committees in Congress and Office of Personnel Management. Continued lobbying using Testimony for Record for the House Armed Services Committee opposing recommendations from the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, dated May 19, 2021. Lobbied on Representative Crow amendment that became Section 553 of H.R. 4350 pertaining to expansion and codification of matters covered by diversity training in the Department of Defense involving military, civilian employees and defense contractors. Lobbied the Rules Committee and the House of Representatives on the following proposed floor amendments to H.R. 4350: 1.Floor Amendment Nr. 70 (Rule Nr. 363) proposed by Representative Brown that adds installation support services to intergovernmental service agreements in order to protect individuals with disabilities. 2.Floor Amendment Nr. 167 (Rule Nr. 361) proposed by Representative Gottheimer requiring USD (P&R) to do nationwide cost of living analysis for members of DoD. 3.Floor Amendment Nr. 225 (Rule Nr. 66) proposed by Representative Kilmer that would provide Fair Labor Standards Act protected overtime pay for Navy employees working on Navy vessels Outside the Continental United States. 4.Floor Amendment Nr. 309 (Rule Nr. 582) proposed by Representative Neguse that would establish a housing stipend for federal wildland firefighters. 5.Floor Amendment Nr. 312 (Rule Nr. 83) proposed by Representative Newman that would study the various toxins and chemicals veterans were exposed to during their service, which would help streamline the process for the Veterans Administration employees AFGE represents. 6.Floor Amendment Nr. 317 (Rule Nr. 29) proposed by Representative Norton that would clarify that D.C. National Guard members who are federal employees are entitled to leave without loss of pay during mobilization. 7.Floor Amendment Nr. 376 (Rule Nr, 584) proposed by Representative Schneider that would include parental bereavement leave as eligible paid leave for federal employees. 8.Floor Amendment Nr. 468 (Rule Nr. 367) proposed by Representative Williams that would reestablish the National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force. 9.Floor Amendment Nr. 458 (Rule Nr. 665) by Representative Gonzales that would establish a National Digital Reserve Corps. Lobbying expressed concerns with this amendment and supported instead Amendment not ruled in order by Rules Committee, Rule Nr. 295 proposed by Representative Panetta which would have established a Civilian Cyber Reserve Pilot at Cyber Command. Also lobbied Senator Rosens office for proposed changes to similar provision included in Senate Armed Services Committee markup section 1109 that establishes a Civilian Cyber Reserve Pilot at Cyber Command. 10.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 30 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Norton related to D.C. National Guard. 11.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 150 proposed by Representative Lynch and Nr. 202 proposed by Representative Green not ruled in order that would direct studies of exposure of veterans to toxins. 12.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 150 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Roy that would interfere with COVID-19 vaccinations of military. 13.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 131 ruled in order proposed by Representative Salazar to raise sole source thresholds for small businesses. 14.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 55 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Roy prohibiting funds for Diversity Officers. 15.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 89 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Speier that would change the standard for hostile environment based on a single perception. 16.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 116 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Biggs that would reduce Defense Components by 0.5 percent based on financial audit. 17.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 131 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Lee that would reduce Defense Components by 1 percent based on financial audit. 18.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 142 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Rosendale that interfered with Covid-19 vaccinations by Defense contractors. 19.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 131 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Lynch related to U.S Coast Guard Scituate closing. 20.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 347 proposed and withdrawn by Representative Turner that would direct a public web site report on commercial items determinations. 21.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 562 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Neguse that would provide relief from Goldwater-Nichols personnel caps on headquarters for environmental risk management. 22.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 633 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Phillips that would require publication of all DoD ethics opinions. 23.Rules Committee Amendment Nr. 702 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Buck that would strike H.R. 4350 diversity and inclusion subtitles. 24.Rules Committee Amendments Nr. 145 not ruled in order proposed by Representative Cloud; Nrs. 167, 170, 171, 176, 315 and 317 proposed by Representative Boebert; Nr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 proposed by Representative Gohmert, Nr. 158 and 434 proposed by Representative. Rosendale, and nr. 796 proposed by Representative Bishop as frivolous amendments not relevant to DoD. Lobbied on Amendment Nr. 2136 proposed by Senator Van Hollen to the bipartisan infrastructure bill that would have stricken language without regard to the Civil Service laws on page 1152 lines 11 and 12 to conform hiring authorities of the Advanced Research Projects Agency- Infrastructure to the provisions applicable to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Shared this provision with certain members of House of Representatives. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. Build Back Better: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act to protect the right to vote. Lobbied for H.R. 302, Preventing a Patronage System Act or the PPSA Act. Lobbied for H.R. 326, Saving the Civil Service Act. Lobbied for H.R. 1272 and S. 392, the COST of Relocations Act. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act" to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 393, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of H. R. 521 / S. 129, the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act, to ensure federal firefighters, law enforcement officials, Border Patrol officers, and other federal first responders qualify for full retirement benefits if they are injured on the job. Lobbied in support of H.R. 938, the Wildland Firefighter Classification bill, to require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to create a classification that more accurately reflects the vital role of wildland firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 231, the PFAS bill, which directs FEMA to train employees on PFAS cancer causing chemicals in firefighting foam materials. Lobbied in support of H.R. 962 and S. 1888, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied in support of the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 603, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Lobbied against H.R. 1902 the "Do Your Job Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 564/S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act," that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA and AFGE President Kelley testified at a hearing entitled, Leading by Example: The Need for Comprehensive Paid Leave for the Federal Workforce and Beyond on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Lobbied in support of an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 900 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020, that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 249, the Protecting Federal Workers Act, To provide that certain Executive orders with respect to Federal employee collective bargaining and workplace rights shall have no force or effect. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1357 / S. 476, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of restoration of annual leave lost by certain Federal employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of maximum telework benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1065, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of restoration of leave that is lost by federal employees during a public health emergency relating to a pandemic. Specifically, restoration of leave for employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government that was lost because the employee's accumulated leave exceeded the maximum amount that is otherwise allowable. Lobbied in support of H.R. 978, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act to ensure that personal protective equipment and other equipment and supplies needed to fight coronavirus are provided to employees required to return to Federal offices, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 212, the COVID PREPARE Act, to require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 348, the Wear Your Mask Act, to require face masks in Federal facilities to prevent the transmission of SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act, to establish a Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Task Force, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of increasing the amount available under the "Defense Production Act of 1950," to respond to the coronavirus epidemic and expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the "Defense Production Act of 1950. Lobbied in support of a flexible award for front line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account LD2. Lobbied in support of directing the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of a program for providing portable benefits to eligible workers. Lobbied in support of providing Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. Lobbied in support of a congressional resolution recognizing COVID-19 frontline workers. Lobbied for legislation to make the payroll tax deferral optional for federal employees. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework, Covid response and return to office space. Lobbied for the dismissal of SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul and Deputy Commissioner David Black. Lobbied on the following issues with the House and Senate Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee Members to submit amendments on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 FSGG Appropriation: 1.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that adjusts federal employee pay by 3.2 percent. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that upholds the Public-Private competition moratorium from Section 742 of the FY 2021 FSGG Appropriations bill. 3.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that aligns Federal Wage System Areas with General Schedule Locality Pay Areas. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that prohibits any limitation of, reduction of, constraint to, or interference with official time in representing federal employees with respect to workplace discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information. 5.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill for additional funds for the Office of Personnel Management to allow OPM to increase staffing, invest in information technology, improve overall human capital services and shift away from the fee-for-service model. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392 /S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act," to increase pay for federal employees by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs)rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," H.R. 2616, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Assisted Local 2814 in provision of a statement on Railroad Safety Inspectors needs before the Federal Railroad Administrations Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, April 16, 2021. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Lobbied for confirmation of Kiran Ahuja to be director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and S. 1260, the Endless Frontier Act. Provided technical background and comment on S. 1097 - Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act, S. 1330 - Facilitating Federal Employee Reskilling Act, S. 1324 - Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, and S. 407 the Air America Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021 and H.R. 82 / S. 1302 to would fully repeal GPO and WEP. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2022 Defense Appropriations--Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning. programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2022 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations (H.R. 4355)-Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2022 Interior and Environment Appropriations (H.R. 4372)--Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied on status of reopening offices, downsizing of office space, status of contract in light of Executive Order 14003 to renegotiation portions of contract affected by previous Trump executive orders. FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 4345) -Lobbied for a 3.2% pay increase for all federal employees, for parity in locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees and for paid family and medical leave. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration and for an upgrade to the GS-13 level for inspectors and for safety equipment for hazardous materials inspectors. FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations (H.R. 4356)--Lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers including monitoring and ensuring the EEOC official time final rule is not implemented. Lobbied in support of expanded EEOC agency work place rights. Lobbied in support of a Congressional Review Act disapproval for the EEOC conciliation final rule and lobbied in support of empowering EEOC employees by granting subpoena power to administrative judges. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564/S. 1158, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act and AFGE President Kelley testified at a hearing entitled, Leading by Example: The Need for Comprehensive Paid Leave for the Federal Workforce and Beyond" on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
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 on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. C&P Exams: Submitted a Statement for the Record on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee titled Supporting Disabled Veterans: The State of Claims Processing During and After COVID-19. 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. Collective Bargaining Rights: Shared proposals for a bill to eliminate two provisions of the, VA Accountability Act Lobbied for the withdrawal of President Trumps May 2018 Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. Lobbied in support of the implementation of President Bidens January 2021 Executive Order 14003: Protecting the Federal Workforce in a timely fashion. Lobbied for oversight into the Biden Administrations implementation of Executive Order 14003. Submitted a Statement for the Record for a House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation titled, Transforming the VA Workforce: Assessing Progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for Asset Infrastructure Review (AIR) Act repeal. Submitted comments to Federal Register on AIR Commission scope. Lobbied for the VA to hire staff to fill its tens of thousands of vacancies. Lobbied for the nomination of Mr. Richard C. Loeb as a nominee for the VA AIR Commission Submitted a Statement for the Record on a House Veterans Affair Committee hearing titled INVESTING IN A BETTER VA: Examining the Role of Infrastructure in Veterans Access to Care and Benefits. VA Budget: Submitted a Statement for the Record on a House Veterans Affair Committee hearing titled U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request For Fiscal Year 2022. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 1948/S. 771 the VA Employee Fairness Act. Submitted a Statement for the Record for a House Veterans Affairs Committee markup on pending legislation in support of H.R. 1948. 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 certain provisions of H.R. 2429, the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act. Lobbied for H.R. 3693, the VA CPE Modernization Act, and its importance to VA Clinicians. Lobbied against S. 2041 the, VA Provider Accountability Act. Lobbied for S. 458, the Veterans Claim Transparency Act of 2021. Lobbied for small changes to S. 1031, To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disparities associated with race and ethnicity with respect to certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied against S. 1071, the VA AID Act of 2021. Lobbied in support of prior changes made to S. 1093, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes. Milcon-VA: Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied Milcon-VA for language to defund the VA AIR Commission. Lobbied Milcon-VA for specific funding related to the Veteran Benefits Administration to hire additional staff, pay for additional overtime, fix technological issues, expand telework, and restore the pre-decisional review process. Lobbied the VA Committee to insert language into Milcon-VA to limit the contracting out of specialty C&P Exams. Toxic Exposure Legislation: AFGE commented in support of the following House bills on how they would help with the presumption of toxic exposure in processing claims: H.R. 1273, the Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Study Act. H.R. 2268, the Keeping Our Promises Act. H.R. 2607, the FASTER Presumptions Act. H.R. 2825, the Fort McClellan Health Registry Act. H.R. 2436, the Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2021. H.R. 2372, the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act. H.R. 2742, PFAS Registry Act of 2021. H.R. 2530, the Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Radiation Study Act. H.R. 1585, the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act of 2021. H.R. 1355, the K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021. H.R. 2368, the COVENANT Act. H.R. 2580, the Palomares Veterans Act of 2021. H.R. 1972, the Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2021. H.R.2569, the Veterans Exposure Equity Act; and H.R. 2127, the TEAM Act. AFGE commented on the following Senate bills on how they would help with the presumption of toxic exposure in processing claims: S. 437, Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act. S. 565, the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act of 2021. S. 657, To modify the presumption of service connection for veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents while serving in the Armed Forces in Thailand during the Vietnam era, and for other purposes. S. 810, the Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2021. S. 927, the TEAM Act; S. 952, the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021. S. 1039, To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve compensation for disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf War veterans, and for other purposes. S. 1188, the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases, particularly with any effects of postal reform legislation. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. Lobbied for more stable funding for USCIS that does not rely on fees for non-fee elements of the agencys mission. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied on Department of Defense Senate Confirmed Nominations with Questions and Questions for Record and Proposed Advanced Policy Questions related to Secretary of Defense Austin and Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks. Lobbied on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act by requesting House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee Members submit Member Requests Amendments on the following issues: 1.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that clarifies the civilian personnel cap prohibition in Section 129 of title 10 by removing ambiguous and contradictory language and clarifying prohibitions against using erm or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that requires compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). 3.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that aligns the Federal Wage System Areas with General Schedule Locality Pay Areas. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that requires compliance of Reductions in Force procedures under Section 3502 of Title 5 (Seniority, Veterans Preference, Performance) repealing inconsistent provisions included in Section 1597(f) of title 10, United States Code, enacted in section 1101 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. 5.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that prohibits the downsizing of military medical treatment facilities by requiring Military Department Surgeon General Certifications and Government Accountability Office reviews addressing TRICARE quality of care standards and capacity; third party collections; readiness impacts; and efforts to backfill military structure with government civilian employees. 6.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 prohibiting the merger of commissaries with exchanges, carrying forward and making permanent the prohibition in the FY 2021 NDAA. 7.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA prohibiting global household goods contracts, repealing the authority for this exception to normal procurement practices and the public-private competition moratorium that was provided in Section 375 of the FY 2020 NDAA. 8.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA clarifying governmental access to technical data for spare parts for major weapon systems, repealing Section 865 of the FY 2019 NDAA. 9.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA to improve workforce planning for major weapon systems sustainment by mandating the manpower estimate requirement of the military civilian and contract support requirements for operating, maintaining, and sustaining major weapon systems, formerly required by Section 2434 of title 10 that was repealed in the FY 2017 NDAA. 10.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that would require reporting of borrowed military manpower, reviving the reporting requirement that was in Section 482 of title 10, prior to repeal in the FY 2013 NDAA. 11.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA requiring a Government Accountability Office review on whether DoD security clearance determinations have been applied in a discriminatory manner. 12.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 to provide paid family and medical leave to Federal employees by including care of a sick child, spouse, or parent. 13.Inclusion of language repealing Section 1599e of title 10 that provides a two-year probationary period to DoD employees as an exception to the one-year probationary period applicable across the rest of the federal government in sections 3321 and 3393(d) of title 5. Lobbied against proposals under consideration for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act from the Final Recommendations and Report of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service in the following sections: Subtitle C: Modernization of Federal Personnel System Sec. 344. Noncompetitive eligibility for high-performing civilian employees. Sec. 345. Flexibility for Temporary and Term Appointments. Sec. 346. Criteria for granting direct hire authority to agencies. Sec. 347. Cafeteria Plan for Federal Employees. Sec. 348. Modern Benefits Pilot Program. Sec. 349. Demonstration Project Flexibility for Office of Personnel Management. Sec. 350. Advanced Assessment Tools for Executive Agency Hiring. Sec. 351. Competency Standards for Human Resources Specialists for downsized HR offices to better service their customers. Sec. 352. Evaluation of Improvements to the Federal Civil Service Personnel System. Sec. 353. Proposals for Modern Talent Management System. Sec. 354. Annual Report on Blended Federal Workforce. Subtitle D: Students, Recent Graduates, and Critical Skills Sec. 361. Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center. Sec. 362. Public Service Corps. Sec. 363. Public Service Academy Grants. Sec. 364. Public Service Cadet Programs at Military Service Academies. Sec. 366. Establishment of Pathways Program. Sec. 368. Aggregate Number of Hires of Recent College Graduates and Post-Secondary Students. Sec. 372. Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Pilot Project. Sec. 374. Personnel Policy Demonstration Project for federal Agencies with Employees in STEM fields. Sec. 375. Development of proposal for simplified personnel system for Veterans Health Administration. Lobbied against the following proposals under consideration for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act from the Final Recommendations of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence: 1.Part-time reserve digital service corps; and 2.Digital Academy as pathway into Civil Service. Lobbied against three proposals from industry coalitions related to commercial items determinations by contracting officers. Lobbied on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriation by requesting of House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense and Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense members that they submit the following amendment proposals for committee markup: 1.Reintroducing House section 8012 markup language from the FY 2021 Defense Appropriation that had been rendered ambiguous in Conference for the FY2021 Omnibus. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). 3.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill that requires compliance of Reductions in Force with Section 3502 of Title 5, which provides for the order of retention for Reductions in Force in the following order: seniority, veterans preference, followed by the performance rating. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill prohibiting the downsizing of military medical treatment facilities. 5.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill prohibiting the merger of commissaries and exchanges. 6.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill prohibiting a global household goods contract. 7.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill providing for temporary supplemental funding similar to language included by the House in the HEROES Act last year, for salaries and other needs for non-appropriated fund employees in child-care centers, lodges, food operations, exchanges and other recreational activities that are normally paid for by revenue generating accounts that have been detrimentally affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3086 and S. 1561, Locality Pay Equity Act of 2021, sponsored by Rep. Matt Cartwright (8th C.D., PA) and Sen. Robert Casey (PA). Lobbied House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee in support of directive report language relating to DoD civilian career programs and human capital planning in effort to strengthen title 5 and require plans for eliminating title 10 exceptions to title 5. Lobbied House Armed Services Committee to repeal title 10 personnel caps on headquarters in sections 143, 194, 7014, 8014 and 9014 of title 10. Lobbied against Army and Air Force legislative proposals for exceptions to section 2461 of title 10 limitations on privatization in the case of Cyber functions. Lobbied against changes proposed in the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee for public-private talent exchanges inconsistent with what was negotiated for section 1599g in title 10 in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied against extension of the Acquisition Demonstration pay for performance system in section 1762 of title 10. Lobbied against proposals to create preference for hiring military family member dependents in overseas areas. Lobbied against reductions in the Naval audit service. Lobbied to ask Senator Mark Kelly (AZ) and Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (1st C.D. AZ) assistance in sending a letter to the Pentagon on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base resistance to implementing Presidents Executive Order on strengthening the federal workforce based on Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) litigation against the base. Developed letters to lobby on the following defense issues: Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on stealth privatization and services contracts budgeting dated April 5, 2021, copied to Defense committees in Congress. Letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on title 10 exceptions to title 5 and their adverse impacts in recruiting and retaining civilian employees in DoD dated May 5, 2021, copied to Defense committees in Congress and Office of Personnel Management. Letter to Acting Director of Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Young on commercial items impediments to governmental access to certified cost and pricing data and technical data packages needed by depots, dated June 4, 2021, copied to Defense committees in Congress and Office of Secretary of Defense. Prepared Testimony for Record for the House Armed Services Committee opposing recommendations from the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, dated May 19, 2021. Submitted questions for record on civilian reductions in the planning, programming and budgeting and services contracts planning, programming and budgeting and privatization management controls for confirmation hearing on Department of Defense Comptroller Michael McCord and Director of Cost Assessment Program Evaluation Susannah Blume. Submitted questions for record for the U.S. Transportation Command budget hearing with the SASC. Submitted questions for record for Department of Defense Cyber Workforce Hearing with the SASC. Submitted questions for record for Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Hearing with SASC. Submitted questions for record on modernizing organic industrial base with HASC. Submitted questions for record on Department of Defense financial audit with HASC and SASC. Submitted questions for record on Defense Health Program with Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense. Submitted questions for record on National Guard budget with House Appropriations Committee subcommittee on Defense. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the, No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act. Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the, For the 99.5% Act. Lobbied for H.R. 3007 and S. 1545, the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, require large, publicly-traded corporations to disclose high-level financial information (i.e., profits, revenues, taxes, number of employees, and assets) on a country-by-country basis to shine a spotlight on tax avoidance strategies and contribute to a fair and transparent tax system. Lobbied in support of $3.6 trillion in new tax revenues outlined in President Bidens Made in America Tax Plan to finance the important investments included in the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied to address direct hire and employee rights concerns in H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and S. 1260, the Endless Frontier Act. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of hiring more Title 5 full time employees at FEMA and FPS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903 and S. 1856, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Presented testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee in support of the legislation, May 4, 2021. Lobbied to encourage original cosponsors for reintroduction of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty and for additional cosponsors after introduction as H.R. 2616. Lobbied against any legislation that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813 the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied for original cosponsors prior to Senate introduction of the same legislation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the Transportation Security Preparation Act of 2021 to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of 2021 to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Lobbied for more PPE for TSOs, for requiring passengers to wear masks and on the notion of TSOs doing temperature screenings at checkpoints. Provided comment on the introduction of legislation addressing health safety at checkpoints and in airports. Provided Statement for the Record on Building the Coast Guard America Needs: Achieving Diversity, Equity and Accountability within the Service. before the House Homeland Security Committee (June 23, 2021). Provided statement for the record of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittees hearing, TSA: Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Implications for Budget and Operations. May 5, 2021. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Provided statement for the record for the Senate Finance Committees hearing on Social Security During COVID: How the Pandemic Hampered Access to Benefits and Strategies for Improving Service Delivery. April 29, 2021. Provided comments to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions staff on behalf of Department of Education Office of Civil Rights employees on the qualifications of Catherine Lhamon to head the office. Lobbied for appointment and confirmation of a quorum to the Merit Systems Protection Board to address the growing case backlog. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of the right of federal employees who are furloughed to be eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of back pay for employees in the event of a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of extended leave carryover due to COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392/S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act," to provide federal employees with a 3.2% salary adjustment in 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82, the "Social Security Fairness Act," to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7/S. 205, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," to amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 1902 to eliminate the use of official time by federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors. Lobbied for H.R. 603/S. 53, the Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842/S. 420, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied for an increase FSISs budget for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied to fully fund the budgets of the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for full-time employees in order to fill all current vacancies and return ERS and NIFA to a full staffing complement. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." American Jobs Plan: Lobbied for inclusion of federal employee priorities - title 5 rights for Transportation Security Officers, paid family and medical leave for federal employees, less restrictive student loan forgiveness, equalizing locality pay boundaries for wage-grade employees, and restoring the employee contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System to 0.8% for all federal employees.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied for H.R. 302, Preventing a Patronage System Act or the PPSA Act. Lobbied for H.R. 326, Saving the Civil Service Act. Lobbied for H.R. 1272 and S. 392, the COST of Relocations Act. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act" to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 393, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of H. R. 521 / S. 129, the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act, to ensure federal firefighters, law enforcement officials, Border Patrol officers, and other federal first responders qualify for full retirement benefits if they are injured on the job. Lobbied in support of H.R. 938, the Wildland Firefighter Classification bill, to require the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to create a classification that more accurately reflects the vital role of wildland firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 231, the PFAS bill, which directs FEMA to train employees on PFAS cancer causing chemicals in firefighting foam materials. Lobbied in support of H.R. 962, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied in support of the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 603, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 1902 the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 564, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act," that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 900 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020, that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 249, the Protecting Federal Workers Act, To provide that certain Executive orders with respect to Federal employee collective bargaining and workplace rights shall have no force or effect. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1357 / S. 476, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of restoration of annual leave lost by certain Federal employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of maximum telework benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1065, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of restoration of leave that is lost by federal employees during a public health emergency relating to a pandemic. Specifically, restoration of leave for employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government that was lost because the employee's accumulated leave exceeded the maximum amount that is otherwise allowable. Lobbied in support of H.R. 978, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act to ensure that personal protective equipment and other equipment and supplies needed to fight coronavirus are provided to employees required to return to Federal offices, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 212, the COVID PREPARE Act, to require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 348, the Wear Your Mask Act, to require face masks in Federal facilities to prevent the transmission of SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act, to establish a Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Task Force, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of increasing the amount available under the "Defense Production Act of 1950," to respond to the coronavirus epidemic and expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the "Defense Production Act of 1950. Lobbied in support of a flexible award for front line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account LD2. Lobbied in support of directing the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of a program for providing portable benefits to eligible workers. Lobbied in support of providing Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. Lobbied in support of a congressional resolution recognizing COVID-19 frontline workers. Lobbied for legislation to make the payroll tax deferral optional for federal employees. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Provided testimony and responded to questions for the record for a hearing of the House Oversight and Reform Committee Subcommittee on Government Operations on Revitalizing the Federal Workforce. (Feb. 23, 2021) Lobbied for inclusion of the Time Off to Vote Act in H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to provide reasonable leave to federal workers to vote in federal elections. Lobbied for House passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to protect the right to vote, especially its inclusion of the Time Off to Vote Act and District of Columbia Statehood. Lobbied on behalf of Social Security workforce on agency funding, the collective bargaining agreement, telework and Covid response. Lobbied on the following issues with the House and Senate Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee Members to submit amendments on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 FSGG Appropriation: 1.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that adjusts federal employee pay by 3.2 percent. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG Appropriations bill that upholds the Public-Private competition moratorium from Section 742 of the FY 2021 FSGG Appropriations bill. 3.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that aligns Federal Wage System Areas with General Schedule Locality Pay Areas. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill that prohibits any limitation of, reduction of, constraint to, or interference with official time in representing federal employees with respect to workplace discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information. 5.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 FSGG bill for additional funds for the Office of Personnel Management to allow OPM to increase staffing, invest in information technology, improve overall human capital services and shift away from the fee-for-service model. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392 /S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act," to increase pay for federal employees by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs)rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for introduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Lobbied in support of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty, encouraging cosponsors before introduction of the bill. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
FY 2022 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Lobbied to protect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and against any premium increases. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). FY 2022 Defense Appropriations--Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning. programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. FY 2022 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2022 Interior and Environment Appropriations--Lobbied on provisions relating to full funding and staffing, implementation of Executive Order 14003, preventing the relocation, consolidation or closure of any EPA facility, and adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2022 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural healthcare services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration for field operations and for telework and a review of legal assistant positions in the Office of Hearing Operations. Lobbied in support for funding and revitalized infrastructure for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). Lobbied for full funding and staffing at OSHA and MSHA. FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. Lobbied to fully fund authorized rail inspector positions at the Federal Rail Administration. FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations--Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2022 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied on provisions relating to consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) facilities, human capital authority at NETL and cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of full official time rights for federal workers including monitoring and ensuring the EEOC official time final rule is not implemented. Lobbied in support of a Congressional Review Act disapproval for the EEOC conciliation final rule. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 564, the "Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act." Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of H.R. 903, the "Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for preparation for reintroduction of similar legislation in the Senate. Lobbied to encourage original cosponsors for reintroduction of the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against any legislation that would allow for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Briefed Homeland Security staff and chair on the status of vaccination availability to the various components of the Department of Homeland Security workforce. Lobbied on proposed Air Travel Task Force legislation for inclusion of the unionized workforce view in decision-making. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1813, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, and allowing funds to be used to pay the TSA workforce in the event of a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1893, the Transportation Security Preparation Act of 2021, to provide for planning and preparation in the event of a future communicable disease outbreak. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1877, the Security Screening During COVID-19 Act of 2021, to develop safe screening procedures during the ongoing pandemic. Lobbied in support the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied in support of Hazardous Duty Pay for frontline employees and reintroduction of legislation. Lobbied for more PPE for TSOs, for requiring passengers to wear masks and on the notion of TSOs doing temperature screenings at checkpoints. Provided background and briefed members of the Homeland Security Agency Review Team on workforce issues and needs in the new administration. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Lobbied for appointment and confirmation of a quorum to the Merit Systems Protection Board to address the growing case backlog. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 304, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of the right of federal employees who are furloughed to be eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of back pay for employees in the event of a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of extended leave carryover due to COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of reintroduction of Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 392/S. 561, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act," to provide federal employees with a 3.2% salary adjustment in 2022. Lobbied in support of H.R. 82, the "Social Security Fairness Act," to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7/S. 205, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," to amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 1902 to eliminate the use of official time by federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors. Lobbied for H.R. 603/S. 53, the Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 842/S. 420, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Lobbied BOP to provide additional safety measures for correctional officers during the COVID-19 pandemic. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. FY 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT," to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 72, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264, "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict, or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular its provisions to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and its support for statehood for the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 1065, the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act." H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
FY 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied against further threat of furloughs of more than 70% of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) workforce, effectively shutting down the agencys operations indefinitely. Specifically lobbied for full implementation of the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, authorized in 2020. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Lobbied on Department of Defense Senate Confirmed Nominations with Questions and Questions for Record and Proposed Advanced Policy Questions related to Secretary of Defense Austin and Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks. Lobbied on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act by requesting House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee Members submit Member Requests Amendments on the following issues: 1.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that clarifies the civilian personnel cap prohibition in Section 129 of title 10 by removing ambiguous and contradictory language and clarifying prohibitions against using erm or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that requires compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). 3.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that aligns the Federal Wage System Areas with General Schedule Locality Pay Areas. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that requires compliance of Reductions in Force procedures under Section 3502 of Title 5 (Seniority, Veterans Preference, Performance) repealing inconsistent provisions included in Section 1597(f) of title 10, United States Code, enacted in section 1101 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. 5.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that prohibits the downsizing of military medical treatment facilities by requiring Military Department Surgeon General Certifications and Government Accountability Office reviews addressing TRICARE quality of care standards and capacity; third party collections; readiness impacts; and efforts to backfill military structure with government civilian employees. 6.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 prohibiting the merger of commissaries with exchanges, carrying forward and making permanent the prohibition in the FY 2021 NDAA. 7.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA prohibiting global household goods contracts, repealing the authority for this exception to normal procurement practices and the public-private competition moratorium that was provided in Section 375 of the FY 2020 NDAA. 8.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA clarifying governmental access to technical data for spare parts for major weapon systems, repealing Section 865 of the FY 2019 NDAA. 9.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA to improve workforce planning for major weapon systems sustainment by mandating the manpower estimate requirement of the military civilian and contract support requirements for operating, maintaining, and sustaining major weapon systems, formerly required by Section 2434 of title 10 that was repealed in the FY 2017 NDAA. 10.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA that would require reporting of borrowed military manpower, reviving the reporting requirement that was in Section 482 of title 10, prior to repeal in the FY 2013 NDAA. 11.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 NDAA requiring a Government Accountability Office review on whether DoD security clearance determinations have been applied in a discriminatory manner. 12.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 to provide paid family and medical leave to Federal employees by including care of a sick child, spouse, or parent. 13.Inclusion of language repealing Section 1599e of title 10 that provides a two-year probationary period to DoD employees as an exception to the one-year probationary period applicable across the rest of the federal government in sections 3321 and 3393(d) of title 5. Lobbied against proposals under consideration for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act from the Final Recommendations and Report of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service in the following sections: Subtitle C: Modernization of Federal Personnel System Sec. 344. Noncompetitive eligibility for high-performing civilian employees. Sec. 345. Flexibility for Temporary and Term Appointments. Sec. 346. Criteria for granting direct hire authority to agencies. Sec. 347. Cafeteria Plan for Federal Employees. Sec. 348. Modern Benefits Pilot Program. Sec. 349. Demonstration Project Flexibility for Office of Personnel Management. Sec. 350. Advanced Assessment Tools for Executive Agency Hiring. Sec. 351. Competency Standards for Human Resources Specialists for downsized HR offices to better service their customers. Sec. 352. Evaluation of Improvements to the Federal Civil Service Personnel System. Sec. 353. Proposals for Modern Talent Management System. Sec. 354. Annual Report on Blended Federal Workforce. Subtitle D: Students, Recent Graduates, and Critical Skills Sec. 361. Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center. Sec. 362. Public Service Corps. Sec. 363. Public Service Academy Grants. Sec. 364. Public Service Cadet Programs at Military Service Academies. Sec. 366. Establishment of Pathways Program. Sec. 368. Aggregate Number of Hires of Recent College Graduates and Post-Secondary Students. Sec. 372. Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Pilot Project. Sec. 374. Personnel Policy Demonstration Project for federal Agencies with Employees in STEM fields. Sec. 375. Development of proposal for simplified personnel system for Veterans Health Administration. Lobbied against the following proposals under consideration for the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act from the Final Recommendations of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence: 1.Part-time reserve digital service corps; and 2.Digital Academy as pathway into Civil Service. Lobbied against three proposals from industry coalitions related to commercial items determinations by contracting officers. Lobbied on the following issues for the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriation by requesting of House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense and Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense members that they submit the following amendment proposals for committee markup: 1.Reintroducing House section 8012 markup language from the FY 2021 Defense Appropriation that had been rendered ambiguous in Conference for the FY2021 Omnibus. 2.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill that mandates compliance with contract service planning, programming, and budgeting statutory requirements and Total Force Management statutory limitations on privatization (including compliance with the public-private competition moratorium). 3.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill that requires compliance of Reductions in Force with Section 3502 of Title 5, which provides for the order of retention for Reductions in Force in the following order: seniority, veterans preference, followed by the performance rating. 4.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill prohibiting the downsizing of military medical treatment facilities. 5.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill prohibiting the merger of commissaries and exchanges. 6.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill prohibiting a global household goods contract. 7.Inclusion of language in the FY 2022 Defense Appropriations bill providing for temporary supplemental funding similar to language included by the House in the HEROES Act last year, for salaries and other needs for non-appropriated fund employees in child-care centers, lodges, food operations, exchanges and other recreational activities that are normally paid for by revenue generating accounts that have been detrimentally affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
FY 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
FY 2022 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Lobbied against the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1815 and S. 713, the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act." H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Lobbied for changes to Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) employee performance standards. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan related to 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 on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. C&P Exams: Submitted a Statement for the Record on the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs hearing titled VA compensation and pension exams during the covid-19 pandemic: a path forward. 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. Collective Bargaining Rights: Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied on changes to the, "VA Accountability Act." Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. Lobbied for the withdrawal of President Trumps May 2018 Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839. Lobbied in support of the implementation of President Bidens January 2021 Executive Order 14003: Protecting the Federal Workforce in a timely fashion. Lobbied for oversight into the Biden Administrations implementation of Executive Order 14003. VA Infrastructure: Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied for the VA to hire staff to fill its tens of thousands of vacancies. Specific Legislation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 1948 and S. 771 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights . Lobbied in support of H.R. 962 to give VA Police Officers benefits commensurate with other federal law enforcement officers. Lobbied for the introduction of legislation to expand the eligibility and amount of Continuing Medical Education Benefits for VA clinicians. Milcon-VA Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied Milcon-VA for language to defund the VA AIR Commission. Lobbied Milcon-VA for specific funding related to the Veteran Benefits Administration to hire additional staff, pay for additional overtime, fix technological issues, expand telework, and restore the pre-decisional review process. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Lobbied to increase funding for the IRS and better target IRS tax enforcement. Lobbied for H.R. 1786 and S. 725, a bill to end offshore corporate tax avoidance, and for other purposes, known as the, No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act. Lobbied for S. 994, a bill to reinstate estate and generation-skipping taxes, and for other purposes, known as the, For the 99.5% Act. H.R. 1319, the "American Rescue Plan Act"--Lobbied for inclusion of emergency paid leave for frontline workers, presumption of workplace illness for purposes of workers compensation eligibility for frontline workers who contract Coronavirus, and opposed efforts to strip those provisions from the bill. Opposed efforts to reduce or eliminate official time, further privatize medical services at the Veterans Health Administration, further privatize federal prisons, deny recovery rebate payments to federal employees and their families, create a Schedule F class of federal employees who would have no job protections, reduce federal employees compensation and benefits, enact across-the-board cuts to federal programs, undermine Transportation Security Officers pay and benefits, further politicize the decision to relocate federal agencies and block District of Columbia residents from moving forward with statehood proceedings.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2021 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied against reopening of EPA offices without adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act and for inclusion of H.R. 1140 as passed in the House into H.R. 2, the INVEST Act and for passage of H.R. 2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied for restoring the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied against S. 3730 which allows for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation and effects of pandemic related pay cuts. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Briefed Homeland Security staff and chair on the status of the collective bargaining agreement ratification for TSA employees and sought the Chairmans outreach to the agency regarding its sudden and ill-timed decision to restart the ratification process. Lobbied on proposed Air Travel Task Force legislation for inclusion of the unionized workforce view in decision-making. Lobbied on S. 4623, the Fly Safe and Healthy Act to make improvements to legislation requiring TSA to develop pilot programs to check the temperatures of individuals passing through screening checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, the "DHS MORALE Act" to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied for more PPE for TSOs, for requiring passengers to wear masks and on the notion of TSOs doing temperature screenings at checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6647, the "Health Care Opportunities for Transportation Security Administration Employees Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6655, the "Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6656, the "Coronavirus Workers' Compensation for TSA Employees Act." Lobbied in support of USCIS employees and to oppose any further threat of furlough of thousands and agency employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied in support of passage and veto override of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of Section 1106 of the House-passed bill, Limiting the number of local wage areas defined within a pay locality." Lobbied in support of the inclusion of Section 1101 of the House-passed bill, Paid parental leave technical corrections, which was included in Section 1103 of the final bill. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of Section 911 of the House-passed bill, Limitation on reduction of civilian workforce, and against cuts made to Defense Agencies and Field Activities. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of the Sections 1121 through 1128 of the House-passed bill, Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2020," in the FY 2021 NDAA. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of the COVID-19 Emergency Medical Supplies Enhancement, in FY 2021 NDAA. Lobbied in support of federal employee leave carry over during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in the FY 2021 NDAA: Section 714, Extension of organization requirements for Defense Health Agency, Section 715, Modification to limitation on the realignment or reduction of military manning end strength, Section 716, Modifications to implementation plan for restructure or realignment of military medical treatment facilities, and Section 722, COVID-19 global war on pandemics. Lobbied in support the House-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Updated business case analysis on consolidation of Defense Resale System. Lobbied in support of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Prohibition on conducting additional BRAC. Lobbied in support of House-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Documentation pertaining to commercial items determinations, and Commercial product determination applies to components and support services. Lobbied against the expansion of direct hire provisions in the FY 2021 NDAA. Lobbied in support of clarification FY 2021 NDAA, Enhancement of public-private talent exchange programs in the Department of Defense. Lobbied to exclude or clarify Section 9401 of the Senate-passed bill, Exclusivity, consistency, and transparency in security clearance procedures, and right to appeal. Lobbied for the exclusion of Section 373 of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Provision of protection to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National Museum of the United States Army, the National Museum of the United States Navy, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Lobbied in support of exclusion Section 937 of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Applicability to Other Provisions of Law. Lobbied in support of the exclusion of Section 946 of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, "Application of acquisition demonstration project to Department of the Air Force employees assigned to acquisition positions within the Space Force. Lobbied in support of the exclusion of Section 841 from the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and services using general solicitation competitive procedures. Lobbied in support of the exclusion of Section 842 from the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Truth in Negotiations Act threshold for Department of Defense contracts. Followed up with Armed Services Committee staff and members on allegations of discriminatory application of medical standards as conditions of employment. Lobbied House and Senate Armed staff and members regarding a Reduction in Force at the Ireland Army Medical Clinic at Fort Knox. Lobbied on requesting Review of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM's) decision-making related to the Global Household Goods Contract. Lobbied on requesting a review regarding GAO-20-532, Defense Workforce: DoD Needs to Assess its Use of Term and Temporary Appointments. Provided advice to HASC staff on previously enacted improvements to the Department of Defense planning, programming and budgeting of services contracts and examining the practice of their effect on civilian jobs. Lobbied for passage of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 in the final Omnibus funding for FY 2021 including prohibiting to DoD and civilian workforce personnel caps, misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities, and addressing chapter 71 and title 5 exceptions DOD. Lobbied on the Financial Services General Government Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021 to include section 741 carryover provision that prohibits public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. Lobbied in support of prohibiting use of appropriated funds to implement the executive order that would allow conversion of federal employees to Schedule F. In the FY 2021 NDAA lobbied on: Section 338. "Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2020." There are additionally various PFAS-related sections starting from Section 335. Section 588. "24-Hour Child Care." This section authorizes the SecDef to furnish childcare to each child of a member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense while that member or employee works on rotating shifts at a military installation. Section 631. "Base responders essential needs and dining access." Section 632. "First responder access to mobile exchanges." Section 642. "Permanent authority for and enhancement of the Government lodging program." Section 702. "Waiver of fees charged to certain civilians for emergency medical treatment provided at military medical treatment facilities." Section 901. "Repeal of position of Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense." Section 914. "Limitation on consolidation or transition to alternative content delivery methods within the Defense Media Activity." Section 1101. "Department of Defense policy on unclassified workspaces and job functions of personnel with pending security clearances." Section 1104. "Authority to provide travel and transportation allowances in connection with transfer ceremonies of certain civilian employees who die overseas." Section 1105. "One-year extension of authority to waive annual limitation on premium pay and aggregate limitation on pay for Federal civilian employees working overseas." Section 1106. "One-year extension of temporary authority to grant allowances, benefits, and gratuities to civilian employees on official duty in a combat zone." Section 1109. "Fire fighters alternative work schedule demonstration project for the Navy Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services." Section 1110. "Special rules for certain monthly workers compensation payments and other payments." "Title XVIII-Transfer and Reorganization of Defense Acquisition Statutes." Sections 1801-1885. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against confirmation of John Gibbs to be director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act" to provide federal employees with a 3.5% salary adjustment in 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3463/S. 1970, the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiated Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474/S. 1306, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Lobbied against the nomination of Keith Sonderling (R) and Andrea Lucas (R) nominees for the EEOC. Lobbied in support of Jocelyn Samuels (D) nominee for the EEOC. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7574, the "Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Lobbied against the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. Lobbied for H.R. 7521 the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act" and S. 4338 the "Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 7521 the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act" and S. 4338 the "Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act of 2020." Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT" to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular its provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2694 the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied against further threat of furloughs of more than 70% of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) workforce, effectively shutting down the agencys operations indefinitely. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for parity with military pay increase. Lobbied in support of a technical fix to the paid parental leave provision in the FY 2020 NDAA that would ensure all federal employees have access to federal paid parental leave. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5399/S. 3015, the "Locality Pay Equity Act" to limit the number of local wage areas allowable within a General Schedule pay locality. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for inclusion of H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act in H.R. 2 and lobbied for passage of H.R. 2, the INVEST Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increase various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied on appointees to the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 582, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534/S. 1174, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6906 the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act to provide compensation for injuries to any individual, or their families, who are deemed an essential worker and required to leave their home to perform services and who have become ill or died as a result of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6139 the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020 that would direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6955 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020 that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of S. 4347, the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6246, the "Protecting Collective Bargaining and Official Time for Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6909, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3677/H.R. 6559, the "COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act." Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6733, the "Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act." Lobbied in support of S. 3561, the "Emergency Telework Act of 2020." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8457/S. 4777, the Federal Worker Leave Fairness Act to restore leave lost by Federal employees during certain public health emergencies, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7340, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act to ensure that personal protective equipment and other equipment and supplies needed to fight coronavirus are provided to employees required to return to Federal offices, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7496, the COVID PREPARE Act to require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7524/S. 4610, the Wear Your Mask Act to require face masks in Federal facilities to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Lobbied in support of S. 4347, the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act to establish a Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Task Force, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7076/S. 3855, the Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics (CORE) Act to ensure ethical and accountable use of COVID-19 relief funds, to prevent corruption and bias in the disbursement and supervision of those funds. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6373 to increase the amount available under the "Defense Production Act of 1950" to respond to the coronavirus epidemic. Lobbied in support of S. 3570 to provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the "Defense Production Act of 1950." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 the Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act to direct certain actions to procure equipment necessary to prevent, identify, and mitigate cases of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Lobbied in support of S. 3763 the Pandemic Responder Service Award Act to provide a flexible award for front line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account to help workers purchase housing, save for retirement or establish a childrens savings account for their dependents. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6390/S. 3568, the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act of 2020 directing the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6410 directing the President to use authority under the "Defense Production Act of 1950" to ensure an adequate supply of equipment necessary for limiting the spread of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6746, the Emergency Benefits for Independent Workers Program Act to require the Secretary of Labor to establish a program for providing portable benefits to eligible workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6442/S. 3513, the Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act of 2020 to provide Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. Lobbied in support of H.R. 933 a congressional resolution recognizing COVID-19 frontline workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8349 to provide hazard pay to frontline essential workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in opposition to forced suspension of withholding FICA taxes from federal employees payroll Sept.-Dec. 2020 to be repaid Jan.-Apr. 2021 and for waiving or extending the repayment plan. Lobbied for legislation to make the payroll tax deferral optional for federal employees. Provided statement for the record to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on its hearing, Modernizing Federal Telework: Moving Forward Using the Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Lobbied for emergency funding for the aviation industry to protect jobs of airline and airport workers. Lobbied for H.R. 9052, a bill to nullify the Presidents Executive Order creating Schedule F by imposing limits on excepting competitive service positions from the competitive service. Lobbied for H.R. 8687, Saving the Civil Service Act, a bill to nullify the Presidents Executive Order creating Schedule F. Lobbied for H.R. 8629 and S. 4810, Protecting Employees from Surprise Taxes Act of 2020, a bill to prohibit employers from deferring payment of payroll taxes unless affected employees provide written consent to a deferral. Lobbied against confirmation of John Gibbs to be director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against H.R. 7287/S. 4365, A bill to clarify licensure requirements for contractor medical professionals to perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied for changes to S. 4511, Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for increased oversight and changes to performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied to support and amend H.R. 7784 the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act. Lobbied to amend H.R. 8247, the COMPACT Act of 2020. Lobbied to support H.R. 6082, the Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 524/H.R. 2791, the Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Advisory Committee Act of 2019. Lobbied for changes to the VA-SBA Act, as it appeared in S. 4520 and the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1615, the Verification Alignment and Service-disabled Business Adjustment Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 805, the Stopping Harm and Implementing Enhanced Lead-Time for Debts for Veterans Act of 2020 or the SHIELD for Veterans Act of 2020. Lobbied to support S. 2950, the Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2019. Lobbied against S. 4393, the Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act of 2020, or the TEAM Act of 2020. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7111, the Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020. Lobbied for changes to the VA Website Accessibility Act of 2019, including H.R. 1199, S. 746, S. 3587. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7105, the DELIVER Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act on 2019. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38 and lobbied for more recruitment and retention incentives for VA psychologists. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied on changes to the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically, sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied against certain provisions in the draft legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020. Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for a stronger and more transparent Defense Production Act with an expanded stakeholder role for front line employees and their unions, including additional PPE for VA employees at VA Medical Centers and Regional Offices. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. AFGE provided a Statement for the Record for a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing entitled, VAs Response to COVID-19 across the VA Enterprise on December 9, 2020. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 8275, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020." Lobbied to support H.R. 6141, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act. Lobbied to support S. 514, the Deborah Samson Act. Lobbied to support S. 629, Accountability in Department of Veterans Affairs Scheduling and Consult Management Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 711, CARE for Reservists Act of 2019. Lobbied against S. 3235, Veterans Posttraumatic Growth Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7105, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2021 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied against reopening of EPA offices without adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Budget Resolution - lobbied against the Presidents FY 2021 budget. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied against privatizing of airport screening jobs. FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to restore health insurance for part-time Transportation Security Officers and to restore cleaning of checkpoint lanes at airports. FY 2021 Defense Appropriations -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. House directive report language. FY 2021 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding of EPA, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, issues related to contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2021 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied for an amendment to defund the EEOC official time proposed rule. Lobbied in support of blocking the EEOC official time proposed rule from being finalized in the federal register and lobbied in support of blocking the final rule in the Congressional Review Act in the 117th Congress. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5885/S. 3104, the "Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act." Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied in support of passage and veto override of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of Section 1106 of the House-passed bill, Limiting the number of local wage areas defined within a pay locality." Lobbied in support of the inclusion of Section 1101 of the House-passed bill, Paid parental leave technical corrections, which was included in Section 1103 of the final bill. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of Section 911 of the House-passed bill, Limitation on reduction of civilian workforce, and against cuts made to Defense Agencies and Field Activities. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of the Sections 1121 through 1128 of the House-passed bill, Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2020," in the FY 2021 NDAA. Lobbied in support of the inclusion of the COVID-19 Emergency Medical Supplies Enhancement, in FY 2021 NDAA. Lobbied in support of federal employee leave carry over during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in the FY 2021 NDAA: Section 714, Extension of organization requirements for Defense Health Agency, Section 715, Modification to limitation on the realignment or reduction of military manning end strength, Section 716, Modifications to implementation plan for restructure or realignment of military medical treatment facilities, and Section 722, COVID-19 global war on pandemics. Lobbied in support the House-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Updated business case analysis on consolidation of Defense Resale System. Lobbied in support of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Prohibition on conducting additional BRAC. Lobbied in support of House-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Documentation pertaining to commercial items determinations, and Commercial product determination applies to components and support services. Lobbied against the expansion of direct hire provisions in the FY 2021 NDAA. Lobbied in support of clarification FY 2021 NDAA, Enhancement of public-private talent exchange programs in the Department of Defense. Lobbied to exclude or clarify Section 9401 of the Senate-passed bill, Exclusivity, consistency, and transparency in security clearance procedures, and right to appeal. Lobbied for the exclusion of Section 373 of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Provision of protection to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National Museum of the United States Army, the National Museum of the United States Navy, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Lobbied in support of exclusion Section 937 of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Applicability to Other Provisions of Law. Lobbied in support of the exclusion of Section 946 of the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, "Application of acquisition demonstration project to Department of the Air Force employees assigned to acquisition positions within the Space Force. Lobbied in support of the exclusion of Section 841 from the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and services using general solicitation competitive procedures. Lobbied in support of the exclusion of Section 842 from the Senate-passed bill FY 2021 NDAA, Truth in Negotiations Act threshold for Department of Defense contracts. Followed up with Armed Services Committee staff and members on allegations of discriminatory application of medical standards as conditions of employment. Lobbied House and Senate Armed staff and members regarding a Reduction in Force at the Ireland Army Medical Clinic at Fort Knox. Lobbied on requesting Review of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM's) decision-making related to the Global Household Goods Contract. Lobbied on requesting a review regarding GAO-20-532, Defense Workforce: DoD Needs to Assess its Use of Term and Temporary Appointments. Provided advice to HASC staff on previously enacted improvements to the Department of Defense planning, programming and budgeting of services contracts and examining the practice of their effect on civilian jobs. Lobbied for passage of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 in the final Omnibus funding for FY 2021 including prohibiting to DoD and civilian workforce personnel caps, misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities, and addressing chapter 71 and title 5 exceptions DOD. Lobbied on the Financial Services General Government Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021 to include section 741 carryover provision that prohibits public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. Lobbied in support of prohibiting use of appropriated funds to implement the executive order that would allow conversion of federal employees to Schedule F. In the FY 2021 NDAA lobbied on: Section 338. "Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2020." There are additionally various PFAS-related sections starting from Section 335. Section 588. "24-Hour Child Care." This section authorizes the SecDef to furnish childcare to each child of a member of the Armed Forces or civilian employee of the Department of Defense while that member or employee works on rotating shifts at a military installation. Section 631. "Base responders essential needs and dining access." Section 632. "First responder access to mobile exchanges." Section 642. "Permanent authority for and enhancement of the Government lodging program." Section 702. "Waiver of fees charged to certain civilians for emergency medical treatment provided at military medical treatment facilities." Section 901. "Repeal of position of Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense." Section 914. "Limitation on consolidation or transition to alternative content delivery methods within the Defense Media Activity." Section 1101. "Department of Defense policy on unclassified workspaces and job functions of personnel with pending security clearances." Section 1104. "Authority to provide travel and transportation allowances in connection with transfer ceremonies of certain civilian employees who die overseas." Section 1105. "One-year extension of authority to waive annual limitation on premium pay and aggregate limitation on pay for Federal civilian employees working overseas." Section 1106. "One-year extension of temporary authority to grant allowances, benefits, and gratuities to civilian employees on official duty in a combat zone." Section 1109. "Fire fighters alternative work schedule demonstration project for the Navy Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services." Section 1110. "Special rules for certain monthly workers compensation payments and other payments." "Title XVIII-Transfer and Reorganization of Defense Acquisition Statutes." Sections 1801-1885. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Lobbied against the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. Lobbied for H.R. 7521 the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act" and S. 4338 the "Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act and for inclusion of H.R. 1140 as passed in the House into H.R. 2, the INVEST Act and for passage of H.R. 2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied for restoring the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied against S. 3730 which allows for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation and effects of pandemic related pay cuts. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Briefed Homeland Security staff and chair on the status of the collective bargaining agreement ratification for TSA employees and sought the Chairmans outreach to the agency regarding its sudden and ill-timed decision to restart the ratification process. Lobbied on proposed Air Travel Task Force legislation for inclusion of the unionized workforce view in decision-making. Lobbied on S. 4623, the Fly Safe and Healthy Act to make improvements to legislation requiring TSA to develop pilot programs to check the temperatures of individuals passing through screening checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, the "DHS MORALE Act" to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied for more PPE for TSOs, for requiring passengers to wear masks and on the notion of TSOs doing temperature screenings at checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6647, the "Health Care Opportunities for Transportation Security Administration Employees Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6655, the "Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6656, the "Coronavirus Workers' Compensation for TSA Employees Act." Lobbied in support of USCIS employees and to oppose any further threat of furlough of thousands and agency employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 7521 the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act" and S. 4338 the "Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act of 2020." Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied against further threat of furloughs of more than 70% of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) workforce, effectively shutting down the agencys operations indefinitely. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against confirmation of John Gibbs to be director of the Office of Personnel Management. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act" to provide federal employees with a 3.5% salary adjustment in 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3463/S. 1970, the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiated Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474/S. 1306, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Lobbied against the nomination of Keith Sonderling (R) and Andrea Lucas (R) nominees for the EEOC. Lobbied in support of Jocelyn Samuels (D) nominee for the EEOC. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7574, the "Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT" to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular its provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2694 the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against H.R. 7287/S. 4365, A bill to clarify licensure requirements for contractor medical professionals to perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied for changes to S. 4511, Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied for increased oversight and changes to performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied to support and amend H.R. 7784 the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act. Lobbied to amend H.R. 8247, the COMPACT Act of 2020. Lobbied to support H.R. 6082, the Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act. Lobbied for technical changes to S. 524/H.R. 2791, the Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Advisory Committee Act of 2019. Lobbied for changes to the VA-SBA Act, as it appeared in S. 4520 and the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1615, the Verification Alignment and Service-disabled Business Adjustment Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 805, the Stopping Harm and Implementing Enhanced Lead-Time for Debts for Veterans Act of 2020 or the SHIELD for Veterans Act of 2020. Lobbied to support S. 2950, the Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2019. Lobbied against S. 4393, the Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act of 2020, or the TEAM Act of 2020. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7111, the Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020. Lobbied for changes to the VA Website Accessibility Act of 2019, including H.R. 1199, S. 746, S. 3587. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7105, the DELIVER Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act on 2019. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38 and lobbied for more recruitment and retention incentives for VA psychologists. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied on changes to the VA Accountability Act. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically, sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied against certain provisions in the draft legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020. Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for a stronger and more transparent Defense Production Act with an expanded stakeholder role for front line employees and their unions, including additional PPE for VA employees at VA Medical Centers and Regional Offices. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. AFGE provided a Statement for the Record for a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing entitled, VAs Response to COVID-19 across the VA Enterprise on December 9, 2020. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 8275, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020." Lobbied to support H.R. 6141, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act. Lobbied to support S. 514, the Deborah Samson Act. Lobbied to support S. 629, Accountability in Department of Veterans Affairs Scheduling and Consult Management Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 711, CARE for Reservists Act of 2019. Lobbied against S. 3235, Veterans Posttraumatic Growth Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7105, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319, the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 8900 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 18, 2020. Lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 107, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 20, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.J.Res. 110, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 21, 2020; lobbied for passage of H.R. 1520, making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 28, 2020. FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations, H.R. 133 - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of emergency coronavirus pandemic response provisions for FY 2021, including hazard pay, presumption of workplace illness for frontline employees who contract Covid-19, an OSHA emergency standard and additional PPE and resources to distribute the vaccine to federal workers.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Budget Resolution - lobbied against the Presidents FY 2021 budget. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied against privatizing of airport screening jobs. FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to restore health insurance for part-time Transportation Security Officers and to restore cleaning of checkpoint lanes at airports. FY 2021 Defense Appropriations -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. House directive report language (pp. 12-13) FY 2021 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding of EPA, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, issues related to contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2021 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support to provide FY 2021 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5885/S. 3104, the "Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act." FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "FAIR Act" in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5399/S. 3015, the "Locality Pay Equity Act" to limit the number of local wage areas allowable within a General Schedule pay locality. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for inclusion of H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act in H.R. 2 and lobbied for passage of H.R. 2, the INVEST Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increase various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied on appointees to the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 582, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act." Lobbied in support of COVID-19 related legislation including H.R.6139 the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020. AFGE testified at the Frontline Feds: Serving the Public During a Pandemic hearing in the Government Operations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Thursday, June 25, 2020. AFGE testified at the Business as Usual? Assessing How DHS Can Resume Operations Safely hearing in the Oversight, Management, & Accountability Subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. AFGE provided a statement for the record for the hearing on No Worker Left Behind: Supporting Essential Workers hearing in the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534/S. 1174, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6906 the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act that would provide compensation for injuries to any individual, or their families, who are deemed an essential worker and required to leave their home to perform services and who have become ill or died as a result of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6139 the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020 that would direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6955 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020 that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of development of a labor management taskforce to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6246, the "Protecting Collective Bargaining and Official Time for Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6909, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3677/H.R. 6559, the "COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act." Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6733, the "Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act." Lobbied in support of S. 3561, the "Emergency Telework Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against draft legislation that would expand the eligibility of contractors to perform C&P Exams Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to change the performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied for the inclusion of an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard at the VA. Lobbied on reforms related to VA police. Lobbied on changes to the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the "VA MISSION Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied to change Section 601 of S. 785 to prevent outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied to improve S. 221 because original bill would eliminate right of every VA employee to obtain clear record agreements and would report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied against certain provision in the draft legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020. Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for the VA providing equipment to employees to facilitate their ability to telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied against keeping in person computer trainings active during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for expanded use of Safety and Weather Leave for employees who cannot telecommute during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for additional PPE to be sent to VA Medical Centers and Regional Offices. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. AFGE provided a statement for the record for the hearing on Assessing VAs Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: 90 Days Later in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on June 11, 2020. AFGE testified at the Virtual Forum: Veterans' Disability Examinations in the Time of COVID-19: A Way Forward on May 27, 2020. AFGE provided a statement for the record for the hearing on Building a More Resilient VA Supply Chain in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on July 9, 2020. AFGE participated in a roundtable about compensation and pension exams with the House Veterans Affairs Committee. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2021 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act" to provide federal employees with a 3.5% salary adjustment in 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3463/S. 1970, the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiated Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474/S. 1306, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Lobbied against the nomination of Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan as NSF Director. Lobbied against the nomination of Keith Sonderling (R) and Andrea Lucas (R) nominees for the EEOC. Lobbied in support of Jocelyn Samuels (D) nominee for the EEOC. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT" to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels, language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
Lobbied for support of provisions in H.R. 6395/S. 4049 the "National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2021." Lobbied Personal Protective Equipment issues related to Defense Product Act in H.R. 6390, the "Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act." Lobbied Armed Services Committees against TRANSCOM household goods management privatization. Lobbied HASC and SASC regarding Commissary and Child Care Personal Protective Equipment shortages. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to GAO review of DoD Plans to merge DeCA with Exchanges. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to NDAA 2020 GAO and FFRDC directed studies on borrowed military manpower, total force management, term and temporary abuses and hiring process. Lobbied in favor of H.R. 2581 and S. 1357, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019" being included in markup of National Defense Authorization act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021). Lobbied HASC, SASC, HAC-D, SAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG to defund implementation of national security exception under chapter 71 of title 5 related to collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for Congressional letters to Secretary of Defense Esper and President Trump regarding his delegation of authority to the Secretary of Defense to exclude collective bargaining from DoD or components of DoD. Lobbied HASC and SASC with language to condition implementation of Trump delegation of authority on Pentagon report to Congress subject to GAO review. Lobbied HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG for continuation of public-private competition moratorium. Lobbied HAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-D, and SAC-FSGG for aligning Wage Grade and General Schedule localities related to pay. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to conform section 8012 to Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA section 1103 regarding the repeal of personnel caps in DoD. Lobbied to prohibit misusing term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to create fiscal constraints against reducing DoD civilian workforce absent report to Congress on workload and readiness impacts. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to turn FY2020 HAC-D directive report language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for services contracts unless section 2329 of title 10 related to planning, programming and budgeting of contracted services and establishing compliance mechanisms for enforcing statutory outsourcing restrictions related to total force management. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include in markup of NDAA 2021 language aligning Wage Grade with General Schedule pay localities. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 markup total force management amendment limiting prohibiting any reduction of DoD civilian workforce conditioned on reporting workload and readiness impacts to Congress; provision also prohibited misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 amendment that improved compliance wit contract services planning, programming and budgeting requirements and statutory limitations on outsourcing government jobs. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment chaining the definition of "commercial items" to pre-1994 definition in order to improve governmental access to cost and pricing data and access to technical data rights. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment that would change the order of retention in reductions in force giving priority to seniority and veterans preference over performance evaluations. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to compensation and hiring as recommended by the National Commission on Public Service currently being considered for inclusion in NDAA 2021. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to hiring and expansion of Cyber excepted service recommended by National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence currently being considered for inclusion in NDADA 2021. Lobbied against Thornberry Acquisition Reform proposal that would institutionalize they SecDef Night Court process. Lobbied for restorer of job cuts to Defense Agencies resulting from SecDef Defense Wide Review reprogramming $5 Billion Lobbied in favor of Pentagon proposal to provide greater governmental access to technical data and cost and pricing data for commercial items. Lobbied against GAO recommended civilian under- execution cuts to Army, Air Force, DCMA. Lobbied for the Houlahan amendment to 10 USC 129a that prohibits the Secretary of Defense from making arbitrary cuts to the civilian workforce and requires consideration of impacts of any cuts on workload, fully burdened costs, lethality, stress of the force, military force structure and readiness. Lobbied in favor of the Larsen amendment for directive report language on services contract compliance checklists to preclude inappropriate privatization and to ensure contract services are competed and scrubbed in the programming and budgeting processes of DOD. Lobbied in favor of the Norcross amendment striking Chairmans mark language and replacing it with appropriated fund limitations against excluding an component of DOD from collective bargaining. Lobbied in favor of the Brown amendment changing framework for contractor and civilian employee accountability in public private talent exchanges. Lobbied against expansion of Acquisition Demo to Space Force. Lobbied to revise Bishop amendment that would repeal 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military by excluding direct hire features of amendment. Lobbied for inclusion of H.R.5885/S.3104 the Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act that would ensure certain federal employees who were excluded due to a technical error would receive the benefit in the FY2021 NDAA Lobbied for inclusion of H.R.1174/S.1942 the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act that would provide federal worker's compensation to firefighters who contract certain illnesses because of their service. of 2019 to be included in the FY2021 NDAA Lobbied in support of H.R. 6373, the "To increase the amount available under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to respond to the coronavirus epidemic." Lobbied in support of S. 3570, the "A bill to provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6410, the "To direct the President to use authority under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to ensure an adequate supply of equipment necessary for limiting the spread of COVID-19." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied against reopening of EPA offices without adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied against furloughs of more than 70% of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) workforce, effectively shutting down the agencys operations indefinitely. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, the "DHS MORALE Act" to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the "VA MISSION Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the implementation of the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied to change Section 601 of S. 785 to prevent outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied to improve S. 221 because original bill would eliminate right of every VA employee to obtain clear record agreements and would report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied against certain provision in the draft legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020. Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for the VA providing equipment to employees to facilitate their ability to telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied against keeping in person computer trainings active during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for expanded use of Safety and Weather Leave for employees who cannot telecommute during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for additional PPE to be sent to VA Medical Centers and Regional Offices. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Budget Resolution - lobbied against the Presidents FY 2021 budget. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied against privatizing of airport screening jobs. FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2021 Defense Appropriations -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. House directive report language (pp. 12-13) FY 2021 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding of EPA, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, issues related to contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2021 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support to provide FY 2021 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5885/S. 3104, the "Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
Lobbied OGR and HSGAC against H.R. 5329 and S. 2990, the "Freedom From Government Competition Act." Lobbied issues related to Commissary supply chain in connection with H.R. 6210, the "Family First Coronovirus Response Act." Lobbied Personal Protective Equipment issues related to Defense Product Act in H.R. 6390, the "Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act." Lobbied Armed Services Committees against TRANSCOM household goods management privatization. Lobbied HASC and SASC regarding Commissary and Child Care Personal Protective Equipment shortages. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to GAO review of DoD Plans to merge DeCA with Exchanges. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to NDAA 2020 GAO and FFRDC directed studies on borrowed military manpower, total force management, term and temporary abuses and hiring process. Lobbied in favor of H.R. 2581 and S. 1357, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019" being included in markup of National Defense Authorization act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021). Lobbied HASC, SASC, HAC-D, SAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG to defund implementation of national security exception under chapter 71 of title 5 related to collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for Congressional letters to Secretary of Defense Esper and President Trump regarding his delegation of authority to the Secretary of Defense to exclude collective bargaining from DoD or components of DoD. Lobbied HASC and SASC with language to condition implementation of Trump delegation of authority on Pentagon report to Congress subject to GAO review. Lobbied HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG for continuation of public-private competition moratorium. Lobbied HAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-D, and SAC-FSGG for aligning Wage Grade and General Schedule localities related to pay. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to conform section 8012 to Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA section 1103 regarding the repeal of personnel caps in DoD. Lobbied to prohibit misusing term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to create fiscal constraints against reducing DoD civilian workforce absent report to Congress on workload and readiness impacts. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to turn FY2020 HAC-D directive report language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for services contracts unless section 2329 of title 10 related to planning, programming and budgeting of contracted services and establishing compliance mechanisms for enforcing statutory outsourcing restrictions related to total force management. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include in markup of NDAA 2021 language aligning Wage Grade with General Schedule pay localities. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 makeup total force management amendment limiting prohibiting any reduction of DoD civilian workforce conditioned on reporting workload and readiness impacts to Congress; provision also prohibited misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 amendment that improved compliance wit contract services planning, programming and budgeting requirements and statutory limitations on outsourcing government jobs. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment chaining the definition of "commercial items" to pre-1994 definition in order to improve governmental access to cost and pricing data and access to technical data rights. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment that would change the order of retention in reductions in force giving priority to seniority and veterans preference over performance evaluations. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to compensation and hiring as recommended by the National Commission on Public Service currently being considered for inclusion in NDAA 2021. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to hiring and expansion of Cyber excepted service recommended by National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence currently being considered for inclusion in NDADA 2021. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "FAIR Act" in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5399/S. 3015, the "Locality Pay Equity Act" to limit the number of local wage areas allowable within a General Schedule pay locality. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program Lobbied on appointees to the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 582, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Budget Resolution - lobbied against the Presidents FY 2021 budget. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied against privatizing of airport screening jobs. FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to restore health insurance for part-time Transportation Security Officers and to restore cleaning of checkpoint lanes at airports. FY 2021 Defense Appropriations -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. House directive report language (pp. 12-13) FY 2021 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding of EPA, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, issues related to contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2021 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support to provide FY 2021 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5885/S. 3104, the "Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act." Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT" to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels, language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 2694 the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act and for inclusion of H.R. 1140 as passed in the House into H.R. 2, the INVEST Act and for passage of H.R. 2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied against S. 3730 which allows for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation and effects of pandemic related pay cuts. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied on proposed Air Travel Task Force legislation for inclusion of the unionized workforce view in decision-making. Lobbied on S. 4623, the Fly Safe and Healthy Act to make improvements to legislation requiring TSA to develop pilot programs to check the temperatures of individuals passing through screening checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, the "DHS MORALE Act" to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied for more PPE for TSOs, for requiring passengers to wear masks and on the notion of TSOs doing temperature screenings at checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6647, the "Health Care Opportunities for Transportation Security Administration Employees Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6655, the "Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6656, the "Coronavirus Workers' Compensation for TSA Employees Act." Lobbied in support of USCIS employees and in opposition to the furlough of 13,400 employees. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8089, the Emergency Stopgap Stabilization Act and H.R. 7508 providing FY 2020 supplemental appropriations for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Provided feedback on draft legislation to require de-escalation training for federal law enforcement officers. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020, including the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against H.R. 7287/S. 4365, A bill to clarify licensure requirements for contractor medical professionals to perform medical disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied for changes to S. 4511, Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to change the performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied for the inclusion of an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard at the VA. Lobbied to support and amend H.R. 7784 the VA Police Improvement and Accountability Act. Lobbied to amend H.R. 8247, the COMPACT Act of 2020. Lobbied to support H.R. 6082, the Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act. Lobbied for technical changes to H.R. 2791, the Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Advisory Committee Act of 2019. Lobbied for changes to the VA-SBA Act, as it appeared in S. 4520 and the NDAA. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 1615, the Verification Alignment and Service-disabled Business Adjustment Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 805, the Stopping Harm and Implementing Enhanced Lead-Time for Debts for Veterans Act of 2020 or the SHIELD for Veterans Act of 2020. Lobbied to support S. 2950, the Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2019. Lobbied against S. 4393, the Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act of 2020, or the TEAM Act of 2020. Lobbied for changes to H.R.7111, the Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020. Lobbied for changes to the VA Website Accessibility Act of 2019, including H.R. 1199, S. 746, S. 3587. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 7105, the DELIVER Act. Lobbied for changes to S. 785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act on 2019. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38 and lobbied for more recruitment and retention incentives for VA psychologists. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied in support of fair negotiation of the VA Employee collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied to change Section 601 of S. 785 to prevent outsourcing of VA telehealth. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495." Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied against certain provision in the draft legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020. Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for a stronger and more transparent Defense Production Act with an expanded stakeholder role for front line employees and their unions, including additional PPE for VA employees at VA Medical Centers and Regional Offices. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. Lobbied to support H.R. 6141, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act. Lobbied to support S. 514, the Deborah Samson Act. Lobbied to support S. 629, Accountability in Department of Veterans Affairs Scheduling and Consult Management Act Lobbied for changes to S. 711, CARE for Reservists Act of 2019 Lobbied against S. 3235, Veterans Posttraumatic Growth Act FY 2021 Mil-Con VA Appropriations--Lobbied direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied for H.R. 7521 the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act" and S. 4338 the "Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act of 2020." Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "FAIR Act" in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of a technical fix to the paid parental leave provision in the FY 2020 NDAA that would ensure all federal employees have access to federal paid parental leave. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5399/S. 3015, the "Locality Pay Equity Act" to limit the number of local wage areas allowable within a General Schedule pay locality. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for inclusion of H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act in H.R. 2 and lobbied for passage of H.R. 2, the INVEST Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increase various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied on appointees to the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 582, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534/S. 1174, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6906 the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act to provide compensation for injuries to any individual, or their families, who are deemed an essential worker and required to leave their home to perform services and who have become ill or died as a result of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6139 the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020 that would direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS- CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6955 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020 that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of development of a labor management taskforce to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6246, the "Protecting Collective Bargaining and Official Time for Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6909, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3677/H.R. 6559, the "COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act." Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6733, the "Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act." Lobbied in support of S. 3561, the "Emergency Telework Act of 2020." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8457/S. 4777, the Federal Worker Leave Fairness Act to restore leave lost by Federal employees during certain public health emergencies, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7340, the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act to ensure that personal protective equipment and other equipment and supplies needed to fight coronavirus are provided to employees required to return to Federal offices, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7496, the COVID PREPARE Act to require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7524/S. 4610, the Wear Your Mask Act to require face masks in Federal facilities to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Lobbied in support of S. 4347, the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act to establish a Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Task Force, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7076/S. 3855, the Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics (CORE) Act to ensure ethical and accountable use of COVID-19 relief funds, to prevent corruption and bias in the disbursement and supervision of those funds. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6373 to increase the amount available under the "Defense Production Act of 1950" to respond to the coronavirus epidemic. Lobbied in support of S. 3570 to provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the "Defense Production Act of 1950." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6398 the Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act to direct certain actions to procure equipment necessary to prevent, identify, and mitigate cases of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Lobbied in support of S. 3763 the Pandemic Responder Service Award Act to provide a flexible award for front line health care workers who have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to pay off existing student loans, to obtain further education or to establish a savings account to help workers purchase housing, save for retirement or establish a childrens savings account for their dependents. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6390/S. 3568, the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act of 2020 directing the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6410 directing the President to use authority under the "Defense Production Act of 1950" to ensure an adequate supply of equipment necessary for limiting the spread of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6746, the Emergency Benefits for Independent Workers Program Act to require the Secretary of Labor to establish a program for providing portable benefits to eligible workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6442/S. 3513, the Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act of 2020 to provide Americans with paid sick time and paid leave so that they can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families. Lobbied in support of H.R. 933 a congressional resolution recognizing COVID-19 frontline workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8349 to provide hazard pay to frontline essential workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 ,the FY2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 the December 12, 2020 [for Homeland only - including the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act]. Lobbied in support of S. 4136 the "COST of Relocations Act." Lobbied in support of making the payroll tax deferral optional for federal employees. Lobbied in support of S. 4518, the "Pandemic Federal Telework Act of 2020." Lobbied in opposition to forced suspension of withholding FICA taxes from federal employees payroll Sept. - Dec. 2020 to be repaid Jan. - Apr. 2021 and in support of passage of H.R. 8171, the "Save Our Social Security Now Act." Lobbied against forced retirement or termination of federal employees who have been injured on the job and have had their medical treatment delayed because of COVID-19. Lobbied for lawmakers to support efforts to restart collective bargaining with Department of Education employees and provide adequate funding and oversight of the Departments mission, including protecting students civil rights and fairly and equitably provide student loans. Lobbied for emergency funding for the aviation industry to protect jobs of airline and airport workers. Lobbied in support of continuation of the A-76 public-private competition moratorium. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied against furloughs of more than 70% of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) workforce, effectively shutting down the agencys operations indefinitely. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8089, the Emergency Stopgap Stabilization Act and H.R. 7508 providing FY 2020 supplemental appropriations for USCIS and for the inclusion of H.R. 8089 in H.R. 8377 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied against the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Lobbied against the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. Lobbied for H.R. 7521 the "Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act" and S. 4338 the "Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
FY 2021 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied against reopening of EPA offices without adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
Lobbied for support of provisions in H.R. 6395/S. 4049 the "National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2021." Lobbied in support of Norcross Amendment, which became section 1102, Limitation on authority to exclude employees from chaper 71 of title 5, of the House NDAA bill, including retention of provision through Conference. This provision would defund implementation of any effort to excluded DoD or components of DoD from collective bargaining pursuant to chapter 71 of title 5. Lobbied in support of Larsen amendment 738 which became directive report language in the House NDAA pertaining to the contractor inventory, planning, programming and budgeting of services contracts and the impact this has on civilian reductions during Defense Wide Reviews. Lobbied in support of House NDAA bill language section 1106, Limiting the number of local wage areas defined within a pay locality. Lobbied in support of House NDAA bill language section 1101, Paid parental leave technical corrections, to cover federal employees who are currently ineligible because they are not title 5 employees. Lobbied in support of the Houlahan amendment, which because House NDAA section 911, Limitation on reduction of civilian workforce. Lobbied against the Pentagon Force Protection Agencys misuse of medical standards in a discriminatory manner in violation of various civil rights laws. Lobbied House Armed Services Committee regarding Ranking Member Thornberrys Acquisition Reform proposal that became section 806, Defense Reform, of the House NDAA bill to ensure mandated savings targets were excluded and that any reporting of savings with the budget not be the result of deferring requirements or assuming risk. Lobbied in support of sections 1121 through 1128 of the House NDAA bill reforming the federal employee workforce equal employment opportunity reforms of the process for investigating and adjudicating complaints. Lobbied in support of section 1808, COVID-19 Emergency Medical Supplies Enhancement, of the House NDAA bill, regulating the use of the Defense Production Act authorities for the manufacture and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment. Lobbied for passage of H.R. 7574, the "Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020." Lobbied in support of section 1111 of the House NDAA bill that includes pandemic leave as an exigency of public business for purposes of carrying over annual leave. Lobbied in support of sections 714, 715, 716 and 722 of the House NDAA bill, extending the DoD Health reorganization until 2025; extending the bar on reductions or realignment of military medical structure; requiring TRICARE quality standards be reported to Congress; and the development of a Departmental medical COVID-19 strategy. Lobbied in support of section 633 of the House NDAA bill, Updated business case analysis on consolidation of Defense Resale System. Lobbied in support of section 2702 of the Senate NDAA bill, Prohibition on conducting additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Lobbied against expanding public-private talent exchanges unless they contained limitations against contractors performing inherently governmental functions and enhanced public disclosure requirements for contractor employees detailed to perform federal government jobs. Lobbied against section 937 of the Senate NDAA bill, Applicability to Other Provisions of Law, that would exempt the Space Force from Title 5, 10, 18, 31, 37, 38 and 41. Lobbied against section 946 of the Senate NDAA bill that would expand the Acquisition Demonstration authority to Space Force acquisition personnel. Lobbied against various expansions of direct hire authority in the Senate NDAA bill sections 1106, 1108, 1109 and 1110. Lobbied against the expansion of commercial items in section 820 and 820C of the House NDAA bill. Lobbied against section 841 of the Senate NDAA bill that would provide broad authority to acquire commercial products and services using general solicitation competitive procedures. Lobbied against raising the Truth in Negotiations Act threshold in section 842 of the Senate NDAA bill. Lobbied against section 373 of the Senate NDAA bill that provides an exception to the title 10 United States Code section 2465 prohibition against contracting the security guard function in the case of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Museums. Lobbied in support of section 8012 of the House Defense Appropriations bill, prohibiting managing the DoD civilian workforce to personnel caps and requiring managing the DoD civilian workforce to budget and workload. Lobbied in support of continuation of the A-76 public-private competition moratorium. Lobbied in support of aligning wage grade pay localities with general schedule localities in section 736 of the Financial Services General Government Appropriation for FY 2021 in the House Bill. Lobbied in support of protecting collective bargaining on a government wide basis in section 741 of the Financial Services General Government Appropriation for FY 2021 in the House Bill. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 925, the Heroes Act; H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act; and H.R. 8319 , the FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. FY 2020 Supplemental Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of H.R. 8337 making continuing appropriations for FY 2020 through December 11, 2020.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), Voice of America
FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied against reopening of EPA offices without adequate health and safety protocols. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "FAIR Act" in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5399/S. 3015, the "Locality Pay Equity Act" to limit the number of local wage areas allowable within a General Schedule pay locality. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and for inclusion of H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act in H.R. 2 and lobbied for passage of H.R. 2, the INVEST Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increase various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program. Lobbied on effects on workforce of proposed Sustainability Awareness Act. Lobbied on appointees to the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 582, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act." Lobbied in support of COVID-19 related legislation including H.R.6139 the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020. AFGE testified at the Frontline Feds: Serving the Public During a Pandemic hearing in the Government Operations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Thursday, June 25, 2020. AFGE testified at the Business as Usual? Assessing How DHS Can Resume Operations Safely hearing in the Oversight, Management, & Accountability Subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. AFGE provided a statement for the record for the hearing on No Worker Left Behind: Supporting Essential Workers hearing in the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534/S. 1174, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6906 the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act that would provide compensation for injuries to any individual, or their families, who are deemed an essential worker and required to leave their home to perform services and who have become ill or died as a result of COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6139 the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020 that would direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an emergency temporary standard that requires certain employers to develop and implement a comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plan to protect employees in the health care sectors and other employees at elevated risk from exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6955 the Essential Worker Pandemic Compensation Act of 2020 that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result of COVID-19 or related complications. Lobbied in support of development of a labor management taskforce to address COVID-19. Lobbied in support of a presumption of worksite illness for employees who apply for workers comp who get COVID-19. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6246, the "Protecting Collective Bargaining and Official Time for Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6909, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of S. 3677/H.R. 6559, the "COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act." Lobbied in support of introduction of the Fair and Accurate Information Reporting (FAIR) Act to assist consumers with their credit reports during pandemic job loss. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6733, the "Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act." Lobbied in support of S. 3561, the "Emergency Telework Act of 2020." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
Lobbied for support of provisions in H.R. 6395/S. 4049 the "National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2021." Lobbied Personal Protective Equipment issues related to Defense Product Act in H.R. 6390, the "Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act." Lobbied Armed Services Committees against TRANSCOM household goods management privatization. Lobbied HASC and SASC regarding Commissary and Child Care Personal Protective Equipment shortages. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to GAO review of DoD Plans to merge DeCA with Exchanges. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to NDAA 2020 GAO and FFRDC directed studies on borrowed military manpower, total force management, term and temporary abuses and hiring process. Lobbied in favor of H.R. 2581 and S. 1357, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019" being included in markup of National Defense Authorization act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021). Lobbied HASC, SASC, HAC-D, SAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG to defund implementation of national security exception under chapter 71 of title 5 related to collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for Congressional letters to Secretary of Defense Esper and President Trump regarding his delegation of authority to the Secretary of Defense to exclude collective bargaining from DoD or components of DoD. Lobbied HASC and SASC with language to condition implementation of Trump delegation of authority on Pentagon report to Congress subject to GAO review. Lobbied HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG for continuation of public-private competition moratorium. Lobbied HAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-D, and SAC-FSGG for aligning Wage Grade and General Schedule localities related to pay. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to conform section 8012 to Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA section 1103 regarding the repeal of personnel caps in DoD. Lobbied to prohibit misusing term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to create fiscal constraints against reducing DoD civilian workforce absent report to Congress on workload and readiness impacts. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to turn FY2020 HAC-D directive report language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for services contracts unless section 2329 of title 10 related to planning, programming and budgeting of contracted services and establishing compliance mechanisms for enforcing statutory outsourcing restrictions related to total force management. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include in markup of NDAA 2021 language aligning Wage Grade with General Schedule pay localities. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 markup total force management amendment limiting prohibiting any reduction of DoD civilian workforce conditioned on reporting workload and readiness impacts to Congress; provision also prohibited misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 amendment that improved compliance wit contract services planning, programming and budgeting requirements and statutory limitations on outsourcing government jobs. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment chaining the definition of "commercial items" to pre-1994 definition in order to improve governmental access to cost and pricing data and access to technical data rights. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment that would change the order of retention in reductions in force giving priority to seniority and veterans preference over performance evaluations. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to compensation and hiring as recommended by the National Commission on Public Service currently being considered for inclusion in NDAA 2021. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to hiring and expansion of Cyber excepted service recommended by National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence currently being considered for inclusion in NDADA 2021. Lobbied against Thornberry Acquisition Reform proposal that would institutionalize they SecDef Night Court process. Lobbied for restorer of job cuts to Defense Agencies resulting from SecDef Defense Wide Review reprogramming $5 Billion Lobbied in favor of Pentagon proposal to provide greater governmental access to technical data and cost and pricing data for commercial items. Lobbied against GAO recommended civilian under- execution cuts to Army, Air Force, DCMA. Lobbied for the Houlahan amendment to 10 USC 129a that prohibits the Secretary of Defense from making arbitrary cuts to the civilian workforce and requires consideration of impacts of any cuts on workload, fully burdened costs, lethality, stress of the force, military force structure and readiness. Lobbied in favor of the Larsen amendment for directive report language on services contract compliance checklists to preclude inappropriate privatization and to ensure contract services are competed and scrubbed in the programming and budgeting processes of DOD. Lobbied in favor of the Norcross amendment striking Chairmans mark language and replacing it with appropriated fund limitations against excluding an component of DOD from collective bargaining. Lobbied in favor of the Brown amendment changing framework for contractor and civilian employee accountability in public private talent exchanges. Lobbied against expansion of Acquisition Demo to Space Force. Lobbied to revise Bishop amendment that would repeal 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military by excluding direct hire features of amendment. Lobbied for inclusion of H.R.5885/S.3104 the Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act that would ensure certain federal employees who were excluded due to a technical error would receive the benefit in the FY2021 NDAA Lobbied for inclusion of H.R.1174/S.1942 the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act that would provide federal worker's compensation to firefighters who contract certain illnesses because of their service. of 2019 to be included in the FY2021 NDAA Lobbied in support of H.R. 6373, the "To increase the amount available under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to respond to the coronavirus epidemic." Lobbied in support of S. 3570, the "A bill to provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6410, the "To direct the President to use authority under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to ensure an adequate supply of equipment necessary for limiting the spread of COVID-19." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied on issues surrounding safe workplaces under the coronavirus pandemic and standards for reopening of all agencies within Homeland Security. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act," ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied against S. 3730 which allows for the privatization of airport ID checks and allowing private companies to determine whether a passenger is subject to secondary screening. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation and effects of pandemic related pay cuts. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied on proposed Air Travel Task Force legislation. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, the "DHS MORALE Act" to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. Lobbied for more PPE for TSOs, for requiring passengers to wear masks and on the notion of TSOs doing temperature screenings at checkpoints. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6647, the "Health Care Opportunities for Transportation Security Administration Employees Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6655, the "Hazardous Duty Pay for Frontline Federal Workers Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 6656, the "Coronavirus Workers' Compensation for TSA Employees Act." Lobbied in support of USCIS employees and in opposition to the furlough of 13,400 employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied against furloughs of more than 70% of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) workforce, effectively shutting down the agencys operations indefinitely. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Budget Resolution - lobbied against the Presidents FY 2021 budget. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' compensation and benefits including requiring employees to pay additional salary towards retirement. Lobbied against privatizing of airport screening jobs. FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to restore health insurance for part-time Transportation Security Officers and to restore cleaning of checkpoint lanes at airports. FY 2021 Defense Appropriations -- Lobbied in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is in compliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statutes. House directive report language (pp. 12-13) FY 2021 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2021 Interior and Environment Appropriations - Lobbied for adequate funding of EPA, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, issues related to contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2021 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied against provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against creation of a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support to provide FY 2021 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of the "Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act" (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriations act for any fiscal year. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5885/S. 3104, the "Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act." FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied for higher funding levels for the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Economic Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics relocation FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6427, the "PANDEMIC ACT" to prevent the transfer of prisoners between Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels, language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2021 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act" to provide federal employees with a 3.5% salary adjustment in 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3463/S. 1970, the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiated Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474/S. 1306, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." Lobbied against the nomination of Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan as NSF Director. Lobbied against the nomination of Keith Sonderling (R) and Andrea Lucas (R) nominees for the EEOC. Lobbied in support of Jocelyn Samuels (D) nominee for the EEOC. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied for language to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from implementing any performance appraisal system applicable to employees of the Department of Agriculture, other than Departmental Regulation DR 4040-430, dated February 6, 2019 expiring February 6, 2024. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" H.R. 266 the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act; H.R. 6800 the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2021 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied for provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef slaughter plants. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-Lobbied against proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied for full funding for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and to prohibit any funds from being spent to merge OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. FY 2021 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "FAIR Act" in support of a 3.5% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5399/S. 3015, the "Locality Pay Equity Act" to limit the number of local wage areas allowable within a General Schedule pay locality. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program Lobbied on appointees to the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 582, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the "VA MISSION Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied for AIR Act repeal. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the implementation of the "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VA's behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied to change Section 601 of S. 785 to prevent outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied to improve S. 221 because original bill would eliminate right of every VA employee to obtain clear record agreements and would report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019." Lobbied against certain provision in the draft legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020. Lobbied for the expanded use of telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for the VA providing equipment to employees to facilitate their ability to telework during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied against keeping in person computer trainings active during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for expanded use of Safety and Weather Leave for employees who cannot telecommute during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lobbied for additional PPE to be sent to VA Medical Centers and Regional Offices. Lobbied for the presumption that VA Medical Workers who contract COVID-19 did so while on duty. Lobbied for VA Medical Workers to get Pandemic Premium Pay. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2021 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5690/S. 3231, the "Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act" to provide federal employees with a 3.5% salary adjustment in 2021. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3463/S. 1970, the "Public Service Freedom to Negotiated Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474/S. 1306, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act." FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
FY 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, the "DHS MORALE Act" to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
Lobbied OGR and HSGAC against H.R. 5329 and S. 2990, the "Freedom From Government Competition Act." Lobbied issues related to Commissary supply chain in connection with H.R. 6210, the "Family First Coronovirus Response Act." Lobbied Personal Protective Equipment issues related to Defense Product Act in H.R. 6390, the "Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act." Lobbied Armed Services Committees against TRANSCOM household goods management privatization. Lobbied HASC and SASC regarding Commissary and Child Care Personal Protective Equipment shortages. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to GAO review of DoD Plans to merge DeCA with Exchanges. Lobbied HASC and SASC related to NDAA 2020 GAO and FFRDC directed studies on borrowed military manpower, total force management, term and temporary abuses and hiring process. Lobbied in favor of H.R. 2581 and S. 1357, the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019" being included in markup of National Defense Authorization act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021). Lobbied HASC, SASC, HAC-D, SAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG to defund implementation of national security exception under chapter 71 of title 5 related to collective bargaining agreements. Lobbied for Congressional letters to Secretary of Defense Esper and President Trump regarding his delegation of authority to the Secretary of Defense to exclude collective bargaining from DoD or components of DoD. Lobbied HASC and SASC with language to condition implementation of Trump delegation of authority on Pentagon report to Congress subject to GAO review. Lobbied HAC-FSGG and SAC-FSGG for continuation of public-private competition moratorium. Lobbied HAC-D, HAC-FSGG and SAC-D, and SAC-FSGG for aligning Wage Grade and General Schedule localities related to pay. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to conform section 8012 to Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA section 1103 regarding the repeal of personnel caps in DoD. Lobbied to prohibit misusing term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to create fiscal constraints against reducing DoD civilian workforce absent report to Congress on workload and readiness impacts. Lobbied HAC-D and SAC-D to turn FY2020 HAC-D directive report language prohibiting use of appropriated funds for services contracts unless section 2329 of title 10 related to planning, programming and budgeting of contracted services and establishing compliance mechanisms for enforcing statutory outsourcing restrictions related to total force management. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include in markup of NDAA 2021 language aligning Wage Grade with General Schedule pay localities. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 makeup total force management amendment limiting prohibiting any reduction of DoD civilian workforce conditioned on reporting workload and readiness impacts to Congress; provision also prohibited misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 amendment that improved compliance wit contract services planning, programming and budgeting requirements and statutory limitations on outsourcing government jobs. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment chaining the definition of "commercial items" to pre-1994 definition in order to improve governmental access to cost and pricing data and access to technical data rights. Lobbied HASC and SASC to include within NDAA 2021 an amendment that would change the order of retention in reductions in force giving priority to seniority and veterans preference over performance evaluations. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to compensation and hiring as recommended by the National Commission on Public Service currently being considered for inclusion in NDAA 2021. Lobbied HASC and SASC against proposed changes to hiring and expansion of Cyber excepted service recommended by National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence currently being considered for inclusion in NDADA 2021. FY 2020 Emergency Supplemental Coronavirus Pandemic Response Appropriations - Lobbied for passage of and inclusion of federal workforce provisions in H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act," 2020; H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act;" H.R. 6379, the "Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act;" and H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act."
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Energy, Dept of, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act, to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 The Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019. Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement.
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of HR 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S.785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied against Section 601 of S.785 because it could increase outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied against S. 221 that would eliminate the right to clear record agreements and report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, The Improve Well-being for Veterans Act to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied against S. 221, The Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
Lobbied on HR 2500 and S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) Trump Space Force anti-labor provisions in House and Senate versions. House Section Lobbying/Supported: House Section 1101 Repeal expansion of probationary period. House Section 1103 Repeal of Full Time Equivalent personnel caps and requirement to offset civilian growth. House Section 1111 Consolidated direct hire authorities within existing limits and required Federally Funded Research and Development Center study. House Section 813 Amending 2329 of title 10 Clarified responsibility for Requirements Validation for Services Contracts in Planning, Programming and Budgeting process. House Section 631 GAO Review of Defense Resale Optimization Study preventing merger of DecA with Exchanges until review Completed and Congress reviews. House Section 716 Limits medical reorganization until report provided to Congress. House Sections 711 through 715 providing additional direction on reorganization of military health system. House Sections 641 through 643 providing a more participatory framework from entities affected by the Executive Resale Board framework involving Commissaries and Exchanges. House Report Lobbying: House Report Item of Special Interest page 169 through 170 Demographic Impacts of Reductions in Force. House Report Page 478 and 479 Review of Conflicts of Interest in Organizational Analysis of the Department of Defense. Senate Section Lobbying: Senate Section 2702 Prohibit BRAC. Senate Section 901 Repeal the 25% Defense Agency targets and replaces with study requirement. Senate Section 2702 Prohibit use of funds to privatize temporary lodging on military installations. Senate Report Lobbying: Supported Commissary and Exchange report language directs GAO review on the impact of Defense Resale reform on DeCA sales. Directed report language on full time support manpower study on the mix of dual status military technicians, Active Guard and Reserve personnel and federal civilian employees employed under title 5 under supervision of state Adjutants General. Directed report language on implications of acquisition reform of past five years on the organic industrial base. Directed report language on service contract inventory reform. Directed report language on expanding capacity of child care facilities to include private sector Senate Amendment Lobbying. Supported Casey Amendment Number 568 addressing locality pay disparity. Opposed Perdue Amendment Number 315 expanding direct hire authority for AF Depot Maintenance and Repair to other occupational series. Opposed Lankford Number 485 Repealing 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military. Opposed Leahy Graham Amendment Number 569 that would weaken enhancement of authorities on forfeiture of federal benefits by the National Guard in section 1037 of the base NDAA bill. Opposed Cruz Amendment Number 500 providing tiered preference eligibility for members of Reserve Component for federal jobs. Opposed Sullivan Amendment Number 463 authorizing contracts for overhaul, repair or maintenance of naval vessels. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA (Sec.1116). Lobbied to include paid family leave provision in final NDAA.
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support, S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program Lobbied against executive appointees at the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Social Security Administration. Lobbied in support S. 2525, guaranteeing The Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 482, The Raise the Wage Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget and House FY 2020 Budget Resolution. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH). FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons; and for BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized to carry firearm under LEOSA while commuting to and from work. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
Lobbied on HR 2045, Veterans Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019 or the VET OPP Act (draft legislation) and establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA for FY 2020): Lobbied against including the Rep. Ken Calvert Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniformed and Civilian Employees Act (or REDUCE Act), H.R. 248 in the NDAA for FY 2020. Lobbied against Department of Defense Business Case Analysis and recommendations to Congress to merge Defense Commissary Activity (DeCA) with the Military Exchanges, and DoD budget recommendations to cut the appropriation to DeCA; lobbied for requesting a Government Accountability Office review of current and prior efforts to reform DeCA and apply failed practices to exchanges. Lobbied for Military Housing Privatization reforms and prohibition and to prohibit privatization of Navy lodging and TRANSCOM plans to privatize Permanent Change of Station moves, as well as further privatization of utilities at US Military Academy. Lobbied against conversion of title 5 Air Force federal government civilian employees to State employees at Selfredge Air NG Base and against conversion of dual status Military Technicians to Active Guard Reserve (AGR) positions as proposed by Ohio National Guard. Lobbied against Presidents Civilian Personnel portions of Space Force Proposal (section 1704 and 1707) that would create at will workforce exempted from title 5 due process protections and excluded from appeals outside DoD; also lobbied against involuntary transfer of DoD civilian workforce to Space Force. Lobbied to repeal changes made to title 10 United States Code section 129 in section 1101 of the FY17 NDAA and to prohibit managing the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent caps or constraints on number of employees; Lobbied in favor of requiring the DoD civilian workforce be managed solely based on workload, available funding and total force management policies of section 129a of title 10; lobbied in favor of restrictions against reducing the DoD civilian workforce arbitrarily without doing an analysis of impacts on workload, stress on the All Volunteer Miltiary, military force structure, readiness and fully burdened costs for the total force of military, civilian employee and contract; lobbied to restrict the inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities to perform enduring missions. Lobbied to repeal changes to title 10 United States Code section 2330a pertaining to the contractor services inventory made in section 812 of the FY17 NDAA that had reduced the scope of the contractor inventory to 40 percent or less of annual spend ion contract services; and to expand the scope of the contract services inventory to include all services contracts involving not only staff augmentation/personal services contracts and closely associated with inherently governmental contracts, but also contracts performing critical functions, or any functions that had been performed by military and civilian employees in the past ten years; and to include all commercial items contracts for services. Lobbied to clarify section 2329 of title 10 enacted in section 851 of FY18 NDAA that implementation was to be moved up to 2020 and that USD (Comptroller) and Director, Cost and Program Evaluation were accountable for implementation of a comprehensive contract services program and budget. Lobbied to clarify section 852 of FY18 NDAA requirement for standard guidelines for validating contract services requirements based on total force management statutes; clarification was to ensure that all the various statutory prohibitions against contracting work performed by federal government employees in DoD were captured without paraphrase or modification into comprehensive checklists that must be followed prior to awarding any services contract. Clarification also prohibited against the use of alternatives to standard checklists. Lobbied to repeal 25 percent reduction targets and related ill-conceived reorganization studies required by the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction subtitle C section of the FY2019 NDAA. This affects the Defense Finance and Accounting System, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency and all other Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities currently subject to 25 percent reduction targets. Lobbied against section 809 Panel Recommendations related to eliminating the distinction between personal services contracts and non-personal services contracts. Lobbied against section 809 Panel Recommendations to expand the scope and make permanent the authority for the Acquisition Demonstration project, a performance evaluation and compensation system very similar to the National Security Personnel System. Lobbied to repeal the at will workforce provisions enacted in section 1110 of the FY2018 NDAA related to the Cybersecurity and Legal Professionals workforces. Lobbied to extend the deferral of implementation of recently enacted changes to the definitions of commercial items contracts pending independent assessments of the impact of these revisions on contractor profits, military readiness and the organic industrial base: Temporary Suspension of Subtitle D of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 - Provisions Relating to Commercial Items. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to further limit Defense-unique requirements with a framework relying primarily on readily available and readily available with customization of products and services in the commercial market place. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to revamp DoD requirements process through a portfolio management process. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to restructure cost accounting standards to allegedly minimize the burden for government and contractors. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to repeal and replace the contractor inventory. Lobbied against Peter Levine and Bill Greenwalt recommendations to create expanded opportunities for FAR part 12 commercial buying. Lobbied to amend subsection of section 1597 of title 10 to require the order of retention for Reductions in Force return back to the order of retention prescribed by title 5 United States Code section 3502, making seniority and veterans preference a higher order of retention priority than performance; further lobbied to prohibit forced distributions or use of bell curves in performance evaluations but instead to evaluate employee performance based on Part 430 of title 5.
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied in support of Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Temporary Term Extension Act, to allow the term of the current and only MSPB member to be extended and avoid having a vacant Board. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of HR 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.
Lobbied on HR 2500 and S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) Trump Space Force anti-labor provisions in House and Senate versions. House Section Lobbying/Supported: House Section 1101 Repeal expansion of probationary period. House Section 1103 Repeal of Full Time Equivalent personnel caps and requirement to offset civilian growth. House Section 1111 Consolidated direct hire authorities within existing limits and required Federally Funded Research and Development Center study. House Section 813 Amending 2329 of title 10 Clarified responsibility for Requirements Validation for Services Contracts in Planning, Programming and Budgeting process. House Section 631 GAO Review of Defense Resale Optimization Study preventing merger of DecA with Exchanges until review Completed and Congress reviews. House Section 716 Limits medical reorganization until report provided to Congress. House Sections 711 through 715 providing additional direction on reorganization of military health system. House Sections 641 through 643 providing a more participatory framework from entities affected by the Executive Resale Board framework involving Commissaries and Exchanges. House Report Lobbying: House Report Item of Special Interest page 169 through 170 Demographic Impacts of Reductions in Force. House Report Page 478 and 479 Review of Conflicts of Interest in Organizational Analysis of the Department of Defense. Senate Section Lobbying: Senate Section 2702 Prohibit BRAC. Senate Section 901 Repeal the 25% Defense Agency targets and replaces with study requirement. Senate Section 2702 Prohibit use of funds to privatize temporary lodging on military installations. Senate Report Lobbying: Supported Commissary and Exchange report language directs GAO review on the impact of Defense Resale reform on DeCA sales. Directed report language on full time support manpower study on the mix of dual status military technicians, Active Guard and Reserve personnel and federal civilian employees employed under title 5 under supervision of state Adjutants General. Directed report language on implications of acquisition reform of past five years on the organic industrial base. Directed report language on service contract inventory reform. Directed report language on expanding capacity of child care facilities to include private sector Senate Amendment Lobbying. Supported Casey Amendment Number 568 addressing locality pay disparity. Opposed Perdue Amendment Number 315 expanding direct hire authority for AF Depot Maintenance and Repair to other occupational series. Opposed Lankford Number 485 Repealing 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military. Opposed Leahy Graham Amendment Number 569 that would weaken enhancement of authorities on forfeiture of federal benefits by the National Guard in section 1037 of the base NDAA bill. Opposed Cruz Amendment Number 500 providing tiered preference eligibility for members of Reserve Component for federal jobs. Opposed Sullivan Amendment Number 463 authorizing contracts for overhaul, repair or maintenance of naval vessels. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA (Sec.1116). Lobbied to include paid family leave provision in final NDAA.
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY 2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied in H.R. 3351 to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 264, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which provides FY 2019 appropriations to agencies responsible for regulating the financial, telecommunications, and consumer products industries; collecting taxes and assisting taxpayers; managing federal buildings and the federal workforce; and operating the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, and the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 265, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service, which is included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Farm Credit Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 266, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY 2019 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides annual appropriations for most of the Department of the Interior Lobbied in support of H.R. 267, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY 2019 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act, to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019. Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 The Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S.785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied against Section 601 of S.785 because it could increase outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied against S. 221 that would eliminate the right to clear record agreements and report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, The Improve Well-being for Veterans Act to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied against S. 221, The Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement.
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support, S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program Lobbied against executive appointees at the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Social Security Administration. Lobbied in support S. 2525, guaranteeing The Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 482, The Raise the Wage Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the "VA MISSION Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the implementation of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied to change Section 601 of S. 785 to outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied to improve S. 221 because original bill would eliminate right of every VA employee to obtain clear record agreements and would report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied for H.R. 3224, the "Deborah Sampson Act" a bill to increase health care access for women veterans. Lobbied against Representative Dunn Amendment to H.R. 3224 that would accelerate the Mission Act BRAC process. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement, privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3931, S. 2582, H.R. 1158 Consolidated Appropriations in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY2020 Defense Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 2968, S. 2474, H.R. 2740 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1158 Consolidated Appropriations in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is incompliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statues. House directive report language (pp. 12-13) FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 2745, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3052, S. 2580, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidation Appropriations on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 2740, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3351, S. 2524, H.R. 1158 to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. Lobbied to continue public-private competition moratorium. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3055, S.2584, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1158 Consolidated Appropriations for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 2163, S. 2520, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 3164, S. 2522, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System. FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied against H.R. 2960, S. 2470, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations and against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. FY2020 Legislative Branch Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 2779, S.2581, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations for passage of bill providing funds for the legislative branch. FY2020 State Foreign Operations-Lobbied for H.R. 2839, S. 2582, H.R. Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations for passage of bill to provide funding for the State Department and foreign operations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied in H.R. 3351 to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills.
Lobbied against Senator Inhofe proposed skinny NDAA. H.R. 2500/S. 1790--Lobbied in support of the "National Defense Authorization Act for FY2020. Lobbied to exclude anti-labor and anti-title 5 civilian at will personnel authorities in Space Force provisions. Lobbied to repeal Defense Agency targets, which was rejected in Conference. Lobbied to support 12 weeks of paid family leave which became 12 weeks of paid parental leave in Conference. Lobbied to repeal civilian personnel full time equivalent caps and requirements to offset any civilian employee growth with arbitrary reductions in section 1103. Lobbied for reduction of probationary period to one year; lobbied for compromise report language on demographic impacts of extended probationary period in section 1102. Lobbied in support of continuation of annual pay authorities in combat zone and overseas in section 1104 and 1105. Lobbied to clarify limitations on converting civilian positions to military in section 1106. Lobbied to limit expansion of direct hire authorities and for federally funded research and development center study on hiring process in section 1109. Lobbied to prohibit reorganization of office of personnel management pending an independent report by NAPA in section 1112. Lobbied in support of service contract planning, programming and budgeting responsibility clarification in section 817. Lobbied in support of limiting reorganization of Defense Media activities pending Congressional report in section 922. Lobbied in support of section 375 directing GAO review of personal property movements management. Lobbied in support of section 413 limitations on involuntary conversions of dual status military technicians to Active Guard Reserve status, with provision of authority to increase military technician end strength if there are insufficient voluntary conversions. Lobbied in support of Defense Resale governance provisions in section 631 and for prohibition of merger of Commissaries with Exchanges pending acceptance of a GAO review in section 633. Lobbied in support of following studies and audits in HASC report language: Optimizing Total Force Management (p. 254); audit of readiness impact of borrowed military manpower (p. 255); audit on misuses of term and temporary hiring authorities (p. 255-6); review of conflicts of interest in organization analysis of DoD (pp. 267-8). Lobbied in support of moratorium on privatized lodging, rejected in Conference, but GAO review of privatized lodging retained (see. Pp. 360-1).
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1221 and S. 1637 the "Agriculture Research Integrity Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1221 and S. 1637 the "Agriculture Research Integrity Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled.
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. H.R. 3055--FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. H.R. 3055--FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.1% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program Lobbied against executive appointees at the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Social Security Administration. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 482, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act."
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
Lobbied on HR 2045, Veterans Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019 or the VET OPP Act (draft legislation) and establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums.
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA for FY 2020): Lobbied against including the Rep. Ken Calvert Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniformed and Civilian Employees Act (or REDUCE Act), H.R. 248 in the NDAA for FY 2020. Lobbied against Department of Defense Business Case Analysis and recommendations to Congress to merge Defense Commissary Activity (DeCA) with the Military Exchanges, and DoD budget recommendations to cut the appropriation to DeCA; lobbied for requesting a Government Accountability Office review of current and prior efforts to reform DeCA and apply failed practices to exchanges. Lobbied for Military Housing Privatization reforms and prohibition and to prohibit privatization of Navy lodging and TRANSCOM plans to privatize Permanent Change of Station moves, as well as further privatization of utilities at US Military Academy. Lobbied against conversion of title 5 Air Force federal government civilian employees to State employees at Selfredge Air NG Base and against conversion of dual status Military Technicians to Active Guard Reserve (AGR) positions as proposed by Ohio National Guard. Lobbied against Presidents Civilian Personnel portions of Space Force Proposal (section 1704 and 1707) that would create at will workforce exempted from title 5 due process protections and excluded from appeals outside DoD; also lobbied against involuntary transfer of DoD civilian workforce to Space Force. Lobbied to repeal changes made to title 10 United States Code section 129 in section 1101 of the FY17 NDAA and to prohibit managing the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent caps or constraints on number of employees; Lobbied in favor of requiring the DoD civilian workforce be managed solely based on workload, available funding and total force management policies of section 129a of title 10; lobbied in favor of restrictions against reducing the DoD civilian workforce arbitrarily without doing an analysis of impacts on workload, stress on the All Volunteer Miltiary, military force structure, readiness and fully burdened costs for the total force of military, civilian employee and contract; lobbied to restrict the inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities to perform enduring missions. Lobbied to repeal changes to title 10 United States Code section 2330a pertaining to the contractor services inventory made in section 812 of the FY17 NDAA that had reduced the scope of the contractor inventory to 40 percent or less of annual spend ion contract services; and to expand the scope of the contract services inventory to include all services contracts involving not only staff augmentation/personal services contracts and closely associated with inherently governmental contracts, but also contracts performing critical functions, or any functions that had been performed by military and civilian employees in the past ten years; and to include all commercial items contracts for services. Lobbied to clarify section 2329 of title 10 enacted in section 851 of FY18 NDAA that implementation was to be moved up to 2020 and that USD (Comptroller) and Director, Cost and Program Evaluation were accountable for implementation of a comprehensive contract services program and budget. Lobbied to clarify section 852 of FY18 NDAA requirement for standard guidelines for validating contract services requirements based on total force management statutes; clarification was to ensure that all the various statutory prohibitions against contracting work performed by federal government employees in DoD were captured without paraphrase or modification into comprehensive checklists that must be followed prior to awarding any services contract. Clarification also prohibited against the use of alternatives to standard checklists. Lobbied to repeal 25 percent reduction targets and related ill-conceived reorganization studies required by the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction subtitle C section of the FY2019 NDAA. This affects the Defense Finance and Accounting System, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency and all other Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities currently subject to 25 percent reduction targets. Lobbied against section 809 Panel Recommendations related to eliminating the distinction between personal services contracts and non-personal services contracts. Lobbied against section 809 Panel Recommendations to expand the scope and make permanent the authority for the Acquisition Demonstration project, a performance evaluation and compensation system very similar to the National Security Personnel System. Lobbied to repeal the at will workforce provisions enacted in section 1110 of the FY2018 NDAA related to the Cybersecurity and Legal Professionals workforces. Lobbied to extend the deferral of implementation of recently enacted changes to the definitions of commercial items contracts pending independent assessments of the impact of these revisions on contractor profits, military readiness and the organic industrial base: Temporary Suspension of Subtitle D of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 - Provisions Relating to Commercial Items. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to further limit Defense-unique requirements with a framework relying primarily on readily available and readily available with customization of products and services in the commercial market place. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to revamp DoD requirements process through a portfolio management process. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to restructure cost accounting standards to allegedly minimize the burden for government and contractors. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to repeal and replace the contractor inventory. Lobbied against Peter Levine and Bill Greenwalt recommendations to create expanded opportunities for FAR part 12 commercial buying. Lobbied to amend subsection of section 1597 of title 10 to require the order of retention for Reductions in Force return back to the order of retention prescribed by title 5 United States Code section 3502, making seniority and veterans preference a higher order of retention priority than performance; further lobbied to prohibit forced distributions or use of bell curves in performance evaluations but instead to evaluate employee performance based on Part 430 of title 5.
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget and House FY 2020 Budget Resolution. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH). FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons; and for BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized to carry firearm under LEOSA while commuting to and from work. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied in support of Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Temporary Term Extension Act, to allow the term of the current and only MSPB member to be extended and avoid having a vacant Board. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation.
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, the 2020 Census Accountability Act; HR 4013, the 2020 American Census Investment Act; and S 2366, the Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression.
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1221 and S. 1637 the "Agriculture Research Integrity Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. H.R. 3055--FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of protecting federal employee collective bargaining rights. H.R. 3055--FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied in support of a 3.1% pay increase for federal workers. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534, the "Federal Employee Paid Leave Act" that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, the "Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act," granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174/S. 1942, the "Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019," to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the "Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act," to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of S. 858, the "Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act," requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195/S. 473, the "Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act," to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, the "Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019," to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program Lobbied against executive appointees at the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Social Security Administration. Lobbied in support of S. 2525, guaranteeing the "Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 482, the "Raise the Wage Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, the "Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019." Lobbied against H.R. 4090, the "Do Your Job Act of 2019." Lobbied in support of H.R. 3607, the "Fossil Energy Research and Development Act."
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the "Strengthening American Transportation Security Act," which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, the "Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act," to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4020 the "Checkpoint Safety Act," to require armed law enforcement at checkpoints in large airports.
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99/S. 1508, the "Thin Blue Line Act" which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the "Equality Act," which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3980 and S. 2264 "Eric's Law," to require that crimes punishable death receive a unanimous jury verdict or a new jury be impaneled.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied on the confirmations of Chad Bungard, Dennis Dean Kirk, and Julia Clark to serve on the MSPB. Lobbied against confirmation of Catherine Bird to be General Counsel of FLRA. Lobbied against confirmation of David Black to be Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the "Equal COLA Act," to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the "Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019," to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S. 426 and H.R. 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, the "Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act," to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, the "Paycheck Fairness Act," To amend the "Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938" to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the "Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019." Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied against the severe reduction of "excluded time" proposed by the VA in the "#bestyearever" plan. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the "VA MISSION Act." Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the implementation of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied to change Section 601 of S. 785 to outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied to improve S. 221 because original bill would eliminate right of every VA employee to obtain clear record agreements and would report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied to improve H.R. 3530, the "Improving Confidence in Veterans' Care Act." Specifically sections on clinician reporting and clear record agreements. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, the "Improve Well-being for Veterans Act" to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied for Representative Takano's "Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 3495" Lobbied against S. 221, the "Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act" to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement. Lobbied for H.R. 3224, the "Deborah Sampson Act" a bill to increase health care access for women veterans. Lobbied against Representative Dunn Amendment to H.R. 3224 that would accelerate the Mission Act BRAC process. Lobbied against H.R. 3996, the "VA Design Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019" that would force the VA to use the designed build process. Lobbied against H.R. 3995, the "Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2019." Lobbied against S. 1101, the "Better Examiner Standards and Transparency for Veterans Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1221 and S. 1637 the "Agriculture Research Integrity Act of 2019."
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement, privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3931, S. 2582, H.R. 1158 Consolidated Appropriations in support for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY2020 Defense Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 2968, S. 2474, H.R. 2740 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1158 Consolidated Appropriations in support of limitations on use of appropriated funds for service contracts unless their planning, programming and budgeting is incompliance with section 2329 of title 10 and related total force management statues. House directive report language (pp. 12-13) FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 2745, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations in support for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3052, S. 2580, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidation Appropriations on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 2740, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Lobbied for increased Social Security Administration funding and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3351, S. 2524, H.R. 1158 to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. Lobbied to continue public-private competition moratorium. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 3055, S.2584, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1158 Consolidated Appropriations for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--Lobbied for H.R. 2163, S. 2520, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 3164, S. 2522, H.R. 3055 Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System. FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--Lobbied against H.R. 2960, S. 2470, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations and against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. FY2020 Legislative Branch Appropriations-Lobbied for H.R. 2779, S.2581, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations for passage of bill providing funds for the legislative branch. FY2020 State Foreign Operations-Lobbied for H.R. 2839, S. 2582, H.R. Consolidated Appropriations, H.R. 1865 Consolidated Appropriations for passage of bill to provide funding for the State Department and foreign operations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and several independent agencies. Lobbied in H.R. 3351 to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY 2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY 2020 appropriations bills.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
Lobbied on HR 2500 and S 1790, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 with respect to the following issues: Repeal expansion of probationary period (House Section 1101) (House Armed Services Committee staff). Repeal of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) personnel caps and requirement to offset civilian growth with arbitrary reductions (House Section 1103) (Rep. Norcross) Consolidated direct hire authorities within existing limits and required Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) study to evaluate steps to improve competitive hiring process and diversity of workforce (with required input from unions and other stakeholders) (House Section 1111) (Rep. Houlahan). Direct Secretary of Defense Report not later than Mar 2020 concerning demographic impacts of Reductions In Force (RIF) on or after Jan. 1, 2016 (when order of retention during RIFs changed) by Defense Component segregated by performance evaluation criteria. House Report Item of Special Interest pp. 169-170. (Rep. Bishop and HASC Committee staff). Trump Space Force at will anti-labor provisions not implemented; but issue will come back next year with requested DoD recommendations on personnel authorities. Space Force provisions enacted in both House and Senate bill. Review of Conflicts of Interest in Organizational Analysis of the Department of Defense -House p. 478-9 -(Rep. Brown). Clarified responsibility for Requirements Validation for Services Contracts in Planning, Programming and Budgeting process (Section 813 -Amending 2329 of title 10) (HASC Committee staff). Directs Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of Borrowed Military Manpower replacing DoD civilian employees impact on readiness (including unit status reports) -(Re. Houlahan) Direct GAO review on misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring missions. -(Rep. Norcross). Direct Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) review of total force management processes to increase size of DoD civilian workforce based on force structure and readiness. (Rep. Norcross and HASC Committee staff). GAO Review of Defense Resale Optimization Study preventing merger of DecA with Exchanges until review Completed and Congress reviews - House Section 631. Rep. Speier and Rep. Gallego). Limits medical reorganization until report provided to Congress. Section 716 (HASC Committee staff) Strengthens federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and expands accountability. (HASC committee staff) Provide authority for 12 weeks of paid Family Medical Leave to federal employees. (Maloney Speier Amendment striking markup language that would have exempted acquisition workforce from chapter 71 of title 5 Prohibit BRAC (Senate section 2702) Repeal the 25% Defense Agency targets and replaces with study requirement (Senate section 901(a). Prohibit use of funds to privatize temporary lodging on military installations (Senate section 2702)/ Support sections 711-715 providing additional direction on reorganization of military health system Support sections 641-643 providing a more participatory framework from entities affected by the Executive Resale Board framework involving Commissaries and Exchanges; provides for expanded beneficiary pool through user fees. Commissary and Exchange report language directs GAO review on the impact of Defense Resale reform on DecA sales, patrons and employees, savings, etc. (Senate Report p. 199-202). Directed report language on full time support manpower study on the mix of dual status military technicians, Active Guard and Reserve personnel and federal civilian employees employed under title 5 under supervision of state Adjutants General (Apr 2021) (Senate Report p. 189) Directed report language on implications of acquisition reform of past five years on the organic industrial base (Feb 2020). (Senate Report P.225). Uncertified cost data. (Senate Report P. 228-9). Directed report language on service contract inventory reform (Mar 2020). (Senate Report P. 226-7) Directed report language on expanding capacity of child care facilities to include private sector p. 177 Support Casey Amendment (SA 568) addressing locality pay disparity did not get in Oppose Perdue Amendment (SA 315) expanding direct hire authority for AF Depot Maintenance and Repair to other occupational series. Oppose Lankford (SA 485) repealing 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military. Oppose Leahy-Graham Amendment (SA #569) that would weaken enhancement of authorities on forfeiture of federal benefits by the National Guard in section 1037 of the base NDAA bill. Oppose Cruz Amendment (SA 500) providing tiered preference eligibility for members of Reserve Component for federal jobs. Oppose Sullivan Amendment (SA 463) authorizing contracts for overhaul, repair or maintenance of naval vessels.
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support, S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, the 2020 Census Accountability Act; HR 4013, the 2020 American Census Investment Act; and S 2366, the Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of HR 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums.
Lobbied on HR 2045, Veterans Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019 or the VET OPP Act (draft legislation) and establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 Lobbies on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S.785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied against Section 601 of S.785 because it could increase outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied against S.221 that would eliminate the right to clear record agreements and report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied in support of Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Temporary Term Extension Act, to allow the term of the current and only MSPB member to be extended and avoid having a vacant Board. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied for H.R. 1235 MSPB, the Temporary Term Extension Act, to extend the term of office for currently serving members of the merit systems protection board by 1 year.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act, to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget and House FY 2020 Budget Resolution. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and Several independent agencies Lobbied in support of H.R. 264, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which provides FY2019 appropriations to agencies responsible for regulating the financial, telecommunications, and consumer products industries; collecting taxes and assisting taxpayers; managing federal buildings and the federal workforce; and operating the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, and the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 265, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service, which is included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Farm Credit Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 266, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides annual appropriations for most of the Department of the Interior Lobbied in support of H.R. 267, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. Lobbied in support of H.R. 268, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, providing $12.1 billion in FY2019 supplemental appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to the consequences of recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. Lobbied in support of H.J. Res. 28 - Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, providing continuing FY2019 appropriations to several federal agencies through the earlier of February 15, 2019, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations legislation. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and ends the partial government shutdown that began after the existing CR expired on December 21, 2018, because seven of the remaining FY2019 appropriations bills have not been enacted. Lobbied in support of H.R. 648, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 6 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 2157, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, providing $17.2 billion in FY2019 supplemental appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to the consequences of recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums. Lobbied in support of H.R. 748 The Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019.
Lobbied on HR 2500 and S 1790 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) Trump Space Force anti-labor provisions in House and Senate versions. House Section Lobbying/Supported: House Section 1101 Repeal expansion of probationary period. House Section 1103 Repeal of Full Time Equivalent personnel caps and requirement to offset civilian growth. House Section 1111 Consolidated direct hire authorities within existing limits and required Federally Funded Research and Development Center study. House Section 813 Amending 2329 of title 10 Clarified responsibility for Requirements Validation for Services Contracts in Planning, Programming and Budgeting process. House Section 631 GAO Review of Defense Resale Optimization Study preventing merger of DecA with Exchanges until review Completed and Congress reviews. House Section 716 Limits medical reorganization until report provided to Congress. House Sections 711 through 715 providing additional direction on reorganization of military health system. House Sections 641 through 643 providing a more participatory framework from entities affected by the Executive Resale Board framework involving Commissaries and Exchanges. House Report Lobbying: House Report Item of Special Interest page 169 through 170 Demographic Impacts of Reductions in Force. House Report Page 478 and 479 Review of Conflicts of Interest in Organizational Analysis of the Department of Defense. Senate Section Lobbying: Senate Section 2702 Prohibit BRAC. Senate Section 901 Repeal the 25% Defense Agency targets and replaces with study requirement. Senate Section 2702 Prohibit use of funds to privatize temporary lodging on military installations. Senate Report Lobbying: Supported Commissary and Exchange report language directs GAO review on the impact of Defense Resale reform on DeCA sales. Directed report language on full time support manpower study on the mix of dual status military technicians, Active Guard and Reserve personnel and federal civilian employees employed under title 5 under supervision of state Adjutants General. Directed report language on implications of acquisition reform of past five years on the organic industrial base. Directed report language on service contract inventory reform. Directed report language on expanding capacity of child care facilities to include private sector Senate Amendment Lobbying. Supported Casey Amendment Number 568 addressing locality pay disparity. Opposed Perdue Amendment Number 315 expanding direct hire authority for AF Depot Maintenance and Repair to other occupational series. Opposed Lankford Number 485 Repealing 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military. Opposed Leahy Graham Amendment Number 569 that would weaken enhancement of authorities on forfeiture of federal benefits by the National Guard in section 1037 of the base NDAA bill. Opposed Cruz Amendment Number 500 providing tiered preference eligibility for members of Reserve Component for federal jobs. Opposed Sullivan Amendment Number 463 authorizing contracts for overhaul, repair or maintenance of naval vessels. Lobbied to prohibit the merger of OPM and GSA (Sec.1116). Lobbied to include paid family leave provision in final NDAA.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied in support of H.R. 4328, the Protecting Innocent Consumers Affected by the Shutdown Act of 2019. Lobbied Education and Labor Committee on collective bargaining contract effects on the Education workforce and Secretary's actions to alter the Department's work on student loans and civil rights enforcement.
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support, S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program Lobbied against executive appointees at the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Social Security Administration. Lobbied in support S. 2525, guaranteeing The Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 482, The Raise the Wage Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2474, Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of HR 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act, to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. Lobbied in support of reauthorizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program and for changes to address workforce needs. Lobbied against Ready Reserve Corps in the Public Health Service.
Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury. Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center. Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract. Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S.785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied against Section 601 of S.785 because it could increase outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied against S. 221 that would eliminate the right to clear record agreements and report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions. Lobbied against the elimination of Claims Assistant positions across the VBA. Lobbied for the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied against S. 1906/H.R. 3495, The Improve Well-being for Veterans Act to provide grants to outside groups to provide mental health treatment referrals for mental health treatment and wraparound services to veterans. Lobbied against S. 221, The Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act to report every Title 38 clinician adverse action to national practitioner data bank and state licensing board and prohibit every VA employee from entering into a clear record agreement.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied in support of Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Temporary Term Extension Act, to allow the term of the current and only MSPB member to be extended and avoid having a vacant Board. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied for H.R. 1235 MSPB, the Temporary Term Extension Act, to extend the term of office for currently serving members of the merit systems protection board by 1 year.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act, to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
Lobbied on HR 2500 and S 1790, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 with respect to the following issues: Repeal expansion of probationary period (House Section 1101) (House Armed Services Committee staff). Repeal of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) personnel caps and requirement to offset civilian growth with arbitrary reductions (House Section 1103) (Rep. Norcross) Consolidated direct hire authorities within existing limits and required Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) study to evaluate steps to improve competitive hiring process and diversity of workforce (with required input from unions and other stakeholders) (House Section 1111) (Rep. Houlahan). Direct Secretary of Defense Report not later than Mar 2020 concerning demographic impacts of Reductions In Force (RIF) on or after Jan. 1, 2016 (when order of retention during RIFs changed) by Defense Component segregated by performance evaluation criteria. House Report Item of Special Interest pp. 169-170. (Rep. Bishop and HASC Committee staff). Trump Space Force at will anti-labor provisions not implemented; but issue will come back next year with requested DoD recommendations on personnel authorities. Space Force provisions enacted in both House and Senate bill. Review of Conflicts of Interest in Organizational Analysis of the Department of Defense -House p. 478-9 -(Rep. Brown). Clarified responsibility for Requirements Validation for Services Contracts in Planning, Programming and Budgeting process (Section 813 -Amending 2329 of title 10) (HASC Committee staff). Directs Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of Borrowed Military Manpower replacing DoD civilian employees impact on readiness (including unit status reports) -(Re. Houlahan) Direct GAO review on misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring missions. -(Rep. Norcross). Direct Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) review of total force management processes to increase size of DoD civilian workforce based on force structure and readiness. (Rep. Norcross and HASC Committee staff). GAO Review of Defense Resale Optimization Study preventing merger of DecA with Exchanges until review Completed and Congress reviews - House Section 631. Rep. Speier and Rep. Gallego). Limits medical reorganization until report provided to Congress. Section 716 (HASC Committee staff) Strengthens federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and expands accountability. (HASC committee staff) Provide authority for 12 weeks of paid Family Medical Leave to federal employees. (Maloney Speier Amendment striking markup language that would have exempted acquisition workforce from chapter 71 of title 5 Prohibit BRAC (Senate section 2702) Repeal the 25% Defense Agency targets and replaces with study requirement (Senate section 901(a). Prohibit use of funds to privatize temporary lodging on military installations (Senate section 2702)/ Support sections 711-715 providing additional direction on reorganization of military health system Support sections 641-643 providing a more participatory framework from entities affected by the Executive Resale Board framework involving Commissaries and Exchanges; provides for expanded beneficiary pool through user fees. Commissary and Exchange report language directs GAO review on the impact of Defense Resale reform on DecA sales, patrons and employees, savings, etc. (Senate Report p. 199-202). Directed report language on full time support manpower study on the mix of dual status military technicians, Active Guard and Reserve personnel and federal civilian employees employed under title 5 under supervision of state Adjutants General (Apr 2021) (Senate Report p. 189) Directed report language on implications of acquisition reform of past five years on the organic industrial base (Feb 2020). (Senate Report P.225). Uncertified cost data. (Senate Report P. 228-9). Directed report language on service contract inventory reform (Mar 2020). (Senate Report P. 226-7) Directed report language on expanding capacity of child care facilities to include private sector p. 177 Support Casey Amendment (SA 568) addressing locality pay disparity did not get in Oppose Perdue Amendment (SA 315) expanding direct hire authority for AF Depot Maintenance and Repair to other occupational series. Oppose Lankford (SA 485) repealing 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military. Oppose Leahy-Graham Amendment (SA #569) that would weaken enhancement of authorities on forfeiture of federal benefits by the National Guard in section 1037 of the base NDAA bill. Oppose Cruz Amendment (SA 500) providing tiered preference eligibility for members of Reserve Component for federal jobs. Oppose Sullivan Amendment (SA 463) authorizing contracts for overhaul, repair or maintenance of naval vessels.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
Lobbied on HR 2045, Veterans Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019 or the VET OPP Act (draft legislation) and establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (HR 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1133 and S 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 Lobbies on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S.785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied against Section 601 of S.785 because it could increase outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied against S.221 that would eliminate the right to clear record agreements and report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, the 2020 Census Accountability Act; HR 4013, the 2020 American Census Investment Act; and S 2366, the Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of HR 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support, S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of HR 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of HR 1327 and S 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of HR 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes.
FY 2020 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied in support of Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Temporary Term Extension Act, to allow the term of the current and only MSPB member to be extended and avoid having a vacant Board. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of HR 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of HR 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S 426 and HR 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S 521 and HR 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S 530 and HR 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees.
FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and HR 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of HR 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation.
FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA for FY 2020): Lobbied against including the Rep. Ken Calvert Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniformed and Civilian Employees Act (or REDUCE Act), H.R. 248 in the NDAA for FY 2020. Lobbied against Department of Defense Business Case Analysis and recommendations to Congress to merge Defense Commissary Activity (DeCA) with the Military Exchanges, and DoD budget recommendations to cut the appropriation to DeCA; lobbied for requesting a Government Accountability Office review of current and prior efforts to reform DeCA and apply failed practices to exchanges. Lobbied for Military Housing Privatization reforms and prohibition and to prohibit privatization of Navy lodging and TRANSCOM plans to privatize Permanent Change of Station moves, as well as further privatization of utilities at US Military Academy. Lobbied against conversion of title 5 Air Force federal government civilian employees to State employees at Selfredge Air NG Base and against conversion of dual status Military Technicians to Active Guard Reserve (AGR) positions as proposed by Ohio National Guard. Lobbied against Presidents Civilian Personnel portions of Space Force Proposal (section 1704 and 1707) that would create at will workforce exempted from title 5 due process protections and excluded from appeals outside DoD; also lobbied against involuntary transfer of DoD civilian workforce to Space Force. Lobbied to repeal changes made to title 10 United States Code section 129 in section 1101 of the FY17 NDAA and to prohibit managing the DoD civilian workforce to Full Time Equivalent caps or constraints on number of employees; Lobbied in favor of requiring the DoD civilian workforce be managed solely based on workload, available funding and total force management policies of section 129a of title 10; lobbied in favor of restrictions against reducing the DoD civilian workforce arbitrarily without doing an analysis of impacts on workload, stress on the All Volunteer Miltiary, military force structure, readiness and fully burdened costs for the total force of military, civilian employee and contract; lobbied to restrict the inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities to perform enduring missions. Lobbied to repeal changes to title 10 United States Code section 2330a pertaining to the contractor services inventory made in section 812 of the FY17 NDAA that had reduced the scope of the contractor inventory to 40 percent or less of annual spend ion contract services; and to expand the scope of the contract services inventory to include all services contracts involving not only staff augmentation/personal services contracts and closely associated with inherently governmental contracts, but also contracts performing critical functions, or any functions that had been performed by military and civilian employees in the past ten years; and to include all commercial items contracts for services. Lobbied to clarify section 2329 of title 10 enacted in section 851 of FY18 NDAA that implementation was to be moved up to 2020 and that USD (Comptroller) and Director, Cost and Program Evaluation were accountable for implementation of a comprehensive contract services program and budget. Lobbied to clarify section 852 of FY18 NDAA requirement for standard guidelines for validating contract services requirements based on total force management statutes; clarification was to ensure that all the various statutory prohibitions against contracting work performed by federal government employees in DoD were captured without paraphrase or modification into comprehensive checklists that must be followed prior to awarding any services contract. Clarification also prohibited against the use of alternatives to standard checklists. Lobbied to repeal 25 percent reduction targets and related ill-conceived reorganization studies required by the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction subtitle C section of the FY2019 NDAA. This affects the Defense Finance and Accounting System, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency and all other Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities currently subject to 25 percent reduction targets. Lobbied against section 809 Panel Recommendations related to eliminating the distinction between personal services contracts and non-personal services contracts. Lobbied against section 809 Panel Recommendations to expand the scope and make permanent the authority for the Acquisition Demonstration project, a performance evaluation and compensation system very similar to the National Security Personnel System. Lobbied to repeal the at will workforce provisions enacted in section 1110 of the FY2018 NDAA related to the Cybersecurity and Legal Professionals workforces. Lobbied to extend the deferral of implementation of recently enacted changes to the definitions of commercial items contracts pending independent assessments of the impact of these revisions on contractor profits, military readiness and the organic industrial base: Temporary Suspension of Subtitle D of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 - Provisions Relating to Commercial Items. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to further limit Defense-unique requirements with a framework relying primarily on readily available and readily available with customization of products and services in the commercial market place. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to revamp DoD requirements process through a portfolio management process. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to restructure cost accounting standards to allegedly minimize the burden for government and contractors. Lobbied against section 809 Panel recommendations to repeal and replace the contractor inventory. Lobbied against Peter Levine and Bill Greenwalt recommendations to create expanded opportunities for FAR part 12 commercial buying. Lobbied to amend subsection of section 1597 of title 10 to require the order of retention for Reductions in Force return back to the order of retention prescribed by title 5 United States Code section 3502, making seniority and veterans preference a higher order of retention priority than performance; further lobbied to prohibit forced distributions or use of bell curves in performance evaluations but instead to evaluate employee performance based on Part 430 of title 5.
Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums.
FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, the 2020 Census Accountability Act; HR 4013, the 2020 American Census Investment Act; and S 2366, the Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act. Lobbied in support of HR 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression.
FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget and House FY 2020 Budget Resolution. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10; the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services; as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH). FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps; lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons; and for BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized to carry firearm under LEOSA while commuting to and from work. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied in support of HR 5745, Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2018, and lobbied against any efforts to cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of HR 4991, Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.
FY 2019 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2019 budget and House FY 2019 Budget Resolution. Lobbied Senate and House to oppose any cuts in federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending due to lifting of spending caps on defense and nondefense appropriations. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring workers pay additional salary towards retirement, and continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions for funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain position in the CIS related to investigation and adjudication of the immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs). HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, lobbied on TSO personnel issues. FY 2019 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--lobbied on report language that would direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provision to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. Also lobbied on proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH. Lobbied to restore $492 million reduction to Social Security Administration and add back inflation adjusted 16 percent reduction in agency spending since 2010. FY 2018/19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill--Lobbied for a continuation of the existing government-wide A-76 moratorium. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations--lobbied for a higher funding level for BOP and for report language that would prohibit the closure of any minimum security camps; require the BOP to hire adequate correctional staff and report to Congress on staffing ratios; end the use of augmentation to compensate for not hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for the inclusion of CJS report language that will direct BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized under LEOSA to carry a firearm while commuting to and from work; Lobbied for report language that would curb the use of augmentation at the Bureau of Prisons. Lobbied for adequate funding for the US Census Bureau as they begin staffing up for the 2020 Census. Lobbied on cuts to EEOC funding. FY 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations (THUD)--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working condition of federal employees. FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of an increase in the level of spending for the operations of the Social Security system. Lobbied against any potential amendments to limit or eliminate official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act), to provide no office of the Environmental Protection Agency be closed, consolidated or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation Act for any fiscal year.
Lobbied against HR 4242, House VA Committee proposal to establish a new permanent private care program to replace the Choice Program. Lobbied against S 2372, Senate VA Committee proposal to replace the Choice Program. Lobbing against HR 1461, a bill to severely limit the use of VA official time, allow union members to drop their dues at any time, and extend probation from 12 to 18 months. Lobbied against S 1477, Serve Veterans First Act of 2017, a bill to severely restrict VA official time based on wait times. Lobbied in support of HR 3459, the VA Staffing and Vacancies Transparency Act of 2017, providing for vacancy transparency at the VA. Lobbied in support of S 1723, Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017, providing for more money for the VA to hire medical professionals. Lobbied against S 2107, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act, a bill to require VA to report major adverse actions of clinicians to a national data bank and state licensing boards. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against HR 4243, the "Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017, as a real threat to the survival of the VA's health care system. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims.
FY 2019 Financial Services Appropriations--lobbied on provisions involving contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of federal employees in Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against House FY 2019 Budget Resolution proposed to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) employee premiums. Lobbied in support of HR 1884, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017. Lobbied in support of HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act. Lobbied against any round two of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and jeopardize the retirement benefits of federal employees.
FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, union representation, and contractor compensation caps. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform with Federal-Postal Coalition to oppose Title V section that would unfairly cut FECA compensation benefits for disabled federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rate (FAIR) Act--to provide both the General Schedule and Wage Grade federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018. Lobbied in support of S 255 to increase the rate of pay under the GS schedule and for prevailing rate employees by 3.2%. S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act--lobbied in support of granting Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of HR 1022/S 362, the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act--to provide up to six weeks of paid leave to federal workers upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Honoring the Fallen TSA Officers Act, a bill granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against the excessive premium increases for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) sold to federal employees and how OPM intends to represent the interests of those who purchase FLTCIP's plan in the future. Lobbied against HR 559, the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act of 2017 for its adverse impact on federal employees. Lobbied for HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to establish a more accurate computation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the Federal Government. Lobbied against HR 4182, the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017" which would arbitrarily extend the probationary period for a minimum of two years for newly hired federal employees because of its lack of addressing issues involving employee performance evaluation or management's ability to properly evaluate employees during this period. Lobbied against S 1886, the Temporary and Term Appointments Act of 2017, that would extend competitive temporary and term appoints at agency discretion. HR 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied against the requirement that OPM submit an annual report to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. HR 1385, Civil Service Incentives Integrity Act of 2017, a bill we lobbied against because it requires the retraction and repayment of recruitment and relocation bonuses paid to federal employees who have spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Additionally, a retention bonus may not be paid to any such employee who, for a period of 6 consecutive months of service associated with the bonus, has spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Official time is time spent by federal employees performing representational work for a bargaining unit in lieu of their regularly assigned work. HR 2846, Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2017, a bill that exempts an agency's authority to collect information that is voluntary feedback from the federal information resources management activities authority of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. HR 3303, First Responders Fair Retirement Act, lobbied in support of this bill that permits disabled law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled. HR 5300, Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018, lobbied against this bill that provides the authority of a federal agency to take action to restrict or prohibit access to a website, or to test, deploy, or update a cybersecurity measure, if the agency determines such action is necessary to carry out its responsibilities, shall not be: (1) limited by a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement entered into before, on, or after this bill's enactment pursuant to federal labor-management relations provisions; or (2) negotiated under such provisions.
FY 2019 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations. Lobbied for report language in FY 2018 Mil-Con VA to direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbying against HR 1364 to limit and eliminate the use of official time for all federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 3269, Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017,to repeal federal employees' increased retirement contribution within the Federal Employees Retirement System. Continued to lobby on SSA's Vision 2025 Report and its adverse impact on SSA Field Offices that account for 50% of SSA employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757 and S 255 to increase federal employee pay for FY 2018/FY 2019 by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of HR 964 and S 424, to expand the definition of a federal law enforcement officer. Lobbied against any attempts to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Government-wide.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CBP, CIS, TSA, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied on any proposals to compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels. Lobbied in support of increasing Census funding levels. Lobbied for H.R. 613 and S. 1084, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act to allow federal correctional workers to carry their personal firearms to and from work by requiring the warden of each federal prison to provide a secure place for correctional workers to store their firearm outside the secure perimeter of that BOP institution. Lobbied for H.R. 115 and S. 1085, the Thin Blue Line Act which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, 2020 Census Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of HR 4013, 2020 American Census Investment Act. Lobbied in support of S 2366, Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs its potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied against taking up S.J.Res. 28, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the final FSIS rule establishing a mandatory inspection program for "all fish of the order Siluriformes," including catfish and its products, because of the public health threat posed by importation of adulterated catfish products.
The John McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Lobbied in support of House section 824 that moved up the date for a contract services budget exhibit from 2022 to 2020, to include Future Year Defense Program detail. Lobbied in support of the Shea-Porter Amendment that became section 825 of the House bill, revising the reporting thresholds for the contractor inventory from $3 million to the simplified acquisition threshold and repealing the limitation if the contractor inventory to staff augmentation contracts." Supported the Lankford Amendment to the Senate bill expressing a Sense of Congress in support of the requirements for better budgeting of services contracts and improved contractor inventories. Lobbied in support of the Norcross Amendment that became section 902 of the House bill, repealing a civilian employee Full Time Equivalent cap process requiring offsets for any growth in the civilian workforce with reductions in civilian positions (usually vacancies); replaces this process with managing the civilian workforce based on the costs of the total force of military, civilian and contract (i.e., managing to budget and workload rather than caps.) Lobbied based on Defense Business Board recommendations to end civilian Full Time Equivalent cap. Lobbied in support of the Courtney Amendment that became section 903 of the House bill, restricting conversions of civilian positions to military based on fully burdened cost analysis of military positions and requirement that military work in Military Occupational Specialty for which they were trained. Lobbied against the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction provisions in sections 911-918 of the House bill, by changing directed realignments and eliminations of organizations and directed 25% reductions into a report to Congress. For example, language that directed elimination of the Defense Information Systems Agency in the original bill was changed to directed realignments of functions and then changed into a report. Lobbied against combining the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Lobbied against 25 percent reductions of Defense Agencies and Field Activities, including the Defense Logistics Agency. Lobbied against the Bacon Amendment relating to merger of Commissary and Exchange study that became House section 625. Later lobbied to clarify House section 625 to forestall merger of Commissaries and Exchanges without a GAO review and further Congressional action, laying out criteria prohibiting diversion of appropriated and non-appropriated funds in a way that would dilute benefits for patrons and workers earned benefits. Lobbied against Deputy Secretary of Defense moratorium on hiring an investments in information technology in Commissaries. Opposed Kennedy Amendment which would have provided authority for consolidating or merging the Defense Commissary System and Exchange System. Lobbied in support of amendments prohibiting per diem allowance reductions based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civilian travel in section 632 of Senate bill (Hirono amendment). Opposed the Perdue Amendment to Senate bill that would have reduced civil service protections and civilian employees workplace rights by lowering the evidentiary standard for misconduct and prohibiting Merit Systems Protection Board administrative judges from mitigating penalties. Opposed the Ross Amendment that became section 1112 of the House bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Johnson amendment to the Senate bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Hatch amendment that would modify the temporary direct hire authority for major range and test facilities base facilities. Supported the Cardin Amendment that would prohibit transferring any functions or services of Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities to another element of the Department of Defense without first reporting to Congress on the impact of these transfers. Supported the Collins and King Amendment providing a rule of construction on authority to reduce the civilian workforce, requiring the application of existing law. Opposed the Test Amendment that would have created a pilot program on community care and coordination contract services for Veterans. Opposed Moran amendment that would have extended Veterans preference to retired officers above the rank of major. Supported Moran Amendment requiring Congressional notification of changes in force structure of the United States Army. Lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would weaken Cost Accounting Standards and expand the definition of commercial items; lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would change the scope of the definition of services contracts and governance of personal services contracts. Opposed the Sanders Amendment which would trigger spending reductions in Department of Defense in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. Opposed Ernst Amendment that would direct VA health care dollars away from direct care to contractors Lobbied against proposals and amendments that weaken DoD or government-wide title 5 competitive selection processes, due process protections, or terms of employment. Lobbied against Office of Personnel Management proposal to cut federal employee retirement amendments in the National Defense Authorization bill. Lobbied against proposed repeal of the moratorium on A-76 competitions. Supported a change in the formula for calculating carryover funds for organic industrial base. Opposed proposals to narrow the definition of depot maintenance. Opposed expansion of the definition and application of commercial items, commercial products, and commercial services. Lobbied against Commercial items provisions of House bill at section 833 and for clarifying section 851 of the Senate bill report on the impacts of commercial items changes on readiness and sustainment costs. Opposed amendments that would expand government wide expanded use of term and temporary appointments. Opposed expanded use of direct hiring amendments. Supported amendments requiring additional reports on depot level maintenance and repair. Opposed providing permanent authority for demonstration projects and supported placing limitations on such projects, with reporting on impacts on morale and mission. Opposed Beyer Amendment in section 886 of House bill that would revise the sue of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process. Lobbied to clarify House bill section 2701 that would provide additional authority to realign or close military installations when self-nominated by Governor of State. Lobbied against The Freedom from Government Competition Act for Fiscal Year 2018 that was being marked in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Additionally lobbied House Armed Services Committee and House Rules Committee members on this bill to seek to get it withdrawn during markup. The bill would have directed the expedited contracting of all federal government employee functions that were not inherently governmental and would have substantially changed the public-private competition process in harmful ways.
Budget reconciliation involving the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of DC Government employees. Lobbied on enforcement of DC and federal laws as well as collective bargaining agreements relating to increased oversight of the conversion of public worker jobs to private contactors.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2019 Financial Services Appropriations--lobbied on provisions involving contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of federal employees in Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied in support of HR 5745, Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2018, and lobbied against any efforts to cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of HR 4991, Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. Lobbied against the realignment of the Civil Works program from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied on Americas Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies FY 2019 Appropriations bill which dealt with this realignment.
Lobbied against HR 4242, House VA Committee proposal to establish a new permanent private care program to replace the Choice Program. Lobbied against S 2372, Senate VA Committee proposal to replace the Choice Program. Lobbing against HR 1461, a bill to severely limit the use of VA official time, allow union members to drop their dues at any time, and extend probation from 12 to 18 months. Lobbied against S 1477, Serve Veterans First Act of 2017, a bill to severely restrict VA official time based on wait times. Lobbied in support of HR 3459, the VA Staffing and Vacancies Transparency Act of 2017, providing for vacancy transparency at the VA. Lobbied in support of S 1723, Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017, providing for more money for the VA to hire medical professionals. Lobbied against S 2107, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act, a bill to require VA to report major adverse actions of clinicians to a national data bank and state licensing boards. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against HR 4243, the "Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017, as a real threat to the survival of the VA's health care system. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against the merging of the Community Care and Medical Services VA appropriation accounts. Lobbied for the introduction of H.R. 6101, which would repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendations to the VA as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CBP, CIS, TSA, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied on our concerns with HR 6361, the bill to abolish ICE as a response to the "zero tolerance" policy regarding illegal entry into the US. Lobbied in support of H.Res. 990, a statement of support for the officers and personnel of ICE.
FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied on any proposals to compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels. Lobbied in support of increasing Census funding levels. Lobbied for H.R. 613 and S. 1084, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act to allow federal correctional workers to carry their personal firearms to and from work by requiring the warden of each federal prison to provide a secure place for correctional workers to store their firearm outside the secure perimeter of that BOP institution. Lobbied for H.R. 115 and S. 1085, the Thin Blue Line Act which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, 2020 Census Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of HR 4013, 2020 American Census Investment Act. Lobbied in support of S 2366, Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018. Lobbied against the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United Stated Supreme Court. Lobbied Conferees to accept the Senate version of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 by including section 12403--Civil Rights Analysis in the final conference bill.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, to grant TSOs rights under Title 5 of U.S. Code and MSPB rights; and increased funding for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Lobbied in support of HR 5534, TSA Workforce Flexibility Act, to remove statutory TSA screener cap. Lobbied in support of HR 99, Honoring our Fallen TSA Officers Act, grants public safety officer death and injury benefits to TSOs if killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 2309, the Rights for TSA Officers Act, that places TSOs under title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied against: Proposed TSA budgets cuts. Elimination of the TSA Behavior Detection Officer and Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response Team. Lobbied against HR 2997, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (AIRR) Act, that would privatize the Air Traffic Control functions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lobbied against HR 1351, the TSA Misconduct Act. Lobbied in support of HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, to retain a provision mandating discussion and a report on the TSA personnel system. S 1872, TSA Modernization Act, lobbied to address concerns of the TSO workforce's lack of statutory workplace rights and protections that apply to majority of federal workers, including workers at DHS. Lobbied to address concerns in: HR 6659, the Screening with Dignity Act HR 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act. Lobbied in support of TSA perso0nnel management system review in HR 302, FAA Reauthorization Act.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs its potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied against taking up S.J.Res. 28, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the final FSIS rule establishing a mandatory inspection program for "all fish of the order Siluriformes," including catfish and its products, because of the public health threat posed by importation of adulterated catfish products.
FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, union representation, contractor compensation caps and telework report. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform with Federal-Postal Coalition to oppose Title V section that would unfairly cut FECA compensation benefits for disabled federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rate (FAIR) Act--to provide both the General Schedule and Wage Grade federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018. Lobbied in support of S 255 to increase the rate of pay under the GS schedule and for prevailing rate employees by 3.2%. S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act--lobbied in support of granting Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of HR 1022/S 362, the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act--to provide up to six weeks of paid leave to federal workers upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Honoring the Fallen TSA Officers Act, a bill granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against the excessive premium increases for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) sold to federal employees and how OPM intends to represent the interests of those who purchase FLTCIP's plan in the future. Lobbied against HR 559, the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act of 2017 for its adverse impact on federal employees with continued attacks on rights of the civil service to collectively bargain and on the due process system necessary when defending themselves. Lobbied against the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Reauthorization Act and its failure to address the lack of ongoing personnel and resources that plague the MSPB and delays justice for federal workers who file appeals. AFGE is very concerned with Section 7 of the Act that limits VA appeals to MSBB. Lobbied for HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to establish a more accurate computation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the Federal Government. Lobbied against HR 4182, the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017" which would arbitrarily extend the probationary period for a minimum of two years for newly hired federal employees because of its lack of addressing issues involving employee performance evaluation or management's ability to properly evaluate employees during this period. Lobbied against S 1886, the Temporary and Term Appointments Act of 2017, that would extend competitive temporary and term appoints at agency discretion. HR 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied against the requirement that OPM submit an annual report to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. HR 1385, Civil Service Incentives Integrity Act of 2017, a bill we lobbied against because it requires the retraction and repayment of recruitment and relocation bonuses paid to federal employees who have spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Additionally, a retention bonus may not be paid to any such employee who, for a period of 6 consecutive months of service associated with the bonus, has spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Official time is time spent by federal employees performing representational work for a bargaining unit in lieu of their regularly assigned work. HR 3303, First Responders Fair Retirement Act, lobbied in support of this bill that permits disabled law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled. HR 5300, Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. Lobbied against this bill that provides the authority of a federal agency to take action to restrict or prohibit access to a website, or to test, deploy, or update a cybersecurity measure, if the agency determines such action is necessary to carry out its responsibilities, shall not be: (1) limited by a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement entered into before, on, or after this bill's enactment pursuant to federal labor-management relations provisions; or (2) negotiated under such provisions. Lobbied in support of the Warner Amendment SA 3761, to preserve an apolitical federal government employee workforce. Lobbied against the Hatch Amendment SA 3922, which would waive limitations on staff years for defense Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). Lobbied that this funding should be based on actual requirements rather than fulfilling a mandate. Lobbied against S 3208, the Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. It does not increase federal IT security, but would take collective bargaining rights away from federal employees when it comes to issues involving IT. Lobbied against S 3137/HR 6787, the Reforming Government Act of 2018, which expands current authority given to the Administration to reorganize federal government agencies but without increased oversight of the Administration's reform and reorganization plans. Lobbied against S 3437, the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2018, which would establish a federal "rotational cyber workforce program." Specifically, we oppose Section 4(b)(9) and (b)(10) that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for employees in this program. Lobbied against HR 6891, a measure which would make it easier to fire, demote, or suspend federal employees who violate the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA). The ADA already provides severe penalties, including termination for workers violating this Act.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2019 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2019 budget and House FY 2019 Budget Resolution. Lobbied Senate and House to oppose any cuts in federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending due to lifting of spending caps on defense and nondefense appropriations. Circulated sign on letter to entire House from Rep Raskin to oppose a federal employee pay freeze for 2019. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring workers pay additional salary towards retirement, and continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions for funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain position in the CIS related to investigation and adjudication of the immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs). HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, lobbied on TSO personnel issues. FY 2019 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--lobbied on report language that would direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provision to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. Also lobbied on proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH. Lobbied to restore $492 million reduction to Social Security Administration and add back inflation adjusted 16 percent reduction in agency spending since 2010. FY 19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill--Lobbied for a continuation of the existing government-wide A-76 moratorium. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations--lobbied for a higher funding level for BOP and for report language that would prohibit the closure of any minimum security camps; require the BOP to hire adequate correctional staff and report to Congress on staffing ratios; end the use of augmentation to compensate for not hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for the inclusion of CJS report language that will direct BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized under LEOSA to carry a firearm while commuting to and from work; Lobbied for report language that would curb the use of augmentation at the Bureau of Prisons. Lobbied for adequate funding for the US Census Bureau as they begin staffing up for the 2020 Census. Lobbied on cuts to EEOC funding. FY 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations (THUD)--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working condition of federal employees. FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of an increase in the level of spending for the operations of the Social Security system. Lobbied against any potential amendments to limit or eliminate official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act), to provide no office of the Environmental Protection Agency be closed, consolidated or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation Act for any fiscal year. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied against the Kennedy Amendment #3726 and the Paul Amendment #3730 to HR 6157, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2019, which also includes the Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the Menendez Amendment #3705, appropriating funding to implement the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018. Lobbied against the Paul Amendment #3730, as it will impede federal employees' access to health care coverage through FEHBP. Lobbied against HR 6760, Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018,which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy, thereby impacting on working families, federal employees, and seniors.
The John McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019. Lobbied against using the NDAA as vehicle to cut CSRS and FERS benefits. Lobbied in support of House section 824 that moved up the date for a contract services budget exhibit from 2022 to 2020, to include Future Year Defense Program detail. Lobbied in support of the Shea-Porter Amendment that became section 825 of the House bill, revising the reporting thresholds for the contractor inventory from $3 million to the simplified acquisition threshold and repealing the limitation if the contractor inventory to staff augmentation contracts." Lobbied in conference to expand the scope of contractor inventory to include closely associated with inherently governmental functions and critical functions (compromise). Supported the Lankford Amendment to the Senate bill expressing a Sense of Congress in support of the requirements for better budgeting of services contracts and improved contractor inventories. Lobbied in support of the Norcross Amendment that became section 902 of the House bill, repealing a civilian employee Full Time Equivalent cap process requiring offsets for any growth in the civilian workforce with reductions in civilian positions (usually vacancies); replaces this process with managing the civilian workforce based on the costs of the total force of military, civilian and contract (i.e., managing to budget and workload rather than caps.) Lobbied based on Defense Business Board recommendations to end civilian Full Time Equivalent cap. Lobbied in conference to retain reporting requirement on costs (compromise). Lobbied in support of the Courtney Amendment that became section 903 of the House bill, restricting conversions of civilian positions to military based on fully burdened cost analysis of military positions and requirement that military work in Military Occupational Specialty for which they were trained. Lobbied against the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction provisions in sections 911-918 of the House bill, by changing directed realignments and eliminations of organizations and directed 25% reductions into a report to Congress. For example, language that directed elimination of the Defense Information Systems Agency in the original bill was changed to directed realignments of functions and then changed into a report. Lobbied against combining the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Lobbied against 25 percent reductions of Defense Agencies and Field Activities, including the Defense Logistics Agency. Lobbied in conference to mitigate further reductions of Defense agencies by changing target into a report requirement with latitude for alternative reductions that could be applied to contractors (compromise). Lobbied against the Bacon Amendment relating to merger of Commissary and Exchange study that became House section 625. Later lobbied to clarify House section 625 to forestall merger of Commissaries and Exchanges without a GAO review and further Congressional action, laying out criteria prohibiting diversion of appropriated and non-appropriated funds in a way that would dilute benefits for patrons and workers earned benefits. Lobbied against Deputy Secretary of Defense moratorium on hiring an investments in information technology in Commissaries. Lobbied for prohibiting merger of DeCA and Exchange in FY 19 (compromise). Opposed Kennedy Amendment which would have provided authority for consolidating or merging the Defense Commissary System and Exchange System. Lobbied in support of amendments prohibiting per diem allowance reductions based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civilian travel in section 632 of Senate bill (Hirono amendment). Lobbied in support of the Perdue Amendment SA 3840, requesting a GAO review of the costs of the organic industrial base compared to contract for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft fleet. Opposed the Ross Amendment that became section 1112 of the House bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Johnson amendment to the Senate bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Hatch amendment that would modify the temporary direct hire authority for major range and test facilities base facilities. Supported the Cardin Amendment that would prohibit transferring any functions or services of Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities to another element of the Department of Defense without first reporting to Congress on the impact of these transfers. Supported the Collins and King Amendment providing a rule of construction on authority to reduce the civilian workforce, requiring the application of existing law. Supported in conference striking expanded authority for term or temporary hiring. Opposed the Tester Amendment that would have created a pilot program on community care and coordination contract services for Veterans. Opposed Moran amendment that would have extended Veterans preference to retired officers above the rank of major. Supported Moran Amendment requiring Congressional notification of changes in force structure of the United States Army. Lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would weaken Cost Accounting Standards and expand the definition of commercial items; lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would change the scope of the definition of services contracts and governance of personal services contracts. Opposed the Sanders Amendment which would trigger spending reductions in Department of Defense in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. Opposed Ernst Amendment that would direct VA health care dollars away from direct care to contractors Lobbied against proposals and amendments that weaken DoD or government-wide title 5 competitive selection processes, due process protections, or terms of employment. Lobbied against Office of Personnel Management proposal to cut federal employee retirement amendments in the National Defense Authorization bill. Lobbied against proposed repeal of the moratorium on A-76 competitions. Supported a change in the formula for calculating carryover funds for organic industrial base. Opposed proposals to narrow the definition of depot maintenance. Opposed expansion of the definition and application of commercial items, commercial products, and commercial services. Lobbied against Commercial items provisions of House bill at section 833 and for clarifying section 851 of the Senate bill report on the impacts of commercial items changes on readiness and sustainment costs. Opposed amendments that would expand government wide expanded use of term and temporary appointments. Opposed expanded use of direct hiring amendments. Supported amendments requiring additional reports on depot level maintenance and repair. Opposed providing permanent authority for demonstration projects and supported placing limitations on such projects, with reporting on impacts on morale and mission. Opposed Beyer Amendment in section 886 of House bill that would revise the sue of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process. Lobbied to clarify House bill section 2701 that would provide additional authority to realign or close military installations when self-nominated by Governor of State. Lobbied against The Freedom from Government Competition Act for Fiscal Year 2018 that was being marked in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Additionally lobbied House Armed Services Committee and House Rules Committee members on this bill to seek to get it withdrawn during markup. The bill would have directed the expedited contracting of all federal government employee functions that were not inherently governmental and would have substantially changed the public-private competition process in harmful ways. Lobbied to retain the Courtney Amendment (Section 903) of House bill unchanged in conference. Lobbied against 809 Panel recommendations to eliminate the distinction personal services contracts and non personal services contracts. In conference, supported compromised measure that temporarily suspended commercial items reforms until fiscal year 2020 pending an independent review of sustainment costs and readiness impacts. In conference, supported language striking House language requiring DoD to change the definition of services contracts and personal services contracts.
Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against House FY 2019 Budget Resolution proposed to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) employee premiums. Lobbied in support of HR 1884, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017. Lobbied in support of HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act. Lobbied against any round two of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and jeopardize the retirement benefits of federal employees.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs its potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied against taking up S.J.Res. 28, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the final FSIS rule establishing a mandatory inspection program for "all fish of the order Siluriformes," including catfish and its products, because of the public health threat posed by importation of adulterated catfish products.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, to grant TSOs rights under Title 5 of U.S. Code and MSPB rights; and increased funding for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Lobbied in support of HR 5534, TSA Workforce Flexibility Act, to remove statutory TSA screener cap. Lobbied in support of HR 99, Honoring our Fallen TSA Officers Act, grants public safety officer death and injury benefits to TSOs if killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 2309, the Rights for TSA Officers Act, that places TSOs under title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied against: Proposed TSA budgets cuts. Elimination of the TSA Behavior Detection Officer and Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response Team. Lobbied against HR 2997, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (AIRR) Act, that would privatize the Air Traffic Control functions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lobbied against HR 1351, the TSA Misconduct Act. Lobbied in support of HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, to retain a provision mandating discussion and a report on the TSA personnel system. S 1872, TSA Modernization Act, lobbied to address concerns of the TSO workforce's lack of statutory workplace rights and protections that apply to majority of federal workers, including workers at DHS. Lobbied to address concerns in: HR 6659, the Screening with Dignity Act HR 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act. Lobbied in support of TSA perso0nnel management system review in HR 302, FAA Reauthorization Act.
FY 2019 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations. Lobbied for report language in FY 2018 Mil-Con VA to direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbying against HR 1364 to limit and eliminate the use of official time for all federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 3269, Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017,to repeal federal employees' increased retirement contribution within the Federal Employees Retirement System. Continued to lobby on SSA's Vision 2025 Report and its adverse impact on SSA Field Offices that account for 50% of SSA employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757 and S 255 to increase federal employee pay for FY 2018/FY 2019 by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of HR 964 and S 424, to expand the definition of a federal law enforcement officer. Lobbied against any attempts to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Government-wide. Lobbied against the nominations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position of Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Recommended Julia Clarke for nomination. Lobbied against confirmation of Andrew Maunz and Denis Dean Kirk for positions of Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke to serve in a position in the MSPB. Lobbied against nominations of Chad Readler and Eric Murphy to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The John McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019. Lobbied against using the NDAA as vehicle to cut CSRS and FERS benefits. Lobbied in support of House section 824 that moved up the date for a contract services budget exhibit from 2022 to 2020, to include Future Year Defense Program detail. Lobbied in support of the Shea-Porter Amendment that became section 825 of the House bill, revising the reporting thresholds for the contractor inventory from $3 million to the simplified acquisition threshold and repealing the limitation if the contractor inventory to staff augmentation contracts." Lobbied in conference to expand the scope of contractor inventory to include closely associated with inherently governmental functions and critical functions (compromise). Supported the Lankford Amendment to the Senate bill expressing a Sense of Congress in support of the requirements for better budgeting of services contracts and improved contractor inventories. Lobbied in support of the Norcross Amendment that became section 902 of the House bill, repealing a civilian employee Full Time Equivalent cap process requiring offsets for any growth in the civilian workforce with reductions in civilian positions (usually vacancies); replaces this process with managing the civilian workforce based on the costs of the total force of military, civilian and contract (i.e., managing to budget and workload rather than caps.) Lobbied based on Defense Business Board recommendations to end civilian Full Time Equivalent cap. Lobbied in conference to retain reporting requirement on costs (compromise). Lobbied in support of the Courtney Amendment that became section 903 of the House bill, restricting conversions of civilian positions to military based on fully burdened cost analysis of military positions and requirement that military work in Military Occupational Specialty for which they were trained. Lobbied against the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction provisions in sections 911-918 of the House bill, by changing directed realignments and eliminations of organizations and directed 25% reductions into a report to Congress. For example, language that directed elimination of the Defense Information Systems Agency in the original bill was changed to directed realignments of functions and then changed into a report. Lobbied against combining the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Lobbied against 25 percent reductions of Defense Agencies and Field Activities, including the Defense Logistics Agency. Lobbied in conference to mitigate further reductions of Defense agencies by changing target into a report requirement with latitude for alternative reductions that could be applied to contractors (compromise). Lobbied against the Bacon Amendment relating to merger of Commissary and Exchange study that became House section 625. Later lobbied to clarify House section 625 to forestall merger of Commissaries and Exchanges without a GAO review and further Congressional action, laying out criteria prohibiting diversion of appropriated and non-appropriated funds in a way that would dilute benefits for patrons and workers earned benefits. Lobbied against Deputy Secretary of Defense moratorium on hiring an investments in information technology in Commissaries. Lobbied for prohibiting merger of DeCA and Exchange in FY 19 (compromise). Opposed Kennedy Amendment which would have provided authority for consolidating or merging the Defense Commissary System and Exchange System. Lobbied in support of amendments prohibiting per diem allowance reductions based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civilian travel in section 632 of Senate bill (Hirono amendment). Lobbied in support of the Perdue Amendment SA 3840, requesting a GAO review of the costs of the organic industrial base compared to contract for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft fleet. Opposed the Ross Amendment that became section 1112 of the House bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Johnson amendment to the Senate bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Hatch amendment that would modify the temporary direct hire authority for major range and test facilities base facilities. Supported the Cardin Amendment that would prohibit transferring any functions or services of Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities to another element of the Department of Defense without first reporting to Congress on the impact of these transfers. Supported the Collins and King Amendment providing a rule of construction on authority to reduce the civilian workforce, requiring the application of existing law. Supported in conference striking expanded authority for term or temporary hiring. Opposed the Tester Amendment that would have created a pilot program on community care and coordination contract services for Veterans. Opposed Moran amendment that would have extended Veterans preference to retired officers above the rank of major. Supported Moran Amendment requiring Congressional notification of changes in force structure of the United States Army. Lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would weaken Cost Accounting Standards and expand the definition of commercial items; lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would change the scope of the definition of services contracts and governance of personal services contracts. Opposed the Sanders Amendment which would trigger spending reductions in Department of Defense in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. Opposed Ernst Amendment that would direct VA health care dollars away from direct care to contractors Lobbied against proposals and amendments that weaken DoD or government-wide title 5 competitive selection processes, due process protections, or terms of employment. Lobbied against Office of Personnel Management proposal to cut federal employee retirement amendments in the National Defense Authorization bill. Lobbied against proposed repeal of the moratorium on A-76 competitions. Supported a change in the formula for calculating carryover funds for organic industrial base. Opposed proposals to narrow the definition of depot maintenance. Opposed expansion of the definition and application of commercial items, commercial products, and commercial services. Lobbied against Commercial items provisions of House bill at section 833 and for clarifying section 851 of the Senate bill report on the impacts of commercial items changes on readiness and sustainment costs. Opposed amendments that would expand government wide expanded use of term and temporary appointments. Opposed expanded use of direct hiring amendments. Supported amendments requiring additional reports on depot level maintenance and repair. Opposed providing permanent authority for demonstration projects and supported placing limitations on such projects, with reporting on impacts on morale and mission. Opposed Beyer Amendment in section 886 of House bill that would revise the sue of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process. Lobbied to clarify House bill section 2701 that would provide additional authority to realign or close military installations when self-nominated by Governor of State. Lobbied against The Freedom from Government Competition Act for Fiscal Year 2018 that was being marked in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Additionally lobbied House Armed Services Committee and House Rules Committee members on this bill to seek to get it withdrawn during markup. The bill would have directed the expedited contracting of all federal government employee functions that were not inherently governmental and would have substantially changed the public-private competition process in harmful ways. Lobbied to retain the Courtney Amendment (Section 903) of House bill unchanged in conference. Lobbied against 809 Panel recommendations to eliminate the distinction personal services contracts and non personal services contracts. In conference, supported compromised measure that temporarily suspended commercial items reforms until fiscal year 2020 pending an independent review of sustainment costs and readiness impacts. In conference, supported language striking House language requiring DoD to change the definition of services contracts and personal services contracts. On behalf of AFGE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers members, lobbied on Americas Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, signed into law on October 23, 2018. On behalf of AFGE members in the Defense Commissary Activity (DeCA, lobbied Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senate Appropriations Committee-Defense, and House Armed Services Committee (HASC) members staffs and committee staff opposing the DoD Task Resale Task Force recommendations to merge DecA with the Exchanges On behalf of AFGE DoD members, lobbied the SASC and HASC staff opposing Section 809 Panel recommendations on streamlining acquisition regulations, related to the personal services issue, commercial items expansion, and illegal direct conversions to contract. On behalf of AFGE members in the Ohio National Guard and Michigan Selfridge Air National Guard base, lobbied against conversions of dual status Military Technicians to Active Guard Reserve (AGR) positions; the conversion of title 5 competitive employees to excepted service; and the transfer of title 5 Air Force employees to the State of Michigan TAG. On behalf of AFGE DoD members, lobbied SASC and HASC staff opposing section 809 Panel recommendations related to consolidated direct hire authorities and expansion of the Acquisition Demonstration project for compensating and evaluating the performance of federal employees.
FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied in support of HR 5745, Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2018, and lobbied against any efforts to cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of HR 4991, Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. Lobbied against the realignment of the Civil Works program from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied on Americas Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies FY 2019 Appropriations bill which dealt with this realignment.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CBP, CIS, TSA, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied on our concerns with HR 6361, the bill to abolish ICE as a response to the "zero tolerance" policy regarding illegal entry into the US. Lobbied in support of H.Res. 990, a statement of support for the officers and personnel of ICE.
Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against House FY 2019 Budget Resolution proposed to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) employee premiums. Lobbied in support of HR 1884, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017. Lobbied in support of HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act. Lobbied against any round two of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and jeopardize the retirement benefits of federal employees.
Lobbied against HR 4242, House VA Committee proposal to establish a new permanent private care program to replace the Choice Program. Lobbied against S 2372, Senate VA Committee proposal to replace the Choice Program. Lobbing against HR 1461, a bill to severely limit the use of VA official time, allow union members to drop their dues at any time, and extend probation from 12 to 18 months. Lobbied against S 1477, Serve Veterans First Act of 2017, a bill to severely restrict VA official time based on wait times. Lobbied in support of HR 3459, the VA Staffing and Vacancies Transparency Act of 2017, providing for vacancy transparency at the VA. Lobbied in support of S 1723, Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017, providing for more money for the VA to hire medical professionals. Lobbied against S 2107, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act, a bill to require VA to report major adverse actions of clinicians to a national data bank and state licensing boards. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against HR 4243, the "Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017, as a real threat to the survival of the VA's health care system. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against the merging of the Community Care and Medical Services VA appropriation accounts. Lobbied for the introduction of H.R. 6101, which would repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendations to the VA as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act.
FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied on any proposals to compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels. Lobbied in support of increasing Census funding levels. Lobbied for H.R. 613 and S. 1084, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act to allow federal correctional workers to carry their personal firearms to and from work by requiring the warden of each federal prison to provide a secure place for correctional workers to store their firearm outside the secure perimeter of that BOP institution. Lobbied for H.R. 115 and S. 1085, the Thin Blue Line Act which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, 2020 Census Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of HR 4013, 2020 American Census Investment Act. Lobbied in support of S 2366, Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018. Lobbied to retain the language in HR 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, as passed by the Senate, that protects the USDA Civil Rights Department.
FY 2019 Financial Services Appropriations--lobbied on provisions involving contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of federal employees in Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2019 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2019 budget and House FY 2019 Budget Resolution. Lobbied Senate and House to oppose any cuts in federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending due to lifting of spending caps on defense and nondefense appropriations. Circulated sign on letter to entire House from Rep Raskin to oppose a federal employee pay freeze for 2019. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring workers pay additional salary towards retirement, and continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions for funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain position in the CIS related to investigation and adjudication of the immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs). HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, lobbied on TSO personnel issues. FY 2019 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--lobbied on report language that would direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provision to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. Also lobbied on proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH. Lobbied to restore $492 million reduction to Social Security Administration and add back inflation adjusted 16 percent reduction in agency spending since 2010. FY 19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill--Lobbied for a continuation of the existing government-wide A-76 moratorium. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations--lobbied for a higher funding level for BOP and for report language that would prohibit the closure of any minimum security camps; require the BOP to hire adequate correctional staff and report to Congress on staffing ratios; end the use of augmentation to compensate for not hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for the inclusion of CJS report language that will direct BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized under LEOSA to carry a firearm while commuting to and from work; Lobbied for report language that would curb the use of augmentation at the Bureau of Prisons. Lobbied for adequate funding for the US Census Bureau as they begin staffing up for the 2020 Census. Lobbied on cuts to EEOC funding. FY 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations (THUD)--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working condition of federal employees. FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of an increase in the level of spending for the operations of the Social Security system. Lobbied against any potential amendments to limit or eliminate official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act), to provide no office of the Environmental Protection Agency be closed, consolidated or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation Act for any fiscal year. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied against the Kennedy Amendment #3726 and the Paul Amendment #3730 to HR 6157, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2019, which also includes the Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the Menendez Amendment #3705, appropriating funding to implement the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018. Lobbied against the Paul Amendment #3730, as it will impede federal employees' access to health care coverage through FEHBP. Lobbied against HR 6760, Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018,which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy, thereby impacting on working families, federal employees, and seniors. Lobbied in support of Continuing Resolution (CR)to keep the government open and operating after December 21st expiration; and to ensure the 1.9 percent pay adjustment for civilian federal employees agreed to in FY 2019 Senate Financial Services Approps bill be included in next funding measure.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
The John McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Lobbied in support of House section 824 that moved up the date for a contract services budget exhibit from 2022 to 2020, to include Future Year Defense Program detail. Lobbied in support of the Shea-Porter Amendment that became section 825 of the House bill, revising the reporting thresholds for the contractor inventory from $3 million to the simplified acquisition threshold and repealing the limitation if the contractor inventory to staff augmentation contracts." Supported the Lankford Amendment to the Senate bill expressing a Sense of Congress in support of the requirements for better budgeting of services contracts and improved contractor inventories. Lobbied in support of the Norcross Amendment that became section 902 of the House bill, repealing a civilian employee Full Time Equivalent cap process requiring offsets for any growth in the civilian workforce with reductions in civilian positions (usually vacancies); replaces this process with managing the civilian workforce based on the costs of the total force of military, civilian and contract (i.e., managing to budget and workload rather than caps.) Lobbied based on Defense Business Board recommendations to end civilian Full Time Equivalent cap. Lobbied in support of the Courtney Amendment that became section 903 of the House bill, restricting conversions of civilian positions to military based on fully burdened cost analysis of military positions and requirement that military work in Military Occupational Specialty for which they were trained. Lobbied against the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction provisions in sections 911-918 of the House bill, by changing directed realignments and eliminations of organizations and directed 25% reductions into a report to Congress. For example, language that directed elimination of the Defense Information Systems Agency in the original bill was changed to directed realignments of functions and then changed into a report. Lobbied against combining the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Lobbied against 25 percent reductions of Defense Agencies and Field Activities, including the Defense Logistics Agency. Lobbied against the Bacon Amendment relating to merger of Commissary and Exchange study that became House section 625. Later lobbied to clarify House section 625 to forestall merger of Commissaries and Exchanges without a GAO review and further Congressional action, laying out criteria prohibiting diversion of appropriated and non-appropriated funds in a way that would dilute benefits for patrons and workers earned benefits. Lobbied against Deputy Secretary of Defense moratorium on hiring an investments in information technology in Commissaries. Opposed Kennedy Amendment which would have provided authority for consolidating or merging the Defense Commissary System and Exchange System. Lobbied in support of amendments prohibiting per diem allowance reductions based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civilian travel in section 632 of Senate bill (Hirono amendment). Opposed the Perdue Amendment to Senate bill that would have reduced civil service protections and civilian employees workplace rights by lowering the evidentiary standard for misconduct and prohibiting Merit Systems Protection Board administrative judges from mitigating penalties. Opposed the Ross Amendment that became section 1112 of the House bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Johnson amendment to the Senate bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Hatch amendment that would modify the temporary direct hire authority for major range and test facilities base facilities. Supported the Cardin Amendment that would prohibit transferring any functions or services of Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities to another element of the Department of Defense without first reporting to Congress on the impact of these transfers. Supported the Collins and King Amendment providing a rule of construction on authority to reduce the civilian workforce, requiring the application of existing law. Opposed the Test Amendment that would have created a pilot program on community care and coordination contract services for Veterans. Opposed Moran amendment that would have extended Veterans preference to retired officers above the rank of major. Supported Moran Amendment requiring Congressional notification of changes in force structure of the United States Army. Lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would weaken Cost Accounting Standards and expand the definition of commercial items; lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would change the scope of the definition of services contracts and governance of personal services contracts. Opposed the Sanders Amendment which would trigger spending reductions in Department of Defense in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. Opposed Ernst Amendment that would direct VA health care dollars away from direct care to contractors Lobbied against proposals and amendments that weaken DoD or government-wide title 5 competitive selection processes, due process protections, or terms of employment. Lobbied against Office of Personnel Management proposal to cut federal employee retirement amendments in the National Defense Authorization bill. Lobbied against proposed repeal of the moratorium on A-76 competitions. Supported a change in the formula for calculating carryover funds for organic industrial base. Opposed proposals to narrow the definition of depot maintenance. Opposed expansion of the definition and application of commercial items, commercial products, and commercial services. Lobbied against Commercial items provisions of House bill at section 833 and for clarifying section 851 of the Senate bill report on the impacts of commercial items changes on readiness and sustainment costs. Opposed amendments that would expand government wide expanded use of term and temporary appointments. Opposed expanded use of direct hiring amendments. Supported amendments requiring additional reports on depot level maintenance and repair. Opposed providing permanent authority for demonstration projects and supported placing limitations on such projects, with reporting on impacts on morale and mission. Opposed Beyer Amendment in section 886 of House bill that would revise the sue of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process. Lobbied to clarify House bill section 2701 that would provide additional authority to realign or close military installations when self-nominated by Governor of State. Lobbied against The Freedom from Government Competition Act for Fiscal Year 2018 that was being marked in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Additionally lobbied House Armed Services Committee and House Rules Committee members on this bill to seek to get it withdrawn during markup. The bill would have directed the expedited contracting of all federal government employee functions that were not inherently governmental and would have substantially changed the public-private competition process in harmful ways.
FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied in support of HR 5745, Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2018, and lobbied against any efforts to cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of HR 4991, Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.
FY 2019 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations. Lobbied for report language in FY 2018 Mil-Con VA to direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbying against HR 1364 to limit and eliminate the use of official time for all federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 3269, Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017,to repeal federal employees' increased retirement contribution within the Federal Employees Retirement System. Continued to lobby on SSA's Vision 2025 Report and its adverse impact on SSA Field Offices that account for 50% of SSA employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757 and S 255 to increase federal employee pay for FY 2018/FY 2019 by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of HR 964 and S 424, to expand the definition of a federal law enforcement officer. Lobbied against any attempts to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Government-wide.
Budget reconciliation involving the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of DC Government employees. Lobbied on enforcement of DC and federal laws as well as collective bargaining agreements relating to increased oversight of the conversion of public worker jobs to private contactors.
Lobbied against HR 4242, House VA Committee proposal to establish a new permanent private care program to replace the Choice Program. Lobbied against S 2372, Senate VA Committee proposal to replace the Choice Program. Lobbing against HR 1461, a bill to severely limit the use of VA official time, allow union members to drop their dues at any time, and extend probation from 12 to 18 months. Lobbied against S 1477, Serve Veterans First Act of 2017, a bill to severely restrict VA official time based on wait times. Lobbied in support of HR 3459, the VA Staffing and Vacancies Transparency Act of 2017, providing for vacancy transparency at the VA. Lobbied in support of S 1723, Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017, providing for more money for the VA to hire medical professionals. Lobbied against S 2107, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act, a bill to require VA to report major adverse actions of clinicians to a national data bank and state licensing boards. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against HR 4243, the "Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017, as a real threat to the survival of the VA's health care system. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, to grant TSOs rights under Title 5 of U.S. Code and MSPB rights; and increased funding for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Lobbied for HR 2283, the DHA Morale, Recognition, Learning and Engagement Act of 2017, that establishes an employee engagement steering committee. Lobbied in support of HR 5534, TSA Workforce Flexibility Act, to remove statutory TSA screener cap. Lobbied in support of HR 99, Honoring our Fallen TSA Officers Act, grants public safety officer death and injury benefits to TSOs if killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 2309, the Rights for TSA Officers Act, that places TSOs under title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied against: Proposed TSA budgets cuts. Elimination of the TSA Behavior Detection Officer and Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response Team. Lobbied against HR 2997, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (AIRR) Act, that would privatize the Air Traffic Control functions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lobbied against HR 1351, the TSA Misconduct Act. Lobbied in support of HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, to retain a provision mandating discussion and a report on the TSA personnel system. S 1872, TSA Modernization Act, lobbied to address concerns of the TSO workforce's lack of statutory workplace rights and protections that apply to majority of federal workers, including workers at DHS. Lobbied in support of HR 4611, the Disaster Response Workforce Flexibility Act of 2017.
Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against House FY 2019 Budget Resolution proposed to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) employee premiums. Lobbied in support of HR 1884, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017. Lobbied in support of HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act. Lobbied against any round two of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and jeopardize the retirement benefits of federal employees.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs its potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied against taking up S.J.Res. 28, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the final FSIS rule establishing a mandatory inspection program for "all fish of the order Siluriformes," including catfish and its products, because of the public health threat posed by importation of adulterated catfish products.
FY 2019 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2019 budget and House FY 2019 Budget Resolution. Lobbied Senate and House to oppose any cuts in federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending due to lifting of spending caps on defense and nondefense appropriations. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring workers pay additional salary towards retirement, and continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions for funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain position in the CIS related to investigation and adjudication of the immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs). HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, lobbied on TSO personnel issues. FY 2019 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--lobbied on report language that would direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provision to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. Also lobbied on proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH. Lobbied to restore $492 million reduction to Social Security Administration and add back inflation adjusted 16 percent reduction in agency spending since 2010. FY 2018/19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill--Lobbied for a continuation of the existing government-wide A-76 moratorium. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations--lobbied for a higher funding level for BOP and for report language that would prohibit the closure of any minimum security camps; require the BOP to hire adequate correctional staff and report to Congress on staffing ratios; end the use of augmentation to compensate for not hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for the inclusion of CJS report language that will direct BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized under LEOSA to carry a firearm while commuting to and from work; Lobbied for report language that would curb the use of augmentation at the Bureau of Prisons. Lobbied for adequate funding for the US Census Bureau as they begin staffing up for the 2020 Census. Lobbied on cuts to EEOC funding. FY 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations (THUD)--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working condition of federal employees. FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of an increase in the level of spending for the operations of the Social Security system. Lobbied against any potential amendments to limit or eliminate official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act), to provide no office of the Environmental Protection Agency be closed, consolidated or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation Act for any fiscal year.
FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, union representation, and contractor compensation caps. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform with Federal-Postal Coalition to oppose Title V section that would unfairly cut FECA compensation benefits for disabled federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rate (FAIR) Act--to provide both the General Schedule and Wage Grade federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018. Lobbied in support of S 255 to increase the rate of pay under the GS schedule and for prevailing rate employees by 3.2%. S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act--lobbied in support of granting Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of HR 1022/S 362, the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act--to provide up to six weeks of paid leave to federal workers upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Honoring the Fallen TSA Officers Act, a bill granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against the excessive premium increases for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) sold to federal employees and how OPM intends to represent the interests of those who purchase FLTCIP's plan in the future. Lobbied against HR 559, the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act of 2017 for its adverse impact on federal employees. Lobbied for HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to establish a more accurate computation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the Federal Government. Lobbied against HR 4182, the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017" which would arbitrarily extend the probationary period for a minimum of two years for newly hired federal employees because of its lack of addressing issues involving employee performance evaluation or management's ability to properly evaluate employees during this period. Lobbied against S 1886, the Temporary and Term Appointments Act of 2017, that would extend competitive temporary and term appoints at agency discretion. HR 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied against the requirement that OPM submit an annual report to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. HR 1385, Civil Service Incentives Integrity Act of 2017, a bill we lobbied against because it requires the retraction and repayment of recruitment and relocation bonuses paid to federal employees who have spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Additionally, a retention bonus may not be paid to any such employee who, for a period of 6 consecutive months of service associated with the bonus, has spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Official time is time spent by federal employees performing representational work for a bargaining unit in lieu of their regularly assigned work. HR 2846, Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2017, a bill that exempts an agency's authority to collect information that is voluntary feedback from the federal information resources management activities authority of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. HR 3303, First Responders Fair Retirement Act, lobbied in support of this bill that permits disabled law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled. HR 5300, Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018, lobbied against this bill that provides the authority of a federal agency to take action to restrict or prohibit access to a website, or to test, deploy, or update a cybersecurity measure, if the agency determines such action is necessary to carry out its responsibilities, shall not be: (1) limited by a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement entered into before, on, or after this bill's enactment pursuant to federal labor-management relations provisions; or (2) negotiated under such provisions.
FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied on any proposals to compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels. Lobbied in support of increasing Census funding levels. Lobbied for H.R. 613 and S. 1084, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act to allow federal correctional workers to carry their personal firearms to and from work by requiring the warden of each federal prison to provide a secure place for correctional workers to store their firearm outside the secure perimeter of that BOP institution. Lobbied for H.R. 115 and S. 1085, the Thin Blue Line Act which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, 2020 Census Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of HR 4013, 2020 American Census Investment Act. Lobbied in support of S 2366, Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied in support of HR 5745, Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2018, and lobbied against any efforts to cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of HR 4991, Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. Lobbied against the realignment of the Civil Works program from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied on Americas Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies FY 2019 Appropriations bill which dealt with this realignment.
FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied on any proposals to compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels. Lobbied in support of increasing Census funding levels. Lobbied for H.R. 613 and S. 1084, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act to allow federal correctional workers to carry their personal firearms to and from work by requiring the warden of each federal prison to provide a secure place for correctional workers to store their firearm outside the secure perimeter of that BOP institution. Lobbied for H.R. 115 and S. 1085, the Thin Blue Line Act which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, 2020 Census Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of HR 4013, 2020 American Census Investment Act. Lobbied in support of S 2366, Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018. Lobbied to retain the language in HR 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, as passed by the Senate, that protects the USDA Civil Rights Department.
FY 2019 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2019 budget and House FY 2019 Budget Resolution. Lobbied Senate and House to oppose any cuts in federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending due to lifting of spending caps on defense and nondefense appropriations. Circulated sign on letter to entire House from Rep Raskin to oppose a federal employee pay freeze for 2019. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring workers pay additional salary towards retirement, and continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions for funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain position in the CIS related to investigation and adjudication of the immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs). HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, lobbied on TSO personnel issues. FY 2019 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--lobbied on report language that would direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provision to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. Also lobbied on proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH. Lobbied to restore $492 million reduction to Social Security Administration and add back inflation adjusted 16 percent reduction in agency spending since 2010. FY 19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill--Lobbied for a continuation of the existing government-wide A-76 moratorium. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations--lobbied for a higher funding level for BOP and for report language that would prohibit the closure of any minimum security camps; require the BOP to hire adequate correctional staff and report to Congress on staffing ratios; end the use of augmentation to compensate for not hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for the inclusion of CJS report language that will direct BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized under LEOSA to carry a firearm while commuting to and from work; Lobbied for report language that would curb the use of augmentation at the Bureau of Prisons. Lobbied for adequate funding for the US Census Bureau as they begin staffing up for the 2020 Census. Lobbied on cuts to EEOC funding. FY 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations (THUD)--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working condition of federal employees. FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of an increase in the level of spending for the operations of the Social Security system. Lobbied against any potential amendments to limit or eliminate official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act), to provide no office of the Environmental Protection Agency be closed, consolidated or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation Act for any fiscal year. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied against the Kennedy Amendment #3726 and the Paul Amendment #3730 to HR 6157, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2019, which also includes the Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the Menendez Amendment #3705, appropriating funding to implement the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018. Lobbied against the Paul Amendment #3730, as it will impede federal employees' access to health care coverage through FEHBP. Lobbied against HR 6760, Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018,which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy, thereby impacting on working families, federal employees, and seniors. Lobbied in support of Continuing Resolution (CR)to keep the government open and operating after December 21st expiration; and to ensure the 1.9 percent pay adjustment for civilian federal employees agreed to in FY 2019 Senate Financial Services Approps bill be included in next funding measure.
FY 2019 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations. Lobbied for report language in FY 2018 Mil-Con VA to direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbying against HR 1364 to limit and eliminate the use of official time for all federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 3269, Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017,to repeal federal employees' increased retirement contribution within the Federal Employees Retirement System. Continued to lobby on SSA's Vision 2025 Report and its adverse impact on SSA Field Offices that account for 50% of SSA employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757 and S 255 to increase federal employee pay for FY 2018/FY 2019 by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of HR 964 and S 424, to expand the definition of a federal law enforcement officer. Lobbied against any attempts to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Government-wide. Lobbied against the nominations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position of Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Recommended Julia Clarke for nomination. Lobbied against confirmation of Andrew Maunz and Denis Dean Kirk for positions of Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke to serve in a position in the MSPB. Lobbied against nominations of Chad Readler and Eric Murphy to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against House FY 2019 Budget Resolution proposed to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) employee premiums. Lobbied in support of HR 1884, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017. Lobbied in support of HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act. Lobbied against any round two of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and jeopardize the retirement benefits of federal employees.
FY 2019 Financial Services Appropriations--lobbied on provisions involving contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of federal employees in Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Lobbied against HR 4242, House VA Committee proposal to establish a new permanent private care program to replace the Choice Program. Lobbied against S 2372, Senate VA Committee proposal to replace the Choice Program. Lobbing against HR 1461, a bill to severely limit the use of VA official time, allow union members to drop their dues at any time, and extend probation from 12 to 18 months. Lobbied against S 1477, Serve Veterans First Act of 2017, a bill to severely restrict VA official time based on wait times. Lobbied in support of HR 3459, the VA Staffing and Vacancies Transparency Act of 2017, providing for vacancy transparency at the VA. Lobbied in support of S 1723, Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017, providing for more money for the VA to hire medical professionals. Lobbied against S 2107, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act, a bill to require VA to report major adverse actions of clinicians to a national data bank and state licensing boards. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against HR 4243, the "Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017, as a real threat to the survival of the VA's health care system. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against the merging of the Community Care and Medical Services VA appropriation accounts. Lobbied for the introduction of H.R. 6101, which would repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendations to the VA as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act.
The John McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019. Lobbied against using the NDAA as vehicle to cut CSRS and FERS benefits. Lobbied in support of House section 824 that moved up the date for a contract services budget exhibit from 2022 to 2020, to include Future Year Defense Program detail. Lobbied in support of the Shea-Porter Amendment that became section 825 of the House bill, revising the reporting thresholds for the contractor inventory from $3 million to the simplified acquisition threshold and repealing the limitation if the contractor inventory to staff augmentation contracts." Lobbied in conference to expand the scope of contractor inventory to include closely associated with inherently governmental functions and critical functions (compromise). Supported the Lankford Amendment to the Senate bill expressing a Sense of Congress in support of the requirements for better budgeting of services contracts and improved contractor inventories. Lobbied in support of the Norcross Amendment that became section 902 of the House bill, repealing a civilian employee Full Time Equivalent cap process requiring offsets for any growth in the civilian workforce with reductions in civilian positions (usually vacancies); replaces this process with managing the civilian workforce based on the costs of the total force of military, civilian and contract (i.e., managing to budget and workload rather than caps.) Lobbied based on Defense Business Board recommendations to end civilian Full Time Equivalent cap. Lobbied in conference to retain reporting requirement on costs (compromise). Lobbied in support of the Courtney Amendment that became section 903 of the House bill, restricting conversions of civilian positions to military based on fully burdened cost analysis of military positions and requirement that military work in Military Occupational Specialty for which they were trained. Lobbied against the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction provisions in sections 911-918 of the House bill, by changing directed realignments and eliminations of organizations and directed 25% reductions into a report to Congress. For example, language that directed elimination of the Defense Information Systems Agency in the original bill was changed to directed realignments of functions and then changed into a report. Lobbied against combining the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Lobbied against 25 percent reductions of Defense Agencies and Field Activities, including the Defense Logistics Agency. Lobbied in conference to mitigate further reductions of Defense agencies by changing target into a report requirement with latitude for alternative reductions that could be applied to contractors (compromise). Lobbied against the Bacon Amendment relating to merger of Commissary and Exchange study that became House section 625. Later lobbied to clarify House section 625 to forestall merger of Commissaries and Exchanges without a GAO review and further Congressional action, laying out criteria prohibiting diversion of appropriated and non-appropriated funds in a way that would dilute benefits for patrons and workers earned benefits. Lobbied against Deputy Secretary of Defense moratorium on hiring an investments in information technology in Commissaries. Lobbied for prohibiting merger of DeCA and Exchange in FY 19 (compromise). Opposed Kennedy Amendment which would have provided authority for consolidating or merging the Defense Commissary System and Exchange System. Lobbied in support of amendments prohibiting per diem allowance reductions based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civilian travel in section 632 of Senate bill (Hirono amendment). Lobbied in support of the Perdue Amendment SA 3840, requesting a GAO review of the costs of the organic industrial base compared to contract for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft fleet. Opposed the Ross Amendment that became section 1112 of the House bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Johnson amendment to the Senate bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Hatch amendment that would modify the temporary direct hire authority for major range and test facilities base facilities. Supported the Cardin Amendment that would prohibit transferring any functions or services of Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities to another element of the Department of Defense without first reporting to Congress on the impact of these transfers. Supported the Collins and King Amendment providing a rule of construction on authority to reduce the civilian workforce, requiring the application of existing law. Supported in conference striking expanded authority for term or temporary hiring. Opposed the Tester Amendment that would have created a pilot program on community care and coordination contract services for Veterans. Opposed Moran amendment that would have extended Veterans preference to retired officers above the rank of major. Supported Moran Amendment requiring Congressional notification of changes in force structure of the United States Army. Lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would weaken Cost Accounting Standards and expand the definition of commercial items; lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would change the scope of the definition of services contracts and governance of personal services contracts. Opposed the Sanders Amendment which would trigger spending reductions in Department of Defense in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. Opposed Ernst Amendment that would direct VA health care dollars away from direct care to contractors Lobbied against proposals and amendments that weaken DoD or government-wide title 5 competitive selection processes, due process protections, or terms of employment. Lobbied against Office of Personnel Management proposal to cut federal employee retirement amendments in the National Defense Authorization bill. Lobbied against proposed repeal of the moratorium on A-76 competitions. Supported a change in the formula for calculating carryover funds for organic industrial base. Opposed proposals to narrow the definition of depot maintenance. Opposed expansion of the definition and application of commercial items, commercial products, and commercial services. Lobbied against Commercial items provisions of House bill at section 833 and for clarifying section 851 of the Senate bill report on the impacts of commercial items changes on readiness and sustainment costs. Opposed amendments that would expand government wide expanded use of term and temporary appointments. Opposed expanded use of direct hiring amendments. Supported amendments requiring additional reports on depot level maintenance and repair. Opposed providing permanent authority for demonstration projects and supported placing limitations on such projects, with reporting on impacts on morale and mission. Opposed Beyer Amendment in section 886 of House bill that would revise the sue of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process. Lobbied to clarify House bill section 2701 that would provide additional authority to realign or close military installations when self-nominated by Governor of State. Lobbied against The Freedom from Government Competition Act for Fiscal Year 2018 that was being marked in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Additionally lobbied House Armed Services Committee and House Rules Committee members on this bill to seek to get it withdrawn during markup. The bill would have directed the expedited contracting of all federal government employee functions that were not inherently governmental and would have substantially changed the public-private competition process in harmful ways. Lobbied to retain the Courtney Amendment (Section 903) of House bill unchanged in conference. Lobbied against 809 Panel recommendations to eliminate the distinction personal services contracts and non personal services contracts. In conference, supported compromised measure that temporarily suspended commercial items reforms until fiscal year 2020 pending an independent review of sustainment costs and readiness impacts. In conference, supported language striking House language requiring DoD to change the definition of services contracts and personal services contracts. On behalf of AFGE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers members, lobbied on Americas Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, signed into law on October 23, 2018. On behalf of AFGE members in the Defense Commissary Activity (DeCA, lobbied Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senate Appropriations Committee-Defense, and House Armed Services Committee (HASC) members staffs and committee staff opposing the DoD Task Resale Task Force recommendations to merge DecA with the Exchanges On behalf of AFGE DoD members, lobbied the SASC and HASC staff opposing Section 809 Panel recommendations on streamlining acquisition regulations, related to the personal services issue, commercial items expansion, and illegal direct conversions to contract. On behalf of AFGE members in the Ohio National Guard and Michigan Selfridge Air National Guard base, lobbied against conversions of dual status Military Technicians to Active Guard Reserve (AGR) positions; the conversion of title 5 competitive employees to excepted service; and the transfer of title 5 Air Force employees to the State of Michigan TAG. On behalf of AFGE DoD members, lobbied SASC and HASC staff opposing section 809 Panel recommendations related to consolidated direct hire authorities and expansion of the Acquisition Demonstration project for compensating and evaluating the performance of federal employees.
FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, union representation, contractor compensation caps and telework report. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform with Federal-Postal Coalition to oppose Title V section that would unfairly cut FECA compensation benefits for disabled federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rate (FAIR) Act--to provide both the General Schedule and Wage Grade federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018. Lobbied in support of S 255 to increase the rate of pay under the GS schedule and for prevailing rate employees by 3.2%. S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act--lobbied in support of granting Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of HR 1022/S 362, the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act--to provide up to six weeks of paid leave to federal workers upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Honoring the Fallen TSA Officers Act, a bill granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against the excessive premium increases for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) sold to federal employees and how OPM intends to represent the interests of those who purchase FLTCIP's plan in the future. Lobbied against HR 559, the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act of 2017 for its adverse impact on federal employees with continued attacks on rights of the civil service to collectively bargain and on the due process system necessary when defending themselves. Lobbied against the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Reauthorization Act and its failure to address the lack of ongoing personnel and resources that plague the MSPB and delays justice for federal workers who file appeals. AFGE is very concerned with Section 7 of the Act that limits VA appeals to MSBB. Lobbied for HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to establish a more accurate computation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the Federal Government. Lobbied against HR 4182, the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017" which would arbitrarily extend the probationary period for a minimum of two years for newly hired federal employees because of its lack of addressing issues involving employee performance evaluation or management's ability to properly evaluate employees during this period. Lobbied against S 1886, the Temporary and Term Appointments Act of 2017, that would extend competitive temporary and term appoints at agency discretion. HR 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied against the requirement that OPM submit an annual report to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. HR 1385, Civil Service Incentives Integrity Act of 2017, a bill we lobbied against because it requires the retraction and repayment of recruitment and relocation bonuses paid to federal employees who have spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Additionally, a retention bonus may not be paid to any such employee who, for a period of 6 consecutive months of service associated with the bonus, has spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Official time is time spent by federal employees performing representational work for a bargaining unit in lieu of their regularly assigned work. HR 3303, First Responders Fair Retirement Act, lobbied in support of this bill that permits disabled law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled. HR 5300, Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. Lobbied against this bill that provides the authority of a federal agency to take action to restrict or prohibit access to a website, or to test, deploy, or update a cybersecurity measure, if the agency determines such action is necessary to carry out its responsibilities, shall not be: (1) limited by a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement entered into before, on, or after this bill's enactment pursuant to federal labor-management relations provisions; or (2) negotiated under such provisions. Lobbied in support of the Warner Amendment SA 3761, to preserve an apolitical federal government employee workforce. Lobbied against the Hatch Amendment SA 3922, which would waive limitations on staff years for defense Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). Lobbied that this funding should be based on actual requirements rather than fulfilling a mandate. Lobbied against S 3208, the Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. It does not increase federal IT security, but would take collective bargaining rights away from federal employees when it comes to issues involving IT. Lobbied against S 3137/HR 6787, the Reforming Government Act of 2018, which expands current authority given to the Administration to reorganize federal government agencies but without increased oversight of the Administration's reform and reorganization plans. Lobbied against S 3437, the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2018, which would establish a federal "rotational cyber workforce program." Specifically, we oppose Section 4(b)(9) and (b)(10) that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for employees in this program. Lobbied against HR 6891, a measure which would make it easier to fire, demote, or suspend federal employees who violate the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA). The ADA already provides severe penalties, including termination for workers violating this Act. Lobbied against Senate amendment to HR 88, the Retirement, Savings, and Other Tax Relief Act of 2018, which would provide additional tax cuts for corporations and wealthy.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs its potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied against taking up S.J.Res. 28, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the final FSIS rule establishing a mandatory inspection program for "all fish of the order Siluriformes," including catfish and its products, because of the public health threat posed by importation of adulterated catfish products.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CBP, CIS, TSA, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied on our concerns with HR 6361, the bill to abolish ICE as a response to the "zero tolerance" policy regarding illegal entry into the US. Lobbied in support of H.Res. 990, a statement of support for the officers and personnel of ICE.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CBP, CIS, TSA, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied on our concerns with HR 6361, the bill to abolish ICE as a response to the "zero tolerance" policy regarding illegal entry into the US. Lobbied in support of H.Res. 990, a statement of support for the officers and personnel of ICE.
Lobbied against HR 4242, House VA Committee proposal to establish a new permanent private care program to replace the Choice Program. Lobbied against S 2372, Senate VA Committee proposal to replace the Choice Program. Lobbing against HR 1461, a bill to severely limit the use of VA official time, allow union members to drop their dues at any time, and extend probation from 12 to 18 months. Lobbied against S 1477, Serve Veterans First Act of 2017, a bill to severely restrict VA official time based on wait times. Lobbied in support of HR 3459, the VA Staffing and Vacancies Transparency Act of 2017, providing for vacancy transparency at the VA. Lobbied in support of S 1723, Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017, providing for more money for the VA to hire medical professionals. Lobbied against S 2107, Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Accountability Act, a bill to require VA to report major adverse actions of clinicians to a national data bank and state licensing boards. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against HR 4243, the "Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017, as a real threat to the survival of the VA's health care system. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against the merging of the Community Care and Medical Services VA appropriation accounts. Lobbied for the introduction of H.R. 6101, which would repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendations to the VA as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees.
FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied on any proposals to compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels. Lobbied in support of increasing Census funding levels. Lobbied for H.R. 613 and S. 1084, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act to allow federal correctional workers to carry their personal firearms to and from work by requiring the warden of each federal prison to provide a secure place for correctional workers to store their firearm outside the secure perimeter of that BOP institution. Lobbied for H.R. 115 and S. 1085, the Thin Blue Line Act which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, 2020 Census Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of HR 4013, 2020 American Census Investment Act. Lobbied in support of S 2366, Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018. Lobbied against the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United Stated Supreme Court. Lobbied Conferees to accept the Senate version of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 by including section 12403--Civil Rights Analysis in the final conference bill.
Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against House FY 2019 Budget Resolution proposed to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) employee premiums. Lobbied in support of HR 1884, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017. Lobbied in support of HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act. Lobbied against any round two of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and jeopardize the retirement benefits of federal employees.
The John McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019. Lobbied against using the NDAA as vehicle to cut CSRS and FERS benefits. Lobbied in support of House section 824 that moved up the date for a contract services budget exhibit from 2022 to 2020, to include Future Year Defense Program detail. Lobbied in support of the Shea-Porter Amendment that became section 825 of the House bill, revising the reporting thresholds for the contractor inventory from $3 million to the simplified acquisition threshold and repealing the limitation if the contractor inventory to staff augmentation contracts." Lobbied in conference to expand the scope of contractor inventory to include closely associated with inherently governmental functions and critical functions (compromise). Supported the Lankford Amendment to the Senate bill expressing a Sense of Congress in support of the requirements for better budgeting of services contracts and improved contractor inventories. Lobbied in support of the Norcross Amendment that became section 902 of the House bill, repealing a civilian employee Full Time Equivalent cap process requiring offsets for any growth in the civilian workforce with reductions in civilian positions (usually vacancies); replaces this process with managing the civilian workforce based on the costs of the total force of military, civilian and contract (i.e., managing to budget and workload rather than caps.) Lobbied based on Defense Business Board recommendations to end civilian Full Time Equivalent cap. Lobbied in conference to retain reporting requirement on costs (compromise). Lobbied in support of the Courtney Amendment that became section 903 of the House bill, restricting conversions of civilian positions to military based on fully burdened cost analysis of military positions and requirement that military work in Military Occupational Specialty for which they were trained. Lobbied against the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction provisions in sections 911-918 of the House bill, by changing directed realignments and eliminations of organizations and directed 25% reductions into a report to Congress. For example, language that directed elimination of the Defense Information Systems Agency in the original bill was changed to directed realignments of functions and then changed into a report. Lobbied against combining the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Lobbied against 25 percent reductions of Defense Agencies and Field Activities, including the Defense Logistics Agency. Lobbied in conference to mitigate further reductions of Defense agencies by changing target into a report requirement with latitude for alternative reductions that could be applied to contractors (compromise). Lobbied against the Bacon Amendment relating to merger of Commissary and Exchange study that became House section 625. Later lobbied to clarify House section 625 to forestall merger of Commissaries and Exchanges without a GAO review and further Congressional action, laying out criteria prohibiting diversion of appropriated and non-appropriated funds in a way that would dilute benefits for patrons and workers earned benefits. Lobbied against Deputy Secretary of Defense moratorium on hiring an investments in information technology in Commissaries. Lobbied for prohibiting merger of DeCA and Exchange in FY 19 (compromise). Opposed Kennedy Amendment which would have provided authority for consolidating or merging the Defense Commissary System and Exchange System. Lobbied in support of amendments prohibiting per diem allowance reductions based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civilian travel in section 632 of Senate bill (Hirono amendment). Lobbied in support of the Perdue Amendment SA 3840, requesting a GAO review of the costs of the organic industrial base compared to contract for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft fleet. Opposed the Ross Amendment that became section 1112 of the House bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Johnson amendment to the Senate bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Hatch amendment that would modify the temporary direct hire authority for major range and test facilities base facilities. Supported the Cardin Amendment that would prohibit transferring any functions or services of Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities to another element of the Department of Defense without first reporting to Congress on the impact of these transfers. Supported the Collins and King Amendment providing a rule of construction on authority to reduce the civilian workforce, requiring the application of existing law. Supported in conference striking expanded authority for term or temporary hiring. Opposed the Tester Amendment that would have created a pilot program on community care and coordination contract services for Veterans. Opposed Moran amendment that would have extended Veterans preference to retired officers above the rank of major. Supported Moran Amendment requiring Congressional notification of changes in force structure of the United States Army. Lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would weaken Cost Accounting Standards and expand the definition of commercial items; lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would change the scope of the definition of services contracts and governance of personal services contracts. Opposed the Sanders Amendment which would trigger spending reductions in Department of Defense in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. Opposed Ernst Amendment that would direct VA health care dollars away from direct care to contractors Lobbied against proposals and amendments that weaken DoD or government-wide title 5 competitive selection processes, due process protections, or terms of employment. Lobbied against Office of Personnel Management proposal to cut federal employee retirement amendments in the National Defense Authorization bill. Lobbied against proposed repeal of the moratorium on A-76 competitions. Supported a change in the formula for calculating carryover funds for organic industrial base. Opposed proposals to narrow the definition of depot maintenance. Opposed expansion of the definition and application of commercial items, commercial products, and commercial services. Lobbied against Commercial items provisions of House bill at section 833 and for clarifying section 851 of the Senate bill report on the impacts of commercial items changes on readiness and sustainment costs. Opposed amendments that would expand government wide expanded use of term and temporary appointments. Opposed expanded use of direct hiring amendments. Supported amendments requiring additional reports on depot level maintenance and repair. Opposed providing permanent authority for demonstration projects and supported placing limitations on such projects, with reporting on impacts on morale and mission. Opposed Beyer Amendment in section 886 of House bill that would revise the sue of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process. Lobbied to clarify House bill section 2701 that would provide additional authority to realign or close military installations when self-nominated by Governor of State. Lobbied against The Freedom from Government Competition Act for Fiscal Year 2018 that was being marked in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Additionally lobbied House Armed Services Committee and House Rules Committee members on this bill to seek to get it withdrawn during markup. The bill would have directed the expedited contracting of all federal government employee functions that were not inherently governmental and would have substantially changed the public-private competition process in harmful ways. Lobbied to retain the Courtney Amendment (Section 903) of House bill unchanged in conference. Lobbied against 809 Panel recommendations to eliminate the distinction personal services contracts and non personal services contracts. In conference, supported compromised measure that temporarily suspended commercial items reforms until fiscal year 2020 pending an independent review of sustainment costs and readiness impacts. In conference, supported language striking House language requiring DoD to change the definition of services contracts and personal services contracts.
FY 2019 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations. Lobbied for report language in FY 2018 Mil-Con VA to direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbying against HR 1364 to limit and eliminate the use of official time for all federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 3269, Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017,to repeal federal employees' increased retirement contribution within the Federal Employees Retirement System. Continued to lobby on SSA's Vision 2025 Report and its adverse impact on SSA Field Offices that account for 50% of SSA employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757 and S 255 to increase federal employee pay for FY 2018/FY 2019 by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of HR 964 and S 424, to expand the definition of a federal law enforcement officer. Lobbied against any attempts to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Government-wide. Lobbied against the nominations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position of Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Recommended Julia Clarke for nomination. Lobbied against the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United Stated Supreme Court.
FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied in support of HR 5745, Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2018, and lobbied against any efforts to cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of HR 4991, Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. Lobbied against the realignment of the Civil Works program from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied on Americas Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies FY 2019 Appropriations bill which dealt with this realignment.
FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, union representation, contractor compensation caps and telework report. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform with Federal-Postal Coalition to oppose Title V section that would unfairly cut FECA compensation benefits for disabled federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rate (FAIR) Act--to provide both the General Schedule and Wage Grade federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018. Lobbied in support of S 255 to increase the rate of pay under the GS schedule and for prevailing rate employees by 3.2%. S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act--lobbied in support of granting Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of HR 1022/S 362, the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act--to provide up to six weeks of paid leave to federal workers upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Honoring the Fallen TSA Officers Act, a bill granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against the excessive premium increases for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) sold to federal employees and how OPM intends to represent the interests of those who purchase FLTCIP's plan in the future. Lobbied against HR 559, the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act of 2017 for its adverse impact on federal employees with continued attacks on rights of the civil service to collectively bargain and on the due process system necessary when defending themselves. Lobbied against the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Reauthorization Act and its failure to address the lack of ongoing personnel and resources that plague the MSPB and delays justice for federal workers who file appeals. AFGE is very concerned with Section 7 of the Act that limits VA appeals to MSBB. Lobbied for HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to establish a more accurate computation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the Federal Government. Lobbied against HR 4182, the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017" which would arbitrarily extend the probationary period for a minimum of two years for newly hired federal employees because of its lack of addressing issues involving employee performance evaluation or management's ability to properly evaluate employees during this period. Lobbied against S 1886, the Temporary and Term Appointments Act of 2017, that would extend competitive temporary and term appoints at agency discretion. HR 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied against the requirement that OPM submit an annual report to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. HR 1385, Civil Service Incentives Integrity Act of 2017, a bill we lobbied against because it requires the retraction and repayment of recruitment and relocation bonuses paid to federal employees who have spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Additionally, a retention bonus may not be paid to any such employee who, for a period of 6 consecutive months of service associated with the bonus, has spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Official time is time spent by federal employees performing representational work for a bargaining unit in lieu of their regularly assigned work. HR 3303, First Responders Fair Retirement Act, lobbied in support of this bill that permits disabled law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled. HR 5300, Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. Lobbied against this bill that provides the authority of a federal agency to take action to restrict or prohibit access to a website, or to test, deploy, or update a cybersecurity measure, if the agency determines such action is necessary to carry out its responsibilities, shall not be: (1) limited by a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement entered into before, on, or after this bill's enactment pursuant to federal labor-management relations provisions; or (2) negotiated under such provisions. Lobbied in support of the Warner Amendment SA 3761, to preserve an apolitical federal government employee workforce. Lobbied against the Hatch Amendment SA 3922, which would waive limitations on staff years for defense Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). Lobbied that this funding should be based on actual requirements rather than fulfilling a mandate. Lobbied against S 3208, the Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018. It does not increase federal IT security, but would take collective bargaining rights away from federal employees when it comes to issues involving IT. Lobbied against S 3137/HR 6787, the Reforming Government Act of 2018, which expands current authority given to the Administration to reorganize federal government agencies but without increased oversight of the Administration's reform and reorganization plans. Lobbied against S 3437, the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2018, which would establish a federal "rotational cyber workforce program." Specifically, we oppose Section 4(b)(9) and (b)(10) that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for employees in this program. Lobbied against HR 6891, a measure which would make it easier to fire, demote, or suspend federal employees who violate the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA). The ADA already provides severe penalties, including termination for workers violating this Act.
FY 2019 Financial Services Appropriations--lobbied on provisions involving contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of federal employees in Department of Housing and Urban Development.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, to grant TSOs rights under Title 5 of U.S. Code and MSPB rights; and increased funding for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Lobbied in support of HR 5534, TSA Workforce Flexibility Act, to remove statutory TSA screener cap. Lobbied in support of HR 99, Honoring our Fallen TSA Officers Act, grants public safety officer death and injury benefits to TSOs if killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 2309, the Rights for TSA Officers Act, that places TSOs under title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied against: Proposed TSA budgets cuts. Elimination of the TSA Behavior Detection Officer and Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response Team. Lobbied against HR 2997, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (AIRR) Act, that would privatize the Air Traffic Control functions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lobbied against HR 1351, the TSA Misconduct Act. Lobbied in support of HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, to retain a provision mandating discussion and a report on the TSA personnel system. S 1872, TSA Modernization Act, lobbied to address concerns of the TSO workforce's lack of statutory workplace rights and protections that apply to majority of federal workers, including workers at DHS. Lobbied to address concerns in: HR 6659, the Screening with Dignity Act HR 6461, the TSA National Deployment Force Act. Lobbied in support of TSA perso0nnel management system review in HR 302, FAA Reauthorization Act.
FY 2019 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2019 budget and House FY 2019 Budget Resolution. Lobbied Senate and House to oppose any cuts in federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending due to lifting of spending caps on defense and nondefense appropriations. Circulated sign on letter to entire House from Rep Raskin to oppose a federal employee pay freeze for 2019. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring workers pay additional salary towards retirement, and continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions for funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain position in the CIS related to investigation and adjudication of the immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs). HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, lobbied on TSO personnel issues. FY 2019 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--lobbied on report language that would direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provision to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. Also lobbied on proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH. Lobbied to restore $492 million reduction to Social Security Administration and add back inflation adjusted 16 percent reduction in agency spending since 2010. FY 19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill--Lobbied for a continuation of the existing government-wide A-76 moratorium. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations--lobbied for a higher funding level for BOP and for report language that would prohibit the closure of any minimum security camps; require the BOP to hire adequate correctional staff and report to Congress on staffing ratios; end the use of augmentation to compensate for not hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for the inclusion of CJS report language that will direct BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized under LEOSA to carry a firearm while commuting to and from work; Lobbied for report language that would curb the use of augmentation at the Bureau of Prisons. Lobbied for adequate funding for the US Census Bureau as they begin staffing up for the 2020 Census. Lobbied on cuts to EEOC funding. FY 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations (THUD)--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working condition of federal employees. FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of an increase in the level of spending for the operations of the Social Security system. Lobbied against any potential amendments to limit or eliminate official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act), to provide no office of the Environmental Protection Agency be closed, consolidated or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation Act for any fiscal year. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of Engineers to Department of Transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied against the Kennedy Amendment #3726 and the Paul Amendment #3730 to HR 6157, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2019, which also includes the Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Lobbied in support of the Menendez Amendment #3705, appropriating funding to implement the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018. Lobbied against the Paul Amendment #3730, as it will impede federal employees' access to health care coverage through FEHBP. Lobbied against HR 6760, Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018,which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy, thereby impacting on working families, federal employees, and seniors.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, to grant TSOs rights under Title 5 of U.S. Code and MSPB rights; and increased funding for screener personnel, compensation, and benefits. Lobbied for HR 2283, the DHA Morale, Recognition, Learning and Engagement Act of 2017, that establishes an employee engagement steering committee. Lobbied in support of HR 5534, TSA Workforce Flexibility Act, to remove statutory TSA screener cap. Lobbied in support of HR 99, Honoring our Fallen TSA Officers Act, grants public safety officer death and injury benefits to TSOs if killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of HR 2309, the Rights for TSA Officers Act, that places TSOs under title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied against: Proposed TSA budgets cuts. Elimination of the TSA Behavior Detection Officer and Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response Team. Lobbied against HR 2997, the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (AIRR) Act, that would privatize the Air Traffic Control functions of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Lobbied against HR 1351, the TSA Misconduct Act. Lobbied in support of HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, to retain a provision mandating discussion and a report on the TSA personnel system. S 1872, TSA Modernization Act, lobbied to address concerns of the TSO workforce's lack of statutory workplace rights and protections that apply to majority of federal workers, including workers at DHS. Lobbied in support of HR 4611, the Disaster Response Workforce Flexibility Act of 2017.
FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied on any proposals to compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels. Lobbied in support of increasing Census funding levels. Lobbied for H.R. 613 and S. 1084, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self Protection Act to allow federal correctional workers to carry their personal firearms to and from work by requiring the warden of each federal prison to provide a secure place for correctional workers to store their firearm outside the secure perimeter of that BOP institution. Lobbied for H.R. 115 and S. 1085, the Thin Blue Line Act which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of HR 5292, 2020 Census Accountability Act. Lobbied in support of HR 4013, 2020 American Census Investment Act. Lobbied in support of S 2366, Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018.
Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against House FY 2019 Budget Resolution proposed to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) employee premiums. Lobbied in support of HR 1884, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2017. Lobbied in support of HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act. Lobbied against any round two of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which would provide additional tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and jeopardize the retirement benefits of federal employees.
FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, union representation, and contractor compensation caps. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform with Federal-Postal Coalition to oppose Title V section that would unfairly cut FECA compensation benefits for disabled federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rate (FAIR) Act--to provide both the General Schedule and Wage Grade federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018. Lobbied in support of S 255 to increase the rate of pay under the GS schedule and for prevailing rate employees by 3.2%. S 272, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act--lobbied in support of granting Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code. Lobbied in support of HR 1022/S 362, the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act--to provide up to six weeks of paid leave to federal workers upon the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Lobbied in support of HR 99, the Honoring the Fallen TSA Officers Act, a bill granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against the excessive premium increases for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) sold to federal employees and how OPM intends to represent the interests of those who purchase FLTCIP's plan in the future. Lobbied against HR 559, the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act of 2017 for its adverse impact on federal employees. Lobbied for HR 3733, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to establish a more accurate computation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the Federal Government. Lobbied against HR 4182, the "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service Act of 2017" which would arbitrarily extend the probationary period for a minimum of two years for newly hired federal employees because of its lack of addressing issues involving employee performance evaluation or management's ability to properly evaluate employees during this period. Lobbied against S 1886, the Temporary and Term Appointments Act of 2017, that would extend competitive temporary and term appoints at agency discretion. HR 1293, to amend title 5, United States Code, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied against the requirement that OPM submit an annual report to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. HR 1385, Civil Service Incentives Integrity Act of 2017, a bill we lobbied against because it requires the retraction and repayment of recruitment and relocation bonuses paid to federal employees who have spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Additionally, a retention bonus may not be paid to any such employee who, for a period of 6 consecutive months of service associated with the bonus, has spent at least 80% of the time they would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. Official time is time spent by federal employees performing representational work for a bargaining unit in lieu of their regularly assigned work. HR 2846, Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2017, a bill that exempts an agency's authority to collect information that is voluntary feedback from the federal information resources management activities authority of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. HR 3303, First Responders Fair Retirement Act, lobbied in support of this bill that permits disabled law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled. HR 5300, Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2018, lobbied against this bill that provides the authority of a federal agency to take action to restrict or prohibit access to a website, or to test, deploy, or update a cybersecurity measure, if the agency determines such action is necessary to carry out its responsibilities, shall not be: (1) limited by a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement entered into before, on, or after this bill's enactment pursuant to federal labor-management relations provisions; or (2) negotiated under such provisions.
FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees. Lobbied in support of HR 5745, Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2018, and lobbied against any efforts to cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. Lobbied in support of HR 4991, Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.
FY 2019 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2019 budget and House FY 2019 Budget Resolution. Lobbied Senate and House to oppose any cuts in federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased discretionary spending due to lifting of spending caps on defense and nondefense appropriations. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring workers pay additional salary towards retirement, and continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions for funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain position in the CIS related to investigation and adjudication of the immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs). HR 2825, DHS Authorization Act, lobbied on TSO personnel issues. FY 2019 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--lobbied on report language that would direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies; provision to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2019 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. Also lobbied on proposed EPA spending cuts. FY 2019 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH. Lobbied to restore $492 million reduction to Social Security Administration and add back inflation adjusted 16 percent reduction in agency spending since 2010. FY 2018/19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill--Lobbied for a continuation of the existing government-wide A-76 moratorium. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice Science Appropriations--lobbied for a higher funding level for BOP and for report language that would prohibit the closure of any minimum security camps; require the BOP to hire adequate correctional staff and report to Congress on staffing ratios; end the use of augmentation to compensate for not hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions by activating USP Thomson and constructing a new facility in Letcher County, Kentucky; increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2019 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for the inclusion of CJS report language that will direct BOP to provide on-site firearm storage lockers for correctional workers authorized under LEOSA to carry a firearm while commuting to and from work; Lobbied for report language that would curb the use of augmentation at the Bureau of Prisons. Lobbied for adequate funding for the US Census Bureau as they begin staffing up for the 2020 Census. Lobbied on cuts to EEOC funding. FY 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations (THUD)--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working condition of federal employees. FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2019 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of an increase in the level of spending for the operations of the Social Security system. Lobbied against any potential amendments to limit or eliminate official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for HR 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act), to provide no office of the Environmental Protection Agency be closed, consolidated or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation Act for any fiscal year.
FY 2019 THUD Appropriations; Military Construction and Veterans appropriations; Energy and Water Appropriations; Financial Services Appropriations; and Interior and Environmental Appropriations. Lobbied for report language in FY 2018 Mil-Con VA to direct VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbying against HR 1364 to limit and eliminate the use of official time for all federal employees. Lobbied in support of HR 3269, Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2017,to repeal federal employees' increased retirement contribution within the Federal Employees Retirement System. Continued to lobby on SSA's Vision 2025 Report and its adverse impact on SSA Field Offices that account for 50% of SSA employees. Lobbied in support of HR 757 and S 255 to increase federal employee pay for FY 2018/FY 2019 by 3.2%. Lobbied in support of HR 964 and S 424, to expand the definition of a federal law enforcement officer. Lobbied against any attempts to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Government-wide.
The John McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Lobbied in support of House section 824 that moved up the date for a contract services budget exhibit from 2022 to 2020, to include Future Year Defense Program detail. Lobbied in support of the Shea-Porter Amendment that became section 825 of the House bill, revising the reporting thresholds for the contractor inventory from $3 million to the simplified acquisition threshold and repealing the limitation if the contractor inventory to staff augmentation contracts." Supported the Lankford Amendment to the Senate bill expressing a Sense of Congress in support of the requirements for better budgeting of services contracts and improved contractor inventories. Lobbied in support of the Norcross Amendment that became section 902 of the House bill, repealing a civilian employee Full Time Equivalent cap process requiring offsets for any growth in the civilian workforce with reductions in civilian positions (usually vacancies); replaces this process with managing the civilian workforce based on the costs of the total force of military, civilian and contract (i.e., managing to budget and workload rather than caps.) Lobbied based on Defense Business Board recommendations to end civilian Full Time Equivalent cap. Lobbied in support of the Courtney Amendment that became section 903 of the House bill, restricting conversions of civilian positions to military based on fully burdened cost analysis of military positions and requirement that military work in Military Occupational Specialty for which they were trained. Lobbied against the Comprehensive Pentagon Bureaucracy Reform and Reduction provisions in sections 911-918 of the House bill, by changing directed realignments and eliminations of organizations and directed 25% reductions into a report to Congress. For example, language that directed elimination of the Defense Information Systems Agency in the original bill was changed to directed realignments of functions and then changed into a report. Lobbied against combining the Defense Contract Audit Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Lobbied against 25 percent reductions of Defense Agencies and Field Activities, including the Defense Logistics Agency. Lobbied against the Bacon Amendment relating to merger of Commissary and Exchange study that became House section 625. Later lobbied to clarify House section 625 to forestall merger of Commissaries and Exchanges without a GAO review and further Congressional action, laying out criteria prohibiting diversion of appropriated and non-appropriated funds in a way that would dilute benefits for patrons and workers earned benefits. Lobbied against Deputy Secretary of Defense moratorium on hiring an investments in information technology in Commissaries. Opposed Kennedy Amendment which would have provided authority for consolidating or merging the Defense Commissary System and Exchange System. Lobbied in support of amendments prohibiting per diem allowance reductions based on duration of temporary duty assignment or civilian travel in section 632 of Senate bill (Hirono amendment). Opposed the Perdue Amendment to Senate bill that would have reduced civil service protections and civilian employees workplace rights by lowering the evidentiary standard for misconduct and prohibiting Merit Systems Protection Board administrative judges from mitigating penalties. Opposed the Ross Amendment that became section 1112 of the House bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Johnson amendment to the Senate bill that would have created an inaccurate accounting and reporting of official time. Opposed the Hatch amendment that would modify the temporary direct hire authority for major range and test facilities base facilities. Supported the Cardin Amendment that would prohibit transferring any functions or services of Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities to another element of the Department of Defense without first reporting to Congress on the impact of these transfers. Supported the Collins and King Amendment providing a rule of construction on authority to reduce the civilian workforce, requiring the application of existing law. Opposed the Test Amendment that would have created a pilot program on community care and coordination contract services for Veterans. Opposed Moran amendment that would have extended Veterans preference to retired officers above the rank of major. Supported Moran Amendment requiring Congressional notification of changes in force structure of the United States Army. Lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would weaken Cost Accounting Standards and expand the definition of commercial items; lobbied against section 809 panel recommendations that would change the scope of the definition of services contracts and governance of personal services contracts. Opposed the Sanders Amendment which would trigger spending reductions in Department of Defense in the absence of an unqualified audit opinion. Opposed Ernst Amendment that would direct VA health care dollars away from direct care to contractors Lobbied against proposals and amendments that weaken DoD or government-wide title 5 competitive selection processes, due process protections, or terms of employment. Lobbied against Office of Personnel Management proposal to cut federal employee retirement amendments in the National Defense Authorization bill. Lobbied against proposed repeal of the moratorium on A-76 competitions. Supported a change in the formula for calculating carryover funds for organic industrial base. Opposed proposals to narrow the definition of depot maintenance. Opposed expansion of the definition and application of commercial items, commercial products, and commercial services. Lobbied against Commercial items provisions of House bill at section 833 and for clarifying section 851 of the Senate bill report on the impacts of commercial items changes on readiness and sustainment costs. Opposed amendments that would expand government wide expanded use of term and temporary appointments. Opposed expanded use of direct hiring amendments. Supported amendments requiring additional reports on depot level maintenance and repair. Opposed providing permanent authority for demonstration projects and supported placing limitations on such projects, with reporting on impacts on morale and mission. Opposed Beyer Amendment in section 886 of House bill that would revise the sue of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection process. Lobbied to clarify House bill section 2701 that would provide additional authority to realign or close military installations when self-nominated by Governor of State. Lobbied against The Freedom from Government Competition Act for Fiscal Year 2018 that was being marked in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Additionally lobbied House Armed Services Committee and House Rules Committee members on this bill to seek to get it withdrawn during markup. The bill would have directed the expedited contracting of all federal government employee functions that were not inherently governmental and would have substantially changed the public-private competition process in harmful ways.
FY 2019 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs its potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees. Lobbied against taking up S.J.Res. 28, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the final FSIS rule establishing a mandatory inspection program for "all fish of the order Siluriformes," including catfish and its products, because of the public health threat posed by importation of adulterated catfish products.
FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CBP, CIS, TSA, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees.
Budget reconciliation involving the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of DC Government employees. Lobbied on enforcement of DC and federal laws as well as collective bargaining agreements relating to increased oversight of the conversion of public worker jobs to private contactors.
Filing targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Air Force, Dept of, Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Army, Dept of (Other), Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS), Defense Commissary Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Interior, Dept of (DOI), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Navy, Dept of, Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), SENATE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Marines, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)