CONGRESS
Sen. Duckworth (D-IL) introduced S. 3791, the National Guard COVID-19 Response Stability Act. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The bill would empower governors to extend federal deployments of their Guard units through the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. [Bill text not yet publicly available.]
- The House version of this bill is H.R. 6980, introduced by Rep. Kuster (D-NH-2), and is currently pending in the House Armed Services Committee. [Bill text not yet publicly available.]
On June 3rd, the following hearings will take place:
- Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on: “Fiscal Year 2021 Budget and 2022 Advance Appropriations Requests, and Fiscal Year 2020 Enacted CARES Act Supplemental Appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs”
- House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health will hold a virtual hearing: “Mission Readiness: VA’s Preparedness for Natural Disasters During a Pandemic”
Video: Last week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction & Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing on: “Department of Veterans Affairs - Response to COVID-19” (video begins at 3 minutes, 54 seconds)
Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the following three bills by simple voice vote:
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H.R. 6168 – the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, introduced by Rep. Luria (D-VA-2). This bill would direct the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2020, the rates of veterans’ disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. The percentage increase in benefits would be the same as the cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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S. 3414 – the Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, introduced by Sen. Moran (R-KS). This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs’ to carry out specified major medical facility projects during FY2020. There are seven projects: West LA, CA; San Diego, CA; Livermore, CA; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Manhattan, NY; Alameda, CA; Louisville, KY. The bill now moves to the White House for Trump’s signature into law.
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S. 3084 – A bill to modify the limitation on pay for certain high-level employees and officers of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, introduced by Sen. Moran (R-KS). This bill amends title 38 of the U.S. Code to modify the limitation on pay for certain employees and officers of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The bill now moves to the White House for Trump’s signature into law.
Details: Upcoming webinar with IAVA’s Jeremy Butler and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) to discuss veterans’ access to health care and programs to assist veterans in need
RECENT ISSUE:
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Video: Trump administration cuts National Guard deployment a day short of benefits accrual
- House Letter Calling on Trump to Extend National Guard Activation to Combat COVID-19
RESPONSE:
- Bipartisan, bicameral letter from members of Congress to Trump regarding National Guard benefits for COVID-19 response
- American Legion press release
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Letter to DoD regarding states and the National Guard
House Armed Services Committee press release: Statement in response to the Navy granting its first waiver to allow a transgender service member to remain in uniform
Article: Sam Johnson, Vietnam POW who became a Texas congressman, dies at 89
Article: New Mexico senator presents veterans' histories to Library of Congress
Article: Sen. Booker renews effort to get 74 sailors' names added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Article: Veterans Affairs budget hearing represents first steps toward normal operations for Congress
Video: Congressman Lieu (D-CA-33) speaks to Democrats Abroad
Article: Lawmakers call on VA to provide more data on minority veterans affected by COVID-19
Video: Last week, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a virtual forum on: “Virtual Forum: Veterans' Disability Examinations in the Time of COVID-19: A Way Forward” (video begins at 8 minutes, 16 seconds)
Video: the Women Veterans Task Force held a virtual roundtable on: “Resilience and Coping: Mental Health of Women Veterans” (video begins at 3 minutes, 47 seconds)
Video: Two weeks ago, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman spoke with Jose Ramos, Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) Vice President of Government and Community Relations, to discuss the unique challenges faced by women veterans during the pandemic and veterans’ ability to access healthcare while unemployed
Tweet: For Memorial Day, Rep. Lamb (D-PA-17) paid respect at a memorial service
Tweet: For Memorial Day, Rep. Pappas (D-NH-1) attended local observances
Tweet: For Memorial Day, Rep. Levin (D-CA-49) attended a local event
Instagram: For Memorial Day, Rep. Underwood (D-IL-14) paid respect at a military cemetery
Letter from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary urging VA to fully and fairly implement paid sick leave and telework policies and procedures after hearing that some VA employees had been unfairly denied these key benefits that keep them safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic
Two weeks ago, the leaders of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees sent a joint letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the use and management of the emergency relief funds that were appropriated to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs following passage of the CARES Act.
Statement from Sen. Tester (D-MT) on Memorial Day
Statement from the Speaker on Memorial Day
Sens. Tester (D-MT), Rounds (R-SD), Reed (D-RI), and Hoeven (R-ND) introduced S. 3788, the Veterans Cemetery Grants Improvement Act. This bill would double the current $5 million limit on vet cemetery grants. The bills is currently pending in the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The House version of this bill is H.R. 5487, introduced by Del. Sablan (D-NMI).
House floor speech by Rep. Wilson (R-SC-2) on the National Guard
ELSEWHERE IN GOVERNMENT
Article: Latinos are fastest growing population in US military, but higher ranks remain out of reach
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Artículo: Los militares de EEUU son más diversos que nunca pero los latinos no están siendo ascendidos a oficiales
Article: VA says employees have masks and coronavirus tests, but Congress sees inconsistencies
Article: Live nuclear testing could resume in ‘months’ if needed, official says
DoD Article: Military Medical Experts Explore Psychological Impacts of COVID-19
Article: Coronavirus delays new child care priority system, but good news for Coast Guard military families
Article: VA-led research effort shows how medical devices can have well-known seal of approval
Article: Amid criticism, Secretary Wilkie won’t commit to removing Nazi headstones from VA cemeteries
Trump remarks: Rolling to Remember Ceremony: Honoring our Nation’s Veterans and POW/MIA
Trump remarks: Memorial Day Ceremony in Baltimore
Article: DoD launches financial site for Military spouses
Article: Air Force fails to deal with racial disparities in military justice, report says
Article: Telework capacity quadruples during pandemic, VA says
Article: VA says onboarding changes made during the pandemic will ‘change the way we hire forever’
Article: New changes to the VA Home Loan
Article: How the Pandemic Is Helping The Military Prep For World War III
VA press release: VA conducts deep-dive study into effects of COVID-19 on Veterans
Article: VA Union Seeks Injunction Against Impasses Panel
Article: Senate Confirms Braithwaite as Next SECNAV
New CRS report: Full Practice Authority for VA Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) During the COVID-19 Pandemic
New CRS report: Delivery of VA Telehealth Services During COVID-19
New GAO report: Defense Health Care: Additional Information and Monitoring Needed to Better Position DOD for Restructuring Medical Treatment Facilities
Article: Social Security Honors Our Military Heroes
Article: Trump’s Decision to Freeze WHO Funding Worries the US Military
OTHER
Op-ed: James Mattis: Let’s honor the fallen by protecting our fragile experiment in democracy
Editorial: Why Does the U.S. Military Celebrate White Supremacy?
Article: Military families need—and can’t get—mental health care
Opinion piece: Supporting the mental health of military families
Article: German auction house sells historic Medal of Honor despite US opposition
Editorial: Never forget
Editorial: Memorial Day is every day right now
Editorial: Our national shame: COVID-19 in nursing homes
Editorial: Returning favor for veterans
Editorial: Remember the sacrifice of our fallen
Editorial: Military base becomes a COVID-19 black hole
American Legion press release: Illinois post makes smooth transition to virtual world
Opinion piece: Advocate for military families' right to vote this Memorial Day
Article: Military Families Have Been Pushed To The Brink By COVID-19
Photos: Veterans who died of coronavirus honored in powerful photographs
Article: COVID-19 delays Congressional Gold Medal for many Chinese-American WWII vets
Article: Suicide risk for veterans could grow as coronavirus crisis winds down
Op-ed: Honor those who serve our country at home and abroad
Op-Ed: We’ve learned to thank those who serve, whether it’s in war or during a pandemic
Op-ed: What happens to veterans’ healthcare post-COVID-19?
Article: Tax incentives and reliefs for US military and veterans
Article: For some vets who have died during pandemic, military honors must wait
Article: Veterans disability exams to resume at some sites as backlog hits 114,000, nearly doubling in six months
Opinion piece: Why War Powers Matter to Military Families | Opinion
DA-V&MFC web site post: Remembering the Fallen on Memorial Day
DA Global Chair web site post: Statement on Memorial Day
DNC Chair web site post: Statement on Memorial Day
Article: Military families share Memorial Day with nation mourning coronavirus losses
Video: Recognizing the service of Native American veterans
Article: This unique community is a haven for military families
Article: The forgotten history of Memorial Day
