CLAIMS

Amendments

Dept. of the Interior: exchange trust and fee land to resolve land disputes created by realignment of the Blackfoot River along the boundary of the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho (S. 2040), S5839, S5872 [18SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve access of veterans to medical services by improving scheduling, staff training and hiring, access to care from non-departmental providers, and administrative matters (S. 2450), S3609, S3619 [11JN], S3672 [12JN]

New Mexico: make technical corrections to certain Native American water rights settlements (S. 1447), S6355 [4DE]

Presidents of the U.S.: establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records (H.R. 1233), S5239 [31JY], S5514 [10SE], H7910 [12NO]

Terrorism: deter and provide justice for victims by ensuring foreign sponsors of terrorism are held accountable to their victims in U.S. courts (S. 1535), S6638 [11DE]

Veterans: improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), S1050, S1051, S1052, S1092, S1093, S1131 [25FE], S1168, S1178, S1179, S1180, S1181, S1182, S1184, S1185 [26FE], S1240, S1241, S1242, S1243, S1244, S1245, S1247, S1250, S1251, S1252 [27FE]

Appointments

Conferees: H.R. 3230, Veteran Access to Care Act, H5429 [18JN]

——— H.R. 3230, Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, S3805 [18JN]

Articles and editorials

Overloaded Vets Bill Would Be a Costly Letdown (excerpt), S1147 [26FE]

Supersized Veterans’ Bill Promises Much—Mostly Broken Promises, S1162 [26FE]

VA Employee—Wait List Data Was Manipulated in Austin, San Antonio, S2748 [7MY]

Bills and resolutions

Bankruptcy: exempt firearms from claims of creditors (see H.R. 3933), H1431 [27JA]

——— improve protections for employees and retirees in business bankruptcies (see S. 2589), S4404 [10JY]

——— require disclosure and filing by certain trusts of quarterly reports that contain detailed information on receipt and disposition of claims for injuries based on exposure to asbestos (see S. 2319), S2910 [12MY]

Business and industry: limit ability of companies in bankruptcy to reduce or terminate wages or benefits, require continuation of health benefits, and provide information on duration of health benefits (see S. 2418), S3367 [3JN]

CERCLA: clarify effect of State statutes of repose on the required commencement date for actions (see S. 2542), S4153 [26JN] (see H.R. 4993), H5817 [26JN]

Children and youth: require reporting of bullying to appropriate authorities and assist with equal protection claims against entities who fail to respond appropriately to bullying (see H.R. 4756), H5022 [29MY]

Courts: clarify meaning of the term ‘‘prevailing party’’ relative to recovery of attorneys’ fees (see H.R. 5187), H6813 [24JY]

——— ensure appropriate judicial review of Federal actions by amending prohibition on exercise of jurisdiction by U.S. Court of Federal Claims of certain claims pending in other courts (see S. 2769), S5218 [31JY] (see H.R. 5683), H7937 [12NO]

——— prohibit recovery of damages in certain wrongful birth and wrongful life civil actions (see H.R. 4698), H4783 [21MY]

Dept. of HHS: increase access to Medicare data (see H.R. 4418), H2990 [7AP]

Dept. of the Interior: authorize settlement relative to the agreement with TVA, North Carolina, and Swain County, NC, on the non-construction of the North Shore Road (see S. 2744), S5217 [31JY]

——— contract with eligible Indian tribes to manage land buy-back programs and require that certain amounts be deposited into interest bearing accounts (see S. 2387), S3293 [22MY] (see H.R. 4694), H4783 [21MY] (see H.R. 5020), H5875 [8JY]

——— enter into Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement Agreement and Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Settlement Agreement (see S. 2503), S3863 [19JN] (see H.R. 4924), H5597 [20JN]

——— exchange trust and fee land to resolve land disputes created by realignment of the Blackfoot River along the boundary of the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho (see S. 2040), S1048 [25FE] (see H.R. 5049), H6035 [9JY]

Dept. of the Treasury: allow for use of certain foreign assets to satisfy certain judgments against terrorist parties (see H.R. 5367), H7183 [31JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: carry out a pilot program to provide veterans the option of using an alternative appeals process to more quickly determine disability claims (see H.R. 4616), H4015 [8MY]

——— clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran may receive certain accrued benefits upon the death of the veteran and ensure that substituted claims are processed timely (see H.R. 4335), H2744 [27MR]

——— conduct outreach to veterans on the effect of certain delayed payments and submit to Congress an annual report on such delayed payments (see S. 2654), S4903 [24JY] (see H.R. 5193), H6813 [24JY]

——— establish a deadline for the certification of certain forms by regional offices (see H.R. 5349), H7182 [31JY]

——— improve information technology of the Veterans Benefits Administration (see H.R. 4038), H1769 [11FE]

——— improve processing of claims for benefits (see S. 2091), S1365 [6MR]

——— improve treatment of medical evidence provided by non-departmental medical professionals in support of disability claims (see H.R. 4191), H2300 [11MR]

——— prohibit payment of bonuses to senior employees until the backlog of disability claims is resolved and establish a commission to evaluate such backlog (see H.R. 4766), H5022 [29MY]

——— prohibit payment of performance awards to Veterans Health Administration employees (see S. 2362), S3184 [20MY]

——— protect veterans from dishonesty and malfeasance in delivery of medical services by allowing veterans to sue VA employees who falsified or destroyed medical records (see S. 2419), S3367 [3JN]

——— require accountability in the Veterans Health Administration (see H.R. 4774), H5022 [29MY]

——— require employment of at least three decision review officers at each regional office (see S. 2296), S2796 [7MY]

Disasters: provide construction, architectural, and engineering entities with qualified immunity from liability for negligence when providing volunteer services or equipment in response to a declared emergency or disaster (see H.R. 4246), H2433 [13MR]

Employment: clarify appropriate liability standards for Federal antidiscrimination claims relative to workplace harassment (see S. 2133), S1652 [13MR] (see H.R. 4227), H2432 [13MR]

Health: develop and disseminate clinical practice guidelines and establish right of removal to Federal courts for defendants in medical malpractice actions involving Federal payors (see H.R. 4106), H2064 [27FE]

Health care professionals: limit liability of volunteers who provide health care services in response to a disaster (see S. 2196), S1923 [1AP]

Immigration: prevent expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, expedite processing of minors entering across the southern border, and reimburse States for National Guard deployments (see S. 2666), S4903 [24JY]

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act: expedite civil actions, claims, and appeals (see H.R. 5092), H6135 [11JY]

ITC: protect domestic industries from abusive patent litigation (see H.R. 4763), H5022 [29MY]

Mining and mineral resources: modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands consistent with the principles of self-initiation of mining claims (see H.R. 5060), H6105 [10JY]

Native Americans: restore opportunity for tribal economic development by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe on terms that are equal and fair (see S. 2923), S5993 [13NO]

Patents: curb unfair and deceptive practices during assertion of patents (see S. 2049), S1174 [26FE]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: impose restrictions on risk corridor program (see H.R. 4406), H2961 [4AP]

——— repeal risk corridor program (see H.R. 5175), H6744 [23JY]

Shinseki, Sec. of Veterans Affairs.: call for resignation relative to Dept. of Veterans Affairs benefit claims backlog and delays in providing emergency health care (see H. Con. Res. 98), H4434 [15MY]

Shipping industry: amend certain laws relative to notices of claim of maritime lien (see H.R. 4770), H5022 [29MY]

Taxation: strengthen rules for approved structured settlement factoring transactions (see H.R. 3897), H1240 [16JA]

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: establish procedures for class actions (see H.R. 5088), H6135 [11JY]

Veterans: improve provision of medical services and benefits (see S. 1950), S439 [16JA] (see S. 1982), S702 [3FE] (see S. 2413), S3341 [2JN]

Cloture motions

Veterans: improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), S1168 [26FE]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), motion to proceed, S940 [12FE], S1027 [25FE]

Letters

Veterans health care access: several veterans organizations, S4739 [23JY], S4855 [24JY]

Motions

Veterans: improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1950), S557 [29JA], S611 [30JA], S665 [3FE], S707 [4FE]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), S936, S940 [12FE], S978 [24FE], S1011 [25FE], S1168 [26FE], S1197, S1209 [27FE]

Press releases

Commander—Keep Senate Bill Focused on Vets: American Legion, S1159 [26FE]

Corrine Brown Grateful for the Service of VA Secretary Shinseki: Representative Brown, H5059 [30MY]

Remarks in House

Alaska Native Allotment Act: approve certain Alaska Native veteran land allotment application and convey land associated with such application, H1676 [6FE], H2978 [7AP]

Courts: ensure appropriate judicial review of Federal actions by amending prohibition on exercise of jurisdiction by U.S. Court of Federal Claims of certain claims pending in other courts (H.R. 5683), E1746 [4DE]

Dept. of Agriculture: allow veterans to file for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under the status of disabled while their Dept. of Veterans Affairs disability claims are pending, H5304 [11JN]

Dept. of Defense: prohibit funding for any activity that would support territorial, maritime, or airspace claims made by China on the international waters or territories of other sovereign nations, H5566 [20JN]

Dept. of HUD: prohibit Distressed Asset Stabilization Program funding to pay FHA mortgage insurance claims unless loans are compliant with loss mitigation requirements, H5226 [10JN]

Dept. of the Interior: enter into Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement Agreement and Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Settlement Agreement (H.R. 4924), H8181–H8186 [1DE]

——— exchange trust and fee land to resolve land disputes created by realignment of the Blackfoot River along the boundary of the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho (S. 2040), H8187, H8188 [1DE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: digital scanning of health and benefit files funding, H3329 [30AP]

——— disability claim backlog reduction funding through reductions in administrative account funding, H3351 [30AP]

——— eliminate backlog of benefit claims and delays in receipt of medical care, H4696 [21MY], H5601 [23JN], E956 [11JN]

——— hiring of additional health care professionals funding, H6847–H6851 [25JY]

——— improve access of veterans to medical services by improving scheduling, staff training and hiring, access to care from non-departmental providers, and administrative matters, H5407–H5413, H5424–H5429 [18JN], H6334–H6338 [16JY], H6361, H6380–H6383 [17JY], H6735–H6737 [23JY], H6792–H6796 [24JY], H6818, H6847–H6851 [25JY], H6988, H6989 [29JY], H7056, H7078–H7085 [30JY], H7132 [31JY], E1316 [1AU]

——— improve processing of claims for benefits, H3317, H3318, H3335, H3336 [30AP]

——— require staff to update congressional office caseworkers on constituents’ claims that have been brokered to other VA offices, H3334, H3335 [30AP]

——— resolve backlog of disability claims, H2656 [26MR], H3328, H3329 [30AP], H4047 [9MY]

——— resolve backlog of disability claims and expand educational benefits for veterans and families, H4922 [29MY]

Health: prevent establishment of Federal health care provider standards of care in medical malpractice cases, H2457 [14MR]

Medicare: establish a provider system under which providers of services and suppliers representing a low risk for submitting fraudulent claims are provided certain claim review protections (H.R. 3168), H27 [8JA]

Permanent Court of Arbitration: ruling that Russia violated the Energy Charter Treaty when it expropriated Yukos Oil Co., assets, E1323 [1AU], E1469, E1480 [19SE]

Presidents of the U.S.: establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records (H.R. 1233), H202–H207 [14JA]

——— establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records (H.R. 1233), Senate amendment, H7910, H7911 [12NO]

Shinseki, Eric K.: resignation as Sec. of Veterans Affairs relative to Dept. of Veterans Affairs benefit claims backlog and clandestine wait lists for appointments at VA medical facilities, H5058, H5059 [30MY]

Shinseki, Sec. of Veterans Affairs: call for resignation relative to Dept. of Veterans Affairs benefit claims backlog, H4471 [19MY], H4695 [21MY], H4815 [22MY], H5028 [30MY], E737 [9MY]

Veterans: improve provision of medical services and benefits, H5195 [10JN], H5813 [26JN]

World War II: ensure that U.S. courts provide a forum for claims brought against any railroad arising from the deportation of individuals to Nazi concentration camps (H.R. 1505), E614 [29AP]

Remarks in Senate

Armed Forces: appropriate funds necessary to ensure that Reserve component members who perform inactive-duty training continue to receive pay during a Government shutdown (H.R. 3230), insert S. 2450 language in lieu, S3564 [11JN]

BLM: convey quitclaim surface rights to certain Federal land in Virginia City, NV, to Storey County, NV, to resolve conflicting ownership and title claims, S6504 [10DE]

Dept. of Justice: improve compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for workers involved in uranium mining (S. 773), S3960 [25JN]

Dept. of the Interior: enter into Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement Agreement and Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Settlement Agreement (H.R. 4924), S6272 [2DE]

——— enter into Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement Agreement and Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Settlement Agreement (S. 2503), S3865 [19JN]

——— exchange trust and fee land to resolve land disputes created by realignment of the Blackfoot River along the boundary of the Fort Hall Reservation in Idaho (S. 2040), S5872 [18SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: allow veterans of past wars with a less than honorable discharge to upgrade status if service-connected disability would be currently diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder, S1143 [26FE]

——— delay expansion of medical services to veterans with no service-connected disability or income above means-tested threshold until GAO certifies that resources can accommodate increased enrollment, S1024–S1032 [25FE], S1146, S1161–S1163 [26FE], S1205 [27FE]

——— eliminate backlog of benefit claims and delays in receipt of medical care, S2686 [6MY], S2748, S2774 [7MY], S3048 [15MY], S3286 [22MY], S3417 [4JN], S3448 [5JN], S4321 [9JY]

——— expand availability of medical care by allowing veterans to see health care providers participating in Medicare, S3578 [11JN]

——— improve access of veterans to medical services, S3462 [5JN]

——— improve access of veterans to medical services by improving scheduling, staff training and hiring, access to care from non-departmental providers, and administrative matters, S3553–S3560, S3563, S3575, S3578, S3582, S3583, S3586–S3594, S3597 [11JN], S3622, S3623, S3645–S3647 [12JN], S3702 [17JN], S3805 [18JN], S4131–S4133 [26JN], S4248–S4251, S4258 [8JY], S4639 [21JY], S4737–S4740 [23JY], S4854–S4858 [24JY], S5005, S5006, S5012–S5020 [29JY], S5125 [30JY], S5170, S5171, S5175, S5178, S5188 [31JY]

——— improve processing of claims for benefits (S. 2091), S3159 [20MY], S3260 [22MY], S3412, S3413 [4JN], S3636, S3637 [12JN]

——— offset increased medical services and benefits funding by capping Dept. of Defense overseas contingency operations account funding, S1204, S1206 [27FE]

——— provide notice of average times for processing claims and percentage of claims approved, S1189 [27FE]

Iran: require Iranian government make a formal apology to Americans held hostage in Iran and compensate hostages and their families, S2085 [2AP]

New Mexico: make technical corrections to certain Native American water rights settlements (S. 1447), S6355 [4DE]

Patents: deter abusive patent litigation by awarding the prevailing party reasonable fees and expenses and allowing the defendant to request the alleging party post a bond to cover certain costs (S. 1612), S5114, S5116 [30JY]

Presidents of the U.S.: establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records (H.R. 1233), S5514–S5518 [10SE]

Shinseki, Sec. of Veterans Affairs: call for resignation relative to Dept. of Veterans Affairs benefit claims backlog, S2687 [6MY], S2748 [7MY], S3161 [20MY]

Terrorism: deter and provide justice for victims by ensuring foreign sponsors of terrorism are held accountable to their victims in U.S. courts (S. 1535), S5526, S5529 [11SE], S6657–S6660 [11DE]

Veterans: improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1950), S445–S447, S458 [16JA], S467 [27JA], S2064–S2066 [2AP], S2759, S2760 [7MY]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1950), motion to proceed, S557 [29JA], S611 [30JA], S665 [3FE], S707 [4FE]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1950), unanimous-consent request, S1506, S1507 [11MR], S1759 [26MR], S2065 [2AP], S2759 [7MY]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), S705 [3FE], S708 [4FE], S867, S882 [11FE], S1168 [26FE], S1187–S1191, S1193–S1201, S1204–S1207, S1209, S1210, S1218 [27FE], S1331 [6MR], S2310–S2312 [9AP], S3319 [2JN]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), motion to proceed, S936, S940 [12FE], S1011, S1020–S1032, S1035–S1039 [25FE], S1134, S1140–S1148, S1150–S1163, S1165–S1168 [26FE]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), unanimous-consent agreement, S1169 [26FE]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 1982), unanimous-consent request, S3262, S3264 [22MY]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits (S. 2413), S3395 [4JN], S3434, S3457–S3460 [5JN]

Reports filed

Alexander Creek, AK, Recognition as a Native Village: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 1103) (H. Rept. 113–689), H10333 [2JA]

Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 4924) (H. Rept. 113–638), H8225 [1DE]

Blackfoot River Land Exchange Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 2040) (S. Rept. 113–242), S5334 [5AU]

——— Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 5049) (H. Rept. 113–639), H8225 [1DE]

Ensuring Access to Justice for Claims Against the U.S. Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 5683) (H. Rept. 113–650), H8867 [8DE]

Establish Procedures for Consideration of Claims of Constitutionally Based Privilege Against Disclosure of Presidential Records: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (H.R. 1233) (S. Rept. 113–218), S4762 [23JY]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Agreement Act: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 3806) (H. Rept. 113–695), H10334 [2JA]

Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 1535), S5588 [15SE]

New Mexico Navajo Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 1447) (S. Rept. 113–246), S5373 [8SE]

Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 1448) (S. Rept. 113–202), S4153 [26JN]

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act: Committee of Conference (H.R. 3230) (H. Rept. 113–564), H6975 [28JY]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 111, corrections in enrollment of H.R. 3230, Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, H7087 [30JY]

H.R. 1233, establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records, S5514–S5518 [10SE], H202–H206 [14JA]

H.R. 3230, Veterans’ Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, S3565–S3575 [11JN]

H.R. 4924, Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act, H8181–H8185 [1DE]

S. 1447, New Mexico Navajo Water Settlement Technical Corrections Act, S6355 [4DE]

S. 1535, Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, S6657 [11DE]

S. 2040, Blackfoot River Land Exchange Act, S5872 [18SE], H8187 [1DE]

S. 2422, Ensuring Veterans Access to Care Act, S3370–S3379 [3JN]

S. 2589, Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act, S4410–S4414 [10JY]