DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS see also Veterans

Amendments

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), H3243 [28AP], H3294 [29AP], H3320, H3326, H3328, H3329, H3332, H3334, H3337, H3339, H3343, H3344, H3349, H3350, H3351, H3352, H3353, H3354, H3355, H3365 [30AP]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), consideration (H. Res. 557), H3307 [30AP]

Health: 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]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), S2958, S2959, S2976, S2978 [13MY], S3018, S3019, S3033, S3034, S3035, S3036, S3037, S3038, S3039, S3040, S3041 [14MY], S3082, S3083, S3084, S3086, S3088, S3089, S3090, S3092, S3093, S3094, S3095, S3096, S3097, S3098, S3101, S3102, S3103, S3104, S3105, S3106, S3107, S3108, S3109, S3110, S3111, S3113, S3114, S3115, S3117, S3119, S3120, S3124, S3132, S3133, S3134, S3135, S3136, S3137, S3138, S3139, S3140, S3141, S3142, S3143, S3144, S3145 [15MY], S3191, S3192 [20MY], S5271 [31JY]

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

Big Labor’s VA Choke Hold, S3581 [11JN]

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

Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans: expand membership to include veterans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (see H.R. 4999), H5817 [26JN]

Animals: ensure that service animals of patients receiving inpatient care at medical facilities are able to access such patients’ rooms (see H.R. 5333), H7182 [31JY]

Armed Forces: ensure that Reserve members using educational assistance administered by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs are accommodated by institutions of higher learning for an absence caused by performing certain training (see H.R. 5676), H7900 [19SE]

——— expand and improve care to members and veterans with mental health disorders, review characterization of discharges, and establish a loan repayment program for certain VA psychiatrists (see S. 2182), S1819 [27MR] (see H.R. 5048), H6034 [9JY]

——— require mental health assessments before enlistment or commissioning as an officer (see S. 2231), S2327 [9AP] (see H.R. 4305), H2695 [26MR]

Bear Root Dept. of Veterans Affairs Clinic, Billings, MT: designate (see S. 2805), S5588 [15SE] (see H.R. 5763), H8169 [20NO]

Benefits: clarify manner in which an advance educational assistance payment is charged against the entitlement of a veteran to such assistance (see H.R. 4184), H2256 [6MR]

——— expand eligibility for, and benefits under, the family caregiver assistance program and enhance compensation for uniformed services members requiring assistance in everyday life (see S. 2243), S2378 [10AP] (see H.R. 4892), H5494 [18JN]

——— extend eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home and domiciliary care for certain veterans who served in a theater of combat operations (see S. 2979), S6350 [4DE]

Biomedical Research Fund: establish (see S. 2115), S1584 [12MR] (see H.R. 4384), H2913 [3AP]

Cemeteries and funerals: make memorial headstones and markers available for purchase for members of Reserve components who performed certain training (see H.R. 4359), H2801 [1AP]

Children and youth: improve care provided to newborn children (see H.R. 5475), H7616 [16SE]

Claims: 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]

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

Colleges and universities: require institutions to disseminate information on completion, employment, and retention rates of Dept. of Veterans Affairs educational assistance program recipients (see H.R. 4248), H2433 [13MR]

——— waive certain requirements relative to the approval of educational facilities for purposes of utilizing GI Bill benefits (see H.R. 5157), H6398 [17JY]

Commission on Access to Care: establish to evaluate and assess access to health care at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (see H.R. 4861), H5363 [12JN]

Contracts: improve oversight of contracts awarded to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans (see H.R. 4281), H2565 [21MR]

——— prohibit awarding of Federal contracts to contractors responsible for delayed openings of Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (see H.R. 4394), H2913 [3AP]

Courts: 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]

Death and dying: clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran may receive certain accrued benefits upon the death of the veteran (see H.R. 4102), H2001 [26FE]

——— 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]

——— ensure informing of interment of deceased veterans (see S. 2951), S6204 [20NO] (see H.R. 5369), H7183 [31JY]

Dept. of Education: revise rule requiring for-profit colleges receiving a certain percentage of revenue from non-Federal sources to count military and veterans’ education benefits under such rule (see S. 2837), S5697 [17SE]

Dept. of Labor: enter into a contract for the conduct of a longitudinal study of certain job counseling, training, and placement services for veterans (see H.R. 4150), H2198 [5MR]

——— establish a competitive grant program for community colleges to train veterans for local jobs (see H.R. 5842), H9044 [10DE]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (see H.R. 4486), H3239 [28AP]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), consideration (see H. Res. 557), H3291 [29AP]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: evaluate mental health care and suicide prevention programs, review discharge or separation of certain individuals, and require a loan repayment pilot program for psychiatrists (see S. 2930), S6022 [17NO] (see H.R. 5059), H6105 [10JY]

Disabled: allow veterans of all service-connected disability levels to be reimbursed for travel when seeking care at a VA medical center (see H.R. 5115), H6296 [15JY]

——— improve administered laws relative to training and rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities (see H.R. 4037), H1769 [11FE]

——— reinstate requirement for an annual report on the capacity to provide for specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans (see H.R. 4198), H2301 [11MR]

Doris Miller Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Waco, TX: designate (see S. 2128), S1652 [13MR] (see H.R. 4199), H2301 [11MR]

Drugs: authorize health care providers to provide recommendations and opinions to veterans regarding participation in State marijuana programs (see H.R. 5762), H8169 [20NO]

Education: enter into a contract with a non-government entity to conduct a survey of individuals on the use of departmental educational assistance (see H.R. 4151), H2198 [5MR]

Edward ‘Ed’ James O’Neal Dept. of Veterans Affairs Clinic, Hamlet, NC: designate (see H.R. 5265), H7125 [30JY]

Employment: develop and publish an action plan for improving vocational rehabilitation services and assistance (see H.R. 5032), H6034 [9JY]

Families and domestic relations: establish a national center for diagnosis, treatment, and research of health conditions of descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service (see S. 2738), S5217 [31JY] (see H.R. 4816), H5185 [9JN] (see H.R. 5484), H7617 [16SE]

——— provide for additional qualification requirements for individuals appointed to marriage and family therapist positions (see H.R. 5398), H7241 [1AU]

Federal employees: assess staffing shortages at medical facilities (see H.R. 5007), H5818 [26JN]

——— call for appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate mismanagement and misconduct of officials (see H. Res. 633), H5597 [20JN]

——— improve the performance appraisal system for senior executives (see H.R. 4399), H2961 [4AP]

——— 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]

——— provide additional points on competitive service entrance exam of preference eligible veterans applying for departmental positions (see H.R. 5023), H5875 [8JY]

——— provide for removal of Senior Executive Service employees based on performance (see S. 2013), S890 [11FE] (see H.R. 4031), H1769 [11FE]

——— provide leave to a new employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at a certain percentage for purposes of undergoing treatment for such disability (see H.R. 5323), H7181 [31JY]

——— recoup certain bonuses or awards paid to departmental employees (see H.R. 5094), H6214 [14JY]

——— 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]

——— revoke bonuses paid to employees involved in electronic medical appointment wait list manipulations (see S. 2545), S4153 [26JN] (see H.R. 5254), H7039 [29JY]

——— terminate any employee who is found to have retaliated against a whistleblower (see S. 2606), S4502 [15JY]

Health: adopt and implement a standard identification protocol for use in tracking and procurement of biological implants and tissue or bone grafts (see H.R. 4374), H2853 [2AP]

——— award grants to establish, or expand upon, master’s degree or doctoral degree programs in orthotics and prosthetics (see H.R. 5432), H7432 [10SE]

——— carry out a pilot program under which eligible veterans may elect to receive health services at non-departmental facilities (see H.R. 4759), H5022 [29MY]

——— conduct annual surveys of veterans on experiences obtaining hospital care and medical services from departmental facilities (see H.R. 4971), H5768 [25JN]

——— ensure that all veterans are eligible to participate in hospice care programs (see H.R. 4725), H4828 [22MY]

——— ensure veterans who experience extended waiting times for appointments at departmental facilities may receive care at non-departmental facilities (see H.R. 4779), H5063 [30MY]

——— enter into contracts for provision of medical care at non-departmental facilities for certain patients, assess health care delivery system, and limit employee awards and bonuses (see H.R. 4810), H5185 [9JN]

——— enter into contracts for provision of medical care at non-departmental facilities if wait times for appointments at departmental facilities exceed a certain number of days (see H.R. 4898), H5494 [18JN]

——— enter into contracts with health care providers to improve health care access and care coordination for veterans (see H.R. 3858), H183 [13JA]

——— establish a registry for certain toxic exposures and include certain information in the electronic health records of veterans (see H.R. 5680), H7900 [19SE]

——— establish a task force on Agent Orange exposure (see H.R. 4408), H2961 [4AP]

——— expand eligibility for reimbursement for emergency medical treatment and prevent insurance companies from limiting reimbursements based on the VA not being an in-network provider (see S. 2468), S3668 [12JN]

——— extend and modify the pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (see S. 2607), S4502 [15JY] (see S. 3014), S6788 [12DE] (see H.R. 4276), H2488 [18MR]

——— extend the pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (see H.R. 3958), H1510 [29JA]

——— improve ability of veterans to receive health care at private medical facilities (see H.R. 4760), H5022 [29MY]

——— improve dental health care (see H.R. 5022), H5875 [8JY]

——— improve provision of health care to veterans in rural and highly rural areas (see S. 2009), S852 [10FE]

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

——— increase priority for enrollment of medal of honor recipients in the health care system (see H.R. 4720), H4828 [22MY]

——— meet with certain advisory committees to receive administrative and policy recommendations to improve the health care system (see H.R. 4862), H5363 [12JN]

——— prohibit altering availability and wait times for health care services based on the length of time since the veteran’s last visit to a VA facility (see S. 2467), S3668 [12JN] (see H.R. 5047), H6034 [9JY]

——— provide a more equitable geographic allocation of funds appropriated for medical care (see H.R. 5286), H7126 [30JY]

——— provide veterans with the choice of medical providers, improve performance metrics for provided health care, and increase transparency and accountability of operations (see S. 2424), S3367 [3JN]

——— reauthorize and modify pilot program that provides health services to veterans through qualifying non-departmental health care providers (see S. 1985), S702 [3FE] (see S. 2095), S1365 [6MR]

——— reauthorize certain programs related to traumatic brain injury and trauma research (see S. 2539), S4153 [26JN]

——— reimburse non-departmental medical providers for provision of certain hospital care and medical services to veterans (see H.R. 5131), H6397 [17JY]

——— require GAO audits of facilities on veterans’ access to health care, improve wait times for medical appointments, and prohibit payment of bonuses to certain executives (see S. 2423), S3367 [3JN]

——— review the dialysis pilot program and submit a report to Congress before expanding such program (see H.R. 3831), H134 [9JA]

——— use authorities to furnish health care at non-departmental facilities to veterans who live more than a certain distance from the closest departmental facility that furnishes the necessary care (see S. 3006), S6626 [11DE]

Health care facilities: carry out a pilot program entering into partnership agreements with non-Federal entities for construction of major medical facility projects (see H.R. 5042), H6034 [9JY]

——— enter into enhanced-use leases for certain buildings at the West Los Angeles, CA, Medical Center to provide supportive housing for homeless veterans (see S. 1987), S763 [4FE] (see H.R. 4004), H1658 [5FE]

——— provide temporary care in the most cost effective manner when patients are relocated during medical facility construction and renovation projects (see S. 2428), S3424 [4JN]

——— publish information on the provision of health care by departmental facilities (see H.R. 4875), H5398 [17JN]

——— require the Inspector General to submit a report on wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment at VA facilities and prohibit closure of such facilities (see S. 2316), S2910 [12MY]

Health care professionals: carry out pilot program to reduce shortage of psychiatrists in Veterans Health Administration by offering competitive employment incentives to certain psychiatrists (see H.R. 4234), H2432 [13MR]

——— carry out pilot programs to reduce shortage of psychiatrists by repaying loans of certain psychiatrists to provide housing allowances to health care providers in rural clinics (see S. 2425), S3424 [4JN]

——— establish a scholarship program to increase the availability of physicians who provide primary health care services at departmental medical facilities (see H.R. 5224), H6976 [28JY]

——— grant privileges to provide hospital care and medical services in departmental medical facilities to Armed Forces members who are health care providers (see H.R. 5342), H7182 [31JY]

——— improve continuing professional education reimbursement (see H.R. 5518), H7674 [17SE]

——— include licensed hearing aid specialists as eligible for appointment in the Veterans Health Administration (see S. 2311), S2875 [8MY]

——— increase number of graduate medical education residency positions at departmental hospitals (see S. 2639), S4705 [22JY] (see H.R. 4942), H5640 [23JN]

——— provide for the repayment of higher education loans for departmental health care professionals (see H.R. 4974), H5768 [25JN]

——— provide incentives to foreign-born physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities or VA hospitals (see H.R. 4951), H5724 [24JN]

Homeless: carry out a grant program to provide burials for homeless veterans (see H.R. 3876), H223 [14JA]

——— provide per diem payments to eligible entities for furnishing care to dependents of certain homeless veterans (see H.R. 4140), H2147 [4MR]

Information technology: make certain improvements in information security (see H.R. 4356), H2801 [1AP] (see H.R. 4370), H2853 [2AP]

——— submit a report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs on the information technology used in administering educational benefits (see H.R. 4147), H2147 [4MR]

Insurance: increase maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program (see H.R. 5740), H8132 [19NO]

Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Galesburg, IL: designate (see S. 2921), S5993 [13NO] (see H.R. 5700), H7978 [13NO]

Legislation: extend certain expiring provisions of administered law (see H.R. 5404), H7295 [8SE]

Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Junction City, KS: designate (see H.R. 5788), H8365 [3DE]

Loren R. Kaufman Memorial Veterans’ Clinic, Dalles, OR: designate (see S. 2184), S1870 [31MR] (see H.R. 4273), H2484 [14MR]

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship: clarify period of eligibility during which certain spouses are entitled to assistance (see H.R. 5817), H8931 [9DE]

Mental health: establish presumption of service connection for mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma (see H.R. 4344), H2744 [27MR]

National cemeteries: conduct study relative to burial of unclaimed remains of veterans (see S. 2822), S5628 [16SE]

——— give priority for new cemeteries to States without a national cemetery or areas with large veteran populations (see H.R. 4712), H4784 [21MY]

——— inter individuals who supported the U.S. in Laos during the Vietnamese Conflict era (see S. 2337), S3029 [14MY]

National Cemetery Administration: enter into enhanced-use leases for excess property that is unsuitable for burial purposes (see H.R. 4141), H2147 [4MR]

National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: designate (see S. Res. 481), S3898 [23JN]

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: support goals and ideals and commend the Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs for raising awareness of life-saving resources available to veterans and servicemembers (see H. Res. 725), H7528 [15SE]

Office of Rural Health: specify requirements for updating the strategic plan for improving access to, and quality of, health care services for veterans in rural areas (see H.R. 4561), H3408 [1MY]

Office of the Inspector General: provide emergency supplemental appropriations (see H.R. 4948), H5723 [24JN]

Office of the Medical Inspector: establish within the Office of the Under Secretary for Health (see S. 2401), S3294 [22MY]

Office of Whistleblower and Patient Protection: establish (see H.R. 5054), H6105 [10JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (see S. 2190), S1923 [1AP]

Patient-Centered Community Care program: allow certain veterans to participate (see H.R. 5097), H6215 [14JY]

Pensions: protect individuals who are eligible for increased pension on the basis of need of regular aid and attendance from dishonest, predatory, or otherwise unlawful practices (see S. 1993), S763 [4FE] (see H.R. 5046), H6034 [9JY] (see H.R. 5708), H7995 [14NO]

Persian Gulf Conflict: improve research of Gulf War Illness and provide for the independent operation of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses (see H.R. 4261), H2484 [14MR]

Physician Ambassadors Helping Veterans program: establish (see S. 2950), S6204 [20NO] (see H.R. 5686), H7937 [12NO]

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program: authorize veterans who are entitled to benefits to use such entitlement for a career transition internship program (see H.R. 4922), H5597 [20JN]

——— clarify which children to whom entitlement to educational assistance may be transferred (see S. 2014), S890 [11FE]

——— expand authority of veterans to transfer entitlement to dependents (see H.R. 5273), H7125 [30JY]

——— include the cost of applying to an institution of higher learning as part of the benefits provided (see H.R. 4793), H5064 [30MY]

——— provide additional assistance to certain eligible individuals (see H.R. 5784), H8365 [3DE]

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 631), H5557 [19JN]

POW: review list of veterans designated as former POW (see H.R. 5172), H6744 [23JY]

Power resources: prohibit obligation or expenditure of funds for alternative energy generation projects unless specifically authorized by law (see H.R. 5480), H7617 [16SE]

Proprietary Education Oversight Coordination Committee: establish (see S. 2204), S2161 [3AP] (see H.R. 4391), H2913 [3AP]

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection Program: remove the maximum payment amount for certain qualified losses (see H.R. 4235), H2432 [13MR]

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]

Small business: provide for a consolidated definition of a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans to improve the Federal contracting process for service-disabled veterans (see S. 2334), S3028 [14MY]

Specially Adapted Housing Grant program: improve for individuals with terminal illnesses (see H.R. 4674), H4475 [19MY]

Taxation: allow increased contributions to health savings accounts and allow Medicare and VA health care participants to contribute to health savings accounts (see H.R. 3871), H223 [14JA]

——— prevent veterans from being disqualified from contributing to health savings accounts by reason of receiving VA medical care for service-connected disabilities (see H.R. 4900), H5556 [19JN]

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

Veterans: conduct study relative to claiming and interring of unclaimed remains of veterans (see H.R. 4446), H3195 [10AP]

——— establish a student loan repayment program for totally disabled veterans (see H.R. 4314), H2695 [26MR]

——— establish voluntary national directory of veterans to support outreach to veterans (see S. 2740), S5217 [31JY]

——— expand research and education on and delivery of complementary and alternative medicine to veterans (see H.R. 4887), H5493 [18JN]

——— identify persons other than next of kin that are eligible to request headstones or markers for veterans’ graves (see S. 2700), S5135 [30JY]

——— improve protection and enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services (see S. 2393), S3294 [22MY]

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

——— increase rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (see H.R. 4741), H4829 [22MY]

——— increase rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (see S. 2258), S2424 [28AP] (see H.R. 4095, 4096), H2000 [26FE]

——— provide eligibility for veterans benefits for individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine in the Southeast Asia theater of operations during the Vietnam Era (see H.R. 5112), H6296 [15JY]

——— provide for coordination between TRICARE and eligibility to make contributions to health savings accounts (see S. 2707), S5135 [30JY] (see H.R. 4682), H4684 [20MY]

——— waive minimum period of continuous active duty for homeless veterans to receive benefits and furnish benefits to homeless veterans with discharges or releases under other than honorable conditions (see S. 2179), S1818 [27MR]

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

Veterans Expedited Recovery Commission: establish to examine mental health treatment models and potential benefits of incorporating certain alternative treatments (see H.R. 4977), H5816 [26JN]

Veterans Health Administration: improve management, accountability, and oversight (see H.R. 5618), H7885 [18SE]

——— modify authorities relative to collective bargaining of employees (see H.R. 4580), H3446 [6MY]

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program: extend (see H.R. 4149), H2198 [5MR]

Voting: permit facilities to be designated as voter registration agencies (see S. 2145), S1653 [13MR]

Women: establish standards for the provision of mammograms at health care facilities (see H.R. 4053), H1770 [11FE]

World War II: designate one U.S. city each year as an ‘‘American World War II City’’ (see S. 2978), S6350 [4DE]

——— provide that service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps constituted active military service for veteran classification (see S. 2507), S3863 [19JN]

Cloture motions

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), S3019 [14MY], S3060 [15MY]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), motion to proceed, S2850 [8MY], S2930 [13MY]

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

Certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs major medical facility leases reauthorization: several veterans organizations, S2757 [7MY]

Encourage continued use of the Orlando, FL, Baldwin Park Clinic: Representative Mica, H3322 [30AP]

——— several Representatives, H3322 [30AP]

Omaha, NE, VA Medical Center current condition and new facility construction: Nebraska congressional delegation, H3333 [30AP]

VA Construction Assistance Act: Lloyd O. Caldwell, Corps of Engineers, H7583 [16SE]

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]

Obituaries

McKinley, Cameron K.: Prescott (AZ) Daily Courier, H5386 [17JN]

Press releases

CARES Commission Agrees With Faleomavaega; VA Clinic Should Be Established in American Samoa: Delegate Faleomavaega (2004), E1654 [20NO]

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]

First Step in Establishing a VA Medical Clinic in American Samoa Is Underway: Delegate Faleomavaega (2000), E1654 [20NO]

House and Senate Pass Veterans Bill and Includes Faleomavaega’s Provision for Non-Samoan Veterans Married to Samoans To Qualify for VA Home Loans: Delegate Faleomavaega (2006), E1659 [20NO]

House Passes VA Housing Assistance Bill and Includes Faleomavaega Provision for American Samoas Veterans and Their Spouses: Delegate Faleomavaega (2005), E1659 [20NO]

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Approves Faleomavaega’s Request To Establish VA Clinic in American Samoa: Delegate Faleomavaega (2004), E1655 [20NO]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: require mental health assessments before enlistment or commissioning as an officer, H4752 [21MY], H4815 [22MY], H6818 [25JY], H7919 [12NO]

——— require mental health assessments before enlistment or commissioning as an officer (H.R. 4305), H2614 [25MR], H3065 [9AP], H3148 [10AP], H7401 [10SE]

Augusta, GA: quality of health care delivery at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, H84 [9JA]

Aurora, CO, VA Medical Center: funding, H3349 [30AP]

Benefits: eliminate backlog of benefit claims and delays in receipt of medical care, H4696 [21MY], H5601 [23JN], H5649 [24JN], E956 [11JN]

——— ensure benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) veterans that live in a State that does not recognize same-sex marriage, H7402 [10SE]

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

Budget: prohibit cuts in budget baseline for education, health, and safety protections, H3020 [8AP]

Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System: review mismanagement occuring in the system and develop a plan for reform, H7045 [30JY]

Claims: digital scanning of health and benefit files funding, H3329 [30AP]

——— 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]

Colleges and universities: prohibit institutions of higher learning from using military and veterans’ education benefits for the purpose of marketing and recruiting, H3350 [30AP]

Congress: legislative priorities, H6804–H6809 [24JY], H7132 [31JY]

Contracts: prohibit awarding of Federal contracts to contractors responsible for delayed openings of Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities, H3319 [30AP]

——— prohibit funding for first-class travel by contractors, H3354 [30AP]

Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA: designate (S. 229), H8857–H8859 [8DE]

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: expand State licensure exception to allow certain health care professionals to work across State lines without having to obtain a new license, H5392 [17JN]

——— improve treatment of Armed Forces members and veterans who are victims of military sexual assault, H6792–H6796 [24JY]

——— improve treatment of Armed Forces members and veterans who are victims of military sexual assault (H.R. 3775), E1122 [9JY]

Dept. of HUD: establish position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs and submit a report on veterans’ homelessness (H.R. 384), H8041 [18NO]

——— Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program funding, E953 [11JN]

Dept. of Justice: authorize veterans’ treatment courts and encourage services for veterans through drug courts (H.R. 2187), H3064 [9AP]

——— mental health courts and veterans treatment courts funding, H4890, H4891 [28MY]

——— veterans treatment courts funding, H4901, H4902 [28MY], H4944 [29MY]

——— veterans treatment courts funding through reductions in ATF salaries and expenses account funding, H4941, H4942 [29MY]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: continue to enforce wage rate requirements for contracts under the Davis-Bacon Act, H3319 [30AP]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services, H443 [15JA]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), H3308–H3358 [30AP], E652, E653 [1MY], E682 [6MY]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), consideration (H. Res. 557), H3301–H3308 [30AP], E660 [1MY]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: develop and implement shared electronic health records, H3315, H3316 [30AP], H4484 [20MY], H5076 [9JN]

——— electronic health records, military sexual assault prevention and response, posttraumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury research funding, H5575 [20JN]

——— ensure educational assistance program recipients receive education and training that assists them in obtaining State-recognized civilian certifications and licenses, H3344 [30AP]

——— evaluate mental health care and suicide prevention programs, review discharge or separation of certain individuals, and require a loan repayment pilot program for psychiatrists (H.R. 5059), H7666 [17SE], H8873, H8899–H8904 [9DE], E1838 [12DE]

——— mental health care funding, E1531 [12NO]

——— mental health outreach and suicide prevention programs funding, H3305 [30AP], H7663–H7666 [17SE]

Disabled: address needs of servicemembers who have received life-changing injuries to their reproductive systems and urinary tracts, H3329, H3330 [30AP]

Doris Miller Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Waco, TX: designate (H.R. 4199), H5383, H5384 [17JN]

Dr. Cameron McKinley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans Center, Prescott, AZ: designate (H.R. 1216), H5385–H5387 [17JN]

Drugs: authorize health care providers to provide recommendations and opinions to veterans regarding participation in State marijuana programs (H.R. 5762), E1657 [20NO]

——— prohibit funding to implement directive prohibiting access to clinical programs for veterans participating in State-approved marijuana programs, H3344–H3349 [30AP], H8035 [18NO]

Education: establish a pilot program for veteran medics to expand opportunities for physcian assistant training at historically Black colleges and universities, H3317 [30AP]

Employment: collaborate with Dept. of Labor to establish job placement service for veterans, H3305 [30AP]

Families and domestic relations: amend the definition of spouse for purposes of veterans’ benefits to recognize new State definitions of spouse, H3335 [30AP], H3457 [7MY]

——— amend the definition of spouse for purposes of veterans’ benefits to recognize new State definitions of spouse (H.R. 2529), H5806 [26JN]

Federal employees: call for appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate mismanagement and misconduct of officials (H. Res. 633), H5562 [20JN]

——— improve the performance appraisal system for senior executives, H3350 [30AP], H5424 [18JN]

——— improve the performance appraisal system for senior executives (H.R. 4399), H4695 [21MY]

——— prohibit funding for senior executive bonuses, H3339–H3343 [30AP]

——— provide for removal of Senior Executive Service employees based on performance (H.R. 4031), H2656 [26MR], H4486 [20MY], H4691, H4694–H4699 [21MY], H4914 [29MY], H5028 [30MY], H5197 [10JN], H6806 [24JY], E819, E828 [22MY], E833, E834 [23MY], E853 [28MY], E879 [30MY]

——— revoke bonuses paid to employees involved in electronic medical appointment wait list manipulations (H.R. 5254), E1262 [29JY]

Funding, H5133 [9JN]

Gibson, Sloan D.: visit of Acting Sec. of Veterans Affairs to several VA hospitals, H6109 [11JY]

Health: conduct annual surveys of veterans on experiences obtaining hospital care and medical services from departmental facilities (H.R. 4971), H5735 [25JN], H8901 [9DE]

——— ensure veterans who experience extended waiting times for appointments at departmental facilities may receive care at non-departmental facilities (H.R. 4779), H5060 [30MY]

——— extend and modify the pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (H.R. 4276), H7585–H7587 [16SE], E1428 [17SE]

——— 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]

——— increase priority for enrollment of medal of honor recipients in the health care system (H.R. 4720), H4924 [29MY]

——— prohibit funding to implement sole source contracting for the selection of devices and test strips for the self-monitoring of blood glucose, H3354 [30AP]

——— reauthorize certain programs related to traumatic brain injury and trauma research (H.R. 1098), H5699, H5700 [24JN], E1062 [24JN], E1095 [30JN]

——— reauthorize certain programs related to traumatic brain injury and trauma research (S. 2539), H7964 [13NO]

——— traumatic brain injury funding, H3349 [30AP]

Health care facilities: authorize certain major medical facility leases, H6334–H6338 [16JY]

——— authorize certain major medical facility leases (H.R. 3521), H5428 [18JN]

——— complete nation-wide access review auditing all medical centers and clinics, H4690 [21MY]

——— complete nationwide access review auditing all medical centers and clinics, E721 [8MY]

——— encourage continued use of the Orlando, FL, Baldwin Park Clinic, H3321, H3322 [30AP]

——— enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of certain veterans unable to live independently to non-departmental medical foster homes, H5132 [9JN]

——— improve construction of major medical facilities (H.R. 3593), H7581–H7585 [16SE]

——— investigate delays in medical care and clandestine wait lists for veterans appointments at VA medical facilities, H3342 [30AP], H3457 [7MY], H4460 [19MY], H4485, H4486 [20MY], H4690, H4694–H4699 [21MY], H4787, H4788, H4816, H4819–H4821 [22MY], H4841, H4842, H4843, H4903, H4904 [28MY], H4914, H4921 [29MY], H5132 [9JN], H5257 [11JN], H6668 [23JY], E833, E834 [23MY]

——— limitation on executive bonuses at VA medical centers, H1526 [3FE], E652 [1MY]

——— provide transparency and accountability in deaths of veterans from Legionnaires disease at Pittsburgh, PA, VA medical facility, H3339 [30AP]

——— report cases of reportable infectious diseases at departmental medical facilities in accordance with State laws, H1524–H1526 [3FE]

Health care professionals: establish a scholarship program to increase the availability of physicians who provide primary health care services at departmental medical facilities (H.R. 5224), E1251 [28JY]

——— increase medical residency programs at hospitals in areas facing a physician shortage, H5199 [10JN]

——— provide incentives to foreign-born physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities or VA hospitals (H.R. 4951), H6849 [25JY]

Homeless: carry out a grant program to provide burials for homeless veterans (H.R. 3876), H8041 [18NO]

——— expand the definition of homeless veteran to include veterans displaced by domestic violence for purposes of benefits, H3305 [30AP]

——— homeless veterans funding, H3352 [30AP]

——— require recipients of grants and other assistance for provision of housing and other services to homeless veterans to comply with building and fire codes, H5132, H5133 [9JN]

Information technology: prohibit funding for creating or maintaining any unofficial patient recordkeeping system, H3350 [30AP]

Inspector General: improve accountability (H.R. 2072), H3341 [30AP], H5130–H5134 [9JN], H5197 [10JN], H6806 [24JY]

Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Galesburg, IL: designate (S. 2921), H8859, H8860 [8DE]

Legislation: extend certain expiring provisions of administered law (H.R. 5404), H7578–H7581 [16SE]

Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Junction City, KS: designate (S. 1434), H8856, H8857 [8DE]

Lyle C. Pearson Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Mankato, MN: designate (H.R. 3682), H5387, H5388 [17JN]

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship: expand to include spouses of Armed Forces members who died in the line of duty, H5427 [18JN], H6380–H6383 [17JY]

Mathew, Shannon: Miami VA Healthcare System James H. Parke Memorial Fund Youth Scholarship recipient, E956 [11JN]

Mental health: improve treatment provided to veterans who served in classified missions, H8901 [9DE]

——— improve treatment provided to veterans who served in classified missions (H.R. 3387), H7664 [17SE]

——— provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that occurred during inactive duty training, H5427 [18JN]

——— provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that occurred during inactive duty training (H.R. 2527), H4861 [28MY], H6793 [24JY]

Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund: establish to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (H.R. 1936), H4815 [22MY], E580 [10AP]

Nagler, Arthur: support efforts to obtain World War II military records to facilitate awarding of Purple Heart for being wounded in service, E1440 [17SE]

National cemeteries: inter individuals who supported the U.S. in Laos during the Vietnamese Conflict era (H.R. 3369), E1840 [12DE]

News media: allegations of media bias, E820 [22MY]

Office of Inspector General: funding, H3326–H3328 [30AP]

Omaha, NE: prohibit funding for administrative expenses until the Sec. of Veterans Affairs meets with the Nebraska congressional delegation relative to the Omaha VA Medical Center, H3332–H3334 [30AP]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate, H7812, H7813 [18SE]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), H2276–H2278 [11MR], H2309 [12MR], H7109 [30JY], E1024 [19JN]

Patient-Centered Community Care program: allow certain veterans to participate (H.R. 5097), H6586 [22JY]

——— funding, H3316 [30AP]

Persian Gulf Conflict: improve research of Gulf War Illness and provide for the independent operation of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War veterans Illnesses (H.R. 4261), H4863–H4866 [28MY]

PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Dept. of Veterans Affairs Clinic, Colorado Springs, CO: designate (H.R. 3375), H5381–H5383 [17JN]

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program: authorize veterans who are entitled to benefits to use such entitlement for a career transition internship program (H.R. 4922), H5882 [9JY]

——— provide additional assistance to certain eligible individuals (H.R. 5784), H8288 [3DE]

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (H. Res. 631), H5733, H5735 [25JN]

Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee: reestablish (H.R. 2942), H4861–H4863 [28MY]

Rural areas: prohibit closure of rural hospitals in high-need areas that are designated as historic landmarks, H3355 [30AP]

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]

Southern Colorado National VA Cemetery: funding, H3325 [30AP]

Taxation: prevent veterans from being disqualified from contributing to health savings accounts by reason of receiving VA medical care for service-connected disabilities (H.R. 4900), H5506 [19JN]

U.S. Office of Special Counsel: increase funding for ongoing oversight of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, E1452 [19SE]

Veterans: develop guidelines for use of unofficial sources of information to determine eligibility for benefits and decorations when service records are incomplete due to damage while in Dept. of Defense possession (H.R. 3397), H189 [14JA]

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

——— expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay or combat-related compensation with service-connected disability benefits and eliminate phase-in period for such benefits (H.R. 333), E1531 [12NO]

——— homeless veterans funding, E1531 [12NO]

——— improve provision of medical services and benefits, H4927 [29MY], H5195 [10JN], H5813 [26JN]

——— require college courses that are approved for purposes of Dept. of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate, H6735–H6737 [23JY]

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program: extend, H3324 [30AP]

West Palm Beach, FL: history of Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, E1177 [16JY]

Remarks in Senate

Alaska: establish a pilot program under which veterans in Alaska may receive health care benefits at non-departmental medical facilities, S3646 [12JN]

——— success of Dept. of Veterans Affairs health care programs, S3394 [4JN]

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]

Benefits: 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]

——— 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]

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

——— provide fertility and reproductive health services at departmental facilities, S1190 [27FE]

Biomedical Research Fund: establish (S. 2115), S2312, S2313 [9AP], S2553 [30AP]

Bluefield, WV: tribute to Beckley VA Medical Center mobile health clinic, S888 [11FE]

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

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

Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA: designate, S1200 [27FE]

——— designate (S. 229), S6305 [3DE]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services, S410, S411 [16JA]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), S3166 [20MY], S3286 [22MY], S5033 [29JY]

——— making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), unanimous-consent request, S5034 [29JY]

——— evaluate mental health care and suicide prevention programs, review discharge or separation, and require a loan repayment pilot program for psychiatrists (H.R. 5059), unanimous-consent request, S6851–S6854 [15DE]

Doris Miller Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Waco, TX: designate (H.R. 4199), S6463 [9DE]

Dr. Cameron McKinley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans Center, Prescott, AZ: designate (H.R. 1216), S4364 [9JY]

——— establish a national center for diagnosis, treatment, and research of health conditions of descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service (S. 2738), S5186 [31JY]

Federal employees: expand list of Federal agencies excluded from collective bargaining rights to include the IRS and Dept. of Veterans Affairs, S3580 [11JN]

——— limit circumstances in which official time may be used by a Federal employee, S3580 [11JN]

——— provide for removal of Senior Executive Service employees based on performance, S1151 [26FE]

——— provide for removal of Senior Executive Service employees based on performance (H.R. 4031), S3259, S3263–S3265 [22MY]

——— provide for removal of Senior Executive Service employees based on performance (H.R. 4031), unanimous-consent request, S3262 [22MY]

——— provide for removal of Senior Executive Service employees based on performance (S. 2013), S2574 [1MY], S3049 [15MY], S3159 [20MY], S3412 [4JN]

Gibson, Sloan D.: nomination to be Deputy Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S886 [11FE]

Health: carry out a pilot program to assess feasibility of electronic exchange of health information with State health information exchanges, S3597 [11JN]

——— 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]

——— extend and modify the pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (H.R. 4276), S6841 [15DE]

——— extend and modify the pilot program on assisted living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (S. 2607), S4504 [15JY], S5170, S5171 [31JY]

——— 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 provision of health care to veterans in rural and highly rural areas (S. 2009), S930 [12FE]

——— mental health care funding, S4539 [16JY]

——— reauthorize certain programs related to traumatic brain injury and trauma research (S. 2539), S4214 [7JY], S4755 [23JY], S5643 [16SE]

——— require GAO audits of facilities on veterans’ access to health care, improve wait times for medical appointments, and prohibit payment of bonuses to certain executives (S. 2423), S3715 [17JN]

Health care facilities: authorize certain major medical facility leases (H.R. 3521), S1330, S1332 [6MR], S2064–S2066 [2AP], S2143 [3AP], S2309–S2312 [9AP], S2756–S2759 [7MY], S3412, S3413 [4JN]

——— authorize certain major medical facility leases (H.R. 3521), unanimous-consent request, S1331 [6MR], S1506 [11MR], S1758, S1759 [26MR], S2064 [2AP], S2310 [9AP], S2757, S2758 [7MY]

——— conduct nationwide investigation of scheduling practices and procedures and prohibit payment of performance bonuses to administrators until investigation is completed and reforms are instituted, S3166 [20MY]

——— enter into enhanced-use leases for certain buildings at the West Los Angeles, CA, Medical Center to provide supportive housing for homeless veterans (S. 1987), S765 [4FE]

——— investigate delays in medical care and clandestine wait lists for veterans appointments at VA medical facilities, S2574 [1MY], S2748, S2756, S2757 [7MY], S2984, S2999 [14MY], S3048, S3061 [15MY], S3159, S3161, S3165 [20MY], S3217, S3228 [21MY], S3249, S3259, S3260 [22MY], S3394 [4JN], S3448 [5JN], S4099 [26JN]

——— provide temporary care in the most cost effective manner when patients are relocated during medical facility construction and renovation projects (S. 2428), S3426 [4JN]

——— require publication of certain quality of care data, S1161 [26FE]

Health care professionals: proposal to lift salary freeze on medical personnel, S5848 [18SE]

Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Galesburg, IL: designate (S. 2921), S6305 [3DE]

Legislation: extend certain expiring provisions of administered law (H.R. 5404), S5863 [18SE]

Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Junction City, KS: designate (S. 1434), S333 [14JA]

Lyle C. Pearson Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Mankato, MN: designate (H.R. 3682), S6305 [3DE]

Major General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic, Marina, CA: designate (H.R. 272), S4364 [9JY]

McDonald, Robert A.: nomination to be Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S4737 [23JY], S5015–S5021 [29JY]

——— nomination to be Sec. of Veterans Affairs, unanimous-consent agreement, S4854 [24JY], S5003 [28JY]

McDonald, Sec. of Veterans Affairs.: confirmation, S5125 [30JY], S5208 [31JY]

Mental health: expand access to community mental health centers and improve the quality of mental health care, S3391 [4JN]

National cemeteries: conduct study relative to burial of unclaimed remains of veterans (S. 2822), S6580 [10DE]

——— inter individuals who supported the U.S. in Laos during the Vietnamese Conflict era (S. 2337), S3030 [14MY]

National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month: designate (S. Res. 481), S3900 [23JN], S4144 [26JN]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate, S2139 [3AP]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), S1669 [13MR], S1679 [24MR], S3018–S3020 [14MY], S3050–S3056, S3059–S3063 [15MY], S3153 [20MY], S3196, S3221 [21MY], S3245–S3249 [22MY], S3350 [3JN], S6173 [20NO]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), motion to commit, S3018 [14MY]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), motion to proceed, S2831 [8MY], S2889 [12MY], S2923, S2925, S2927–S2930 [13MY], S2984–S2986, S2999–S3007, S3013, S3016 [14MY]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), unanimous-consent agreement, S2946 [13MY], S3020 [14MY], S3064 [15MY]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 3474), unanimous-consent request, S3059 [15MY]

——— allow employers to exempt employees with health coverage under TRICARE or VA from employer health insurance mandate (S. 2190), S5601 [16SE]

PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Dept. of Veterans Affairs Clinic, Colorado Springs, CO: designate (H.R. 3375), S6305 [3DE]

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program: clarify which children to whom entitlement to educational assistance may be transferred (S. 2014), S943 [12FE]

Presidential appointments: nominations considered and confirmed en bloc, S6903 [16DE]

Republican Party: national agenda, S6122 [19NO]

Schwartz, Linda A.: nomination to be Assistant Sec. of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning, S5607 [16SE]

Senate: legislative priorities, S5498–S5502 [10SE]

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

Veterans: establish voluntary national directory of veterans to support outreach to veterans (S. 2740), S5224 [31JY]

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

——— improve provision of medical services, S3228 [21MY]

——— 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]

——— provide nursing training and respite stipend to assist spouses and parents acting as caregivers for disabled veterans, S1035 [25FE]

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program: extend, S1218 [27FE]

Voting: permit facilities to be designated as voter registration agencies (S. 2145), S1658 [13MR]

Reports filed

Ask Veterans Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 4971) (H. Rept. 113–645), H8365 [3DE]

Consideration of H.R. 4486, Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans’ Services: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 557) (H. Rept. 113–426), H3291 [29AP]

Dept. of HHS Traumatic Brain Injury and Trauma Research Programs Reauthorization: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 2539), S4762 [23JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Recouping of Certain Bonuses or Awards Paid to Departmental Employees: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 5094) (H. Rept. 113–672), H10317 [12DE]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans’ Services: Committee on Appropriations (House) (H.R. 4486) (H. Rept. 113–416), H3239 [28AP]

——— Committee on Appropriations (Senate) (H.R. 4486) (S. Rept. 113–174), S3293 [22MY]

Improving Opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 2882) (H. Rept. 113–662), H9302 [11DE]

Nomination of Leigh A. Bradley To Be Dept. of Veterans Affairs General Counsel: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate), S6388 [8DE]

Nomination of Linda A. Schwartz To Be Assistant Sec. of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate), S439 [16JA]

Nomination of Robert A. McDonald To Be Sec. of Veterans Affairs: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate), S4762 [23JY]

Nomination of Sloan D. Gibson To Be Deputy Sec. of Veterans Affairs: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Senate), S439 [16JA]

Traumatic Brain Injury and Trauma Research Programs Reauthorization: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1098) (H. Rept. 113–456), H4683 [20MY]

VA Construction Assistance Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 3593) (H. Rept. 113–586), H7527 [15SE]

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

Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 4276) (H. Rept. 113–598), H7527 [15SE]

Rulings of the Chair

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), H3344, H3350, H3354 [30AP]

Tables

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services (H.R. 4486), H3310–H3313 [30AP]

Testimonies

VA Construction Assistance Act: Stella S. Fiotes, Dept. of Veterans Affairs, H7584 [16SE]

Texts of

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

H. Res. 557, consideration of H.R. 4486, Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies appropriations for military construction and veterans’ services, H3301 [30AP]

H.R. 357, GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act, H1520–H1522 [3FE]

H.R. 1098, traumatic brain injury and trauma research programs reauthorization, H5699 [24JN]

H.R. 1216, Dr. Cameron McKinley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans Center, Prescott, AZ, H5385 [17JN]

H.R. 2072, Demanding Accountability for Veterans Act, H5130 [9JN]

H.R. 2527, Dept. of Veterans Affairs provision of veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that occurred during inactive duty training, H4861 [28MY]

H.R. 2942, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee reestablishment, H4861 [28MY]

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

H.R. 3375, PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Dept. of Veterans Affairs Clinic, Colorado Springs, CO, H5381 [17JN]

H.R. 3474, Hire More Heroes Act, H2276 [11MR]

H.R. 3593, VA Construction Assistance Act, H7581 [16SE]

H.R. 3682, Lyle C. Pearson Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Mankato, MN, H5387 [17JN]

H.R. 4031, Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act, H4694 [21MY]

H.R. 4199, Doris Miller Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Waco, TX, H5383 [17JN]

H.R. 4261, Gulf War Health Research Reform Act, H4863–H4865 [28MY]

H.R. 4276, Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act, H7585 [16SE]

H.R. 4810, Veteran Access to Care Act, H5196 [10JN]

H.R. 5059, Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, H8899–H8901 [9DE]

H.R. 5404, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act, H7578–H7580 [16SE]

S. 229, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, S6305 [3DE], H8857 [8DE]

S. 1434, Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Junction City, KS, S333 [14JA], H8856 [8DE]

S. 2014, GI Education Benefit Fairness Act, S892 [11FE]

S. 2115, American Cures Act, S1586 [12MR]

S. 2128, Doris Miller Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Waco, TX, S1656 [13MR]

S. 2204, Proprietary Education Oversight Coordination Improvement Act, S2162–S2164 [3AP]

S. 2243, Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act, S2383–S2386 [10AP]

S. 2258, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, S5571 [11SE], H7587 [16SE]

S. 2337, Hmong Veterans’ Service Recognition Act, S3031 [14MY]

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

S. 2539, traumatic brain injury and trauma research programs reauthorization, S5643 [16SE], H7964 [13NO]

S. 2822, Dignified Interment of Our Veterans Act, S6580 [10DE]

S. 2921, Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Galesburg, IL, S5995 [13NO], S6305 [3DE], H8859 [8DE]

S. Res. 481, National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, S3899 [23JN]

Tributes

Shinseki, Eric K., S3320 [2JN], S5015 [29JY]

Shinseki, Sec. of Veterans Affairs, H4842 [28MY]