Veterans and Military Families for Progress

As of 02/10/2011

For more information about these measures and how your lawmakers stand on the issues visit the Library of Congress web site at www.thomas.gov or GovTrack.us.

To get involved in VMFP actions in support of any these items, send an email to the VMFP President.

Legislation title in RED indicates designation as priority legislation

The following legislation has been recommended by the National Government Affairs Committee and approved by the Board for endorsement and ongoing VMFP support activities
Download VMFP Endorsed Legislation in PDF Format

U.S. House of Representatives

H.R. 23 (S. 663) Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine. (Passed House 5/12/09.)

H.R. 147 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

H.R. 208 National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act - To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes.

H.R. 228 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility. (Incorporated in H.R. 3949, passed House 11/03/09.)

H.R. 270 TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 - To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve.

H.R. 303 (S. 546) Retired Pay Restoration Act - To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt.

H.R. 333 Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act - To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.

H.R. 466 Wounded Veteran Job Security Act - To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit discrimination and acts of reprisal against persons who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the uniformed services. (Passed House 6/08/09.)

H.R. 775 (S. 535) Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act - To repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veterans dependency and indemnity compensation. . (Passed House 6/08/09.)

H.R. 784 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

H.R. 811 Retired Pay Restoration Act - To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation.

H.R. 816 Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act - To amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care.

H.R. 929 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program of training to provide eligible veterans with skills relevant to the job market, and for other purposes.

H.R. 952 (S. 1444, S. 1452) COMBAT PTSD Act - To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

H.R. 1016 (S. 423) Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide advance appropriations authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (Passed House 6/23/09; Passed Senate 8/06/09; 10/14/09 Passed both Houses, sent to President.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 10/16/2009. P.L No. 111-81

H.R. 1037 Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title 38, United States Code. (Passed House 7/14/09; Passed Senate 10/07/09 � to conf.)

H.R. 1052 - To mandate minimum periods of rest and recuperation for units and members of the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces between deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

H.R. 1088 Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a one-year period for the training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. (Passed House 5/19/09.)

H.R. 1089 Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the enforcement through the Office of Special Counsel of the employment and unemployment rights of veterans and members of the Armed Forces employed by Federal executive agencies, and for other purposes. (Passed House 5/19/09.)

H.R. 1098 Veterans' Worker Retraining Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of educational assistance payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals pursuing internships or on-job training.

H.R. 1169 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the amount of assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans for specially adapted housing and automobiles and adapted equipment.

H.R. 1170 - To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing. (Passed House 5/19/09.)

H.R. 1171 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program for fiscal years 2010 through 2014, and for other purposes. (Passed House 3/30/09.)

H.R. 1172 - To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors. (Passed House 6/23/09.)

H.R. 1182 (S. 475) Military Spouses Residency Relief Act - To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, and for other purposes. (S. 475 Passed Senate 8/04/09; Passed House 11/02/09.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 11/11/2009. P.L. No. 111-97

H.R. 1211 (S. 597) Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.(Passed House 6/23/09.)

H.R. 1293 Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount payable by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans for improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of home health services. (Passed House 7/28/09.)

H.R. 1302 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health.(Provisions of HR 1302 included in HR 3219 - Passed House 7/27/09.)

H.R. 1377 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes(Passed House 3/30/09.)

H.R. 1401 Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps Act - (Incorporated as part of H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education {GIVE} Act - re-titled as "The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, an Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws.") (S. 277) - To create a service corps of veterans called Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow (VET) Corps focused on promoting and improving the service opportunities for veterans and retired members of the military by engaging such veterans and retired members in projects designed to meet identifiable public needs with a specific emphasis on projects to support veterans, including disabled and older veterans and retired members of the military. This bill was signed into law by the President on April 21, 2009. P.L. No. 111-013

H.R. 1409 (S. 560) Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - To amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

H.R. 1513 (S. 407) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 - To increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes. (Passed House 3/30/09.)

H.R. 1592 - To amend title 37, United States Code, to guarantee a pay increase for members of the uniformed services for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 of one-half of one percentage point higher than the Employment Cost Index.

H.R. 1804 Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 - To amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System, and for other purposes. (Passed House 4/01/09.) Text of H.R. 1804 added to H.R. 1256 which passed House 4/02/09. H.R. 1256 passed Senate 6/11/09, This bill was signed into law by the President on 6/22/09. P.L. No. 111-031.

H.R. 1821 Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009 - To amend chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, to increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance, and for other purposes.

H.R. 1879 National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. (Passed House 3/24/10.)

H.R. 2180 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive housing loan fees for certain veterans with service-connected disabilities called to active service. (Provisions of HR 2180 included in HR 3219 - Passed House 7/27/09.)

H.R. 2243 Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

H.R. 2254 (S. 1939) Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.

H.R. 2416 - To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to use purchases of goods or services through the Federal supply schedules for the purpose of meeting certain contracting goals for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, including veterans with service-connected disabilities.

H.R. 2461 Veterans Small Business Verification Act - To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the responsibility of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to verify the veteran status of the owners of small business concerns listed in the database maintained by the Secretary. (Incorporated in H.R. 3949, passed House 11/03/09.)

H.R. 2546 - To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged. (Passed House 5/19/10.)

H.R. 2559 � To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a national media campaign directed at homeless veterans and veterans at risk for becoming homeless.

H.R. 2614 Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education Reauthorization Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education. (Incorporated in H.R. 3949, passed House 11/03/09.)

H.R. 2632 - To amend title 4, United States Code, to encourage the display of the flag of the United States on National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. (Passed House 6/21/09; passed Senate 6/24/09.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 6/27/09. P.L. No. 111-41

H.R. 2647 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Sect. 317 - (prohibits the use of open-air burn pits to dispose of hazardous and medical wastes and plastics for more than one year in any contingency operation) and Sect. 824 (includes modified version of H.R. 2825, the Safety in Defense Contracting Act). (Passed House 6/25/09; Passed Senate 7/23/09.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 10/28/09. P.L. 111-84

H.R. 2696 Servicemembers' Rights Protection Act - To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the enforcement of rights afforded under that Act. (Incorporated in H.R. 3949, passed House 11/03/09.)

H.R. 2770 Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify and update provisions of law relating to nonprofit research and education corporations, and for other purposes. (Passed House 7/27/09.)

H.R. 2771 Military Overpayment Fairness Act of 2009 - To amend titles 10 and 37, United States Code, to provide a more equitable process by which the military departments may recover overpayments of military pay and allowances erroneously paid to a member of the Armed Forces when the overpayment is due to no fault of the member, to expand Department discretion regarding remission or cancellation of indebtedness, and for other purposes.

H.R. 2825 Safety in Defense Contracting Act - To require the Secretary of Defense to debar from contracting with the Department of Defense any company found to have jeopardized the health or safety of Government personnel or found guilty of contract fraud, and for other purposes.

H.R. 2874 Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009 - To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to improve the equitable relief available for servicemembers called to active duty, and for other purposes.(Incorporated in H.R. 3949, passed House 11/03/09.)

H.R. 2928 - To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide for an apprenticeship and on-job training program under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program.

H.R. 2990 Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009 - To provide special pays and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces, expand concurrent receipt of military retirement and VA disability benefits to disabled military retirees, and for other purposes. (Incorporated in H.R. 2647, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 � Passed House 6/25/09, Passed Senate 7/23/09.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 10/28/09, but it did not include concurrent receipt relief for disabled retirees.P.L. 111-84

H.R. 3082 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2010 - Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. (Passed House 7/10/09; passed Senate 11/17/09.)

H.R. 3155 Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training, support, and medical care, and for other purposes. (Passed House 7/27/09.)

H.R. 3219 Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2010 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to insurance and health care, and for other purposes. (Passed House 7/27/09, passed Senate 9/28/10, passed House, as amended, 9/29/10.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 10/13/10. P.L. 111-275

H.R. 3554 National Guard Education Equality Act - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain active duty service in the reserve components as qualifying service for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3577 Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2009 - To amend title 38, United State Code, to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents.

H.Con.Res. 64 - Calls upon the President to designate 2009 as the �Year of the Military Family�. (Passed House 3/11/09.)

U.S. Senate

S. 277 (H.R. 1401/H.R. 1388) Serve America Act - A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to expand and improve opportunities for service, and for other purposes. This bill was signed into law by the President on April 21, 2009. P.L. No. 111-013

S. 407 (H.R. 1513) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 - A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. (Passed by Senate 6/10/09; Passed by House 6/23/09.) This bill was signed into law by the President on June 30, 2009. P.L. 111-37

S. 423 (H.R. 1016) - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority, and for other purposes. (H.R. 1016 Passed House 6/23/09; Passed Senate 8/06/09; 10/14/09 Passed both Houses, sent to President.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 10/16/2009. P.L No. 111-81

S. 475 (H.R. 1182) Military Spouses Residency Relief Act - A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the equity of spouses of military personnel with regard to matters of residency, and for other purposes. (S. 475 Passed Senate 8/04/09; Passed House 11/02/09.) This bill was signed into law by the President on 11/11/2009. P.L. No. 111-97

S. 535 (H.R. 775) - A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes.

S. 546 (H.R. 303) Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009 - A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation.

S. 560 (H.R. 1409) Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - A bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during the organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

S. 581 Military Family Nutrition Protection Act of 2009 - A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the exclusion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibility for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.

S. 597 (H.R. 1211) Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

S. 644 - A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

S. 663 (H.R. 23) Belated Thank you to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.

S. 831 National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009 - A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include service after September 11, 2001, as service qualifying for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of non-regular service retired pay.

S. 944 - A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretaries of the military departments to give wounded members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces the option of remaining on active duty during the transition process in order to continue to receive military pay and allowances, to authorize members to reside at their permanent places of residence during the process, and for other purposes.

S. 1444 (H.R. 952) COMBAT PTSD Act - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

S. 1452 (H.R. 952) COMBAT PTSD Act - A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

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Legislation Endorsed by