Have you seen the latest legislative bills being considered?

Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress ► 151201 thru 151215 Refer to this Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment for a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 114th Congress. The list contains the bill’s number and name, what it is intended to do, it’s sponsor, any related bills, and the committees it has been assigned to. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication of that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At https://beta.congress.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it by entering the bill number in the site’s search engine. To determine what bills, amendments your representative/senator has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on go to: https://beta.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22source%22%3A%5B%22legislation%22%5D%7D, Select the ‘Sponsor’ tab, and click on your congress person’s name. You can also go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php.
Grassroots lobbying is the most effective way to let your Congressional representatives know your wants and dislikes. If you are not sure who is your Congressman go to https://beta.congress.gov/members. Members of Congress are receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship support on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at [login to see] , [login to see] , or [login to see] to express your views. Otherwise, you can locate their phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making at either: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm http://www.house.gov/representatives
FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

 H.R.4125 : Veteran Medical Facility Access in Densely Populated Communities. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the feasibility of the Secretary entering into publicprivate partnerships to improve the access of veterans to medical facilities in densely populated communities and rural communities.

 H.R.4129 : Jumpstart VA Construction Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program under which the Secretary enters into partnership agreements with non-Federal entities for the construction of major construction projects authorized by law, and for other purposes.

 H.R.4134 : Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to increase efficiency in the recruitment and hiring by the Department of Veterans Affairs of health care workers that are undergoing separation from the Armed Forces, to create uniform credentialing standards for certain health care professionals of the Department, and for other purposes. 

H.R.4138 : VA Relocation Expense Recoupment. To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recoup relocation expenses paid to or on behalf of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

H.R.4144 : Seniors And Veterans Emergency (SAVE) Benefits Act. A bill to provide for a supplementary payment to Social Security beneficiaries, supplemental security income beneficiaries, and recipients of veterans benefits, and for other purposes. 

H.R.4150 : Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Medical Staffing Recruitment and Retention Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the hours of employment of physicians and physician assistants employed on a full-time basis by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

H.R.4159 : Access to Military Service Records Act of 2015. A bill to limit the fees charged by the National Archives and Records Administration to veterans for military service records, and for other purposes.

FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

 S.2357 : Foreclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Act of 2015. A bill to extend temporarily the extended period of protection for members of uniformed services relating to mortgages, mortgage foreclosure, and eviction, and for other purposes.
[Source: https://beta.congress.gov & http: //http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills December 14, 2015 ++]