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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE VETERANS HOMES “Caring for America’s Heroes”

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE VETERANS HOMES “Caring for America’s Heroes”. How & What to Communicate with Your Legislators Fred S. Sganga Legislative Officer February 25, 2014. Legislative Session Overview Review of NASVH 2014 Priorities DC Update Senate Bill #1982 Update

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE VETERANS HOMES “Caring for America’s Heroes”

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  1. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE VETERANS HOMES“Caring for America’s Heroes” How & What to Communicate with Your Legislators Fred S. Sganga Legislative Officer February 25, 2014

  2. Legislative Session Overview Review of NASVH 2014 Priorities DC Update Senate Bill #1982 Update Hill Day Packet NASVH Hill Day Reception Post NASVH Winter Conference Follow-up

  3. Prior To Your Congressional Visits • Review all documents: • State Veterans Home Facts Sheet • NASVH 2014 Legislative Agenda • NASVH Hill Day Reception Invitations • NASVH Hill Day Tracking Form • Capitol Campus Map • Have a good understanding of the NASVH priorities • Thank your Legislators for: • VA per diem program • VA 70% Service Connected Disabled FCC program • VA Construction Grant program • Personalize your visit with a “good” story about your SVH!

  4. Priority 1 Increase Construction Grant Funding to $250 Million to Address Backlog • In the past year, the number of priority list group 1 projects doubled from $257 M in FY 2013 to $489 M in FY 2014. • With only $85 M available for projects this year, the FY 2015 Priority 1 list has over $400 M in projects and could increase to $439 M when States commit to the match.

  5. Priority 2Enact Legislation to Allow State Homes to Operate Homeless Veterans Programs • Allows SVH’s with empty domiciliary beds to pursue VA homeless grants. • Works with Secretary Shinseki’s vision to end veterans homelessness by the end of 2015. • Would not result in any additional new spending and would allow SVH’s to compete for existing federal grants.

  6. Priority 3 Publishing Final Rules that Address Adult Day Health and Domiciliary Care • NASVH has been waiting for over four years for the VA to publish these new regulations. • Without new regulations, many SVHs with an interest to open or expand ADHC or Doms are hindered in moving forward.

  7. Next Steps • Legislative Reception • 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm • Cannon Office Building, Room 334 • Hill Visits Tracking Form • Complete a Form for Each Visit • Return to Fred Sganga ASAP • NASVH and You • Assist with Follow-Up Actions • Facilitate Next Year’s Legislative Agenda • Thank You Notes • Revisit Your Visit • Revisit Your Legislative Agenda • Reference Your Visit Next Year

  8. DC Update President Barack Obama John Boehner House Majority Leader Harry Reid Senate Majority Leader

  9. United States Senate • Currently, 53 Democrats, 45 Republicans & 2 Independents • 36 Senators are up for re-election in November 2014 • 15 Republican Seats • 21 Democratic Seats • Possibility of Majority leadership changes in the Senate this coming November.

  10. US House of Representatives • Currently 232 Republicans, 199 Democrats & 4 Vacancies. • All Representatives are up for re-election in November 2014 • It is projected that the House will remain in the Republican Majority

  11. US Senate - Veterans’ AffairsCommittee Senator Richard Burr Minority North Carolina Senator Bernie Sanders Chairman Vermont

  12. US Senate Veterans’ AffairsCommittee Members Democrats Republicans Burr NC Isakson GA Johanns NE Moran KS Boozman AR Heller NV Sanders – I VT Rockefeller WV Murray WA Brown OH Tester MT Begich AK Blumenthal CT Hirono HI

  13. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Congressman Michael Michaud Maine Ranking Member Congressman Jeff Miller Florida Chairman

  14. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Members Republicans Miller FL Lamborn CO Bilirakis FL Roe TN Flores TX Denham CA Runyan NJ Benishek MI Huelskamp KS Amodei NV Coffman CO Wenstrup OH Cook CA Walorski IN Democrats Michaud ME Brown FL Takano CA Brownley CA Titus NV Kirkpatrick AZ Ruiz CA McLeod CA Kuster NH O’Rourke TX Walz MN

  15. S. 1982 Update • Comprehensive Veterans Health & Benefits & Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 • Senator Sanders’ Veterans “Kitchen Sink” Bill • Includes – SVHs ability to access homeless vets grants for domiciliary care. • Coming up for a cloture vote today. • If passed, will allow for 30 more hours of debate within the Senate – and then a full vote.

  16. Post NASVH Winter Conference Follow-up • Remember to thank your representatives for meeting with you. • Also remember – It’s an election year! Most Legislators are seeking to get re-elected. • Create a photo-op for your Legislator at your SVH and get it in your local newspaper. • Continue to maintain good relationships with key staffers in D.C. and local office because the staffers get things done!

  17. The importance of a good relationship with your elected officials…

  18. Questions and Answers Contact: Fred S. Sganga NASVH Legislative Officer fred.sganga@lisvh.org (631) 444-8606 Together, we are… “Caring for America’s Heroes”

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