MAJORITY WHIPLINE: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Floor Schedule and Procedure:

Suspensions (13 bills)

1. H.R. 4591 – VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act of 2021, as amended (Rep. Mrvan – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill would require the VA to submit quarterly reports on the full costs of the EHRM program as well as provide reports on performance metrics and outcomes of the EHRM program.

2. H.R. 5516 – VITAL Assessment Act, as amended (Rep. Ellzey – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill requires VA to submit a report on its Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program, which is designed to support student veterans in academic settings. The report includes assessment of the outcomes and effectiveness of the program, information on students, medical centers, and academic institutions supported by the program, and whether or not the program should be expanded. The bill also requires that VA conduct outreach to VSOs, academic institutions, and the military.

3. H.R. 2433 – Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act (Rep. Ruiz – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill would allow certain veterans and servicemembers to document their exposures and report health concerns. The registry is for individuals who may have been exposed to toxic airborne hazards caused by open burn pits while deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq. This bill authorizes a designee of a registered individual or an immediate family member to update the burn pit registry with the cause of death of the registered individual.

4. H.R. 4626 – VA AIM Act, as amended (Rep. Bergman – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with one or more private entities to conduct an extensive assessment of its health care system at least once every 10 years. That audit would evaluate the VA health care system in numerous areas, including patient demographics, staffing and productivity, and business processes.

5. H.R. 5603 – Protections for Student Veterans, as amended (Rep. Underwood – Veterans’ Affairs)

This legislation supports student veterans who are at risk of being academically penalized due to their ongoing military service. Currently, if a service member is assigned to a period of active service or inactive-duty training, they could face grade reductions, failing grades, and even financial penalties if they are forced to withdraw from classes to serve our country. Modeled after successful legislation in Illinois, the Protections for Student Veterans Act (H.R. 5603) will ensure that veterans in every state can continue their education without penalty if they are called to serve.

6. S. 796 – Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021 (Sen. Duckworth – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill would require VA to implement a maternity care coordination program. VA must provide community maternity care providers with training and support with respect to the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum veterans, particularly regarding mental and behavioral health conditions.

7. H.R. 4233 – Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act (Rep. Murphy (NC) – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill would furnish Vet Center readjustment counseling and related mental health services to veterans and members of the Armed Forces using certain educational assistance benefits.

8. H.R. 147 – BRAVE Act, as amended (Rep. Norcross – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill would direct the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to ensure that all transitioning servicemembers are provided information on registered apprenticeships. This is accomplished by creating a user-friendly online system for veterans to access VA-certified registered apprenticeship programs with proven track records and endorsed by organizations like Helmets to Hardhats, a nonprofit that connects servicemembers with opportunities in the construction industry.

9. H.R. 3730 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and for other purposes, as amended (Rep. Sablan – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill would establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States, and for other purposes.

10. H.R. 5721 – VIPER Act of 2021, as amended (Rep. Takano – Veterans’ Affairs)

This bill authorizes VA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and gives VA new research authorities. Waives Paperwork Reduction Act; gives VA new research contract authority; expands length of time scientists may stay in VA through Intergovernmental Personnel Act; clarifies outside compensation for scientists with dual appointments; gives VA new hiring authority for data experts; creates new VA Career Development Award for junior scientists; and directs GAO to conduct a study of clinician researchers at VA.

11. H.R. 2915 – HOPR Act, as amended (Rep. Correa – Homeland Security)

This bill would reform the way DHS procures uniforms and related gear for its components. It seeks to ensure that higher-quality uniforms and gear are issued to Department frontline personnel by encouraging the procurement of domestically sourced items. Under the Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security is required to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that at least one-third of the funds obligated for the procurement of uniforms and gear be used to purchase goods manufactured by entities that qualify as a U.S. small business. Moreover, the bill requires DHS to study whether uniform allowances provided to personnel are adequate and to report on opportunities to procure additional items, such as personal protective equipment, from domestic sources. Lastly, the bill strengthens supply chain security by mandating locked storage, reports of stolen goods, and the destruction of defective or unusable items for any item bearing official DHS insignia not manufactured in the U.S. This is the House companion to S. 1009, from Senator Shaheen (D-NH), that was favorably reported from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in July. A previous version of this bill (H.R. 2083) passed the House by voice vote on June 10, 2019, in the last Congress.

12. H.R. 5652 – DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2021 (Rep. Van Drew – Homeland Security)

This bill would strengthen accountability and uniformity within the Department’s acquisition review process by codifying the Acquisition Review Board (ARB). Chaired by the Under Secretary for Management, the ARB is composed of senior Department officials with responsibilities related to acquisitions, such as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer. The ARB can convene at the discretion of the Under Secretary and at any such time an acquisition program requires review, such as when major acquisition programs seek approval to advance to the next phase in the acquisition lifecycle. The ARB also determines whether acquisition programs are aligned with Department strategic initiatives and are progressing in accordance with best practices and approved documentation. Earlier versions of this bill passed the House in the 114th, 115th, and 116th Congresses.

13. H.R. 5574 – TRANSLATE Act, as amended (Rep. Titus – Homeland Security)

This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to create and implement a plan to make signs, videos, audio messages, websites, press releases, social media postings, and other communications available in languages other than English used by the people who work and travel through our nation’s major airports. The legislation requires TSA to consider the primary languages used at each major airport and improve communication of its materials in such languages. In addition, the plan must address the enhanced communication of TSA materials to individuals who have vision or hearing impairments. The bill requires GAO to review TSA’s implementation of its plan. The TRANSLATE Act will enhance airport security processes to welcome visitors while reflecting local communities and cultures. An earlier version of this bill passed the House in the 116th Congress by a voice vote.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Everything you can imagine is real.”

-Pablo Picasso