Dear John,

While much attention was given to the impeachment hearings last week, many other things were happening in Congress that you may have missed. Eighteen bills were passed “Under Suspension” meaning they suspend the rules and move directly to a vote.  Most are done by voice vote because they are expected to easily pass. I want to highlight seven in particular:

H.R. 1615 – VA-SBA Act

H.R. 1615 would transfer the functions, authorities, and assets of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business Database to the Small Business Administration (SBA). This database is used to identify which businesses are owned by veterans and that, by virtue of such status, have preferential access to enter into federal contracts. This legislation would also increase the maximum dollar volume of contracts that can be awarded to a sole company.

This will extend verification and anti-fraud measures and remove this business-related activity from the VA and give it to a federal agency that focuses on commerce.

H.R.1773 - Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019 

I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1773 directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to Rosie the Riveter (i.e., any female individual who held employment or volunteered in support of the war efforts during World War II), in recognition of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations.

The medal shall be displayed at the National Museum of American History, which must make the medal available for display at other locations associated with Rosie the Riveter. I was a cosponsor of this bill.

H.R. 3224 – Deborah Sampson Act

H.R. 3224 would establish a new department within the VA to expand health care services for women veterans and newborn children, provide for additional emergency transportation for newborn children who receive neonatal care, and expand efforts to combat sexual harassment and assault.

 H.R. 3537 – Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019

This legislation would amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business program, currently a pilot program, for the next five fiscal years. This program serves to advise veterans, and their dependents, about business ownership and best practices for organizing and operating a business as well as raising capital.

H.R. 4360 – VA Overpayment Accountability Act

H.R. 4360 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to instruct consumer credit reporting companies to remove erroneous information on the credit reports of veterans that received overpayments of benefits from the VA.

H.R. 4477 Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act

H.R. 4477 would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to address certain high-risk areas identified by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs in the 2019 High-Risk List of the GAO.

H.R. 4771 VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act

H.R. 4771 would allow for veteran appellants to appear in cases before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals by remotely picture and voice transmission from locations other than facilities of the Department of Veteran Affairs.