Bill to Address Physician Staffing Shortages at VA Introduced

by: Senator John Boozman (R-AR)

Washington, D.C. - March 29, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Recruiting and retaining highly-qualified physicians has long been a challenge for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate seeks to turn the tide by allowing the department to compete for the best and brightest doctors coming out of medical school.

The VA Hiring Enhancement Act—introduced by Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Jon Tester (D-MT)—aims to overcome the competitive disadvantage the VA faces in recruiting medical students by aligning the department’s hiring processes with private sector providers. The hiring process begins much earlier for the private sector than it does for the VA.

“Under its current hiring processes, the VA loses too many great medical school graduates to private sector employers. The VA Hiring Enhancement Act will fix that by leveling the playing field for the VA and allowing the department to attract the best and brightest doctors. In terms of closing the VA’s recruiting gap with the private sector, this bill is a gamechanger,” said Boozman.

“The VA must have a qualified medical workforce ready to serve veterans,” said Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.“The VA Hiring Enhancement Act makes the VA more competitive with the private sector when it recruits talented doctors, clinicians, and medical students.”

The VA Hiring Enhancement Act has the support of key Veterans Service Organizations including the American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Veterans & Military Families for Progress.

Specifically, theVA Hiring Enhancement Act seeks to:

Allow the VA to release physicians from non-compete agreements, provided they commit to VA services for at least one year. This makes it easier to hire local doctors, since non-compete contracts are often designed to prevent doctors from competing with their previous employer in the same local area;

Grant the VA authority to make binding job offers up to two years prior to completion of residency, which would help the VA become more proactive in its healthcare provider hiring practices and is particularly important to attracting specialists; and

Set the minimum education requirement for VA doctors as completion of residency.

‘FOR THE PEOPLE’ ACT

by: Senator Tammy Baldwin (D - WI)

Washington, D.C. - March 29, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing the For the People Act — a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would fix our broken politics and make government work for the people. The landmark legislation, companion legislation to H.R. 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives, aims to restore the promise of American democracy by making it easier, not harder, to vote; ending the dominance of big money in politics; and ensuring that public officials work for the public interest. Earlier this month, the House passed H.R. 1 by a vote of 234-193.

“The American people need to trust that their government is working for them, not the corporate special interests that already have too much power in Washington,” said Senator Baldwin. “Hardworking American families are struggling to get ahead and they can’t afford to have special interests in a cozy relationship with the government. I’m joining my colleagues to introduce this legislation because we need to reform our broken political system, increase transparency and restore faith in our democracy.”

The legislation includes Senator Baldwin’s Executive Branch Conflict of Interest Act which would slow the revolving door between corporations, Wall Street and Washington. It would also prohibit “government service golden parachute” bonus payouts, strengthen ethics requirements, and combat conflicts of interest.

“President Trump promised to ‘drain the swamp,’ but this revolving door keeps spinning,” said Senator Baldwin. “When Wall Street insiders, corporate executives and long-term industry lobbyists move through the revolving door from the private sector to public service and back again, they should not be rewarded with big bonuses and a free pass to rewrite the rules to benefit corporate special interests. Let’s stop the revolving door and make sure that government officials are working on behalf of the public interest and our common good, not powerful special interests.”

The For the People Act would:

Make It Easier, Not Harder, To Vote

Improve Access and Secure Voting Rights – Expands access to the ballot box by taking aim at institutional barriers to voting, such as cumbersome registration systems, limited voting hours and many other roadblocks. The bill creates automatic voter registration across the country, ensures that individuals who have completed felony sentences have their full rights restored, expands voting by mail, promotes early voting and online voter registration, and modernizes the U.S. voting system.
Promote Integrity – Fights back against the assault on voting rights by reaffirming Congress’s commitment to restoring the Voting Rights Act, prohibiting voter roll purges like those seen in Ohio, Georgia and elsewhere, and ensuring that discriminatory voter ID laws do not prevent Americans citizens from exercising their rights. This bill would also end partisan gerrymandering to prevent politicians from picking their voters and making Americans feel like their voices do not count.
Bolster Election Security – Ensures that American elections are decided by American voters without interference by foreign adversaries. The bill creates a national strategy to protect our democratic institutions, increases oversight over election vendors, and enhances federal support for state voting system security upgrades, including paper ballot voting systems.
End The Dominance of Big Money In Politics

Guarantee Disclosure – Shines a light on dark money in politics by requiring all political organizations to disclose their donors, which will break the nesting-doll system that allows big-money contributors and special interests to hide their spending in networks of so-called “social welfare” organizations; expands “Stand By Your Ad” provisions; and harmonizes internet disclosure rules with existing broadcast rules.
Empower Citizens – Builds a 21st century campaign finance system to increase the power of small donors, reaffirms Congress’s authority to regulate money in politics, and pushes back against Citizens United. This bill levels the political playing field for everyday Americans, creating a multiple matching system for small donations and allowing the American people to exercise their due influence in a post-Citizens United world, while reaffirming that Congress should have the authority to regulate money in politics. The new system of citizen-owned elections will break special interests’ stranglehold on Congress and the White House and lay the groundwork for an agenda that serves the American people.
Strengthen Oversight – Repairs and restructures the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to break gridlock and enhance enforcement mechanisms, tightens rules on super PACs, and repeals policy riders that block sensible disclosure measures.
Ensure Public Officials Work For The Public Interest

Fortify Ethics Laws and Slow the Revolving Door – Breaks the influence of special interests in Washington and increases accountability by expanding conflict of interest law and divestment requirements, slows the revolving door, prohibits members of Congress from serving on for-profit corporate boards, limits first class travel for government officials, ends taxpayer-financed settlements for officeholders, and requires presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns.
Impose Greater Ethics Enforcement – Gives teeth to federal ethics oversight by overhauling the Office of Government Ethics, requires the Supreme Court to create a new ethical code, and closes registration loopholes for lobbyists and foreign agents.
The For the People Act is co-sponsored by every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus, including:

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA) Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

EEI STATEMENT ON EMP EXECUTIVE ORDER

by: Edison Electric Institute

Washington, D.C. - March 29, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Vice President for Security and Preparedness Scott Aaronson today issued the following statement on President Trump’s executive order on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses (EMPs).

“EEI and its member companies applaud President Trump's ongoing focus on protecting critical infrastructure, and we look forward to working with the Administration to ensure that industry and government continue to work closely together to protect the energy grid.

“Grid security is a shared responsibility, and addressing dynamic threats to the energy grid requires vigilance and coordination that leverages government and industry resources. Our security strategies constantly evolve and are closely coordinated with the federal government through a partnership called the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC). From electric company CEOs to energy grid operators, we work closely to share threat information and partner with all levels of government to mitigate, and respond to, national-level incidents or threats to electric-sector critical infrastructure.

“How an EMP may impact critical infrastructure is an extremely complex issue that cannot be solved with a one-size-fits-all solution. Sound policy should be informed by sound science. That is why the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched a research project in 2016 to evaluate how EMPs could impact the energy grid. Developing this scientific basis enables companies to make science-informed decisions for developing, testing, and deploying EMP-resistant grid components.

“Next month, EPRI will share its EMP findings with the industry, policymakers, and the public, providing the necessary information for companies to better understand the potential impact of EMP incidents to the transmission system. The findings also will include recommendations for mitigation approaches and investments.

“EEI’s member companies understand that reliable electricity and a secure energy grid are essential to the nation’s economy and our way of life. By working together through the ESCC, industry and government greatly enhance our nation’s ability to defend and protect against all threats to the energy grid. We value this partnership and appreciate President Trump’s support for improving the security posture of the electric power industry and, by extension, the nation.”

IRRESPONSIBLE BILL WOULD FORCE VA TO POTENTIALLY WASTE BILLIONS, JEOPARDIZE VETERANS’ HEALTH CARE

by: Concerned Veterans for America

Arlington, VA - March 29, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) announced its opposition to legislation to eliminate the asset and infrastructure review (AIR) mandated by the bipartisan VA MISSION Act. This bill, introduced by Sens. Rounds and Manchin, would force the VA to maintain excess and aging infrastructure and would take valuable resources away from providing the best care possible for our veterans. The AIR provision of the VA MISSION Act would create a commission to evaluate the VA’s current medical facility footprint to ensure that it is best aligned with the current needs and demands of the VA patient population across the country.

Dan Caldwell, CVA’s executive director had this to say regarding the bill:

“This irresponsible and misguided legislation would force the VA to potentially waste billions in taxpayer dollars to maintain VA facilities that are clearly outdated and not serving the needs of the current or future veteran population. The asset and infrastructure review is critical to protecting the VA’s ability to serve our veterans, allowing the VA to modernize and adapt as the veteran population continues to change, and ensuring the VA is spending taxpayer dollars in the most responsible way when serving those veterans. We urge the Senate to reject this bill and we hope that Senators Rounds and Manchin reconsider this counterproductive proposal.”

Secretary Wilkie, during a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing Tuesday, stressed the importance of modernizing the VA, including the importance of making sure the VA’s facilities are up to the task of caring for our nation’s veterans. He pointed out that “ more than half of the buildings [he is] responsible for age in range from over 50 years to 100 years.” And he reminded the members that it was the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee which, through the VA MISSION Act, directed the VA to conduct market assessments and create “the asset and infrastructure review commission to bring the VA up to speed where the veterans are.”

The VA is one of the largest federal property-holding agencies, owning buildings covering more than 151 million square feet and leasing over 1,500 buildings costing more than $340.6 million annually in rent. Former VA Secretary Shulkin has testified in previous hearings that the VA has hundreds of empty or under-utilized VA buildings that cost the federal government $25 million annually to maintain.

The VA MISSION Act – which contained the provision mandating the asset and infrastructure review –passed Congress on an overwhelming bipartisan vote and was signed into law by President Trump on June 6, 2018.

District Court Judge Strikes Down Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements

by: Community Catalyst

Boston, MA - March 29, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Statement of Michael Miller, strategic policy director at Community Catalyst, regarding the federal court rulings regarding Medicaid work reporting requirements in Kentucky and Arkansas.

“Today’s ruling by District Court Judge James Boasberg striking down Medicaid work reporting requirements in Arkansas and Kentucky is a welcome relief for hundreds of thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries who were at risk of losing their health coverage. The judge, who previously struck down work reporting requirements in Kentucky, said that the Trump administration ‘failed to justify that adding employment conditions and other changes to Medicaid…advanced Medicaid’s basic purpose of providing health coverage.’

“Work reporting requirements have already stripped away health coverage from roughly 18,000 low-income Arkansans. This decision means that the health coverage for Arkansas and Kentucky residents will be protected. The decision also sets an important precedent that could protect the health coverage of millions of Medicaid enrollees in the 15 states with approved or pending work reporting requirement proposals. The fundamental purpose of Medicaid is to provide health coverage to low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and others for whom other forms of health insurance may be out of reach.

“The Trump administration again failed to make the case as to how and why adding work requirements to state Medicaid programs would increase employment or improve health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries.

“Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of people. As today’s decision shows, efforts by the Trump administration and state legislators to create barriers to coverage in Medicaid will not go unanswered. We urge the administration and state policy makers to take heed of the judge’s unequivocal decision and cease their misguided attacks."

Bicameral Legislation To Protect Taxpayer Dollars In Government Contracting

by: Ted Bud (R-NC, 13th)

Washington, D.C. - March 28, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Representative Ted Budd (NC-13) and Francis Rooney (FL-19) and Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and David Perdue (R-GA) released the following statements after introducing the Fair and Open Competition Act, which would lower government construction costs by increasing competition and opportunities for contractors to bid on government work. The bill would ensure that the federal government cannot mandate project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal projects, thereby increasing competition and lowering construction costs for taxpayers.

When the government mandates that a PLA is used on a federal or federally assisted construction project, workers that chose not to join a union, and open shop contractors, are essentially prevented from working on that project. In America, over 86% of the private construction workforce does not belong to a union. In Indiana, 72.7% of the private construction workforce has chosen not to join a union. In North Carolina, 99.7% of the private construction workforce has chosen not to join a union . When PLAs are mandated by government entities, all of those nonunion workers are essentially prevented from working on a project.

“As someone who has run a business, I know how important it is to have fair and open competition,” said Rep. Budd. “Government-mandated PLAs are not fair, and it’s taxpayers who take the hit. For the sake of our country and our taxpaying constituents, we should be committed to cost-effective construction projects.”

“PLA’s discourage non-union competition for federal construction projects. As a lifelong businessman, I believe that open competition is best for the market and all businesses should have the opportunity to compete for federal construction projects,” said Rep. Rooney. “That’s why I introduced the Fair and Open Competition Act- to stop federal agencies from discriminating against companies that don’t engage in PLA’s. This will ensure competition for the best price and save taxpayer dollars.”

“With a majority of America’s private construction workers not a part of a union, government-mandated PLAs are inherently unfair. Being raised by a family of small business owners and workers, I understand the economic value of open competition in the workforce,” said Senator Young. “The Fair and Open Competition Act is a simple solution that will lower costs for taxpayers and restore competition in the construction industry.”
“As a business guy, I know how harmful onerous government regulations are for a company’s competitiveness,” said Senator Perdue. “The Obama Administration’s project labor agreement mandate gave unionized construction companies an unfair advantage in competing for federal contracts. We need to unwind this burdensome rule and give the decision-making power back to the markets. This will level the playing field for small businesses, rein in construction costs, and ultimately save taxpayer dollars.”

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

Bill to Help Americans Save for Retirement Introduced

by: Vern Buchanan (R-FL, 16th)

Washington, D.C. - March 28, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressmen Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) has reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to help Americans save for retirement.

“Unfortunately, too many hardworking Americans enter retirement without adequate savings,” Buchanan said. “It is imperative we provide as many resources as possible to help folks prepare for their golden years and invest in their future.”

According to USA Today, the average American has less than $4,000 in savings while nearly 60 percent of adults have less than $1,000 to their names.

The Retirement Security for American Workers Act would make it easier and less costly for small businesses to set up and offer retirement benefits to employees. Specifically, the legislation allows businesses join together in “multiple employer plans” (MEPs) to share the administrative burden and costs of offering a retirement plan.

Incredibly, up to 35 percent of private-sector workers over the age of 22 work for a company that doesn’t offer a retirement plan, while over 40 percent of millennials didn't have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Millions of American employees stand to benefit from expanding the availability of workplace retirement plans. In fact, the AARP has found that workers are 15 times more likely to save when they have access to a retirement plan.

“The American people need improved access to retirement savings,” Buchanan continued. “Congress should approve this bipartisan legislation and help retirees reach a stronger state of financial stability.”

Buchanan represents over 220,000 Social Security recipients in the nation’s eighth-oldest congressional district.

Buchanan and Kind previously introduced the bill in the 114th and 115th Congresses.

VA COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act Introduced

by: Mike Bost (R-IL, 12th)

Washington, D.C. - March 28, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-IL, 12th) has introduced the bipartisan VA COST SAVINGS Enhancement Act, which will save the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tens of millions of dollars annually and improve care for our veterans. The legislation requires the VA to install on-site medical waste treatment systems in VA facilities where it is determined this will result in a cost-savings within 5 years.

“I completely understand that most folks probably don’t think too much about medical waste treatment systems,” said Bost. “I didn’t either. That was until I saw the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the VA’s generally inefficient process of medical waste disposal. This bipartisan legislation is a straightforward, commonsense solution that embraces proven technology that will free up millions of dollars for the VA to better serve our veterans.”

Background:

In 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported to Congress that on-site medical waste treatment at individual VA facilities may cost half as much as sending waste off-site to treatment locations. However, despite the efficacy of such a program, little implementation has ever been initiated.

Current waste treatment technologies have demonstrated to be safer, more efficient, more cost-effective, and more environmentally friendly compared to previous technologies. In addition, onsite disposal reduces hazards associated with storing waste on-site and transporting it through communities to regional disposal centers. Implementing this technology will align the VA with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) best practices for infection control, and VA hospitals will no longer truck millions of pounds of hazardous waste on our roads.

Bipartisan Bill to Fight Ocean Acidification Introduced

by: Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR, 1st)

Washington, D.C. - March 28, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Derek Kilmer (WA-6), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-3), and Don Young (AK-AL), reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help fight ocean acidification. The bill, entitled the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act, would allow federal agencies to use existing funds to conduct prize competitions to increase the ability to research, monitor, and manage ocean acidification and its impacts.

“Coastal communities in Oregon and across the country are already facing the devastating effects of ocean acidification, and we must strengthen our approach,” said Rep. Bonamici. “The Ocean Acidification Innovation Act’s prize competition will encourage collaboration and spur innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification. This will help the communities, environments, and industries that rely on healthy oceans and are facing the harsh realities of rising carbon emissions.”

“We know that changing ocean chemistry threatens entire livelihoods and industries in our state. So, this bipartisan bill is really about jobs,” said Rep. Kilmer. “There are generations of folks in our coastal communities who have worked in fishing and shellfish growing, but that’s endangered if we don’t maintain a healthy Pacific Ocean. This bill creates a strong incentive for experts to focus on developing innovative solutions to this serious challenge.”

“Our coastal communities depend on a healthy shellfish and fishing industry,” said Rep. Herrera Beutler. “Ocean acidification threatens those jobs and the health of the ocean’s ecosystem, which is why we’re offering this bipartisan bill that will help us better understand the problem and find solutions.”

“Healthy oceans and waterways are essential to maintaining strong coastal communities and providing for a robust marine economy,” said Rep. Young. “Ocean acidification is an ongoing threat that must be addressed head-on. This bill helps our American innovators develop new tools for tackling this pressing issue. Alaska’s maritime jobs depend on healthy oceans, and I will keep working with my friends on both sides of the aisle in the fight against ocean acidification.”

Ocean acidification is a rising threat to coastal communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and growing evidence suggests that acidic ocean conditions harm the ability of many marine organisms to generate shells. These marine organisms, which include oysters, mussels, and pteropods, are a key part of the food chain for salmon, herring, and other fish. In addition, scientists at the University of Washington recently discovered that ocean acidification also threatens the $220 million Dungeness crab fishery, raising serious concerns about future implications for species and ecosystems in the region.

The legislation was created in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the XPRIZE Foundation, an innovative non-profit organization that creates public competitions designed to encourage increased investment in solutions to major societal problems. For example, the Ansari XPRIZE awarded for personal spaceflight technology helped launch a brand-new $2 billion private space industry.

Federal agencies have increasingly viewed prize competitions as a means of maximizing the return on taxpayer dollars, leveraging prizes to attract more resources to tackle difficult scientific challenges.

Bonamici and Young co-chair the House Oceans Caucus, a bipartisan group of House members committed to taking action to protect the health and future of our oceans. The Caucus is focused on environmental stressors (including ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia); marine debris; ocean data and monitoring; coastal resiliency; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Bonamici also introduced the bipartisan Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats (COAST) Research Act in February. The COAST Research Act will strengthen federal investments in research and monitoring of changing ocean conditions.

Democrats Vote to Protect Transgender Troops

by: Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware at Large)

Washington, D.C. - March 28, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL) issued the following statement voting protect transgender members of our armed forces.

“No one with the strength and determination to serve in our military should ever be turned away because of who they are. Transgender service members serve with distinction and are prepared to make the sacrifice to our nation. The Trump Administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in uniform is misguided, discriminatory, and contrary to our values. Despite their honorable commitment, this ban demeans their service and must be ended,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “By voting to end this ban, we met prejudice with love and intolerance with support. Today, we took an important step forward in fighting for equality, protecting the dignity of our military, and affirming the values that our country stands for.”

See Also:

Brooks Votes Against Taxpayer Funding for Gender Reassignment Surgery