Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

Greetings NOVA Members –

Congress remains busy holding hearings of interest on VA’s response to COVID 19, moving important legislation and hosting hearings on implementation of several key issues which passed last session.  

Newly confirmed Secretary Denis McDonough has testified before both House and Senate VA Committees on the VA’s COVID vaccine program and continuous efforts to provide health care and services to Veterans during these unprecedented times. He also discussed the Fiscal Year 2022 discretionary budget plans for VA on the heels of the President’s release of what is referred to as a “Skinny Budget” earlier this month. The discretionary funding provided VA includes $113.1 billion for several priorities to include medical care, education & training, mental health, homelessness and suicide prevention. A larger, more extensive budget is forthcoming.   

NOVA has been actively involved in our own conversations with VA Committee staff – we voiced our support for the VA Vaccine Act which would allow veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system, family caregivers, CHAMPVA recipients and other veterans using medical and nursing home care abroad to receive a vaccine at VA.  The bill was signed into law by the President on March 24.

A list of other NOVA-supported bills, along with the VA Vaccine Act can be found on NOVA’s website here: Congressional Statement & Letters

NOVA leadership also spent some time recording a PSA to encourage everyone to get a vaccine to keep us all safe and healthy! NOVA nurses encourage Veterans to "Get Vaccinated"

As most of you are probably already aware, the latest COVID-19 relief package – the American Rescue Plan – passed Congress and was signed by the President in March.  Within the $1.9 trillion dollar bill was $17 billion ($13.5 billion for VHA) in funding for VA.

Look for oversight hearings this Summer to make sure that funding is spent properly. Priorities in the bill include increases to Telehealth, support for Homeless Veterans and those impacted by the pandemic, improvement in emergency readiness, specialized equipment, PPE, and mobile care facilities that can supplement medical centers, help for caregivers, and support for modernizing VA's supply chain system.

NOVA continues its legislative advocacy – I urge all of you to become familiar with our 2021 Legislative Priority Goals. 

We will be hosting a Virtual Hill Day on Thursday, June 10 to which all members are invited – an invitation was sent out to everyone in early April and can be found on the NOVA website. I encourage all of you to register and get started making those congressional appointments. *

I ask you to check out the U.S. House and U.S. Senate links on our website under the Toolkit dropdown and talk to your Congressional members about VA issues important to you – and take note of any members in your State that sits on the House and Senate VA Committees. These will be the individuals you will be contacting to set up your appointments for June 10.

The House and Senate VA Committee members can be found at the links below:

Senate VA Committee Members released - list of members:

Committee Members | United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs  

House VA Committee Members list

Members | About | The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs  

I look forward to working with all of you and am here to answer any questions about legislation, Hill Day or anything to do with advocating for the VA Nursing community.

Stay Tuned!