Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

Greetings NOVA Members –

NOVA hosted the first Virtual Hill Day on June 10 where nurses gave voice to our legislative priorities to the members of the 117th Congress. Thanks to House and Senate VA Committee Chairmen Mark Takano (D-CA) and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) for recording inspiring messages to help kick off the day. 

I hope those of you who participated found it to be an exciting venture into what it means to advocate for the VA and play a part in our democracy! And for those of you who could not make it this year – I look forward to seeing all of you in Washington D.C. in 2022.

For more information and details to include the recorded kickoff event: Add NOVA recording to the link to the Toolkit  NOVA on the Hill Day (vanurse.org)

House and Senate VA Committees continue to hold hearings and pass legislation as we quickly move towards the August recess. Both House and Senate VA Committees have made toxic exposure bills a priority. House bill, the Honoring Our Promise to Address Toxics Act of 2021, and Senate bill Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops/(COST) of War Act of 2021, would provide generations of Veterans suffering from illnesses related to their toxic exposures benefits and healthcare at the VA.

The VA at this time has not commented on the bills or the cost – VSO representatives have testified to their strong support of both bills and also held a press conference at the Capitol where Daily Show host Jon Stewart - advocate for toxic exposure (particularly 9/11 victims and first responders) spoke to the need to get this done quickly for all those suffering.

NOVA has been actively involved in discussing pay caps, equity and the need for a review of staffing levels pre and post COVID-19. Recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals is our highest priority – especially in high-cost areas where shortages may affect timely access to high quality care for Veterans.

We continue to voice our support for bills like the recently dropped VA CPE Modernization Act sponsored by House VA Subcommittee on Health Chairman Julia Brownley which will expand and increase tuition and course fees for all VA clinicians allowing nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and others to be eligible for this benefit.

For copies of NOVA letters of support sent to the Hill, visit the NOVA website. 

For a list of our complete 2021 legislative priority goals: 2021_nova_legislative_priori.pdf (ymaws.com)

I ask you to check out the U.S. House and U.S. Senate links on our website and talk to your Congressional members about VA issues important to you. We will be planning the best way to get in front of your members during August recess so start signing up for those congressional newsletters, get to know what your members are planning for the month while they are home working. Also, take note of any members in your state that sit on the House and Senate VA Committees as they have jurisdiction over all VA issues. 

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  

As always, I look forward to working with all of you and thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of VA nurses and the communities in which you live.

Stay Tuned!