Working for Our Troops
Below are key legislative accomplishments Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod has worked on regarding Veterans' Issues.
H.R. 1623 VA Claims Efficiency Through Information Act of 2013 (Sponsor)
Requires that VA track the time spent evaluating each medical condition within a disability claim. Will help VA more effectively direct resources to assure its staff can process complex disability claims. This bill passed the House as part of HR 2189 in October 2013.
H.R. 4041 Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2014 (Sponsor)
Allows VA to provide grants to organizations that help homeless veterans and any children under the care of the homeless veteran.
Letter to Secretary Shinseki VBA Los Angeles
Sent Letter with Members of Congress Schiff, Capps, Ruiz, Takano, Brownley, Chu, and Hahn asking that Los Angeles needs a full time director to lead benefits processing. VA replied that the position will be filled soon, and that the interim director is able to lead VBA in Los Angeles until a new director is found.
Amendment to National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 (Introduced)
Amends Department’s Review of the Military Modernization Study to include reviewing the availability of gender-specific care. Department of Defense (DOD) has the best hospitals for service personnel in the country. As women become a larger part of our armed forces, it is important that the military keep their needs in mind when improving medical services.
H.R. 671 Ruth Moore Act (Cosponsor)
Requires VA to recognize non-military medical reports as evidence of a service-connected disability caused by Military Sexual Trauma. The legislation passed the House in June of 2013.
H.R. 4149 Help Hire Our Heroes Act (Cosponsor)
Immediately extends VOW to Hire Heroes Act until September. VOW, which funds several veteran job training programs, expired in December of 2013.
H.R. 1809 Faster Filling Act (Cosponsor)
Encourages veterans to submit a fully developed claim (they gather all the evidence before giving it to VA) by adding a year to the effective date of their claim.
H.R. 1796 Troop Talent Act (Cosponsor)
Requires DOD to share credentialing information with service members while they are still active duty. This makes it easier for them to qualify for jobs in the civilian field that are similar to their current jobs in the military.
H.R. 3207 Benefits Fairness for Filipino Veterans (Cosponsor)
Allows Filipino permanent residents that are veterans to spend up to a year outside of the country and still qualify for VA benefits.
H.R. 3970 (Cosponsor)
Exempts veterans under 62 from reduced retirement pay as part of the Ryan Budget Agreement.
H.R. 4628 Military Opportunities for Mother (MOM) Act (Cosponsor)
Extends maternity for mothers from 6 weeks to 12 weeks to be the same as the Family Medical Leave Act for civilian employees.
H.R. 4629 Manufacturing Jobs for Veterans Act (Cosponsor)
Establishes pilot program to encourage the employment of veterans in manufacturing jobs.
More on Working for Our Troops
Fontana, CA - Today, Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) held a field hearing on veterans’ issues in the City of Fontana. Veterans and their families filled the City’s council meeting room to capacity as panelists from local, state, and federal governments, as well as representatives from non-profit organizations, testified before Rep. Negrete McLeod.
The meeting in City Hall Council Chambers followed by just five days President Barack Obama’s speech in Orlando in which he said “we are turning the tide” in backlog of unprocessed veterans claims.