Government Relations

PVA TESTIFIES BEFORE TPROPOSED RIGHTS OF WAY GUIDELINES ISSUED
On 7/26, the U.S. Access Board released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on accessibility guidelines for public rights-of-way. These proposed guidelines were initially developed after an extensive regulatory negotiation in which PVA participated. A previous draft was available for public input. After this comment period, the Board will release final guidelines, which will have the effect of law only after the Department of Justice incorporates them into the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
The NPRM can be viewed at http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm.

VETERANS TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNITY LIVING INITIATIVE CAPITAL GRANTS PROGRAM
On 7/27, the Federal Transportation Administration announced funding for a new program, the Veterans Transportation & Community Living Initiative Capital Grants Program (VTCLI). This funding is limited in use, but intended to assist veterans & military families with their transportation needs.

DOJ FILES VOTING LAWSUIT IN LOUISIANA
On 7/12, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit alleging that Louisiana has failed to provide voter registration services at offices providing public assistance & serving persons with disabilities in Louisiana as required by the National Voter Registration Act.

DOL Add Us In FORUM
Advocacy staff participated in the Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Add Us In Forum in early August. The aim of this one day meeting was to bring federal government officials & disability employment stakeholders together to map out strategies to increase employment of people with disabilities in small business. Grantees from ODEP’s Add Us In initiative were present to provide updates on their ongoing projects in Missouri, Connecticut, Oklahoma & California. A plenary session explored trends in small business growth & small group discussions examined effective small business hiring practices tailored to individuals with disabilities, issues to consider in successful transitions of youth with disabilities to competitive employment & the importance of community & family support as a catalyst for employment.

In a breakout session on business recruitment of people with disabilities, Director of Warrior Integration Services for BAE Systems Inc., James Rodriguez described how his company has focused its hiring efforts on young enlisted personnel going through medical rehabilitation to help them find positions once they transition out of the military. His program uses veteran mentors for all veterans coming to work at BAE & has conducted management & staff training within the company to educate all employees about issues surrounding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Rodriguez also noted that many of the accommodations BAE has made for its wounded warriors have wound up being useful for many of the other employees.
Additional information about Add Us In can be found at: www.dol.gov/odep/addusin.

On June 25, PVA testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health at a legislative hearing to discuss five proposed bills, & two newly drafted pieces of legislation. Included in the proposed bills was H.R.1855, the “Veterans’ Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services’ Improvements Act of 2011.” If enacted, H.R.1855 would ensure that long-term rehabilitative care becomes a primary component of health-care services provided to veterans who have sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The Subcommittee also considered H.R.2530 which would allow for increased flexibility in establishing rates for reimbursement for State veterans’ homes. While PVA supports this bill, we urged the Subcommittee to seek greater understanding of the problems surrounding veterans’ institutional long-term care. Additionally, we understand that the VA & the National Associate for State Veterans’ Homes have reached an agreement on reimbursement rates that closely mirrors the legislation that was introduced.
PVA also supports H.R.2074, a bill that would require a comprehensive policy on reporting & tracking sexual assault incidents & other safety incidents that occur at VA medical facilities. Two of the five bills discussed during the hearing involved veterans’ service dogs—H.R.1154, the “Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act,” & H.R. 198, the “Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act.” H.R.1154 would prevent the VA from prohibiting the use of service dogs on VA property. PVA fully supports this bill & the rights of veterans to utilize service dogs as necessary.

HELP COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Senate Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee held a hearing on July 14 to examine successful practices around the country that promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Assistant Labor Secretary Kathy Martinez, head of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), highlighted several ODEP initiatives designed to respond to changing labor demographics & to make it possible for older workers with disabilities to stay in the workforce. ODEP will launch a pilot project in the fall to study flexible workplace strategies to retain older workers in the health care & community college sectors.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS ASSESSES COSTS OF WAR
On July 27, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing entitled, “Examining the Lifetime Costs of Supporting the Newest Generation of Veterans.” The purpose of the hearing was to identify both the human & financial costs of the current conflicts in Iraq & Afghanistan.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT & INVESTIGATION CONSIDERS LEGISLATION
On 7/20, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigation considered several bills that were recently introduced. PVA supports H.R. 2388, the “Access to Timely Information Act.” This legislation addresses the timely exchange of information between the VA & Congress. PVA supports H.R. 2243, the “Veterans Employment Promotion Act” which could prove helpful for veterans seeking employment. This bill would require the Department of Labor, Veterans Employment &
Training Service to use the internet to provide the names of corporations & sub-
contractors that receive federal contracts. PVA supports H.R.2470 the “Ensuring Service members’ Electronic Records’ Viability Act.”

PROPOSED RIGHTS OF WAY GUIDELINES ISSUED
On 7/26, the U.S. Access Board released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on accessibility guidelines for public rights-of-way. These proposed guidelines were initially developed after an extensive regulatory negotiation in which PVA participated. A previous draft was available for public input. After this comment period, the Board will release final guidelines, which will have the effect of law only after the Department of Justice incorporates them into the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
The NPRM can be viewed at http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm.

Mike Sprouse

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