NAVREF Advocacy

NAVREF Submits Comments on Proposed SAM Registration Changes

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:26:30 GMT

NAVREF recently submitted comments in response to the General Services Administration’s proposed revisions to the System for Award Management (SAM) Registration Requirements for Financial Assistance Recipients (OMB Control No. 3090-0290; Docket No. 2026-0001; Sequence No. 2). The notice was published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2026, with comments due March 30, 2026.

In its letter, NAVREF raised concerns that the proposal could create significant legal uncertainty and administrative burden for VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporations (NPCs), which rely on efficient and predictable grant processes to support clinical trials, research infrastructure, and workforce capacity. NAVREF also emphasized that unclear certification language, particularly around diversity, equity, and inclusion activities, could create confusion for organizations operating in complex research partnerships and potentially discourage participation in federally supported research.

NAVREF urged the General Services Administration to ensure that any certification requirements are clearly defined, narrowly tailored, and aligned with existing statutory and regulatory frameworks, so that they do not undermine the collaborative research infrastructure that supports better care and better outcomes for Veterans.

NAVREF Submits Comments to the National Research Advisory Council (NRAC)

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:04:10 GMT

NAVREF recently submitted comments to the National Research Advisory Council (NRAC) in advance of its March 24, 2026 meeting, providing input on ongoing challenges affecting the VA research enterprise. NRAC serves as a federal advisory body to the Department of Veterans Affairs on research priorities and program direction, and the meeting notice is available in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/17/2026-03079/national-research-advisory-council-amended-notice-of-meeting

In its submission, NAVREF emphasized that persistent workforce and hiring barriers are continuing to strain research operations across VA medical centers. Over the past two years, the transition to a centralized human resources structure within VA’s Office of Research and Development has introduced new layers of review, evolving requirements, and inconsistent timelines that have made it more difficult to recruit, onboard, and retain research staff. These challenges have been further compounded by the 2025 hiring freeze and broader staffing shortages, contributing to significant backlogs and uncertainty across the system.

NAVREF’s comments underscore that these issues are not simply administrative inefficiencies but have direct consequences for the ability of VA research programs to function effectively. Delays in hiring and onboarding can slow study start-up, disrupt research teams, and weaken the VA’s ability to compete for and sustain high-quality research.

NAVREF also noted its ongoing engagement with VA’s Office of Research and Development to address these concerns and acknowledged progress to date, while emphasizing that continued attention is needed to ensure consistent implementation across the system. Improving transparency in hiring processes, clarifying personnel requirements, strengthening coordination between centralized HR and local operations, and increasing visibility into process data will be critical to ensuring that recent changes translate into meaningful improvements for research programs.

A strong VA research enterprise depends on a workforce system that enables programs to operate efficiently and maintain continuity. Addressing these workforce barriers is essential to protecting the long-term strength and competitiveness of VA research and ensuring that veterans continue to benefit from its impact.

NAVREF Statement on the Tragic Passing of Alex Pretti

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:10:47 GMT

NAVREF Releases 2026 Industry Partner Consortium Annual Report

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:01:30 GMT

NAVREF is pleased to release its 2026 Industry Partner Consortium (IPC) Annual Report, Accelerating Impact: Strategic Actions to Power Up VA’s Research Partnerships for Veterans. The report outlines concrete, actionable recommendations to strengthen VA–industry collaboration and expand access to high-impact clinical trials for veterans nationwide.

As the VA enters its second century of research, and amid unprecedented private-sector interest in partnering with the Department, this year’s report highlights the VA’s unique strengths: a nationally integrated healthcare system, more than 9 million enrolled veterans, world-class clinician-investigators, and unparalleled real-world data infrastructure.

Drawing on insights from NAVREF’s IPC members, the report focuses on three strategic priorities:

Streamlining legal and regulatory processes to accelerate clinical trial start-up and reduce uncertainty for sponsors
Leveraging VA site-level data to improve trial design, site selection, and veteran access
Optimizing EHR modernization to enhance trial matching, recruitment, and engagement

These recommendations aim to position the VA as the nation’s leading environment for inclusive, efficient, and veteran-centered clinical research while delivering faster access to innovative therapies.

NAVREF extends its gratitude to its IPC members—AstraZeneca, BCG, BioAffinity Technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cognition Therapeutics, Eli Lilly & Company, Genentech, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Siemens Healthineers, Smith+Nephew, and Takeda—whose support and collaboration have been instrumental in advancing this work.

To view the full report, click here.

NAVREF Submits Comments to NSF on Tech Labs Initiative

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:49:38 GMT

The National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) submitted formal comments in response to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Request for Information (RFI) on the proposed Tech Labs Initiative.

In its submission, NAVREF highlighted the unique role of VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporations (NPCs) as a nationwide network of independent research organizations embedded within the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system. The comments emphasized how this existing infrastructure supports outcomes-driven research, real-world validation, and technology translation aligned with Veteran health and care delivery.

NAVREF’s response underscored that Veterans experience a disproportionate burden of chronic and complex conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, mental health conditions, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain. Addressing these challenges requires research organizations that operate at the intersection of clinical care, innovation, and deployment — a role NPCs were established by Congress to fulfill.

The submission also noted that leveraging established independent research organizations could enable Tech Labs teams to launch rapidly, reduce start-up friction, and accelerate progress toward NSF’s strategic objectives, while delivering meaningful impact for Veterans and broader communities.

NAVREF appreciates NSF’s engagement with stakeholders as it shapes the Tech Labs Initiative and welcomes continued dialogue on how VA’s research enterprise can inform the program’s design and implementation.

NAVREF Submits Comments to OSTP on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise

Elizabeth Stout — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 15:26:03 GMT

In our response to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) emphasized a simple but critical point: strengthening U.S. scientific leadership takes more than increased funding alone. It requires predictable partnership pathways, modern research infrastructure, and the operational capacity to translate discovery into real-world impact for patients and communities.

These are precisely the elements that the Department of Veterans Affairs’ nationwide network of nonprofit research corporations (NPCs) was designed to support.

Drawing on the VA’s nationally integrated healthcare and research system, NAVREF highlighted several priorities essential to accelerating innovation:

A powerful national research platform. The Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the nation’s most robust research ecosystems, serving more than 9 million Veterans across 1,200+ sites nationwide.
NPCs as the innovation engine. VA-affiliated nonprofit research corporations enable clinical trials, public-private partnerships, and faster translation from discovery to care by providing the administrative and operational backbone that research demands.
An anchor for rural innovation. With its nationwide footprint, VA is uniquely positioned to lead in telehealth, decentralized clinical trials, AI-enabled care, and workforce development, especially in rural and hyper-rural communities that are often left out of traditional innovation hubs.
Predictable partnerships lower barriers. Trusted intermediary models like VA NPCs make it easier for startups and emerging biotech companies to engage with federal research, reducing friction and accelerating collaboration.

The VA research enterprise shows what’s possible when scale, data-rich environments, and trusted intermediary models come together—and when policies support speed, flexibility, and long-term sustainability. This model doesn’t just advance science; it ensures that breakthroughs reach Veterans and communities faster.

NAVREF appreciates OSTP’s leadership in examining how federal policy can better support the full research lifecycle and looks forward to continued engagement as these important discussions move forward.

Read our full public comment here.

FOVA Releases Statement on FY 26 MilCon-VA Appropriations

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:46:37 GMT

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) applauds the final FY 2026 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations agreement, which provides $945 million (+$2 million from FY25) for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program.

FOVA appreciates that this full-year funding package enables ongoing investigations, clinical trials, and public–private research partnerships to continue without disruption.

FOVA remains committed to working with Congress, the Administration and VA leadership to safeguard the research enterprise and advance the health and well-being of all who served.

Read our full statement here.

FOVA Releases Statement on the Federal Government Shutdown

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:38:33 GMT

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition has issued a statement expressing concern over the ongoing federal government shutdown and its impact on VA research and health care delivery.

Continuing Resolution Would Extend Government Funding and Key VA Programs Through November 21

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:48:18 GMT

The House Appropriations Committee has released text for a continuing resolution (CR) to extend federal funding through November 21, with a House floor vote expected Friday. The bill aims to avoid a Sept. 30 shutdown while maintaining a number of expiring health care provisions --- including Medicare hospital adjustments, telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities, and a delay of Medicaid DSH cuts. For veterans, the CR continues:

Nursing Home Care Obligations for service-connected disabled veterans
Staff Sergeant Parker Fox Suicide Prevention Grants to fund community-based prevention efforts
Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) intensive mental health case management
Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) services such as treatment, housing, and vocational support
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) financial and supportive assistance for at-risk families

But passage is far from certain. Democrats and Republicans remain divided, with Democrats pressing for permanent health care expansions and Republicans holding to what they describe as a “clean” seven-week stopgap. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have pledged to block the House bill absent serious negotiations. The standoff raises the stakes for government funding and could set the stage for a shutdown on October 1 if Congress fails to act.

NAVREF Statement on Senate Advancing FY26 Labor-HHS Bill

Elizabeth Stout — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:38:23 GMT

The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced the FY26 Labor-HHS bill, proposing a funding boost for NIH and including supportive language for Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs.

This is a promising step forward for medical research and a strong bipartisan signal that science—and the well-being of our nation’s Veterans—remains a priority.

NIH funding is essential to VA research. These resources support VA investigators driving breakthroughs in mental health, chronic disease, traumatic injury, and more.

At NAVREF, we applaud Senate leadership for prioritizing this investment. Veterans rely on research-driven advances to improve their quality of life—and this bill helps make that possible.

Read our full statement here.

FOVA RELEASES STATEMENT ON RESEARCH HIRING FREEZE DISRUPTIONS

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:18:08 GMT

Today, Friends of VA Research (FOVA) issued a statement calling for urgent action to resolve delays in research hiring across the Department of Veterans Affairs.

While we commend Secretary Collins and VA for exempting key research roles from the broader federal hiring freeze, a critical barrier remains: the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is not releasing VA appointments, halting the hiring process and disrupting studies that Veterans depend on.

]As VA Research celebrates its 100th anniversary, now is the moment to reaffirm—not retreat from—our national commitment to scientific advancement on behalf of those who served.

Read our statement here.

NAVREF Submits Statement for the Record to House VA Subcommittee on Health

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:45:12 GMT

NAVREF submitted a Statement for the Record to the House Subcommittee on Health expressing support and feedback on key legislation affecting VA research programs and veteran health.

VA Data Transparency and Trust Act

NAVREF supports the goal of increasing transparency and trust in VA data, but we raised concerns about how “medical services data” is defined under current law. This definition may not fully capture the complexity of VA research and integrated care—such as cases where a veteran receives both standard treatment and participates in a clinical trial at the same facility. Without accounting for such nuances, reporting may be incomplete or misleading. We urge Congress and VA leaders to refine the bill to ensure data transparency reflects the full scope of care and research.

RNA Sequencing to Diagnose PTSD

NAVREF fully supports this forward-looking bill directing VA to study RNA sequencing as a tool to identify cellular markers of PTSD. This aligns with VA’s growing focus on precision medicine and mental health innovation. Many of our member nonprofits already support PTSD research and are ready to assist with implementation and collaboration. We also recommend the legislation leverage the VA Million Veteran Program’s data and infrastructure to strengthen the study.

NAVREF welcomes opportunities to collaborate with Congress and VA stakeholders to ensure legislation supports impactful, accurate, and future-focused research that benefits all veterans.

Duckworth, Murray, Blumenthal Introduce Resolution to Celebrate VA Researchers and to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Veteran-Focused Research at VA

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 15 May 2025 14:12:23 GMT

This week, the U.S. Senate introduced a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Research program and designating May 12–16, 2025, as Veterans Affairs Research Week. This milestone recognizes the VA’s century-long legacy of innovation, discovery, and impact on the lives of Veterans, the broader American public, and the global scientific community.

Introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth, the bipartisan resolution highlights how VA research has transformed care delivery, pioneered medical breakthroughs, and reshaped public health outcomes. It not only commemorates a historic achievement, but also underscores the vital need to continue investing in the VA’s research mission for generations to come.

The VA's research enterprise began in 1925 when the Veterans’ Bureau—the VA’s predecessor—established the Medical Research Section. Early efforts included building hospital-based research programs and creating diagnostic clinic networks that linked VA facilities with outside medical experts. These innovations set the stage for a century of progress, from the first liver transplant and the creation of the cardiac pacemaker to major advances in tuberculosis treatment, CT scanning, and hearing aid development.

Today, VA research remains at the forefront of discovery. The resolution celebrates a few of the more than 7,000 active research projects being conducted across the VA system, emphasizing fields such as mental health, oncology, diabetes, and neurology. It also calls out groundbreaking contributions like GLP-1 drug development, stemming from studies on Gila monster metabolism at the Bronx VA—research that revolutionized diabetes and weight management care around the world.

The resolution also recognizes the important role of VA-affiliated nonprofit research and education corporations (NPCs), which support public-private partnerships and help amplify VA investigators' impact. These collaborations ensure that VA researchers can pursue novel therapies, clinical trials, and cutting-edge studies while maintaining a Veteran-centered focus.

NAVREF is proud to represent the network of NPCs that facilitate these vital partnerships. By supporting the infrastructure and agility needed to respond to emerging scientific opportunities, NPCs help ensure that VA research remains responsive, relevant, and robust.

The Senate resolution affirms five key commitments:

Celebrating the 100-year milestone of VA research and its impact.
Applauding the dedication and scientific excellence of VA investigators and their affiliates.
Recognizing the importance of sustained Federal support for VA research.
Acknowledging VA research’s contributions to local and national economies.
Supporting the formal designation of May 12–16, 2025, as Veterans Affairs Research Week.

NAVREF Submits Statement to House VA Committee on FY26–27 Budget Request

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:07:40 GMT

NAVREF submitted a formal Statement for the Record to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs as part of its oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 Advance Appropriations.

As chair of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA), NAVREF reiterated strong support for robust, sustained funding for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program, including critical investments in infrastructure and research IT.

We urged Congress to appropriate $1.2 billion for VA research, along with targeted resources for modernizing VA’s research facilities and digital capabilities—investments essential to maintaining VA’s leadership in innovation and improving health outcomes for Veterans and all Americans.

See the full statement here

Senate VA Hearing Underscores Growing Support for Clinical Research Integration

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 06 May 2025 19:48:33 GMT

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today’s Senate VA Hearing highlighted a promising and growing interest among lawmakers in making clinical research a routine, accessible part of the care Veterans receive through VA. Several Senators emphasized the value of integrating research into the broader VA healthcare model, making a powerful affirmation of the role research plays in driving better outcomes.

While Secretary Collins continues past the first 100 days of becoming acquainted with the full scope of the VA research enterprise, this presents a positive opportunity. NAVREF and the NPC research community stand ready as committed partners to support his engagement and to strengthen awareness of this vital work. We look forward to continuing the conversation during next week’s Research Week, helping to ensure VA leadership and Congress are aligned in advancing a more research-driven future for Veteran care.

NAVREF also commends the strong bipartisan spirit displayed during today’s Senate hearing with both Democrats and Republicans alike demonstrating a shared commitment to ensuring the VA delivers meaningful, high-quality outcomes for our nation’s Veterans.

As Secretary Collins continues his efforts to build a more responsive and forward-looking VA, we believe success will depend on strong partnerships with external stakeholders to meet the evolving needs of veterans.

Veterans Overwhelmingly Back VA Research as Essential to Their Care and Medical Progress, New Ipsos Survey Finds

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 05 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new national survey conducted by Ipsos reveals overwhelming public support for research at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), underscoring its essential role in driving better healthcare for Veterans and advancing medicine for all Americans.

To mark the 100th Anniversary of the VA Research Program, the National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) partnered with Ipsos to explore how veterans and the American public view the impact of VA research. The findings show near-unanimous agreement across the country:

96% of Veterans (and 87% of Americans) believe it is important for Veterans to have access to medical treatments developed specifically for military-related injuries and experience.
91% of Veterans (and 85% of Americans) say it is crucial for VA clinicians and staff to lead medical research that drives improvements in care.
92% of Veterans (and 86% of Americans) support ensuring Veterans have access to the latest research and innovative treatments.

Additional findings include:

86% of Veterans and 71% of Americans agree that VA leaders should prioritize delivering high-quality healthcare, rather than focusing on cost savings.
A substantial 83% of veterans and 70% of Americans believe efforts to fund and facilitate VA medical and health research should be strengthened or maintained at their current levels.
Despite this strong support, public awareness of VA’s research contributions remains limited. Only a quarter of Americans correctly identified that VA researchers produce a significant amount of medical and health research.

“The American people and our nation’s Veterans have spoken with one voice: VA research matters,” said Rashi Romanoff, CEO of NAVREF. “VA research saves lives and honors the sacrifices of those who have served. This overwhelming support is a call to action—to invest boldly, to innovate fearlessly, and to ensure that every Veteran has access to the best that medicine can offer.”

The survey results send a clear message that VA research is valued by the public and viewed as foundational to delivering the care Veterans deserve – and continued investment is critical.

Since its inception in 1925, VA research has pioneered numerous breakthroughs, including the development of the first implantable cardiac pacemaker, the first successful liver transplant, and the creation of the nicotine patch for smoking cessation. VA researchers have also been instrumental in advancing treatments for tuberculosis, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health conditions such as PTSD and depression.

NAVREF urges increased federal investment in VA research to ensure Veterans receive cutting-edge care and to accelerate medical innovation nationwide. This message is echoed by a broad coalition of more than 80 healthcare institutions and member organizations—including the Association of American Medical Colleges, American Psychological Association, American Thoracic Society, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Nurses Organization of VA—calling on Congress to provide sustained, predictable funding in FY26. These investments are essential to advancing priority research areas and delivering lifesaving treatments to Veterans across the country.

To learn more about NAVREF advocacy and hear directly from those who’ve benefited from VA research, visit navref.org/Voice-of-the-Veteran.

###

For media inquiries please contact:

Elizabeth Stout

estout@navref.org

Communications and Public Policy

About NAVREF

The National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) is dedicated to advancing the success of the VA-affiliated research and education foundations. NAVREF's mission is building a stronger veteran research and innovation community through support and collaboration. Our organization represents a network of over 75 VA-affiliated research foundations legislated by Congress to maximize VA research efforts.

Federal Hiring Freeze Update

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:30:00 GMT

On April 17, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum formally extending the Federal civilian hiring freeze through July 15, 2025. This action follows the initial hiring freeze directive issued on January 20, 2025, and reaffirms the administration’s efforts to restructure and streamline the Federal workforce under Executive Orders 14170 and 14210.

While this memorandum affirms continued protection of "veterans’ benefits," it may nonetheless create operational delays, particularly in areas dependent on Federal hiring or onboarding of new staff.

NAVREF is actively engaging with ORD and other relevant stakeholders and we will continue to advocate for necessary exemptions and push for clear guidance that preserves the integrity and momentum of veterans' health research.

We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Please feel free to reach out if you encounter any issues or need assistance.

Please note that under the freeze, a WOC can convert to an IPA if the position is exempt; otherwise, we have to wait until the freeze is lifted.

Policy Update: 90-Day Extensions

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 21:00:00 GMT

VA has announced a 90-day extension for NTE appointments related to research to ensure the continuity of VA research efforts. This 90-day extension applies to both expiring WOC and IPA appointments.

VA RESEARCH AT RISK: VETERANS AND LEADERS DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:33:40 GMT

The VA Research Program, a cornerstone of veterans' healthcare, is facing unprecedented challenges. A federal hiring freeze, workforce reductions, and funding cuts threaten to disrupt critical research and clinical trials that veterans rely on today.

NAVREF, in collaboration with leading veterans' service organizations (VSOs) like Disabled American Veterans, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, is sounding the alarm. Immediate action is needed to protect veterans' access to life-saving treatments and ensure the continuation of vital research efforts. Without this intervention, critical clinical trials for cancer treatments, suicide prevention, opioid withdrawal, and more will be delayed, putting veterans’ health at risk.

Read the full statement here.

NAVREF’s Statement on HR 740

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 19:40:20 GMT

NAVREF has submitted a formal statement for the record ahead of the February 25th HVAC Legislative Hearing on HR 740, the Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025. NAVREF is urging Congress to ensure that veterans receiving community care do not lose access to critical VA research, clinical trials, and emerging treatments.

Our statement highlights concerns from the Red Team Executive Roundtable Report, which warns that gaps in data-sharing and care coordination between VA and community providers threaten veterans’ ability to participate in groundbreaking medical advancements. NAVREF calls for structured pathways to integrate research opportunities into community care contracts and safeguard VA’s role in medical innovation, data collection, and training the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Read our full statement here.

FOVA's Letter on the Urgent Need to Address the Federal Hiring Freeze

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 22:14:28 GMT

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) has issued an urgent letter to Congress regarding the devastating impact of the federal hiring freeze and recent mass dismissals of VA employees.

The hiring freeze threatens to disrupt not only veteran healthcare but also groundbreaking research at VA medical centers nationwide. Key studies on cancer treatments, opioid addiction, prosthetics, suicide prevention, and toxic exposures are now at risk of suspension or cancellation.

FOVA has called on Congress and the Administration to immediately halt and rescind dismissals of key medical and research staff and to exempt all roles related to medical care and research from the hiring freeze. Without action, the freeze will not only diminish the quality of veteran healthcare but will also stifle medical innovation that benefits veterans and civilians alike.

NAVREF and our coalition partners stand firm in advocating for policies that ensure VA research continues to improve veteran health and advance medical breakthroughs.

FOVA Statement on Protecting Veterans' Care and Research and The Urgent Need to End VA Staffing Cuts

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:34:24 GMT

Today, the FOVA Executive Committee, of which NAVREF chairs, released the following statement:

The federal hiring freeze and recent mass dismissal of VA employees will immediately and adversely impact veteran care, patient safety, and research at VA medical centers nationwide. Among roles that have been impacted by these actions are physicians, nurses, patient coordinators, clinician-scientists, and other medical personnel – roles that are already experiencing critical shortages within the VA system.

These terminations will disrupt research projects that are vital to veterans’ health, including studies on cancer treatments, opioid addiction, prosthetics, suicide prevention, and toxic exposures. The sudden halt of these initiatives not only undermines advancements in medical care, but also jeopardizes the safety and wellbeing of veterans who rely on these critical services and on access to life-saving medications and treatments. The loss of essential medical and research staff will only lead to longer wait times, reduced access to specialized care, and compromised patient safety.

We urge the Administration to stop the dismissals of key medical and research staff and exempt all roles related to medical care and research from the hiring freeze. Ensuring that veterans have access to timely, high-quality care is paramount, and maintaining a robust workforce across VA is essential to fulfilling this commitment.

We call upon policy makers to engage with FOVA members who represent veterans’ organizations, medical professionals, and research organizations to develop strategies that uphold the health and safety of our nation’s veterans, and prioritize the recruitment and retention of qualified medical and research personnel across the VA.

The sacrifices made by our veterans demand that we provide them with the highest standards of care. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the VA remains fully equipped to meet their needs without compromising on quality or safety.

Current Policy Issues & What NAVREF Is Tracking

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:37:19 GMT

NAVREF is actively monitoring key federal policy developments that impact the VA research community. Below is an overview of the most pressing issues and our ongoing advocacy efforts:

Funding Freeze

On January 27, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a directive pausing federal grants, loans, and financial assistance. This raised legal concerns, leading to lawsuits that resulted in temporary restraining orders from federal judges in D.C. and Rhode Island. While OMB has since rescinded the memo, the administration is exploring alternative ways to restrict funding.

Federal Hiring Freeze

The current hiring freeze continues to affect research-related positions within VA. While ORD has clarified that certain exemptions apply to pending research hires, strict limitations remain:

New WOCs & IPAs can only be submitted for positions on the exemption list.
Affiliate badge requests are temporarily on hold.
No-cost IPAs cannot be used to bypass the hiring freeze.

Positions with firm job offers before January 20 and start dates before February 8 are not impacted. Historically, hiring freezes last around 90 days, but there is no clear timeline for this one. NAVREF is closely tracking VA’s efforts to secure additional hiring exemptions for research staff.

Executive Orders Impacting VA Research

The administration has issued multiple executive orders affecting federal operations, including VA research. Key orders include:

Hiring Freeze Executive Order – Suspends new federal hires, with limited exemptions, affecting VA research staffing.
Funding Review Executive Order – Requires federal agencies to assess and align funding with new administration priorities, contributing to uncertainty around grant disbursements.
Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) (Jan 23, 2025) -- Establishes an advisory council that could shape federal research priorities
Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs (Jan 20, 2025) --Ends DEI-focused initiatives across federal agencies, including VA
Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism (Jan 20, 2025) -- Defines U.S. policy on sex-based distinctions in federal programs.
Regulatory Freeze Pending Review (Jan 20, 2025) -- Suspends new regulations and administrative processes.
Enforcing the Hyde Amendment (Jan 24, 2025) -- Restricts federal funding for abortion-related research and services.

DEIA Program Rollback

VA has moved forward with implementing the executive order to eliminate DEI initiatives across the department. As a result:

60+ DEI-focused employees have been placed on administrative leave.
DEI-related contracts, totaling over $6.1 million, are being canceled.
VA is removing DEI-related content from its digital platforms.

Letter to the Transition Team

On January 20, NAVREF submitted a letter to the presidential transition team, advocating for sustained investment in VA research. Our recommendations include:

Increased funding for veteran-focused clinical trials.
Expanded resources for advanced research and innovation.
Strengthened partnerships between VA and the private sector.

Congressional Engagement

NAVREF is actively engaging with key HVAC and SVAC policymakers to reinforce the importance of VA research funding and policy stability.

NAVREF will continue to provide updates as these issues evolve. If you have concerns or need guidance on how these policies may affect your research program, please reach out to estout@navref.org.

NAVREF Submits Letter to Trump Transition Team

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:55:36 GMT

Today, NAVREF submitted the attached letter to the Trump Transition team, outlining strategic recommendations to enhance the future of VA research and development. This letter highlights critical areas requiring attention and support to ensure sustained growth and innovation within the VA research community.

NAVREF's letter emphasizes the importance of expanding resources for veteran-centric clinical trials, boosting funding for cutting-edge research initiatives, and fostering stronger partnerships between the VA and the private sector. The recommendations aim to strengthen the infrastructure for scientific discovery and improve health outcomes for veterans across the nation.

The submission underscores NAVREF's ongoing advocacy for increased federal investment in VA research, which has been instrumental in breakthroughs in mental health, toxic exposure treatments, and precision medicine.

NAVREF Featured in White House Fact Sheet

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:57:11 GMT

The White House has highlighted NAVREF’s collaboration with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) in their latest FACT SHEET on the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative. This partnership is set to enhance the placement of prostate cancer clinical trials across the nation, improving health outcomes for veterans. As part of the $65 million Veterans’ Health Initiative, PCF is contributing $50,000 to help NAVREF pilot a data dashboard that will streamline the identification of communities where veterans can benefit the most from these crucial studies.

President Biden Honors Nearly 400 Federally Funded Early-Career Scientists

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:21:04 GMT

Today, we honor the nearly 400 scientists and engineers who received the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest U.S. government honor for early-career scientists! Among these distinguished awardees are several remarkable researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs including:

Lewei Lin
Abidemi Ajiboye
Amy Bohnert
Umamaheswar Duvvuri
Scott Hummel
Paul King
Justine Lee
Miranda Lim
Steve Majerus
Christopher Miller
Amanda Raines
Eric Tkaczyk
Jason Vassy
Aliza Wingo

Our team is committed to supporting early-career scientists as they contribute to research that enhances the lives of Veterans and the American public. These awards emphasize the critical role of VA research, especially as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the VA research program!

FOVA Urges Swift Action on OGE Reinterpretation Impacting VA Research

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:41:08 GMT

Today, the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) submitted a letter to The White House, urging the Administration to address the detrimental effects of a recent reinterpretation of conflict-of-interest statutes (18 U.S.C. §§ 203, 205, and 208) by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

The reinterpretation, issued in December 2024, has introduced new administrative burdens that threaten the VA's ability to conduct research, recruit and retain expert scientists, and provide cutting-edge care to veterans.

FOVA’s letter outlines:

The Legacy of VA Research: A long history of groundbreaking medical innovations, including the development of the nicotine patch, the first liver transplant, and the pneumonia vaccine.
Challenges Facing Dual-Appointed Researchers: More than 90% of the VA’s 6,500 researchers hold dual appointments with academic affiliates, and the new waiver process risks delaying critical research and dissuading top scientists from engaging with the VA.
Broad Support for Action: Acknowledgments from VA leadership, concerns raised by the National Research Advisory Council (NRAC), and bipartisan legislative efforts to address the reinterpretation.

Call to Action
FOVA is urging the Administration to bring together the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and the VA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) to mitigate the adverse impacts of this reinterpretation. Without intervention, the VA’s ability to connect veterans with life-saving treatments and innovative care will be severely compromised.

The full letter is available here.

For more information on FOVA’s advocacy efforts, visit https://www.friendsofva.org/.

NAVREF Endorses FY25 NDAA Sign-on Letter in Support of Animal Research at the Department of Defense

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:51:24 GMT

In collaboration with 15 other organizations representing biomedical professional societies, nonprofits, veterinary medicine groups, and academic institutions, Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) transmitted a sign-on letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees as they work to finalize the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 8070). The NDAA specifies the annual budget for the Department of Defense (DOD). Earlier this year, the House passed its version of the bill, which included an amendment prohibiting DOD funds from being used for dog and cat research.

NAVREF proudly endorsed this letter, which encourages Congress to omit this provision from the final bill. The letter highlights the significant advancements the DOD’s animal research program has achieved in human and animal health. These include breakthroughs in cancer treatment and enhanced surgical techniques, benefiting U.S. troops, veterans, and military dogs.

Without adequate support for such research, the U.S. risks losing critical opportunities to develop life-saving medicine for future patients. This could ultimately weaken the nation’s military and biomedical preparedness to address emerging threats.

You can read the full letter here: FY25 NDAA Sign-on_Animal Research_Final.

Enhancing Excellence: Strategic Recommendations for Optimizing Extramural Research Across the VA

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:27:05 GMT

We have submitted our new Industry Partner Consortium (IPC) Annual report, "Enhancing Excellence: Strategic Recommendations for Optimizing Extramural Research Across the VA," to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees (HVAC, SVAC), the Appropriations Committees, and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittees (MilCon-VA).

This report, developed in collaboration with our IPC, outlines four key recommendations for advancing clinical trials within the VA. By streamlining processes and expanding partnerships, we aim to ensure that veterans across the country have access to cutting-edge treatments and life-saving interventions.

We are grateful to our partners, including BCG, bioAffinity Technologies, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cognition Therapeutics, Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, MITRE, and Siemens Healthineers, for their contributions.

NAVREF Submits Comments to FDA on Draft Guidance for Increasing Diversity in Clinical Trials

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:15:58 GMT

Today, NAVREF submitted formal comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the draft guidance “Diversity Action Plans to Improve Enrollment of Participants from Underrepresented Populations in Clinical Studies.” This guidance marks an important step in addressing the underrepresentation of diverse populations in clinical trials, which will ultimately improve the safety and effectiveness of medical products for all patients, including veterans.

NAVREF’s response highlighted the unique role the VA’s research programs can play in helping sponsors meet the FDA’s new diversity requirements. The VA serves a highly diverse population of veterans, including individuals from various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This diversity offers an unparalleled opportunity for medical product sponsors to conduct inclusive clinical trials that reflect the demographics of patients who will use these products in real-world settings.

Read our comments here: NAVREF FDA Comments

NAVREF Joins Biomedical and Academic Organizations in Urging Congress to Oppose NDAA Section 229 on Canine and Feline Research

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:00:00 GMT

NAVREF has joined a coalition of biomedical societies, academic institutions, and veterinary groups in signing a letter addressed to key Congressional leaders, urging them to strike Section 229 from the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This section, titled "Prohibition on Availability of Funds For Canine and Feline Research," threatens to limit critical life-saving biomedical research and undermine the Department of Defense’s (DOD) capabilities to safeguard U.S. national security.

DOD’s animal research program, in collaboration with academic and veterinary institutions, has historically driven innovations in human and animal health, directly benefiting U.S. troops, veterans, and military working dogs. Research outcomes from this program have led to advancements in battlefield medicine, new therapies for infectious diseases, and improved cancer treatments for both humans and animals.

Section 229, if enacted, would hinder this vital research, weaken national biomedical preparedness, and push researchers to relocate their work abroad, where animal welfare standards may not be as rigorous as in the U.S. NAVREF and other organizations are calling on Congress to protect the future of biomedical research by removing Section 229 from the NDAA.

As always, NAVREF remains dedicated to advancing medical research that benefits veterans and ensuring that cutting-edge care continues to be available to those who serve.

NAVREF and FOVA Submit Letter to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Expressing Concern Over Interpretation of 18 U.S.C. §208

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:54:16 GMT

On behalf of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA), NAVREF, recently submitted a letter to key leaders of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Addressed to Chairman Mike Bost, Chairwoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Ranking Members Mark Takano and Julia Brownley, the letter outlines serious concerns about the new interpretation of 18 U.S.C. §208, which we believe will negatively impact VA research and veterans' access to quality care.

This interpretation poses significant challenges to VA’s collaborations with academic and nonprofit affiliates, partnerships that have driven groundbreaking innovations for over 75 years. We have urged the committee to support legislative measures that would address the unintended consequences of OGE's interpretation, ensuring that VA research can continue to thrive and serve our nation’s veterans.

NAVREF, through FOVA, remains committed to protecting the VA research mission and delivering the highest standard of care for veterans.

FOVA Raises Alarm Over VA Budget Shortfalls in Letter to Congressional Leaders

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:58:00 GMT

On September 3, 2024, the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) Executive Committee submitted a letter to key leaders in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittees.

The letter highlights the growing demand for VA services following the passage of the PACT Act in August 2022. Since then, the VA has approved over one million PACT Act-related claims and disbursed over $112 billion in earned benefits. While these milestones reflect significant progress in serving veterans, they have also placed unprecedented pressure on VA resources.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has provided over 120 million healthcare appointments in FY 2023 alone, with even higher projections for FY 2024. However, the VHA faces a projected $12 billion shortfall in 2025 due to increased staffing, rising healthcare costs, and expanding community care services. The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is also at risk, with potential funding gaps threatening timely payments to over 7 million veterans and their families.

FOVA warns that these budget shortfalls could severely impact the VA’s ability to deliver essential healthcare, benefits, and research services to veterans. The letter urges Congress to prioritize a robust allocation of resources to the VA to ensure it can continue meeting its obligations and providing high-quality care to those who have served the nation.

NAVREF, the chair of FOVA, remains committed to advocating for sustainable funding for VA research, healthcare, and benefits programs to honor the sacrifices of our veterans.

Applause for the American Cures Act: A Bold Step Forward for Biomedical Research

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:43:19 GMT

The American Cures Act, introduced by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, represents a pivotal advancement in securing stable, robust funding for critical biomedical research. By establishing mandatory annual increases in funding for key research agencies such as the NIH, CDC, DoD, and VA, this legislation promises a steady flow of resources vital for groundbreaking discoveries and innovations.

The bill addresses the unpredictable nature of discretionary funding, ensuring that vital research will not be sidelined. By linking funding increases to medical inflation plus five percent, the American Cures Act provides a much-needed guarantee of support for scientists and researchers, fostering an environment of growth and stability in the field of biomedical research.

NAVREF wholeheartedly endorse this initiative. We recognize the essential role that consistent funding plays in maintaining America's leadership in medical advancements, from vaccines to cancer treatments. The American Cures Act will empower our research institutions to continue their invaluable work, driving forward the promise of new cures and treatments for future generations.

We applaud Senator Durbin and his co-sponsors for their commitment to enhancing our nation's research capabilities and ensuring that innovation remains at the forefront of our medical and scientific endeavors.

Senate Appropriations Committee Unanimously Approves FY 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 20:00:00 GMT

In a 27-0 vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee has unanimously approved the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill. This critical legislation allocates substantial funding to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs and related agencies can continue to support our nation's veterans and their families.

The Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Act provides $129.57 billion in non-defense discretionary funding and $210.41 billion in mandatory funding to fulfill our nation's obligations to veterans. Additionally, the bill ensures future support with advance appropriations for FY 2026, including $131.44 billion for veterans’ medical care and $222.23 billion for veterans' benefits. It also includes $19.31 billion in defense spending for military construction and family housing for FY 2025.

Key allocations in the bill include $878 million for medical and prosthetics research, which is $10 million more than the President’s budget request. This funding supports ongoing and new research in areas such as traumatic brain injury and precision oncology and is augmented by additional funding for research into toxic exposures in the Toxic Exposures Fund. The bill also strengthens VA’s infrastructure by providing $2.45 billion for major and minor construction projects, $796 million over the fiscal year 2024, and $307 million for construction from the Recurring Expenses Transformation Fund. Additionally, the bill allocates $150 million for the construction of state extended care facilities, $9 million over the President’s budget request, and $65 million for the construction of state, territory, and Tribal veterans cemeteries—$5 million over the President’s budget request.

The bill includes $6.3 billion for information technology systems, in addition to funding previously provided through the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund to support PACT Act rollout. Furthermore, it provides $894 million in funding for the Electronic Health Record Modernization effort, prioritizing improvements at the sites currently using the new system before deploying it to other facilities.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act provided full funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund for fiscal year 2025, ensuring comprehensive support for veterans affected by toxic exposures.

This bill marks a significant step forward in fulfilling our commitments to veterans and ensuring the wellbeing of servicemembers and their families. NAVREF applauds the Committee’s unanimous decision and looks forward to the continued support and advocacy for our nation’s heroes.

House Appropriations FY25 Markup

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 20:26:53 GMT

The House Appropriations Committee has released its FY25 markup, detailing significant funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The proposed budget reflects a commitment to enhancing veterans' services and medical care.

Total Funding

The Department of Veterans Affairs is set to receive $337.4 billion for FY25. This amount exceeds the FY25 Budget Request by $75.5 million and is $30.2 billion above the FY24 enacted level.

Veterans’ Medical Care

A total of $112.6 billion is allocated for veterans' medical care, fully aligning with the FY25 Budget Request. This funding ensures that veterans continue to receive comprehensive medical services, including both routine care and specialized treatments.

Veterans’ Benefits and Toxic Exposures-Related Needs

The markup includes full funding for veterans’ benefits and addresses toxic exposures-related needs for FY25. This includes:

- Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF): $22.8 billion in advance funding is dedicated to the TEF. This fund is crucial for addressing the health impacts associated with veterans' exposure to toxic substances during their service.

Medical and Prosthetic Research

The budget allocates $923.5 million for medical and prosthetic research and development, as authorized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code. This funding is available until September 30, 2026, and includes provisions to ensure:

Sufficient amounts are allocated for prosthetic research specifically for female veterans.
Adequate funding is directed toward toxic exposure research.

Stay tuned for more updates as the FY25 budget progresses through the legislative process.

FOVA Secures 83 Signatures in Support of FY25 VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 01 May 2024 17:00:00 GMT

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our advocacy efforts! The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA), the coalition we proudly chair, has garnered significant support from the House of Representatives for the Fiscal Year 2025 VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program.

In collaboration with the House, FOVA has successfully secured 83 signatures on our Dear Colleague letter advocating for robust funding of $1.05 billion for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program. This funding is crucial in advancing the health and well-being of our nation's veterans.

We invite you to read the full text of our Dear Colleague letter here.

Conclusion of the Fiscal 2024 Appropriations Process in the House!

Elizabeth Stout — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:00:43 GMT

The House has passed a $1.2 trillion government funding bill, consisting of six funding bills (Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch and State-Foreign Operations), in a 286-134 vote. The Senate is expected to swiftly approve it before the deadline to avoid a funding lapse. President Biden intends to sign the bill, marking the conclusion of the fiscal 2024 appropriations process in the House!

Senate Advances $460B Spending Package to Avert Shutdown

Elizabeth Stout — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 19:30:00 GMT

The Senate voted 63-35 to advance a $460 billion spending package, preventing a potential government shutdown. The package covers six spending bills, securing funding for military construction, water development, and key departments like Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Justice.

As the bills approach President Biden's desk, attention turns to passing the remaining appropriations bills, highlighting the Senate's dedication to timely fiscal decisions by the March 22 deadline.

NAVREF Statement on FY 2024 VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Funding

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:50:00 GMT

In the recent release of the first FY 2024 appropriations package, VA medical and prosthetics research funding reached $943 million, an increase of $27 million from FY 2023. While this marks a positive step in supporting crucial research areas like traumatic brain injury and precision oncology, it falls short of the FOVA coalition's request for $980 million. Despite this setback, the FOVA coalition, chaired by NAVREF, remains steadfast in its commitment to advocate for increased appropriations for VA research programs. The additional funding for toxic exposures research emphasizes the government's recognition of health challenges faced by veterans, depicting the ongoing need for sustained advocacy to ensure robust support for vital research initiatives.

House Passes Continuing Resolution, Rep. Takano Raises Section 208 Concerns

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 21:20:00 GMT

Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a short-term spending bill, paving the way for the finalization of fiscal 2024 appropriations. The measure is now poised for consideration in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) has indicated that the Senate could pass the bill as early as later today.

The approved short-term spending bill sets the stage for the first tranche of spending bills, which are scheduled for a House vote next Wednesday. This initial set includes critical measures such as Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD.

To avert a potential partial government shutdown, lawmakers have set a deadline of March 22 for the consideration of the second batch of bills. This subsequent package encompasses the Defense, Financial Services, Legislative Branch, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, and State-Foreign Operations measures.

Amidst these developments, it is noteworthy that House VA Committee Ranking Member Rep. Takano has recently corresponded to Secretary McDonough addressing concerns related to the Section 208 issue. As this matter unfolds, NAVREF remains committed to keeping you informed on the latest developments.

FOVA Calls for One-Year Delay in New 18 USC Section 208 Interpretation to Safeguard Veterans' Research Opportunities

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:30:00 GMT

Today, the Friends of VA Research (FOVA) Executive Committee (of which NAVREF is the Chair) submitted a letter to the HVAC and SVAC leadership calling for a one-year delay in VA’s implementation regarding a new interpretation of 18 USC Section 208.

We are deeply concerned that this new interpretation will create additional disincentives and barriers for our nation’s leading scientists and experts to pursue research activities at the VA, further shutting out our nation’s Veterans from clinical trial opportunities that can save lives.

Read our letter here.

Senate Greenlights Two-Step Stopgap Funding, Averts Shutdown

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:00:00 GMT

On Thursday, the Senate approved a two-step stopgap measure to extend government funding into March. The Senate's midday vote resulted in a 77-18 majority, followed by a 314-108 approval in the House during the afternoon. This latest continuing resolution extends the funding deadline for various departments, including Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Energy, and the Food and Drug Administration, to March 1. Additionally, it moves the funding deadline for other government agencies, such as Defense, Labor, and Education, from Feb. 2 to March 8.

FOVA Advocates for $980 Million Funding for VA Medical Research Program in FY 2024

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:30:00 GMT

Washington, D.C – The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA), a coalition representing over 80 national academic, medical, and scientific societies, is calling on Congress for support in securing a $980 million allocation for the Department of Veterans Affairs' Medical and Prosthetic Research Program in FY24.

In a recently submitted letter, FOVA commends Congress for its commitment to advancing the health and well-being of our nation's veterans through robust funding for VA research. The coalition specifically highlights the proposed $938 million allocation for the program in FY 2024, acknowledging its potential to address the evolving challenges faced by veterans.

However, FOVA is looking toward the future, urging Congress to direct at least $980 million for the VA research program. This proposed increase of $64 million (7%) over the FY 2023 funding level reflects FOVA's dedication to sustaining the trajectory of growth and possibility for the VA research program.

In addition to funding for research, FOVA emphasizes the need for continued investment in physical and information technology infrastructure. Allocating at least $100 million for major and minor construction, along with at least $22 million for the Office of Information and Technology, will ensure that the VA research program operates at its full potential.

FOVA extends its gratitude to Congress for its continued commitment to the health and well-being of our veterans. The coalition looks forward to ongoing collaboration and support to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who have served our nation.

For media inquiries please contact:

Elizabeth Stout

estout@navref.org

About FOVA:

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) is a coalition comprised of more than 80 national academic, medical, and scientific societies, voluntary health and patient advocacy groups, as well as veteran-focused associations. FOVA is dedicated to advocating for robust funding and support for the Department of Veterans Affairs' Medical and Prosthetic Research Program.

Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Crucial Step to Avert Government Shutdown

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:00:00 GMT

The Senate voted on Tuesday night (1/16) in favor of the initial procedural step crucial to avoiding a partial government shutdown by the week's end.

With a vote of 68-13, the chamber agreed to conclude discussions on the motion to proceed to the shell legislative framework for the stopgap spending measure. This measure is slated to extend until March 1 for four of the twelve annual appropriations bills and until March 8 for the remaining eight.

Leadership in both chambers supports the stopgap measure, aiming to provide appropriators with additional time for negotiating the final fiscal 2024 appropriations bills. This comes in the wake of the $1.66 trillion topline agreement announced earlier this month by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y. Without the stopgap extension, budget authority for agencies covered by the Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD bills would expire after Friday, Jan. 19, as per current law.

Currently, appropriators are engaged in negotiations on how the topline, encompassing $886.3 billion for defense and $772.7 billion for nondefense, will be allocated across the 12 annual appropriations bills. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., and House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas, are actively involved in negotiating subcommittee allocations, a process originally expected to conclude last week.

Update on Current Congressional Action and Continuing Resolution

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:00:00 GMT

The recently released short-term patch aims to sustain current spending rates for federal agencies through March 1 and March 8, maintaining the bifurcated deadline structure seen in the previous stopgap law.

Under the existing interim funding measure, budget authority for federal agencies covered by Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD would otherwise expire after Friday, Jan. 19. The second deadline, pertaining to agencies funded by the remaining eight fiscal 2024 appropriations bills, is set for Feb. 2.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has announced the commencement of the process to consider the new stopgap bill on Tuesday. A Senate vote, scheduled today for 5:30 p.m., aims to conclude the debate on the motion to proceed to the shell legislative vehicle for the continuing resolution.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., initially reluctant towards short-term CRs, is facing pushback from conservatives regarding the $1.66 trillion topline spending deal with Schumer. Some conservatives argue for a longer CR, hoping that potential automatic funding cuts by April 30 could serve as leverage to reduce spending and secure policy concessions. Despite differing views, this ongoing situation underscores the complexities and negotiations surrounding federal funding.

Please stay tuned for further updates, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Update on Congressional Developments: Navigating Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:45:00 GMT

As we approach critical deadlines for federal budget negotiations, we want to provide you with a concise update on the latest developments on Capitol Hill:

Stopgap Spending Bill Necessity: Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have acknowledged the imperative need for a short-term stopgap spending bill. This temporary measure is deemed necessary to afford appropriators the time required to finalize fiscal year 2024 funding measures after a recent topline deal.

Subcommittee Allocations Negotiations: Negotiations are currently underway between Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) regarding joint subcommittee allocations. The goal is to have these allocations finalized by Friday, January 12. Without these crucial numbers, the completion of the bills' drafting remains unattainable.

Impending January 19 Deadline: As we approach the January 19 deadline, there is a growing urgency to pass funding for various agencies. Failure to pass either the full-year bills or a stopgap measure by this date would result in a partial lapse in funding for agencies such as Agriculture, Energy-Water, Military Construction-VA, and Transportation-HUD.

Potential Lapse in Funding and Critical Functions: In the absence of a funding solution, there is a risk of a partial lapse in funding, affecting certain agency functions. However, critical functions, such as veterans' health care (due to advance funding) and public safety measures like air traffic control, are expected to continue.

Speaker's Commitment and Potential CR: Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that the continuing resolution (CR) introduced in November would be the last short-term stopgap measure. Despite this commitment, the complexity of finalizing full-year appropriations may necessitate another short-term stopgap measure, potentially until March 1.

VA's Technology Transfer Program Improves Relationship with Affiliate Universities Following Audits

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 14:00:00 GMT

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Technology Transfer Program (TTP) conducts audits of at least one affiliate university per region each fiscal year, working with the Office of Business Oversight to perform the reviews. The goal of the audit is a reconciliation of records for both the VA and the university to ensure all inventions, patent activities, and license activities are accounted for. Often, the working relationship between VA TTP and the university tech transfer office improves following an audit, which has allowed for increased invention disclosures and agreement processing.

For example, an audit of the University of Miami uncovered 15 previously unreported invention disclosures and 2 intellectual property agreements. Following this review, they have developed a stronger understanding of their relationship with the VA and have been extremely prompt in providing their annual report to VA TTP. As audits continue in FY24, VA TTP anticipates further strengthening of its relationship with affiliate universities, allowing for more streamlined handling of jointly owned intellectual property.

An Update from STAR

Elizabeth Stout — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 14:00:00 GMT

The STAR Team recently underwent an organizational change. STAR, or the Specialty Team Advising Research, will be splitting into two sections. Part of the team will continue performing the typical work that the local Research Offices and NPCs are familiar with, such as reviewing Confidential Disclosure Agreements and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). The other STAR attorneys will focus on intellectual property issues, including patent law, and advising VA’s Technology Transfer Program.

For general questions regarding STAR, please reach out to OGCSTAR@va.gov.

Fiscal Responsibility Act, Debt Ceiling and Spending Limits, and Total Discretionary Spending and Caps

Elizabeth Stout — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:00:00 GMT

The Fiscal Responsibility Act proposes extending the debt ceiling until January1st, 2025. However, this extension could result in a substantial reduction in Research and Development(R&D) funding, particularly in the non-defense sector, with a potential $8 billion decrease and a subsequent1% increase in the following years.

FY 2024 debt ceiling for nondefense programs, excluding veterans' healthcare, is approximately 7 percent lower than the previous year. Without adjustments to current spending, it would surpass the limit, triggering automatic cuts to most nondefense discretionary programs. The Veterans Affairs Department is safeguarded from these cuts.

Total discretionary spending is capped at $1.59trillion for FY 2024, representing a decrease from the $1.73 trillion allocated in FY 2023.Additionally, post-FY 2024,spending levels are slated for only a 1% increase over the next five years. It's worth noting that all discretionary caps from FY 2025 onward can be waived.

Appropriations Updates

Elizabeth Stout — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:00:00 GMT

Last month, Congress voted for Speaker Johnson's (R-LA) two-step continuing resolution to fund the government until early next year.

The first step ensures funding for specific areas like military construction, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and energy and water programs. This funding is secure until January 19.

The second step covers the remaining government programs, including the Department of Defense and various social programs, and it provides funding until February 2. This two-step approach allows time for Speaker Johnson to work on a plan

that satisfies conservative members of his party and allows both Republicans and Democrats to agree on overall funding levels.

The Mil-ConVA appropriations were untouched and remain unchanged.

FOVA FY25 Recommendation

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:30:00 GMT

Friends of VA (FOVA) is a coalition group comprised of over 80 national academic, medical, and scientific societies, voluntary health and patient advocacy groups, as well as veteran-focused associations, that support and promote funding for medical care and research programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

FOVA makes annual funding recommendations for VA medical care, the medical and prosthetics research program, and research facilities. Our efforts also extend to raising awareness about VA's exceptional medical care and research programs and celebrating the remarkable successes achieved through VA research. Currently, NAVREF leads the Executive Committee. The committee has reached a consensus on a Fiscal Year 2025 recommendation for VA Medical and Prosthetic Research. Aligned with the President's budget request and the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI), the committee proposes $1.05billion. This represents a $73.5 million increase, calculated using BRDPI plus a 5% raise.

Update on Current Congressional Action and Implications for Funding

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:38:50 GMT

On Tuesday (11/14), House lawmakers passed Speaker Mike Johnson's stopgap funding bill, a crucial step to avert a government shutdown. The Continuing Resolution now moves to the Senate. The Senate is expected to expedite the process and send the bill to President Joe Biden's desk by Friday night, aiming to prevent a government shutdown.

Key features of Johnson's CR include funding part of the government, covering the Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs departments, through January 19. The Defense Department and other remaining parts of the government would receive funding through February 2.

As we navigate these developments, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep the membership informed about any potential impacts on our community.

One Million Strong: VA’s Million Veteran Program Makes History

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:00:00 GMT

VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) just made history: 1,000,000 Veterans have joined VA’s largest health research effort! As the first VA research program to reach a recruitment milestone this large, MVP is paving the way for improved Veteran health and wellness. Veterans across race, gender, age, and service branch are coming together for one mission: to advance Veteran health care.

MVP’s commitment to changing the future of Veteran health care is rooted in its research. The goal for their research is to help find new ways to detect, prevent, and treat health conditions that matter to Veterans. More participants from all backgrounds means more opportunities to find positive, real-world applications to improve Veteran health care in clinical settings. Since MVP launched in 2011, the program has already made discoveries in health care areas that matter to Veterans, such as:

· Diabetes

· Heart disease

· Cancer

· Osteoarthritis

· Tinnitus

· Mental health, including PTSD and depression

· Suicide risk

· And more.

Thanks to the 1,000,000 Veterans who have joined MVP, we are one step closer to transforming personalized health care for all Veterans and, ultimately, all Americans.

Join today to help MVP continue making a difference in the future of Veteran health care. Sign up at www.mvp.va.gov or call 866-441-6075 to make an appointment at a participating VA facility. You don’t need to receive your care at VA to participate.

FOVA Calls on Congress to Prioritize Growth in VA Research Program for FY2024

Elizabeth Stout — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 17:00:00 GMT

SVAC Research Hearing Summary

Elizabeth Stout — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:00:00 GMT

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on VA Research on Nov. 1 titled “Foundation of Care: Examining Research at the Department of Veterans Affairs.” The hearing featured Dr. Ramoni, Dr. Patricia Hastings, Dr. Sumitra Muralidhar (MVP), and Matthew Kuntz (NAMI Montana). Topics included accessibility to trials for rural veterans, metrics to track VA ORD performance, MVP data access and security, and fundamental questions around how VA research is organized.

Beyond attending relevant hearings and monitoring legislation, NAVREF's advocacy team has been meeting with several offices on the Hill to reintroduce NPCs in the conversation around enhancing VA Research. These offices include Sen. Tillis (R-NC),Sen. Murray (D-WA), Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN), and Sen. Cassidy (R-LA). In the New Year, we intend to establish more relationships on the House side to further our advocacy efforts.

NAVREF Submits Statement for the Record to SVAC Committee

Elizabeth Stout — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 21:00:00 GMT

NAVREF had the opportunity to submit a Statement for the Record to the Senate VA Committee for the hearing on "Foundation of Care: Examining Research at the Department of Veterans Affairs" that will be taking place on November 1, 2023.

We've highlighted our achievements along with some of the ongoing research and education projects within our membership. We are committed to helping VA research continually evolve to ensure we are meeting Veterans health care needs and look forward to further discussions with the committee.

NAVREF and 760 Other Coalition Members Joint Message to Congress

Tue, 16 May 2023 12:30:35 GMT

Washington, DC - May 16, 2023 - NAVREF alongside with 760 organizations joined forces with the Coalition for Health Funding to deliver a simple message to Congress, urging them to reconsider any cuts to non-defense discretionary funding (NDD).

Raising non-defense discretionary funding is a crucial step towards investing in the overall well-being and prosperity of America. NDD spending encompasses a wide range of areas, such as education, healthcare, research and development, infrastructure, and environmental protection. By allocating more funds towards these areas, we can improve the quality of education and healthcare, support scientific research and innovation, build sustainable infrastructure, and protect our natural resources. Moreover, investing in these areas can help create jobs, boost economic growth, and enhance the overall standard of living.

We're proud to stand with the Coalition for Health Funding and we will continue to push Congress to reconsider any recission to overall spending for our nation's veterans.

Read the letter to Congress here.

NAVREF Statement on the Limit, Save, Grow Act

Mon, 01 May 2023 14:13:16 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 1, 2023 - As the leader and Interim CEO of NAVREF, I am deeply troubled by the recent passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act and its impacts on the Veterans Affairs (VA) research program. The VA research program is a critical component of our nation's efforts to improve the health and well-being of our veterans, and any cuts to its funding will have serious and lasting consequences.

The VA research program is responsible for developing innovative treatments and cures for a wide range of health conditions affecting our veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other service-related injuries and illnesses. This program has helped to improve the lives of countless veterans and their families and has contributed to significant advancements in medical research.

However, the Limit, Save, Grow Act threatens to severely curtail the funding for the VA research program, which could have a devastating impact on the health and well-being of our veterans. Without sufficient funding, the VA research program will be forced to scale back its operations, reducing its capacity to conduct important research and develop new treatments and cures. Furthermore, this reduction will hinder the ability of the congressionally authorized VA-Affiliated Nonprofit Corporations (NPCs) to maximize research funding and attract industry partners eager to collaborate with VA. At risk are over 2400 research projects, the NPCs’ ability to contribute $313 million to VA research, and over 9 million veterans from receiving the finest cutting-edge care possible.

This is unacceptable. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and we owe it to them to provide the best possible care and support. Cutting funding for the VA research program would be a betrayal of our veterans and would undermine our national commitment to their health and well-being.

CALL TO ACTION: As the leader of the only national network with the sole mission to maximize VA research funding, I call on all NAVREF members and stakeholders to push this message to their Senate members that they must reconsider the Limit, Save, Grow Act and to prioritize the health and well-being of our veterans. We cannot afford to shortchange veterans’ care or sacrifice their futures. We must invest in their health and well-being and support the VA research program to ensure that our veterans receive the care and support they deserve.

NAVREF Update on the Centralized HR and WOC/IPA Issues

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:21:32 GMT

VA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) is currently centralizing the HR processes for Research, with a new system called the Human Resource Management and Consulting Services (HRMACS – “HR MAX”).

As you may already be aware, ORD plans to implement WOC, IPA and Affiliate centralization towards the March/April timeframe. During this transition, many concerns from our members were brought to our attention. NAVREF has taken these considerations and formed a workgroup to actively collaborate with ORD to alleviate these issues.

NAVREF’s workgroup, comprised of Ron Hakes, Cary Zink, and Katrina Washburn, began by meeting with Tony Laracuente, Director of Field Operations in ORD, to discuss policy concerns regarding WOC/IPA/Affiliate HR centralization. Mr. Laracuente, a former NPC Executive Director himself, expressed his understanding of the needs of NPC operations and was open to addressing the issues raised by the NAVREF membership.

While in this meeting, some clarity regarding badging and the new HRMACS came to fruition. HRMACS clearly distinguishes three (3) categories of appointments: affiliate, contractor, and employee. Employee is defined as those who have VA-paid, WOC or an IPA appointment. The intent of HRMACS is to increase the efficiency in obtaining these appointments and to allow for a smoother, less burdensome transition between them. IPA appointments still require that a person work for the non-federal facility for 90 days prior to issuing the agreement - the 90-day rule is still in effect!

NPC’s, ED’s, and their administrative staff - who do not conduct VA work - will be issued Affiliate appointments. These appointments are issued badges that allow them access to the VA facility and computer systems. An OGC opinion on this is available from NAVREF for those needing additional information.

At this time, no changes to your current HR processes are require unless initiated by your site’s HR Service.

Ultimately, NAVREF will actively continue to communicate with ORD as the transition to a Centralized HR continues to unfold.

We encourage members to please contact us with any questions you have regarding the HR webinar and the transition to centralizing HR appointments.

VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 18:43:53 GMT

Cannabis is still identified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. As of Feb. 3, 2022, 37 states, three territories and the District of Columbia allow for the medical use of cannabis products. For years, veterans have claimed the benefits of cannabis for conditions they suffer–often as a result of military service. Veterans seeking relief for conditions such as chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may be resistant to more conventional treatments, are eager to have additional options that may improve the quality of their lives.

Bipartisan companion bills, H.R. 1003 and S. 326, the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023, would require VA to conduct randomized clinical trials into the effectiveness of cannabis on improving certain health outcomes for veterans with chronic pain and PTSD. Specifically, for veterans diagnosed with chronic pain, the bills would identify the effects of cannabis on osteopathic pain, sleep quality, inflammation, and agitation in addition to the effects on the use of alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids while the trial is ongoing. For veterans diagnosed with PTSD, the study would identify the effects of the trial on measures in standardized PTSD clinical scales, alcohol, and benzodiazepine use in addition to social functioning, mood, sleep, and suicidal ideation. The trials may also investigate the longer-term effects of cannabis on other medical conditions.

Please contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 1003 and S. 326. Thank you for your support of our nation’s ill and injured veterans.

Passage of the VIPER Act

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 14:56:49 GMT

As we head into the new year, we have an exciting piece of news for you to end the year on. The VIPER Act has passed Congress and was signed into law on December 23!

The VIPER Act addressed the issue of “209” which by a Department of Justice interpretation, impacted research studies conducted by VA employees who had compensated appointments and who also conducted VA Research outside their VA tour of duty at the VA Facility on Without Compensation (WOC) appointments. While there was no compensation from the VA, these VA employees received compensation from the University or the VA Nonprofit Corporation (VA NPC) for this work. This practice was considered a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 209 by the DOJ. Thus, VA compensated employees who conducted VA Research outside their VA tour of duty could not be compensated by a non-Federal entity to work on VA research unless the State Treasury exception applies, even if they held a separate WOC appointment.

With the passage of the VIPER Act, the restriction on dually appointed personnel (DAPs) receiving compensation from NPCs and universities has been removed in law. This will once again allow DAPs (appointments at VA and the university) to be paid for approved research at VA. At this point, the VA Office of Research and Development is preparing specific guidance on how the VIPER Act will impact VA Research as a whole since additional provisions were included in the original legislation, however NPCs can begin planning on paying their DAPs and removing any barriers on their end for a smooth reimplementation of the original practice of paying DAPs.

Happy New Year and we look forward to providing more guidance on the other provisions of VIPER as they now come out from the agency-level!

VA Research Appropriations Might See A Stumble

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 18:38:38 GMT

As the 117^th Congress comes to a close, the fog of urgency seems to be settling on the Hill. Congress is weighing the options to fund the Federal Government for FY23 and meanwhile in the process, NAVREF along with the FOVA Coalition are advocating Congress to meet the recommended $980 million for the VA research program. As a note, the House passed the recommendation of $926 million.

The current continuing resolution, which keeps funding at FY 2022 levels, fails to keep pace with biomedical inflation and impedes VA research in all priority areas, including preventing veteran suicide, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, precision oncology, and other conditions with increased incidences in veterans.

A meaningful funding increase in FY 2023 for the VA research program would enhance the investment in veteran-centric research on a trajectory of meaningful growth above inflation, allowing for sustained support for efforts to address long-term health impacts of COVID-19, health disparities, and increase clinical trials access, while renewing support for groundbreaking programs like the Million Veteran Program (MVP), VA’s participation in the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, and research on chronic and emerging needs of our nation’s veterans. Increased funding for the VA research program will also support researchers as they recover from slowed research progress during the pandemic and allow for additional investments to support the strained IT capacity through computational science purchases to enhance the collection and use of big data. Sustained and predictable funding growth for VA research is imperative to help ensure the best return on investment in improving the health of veterans and all Americans.

VIPER Act Update and Progress

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 13:47:54 GMT

The VIPER Act has garnered some progress last week as it moved through the house by roll call vote at the request by Virginia Congressman, Rep. Bob Good. The bill passed the house with a final vote of 381-39. It now heads to the Senate where NAVREF will be working closely with the Senate VA Committee leadership to bringing the bill to the final steps of becoming law.

The VIPER Act was first introduced in October 2021 and aims to improve the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program by providing additional authority and resources for VA research.

The legislation would add stability and efficiency for the VA research program by formally authorizing VA’s Office of Research and Development and excluding VA research from the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements, better aligning VA with other federal research agencies. The VIPER Act will also work to enhance the diversity of the VA research workforce, increasing scientific opportunities and leading to improved health care for veterans.

The bill also includes provisions to:

End the Section 209 interpretation by the DOJ.
Expand the VA’s hiring authority for certain classes of research occupations, including data scientists and statisticians.
Create a career development award grant program for researchers at smaller universities.
Mandate a Government Accountability Office study on the retention of VA clinician-scientists and the productivity of their research.

LEGISLATION TO TEST NEW MODELS FOR TREATING AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR VETERANS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 23:18:25 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the Innovative Cognitive Care For Veterans Act to address the needs of veterans suffering from cognitive impairments through a pilot program initiative. This bill instructs the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program that partners with private organizations to provide Veterans access to new and innovative care solutions.

The pilot will launch as a part of the Veterans Community Care Program with the goal of connecting veterans who have cognitive impairments with new and innovative care models. It will also allow for more veterans to age gracefully at home or other appropriate settings, with the freedom of using private partners to obtain the care they need.

"It is an honor to represent our veterans in Congress. This legislation is part of my mission to improve health care quality and accessibility for our veterans by providing access to telehealth and other innovative technologies that slow the progression of cognitive disorders," said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. "As I tell my son and grandsons, when America mourns the lost life of a veteran, we also mourn the loss of their stories, lessons, and patriotism. We owe each hero inexpressible thanks. Given the projected increase in the number of veterans developing cognitive impairments, the VA must explore alternative care models to ensure our veterans and their caregivers have access to top-of-the-line care when and where they need it, a small symbol of gratitude for their career of service and sacrifice. This bill is a step forward."

"Veterans should have the freedom to avail themselves of the incredible innovative healthcare options that are available in the private sector. This is particularly vital when we consider the growing need for long-term care for our nation’s aging heroes and the myriad challenges and struggles associated with cognitive impairment," said Congressman Chip Roy. "I am proud to stand alongside Rep. Harshbarger and co-sponsor her bill to open up more care options for veterans suffering from cognitive impairment under the VA’s Community Care Program."

Marlon Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer of National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations:

“Creating an evolved and inclusive space for veteran cognitive care goes beyond the status quo and puts veterans at the forefront of a transition to an improved form of care. The Innovative Cognitive Care for Veterans Act has potential to be a crucial step forward and we fully support its purpose and mission.”

Russ Duerstine, Executive Director of Concerned Veterans for America:

“It’s tragic veterans still don’t have the same options as most Americans regarding where and when they can access health care. The Innovative Cognitive Care for Veterans Act would hold the VA accountable to help veterans access health care in different ways, rather than act as a bureaucratic barrier by keeping them trapped in a failed VA system. CVA supports telehealth which can help thousands of veterans. There are thousands more who need access to dozens of varieties of specialty care, timely and quality specialty care, that need in person treatment. Rep. Harshbarger’s bill would make getting that specialty care a reality for veterans, rather than an exception.”

BACKGROUND:

According to a 2020 study by the Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Planning at the VA, it is projected that the number of VA patients with Alzheimer’s dementia will increase by 28.9 percent between FY 2021 and FY 2033, amounting to an estimated 48,000 new patients with cognitive impairments.
VA expenditures for long-term care are growing fast. A GAO reportfrom 2020 estimates that the amount the VA will spend for long-term care is projected to double to $14.3 billion by 2037.
As described in the above GAO report, the VA also faces both current and future workforce shortages, and other challenges with providing long-term care services to the more than 2.8 million estimated VA enrolled veterans living in rural areas.
As observed by the VA, Veterans can also be prone to unique factors that increase their risk for future cognitive impairment. For example, it has been found that Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange are nearly twice as likely as those without exposure to receive a dementia diagnosis. This and other data underscore the need for the U.S. government to do more for Veterans with respect to cognitive care.

Participation in the program is limited to the first 500 veterans who apply and are diagnosed with a cognitive disorder associated with aging such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or others. The duration of the program would be five years.

Solicitation of private partners would focus on their ability to support both patients and caregivers at home and through home care agencies. Consideration would be given to partners with experience working with cognitively impaired populations and are capable of providing a level of care that enables Veterans to age at home, if available and appropriate. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will provide a list of eligible partners based on their application for participation in the program.

An evaluation of the program will report to the VA Secretary and be distributed to relevant committees in Congress.

Bill text can be found HERE

This article originally appeared here: https://harshbarger.house.gov/media/press-releases/harshbarger-introduces-innovative-cognitive-care-veterans-act

Senate Draft FY 2023 MilCon-VA Bill and Report Released

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 19:23:06 GMT

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) released all 12 draft FY 2023 Senate appropriations bills this morning, including text of the draft MilCon-VA spending bill and the accompanying explanatory statement and bill summary.

The bill provides a total of $916 million (+$24 million over FY 2022, +3.85%) for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program in FY 2023. This is in alignment with the FY 2023 president’s budget request and falls below the House-passed $926 million investment.

As a reminder, the Senate draft bills were crafted by the chairs of the 12 subcommittees as the Senate has yet to agree to topline funding for the FY 2023 budget. In his press statement, Leahy noted, “It is my goal to finish our work before the end of the 117th Congress to avoid these consequences. I look forward to continuing to work with my dear friend, Vice Chairman Shelby, and I encourage good faith, bipartisan negotiations on toplines to resume with the urgency that this moment requires.”

Leahy added, “Enacting full year bills as soon as possible is imperative. A long-term continuing resolution, which continues prior fiscal year funding levels, during the record inflationary pressures the country is currently experiencing would result in devastating cuts to programs that the American people rely on and for our national security.”

Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) issued a press statement in response to the release of the draft FY 2023 bills. “If we are going to get full year bills during this Congress, Democrats must commit to a bipartisan framework that abandons poison pills, preserves legacy riders, and demonstrates a serious commitment to our military. Wasteful, off-budget spending that fuels inflation will be a non-starter. Today’s effort shows we have a long way to go. Democrats need to get serious or, regrettably, I believe we will end up with a long-term CR,” Shelby said.

No additional action in the House or Senate on the FY 2023 spending bills are expected before the chambers recess for the month of August.

Quick December Legislative Update

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 21:46:35 GMT

The US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing on December 14 to nominate Dr. Robert Califf as the next FDA Commissioner. Several Senate HELP Committee Republicans following Dr. Califf’s hearing said they would support returning him to the commissioner position—a position he previously held towards the end of the Obama administration. Their support will likely push Califf through a committee vote and, later, a full Senate vote on the nomination. However, it would be fair to note members on both sides of the aisle publicly expressed concerns regarding Dr. Califf’s previous history as FDA Commissioner and with his health and policy work with Google’s parent company, Alphabet.

A confirmation vote in January would give the FDA a permanent leader for the first time during the Biden administration and perhaps more importantly, during a time when the agency faces several important decisions. Six former FDA commissioners have endorsed Califf's candidacy in a letter to the committee, saying he was committed to public service, advancing science and clinical evidence.

NAVREF and Dr. Califf crossed paths in 2020 during the NAVREF Annual Conference which was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his presentation entitled Evidence Generation - Learning from the Pandemic, he acknowledged his supportive position of VA Research and recognized NAVREF for working closely with VA ORD to advance veterans health research.

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NAVREF is still working with veterans affairs committee staffers to pass key provisions contained in the VIPER Act. We are cautiously optimistic the provisions will be included in an end of year legislative package focused on veteran issues that will likely be pushed to January.

The VIPER Act was introduced on October 25 and aims to improve the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program by providing additional authority and resources for VA research. NAVREF along with the FOVA executive committee has been working closely with lawmakers to bring key language to fruition.

The bill also includes provisions to:

· Expand the VA’s hiring authority for certain classes of research occupations, including data scientists and statisticians.

· Create a career development award grant program for researchers at smaller universities.

· Mandate a Government Accountability Office study on the retention of VA clinician-scientists and the productivity of their research

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:20:53 GMT

President’s FY2022 Budget Request – On May 28^th the White House released the FY2022 Budget Request. The Request includes $882 million for VA Research, an increase of 10.9% from the FY2021 enacted level. See pages 24-26 for more details: https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2022VAbudgetInBrief.pdf

FOVA Testimony - On May 27^th, the House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on VA infrastructure. The FOVA Executive Committee (of which NAVREF is a member) submitted the attached written testimony.

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:21:07 GMT

Legislative Update – the House FY22 MilCon-VA bill was posted on June 24th and proposed $902M for VA research per the request advocated by the FOVA coalition! This level of funding is $20 million above the Administration’s request. NAVREF, as part of The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) executive committee, is endorsing $902 million for VA research by submitting a Statement for Record to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies in advance of their upcoming hearing.

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 25 May 2021 14:20:12 GMT

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research Executive Committee submitted a letter to congressional leaders encouraging additional investment in VA research facilities and IT infrastructure. The letter is posted here: http://www.friendsofva.org/resources/2021/05.20.21Letter.pdf.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on VA infrastructure this week

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 18 May 2021 14:17:40 GMT

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a hearing on Thursday, May 27^th titled, “Investing in a Better VA: Examining the Role of Infrastructure in Veterans’ Access to Care and Benefits.” NAVREF, as part of the Friends of VA, will be submitting public testimony highlighting the infrastructure needs of the VA research facilities.

b. The National Science Foundation for the Future Act (H.R.2225) was marked up and reported out of the House Science Research and Technology Subcommittee by a unanimous voice vote.

c. The Schumer/Young Endless Frontier Act was marked up last week by the Senate Commerce Committee. On Monday, Senators voted to invoke cloture, allowing the measure to move to a floor debate and likely a final vote later this month.

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 14:17:09 GMT

a. Public Service Announcement. On April 22, 2021, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) launched a bipartisan public service announcement (PSA) encouraging veterans and their families to get vaccinated. Tester and Moran teamed up with committee members and Veterans Service Organizations — Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), The American Legion, Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA), Iraq Afghanistan Veterans Association (IAVA), Military Veterans Advocacy, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), as well as Veterans and Military Families for Progress (VMFP) — to highlight the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in a bipartisan effort to increase vaccine confidence among veterans—especially those in rural areas—and help communities recover from the pandemic as quickly as possible. Click here to watch the Senators’ PSA.

b. Foreign Influence. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (SHELP) Committee met April 22 to discuss how to protect US biomedical research from “undue foreign influence.” Policymakers have long been concerned that other countries, particularly China, are stealing intellectual property resulting from biomedical research conducted in the United States. They point to the relatively large number of foreign graduate students involved in academic research programs. Over the past year, there have been charges of hacking attempts from North Korea to gain access to information concerning the COVID-19 vaccines.

c. Veterans’ toxic exposures. So far, several pieces of legislation have been introduced to expand coverage of veterans’ health conditions that appear to have been caused by toxic exposures. In a Congress with deep, deep political divides, this appears to be the single most bipartisan issue on both sides of the Hill.

d. Endless Frontier Act (EFA) Update: Another important development in the R&D arena is the reintroduction (with bipartisan support) of the Schumer/Young Endless Frontier Act. The legislation would add a Technology and Innovation Directorate to NSF and authorize $100 billion for the directorate over five years. The bill would also authorize $10 billion for regional technology hubs. The new bill reflects the recommendations of key science & technology leaders.

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:16:37 GMT

a. Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act – On March 30th, President Biden signed into law the two-month extension to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. As a refresher, the legislation extends PPP through May 31. Further, if eligible organizations apply by May 31, the Small Business Administration will permit lenders an additional 30 days to process and approve any outstanding applications. The maximum loan amount of a second PPP loan is two-and-a-half times the average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs, up to $2 million. Eligibility criteria for a second PPP loan are as follows:

The applicant received a first PPP loan and will or has used the loan only for authorized uses;
The applicant employs no more than 300 people; and
The applicant can demonstrate at least a 25-percent reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.

b. The administration’s proposed American Jobs Plan/Build Back Better includes an $18 billion commitment to address VA hospital and clinic infrastructure.

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:16:03 GMT

The House passed a bill last week extending the deadline for applying for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to May 31, and the Senate is expected to take up the legislation as soon as tomorrow. The popular PPP, created by Congress last year and recently expanded to include most 501(c) nonprofit groups, offers forgivable loans to businesses and nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both the House and the Senate have overwhelmingly passed a version of the VA Vaccine Act. This legislation authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide the COVID-19 vaccines to more veterans and to their caregivers.
The Senate HELP Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee held hearings this week to review the Biden Administration’s pandemic response and ongoing COVID-19 vaccine distribution with CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, NIH NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, HHS Chief Scientific Officer for the COVID Response Dr. David Kessler, and FDA CBER Director Dr. Peter Marks. In their testimonies, the Administration officials underscored how utilizing past scientific discoveries in combination with new partnerships led to the development of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics at a record pace. They also spoke to concerns regarding equitable vaccine distribution, and how scientists are navigating emerging variants by modernizing existing research techniques. Addressing “long COVID-19” and the impending mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic also remain top priorities.
A new version of the Endless Frontier Act may come to the Senate Floor as early as next month. Based on last year’s bill, the legislation would establish a new directorate at NSF and authorize $100 billion over five years to build out our nation’s technological capacity. You can view the bill from last Congress here and a recent letter from former NSF directors and National Science Board chairs here.
March 24 - The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing to examine the VA medical supply chain response to the pandemic.

March 24 – Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing: Coping during COVID: Veterans’ Mental Health and Implementation of the Hannon Act

NAVREF Advocacy Update

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:15:07 GMT

Advocacy Update.

The House Appropriations Committee expects to finalize guidance for a new version of earmarks by the end of this month. Earmarks enable a lawmaker to specify funding for a particular project, usually within their own district or state. The elimination of earmarks has been blamed, in part, for the current dismal state of the Congressional appropriations process. With earmarks, every lawmaker has a reason for voting for the spending bill, even if they do not like everything in it. The elimination of earmarks took away this important negotiating tool from appropriations committee leaders trying to build support for their bills.
The House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing at 1pm on Friday on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ COVID-19 response.
The House Committee on Veterans Affairs announced committee assignments for the 117^th Congress. The Chair and Ranking Member also highlighted their priorities:

i. Committee chair Rep. Takano (D-CA) said, in the coming year, they must work to account for service members’ toxic exposures during their military service. He also wants to do more to ensure equality in veterans’ access to benefits. That will mean hearing from organizations that represent traditionally underserved communities.
ii. Committee ranking member Rep. Bost (R-IL) said he wants to focus on improving health services for women veterans, and streamlining and easing the transition process out of the military into the civilian world. He wants to ensure the VA’s implementation of a new electronic health record goes smoothly. Among other priorities, Bost stressed the importance of continuing to work to prevent suicide among veterans.

Committee Assignments:

Health:

o Chair: Rep. Brownley (C-CA)

o Ranking Member: Rep. Bergman (R-MI)

Oversight and Investigations:

o Chair: Rep. Pappas (D-NH)

o Ranking Member: Rep. Mann (R-KS)

Technology Modernization:

o Chair: Rep. Mrvan (D-IN)

o Ranking Member: Rep. Rosendale (R-MT)

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs:

o Chair: Rep. Luria (D-VA)

o Ranking Member: Rep. Nehls (R-TX)

Economic Opportunity:

o Chair: Rep. Levin (D-CA)

o Ranking Member: Rep. Moore (R-AL)

Biden Administration Nominates Denis McDonough as SecVA

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 16:39:28 GMT

President Joe Biden’s pick to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, appeared before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on January 27th for his confirmation hearing.

The former Obama administration White House Chief of Staff was questioned by Senators who were concerned about the impact the transition would have on the Department of Veteran Affairs to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Committee Chairman, Senator Jon Tester from Montana, said the VA had tested nearly 1.3 million veterans and employees for COVID-19. “And now there are more than 8300 veteran families who are without their loved ones, including the more than 3100 VA is cared for within its facilities,” he said.

McDonough testified that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden take the duty of caring for veterans seriously, because they “are members of a proud military family.”

“If confirmed, I will dedicate myself with every fiber of my being to fulfilling what President Biden rightly refers to as our country’s most sacred obligation: to prepare and equip our troops that we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they return,” he said.

McDonough was also asked to support veteran caregivers and address the issue of veteran suicide.

FOVA Update: FY 2021 updates, VA COVID-19 Research, Grant Opportunities

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:31:07 GMT

FY 2021 Appropriations. Senate Republicans released an explanatory statement and text of their FY 2021 spending bill, including a total of $800 million for VA research, which would provide no increase over the comparable FY 2020 funding level. The press statement and highlights prepared by the committee staff are also available.

The FOVA Executive Committee sent a Nov. 16 letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders (also attached) urging passage of at least $840 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program in FY 2021, as included in the House-passed MilCon-VA spending bill. Please forward this letter to your Hill contacts urging appropriators to increase the VA research budget during this critical time for medical research.

Bicameral appropriations leaders are working to negotiate topline spending levels for all 12 FY 2021 spending bills in hopes of finalizing an omnibus appropriations package by the end of the calendar year. The current continuing resolution is set to expire on December 11.

VA COVID-19 Research Activities. The VA Office of Research and Development publishes regular communications about its COVID-19 research efforts. The ORD webpage “VA Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic” is updated regularly, and the recent Research Currents edition focused on COVID-19 efforts at VA.

Clinical Repurposing Funding Opportunity. The global nonprofit Cures Within Reach recently launched the Clinical Repurposing for Veterans Initiative. The program’s goal is to identify new medical treatments for already approved medications and devices to impact high-priority health concerns for veterans and active military. Cures Within Reach is launching its Clinical Repurposing for Veterans Initiative with a Request for Proposals (RFP) specifically for repurposing research in any disease area that will benefit veterans. Investigator-initiated proposals can come from any US-based institution, and at least one project will be selected to receive a $50,000 grant from Cures Within Reach and its funding partner, the Kahlert Foundation for a clinical repurposing trial. Additional details are in the attached press release or at cureswithinreach.org.

HVAC Activity

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 17:05:40 GMT

On Sep 30, 2020, The House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) held a hearing to review the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) intention to go live on October 24 with its new EHR system, from Cerner. VA witnesses emphasized they are fully ready for that date, with employees trained and Cerner support staff in place. VA EHR modernization lead John Windom also told the committee the Department has enough money for its plans throughout the coming fiscal year. The pandemic has delayed the program’s implementation, but the VA expects to still finish within the ten-year timeline.

HR 5605 - United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 14:25:11 GMT

Introduced by Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL-6) in January 2020, HR 5605 dubbed the United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act, is currently cosponsored by 87 members of the House, but still in the very early stages of moving to the House VA Committee. The bill aims to take collective research and experience to develop best-practices in research, diagnosing, and treating PTSD.

Specifically, HR 5605 would establish a grant program for collaborative efforts between the United States and Israel to advance research on post-traumatic stress disorders. The Department of Defense, in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of State, would award grants to eligible academic institutions or nonprofit entities in the United States.

Work would be conducted by eligible entities which includes nonprofits conducting research, and an entity in Israel under a joint research agreement.

NPC leaders are encouraged to reach out to their members of Congress and urge their support for HR 5605.

U.S. House passes veteran suicide prevention bill with mental health grant component

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 13:31:52 GMT

Despite the legislative challenges presented by COVID-19 in the past months, the U.S. House passed Senate legislation, S. 785 on September 23 to help prevent veteran suicide.

Originally introduced by Senator Jon Tester, D-MT, S. 785 aims to prevent veteran suicide by expanding access to care, services and support for at-risk individuals within the VA healthcare system and in their local communities. The bill includes a subcomponent dubbed the Fox provision which is a suicide prevention grant program that would include community resources in veteran care.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., who chairs the House committee on Veterans’ Affairs, noted the committee has passed 15 pieces of legislation to address veterans’ mental health conditions.

FOVA Pushing Congress for $50m in COVID-19 Supplements

Mon, 25 May 2020 17:48:24 GMT

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research asked Congress on May 21st to support an additional $50 million towards Veterans Affairs COVID-19 research. As many know, the VA Office of Research and Development has been working tirelessly to quickly setup trials and studies aimed at finding solutions to fight COVID-19. This shift of effort has also required as shift of resources which is where FOVA has come in to play. Read more about this effort here in their letter to Congress.

HR 748 Analysis by NAVREF

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 13:38:45 GMT

Please click here to read NAVREF's analysis of HR 748.

FY 2020 Spending Bill Update

Wed, 01 May 2019 18:48:36 GMT

As some of you may have seen, the House Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee this afternoon released text of its draft FY 2020 spending bill and an accompanying press release. The subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its draft spending bill today, Wednesday, May 1 at 3 p.m. in HT-2 in the Capitol (the subcommittee also will be airing the markup live via webcast).

Based on a preliminary review of the text, the draft bill appears to provide a total of $840 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program in FY 2020, in line with FOVA’s funding request for FY 2020. This total funding level would represent a $61 million or 7.8 percent increase over the comparable FY 2019 funding level.

Additional details will be available in report language once the full House Appropriations Committee considers the spending bill, currently expected on Thursday, May 9.

Also of note, both House and Senate “Dear Colleague” letters for the VA research program are now posted on the FOVA website. Again, the House letter was led by Reps. Hastings (D-Fla.) and González-Colón (R-P.R.), and closed with 84 signatories, an increase from 67 in FY 2019. The Senate letter was led by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and closed with 23 signatories, an increase from 19 in FY 2019. Please be sure to thank your delegation for their support of VA research!

NAVREF Call to Actions - FY20 Funding and HR 1947

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:50:53 GMT

We need you to act! Advocacy plays a major role in how we ultimately operate and NAVREF needs everyone in our extended to community to reach out to your legislators and their staff to voice your opinion and educate them on the following topics:

The Senate needs to support more robust VA research funding for Fiscal Year 2020. If you haven't already, please reach out to you Senator's office and tell them that you support the "Dear Colleague" letter in circulation that calls for $834 million for VA research appropriations. This number is supported by the Independent Budget and by the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research. Contact the NAVREF office for more information.
H.R. 1947 was introduced on March 28, 2019, by Rep Roe (R-TN-1) and co-sponsored by Rep Brindisi (D-NY-22), and has already been referred to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs (of which Rep Roe is the Ranking Member). We’re encouraging you to please reach out to your House Representative to encourage them to support passage of this bill (especially if they sit on the House VA Committee). This bill will enable NPCs to handle Interagency Agreement funding transferred to them by VA without regard to fiscal year limitations (the funds will have no expiration date). It allows NPCs to continue serving as the “flexible funding mechanisms” originally authorized by Congress in 1988 and codifies how we have been operating for the past 30+ years. A draft email is available is being circulated among NPC executive directors. Please let us know if you haven't seen it yet!

FOVA FY20 Budget Recommendation

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 14:53:05 GMT

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition is thankful for Congress’s recent investment in the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program, allowing the program to make up lost ground after nearly a decade of underfunding. FOVA’s FY 2020 recommendation of $840 million for VA research would allow for meaningful growth above inflation and continued investment in groundbreaking programs like the Million Veteran Program (MVP), while also supporting VA research on chronic and emerging needs of our nation’s veterans. Sustained and steady VA research funding growth is important to help ensure the best return on investment in improving the health of veterans and all Americans.

Read the full recommendation here.

FOVA FY18 and FY19 Budget Requests - UPDATED

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 16:21:41 GMT

Although the FY18 budget still remains to be settled, FOVA will move ahead and continue to advocate for the FY18 request of $722 million for VA research, and $823 million for FY19. The FY19 calculation is based on the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index adjusted for inflation, a second back-up repository for MVP, VA Secretary Priorities, and for the VA-Department of Energy Partnership to process MVP data. NAVREF is committed to advocating for these requests across FY18 and FY19, and will continue meeting with members in both chambers of Congress.

UPDATE: With FY18 budget approval, FOVA has published an updated and final FY19 budget recommendation. You can download the one pager here.

Science of Veteran Suicide: VA Research in Prevention and Intervention

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 14:06:01 GMT

Veterans, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Suicide | Lisa Brenner, Ph.D., ABPP

The Role of Sleep in Veteran Suicide and Suicide Prevention | Wilfred Pigeon, Ph.D.

Improving Primary Care Risk Detection, Healthcare Response, and Self-Care to Support Veteran Suicide Prevention | Steven Dobscha, M.D.

FOVA Letter Concerning Animal Research

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:39:14 GMT

The following text was taken from our FOVA letter expressing concerns around the implementation of a provision to reduce the unnecessary use of animals in research and its impact on medical research:

On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Friends of VA Health Care and Medical Research coalition – better known as FOVA – we want to express our strong concerns with a provision in the Defense, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and Energy and Water Development National Security Appropriations Act, 2018 that bars the VA Medical and Prosthetics Research program from conducting research using dogs. We believe implementation of this provision impedes progress on medical research.

Animal models play an essential role in advancing our understanding of human health and disease. Animal models are used to reveal and describe basic cell and tissue function, discover disease processes, understand disease progression and test interventions to treat disease. Specifically, dog studies have advance our understanding of immunodeficiency, narcolepsy, metabolic disease, cancer, autoimmune function, vision and epilepsy. In short, animal models, including dogs, help advance science which has helped save human and animal lives.

FOVA strongly supports efforts to reduce unnecessary use of animals in all scientific research. We further support ethical treatment of all animals, including dogs, where use of animals in research is appropriate. Currently, over 99% of all VA sponsored animal studies are conducted on mice or rats. The percentage is consistent with lab animal use patterns across U.S. research institutions. VA researchers only use dogs in research when the dog model is clearly the most suitable for the scientific study. There are only 85 dogs used in VA sponsored studies – approximately 0.05% of VA lab animal use.

While we understand and appreciate the efforts to reduce use of dogs in animal research, we believe the policy included in the appropriations bill will impede scientific research and unnecessarily delay research advances for our nation’s veterans.

The original letter can be viewed here.

FOVA Updates

Fri, 21 Jul 2017 19:40:08 GMT

House and Senate Appropriations Committees Recommend Increase for VA Research

On July 13, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bill. Thanks to an amendment offered by Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and supported by FOVA, the bill includes $722 million for Medical and Prosthetic Research, a $49 million (7.3 percent) increase over the FY 2017 enacted level. In May, Durbin authored a letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting a five percent increase for the VA research program. The Senate Mil-Con/VA Subcommittee’s initial recommendation was $705 million but the Durbin amendment achieved the goal of a 5 percent increase.

Last month, the House Appropriations Committee passed a separate Mil-Con/VA spending bill that provides $691 million for VA Research, a $16 million (2.4 percent) increase over FY 2017.

The president’s budget for FY 2018 proposed $640 million for VA Medical and Prosthetic Research, a $35 million (5.2 percent) cut from the FY 2017 comparable level.

Please encourage the House of Representatives, and members of the House Appropriations Committee in particular, to support the Senate’s approved level for VA Research ($722 million). Attached is the FY 2018 FOVA Brochure, which you can use to advocate for this important program to improve Veterans’ health.

FOVA Briefing Highlights VA Research Program

FOVA hosted a May 16 congressional briefing in partnership with the VA Office of Research and Development, titled “Veterans Health Research: A Showcase and Advancements.” The event introduced the new VA Chief Research and Development Officer, Rachel Ramoni, DMD, ScD. Patricia A. Dorn, PhD, director of VA rehabilitation research and development service, also provided opening remarks. The briefing featured live demonstrations of VA rehabilitation research including brain-computer interface, peripheral nerve interfaces for natural sensation and control in amputees, the standing wheelchair, and exoskeleton-assisted walking in persons with spinal cord injury. [summary provided courtesy of AAMC]

FOVA Executive Committee Members Testify Before House Appropriations Committee

Two members of the FOVA Executive Committee testified at a March 29 House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies public witness hearing regarding FY 2018 funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The FOVA witnesses included Carl Blake, Paralyzed Veterans of America Associate Executive Director of Government Relations, as well as Heather O’Beirne Kelly, PhD, American Psychological Association Director of Veterans and Military Health Policy. Dr. Kelly and Mr. Blake both advocated for increased FY 2018 funding for VA Medical and Prosthetic Research, in line with FOVA and the VSO’s Independent Budget.

Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) mentioned VA research facilities, and noted that, in 2012, the VA Office of Research and Development “did an in-depth study and an analysis of the physical condition of the V.A.’s aging research infrastructure, and they reported that the average VA building that houses research laboratories is over 50 years old.” Bishop continued, citing Dr. Kelly’s testimony and FOVA’s position, “VA lacks the state-of-the-art research facilities and that modern research can't be conducted in facilities that closely resemble a high school science lab. As a result, they are recommending $50 million for five major research facility construction projects and $175 million for minor construction maintenance projects.” [summary provided courtesy of AAMC]

The information above originally appears in a July 21, 2017 newsletter communication from the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition where NAVREF is an executive committee member.

FY18 VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Amended with Funding Boost

Thu, 13 Jul 2017 21:00:00 GMT

Senator Durbin successfully offered an amendment during the markup of the MilCon/VA Appropriations bill to boost VA Medical and Prosthetic Research funding to $722 million. Senator Durbin led a letter on this issue in May of this year, and their office hopes to make it an annual sign on letter. The increase marks five percent real growth over the FY17 figure which is also in line with the Senator’s American Cures Act.

NAVREF is pleased to have signed-on in support of this letter back in May and we appreciate Senator Durbin's office for all the work they have put into this amendment. We truly are proud to have Senator Durbin as a champion for VA research.

The May letter on the amendment can be found here.

FOVA Submits Appropriations Testimony to Endorse FY18 Budget

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 13:37:54 GMT

As part of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) executive committee, NAVREF joined voices with others in the coalition to endorse testimony submitted to the the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies asking for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program funding approval of $713 million for FY18. FOVA additionally requested funding to address critical research laboratory and related deficiencies of $50 million for up to five major construction projects in VA research facilities, and $175 million for nonrecurring maintenance and minor construction (separate from funding for medical facilities). The full text is below.

Testimony of the

Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA)

Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research Program

submitted to the

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Chairman Jerry Moran, Ranking Member Brian Schatz, and Members of the Subcommittee—

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) respectfully urges the Subcommittee to approve funding for the Medical and Prosthetic Research Program within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at $713 million in fiscal year (FY) 2018. In addition, FOVA requests funding to address critical research laboratory and related deficiencies of $50 million for up to five major construction projects in VA research facilities, and $175 million for nonrecurring maintenance and minor construction (separate from funding for medical facilities).

FOVA is a diverse coalition representing national academic, medical, and scientific societies; voluntary health and patient advocacy groups; and veterans service organizations. FOVA was founded almost 25 years ago, to ensure that America's veterans receive high-quality health care. We believe an important connection exists among VA health care, VA’s academic affiliates, and the VA Research and Development program. This relationship supports advanced practice and effective, safe care for veterans, helps veterans recover from war, disease and illness, and pays even more dividends to the nation, including promoting better health for all.

The Administration and Congress should provide at least $713 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program for FY 2018 to support current research on chronic conditions of aging veterans and for emerging research on conditions prevalent among younger Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans.

The VA Research program is uniquely positioned to advance genomic medicine through the Million Veteran Program (MVP), an effort that seeks to collect genetic samples and general health information from 1 million veterans over the next five years. When completed, the MVP will constitute one of the largest genetic repositories in existence, offering tremendous potential to study the health of veterans. To date, more than 550,000 veterans have enrolled in MVP. While the FOVAs recommend $65 million to support this transformative and innovative program, this program should not impede other critical VA research priorities.

The Administration and Congress should provide funding for up to five major construction projects in VA research facilities in the amount of at least $50 million and appropriate $175 million in nonrecurring maintenance and for minor construction projects to address deficiencies identified in the independent VA research facilities review provided to Congress.

The Administration and Congress should preserve the integrity of the VA research program as an exclusively intramural program, firmly grounded in scientific peer review, and should oppose designated funding for specific areas of research outside of the VA national management of the entire VA research portfolio.

Background and Justification

The VA Medical and Prosthetic Research and Development program is widely acknowledged as a success on many levels, all directly leading to improved care for veterans and an elevated standard of care for all Americans:

• Advancing Patient Care - VA Research has made critical contributions to advance standards of care for veterans in areas ranging from tuberculosis in the 1940s to immunoassay in the 1950s to today’s ongoing projects dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, developing and perfecting the DEKA advanced prosthetic arm and other inventions to help the recovery of veterans grievously injured in war, studies in genomics and in chronic pain, cardiology, diabetes, and improved treatments for PTSD and other mental health challenges. These studies and their findings ultimately aid the health of all American.

• Recruitment and Retention - VA Research is a completely intramural program that recruits clinicians to care for veterans while conducting biomedical research. More than 70 percent of these clinicians are VA-funded researchers. VA also awards over 500 career development grants each year designed to help retain its best and brightest researchers for long and productive careers in VA health care.

• High-Quality Research - VA researchers are well published (between 8,000 and 10,000 refereed articles annually) and boast three Nobel laureates and seven awardees of the Lasker Award (the “American Nobel Prize”); this level of success translates effectively from the bench to the veteran’s bedside.

• Investing Taxpayers’ Dollars Wisely - Through a nationwide array of synergistic relationships with other federal agencies, academic affiliates, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit industries, the program leverages its modest annual appropriation into a nearly $2 billion overall research enterprise.

Despite numerous successes in research and innovation, since FY 2010 appropriated funding for VA research and development has lagged biomedical research inflation, resulting in stagnant VA purchasing power. As estimated by the Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to maintain VA research at current service levels, the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research appropriation would require $19 million in FY 2018 (a 2.8 percent increase over the FY 2017 level). Should availability of research awards decline as a function of budgetary policy, VA risks terminating ongoing research projects and losing these clinician researchers who are integral to providing direct care for our nation’s veterans. Numerous meritorious proposals for new VA research cannot be awarded without a significant infusion of additional funding for this vital program.

The FOVAs believe an additional $19 million in FY 2018, beyond uncontrollable inflation, is necessary for expanding research on conditions prevalent among O IF/O EF/OND veterans as well as continuing inquiries in chronic conditions of aging veterans from previous wartime periods. Additional funding will also help VA support emerging areas that remain critically underfunded, including:

• post-deployment mental health concerns such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicide;

• the gender-specific health care needs of the VA growing population of women veterans;

• engineering and technology to improve the lives of veterans with prosthetic systems that replace lost limbs or activate paralyzed nerves, muscles, and limbs;

• studies dedicated to understanding chronic multi-symptom illnesses among Gulf War veterans and the long-term health effects of potentially hazardous substances to which they may have been exposed; and

• innovative health services strategies, such as telehealth and self-directed care, relatively new concepts that lead to accessible, high-quality, cost-effective care for all veterans, as VA works to address chronic patient backlogs and reduce waiting times.

State-of-the-art research also requires an investment in state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and facilities. For decades, VA construction and maintenance appropriations have failed to provide the resources VA needs to replace, maintain, or upgrade its aging research facilities. The impact of this funding shortage was observed in a congressionally mandated report that found a clear need for research infrastructure improvements system wide. Nearly 40 percent of the deficiencies found were designated “Priority 1: Immediate needs, including corrective action to return components to normal service or operation; stop accelerated deterioration; replace items that are at or beyond their useful life; and/or correct life safety hazards.”

Contact: FOVA Executive Committee - http://www.friendsofva.org/committee.htm

NAVREF Testifies Before Congress

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 17:30:42 GMT

On Thursday, June 8th, NAVREF testified before members of Congress and sent a clear message to the House VA Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee that our relationship to VA was not only valuable, but highly beneficial to the continued success of the VA research program. NAVREF would like to appreciate the strong support from our members, especially our colleagues that took time from their busy schedules to join us in Washington, D.C.

Their presence showed Congress that we were united in our message, and it also represented our strength to the CRADO who joined our delegation for lunch. The hearing was another step forward to improved collaboration and communication with VACO, ORD, and all stakeholders who join us in our vision to provide veterans with the finest healthcare in the nation.

Read the written testimony here.

VA and friends bring tech to the Hill

Tue, 16 May 2017 13:16:09 GMT

The Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) held a Spring Capitol Hill Briefing on May 16th to present ongoing research and technologies to Congressional Staffers in two sessions. The event was moderated by Rick Starrs, NAVREF CEO, with remarks given by the CRADO, Dr. Rachel Ramoni and Dr. Patricia Dorn from ORD.

Dr. Leigh Hochberg from the VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology in Providence presented research into neural pathways between the brain and computers to communicate with writing programs as well as robotic limbs. He emphasized that with current Wi-Fi technologies, we may be close to neural implants that communicate with computer systems. Dr. Dustin Tyler from the VA RR&D Center for Advanced Platform Technology in Cleveland presented research into peripheral nerve interfaces for prosthetics that can deliver the sense of feeling and was joined by vet Keith. Dr. Goldish from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System Extended Care and Rehabilitation Service Line brought vet John along to help demonstrate the progress made with a mobile manual standing wheelchair and the need for further advancements, such as lighter materials. Dr. Ann Spungen from the VA RR&D Center for the Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury at James J. Peters VAMC in Bronx, NY was joined by vet Luke and biomechanical engineer Pierre to demonstrate how an exoskeleton uses natural tilt to assist person with SCI in walking.

Presenters expressed the need for VA support to continue their research as well as how much more these technologies can do to help veterans in the future. Staff members from the offices for Representatives Banks (R-IN), Coffman (R-CO), Grisham (D-NM), Lawson (D-FL), Palmer (R-6-AL), Veasey (D-TX), and Walorski (R-IN) attended the briefing sessions. Audience members also included members from Vietnam Veterans of America, ORD, OCLA, RR&D, AAMC, APA, IAVA, Academy Health, NAEVR, NAMI, SVAC, and the Senate Committee of Veterans Affairs.

NAVREF is an executive member of the Friends of VA coalition.

NAVREF Advocacy

NAVREF Submits Comments on Proposed SAM Registration Changes

NAVREF Submits Comments to the National Research Advisory Council (NRAC)

NAVREF Statement on the Tragic Passing of Alex Pretti

NAVREF Releases 2026 Industry Partner Consortium Annual Report

NAVREF Submits Comments to NSF on Tech Labs Initiative

NAVREF Submits Comments to OSTP on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise

FOVA Releases Statement on FY 26 MilCon-VA Appropriations

FOVA Releases Statement on the Federal Government Shutdown

Continuing Resolution Would Extend Government Funding and Key VA Programs Through November 21

NAVREF Statement on Senate Advancing FY26 Labor-HHS Bill

FOVA RELEASES STATEMENT ON RESEARCH HIRING FREEZE DISRUPTIONS

NAVREF Submits Statement for the Record to House VA Subcommittee on Health

VA Data Transparency and Trust Act

RNA Sequencing to Diagnose PTSD

Duckworth, Murray, Blumenthal Introduce Resolution to Celebrate VA Researchers and to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Veteran-Focused Research at VA

NAVREF Submits Statement to House VA Committee on FY26–27 Budget Request

Senate VA Hearing Underscores Growing Support for Clinical Research Integration

Veterans Overwhelmingly Back VA Research as Essential to Their Care and Medical Progress, New Ipsos Survey Finds

Federal Hiring Freeze Update

Policy Update: 90-Day Extensions

VA RESEARCH AT RISK: VETERANS AND LEADERS DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION

NAVREF’s Statement on HR 740

FOVA's Letter on the Urgent Need to Address the Federal Hiring Freeze

FOVA Statement on Protecting Veterans' Care and Research and The Urgent Need to End VA Staffing Cuts

Current Policy Issues & What NAVREF Is Tracking

Funding Freeze

Federal Hiring Freeze

Executive Orders Impacting VA Research

DEIA Program Rollback

Letter to the Transition Team

Congressional Engagement

NAVREF Submits Letter to Trump Transition Team

NAVREF Featured in White House Fact Sheet

President Biden Honors Nearly 400 Federally Funded Early-Career Scientists

FOVA Urges Swift Action on OGE Reinterpretation Impacting VA Research

NAVREF Endorses FY25 NDAA Sign-on Letter in Support of Animal Research at the Department of Defense

Enhancing Excellence: Strategic Recommendations for Optimizing Extramural Research Across the VA

NAVREF Submits Comments to FDA on Draft Guidance for Increasing Diversity in Clinical Trials

NAVREF Joins Biomedical and Academic Organizations in Urging Congress to Oppose NDAA Section 229 on Canine and Feline Research

NAVREF and FOVA Submit Letter to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Expressing Concern Over Interpretation of 18 U.S.C. §208

FOVA Raises Alarm Over VA Budget Shortfalls in Letter to Congressional Leaders

Applause for the American Cures Act: A Bold Step Forward for Biomedical Research

Senate Appropriations Committee Unanimously Approves FY 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

House Appropriations FY25 Markup

FOVA Secures 83 Signatures in Support of FY25 VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program

Conclusion of the Fiscal 2024 Appropriations Process in the House!

Senate Advances $460B Spending Package to Avert Shutdown

NAVREF Statement on FY 2024 VA Medical and Prosthetics Research Funding

House Passes Continuing Resolution, Rep. Takano Raises Section 208 Concerns

FOVA Calls for One-Year Delay in New 18 USC Section 208 Interpretation to Safeguard Veterans' Research Opportunities

Senate Greenlights Two-Step Stopgap Funding, Averts Shutdown

FOVA Advocates for $980 Million Funding for VA Medical Research Program in FY 2024

Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Crucial Step to Avert Government Shutdown

Update on Current Congressional Action and Continuing Resolution

Update on Congressional Developments: Navigating Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations

VA's Technology Transfer Program Improves Relationship with Affiliate Universities Following Audits

An Update from STAR

Fiscal Responsibility Act, Debt Ceiling and Spending Limits, and Total Discretionary Spending and Caps

Appropriations Updates

FOVA FY25 Recommendation

Update on Current Congressional Action and Implications for Funding

One Million Strong: VA’s Million Veteran Program Makes History

FOVA Calls on Congress to Prioritize Growth in VA Research Program for FY2024

SVAC Research Hearing Summary

NAVREF Submits Statement for the Record to SVAC Committee

NAVREF and 760 Other Coalition Members Joint Message to Congress

NAVREF Statement on the Limit, Save, Grow Act

NAVREF Update on the Centralized HR and WOC/IPA Issues

VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023

Passage of the VIPER Act

VA Research Appropriations Might See A Stumble

VIPER Act Update and Progress

LEGISLATION TO TEST NEW MODELS FOR TREATING AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR VETERANS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS

Senate Draft FY 2023 MilCon-VA Bill and Report Released

Quick December Legislative Update

NAVREF Advocacy Update

FOVA Testimony - On May 27th, the House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on VA infrastructure. The FOVA Executive Committee (of which NAVREF is a member) submitted the attached written testimony.

NAVREF Advocacy Update

NAVREF Advocacy Update

FOVA Testimony - On May 27^th, the House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on VA infrastructure. The FOVA Executive Committee (of which NAVREF is a member) submitted the attached written testimony.