Client Objective:

A Veterans Service Organization (VSO) wanted to ensure that Congress provided sufficient, timely and predictable funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans health care. Congress had often passed legislation providing funding after the end of the federal fiscal year, which made it difficult for the agency to plan for the future. Our client, along with other VSOs, wanted to change the law that provided health care funding to prevent delays and enable more effective planning. For the previous five years, our client and the other VSOs had lobbied for the establishment of a new entitlement account – a funding mechanism that would automatically provide funding each year. Because both Republican and Democratic Majority Congresses had resisted these efforts, our client reached out to JCG to help it come up with an acceptable and viable alternative.

JCG Role:

JCG researched this issue extensively and drafted educational documents for the client explaining the background and existing precedents. We analyzed alternative legislative strategies, and recommended seeking legislation providing two-year advanced appropriations for health care funding. Our client accepted and successfully pursued our recommendation. We provided initial support in creating the congressional strategy, including the rationale and analysis supporting this major legislative change.

Result:

Legislation providing two year advanced appropriations health care funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs passed Congress and is now the law.