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In light of ongoing federal spending uncertainties, members of the House are renewing efforts to enhance personnel resources at two agencies facing significant staffing challenges.
Representatives Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat from Kentucky, and Gus Bilirakis, a Republican from Florida, have reintroduced the Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act (H.R. 2303) in an effort to address the pressing backlog of veterans’ claims appeals, currently standing at 200,000 cases. This initiative aims to provide new recruitment and retention incentives for the lawyers responsible for processing these appeals.
Originally introduced in August 2024, the bill seeks to mitigate workforce challenges within the Veterans Affairs Department’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) by elevating BVA attorneys in non-supervisory roles to GS-15 status, which could lead to salary increases of up to $10,000.
The issues surrounding BVA claims backlogs and staffing shortages are longstanding. The Congressional Research Service reported that during the fiscal year 2022, while the BVA issued 95,294 decisions, it simultaneously received 107,274 new cases, culminating in a total of 209,535 appeals still pending at the year’s end.
In its annual report, the BVA noted that an intensified recruitment effort, supported by flexible telework policies, resulted in the hiring of 135 new personnel, increasing a total staff of just over 1,200. However, despite these additions, attrition rates remained at 8.4%. BVA officials acknowledged that staffing and appeals reforms contributed to the issuance of over 71,000 Appeals Modernization Act decisions in fiscal 2024, yet the number of pending decisions continues to exceed 200,000.
In a statement, Rep. Bilirakis expressed concern about the backlog’s impact on veterans, stating, “The Veteran Appeals backlog unnecessarily delays our nation’s heroes from accessing the benefits they’ve earned. This bill is a vital step in improving BVA performance and staffing by fostering equity between the BVA and other federal agencies.” He emphasized that this legislation is crucial in conjunction with recently instated quality assurance metrics and accountability measures.
While the previous 2024 version of the bill did not progress beyond committee review, the latest iteration is scheduled for discussion in the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee on Wednesday.
New initiatives for mental health support among BOP officers
In parallel efforts, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Iowa, has reintroduced legislation aimed at ensuring Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees receive essential mental health screenings and referrals for mental health care.
The Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 2305) builds upon Miller-Meeks’ earlier 2024 proposal, which sought to establish grant programs dedicated to funding mental health screenings for corrections officers across federal institutions.
Rep. Miller-Meeks articulated her motivation for this bill, emphasizing the crucial need to address mental health concerns such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, which tend to occur at higher rates among correctional officers as compared to other law enforcement professions.
“Today marks two years since Blake’s tragic death,” she stated. “His story is a painful reminder of our responsibility to improve our approach to mental health in our correctional facilities. This legislation is vital in ensuring our corrections officers have access to necessary resources, combating stigma, and preventing further tragedies.”
The earlier version of this legislation was submitted to the House Committee on the Judiciary in October 2024 but did not advance before the session concluded.
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