The latest from Capitol Hill, where PVA is pushing for the benefits, research funding and health care access that veterans with spinal cord injuries deserve.
PVA Vice President Speaks at Congressional Briefing on Community Integration
On July 23, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) National Vice President Lawrence “Louie” Mullins Jr., spoke at a congressional briefing hosted by the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on the importance of community integration for people with disabilities.
The briefing, Spurring Economic Growth and Independence Through Community Living, focused on the lasting impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision, which prohibits the unjustified institutionalization of people with disabilities under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Speakers emphasized that community-based services promote independence, strengthen families and make more effective use of public resources.
As the only veteran speaker, Mullins highlighted the importance of ensuring veterans have access to the services and supports they need to live independently. He stressed that veterans should never be forced into institutional settings because community-based supports are unavailable and called for continued protection of the Olmstead decision to safeguard their independence and freedom.
PVA Attorneys Present at National ADA Symposium
In late July, PVA Senior Advocacy Attorney Danica Gonzalves, Esq., and Advocacy Attorney Anthonya Hollins, Esq., presented a session on best practices for planning adaptive sports events during the National ADA Symposium in Phoenix. The symposium is hosted by the Great Plains ADA Center.
The session, Beyond the Finish Line: Lessons from Hosting an Adaptive Sports Event, highlighted accessibility considerations, lessons learned from the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and other PVA events and key planning elements such as transportation, lodging, venues, staff training and ADA requirements for sports facilities. The presentation also included a discussion with attendees on addressing barriers to participation in adaptive sports.
PVA Joins Letter Opposing Proposed OMB Grant Rule
On July 9, PVA joined the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) in urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reconsider a proposed rule that would increase political oversight of federal grant awards, including Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinical research grants.
The proposed rule would allow political appointees to review grant awards and impose new restrictions related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), gender identity and disparate-impact analysis. In its letter, FOVA raised concerns that the rule could increase political influence over research funding, expand the government’s authority to terminate active grants, limit international collaboration and create additional restrictions on research costs. OMB received nearly 500,000 public comments on the proposal.
PVA Submits Statement for Senate Hearing on VA Research
On July 22, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing titled Advancing the Mission: Evaluating the Future of VA Research to examine the future of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) research enterprise. While the hearing focused on prostate cancer research, lawmakers and witnesses also discussed broader concerns about staffing, funding and the long-term stability of VA’s research programs.
PVA submitted a statement for the record highlighting concerns that recent federal funding decisions and policy proposals could undermine research critical to veterans living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and other conditions. PVA emphasized that sustained, predictable funding is essential to advancing treatments and preserving the VA’s leadership in veteran-focused medical research.
PVA also raised concerns about the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed changes to federal grant oversight, warning that increased political review of research awards could weaken the longstanding peer-review process and create uncertainty for researchers. The organization reaffirmed that VA research should remain guided by scientific merit and veterans’ health needs, noting that the department’s integrated health care system and specialized SCI/D centers make it uniquely positioned to improve care for veterans with catastrophic disabilities.
IVF Coverage Still Under Debate in Defense Bill
Congress is again debating whether to expand in vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage for service members in the FY2027 defense bill.
The House approved a version of the bill that includes expanded IVF access, but the Senate removed the provision after debate, despite earlier bipartisan support. Last year, a similar proposal was also dropped from the final bill.
Negotiations are ongoing, and the final decision has not yet been made. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
Senate Reviews New Labor Secretary Nominee
On July 16, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing for Keith Sonderling, who has been nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. He is currently the acting labor secretary and previously served as deputy labor secretary and in senior roles at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor. Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned earlier this year during an Inspector General investigation.
The hearing is available to watch online.
VA Plans to Simplify Benefits Applications
The VA has proposed shorter, simpler applications for disability and survivor benefits to reduce paperwork. The disability benefits form would shrink from 15 pages to five, and the survivor benefits form from 20 pages to seven.
PVA has asked to review the updated forms and will share more information when it becomes available.
VA Funds Facility Upgrades, Including SCI/D Centers
The VA has approved $1.2 billion for facility improvement projects across the country, including upgrades to medical centers, clinics and its electronic health record system.
For veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), funding includes improvements at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, and a new residential rehab apartment at the Rocky Mountain Regional SCI/D Center in Aurora, Colo.
A full list of funded projects is available online.
New Survey on Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles
Tesla is asking wheelchair users to share their experiences with accessible vehicles. The survey asks what works well, what could be improved and what features people would like to see in the future.
The survey is available online.
