Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the final week in session before the new year.

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371) passed the Senate last week and returned to the House following some last-minute amendments. Our sources have signaled that the current bill will pass the House tonight and head to President Joe Biden’s desk for signature.

Lawmakers in both chambers are reportedly coming to terms with a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government past Friday’s deadline. House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole said earlier today that the “differences are narrowing” between opposing sides in the budget fight. We are hopeful that the Dole package and the CR successfully pass, alleviating some legislative angst heading into the holidays.

This week, the House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold two hearings. The Health Subcommittee is set to review numerous bills that have been introduced, and the full Committee will examine the implications of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. These will be our final Nimitz News Flashes of the year, so stay tuned.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• Trump’s take on approps: Efforts to increase the executive’s say over government funding process

• Boost in MST-related claims: More veterans are receiving the care they need

• VHA on the naughty list: Veterans Health Administration maintains its spot on “high risk” agency list

❄️ Happy Holidays: From our team, friends, and families to yours, we wish you very happy holidays. We cannot wait to welcome 2025, and the 119th Congress, with you all.

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Tuesday, December 17th

• 📝 Subcommittee Hearing: Legislative Hearing, House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) Health Subcommittee at 2:30 pm. Watch here.

Wednesday, December 18th

• 🧑‍⚖️ Full Committee Hearing: “Restoring Congressional Power over VA After Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo,” HVAC at 10:15 am. Watch here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

Friday marks the deadline for funding the government, and Republican leaders are expressing optimism at the potential passage of a continuing resolution (CR). Economic assistance to farmers proves to be a sticking point in negotiations, but members of Congress are confident that discussions are “moving in the right direction.” The CR is also likely to include funding for disaster aid related to recent hurricanes. Members have added a litany of other provisions as a last-minute effort to get policy goals across the rapidly approaching finish line of the 118th Congress.

Some House Republicans are shoring up support for President-elect Donald Trump to have more say over the appropriations process next year. Rep. Andrew Clyde and Sen. Mike Lee are backing a bill that aims to overturn a policy requiring the president to instruct the federal government to fully expend the funds allocated by Congress each year. They also plan to reintroduce it in the 119th Congress. This Congressional effort is matched by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leads Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who have vocally advocated for Trump to have greater power to rescind funding.

Veteran News

The VA has announced that more than 3 million veterans, service members, and spouses receiving life insurance through the department will see a discount on premiums in 2025. The percentage reduction will differ based on the veteran’s age, but 11% will likely be the average. Eligible veterans are enrolled in Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), and Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI). VA Under Secretary for Benefits Josh Jacobs said, “Veterans and service members deserve to know that their families will have financial support when they pass away — and we’re glad to be taking this step to provide eligible enrollees with greater peace of mind at lower costs.”

According to recent reports, the VA is receiving more claims related to military sexual trauma (MST), up 18% from fiscal year 2023. In response to this uptick in reporting, the VA has held over 3,500 events in the past 14 months geared toward benefits for victims of military sexual assault and harassment. VA employees handling these cases have undergone sensitivity training and are seeking to improve records collection from the Defense Department on related instances. VA officials credit the rise in claims to increased veteran trust in the department.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new analysis detailing troubling risk management, medical investigations, and internal audits within the Veterans Health Administration. The VHA shares its place on the “high risk” list with other agencies struggling with waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, or unmet transformational needs. Despite its improvements over the past decade, the GAO recommended that the VHA implement a workforce plan to overcome fragmentation issues in its offices.

National News

Trump’s DOGE champion Elon Musk has threatened to financially back a primary challenge to any Republican senator who stands in the way of the President-elect’s Cabinet nominees. On his social media platform X, Musk wrote, “How else? There is no other way.” Musk has officially been named the richest man in the world, sitting on a fortune of $454.5 billion. Experts believe Sens. Joni Ernst, Jim Risch, Mike Rounds, and Thom Tillis are among potential targets of his counter-contributions. All four Republicans’ seats are up in 2026.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

The winter holidays are almost here! Just like with her music, Danielle is always excited to share her list of favorite seasonal movies. She encourages everyone to watch It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and reach out to her for more recommendations. 🎄

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