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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.