Newsletter: It’s a good news week!
In this gray, wet, rainy, chaotic season, we need some good news — and surprisingly, there is no shortage of it coming from federal agencies this week. In today’s newsletter, we’re going to focus on some positive developments from NARA, IRS, VA, USCIS, DOD, Air Force, and more.
Also, we wanted to flag something that on its face doesn’t look like good news, but represents a really, really important shift for casework: this week, 17 members of the Texas delegation sent a letter to VA Secretary McDonough requesting that he address understaffing in the Houston VA Regional Office that is causing unacceptable wait times for responses to Congressional inquiries.
This comes back to a key recommendation and observation from our team’s recently-published report on casework: Congress can and should develop minimum baseline standards for agency timeliness and best practices in responding to Congressional inquiries on behalf of constituents. This is critical both for Congress’s ability to provide excellent (and vital!) constituent services, but also for the institution to maintain its Article One powers of oversight. More on that recommendation and the full report available below — and applause to the TX delegation for making clear asks to improve constituent services.
I am always here for questions, comments, suggestions, or just to chat about casework. Please feel free to reach out by replying to this email, or shoot me a note at anne@popvox.org.
Anne Meeker
Deputy Director
POPVOX Foundation
ICYMI: American Ingenuity
In case you missed it, our team at POPVOX Foundation released an in-depth report on Congressional casework in the Afghanistan withdrawal. The report aims to create a historical record of caseworkers’ role during this difficult period, and make the case for recommendations to help strengthen Congressional casework.
In particular, the report recommends that:
Congress act to set minimum standards for agency responsiveness to Constituent-related inquiries
The House establish a pilot Casework Liaison Office to act as a problem-solver liaison between Congressional offices and federal agencies
Congress should invest in specific mental health supports for caseworkers that take into account the effects of working with traumatized populations
We’d love to hear what you think. Please join us for a panel discussion on the report on February 15th, or reach out at anne@popvox.org with any feedback or questions.
(Good) News You Can Use
Casework-related hearings
HVAC staff… we salute you.
Feb 14, 10:15 AM: VA’s HR Office: Did Leaders Ignore and Perpetrate Sexual Harassment?
Feb 14, 1 PM: Is VA Illegally Spending Taxpayer Dollars in its Compensation and Pension Programs?
Feb 15, 8 AM: Electronic Health Record Modernization Deep Dive: Can the Oracle Pharmacy Software Be Made Safe and Effective?
Feb 15, 10 AM: Artificial Intelligence at VA: Exploring its Current State and Future Possibilities
Feb 15, 2:30pm: Sink or Swim? A Deep Dive into the Current State of VA’s Home Loan Program in a Competitive Market
NARA eliminates its pandemic backlog of veteran records requests
When NARA instituted limited in-person staffing in the pandemic, the backlog of records requests grew to 600,000. In December, the agency announced that it had eliminated its backlog, handling a normal level of 4,000 requests per day.
USCIS launches organizational accounts
USCIS is launching a feature to allow multiple individuals within the same organization to collaborate on H1B filings for the upcoming H1B season.
The Air Force streamlines its award process
Changes include a new tracking dashboard and immediate updating of personnel records once approved.
IRS making its notices simpler
The IRS is launching an initiative to simplify letters it sends to constituents — ideally, reducing the need to follow up by phone or in-person (or… by calling Congress….) when folks don’t understand their notices.
Which reminds us—have you browsed PLAIN language resources yet?
Writing short, understandable constituent communications takes real skill. The federal Plain Language Network is an inter-agency working group of federal staff committed to plain language in government. Their resources on writing simply in multiple contexts are absolutely unparalleled (and we look forward to seeing them re-launch their free trainings soon!).
If you’re not on the Veterans Experience Office newsletter, you should be
The latest VEO newsletter is jam packed with great stuff, including a listening tour for veterans and caregivers who have experienced fraud, locally available suicide prevention grants, veteran homelessness grants, military spouse events, and an update on the VA’s 85-15 rule for educational support.
Offices of Special Trial Counsel are now operational
The change means that specially trained JAGs, not commanders, are responsible for prosecutorial decisions in sexual assault and other criminal cases.
DOD updates TRICARE coverage for IVF
The change extends coverage to unmarried couples and same-sex couples. The DOD also signaled that it plans to remove the ban on coverage for donor egg/sperm material.
New manual on working with whistleblowers
The House Office of the Whistleblower Ombuds released its updated manual of best practices for working with whistleblowers. While the full manual is only available on HouseNet, other resources for Congressional staff are up on the team’s website.
In Other News
Casework in the News
Departing Rep. Greg Pence [R, IN] has some kind words about the importance of constituent services
I am once again asking for your non-financial support: gold bars still aren’t normal constituent services
We love a casework vehicle SO MUCH: shoutout to Team Ryan [D, NY] and their Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (CARES) van!
NOTUS highlights strong casework as a key to Sen. Baldwin’s [D, WI] success with rural constituents
Senate VA hearing raises concerns with Vet Centers
VA OIG found cause for concern with Vet Centers’ use of software to document veteran suicide risk, and inconsistent training for staff.
How to post about extreme weather events
With some wild weather events recently, your team may be posting information to help constituents prepare. The American Meteorological Society has a guide to best practices when posting about the weather — including handling when algorithms may mean constituents are not seeing your most recent post first.
HUD has been out of compliance on overpayment reporting for 11 years
HUD OIG issued a management advisory on the agency’s lack of reporting on improper payments in two of HUD’s largest programs. The last estimate of improper payments in these programs was in 2016, when the agency estimated it had made $1.7 billion in improper payments.
Affordable connectivity program ending
The FCC’s affordable broadband program will stop accepting new enrollments next month unless Congress acts to increase its funding.
O’Malley reduces telework for SSA management
Starting this spring, regional employees will be required to work in the office at least three days per week, and staff in the Commissioner’s office will be in the office four days per week. Frontline staff, processing center staff, and appeals staff will not see changes to telework policies yet.
