AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO

Lobbied in opposition to the closure and consolidation of USDA facilities. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) budget. Lobbied against closure, relocation, reductions in force (RIFs) and budget cuts to the Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs. Lobbied in support of the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act

Lobbied Congress in support of S. 2837 the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions Lobbied in opposition to RIFs, termination of probationary employees, relocation and closure of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facilities. Lobbied to oppose closure of HUD facilities and transfer to National Science Foundation (NSF) facilities without adequate consultation with unions. Lobbied on relocation of HUD HQ from D.C. to Virginia Lobbied to oppose closure and consolidation of HUD offices and cuts to funding and reductions in force. Lobbied in opposition to retaliation against employees with disabilities and employees with reasonable accommodation. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7137/S. 30168 the Shutdown Fairness Act Lobbied in support of Prevent Government Shutdowns Act Lobbied in support of Green New Deal for Housing

Lobbied the House and Senate in support of the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act (H.R. 5870 / S. 4632) that would implement an automatic continuing resolution on rolling 14-day periods, based on the most current spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year. Lobbied in support of S. 3012, the Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure essential federal workers, active-duty military, and some contractors receive pay and benefits during a government shutdown, rather than waiting until it ends

Lobbied Congress in support of S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied Congress to require Federal Bureau of Prisons to provide safe staffing and workplace safety measures for correctional officers. Lobbied in opposition to closure of several BOP facilities Lobbied in opposition to the closure of FCI Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA. Lobbied in opposition to augmentation and in support of full staffing, funding and workplace safety for correctional officers and all BOP staff. Lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum-security camps; lobbied for funding to: hire adequate numbers of correctional staff; end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions; alleviate overcrowding at high-security institutions; to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions; and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 378 and S. 83, the "Thin Blue Line Act," which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1556 and S. 718, "Eric's Law," which would allow the empaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial involving the murder of a law enforcement officer. Lobbied in support of S. 736, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act, introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to crack down on the smuggling of contraband cellphones into federal prisons by upgrading the charge for such smuggling from a misdemeanor offense to a felony. Lobbied in opposition to removal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners. Lobbied in support of full funding and staffing at EEOC. Lobbied against EEOC proposed rule on antidiscrimination. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7137/S. 3068 the Shutdown Fairness Act.

Nothing to report this quarter

No issues to report this quarter.

Lobbied Congress in support of S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied against further expanding the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against budget cuts to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) full-time staffing given current vacancies of Food Inspectors and Consumer Safety Inspectors. Lobbied against budget cuts that lead to staffing cuts at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute on Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to create a modernized beef slaughter inspection system or issue line speed waivers to beef, poultry, or hog slaughter plants. Lobbied against elimination, consolidation, reductions in force and budget cuts to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service and FSIS positions across the country. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs. Lobbied in opposition to increased line speed proposed rule. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7137 / S. 3068, the Shutdown Fairness Act. Lobbied in opposition to relocation of USDA facilities Lobbied in support of Prevent Government Shutdowns Act

Lobbied Congress in support of S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against massive budget cuts and reductions in force (RIFs) and termination of probationary employees at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Lobbied opposing cuts to USAID in rescissions bill. Lobbied against any potential RIF at US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Lobbied against termination of probationary employees and elimination of the Voice of America at USAGM. Lobbied in opposition to USAID being eliminated. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7137 / S. 3068, the Shutdown Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of reinstatement of USAID and State Department employees

Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect American Workers Act to restore collective bargaining rights at several federal agencies, including several DHS agencies, including USCIS. Lobbied against the nomination Charleton Allen to serve as general counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied in support of changes to the 1990 Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act to ensure civil service employees receive more predictable annual pay adjustments and reduce the arbitrary way the law has been carried out.

Provided information to Senate and House offices regarding USCIS.

Lobbied for funding, staffing and protection of collective bargaining rights for DOL employees. Lobbied in support for NCFLL priorities including heat and cold exposure workplace safety protections. Lobbied Congress in support of S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7137 / S. 3068, the Shutdown Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of DHS pay. Lobbied in support of increased DOL funding and staffing levels. Lobbied in support of Prevent Government Shutdowns Act Lobbied in support of Department of Labor health and safety access during extreme heat and cold incidents

Lobbied Congress in support of S. 2873, the Protect Americas Workforce Act to rescind EO to eliminate federal collective bargaining rights. Lobbied opposing cuts to pay and benefits in reconciliation instructions. Lobbied in opposition to massive cuts to budget and staffing at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lobbied in opposition to significant reduction in force and elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD). Lobbied in opposition to cuts in funding for EPA. Lobbied in support of inclusion of language in House and Senate appropriations bills including language to retain staff, funding and resources at ORD. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing, relocation and closure of EPA regional offices. Lobbied in opposition to cuts to funding and staffing at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Lobbied in opposition to 139 EPA employees put on administrative leave for signing a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin opposing cuts to employees and administrative budget and functions. Lobbied in support of strong language to support the Office of Research and Development at EPA in Senate Appropriations report language. Lobbied in support of National Science Foundation employees and opposed cuts to staffing and budget and retaliatory practices. Lobbied against government shutdown and RIFs. Lobbied in support of increased funding and staffing for EPA employees. Lobbied in opposition to RIFs of EPA employees working on Environmental Justice work. Lobbied in opposition to closure of office of research and development. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7137/S. 3068 the Shutdown Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of USGS increased funding and staffing.

Lobbied Against VA staff reductions and removal of vacant positions. Lobbied against H.R. 9237/S. 4744, the Take Care of Americas Veterans Act, Which further privatizes the VA, moves psychologist from hybrid to full title 38 and pays for new benefits for veterans by cutting other veteran benefits. Lobbied in support of provisions in S. 3466 Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act of 2025 that would make VA telehealth primary, equalize standards between private VA providers and the VA and restore VA telework. Lobbied against a provision in S. 3466 Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act of 2025 that would move psychologist from hybrid to full title 38. Lobbied the Trump Administration to exempt the VA from the Trump Administration Executive Order, Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. Lobbied against H.R. 740/S. 275, the Veterans Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025. AFGE specifically opposes the provisions codifying the access standards, making veteran preference to go to a private provider a criterion for what constitutes best medical interest, and creating a three-year pilot program where veterans could access outpatient mental health and substance use services without referral or preauthorization. Lobbied in favor of S. 5592 Veterans Crisis Line Support and Safety Act protecting Veteran Crises Line workers and veterans from abusive callers tying up the hotline by taking away time for legitimate callers. Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 472/S. 124, the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025. Lobbied in support of H.R. 932, the Protecting VA Employees Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2550/S. 2837, the Protect Americas Workforce Act as it relates to VA employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3261, the VA Employee Fairness Act. Lobbied in support of draft legislation, the VA Correct Compensation Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 6015/S. 3174, the VA Care and Benefits Accountability Act, Lobbied in support of H.R. 6014/S. 2196, the Right to Representation for Department of Veterans Affairs Workers Act of 2025, Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 7950, a bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7480/S. 3823, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support H.R. 3226, the "Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act" and draft legislation, the "Law Enforcement Officers Parity Act" as it pertains to VA Police Officers. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8010, the VA Police Recruitment and Retention Act of 2026. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7948, the VA Employee Family Care Expansion Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 8041, the Supporting VA Families Act. Lobbied for changes to H.R. 8052, the Veteran Infection Prevention Act. Lobbied for changes to and oversight of Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) employee performance standards. Lobbied for increased oversight and changes to performance standards for Legal Administrative Assistants in the VBA National Call Centers. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied to require the VA to include VA employee input when making changes to the claims process, employee performance standards, and training for claims processors. Lobbied on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, and catastrophic injury claims. Lobbied on the specialization of claims processing for highly complex cases. Lobbied to prevent compassion fatigue for certain claims processors. Lobbied against contracting out of VA Disability Exams (C&P Exams) Lobbied for reforms to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied for oversight and improvements into VBA employee training. Lobbied on VBAs use of Performance Improvement Plans. Lobbied for changes to draft legislation related to the use of Artificial Intelligence in the VBA claims process. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2303, the Board of Veterans Appeals Attorney Retention and Backlog Reduction Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 659, the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2137, the Review Every Veterans Claims Act. Lobbied to highlight general process and production issues facing Board Attorneys. AFGE Local Vice President Matt Leffler was scheduled to testify before the House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on July 21, 2026 titled Failure at the Front Gate: Examining VA Police and Security Deficiencies. This hearing was cancelled, but the written testimony was submitted to the committee repository. Submitted a Statement for the Recor for a July 13, 2026 House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization hearing on PACT Act Implementation: Modernizing VA Disability Claims Through Effective Technology.

Lobbied on H.R. 8870, the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for Americas 250th (BUILD America) Act. Lobbied for reclassifications of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety Inspectors to be competitive with private industry in the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 971) Lobbied in support of S. 5450, legislation that would adjust FRA rail safety inspections General Schedule classification. Lobbied for increased funding for railroad safety inspectors to 400 inspectors and to add new staff to carry out multidisciplinary safety audits. This represents all inspectors in Occupational Series GS-2121, including specialties of hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal and train control and track inspectors as well as the grade crossing and trespasser outreach inspectors which are not in the series. Lobbied to end the hiring freeze for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lock and dam operators.