FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Matt Dorsey
(202) 550-6987
January 7, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is endorsing the Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act (the Honor Act), a broad legislative packing that aims to invest in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) aging infrastructure, improve VA’s ability to recruit qualified health care professionals, and provide the highest quality healthcare for our nation’s veterans.
The legislation would implement critical policy reforms based on feedback from veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, labor representatives, VA employees, the Government Accountability Office, and VA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). Although the bill is not perfect in its current form, it provides important advances in veteran care and fixes flawed policies implemented over the past decade.
Specifically, the bill would improve the scheduling of veterans’ appointments, modernize community care, reform hiring practices, address staffing shortages, restore telework, and strengthen VA infrastructure to increase the agency’s ability to best serve veterans. The bill would also grant VA police officers official Law Enforcement Officer status, a designation NFFE has advocated for over many years.
“NFFE is pleased to see the HONOR Act come to life and is encouraged by its potential to advance the working conditions and careers of VA healthcare workers and other professional and administrative staff, including VA police officers,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “VA professionals and NFFE members are essential to maintaining a safe, high-quality environment of care for our nation’s veterans. We welcome continued engagement to ensure the bill achieves its full intended impact. Thank you to Senator Blumenthal, the sponsoring members of the Committee, and every original cosponsor for their commitment to veterans’ healthcare.”