A resignation, renewed "national emergencies", help for a (very) few veterans, screwing over of VA employees and Native Americans, favors for drug companies, changes to Amtrak, a veto threat and more are highlighted from a relatively calm March in Congress. In the second half of this episode, Jen discusses her plan to keep producing Congressional Dish full time, extends an invitation to hang out, reads some of your letters, and answers your questions. Please support Congressional Dish: Click here to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin; click the PayPal "Make it Monthly" checkbox to create a monthly subscription Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Resignation Representative Aaron Schock of Illinois's 18th district resigned on March 17th, 2015 after it was discovered that he overcharged taxpayers and his campaign for miles driven on his personal car. Article: Aaron Schock resigns after new questions about mileage expenses by Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan of Politico, March 17, 2015. Article: After 'Downton Abbey' scandal, Rep. Aaron Schock to resign from Congress by Donna Cassata of AP, March 17, 2015. Article: Congressman's spending brings Schock and awe by Jake Sherman, John Bresnahan, and Anna Palmer of Poltico, February 9, 2015. Article: Taxpayers pay thousands for Rep. Schock's renovations by Paul Singer of USA Today, February 3, 2015. Article: Aaron Schock is looking for a job by Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times, May 6, 2015. Executive Orders EO 13660, March 6, 2014, Ukraine EO 13288, March 6, 2003, Zimbabwe March Laws H.R. 1527: Slain Officer Family Support Act Allows contributions made to funds set up for NYPD detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos to be deductible in 2014, instead of 2015. Sponsored by Hakeem Jefferies of New York 2 pages S. 535: Energy Efficiency Improvement Act Requires the Administrator of General Services to develop model commercial leasing provisions that encourage tenants and government landlords to invest together in energy efficiency measures. The model provision will be published publicly to "encourage" private sector landlords to use them. The EPA will create a "Tenant Star" program to "recognize" energy efficiency by tenants in commercial buildings. Grid enabled water heaters will have activation keys that are only given to the utility or company that operates the grid. Grid enabled water heaters will have permanent labels informing people not to buy it unless he home is enrolled in a demand response program. It will be illegal for anyone to activate a grid-enabled water heater that is not part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program. Creates a public database for researching the energy use of commercial and multifamily buildings. Sponsored by Rob Portman of Ohio 10 pages March Bills H.R. 294: "Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act" For three years, starting on October 1, 2015, the Veteran's administration can place veterans who can not live independently but want a family setting into "medical foster homes" No more than 900 veterans may have their "medical foster home" care paid for by the government Limits the amount that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs can award According to a fact sheet issued by the U.S. Census on Veteran's Day 2014, there are 957,504 veterans with a rating of 70 or higher. Sponsored by Rep. Jeff MIller of Florida 4 pages Passed 405-0 H.R. 280: Authorizes the government to take back Department of Veterans Affairs employees' bonuses Allows the government to force an employee of the Department of Veteran's Affairs to pay back bonuses they previously received. The employees can be ordered to give back their bonus if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that it's appropriate under regulations that the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs wi