Legislation
Legislative Advocate
Who is GSI?
Since our founding in 2001, Government Strategies, Inc. (GSI) has been dedicated to navigating California’s complex legislative and regulatory landscape on behalf of businesses, local governments, non-profits, and other entities. Based in Sacramento, we are a lobbying, public relations, and consulting firm committed to advancing our clients’ interests with integrity and effectiveness. As a Certified Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE), we offer a diverse and inclusive approach to advocacy, fostering strategic partnerships that make a meaningful difference.
Under the visionary leadership of President Yolanda Bazan Benson, GSI has consistently navigated complex legislative challenges, delivering tangible results for our clients. Our team excels in preparing and presenting testimonies, providing expert insights, and advocating for policies that directly benefit the clients GSI represents. We are committed to ensuring that your voices are not only heard but also make a lasting impact in legislative discussions.
GSI has built a reputation for effective communication, strategic planning, and successful advocacy efforts across various sectors, including small business, telecommunications, financing, economic development, healthcare, housing, transportation, and energy policies. Our expertise encompasses representation in legislative committees, detailed legislative analysis, bill tagging and monitoring, active participation in key meetings and conferences, coalition building, and educating all stakeholders. Our deep-rooted connections within state and local governments, the Legislature and the Administration coupled with a nuanced understanding of public policy, to champion priorities for our clients.
2025 Legislative Priorities
Homelessness
- CVSOs support policies which will increase outreach to homeless veterans via a “by-name” list developed via justice involved veterans programs. CVSOs support increasing housing units for elderly veterans who are aging out of their homes.
- CVSOs support strengthening the continuum of care model which ensures our veterans don’t fall through the cracks as they transition to different stages in life.
Accreditation
- Support legislation that would require an individual who is assisting a veteran with filing a claim for benefits to notify that veteran if they are not a VA-accredited representative, and make it a criminal offense to intentionally misdirect or mislead a veteran, or anyone acting on a veteran’s behalf, concerning benefits or entitlements for their own monetary gain. Require persons assisting veterans with claims to be federally accredited before preparing, presenting, or prosecuting a veteran’s claim for VA benefits.
Military transition and reintegration
- Support legislation that would streamline and/or enhance accessibility to jobs for veterans seeking occupations after their military service. In addition to veterans receiving their earned VA benefits and procuring housing, obtaining a job in an occupation that provides stability and self-reliance is of the utmost importance to financial and mental well-being.
- Support legislation that enhances programming to military bases for active and all reserve component personnel focused on outreach, education, and promoting access to employment, county veterans service offices, VA health care, and other resources.
Military spouse employment and economic opportunities
- Support legislation that removes occupational licensure barriers to employment as military spouses move across state lines. This can include occupational licensure compacts and improving application processes and conforming to the federal Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act of 2022. The state should take these steps to help military spouses maintain professional and financial stability.
Tax exemption for military retirement pay and Survival Benefit Plan
- Support legislation to implement a state income tax exemption for military retirement pay and Survival Benefit Plan beneficiaries.
OTHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
- Support the legislative priorities of the state veterans service organizations that are in line with our own legislative priorities.
- Support legislation that enhances health care/mental health care in support of veterans.
- Support legislation that establishes veteran peer support and health care navigation programs within county veterans service offices.
- Support legislation focused on women veterans.
- Support legislation focused on minority and underserved veteran communities.
- Support legislation that would require California Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBEs) to hire more disabled and non-disabled veterans. Currently, there is no requirement for DVBEs to hire veterans.
- Support legislation that requires veteran preferences for state jobs.
- Support legislation that would continue to encourage expansion of veterans’ treatment courts to more counties by providing state funding of veterans’ treatment courts in California.
- Support legislation that would raise the current state dollar limitation on property tax relief for disabled veterans.
- Support legislation that would reduce the property tax assessment on veterans’ service organizations’ posts and chapters.
- Support legislation that would expand laws to penalize dishonest vendors and businesses that prey on or scam veterans and active-duty military personnel by criminalizing their activities.
- Support legislation that would create a Governor’s Memorial Certificate similar to the Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC). Include information directing survivors to CVSOs. (PMC is a signed certificate by the President to the family of deceased veterans.)
CACVSO FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
- Support passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. As of this writing, the bill is awaiting review by President Biden. Included in the Dole Act is the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act (CVSO Act) which would authorize $10 million per year over the next two fiscal years to expand and strengthen County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs).
- Support legislation similar to the 118th Congress’ efforts to pass the Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act (GUARD VA Benefits Act). The Guard Act would reimpose criminal penalties for soliciting or charging unauthorized fees with respect to claims representation before the Department of Veterans Affairs. This type of legislation is needed to dissuade bad actors from preying on an already vulnerable veteran and dependent population.
- Support legislative, regulatory, or policy changes that would create a federal/state/local government partnership to reduce the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration (USDVA) veterans claims backlog and expand outreach services to veterans.
- Support legislation that would authorize USDVA pharmacies to honor prescriptions written by non-USDVA physicians. Currently, the USDVA medical system will only provide prescription medication to eligible veterans if the prescription is written by a USDVA physician.
- Support legislation that would eliminate the Means Test for veterans to qualify for USDVA medical care. These income limitations have excluded some veterans who would otherwise qualify for enrollment from obtaining their primary health care through the USDVA.