Why It Matters

The disclosure covers a period when VA funding, staffing, and benefit structures were under simultaneous pressure. A 42-day lapse in VA appropriations ran from October 1 through November 11, 2025, before a continuing resolution was signed into law. A congressional proposal tied to S. 4744 would eliminate or reduce disability compensation for veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea, affecting an estimated 1.5 million veterans. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) publicly condemned the proposal, calling it "a budget-driven decision that shifts the burden onto those who have already sacrificed in service to our nation."

By the Numbers

The third-quarter 2025 amendment, signed September 25, reports $141,405 in lobbying expenditures. DAV has filed five lobbying disclosures over the past year, including the fourth-quarter 2025 report at $161,271, the first-quarter 2026 report at $175,948, and the second-quarter 2026 report at $149,180.

All lobbying is conducted in-house by an eight-person team that includes Peter Dickinson, Jon Retzer, Shane Liermann, Sham Capizzi, Joseph Lemay, Marquis Barefield, Naomi Mathis, and Joy J. Ilem. The team composition and structure are unchanged from prior quarters.

The Agenda

The filing's specific issues section covers Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appropriations and benefit delivery across a broad legislative docket, citing hundreds of House and Senate bills. The VA's PACT Act implementation continued to drive elevated claims volume tied to toxic exposure benefits.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported that 2025 budget reconciliation legislation posed risks to veterans relying on Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with an analysis of the Senate version finding that 270,000 veterans could lose food assistance under proposed SNAP cuts. In February 2025, Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) noted DAV's testimony at a House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, citing support for women veterans.

The Bottom Line

DAV's third-quarter 2025 amendment reflects a consistent, in-house lobbying operation focused on VA appropriations and benefit delivery. The filing's disclosure covers Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations and the delivery of benefits and services to veterans, their dependents, and survivors.

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