Wanted to give a quick update on this issue: I replaced the FPR this weekend and that seems to have solved the problem. The VX, now, starts right up without having to turn the key and wait for the fuel system to pressure up.
One note if you are having this issue; before you go replacing the FPR take a look at the tube connected to the FPR. Mine was cracked on the end and was not making a good seal. I trimmed the tube back past the cracks and now it makes a good solid seal with the FPR. I have a feeling that my FPR was probably fine (although I did find debris in the screen) and all I needed to do was trim that tube back to take care of the problem.
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong, it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair."
-Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless