NAUS Weekly Update for May 2, 2008

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National Association
for Uniformed ServicesŽ®Weekly Update May 2, 2008
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"Those who are unwilling to invest in the future haven't earned one."

~ H.W. Lewis ~

WASHINGTON REPORT

Senate Takes First Step in NDAA Approval
On Wednesday, the Senate Armed Forces Committee met in closed session to approve their the FY 2009 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration and amendment.

The highlight of the Committee's action is the NAUS-endorsed rejection of the Pentagon plan to steeply raise TRICARE fees and copays. In making the rejection, the Committee authorized $1.2 billion to cover the gap left in the DoD budget. As NAUS members know, DoD and the Task Force for the Future of Military Health Care wanted to fill this $1.2 billion hole by tripling fees currently paid by military retirees for the health care that was promised and was earned in a military career.

The Committee also approved a 3.9 percent pay raise for active duty military members. This is a 0.5 percent increase over the President's budget request.

Several interesting personnel policy developments include: authorizing the Secretary of Defense to carry out programs to provide training and education to spouses of active duty members who are pursuing portable careers; requiring the SecDef to develop a comprehensive policy designed to prevent suicides by members of the Armed Services; authorizing up to 21 days of paternity leave under regulations prescribed by the SecDef.

A full summary of the bill is available at http://armed-services.senate.gov/press.htm.

The House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to markup its version of the FY 2009 Defense bill (H.R. 5658) next week.

Emergency Supplemental Update
The $108 billion emergency war-funding bill continues to move as senior appropriators of the majority party are considering attaching expanded veterans' educational benefits to it. Also, as we reported previously, lawmakers are also still considering attaching a $70 billion bridge fund, which would provide funds for the conflicts through next year, in addition to other domestic spending.

NAUS Notes: NAUS encourages Congress to work with the Administration to secure an agreement as soon as possible. No one wants to risk funding for our active duty forces engaged in combat under the flag of the United States.

Ingrate of the Century: Abdul Basit, Head of Iraq's Board of Audit
The Chicago Tribune reports that as Congress gears up to debate the President's request for $108 billion in war funding for Iraq and Afghanistan, Iraqis are fuming at suggestions being floated by U.S. lawmakers that Baghdad should start paying a share of the war's costs by providing lower cost fuel to the U.S. military. "America has hardly even begun to repay its debt to Iraq," said Abdul Basit, the head of Iraq's Supreme Board of Audit, an independent body that oversees Iraqi government spending. "This is an immoral request because we didn't ask them to come to Iraq, and before they came in 2003 we didn't have all these needs." NAUS condemns the audacity and ingratitude of these remarks.

House VA Committee Actions
The full House Veterans' Affairs Committee met on Wednesday and approved a slate of fourteen veterans' benefit and health care bills.

One of the bills provides for an annual cost of living increase in veterans' disability benefits and Dependency Indemnity Compensation. Another bill, H.R. 5684, would significantly increase educational benefits for veterans. Two amendments were added to this bill. Ranking Member Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) added an amendment that would allow reserve members to count their active duty time cumulatively, rather than consecutively, as is currently required. Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME) successfully added an amendment that would allow veterans to use the GI Bill to obtain a commercial drivers license.

NAUS now is nearly certain that a more robust Montgomery GI Bill will be the result of all the varying educational benefit bills. And we will update you as we learn more.

NAUS Sends Letter to House VA Committee
In a letter to Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) and Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-IN), NAUS stated strong opposition to the source of funding used to pay for S. 1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act. The bill, which was approved 96-1 by the Senate last week, is scheduled for consideration before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs next week.

Though the bill would make many significant changes in the area of insurance, housing, and labor benefits for veterans, S. 1315 also would pay for the changes by repealing a law passed by Congress in 2001 that provides assistance to elderly wartime U.S. veterans over 65 who are indigent, severely disabled and housebound.

The action against these vulnerable older veterans is wrong. It is a serious mistake to rob one set of veterans to pay for another set of veterans. NAUS does not dispute the significant contribution made by Filipino war fighters nor do we diminish the importance of the provisions in the bill. We simply oppose the method used to "free-up" money to pay for the new, enhanced pension.

If Congress wants to provide these enhancements, which NAUS supports in nearly every case, Congress should be able to identify funding from a number of other sources. How about stripping the $1 billion it provided for "free" illegal alien health care??

How in the world of responsible representative democracy can our elected Congress continue to allow free health care for illegal aliens while stripping a special monthly pension from impoverished, housebound veterans? If budget rules prevent it, Members of Congress should amend the rules and get the nation's priorities straight.

HEALTH CARE NEWS

TRICARE Fraud
Last week a federal judge directed a Philippine company to pay back nearly $100 million it swindled from TRICARE. The company, Health Visions Corporation, pled guilty to mail fraud last year. It was ordered to liquidate all assets, pay $99,915,131 in restitution, pay a $500,000 fine, and forfeit a swindled $910,910.60. In addition, the corporation, its officers, directors and employees have been barred from any future participation in TRICARE or other government programs.

Health Visions' ran its racket over a period of about seven years between Oct. 1, 1998, and August 2004. During that timeframe, it's doctors, hospitals and clinics, oftentimes with the assistance or knowledge of military retirees, inflated claims and billed TRICARE for services that were never provided. But the extent of the fraud went beyond Health Visions. In 2003 alone, two-thirds of the amount paid to Philippine providers, roughly $40 million of $61.8 million, is believed to have been fraudulent. 17 individuals have already been convicted for their participation in various schemes and many other cases are pending.

According to a recent press release, TRICARE Management Activity claims processing requirements and controls in the Philippines have been revised to reduce fraud. However, a February 2008 DoD audit reported that the program remains vulnerable to rip-offs and makes a series of proposal to strengthen internal controls even further.

DoD has been rightfully criticized for being slow to act to identify and curtail this illegal action and the lack of financial oversight by the people who are supposed to be "minding the store." All of this comes at a time when the department is asking Congress to raise fees for military retirees and their beneficiaries. Clearly DoD needs to pursue effective and appropriate ways to make TRICARE more cost-efficient before seeking to "tax" beneficiaries. That includes getting off its hands to get a grasp on fraudulent behavior.

DVDs for Military Children
Military pediatricians and youth professionals have developed DVDs to help military children understand and deal with the emotions related to a family member's deployment. Additional information and links to the videos can be found by Clicking Here.

Online TRICARE Course for Guard and Reserve Members
TRICARE University is offering free on-line courses for members of the Reserve Component who want a thorough understanding of TRICARE benefits, in particular, TRICARE Reserve Select. The on-line course is designed in modules that allow users to learn in any order of interest and at their own pace. To take the TRS course, log on to Click Here and click "online training," then select the TRICARE Public course, then TRS.

ACTIVE DUTY NEWS

Expansion of Space-A Travel for Dependents
The families of deployed personnel can now take greater advantage of Space Available (Space-A) flights on military aircraft. The new policy went into affect Dec. 6, 2007. It allows dependent spouses and children of personnel deployed for more than 119 days to use military transport within the continental U.S. (CONUS) and in travel between overseas locations. Family members must have a letter from the servicemember's commander verifying eligibility. Check with your local command for further information.


Qualified Airmen Can Request Afghan, Iraq Campaign Medal Stars

A recent memorandum from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense provides guidance on the display of campaign stars on both Afghanistan and Iraq campaign medals.The campaign stars recognize service members for participating in designated campaign phases within the areas of responsibility for both awards.

In order to qualify for the campaign stars, Airmen must first qualify for the campaign medals, which requires service in the area for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, and then provide official source documentation to confirm participation in the AOR. For additional information, Click Here.

VETERANS NEWS

SBP Accounts Being Reviewed
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service is currently reviewing all military retiree accounts affected by the new "Paid-Up SBP" law. On Oct. 1, retirees who are at least 70 years old and have paid at least 30 years of premiums will no longer have to pay premiums to keep the coverage. The change will be reflected in the Nov. 2008 pay statement. If a retiree does not meet the eligibility criteria on Oct. 1, the premiums will stop when the retiree has met both criteria - reached age 70 and paid SBP premiums for 30 years. Eligible retirees will be notified by DFAS via mail regarding the status of their account and premium payment count.

Vacations for Vets Program
The Maryland-based Greenwell Foundation is offering a respite program for disabled veterans undergoing treatment in the Washington, DC, area through a "Vacations for Vets Program." The Foundation provides weekend stays for disabled veterans and their families with outdoor activities such as horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and sailing. The program also needs volunteers. Service members who would like to participate in the Vacations for Vets program should contact 301-373-9775 or e-mail vacationsforvets@greenwellfoundation.org. For more information on volunteering, Click Here.


Veteran Population Projection Updated
VA Press Release - The Department of Veterans Affairs has updated the official estimate of the veteran population. Using its Veteran Population Model (VetPop), VA estimates a total veteran population of approximately 24,816,000 as of September 30, 2007. Estimates are based on data from the Department of Defense (DoD), the Census Bureau and the Veterans Benefits Administration.

VetPop was last updated in 2004.

VetPop uses the Census 2000 estimate of veterans6,745,000 as of April, 2000ÍÂs a starting point. The population increases as service members separate from active duty and decreases through mortality. VetPop models these changes using DoD's reports of past and projected separations as well as DoD mortality rates. VetPop2007 results are higher than VetPop2004 results due to lower mortality rates and higher-than-expected separations. The difference is 1.2 percent in 2007 and grows to 2.8 percent by 2015.

VetPop results can be accessed by Clicking here and then clicking on "Demographics." The website includes estimates of veterans by county and by Congressional District, as well as descriptive documents and tutorials on how to access the data. Further questions regarding VetPop should be emailed to VetPop@va.gov.

Mother's Day at The Wall
The Ninth Annual Mother's Day at The Wall Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 11, at 9:00 a.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) will honor the Mothers of our servicemembers by asking students throughout the United States to prepare Mother's Day cards to be read by Moms at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Mother's Day. After reading the cards, the Mothers will lay the cards at its base of The Wall. VVMF invites everyone to join them as they pay tribute to America's Mothers.

If you would like to send a card to be read by a Mom at The Wall, please send your cards to the VVMF at 1023 15th Street, N.W., Second Floor, Washington, DC 20005 by Wednesday, May 7.

NAUS NEWS

NAUS on the Road
Senior Legislative Assistant Morgan Brown will be the keynote speaker at the Grand Forks, ND, AFB Retiree Appreciation Day on Saturday May 17. Come and meet Morgan and bring a friend to join.


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*Click product name for terms and conditions: Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select Rewards. We may change APRs, fees, and other Account terms in the future based on your experience with other creditors or U.S. Bank National Association, N.D. and its affiliates according to the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law. The introductory rate does not apply to cash advances and is valid for the first 9 billing cycles. The rate will end early and increase to the APR for Purchases and Balance Transfers or to a Delinquency Rate APR if your Account is delinquent, over the limit or closed. We apply your payments to balances with lower APRs first.

The creditor and issuer of the Visa Platinum card is the U.S. Bank National Association ND.

Back to top Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen stand in harm's way around the globe to defend our nation and our cherished liberties. NAUS asks you to please pray for their continued strength and protectionÍÂnd pray as well for their families, who daily stand in support of their spouses, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters.

GODBLESSAMERICANational Association for Uniformed ServicesŽ®
5535 Hempstead Way
Springfield, VA 22151
1-800-842-3451
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