MOAA Legislative Update

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http://www.moaa.org/lac_update_070511.htm






Concurrent Receipt, SBP Fixes Move Forward


Key Committee Drafts Defense Bill The House Armed Services Committee approved its version of the FY2008 Defense Authorization Bill this week, including important provisions on TRICARE fees, Survivor Benefit Plan improvements, concurrent receipt improvements for the combat disabled, and important plus-ups for military pay raises.


Veterans' Benefits Bills Hearing The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony Wednesday from MOAA and others on more than two dozen bills covering veterans' compensation and benefits issues.


VA Secretary Reports to Congress on Task Force Secretary Nicholson got a mixed reception this week from the House Veterans Affairs Committee.


Military Spouse Appreciation Day Friday, May 11 is National Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Don't forget to honor the heroes at home - the men and women who support their military spouses.


Chat Military Family Issues With MOAA MOAA's Deputy Director for Government Relations (Family Issues) will conduct a live Web "chat" session on May 24. E-mail your questions in advance to increase the odds of inclusion.


Key Committee Drafts Defense Bill

Last week we summarized recommendations by the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee to expand eligibility of concurrent receipt for the combat-disabled, establish a payment for SBP-DIC survivors, avoid TRICARE fee hikes and plus up the military pay raise and end-strength.
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This week the full House Armed Services Committee approved its version of the FY2008 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 1585) retaining all the provisions above and adding many more.The committee's action kicks off a flurry of defense bill activity.

Next week, the full House is expected to vote on the Defense bill, and the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to approve its own version of the bill.Here's a summary of selected initiatives the House Armed Services Committee included in its bill this week:

TRICARE Fees - Bar any increase in fees for TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Standard and pharmacy copays before Oct. 1, 2008.

Medication Limitations - Authorize DoD to remove medications from the formulary if retail drug companies don't give DoD low cost, federal pricing. (Last year, the Administration opposed a statutory plan to require drug companies to give such discounts, and Congress dropped the initiative. MOAA doesn't support this new plan, which would effectively punish beneficiaries for the drug companies' decisions.)

Survivor Benefit Plan - Authorize surviving spouses that are also in receipt of the VA's dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) a monthly payment of $40 beginning on October 1, 2007.

Military Pay Raise - Authorize a 3.5% military pay raise for 2008 - vs. the 3% proposed by the Defense Department.

Combat Related Special Compensation - Expand eligibility to include chapter 61 (disability) retirees with at least 15 years of service and at least a 60% combat-related disability rating.

Manpower Levels - Increase Army end-strength by 36,000; Marine Corps levels by 9,000; and Army National Guard by 1,300.

Dependent School Support - Authorize $50 million in aid to school districts impacted by military populations, with an additional $15 million for districts affected by base closures or other military population changes.

Medical Facility Improvements- Authorize an additional $50M for the maintenance and improvement of medical facilities, especially Walter Reed.

Guard/Reserve Travel Allowance - Authorize the Secretary of Defense to reimburse drilling Guard and Reserve members up to $300 per training session for travel costs to drill locations outside commuting distance, effective Oct. 1, 2008.

National Guard Bureau Chief - Make the Guard chief a four-star position.
Montgomery GI Bill - Consolidate active duty and Reserve GI Bill authorities under the VA to help ensure more consistency in benefit adjustments.

MOAA particularly applauds the Committee for approving Rep. Thelma Drake's (R-VA) amendment to require that military pay raises must exceed private sector wage growth by at least 0.5% each year through FY2012.Pay comparability is a fundamental underpinning of the all-volunteer force. While Congress has plussed up military raises in recent years to reduce the "military pay gap" from 13.4% in 1999 to 3.9% today, the job isn't yet done.

For the last two years, the military pay raise hasn't even kept up with inflation. This is an important message to the troops who are bearing 100% of the nation's wartime sacrifice that we're not going to backslide on restoring military pay comparability. You can help by visiting MOAA's Web site to send your senators a message urging the Senate to follow
the House lead on this key issue.


Veterans' Benefits Bills HearingMOAA Deputy Director Colonel Bob Norton (USA-Ret) testified May 9 before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on legislation to improve the Montgomery GI Bill. The proposals considered by the committee ranged from adding greater flexibility in paying accelerated benefits to a sweeping "World War II-style" GI Bill proposed by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA).

Norton urged the Committee to ensure at least some progress on GI Bill improvements this year, noting that no substantive upgrades have been enacted since the start of the War on Terror. The most egregious inequity, he pointed out, was the lack of any post-service benefit eligibility for Guard and Reserve warriors. Norton emphasized MOAA's support for S.644 to address this issue.Norton also expressed support for Senator Webb's S. 22, that would offer a WWII-style GI Bill for the duration of the war on terror.

It would allow operational reservists to acquire GI Bill benefits over multiple call-ups. Senator Larry Craig's (R-ID) S. 1293 would loosen restrictions on accelerated benefits for concentrated coursework and also allow reservists to "buy up" additional reserve MGIB benefits.

But Norton noted that the latter bill would not help honorably discharged or retired reservists, since no readjustment benefits are authorized under the MGIB.Other measures on the hearing schedule included making the COLA automatic for veterans' disability and survivor payments, as it is for Social Security and other federal annuities; authorizing retroactive payment of Traumatic Injury Insurance for injuries incurred in a combat zone since October 7, 2001 (rather than the current effective date of November 30, 2005; and upgrading adaptive housing allowances and mortgage life insurance for severely wounded veterans.


VA Secretary Reports to Congress on Task Force
On May 9, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee about the final report of the President's Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes, which Nicholson chaired and whose members included several other Cabinet secretaries.Nicholson highlighted the problems the Task Force found and its 25 recommendations to fix them, including:

Developing a joint DoD/VA process for disability benefit determinations
Developing a combined case management system to ensure seamless transition from military to VA care

Screening returning veterans for Traumatic Brain Injury
Simplifying the VA enrollment process

Developing a joint DoD/VA inpatient electronic health record The 19 committee members present applauded the recommendations, but had lots of strong words about the poor management and budgeting processes that let the problems get this bad. Many also expressed skepticism about the extent to which the recommendations will actually get implemented, noting that most of them had been offered in the 2003 President's Task Force on DoD and VA Health Care, with little to show in the way of progress after four years.

Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) observed that, in the past, bureaucratic concerns have outweighed any urgency to meet veterans' requirements. He expressed disappointment with the lack of a specific implementation schedule for the Nicholson Task Force recommendations and noted that Congress has made a commitment to full funding of VA needs.

Ranking Committee Republican Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) said the president has made it clear he wants to establish a seamless transition for our servicemembers, but also expressed frustration with the lack of follow-through in the past. He said he felt DoD has been the lagging partner, but that VA has more work to do, as well.

Filner summed up with a statement that the Veterans Affairs Committee wants timelines for action, with an implementation schedule that starts now, and that the committee intends to track progress closely.


Military Spouse Appreciation Day
Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month, an opportunity to
reflect on and show appreciation for our armed services, recognizing those on active duty, Guard and Reserve, as well as retirees, veterans, and all of their families.In addition, today -- May 11 -- is National Military Spouse Appreciation Day. In 1984, President Reagan proclaimed that the Friday before Mother's Day of each year shall be a day to pay tribute
to military spouses of all generations who have served their country along with the servicemember's spouse.At a loss on how you can show your appreciation for your loved one's sacrifices and support? Here are a few ideas to help make the day a little more special.

Check out the local Exchange store for special gifts and discounts.
Plan a picnic or day/weekend trip.
Go out on the town for the evening or have a quiet evening at home.
Plan an event for the whole family-a movie, dinner, sporting event, etc.
Plan a vacation down the road and let MOAA Travel Offers and Resources help you get there. MOAA salutes military spouses and thanks them for their service. And to military mothers, we wish you a "Happy Mother's Day".


Chat Military Family Issues With MOAA
MOAA's family/spouse lobbyist, CDR René Campos (USN-Ret), will conduct an on-line chat session on Thursday, May 24, from 12:00 - 1:00pm to answer any questions on military family/spouse issues, ranging from spouse employment incentive bills to family support programs.Visit MOAA's Web Site on May 24 and join the chat. No need to be intimidated - it's easy! Just hit the refresh button on your toolbar and you'll be viewing real time answers from Rene.Have a question for René? Email her at legischat@moaa.org and we'll try to get to it during the chat session.



Military Officers Association of America
201 N. Washington St., Alexandria, Va. 22314
(800) 234-6622 (MOAA