AFSA Legislative Support Update To date, members of the 117th Congress have introduced nearly 7,000 pieces of legislation. In a fast moving law-making environment, it can be difficult to keep track of every single piece of legislation AFSA has either supported or opposed. Our Military and Government Relations Team has been tracking bills encompassed within the scope of our legislative platform extensively. To date, whether it be through formal communications with Congressional offices or via testimony submitted to Committee, the AFSA has officially offered support for 28 pieces of legislation. On the AFSA H.Q. website, you can keep track of the bills AFSA is supporting LIVE by visiting our 117th Congress Legislative Library - located at the bottom of the "Key Issues" webpage at https://www.hqafsa.org/keyissues.html. However, after hearing from our members in our annual Legislative Platform Survey, Every AFSA Airman Has a Story campaign, and via phone and e-mail, our Team finds it prudent to spotlight the following bills our team is currently advocating for: - The Retired Pay Restoration Act, the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act, and the Major Richard Star Act
Each of these bills would allow for the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability. The Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act remains the AFSA's ultimate objective with regard to concurrent receipt legislation - as it calls for a total offset for all veterans and retirees. In the 117th Congress, concurrent receipt legislation has gained significant momentum. However, that momentum primarily pertains to support for the Major Richard Star Act. This AFSA supported legislation would qualify approximately 42,000 military retirees with combat-related injuries for concurrent receipt. As more updates unfold on efforts pertaining to concurrent receipt legislation, our Team will keep you informed. - The TRICARE Select Restoration Act
Our Team has heard fervently from our members about opposition to the TRICARE Select enrollment fees that were codified in the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act. If you are unfamiliar: since January 1, 2021, retirees using TRICARE Select have been required to pay an enrollment fee equating to $150 per year for an individual and $300 for a family. At that time, Congress worked with the AFSA and other MSO's/VSO's to reject alternative proposals that called for an even higher beneficiary cost share than that currently established; including enrollment fees of up to $900 and a proposed TRICARE for Life enrollment fee that would have charged Medicare-eligible retirees an annual enrollment fee equal to 2% of their gross retired pay. However, to be clear: The AFSA is steadfast in our commitment to opposing any increases in TRICARE fees or co-pays and is seeking the swift reversal of the TRICARE Select enrollment fee. In March, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester and Senator Lisa Murkowsi took action by introducing S.625, the TRICARE Select Restoration Act. This bill, if codified in law, would meet the AFSA's objective by eliminating the TRICARE Select enrollment fee for veterans who retired prior to 2018. As more updates unfold on TRICARE pieces of legislation, our Team will keep you informed. - The Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act (TEAM) and K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021
Just over two weeks ago, AFSA's Executive Director Keith A. Reed submitted two written statements for the record on toxic exposure legislation being considered by the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. The TEAM Act reforms how the VA evaluates and provides care for veterans suffering from conditions that may be associated with toxic exposures. The K2 Veterans Care Act establishes a presumption of service connection for certain diseases becoming manifest in a veteran who served at K-2 and has since been diagnosed with toxic exposure-related illnesses and diseases. In a previous edition of the Military and Government Brief (M&G-B) our Team reported on preparations being made by the House Veterans Affairs Committee to send a large collection of toxic exposure bills to the floor ahead of Memorial Day weekend. "Our goal is to move many bills through the process now so that we will be ready to move some of the bills to the floor as part of the committee's annual Memorial Day package," said Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., the committee chairman. "The bills represent a strong bipartisan effort to help veterans recover from the [coronavirus] pandemic. There's also a concerted effort to build equity and reach out to underserved veterans." As more updates unfold on the Toxic Exposure omnibus package expected to be released, our Team will keep you informed. If you have any questions on any of the bills AFSA supports, please feel free to reach out to AFSA's Policy Advisor, Legislative Affairs Matthew Schwartzman at mschwartzman@hqafsa.org.
VA Stands Up Commission to Recommend New Under Secretary for Benefits The Department of Veterans Affairs established a commission to identify candidates to lead and manage the Veterans Benefits Administration. The position is for the Under Secretary for Benefits, who oversees leadership and direction on non-medical Veterans benefits matters - which has an approximate operating budget of $6.2 billion, an average employment level of 24,700 - and a benefits budget of $135 billion for the delivery of services and benefits to Veterans and their beneficiaries. By law, the appointment is made without regard to political affiliation and solely on demonstrated ability in providing oversight and management of this budget and the ability to develop, defend, and administer a budget of this size and complexity. Those being considered must have substantial experience in connection with the programs of VBA or programs of similar content and scope. Major responsibilities of the post include oversight of the development of legislative initiatives, implementing policies, and providing direction for the application of innovative management techniques to increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency. The USB must possess the critical ability to successfully negotiate with stakeholders and partners at all levels and must also be able to effectively communicate VBA's major initiatives to a wide range of individuals and groups, including members of Congress, Veterans Service Organizations, other government entities and the private sector. Other duties include formulating and articulating VBA policies to implement the overarching policies and programs of the department and addressing specific challenges to improve VBA's benefits delivery services in all program areas. This entails: - Accelerating the economic empowerment and independence of service members, Veterans and their families.
- Conducting outreach, communications and engagement activities.
- Ensuring timely delivery of benefits to the increasing numbers of Veterans participating in VA education programs.
- Providing home loan guaranty program in a changing economy and housing market.
- Providing vocational rehabilitation and counseling to disabled Veterans seeking employment opportunities.
- Supporting the seamless transition from military to civilian life.
- Providing timely and accurate disability claims decisions as the volume of new claims and the complexity of those claims continue to steadily increase.
Learn more information about the position by clicking here.
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