Top Senate Leader Throws Weight Behind Massive Toxic Exposure Bill
At a congressional press conference attended by the AFSA, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged to bring a massive veterans toxic exposure bill to a vote this year, saying the legislation is needed to ensure that veterans sickened by environmental exposures get health care and disability compensation before they die.
New Food Insecurity Stipend Should Help As Many Troops As Possible, Lawmakers Argue
House leaders are pushing military leaders to make eligibility and enrollment in the Defense Department's new financial assistance program as generous as possible, saying that is needed to "address food and financial insecurity among servicemembers." In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the group urged military leaders to move quickly on implementing the new Basic Needs Allowance and to automatically grant the financial help to all eligible families unless they specifically opt out of the program.
Plans For Hospital Closures As Part Of Military Health System Reform Forging Ahead After Pause
The Defense Health Agency is moving ahead with plans to close some 50 hospitals and clinics following a pause that began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The closures are part of the agency's broader effort under a Defense Department initiative to shift management of the military services' 51 hospitals and 424 health clinics to the Defense Health Agency and focus the Army, Navy and Air Force's medical commands on providing health care primarily for military personnel.
On Tuesday, our Military and Government Relations Team joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Veterans Advocate John Stewart, and representatives from allying MSOs/VSOs to spotlight support for the Honoring Our Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021.
AFSA's Policy Advisor, Legislative Affairs, attentively listens to remarks made by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on the Honoring Our PACT, landmark legislation that would provide health care and benefits for millions of veterans.To watch advocacy in action from the Hill, please click on the image above.
For those who are unfamiliar, this legislation will:
Provide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans
Provide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window.
Streamline VA's review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions
Concede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service
Require medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims
Add hypertension andMonoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure
Establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure
Create a presumption of exposure to radiationfor veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll
Allow for a new tort claimfor veterans and families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune
Expand agent orange exposure toveterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
Improvedata collectionbetween VA and the Department of Defense
Commission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans
Require VA to provide standardized trainingto improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications
Require VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans
Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, passionately emphasizes the need to urgently pass the Honoring our PACT Act and get a bill to the President's desk for signature.
AFSA has long supported reconciliation between the Honoring our PACT Act and a similar (but not identical) bill that was introduced in the Senate, S.3003, the Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops of War Act of 2021.
As our Team reported on in the latest edition of the AFSA Magazine, in early-mid February, the Senate took its own step forward by introducing and passing the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act. While the AFSA was pleased to see Congress work swiftly to advance legislation to improve access to health care and benefits for our nation's Veterans, the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act did not cast the furtherest reaching net of the bills pending before the 117th Congress.
Recently, AFSA signed on to a letter of support with over 40 VSOs that further described our official position on this important issue. An excerpt from the letter is as follows:
"There have been a number of bills introduced in the House that address different aspects of the toxic exposures puzzle. However, the Honoring Our PACT Act is the only bill that provides a truly comprehensive solution. Although many of us have supported some of these other burn pits and toxic exposure bills, none of them provides a complete and lasting solution for veterans who are or may become ill as a result of toxic exposures."
On March 3, the House of Representatives passed the Honoring our PACT Act. Now, it's the Senate's turn.
To join the fight for quality of life, please visit our Legislative Action Center and write to your Senators asking for their support of the Honoring our PACT Act.
Updates the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by requiring the VA to continue providing assistance to a family caregiver for at least six months after the death of a veteran participating in the program.
Requires the VA to establish a process by which veterans who are determined to have the most significant need for caregiver assistance are permanently eligible for such assistance.
Requires the VA to standardize the criteria used across all facilities in its required evaluations of the needs of the veterans and the skills of the family caregiver.
Standardizes criteria used in accepting and evaluating applications for participation in the program across all facilities.
Support the CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act!
This bill provides that a child shall be eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) until the child's 26th birthday, regardless of marital status.
Support the AUTO for Veterans Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92795/respond
Legislation Summary
The Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans "AUTO" Act would reduce the financial burden incurred by virtue of military service by ensuring severely disabled veterans receive a grant from the VA's Automobile Assistance Grant program to purchase a specially equipped vehicle once every ten years - as opposed to only once.
Support the Aid and Attendance Support Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92792/respond
Legislation Summary
The Aid and Attendance Support Act temporarily increases eligible disabled veterans' and surviving spouses' Aid and Attendance (A&A) allowance by 25%.
Support the Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID-19 Act!
The Ensuring Survivor Benefits During COVID-19 Act requires the VA to solicit a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death in situations where a veteran's death certificate identifies COVID-19 as the principal or contributory cause of death, the certificate does not clearly identify any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, and a claim for dependence and indemnity compensation is filed with respect to the veteran.
Ensures Reservists and National Guard members have no-fee healthcare through TRICARE Reserve Select that covers medical and dental coverage.
Fixes the parity gap for Reserve Component retirees receiving early retirement pay due to deployment credits making them eligible for TRICARE upon receipt of retirement pay.
Provides an incentive for small businesses to hire Reserve and National Guard members by ensuring their healthcare costs are covered.
Ensures service members can access physicals needed to be ready for no-notice deployments (which have increased over the past year).
Eliminates the statutory language that excludes Federal Employees Health Benefits Program eligible service members from TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility.
Support the Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92818/respond
Legislation Summary
The Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act would:
Split Impact Aid's $1.1 billion request evenly over five years, across three main categories for funding: Basic Support, Federal Property, and Children with Disabilities.
Increase Basic Support funding by $190 million annually, meeting Impact Aid's 2019 funding requests.
Increase Federal Property funding proportionally to Basic Support (BSP) by allocating an additional $11 million annually.
Increase funding for Children with Disabilities by $9 million annually, funding $2,000 per eligible student.
Advance national K-12 school systems to become more equitable and meet educational needs.
Support military families that are especially impacted by federally tax-exempt land.
Support the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92815/respond
Legislation Summary
Modifies the extension of dependent coverage under TRICARE by allowing a dependent at the age of 26 to be covered without an additional premium.
Authorizes such coverage of dependents without a premium regardless of whether they are eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan.
Support Expanding TRICARE Cranial Remolding Helmet Coverage!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92802/respond
AFSA urges our nation's elected officials to support legislation that would expand the scope of TRICARE's coverage of the DOC Band Post-Op device if your baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Is diagnosed with craniosynostosis or nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly (to include torticollis)
Support the Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92799/respond
Legislation Summary
Allow an employer a work opportunity tax credit for hiring the spouse or domestic partner of a member of the Armed Forces.
Specifically, an employer may receive a tax credit equal to 40% of a new employee's first-year wages if the employer hires a service member's spouse or domestic partner (as recognized under state law or by the Armed Forces).
Create programs for service members to pay for childcare on a pretax basis.
Specifically, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard) must implement flexible spending arrangements that permit members of the Armed Forces to use basic pay and compensation to pay on a pretax basis for dependent childcare.
Support the Retired Pay Restoration Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92798/respond
Legislation Summary
Allowsthe receipt of both military retiredpay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability.
Extends full concurrent receipt eligibility to individuals who were retired or separated after at least 20 years of military service due to a service-connected disability.
Call To Action:Share How TRICARE's coverage of the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty (DOC) Band Post-Op device negatively impact your family's quality of life!
For the past year, our Military and Government Relations Team has been working with AFSA military families on getting legislation introduced that would expand the scope of TRICAR's coverage of the DOC Band Post-Op device if a baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Is diagnosed with craniosynostosis or nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly (to include torticollis)
Despite unsuccessful efforts (via FOIA request) to obtain important data for the purpose of quantifying the need of this issue in the aggregate, our Team is looking to hear from the field to share your story and help have your voice heard by members of Congress.
Issue Background
Helmet therapy is used to gently correct the shape of babies' skulls over time.
Newborn babies' skulls are soft plates with spaces between them. As the baby grows, these plates grow, gradually harden, and knit together.
Unfortunately, there are circumstances under which the soft plates may develop a flat spot or uneven appearance. This condition is called plagiocephaly.
Today, almost one in two babies (47%) is affected by some form of plagiocephaly.
When the baby's skull joins together too early, or in an abnormal way, this is called craniosynostosis. There are several types of craniosynostosis, depending on when the baby's skull joins together.
Today, it is estimated that 1 in every 2,500 babies has craniosynostosis.
Positional skull deformities and/or abnormalities - whether diagnosed as a form of plagiocephaly or craniosynostosis - can have short and long term health effects on a child.
However, despite this, TRICARE only covers the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty (DOC) Band Post-Op device, synonymously referred to as a "molding helmet," if your baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Has had craniosynostoris surgery;
But still has a misshaped skull.
In other words, cranial molding helmet(s) are not covered for the treatment of nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly or for the treatment of craniosynostosis before surgery; despite medical evidence that suggests the presence or absence of congenital or acquired plagiocephaly (to include torticollis) can, at the very least, increase the risk of gross motor development.
In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics school-aged children with moderate to severe plagiocephaly scored lower than controls on cognitive and academic measures.
As a result, military families - who face unique challenges given the sacrifices that come along with serving our country - have been put in the tragic position to either front the hefty cost of the helmet (approximately $2,000), seek alternative forms of treatment that may not be preferred, or forego treatment altogether.
AFSA will be celebrating 75 years of air power by recognizing yesterday's sacrifice, today's service, and tomorrow's opportunity.
The 2022 International Convention & Family Reunion will convene in Las Vegas, Nevada at:
Convention Center Tropicana, Las Vegas, Nevada
3801 S Las Vegas Blvd,
Las Vegas, NV 89109
RESERVATIONS OPEN SOON - CLICK HERE for updates as they become available.
Greetings AFSA Division and Chapter Leadership,
We are pleased to share the AFSA Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay procedures and marketing materials to help share the process with our members, your membership and potential new recruits.
The Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay program creates an opportunity to JOIN AFSA or RENEW a membership by making a $36 once-a-year/every-year auto payment, or a $4-each-month/every- month auto payment. The $36 once-a-year option is set at $36, and the $4-a-month option includes a bank processing fee of $1 each month.
Review the two ways to enroll, the benefits to using the auto-pay option, and the marketing materials to help share the details of this program and ensure its success.
For questions, please contact AFSAHQ Member & Field team at 800-638-0594 x 288.
Please Update Your Contact Information Today!
Dear Air Force Sergeants Association Member,
In order for the AFSA to effectively communicate with our members, it is essential to ensure we have your current and / or valid e-mail address. We are in the process of updating our records and need your help! Please take a moment to ensure that we have your most current mail and email address (no .mil's); and accurate membership listing information.
We've made it easy, as you can update your information in either one of three ways:
Call Member & Field Relations team directly at 800-638-0594 x 288 (Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
Email to: msvcs@hqafsa.org
Visit www.hqafsa.org and select the UPDATE button on the right
We thank you in advance for your support and prompt updates.
In sum, military officials released their budget plans for fiscal 2023 on Monday, including the new Basic Needs Allowance that Congress approved last year. The scheme was welcomed by Comptroller Michael McCord as a way to help "the most vulnerable elements of our force overcome economic instability," but he provided little details on how the new benefit will be given.
The new financial aid is intended for military families whose household earnings are less than 130 percent of the federal poverty criteria, according to guidelines established by Congress last year. This year, that corresponds to nearly $30,000 for a household of three. It costs around $36,000 for a household of four.
In other news, if Congress doesn't intervene, the proposal calls for cutting around 12,800 military health billets and shifting many non-military beneficiaries to private-sector health care, allowing DoD to reduce or close some health facilities. When the military redirected resources to confront the pandemic, both within the Department of Defense and across the country as part of the nation's public health response, reforms were put on hold on April 2, 2020.
According to David Smith, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, as the pandemic winds down, the Defense Health Agency has updated its plans to take into account lessons learnt during COVID-19. According to Smith, the agency will present the new plan to Congress in the coming weeks.
And lastly, On March 3, the House passed the $208 billion Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act by a vote of 256 to 174. However, it faces stiff resistance in the Senate, where a $1 billion bill has already passed that would provide emergency health treatment to post-9/11 veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other pollutants, but it lacks several of the PACT Act's automatic benefits and additional criteria.
The PACT Act would designate 23 diseases as being presumed to be linked to burn pits and other airborne pollution, as well as veterans exposed to other pollutants like radiation, as well as Vietnam veterans suffering from hypertension and those who were exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos.
In the next years, it could affect up to 3.5 million veterans.
Our Military and Government Relations Team has updated our Legislative Action Center w/ 13 new advocacy campaigns!
The most recent of which, is a Legislative Time Sensitive Target (LTST) urging you to write to your elected officials in support of landmark toxic exposure legislation, the Honoring our PACT Act. For more information, please visit the AFSA On the Hill Section of this M&G-B.
And that's the way it is for Thursday, March 31, 2022. Stay tuned for our next M&G-B, where we will continue to keep you in the loop on all things pertinent to the coronavirus, veterans, active-duty members, guards and reservists, and military family members. Stay happy, and stay healthy!
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