Over Half Of VA Health Employees Report Not Feeling Supported During The Pandemic
More than half of the clinical staff at the Veterans Health Administration reported not feeling emotionally supported during the pandemic, according to a survey in a recent Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general report.
Air Force Will End Program That Allowed Some Airmen To Choose Their Next Duty Station
The Air Force's "base of preference program" will end next month, delivering a blow to career enlisted airmen and their families who were trying to plan where they would be stationed stateside.
Bill Would Mandate Honorable Discharge For Troops Booted For Refusing COVID Vaccine Mandate
Defense officials would be required to grant honorable dismissals to nearly all troops who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine and grant waivers to troops with "natural immunity" to the virus under new legislation introduced by Republican senators on Tuesday.
The House Approves A $40 Billion Aid Package For Ukraine.
By: Bryant Harris I DefenseNews.com
The House on Tuesday passed a $40 billion military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine 368-57- opting to provide Kyiv with $7 billion more than President Joe Biden initially sought in his supplemental request last month. The bill now awaits a vote in the Senate, where it is widely expected to pass with robust bipartisan support.
The bulk of the funding is meant to bolster Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russia's invasion, with $34.7 billion devoted to military aid - the largest tranche yet from Congress.
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine has cost thousands of innocent lives, devastated cities across the region, and fueled a humanitarian crisis, rising costs and food insecurity around the world," House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said in a statement. "In March, Congress came together quickly to support the people of Ukraine and protect global democracy."
In March, Congress appropriated $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine as part of the government funding bill it passed, a small fraction of the package now before the House. "With Russia's continued assault, we must act with the same urgency to provide this additional emergency funding," said DeLauro. "We have a moral responsibility to deliver this support to help end the grievous loss of life, hold Putin and his cronies accountable, and protect global democracy."
Democrats initially considered a proposal to bundle it with COVID aid, which Republicans have held up over a separate immigration-related vote. However, the decision to pass it as a stand-alone bill avoids that fight and ensures it will arrive at Biden's desk relatively soon.
The new package contains $11 billion in funding to allow Biden to continue transferring U.S. military equipment to Ukraine through presidential drawdown authority - his preferred means of quickly providing assistance to the Ukrainian military. Biden only has $100 million left of the $3.5 billion Congress has appropriated for transferring military equipment such as Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-air missiles under presidential drawdown authority.
The supplemental also includes $8.7 billion to backfill stocks that have already been sent to Ukraine under drawdown authority. The cumulative $19.7 billion in drawdown funding represents a considerable increase over the $10.4 billion in total drawdown authority the White House requested in its initial supplemental.
"In the bipartisan and bicameral negotiations in assembling this package, there was an interest among members in adding additional funding for military and humanitarian assistance," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wrote in a letter to the Democratic caucus. "The final bill will be consistent with the President's request, except for additional funding for military and humanitarian aid."
The Defense Department's Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is also set to get a $6 billion boost to provide equipment, supplies and logistical support to the Ukrainian military after Biden quickly burned through the $300 million Congress provided for the fund in March.
Another $3.9 billion will fund U.S. forces stationed in Europe, including the deployment of a Patriot missile battery. The Biden administration has vowed to shore up the troop presence on NATO's eastern flank following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"With this aid, the United States is sending a powerful message to the oligarchs in the Kremlin: We remain firm in our belief that Ukrainian freedom will triumph over Russian fascism," Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee, said in a statement.
Additionally, the bill will set aside $500 million to replenish the U.S. critical munitions stockpile. The Biden administration has transferred at least 5,500 Javelins and 1,400 Stingers to Ukraine so far - comprising a respective one-third and one-fourth of U.S. stockpiles for each system.
Ukraine and NATO's eastern flank countries would also have access to a combined total $4 billion in Foreign Military Financing - grants that helpcountries to purchase equipment from U.S. defense manufacturers.
At the Biden administration's request, Congress is also allocating $600 million to expedite missile production and expand domestic access to critical minerals via the Defense Production Act. Biden intends to use that Korean War-era law, which allows the federal government to direct private companies to prioritize supplying customers critical to U.S. national security, to mitigate some of the supply chain issues that have plagued the defense industrial base.
The package also includes $100 million in demining funds the Ukrainians have requested.
Finally, the bill requires the inspectors general for the Pentagon and State Department to oversee the Ukraine aid funds.
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 Int'l Convention ONLY (Arrive Saturday, August 7) This Registration Fee includes the following: Access to discounted hotel room rates, seminar/briefings, refreshments, Info Expo, Convention Theme Party, Welcoming Ceremony, and the AFSA International President's Dinner. However, if you are NOT an AFSA member, this registration fee does NOT grant you access to the AFSA's Member Appreciation Hospitality Room(s). This Convention Registration DOES NOT include hotel reservations.
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, last week Tuesday, the House authorized a new $40 billion Ukraine aid package, more than double President Joe Biden's initial request and indicating a deeper, bipartisan commitment to ending Russian President Vladimir Putin's deadly three-month-long assault.
The bill was approved 368-57, offering $7 billion more than Biden's April request and evenly dividing the increase between defense and humanitarian aid. The plan would provide Ukraine with military and economic aid, as well as backing from regional allies, restock hardware that the Pentagon has sent out, and invest $5 billion to alleviate global food shortages caused by the war's damage to Ukraine's normally robust crop production.
In other news, career airmen (those who have served for at least four years) will no longer be eligible to apply for the BOP after June 1. According to Air Force spokesman Laurel Tingley, the effort's cancellation is partially a cost-cutting measure. Officials, on the other hand, maintain that the program did not go as planned. In a leaked screenshot of an April 26 communication - which authorities have confirmed as real - Top Master Sgt. Claudia Carcamo, the Air Force's senior enlisted manager, stated that many airmen weren't getting their preferred duty station when going through the program.
And lastly, the bill, spearheaded by Texas Senator Ted Cruz and co-sponsored by 13 other Republicans, would also require military leaders to "make every effort to retain members of the Armed Forces who are not vaccinated" and expand religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate. Because Democrats control both chambers of Congress and the White House, the bill is likely to face opposition. However, advocates argue that the measure is necessary to defend troops' rights and capacity to continue serving the country. Defense officials informed Congress last month that nearly 3,400 troops were involuntarily separated from service because they refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which was prescribed for all military members last fall.
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, May 17, 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!
