Estimated Cost Of Toxic Exosure Bill More Than One-Quarter Trillion Dollars But Bipartisan Backing Holds
A sweeping Senate compromise bill to grant benefits to millions of veterans exposed to toxins during their military service could cost $278.5 billion over a decade, according to a new estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.
House Lawmakers Eye 4.6% Pay Raise For Troops In 2023
House lawmakers will propose a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers next year as part of their initial draft of the annual defense authorization bill, but are also mandating a series of studies into the issue of military pay to ensure it's keeping pace with civilian wages and families' financial needs.
Demands Of Military Life Behind Rising Food Insecurity Among Families, Reports Find
With one in five military families experiencing food insecurity in 2021 -- up from one in eight two years ago -- two major reports released this week tried to explain what's causing the rise in families facing the risk of not having enough to eat.
AFSA's Policy Advisor, Legislative Affairs, Matthew Schwartzman, joined Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Jon Tester, Ranking Member Jerry Moran, and others for a bipartisan press conference on historic toxic exposure legislation earlier today (Tuesday, June 7).
Celebrity all star advocates Jon Stewart and John Feal also joined Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), veterans, and survivors to stress the importance of passing the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 this week on the Senate floor.
AFSA's Policy Advisor, Legislative Affairs, Matthew Schwartzman (pictured left) attends the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 press conference.
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 is comprehensive legislation that would provide all eras of toxic-exposed veterans with their earned health care and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Senators Tester and Moran announced a bipartisan agreement on the legislative package last month after tirelessly working with colleagues from both chambers, VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the Biden Administration, AFSA, and other VSOs.
The bill will be voted on for the first time in the Senate on Tuesday, June 7.
Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service. Among its many priorities, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 will:
Expand VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA's list of service presumptions, including hypertension;
Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure; includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;
Improve VA's resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in VA claims processing, VA's workforce, and VA health care facilities.
AFSA has long advocated for reconciliation between the Honoring Our PACT Act and S.3003, the Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops of War Act of 2021, a similar (but not identical) bill presented in the Senate - the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 is just that.
After the press conference, Matthew returned to AFSA HQ to announce a Legislative Time Sensitive Target (LTST) urging our members to contact their elected officials in support of this landmark legislation.
AFSA's Policy Advisor, Legislative Affairs, Matthew Schwartzman, goes live from Facebook on his brief on Legislative Time Sensitive Target (LTST)
If this bill passes the Senate, it will make its way back to the House for reconciliation and then (if passed) advance to the President's desk for signature.
If you have any questions about this AFSA supported bill, please reach out at milgov3@hqafsa.org.
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, a broad Senate compromise package to give compensation to millions of veterans exposed to toxins during their military service might cost $278.5 billion over ten years, according to a new estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.
In order to maintain the bill's new promises to veterans, the estimate accounted for both guaranteed expenditures built into government financial systems and discretionary spending that would need to be approved by Congress each year. The Senate is expected to vote on the historic law later this week. Republicans had raised concerns about the cost of a similar bill passed by the House earlier this year, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated would cost $321.7 billion in mandatory and discretionary spending over ten years.
In other news, officials from the House Armed Services Committee are supporting the White House's proposal for a 4.6 percent pay hike to take effect on January 1 of next year as part of the yearly military policy legislation's personnel component. This recommendation would be the greatest pay hike for troops in 20 years, based on federal criteria for calculating annual increases in civilian sector compensation.
The 4.6 percent raise would mean approximately $1,300 more in take-home pay for junior enlisted troops next year. The raise amounts to around $2,500 extra for senior enlisted and junior officers. It's more than $4,500 in extra compensation for an O-4 with 12 years of service.
And lastly, The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., and the Military Family Advisory Network, an advocacy group, both released studies finding that structural aspects of military life, such as high rates of spouse unemployment, moving, and child care shortages, are driving the rising rate of food insecurity among active-duty military families. The MFAN analysis is based on 312 service personnel and their families in Virginia and Texas who completed questionnaires last year. Food insecurity, defined as not having reliable access to enough amounts of nutritious, wholesome food, is exacerbated by living on a single income, frequent movements, unexpected expenses, natural catastrophes, and inflation, according to those polled.
And that's the way it is for Thursday, June 9, 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!
