This Week In Congress: Defense Authorization And Appropriations Work Collides On Wednesday
The House Appropriations Committee will hold a mark up of its defense appropriations plan at the same time the House Armed Services Committee holds its negotiations on the annual defense authorization bill.
Bigger Military Bonuses Might Be On The Way To Help With Recruiting, Retention
Military officials could start offering bigger recruiting and retention bonuses in 2023 under language included in the Senate Armed Services Committee's draft of the annual defense authorization bill.
VA To Delay Electronic Medical Records Deployment To Additional Sites Until 2023
Veterans Affairs officials will delay deployment of their new electronic medical records system to additional sites until 2023 to ensure "adequate reliability," officials confirmed to Military Times.
Veterans Exposed To Agent Orange, Radiation, Toxic Water Included In Landmark Burn Pit Bill
By: Patricia Kime I Military.com
In addition to improving access to benefits for post-9/11 veterans exposed to burn pits, the sweeping toxic exposure legislation approved 84-14 by the Senate on Thursday will add two new conditions to the Department of Veterans Affairs' list of Agent Orange-related illnesses and expand benefits for veterans sickened by radiation or poisoned water in certain geographic locations.
The bill adds hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS, to the list of illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure, allowing affected veterans to apply for health care and disability benefits with the VA without having to prove that their condition was caused by their service.
The legislation, expected to pass the House next Wednesday and be signed by President Joe Biden, also expands the geographic areas and service dates for eligibility for benefits, includingThailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam and American Samoa and their territorial waters, and Johnston Atoll or any ship that called on the atoll, on certain dates.
The move follows four years of lobbying by advocacy groups to add hypertension to the list of Agent Orange presumptive conditions, following a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine 2018 announcement of proving a link between high blood pressure and the herbicides used during the Vietnam War and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Under the new legislation, more than 490,000 Vietnam War veterans may be eligible for disability compensation, at a cost of up to $15 billion of the estimated $278.5 billion Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act.
"The days of ignoring wounds from toxic exposures, wounds not seen until years after, are gone," said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, speaking on the Senate floor before the bill passed Thursday.
"The cost of taking care of our veterans is high, but the truth is, freedom is not free," said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., also spoke in the Senate on Thursday.
Other senior veterans also may be eligible for expanded benefits as a result of the legislation.
In addition to naming 23 illnesses as presumed to be related to exposure to the burn pits used to dispose of waste in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, the bill addresses several lesser-known episodes of military exposures responsible for sickening thousands of veterans.
These include service members who cleaned up a nuclear waste site at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, as well as nuclear aviation mishap sites in Palomares, Spain, and Thule, Greenland.
The legislation also includes the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which allows victims of contaminated water -- or their survivors -- at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to file lawsuits for illnesses caused by more than 30 years of exposure to chemicals in their drinking water.
The bill expands the geographic region for Persian Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans to include service in Somalia for those who served between 1990 and Sept. 11, 2001, and adds Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001.
It also allows veterans who served in a combat zone -- as proven by having an Armed Forces Expeditionary or service-specific Expeditionary Medal, campaign-specific medal or campaign theater award -- and were exposed to burn pits to be eligible for VA health care, phased in between 2024 and 2032, depending on when they served.
It also stipulates that veterans affected by MGUS or hypertension who are older than 85, are terminally ill, homeless or have an extreme financial hardship may apply now, while all others with MGUS may file a claim beginning Oct. 1, and with hypertension, Oct. 1, 2026.
The phase-in was included in the legislation to ensure that the VA health system does not become overwhelmed with the influx of patients. The VA currently provides health care to more than 6 million veterans.
The bill also instructs the VA to review Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claims related to the changes that have been submitted or denied that would have been evaluated differently under the new provisions.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to 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, at the same time that the House Armed Services Committee negotiates the annual defense authorization bill, the House Appropriations Committee will mark up its defense appropriations proposal. The most controversial subject at both events is likely to be top-line expenditure. Democrats in the House have stuck to President Joe Biden's plan for a 4% rise in defense spending next year, but a coalition of moderate Democrats and Republicans has argued that expenditure should be boosted to keep up with inflation expenses.
The appropriations committee's work should just take a few hours, but the armed services committee's work will most certainly last until Thursday morning. Only twice in the last ten years has work on the authorization bill (which includes a wide range of policy and spending problems) been completed before midnight, and never before 11:40 p.m.
In other news, officials with the committee claimed the decision of offering bigger recruiting and retention bonuses in 2023 under language included in the Senate Armed Services Committee's draft of the annual defense authorization bill was made in response to growing inflation costs and dwindling military recruitment attempts. Lawmakers did not say how much money will be allocated to the project, but they did say it will be included in the bill's $45 billion increase in military spending over what the White House asked for in fiscal 2023. The measure does not require any modifications to recruiting bonuses, retention incentives, or specialty pay, but it does give military leaders the authority to enhance present levels if they believe it is necessary to keep the force ready. Military officials have told Congress that they are already making use of existing incentives in order to maintain troop levels.
And lastly, the decision of Veterans Affairs officials delaying deployment to use their new electronic medical records system to additional sites until 2023 to ensure "adequate reliability", comes amid repeated congressional worries about persistent issues with the VA's Oracle Cerner Millennium software platform, which is the same records system that the Department of Defense is installing at its medical facilities. The postponement was announced to lawmakers on Friday night. The software was supposed to be deployed in the Puget Sound VA Health Care System (American Lake and Seattle VA Medical Centers) in August, however that work has been postponed until March 2023.
In addition, the VA Portland Health Care System (Portland and Portland-Vancouver VA Medical Centers) will receive the platform in April 2023, rather than November.
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, June 21, 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!
