Were Dangerous 'Forever Chemicals' Released In The Red Hill Fuel Spill? the US Navy Isn't Saying
When fuel spilled from the Navy's Red Hill facility in Hawaii and tainted the drinking water for thousands of military homes in Hawaii, it sickened families and forced thousands to evacuate. But did that fuel carry other harmful toxins into people's homes in the form of so-called forever chemicals? If it did, the Navy is not saying.
DoD Hasn't Properly Tracked Lead Exposure In Military Kids
When it comes to screening and testing military children for lead exposure, there's no one at the helm to make sure it's happening, according to a new report from government auditors.
Court Blocks Air Force From Punishing Unvaccinated Troops Seeking Religious Waivers
A federal district court judge has stopped the Air Force from expelling or otherwise punishing thousands of troops who have applied for a religious waiver to avoid COVID-19 vaccination, under a newly minted class-action lawsuit.
A Message From AFSA's Legislative and Communications Assistant, Vanessa Lee
Greeting AFSA Members,
Happy Tuesday.
Next week begins our AFSA 2022 International Convention & Family Reunion.
At the current moment, our team is laser-focused on prepping for the International Convention to ensure our attendees have the best experience possible. As such, we will be taking a temporary pause from sending out our Military and Government Brief (M&G-B).
However, we will resume back on Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022.
If you have any legislative questions in the interim, please reach out to our Team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.
The AFSA 2022 International Convention & Family Reunion will convene in The Convention Center Tropicana, Las Vegas, Nevada.
If you have not done so yet, registration to attend the 2022 International Convention & Family Reunion is still open!
For more information, please visit our HQAFSA site or continue reading to the Membership Information Section of this edition of our M&G-B. See you in Las Vegas!
After Shocking Senate Defeat, Toxic Exposure Bill Advocates Are Upset.
Veterans' organizations scheduled a joyous press conference on July 28 at 10 a.m. in front of the Capitol in anticipation of new laws pertaining to compensation for hazardous substance exposure at work. The bill suffered a surprising loss in a Senate procedural vote, jeopardizing it, and angering supporters who wanted to improve benefits for millions of veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances and gases.
Advocates for veterans and senators who favor the legislation have vowed to continue working for its passage, characterizing the unexpected event from Wednesday night as a delay rather than a setback. However, they claim that the delay, which could result in cancer-stricken veterans dying as they wait for treatment, should be attributed on a handful of Republican senators who they dubbed "liars," "hypocrites," and "cowards."
The remarks were made at a news conference held on Thursday morning that was initially intended to serve as a victory lap before the expected passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, which would increase health care and disability benefits for an estimated 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving in the military.
Instead, after a majority of Senate Republicans blocked the bill from moving forward in a procedural vote, despite having supported it just a month before, the emotion of betrayal was obvious among the assembled veterans advocates and Democratic senators.
One in five veterans who are currently living in the United States may see their benefits affected by the PACT Act, also known as the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act. The potential biggest veterans policy changes in years have been lauded for months.
Benefits for diseases thought to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, burn pit smoke in Iraq, and other dangerous military toxins during various service eras are greatly increased. Additionally, it would compel adjustments in the way the Department of Veterans Affairs assesses and distributes benefits for those conditions in the future.
Also, following an unsuccessful attempt to advance the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement:
"This eleventh-hour act of cowardice will actively harm this country's veterans and their families. Republicans chose today to rob generations of toxic-exposed veterans across this country of the health care and benefits they so desperately need-and make no mistake, more veterans will suffer and die as a result."
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, the fuel that spilled in 2021 lingered in a fire suppression system line for months after it had been extinguished, according to the Navy's official report on the incident. This type of system line generally contains chemicals that are used to make firefighting foams. The group of almost 9,000 compounds collectively referred to as PFAS and called "forever chemicals" because they do not decompose consists of substances used in commerce and industry. However, they can also build up in the body and have been connected to infertility, a few cancers, and birth abnormalities.
In addition, in the DoD's 2021 report to Congress, authorities stated that 83 children had increased blood lead levels for the eight months covered by the report, 12,044 children had elevated blood lead levels, and 30,412 children had lead exposure screenings. However, auditors claimed that because it omitted information from some military treatment institutions and contained insufficient data from others, the report was probably a "undercount."
For years, military families have been concerned about how the military handled health problems connected to living in military housing, such as their children's blood lead levels.
Children are most frequently exposed to lead in buildings constructed prior to 1978. Legislators have addressed a number of issues related to mold and vermin in the military's privatized housing, in addition to lead-based paint exposure for children.
In order to screen, test, and report blood lead levels in children, DoD was required by the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act to develop guidelines, distribute them to its facility providers, and submit a report to Congress detailing the number of children screened and found to have elevated blood lead levels.
And lastly, according to Siri & Glimstad, a law firm representing the plaintiffs, Southern District of Ohio Judge Matthew McFarland's July 27 decision to certify the case, Doster v. Kendall, as a class-wide complaint temporarily protects at least 100 airmen and guardians who are involved in ongoing lawsuits contesting the Pentagon's vaccine mandate, and more than 9,000 other individuals affected by the policy. Anyone who has requested a religious exemption to the vaccination since September 1, 2021, demonstrated a sincere religious belief opposing the shot, and whose requests were denied or are still pending is now included in the group. This includes active duty members of the Air Force and Space Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Academy, and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, August 2, 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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