Congressman To Lead On Struggles For Troops Focusing On Pay, Food Insecurity
With the House personnel subcommittee targeting "other issues" like politicization in the military, the House Armed Services Committee has set up a new panel that will exclusively focus on the issues that directly impact service members' quality of life.
Enrollments In VA Medical Care Spiked After PACT Act Passage Last Year
Veterans Affairs officials saw a surge in patients enrolling in department health care services following the passage of sweeping military toxic exposure legislation last summer, but leaders are confident they have hiring plans in place to absorb the extra work.
New VA Initiative Helped House More Than 40K Vets Last Year
Veterans Affairs staffers helped move more than 40,000 veterans into permanent housing last year, surpassing their goal and establishing new pathways to help individuals in need, officials announced today.
Chairman Bost Announces 118th Congress Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee Chairs
By: Kathleen McCarthy | House Committee On Veterans' Affairs
On Monday, January 30th, Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after he announced the five Subcommittee chairs for the 118th Congress:
“I am proud to announce that over half of our subcommittee chairs for this Congress are veterans themselves. We have a big agenda ahead of us, but I know these men and women are up to the task. They bring a wealth of real-life experience and a passion for serving those who have worn the uniform to the table. These new and returning legislators know firsthand what it’s like to navigate the VA bureaucracy; start a veteran-owned small business; transition out of the military; and use VA care. With our subcommittee chairs in place, we are ready to hit the ground running for veterans and their families to improve the delivery of care and services at VA,” said Chairman Bost.
Subcommittee on Health: Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (IA-01)
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the House Veterans Affairs’ Committee and honored to be named Chair of the Health Subcommittee,” said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. “Improving services for veterans has remained one of my top priorities, and I firmly believe care should be more efficient, more effective, and more accessible. I look forward to using my background as both a veteran and a healthcare professional to bring a unique perspective to the table.”
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs: Rep. Morgan Luttrell (TX-08)
“I’m honored to have been selected to serve as Chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs subcommittee,” said Congressman Luttrell. “As a disabled veteran myself, I understand and appreciate the challenges our servicemembers face once they’ve returned home. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and under the leadership of Chairman Bost to effectively lead on the crucial work ahead of us to better serve our veterans.”
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03)
“If we can house tens of thousands of illegal immigrants each month, there is no excuse for a single homeless veteran in this nation. Supporting veterans’ mental health and financial fitness needs to be a priority for America, and will be for this committee,” said Congressman Van Orden.
Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations: Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02)
“It’s a great honor to Chair the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Oversight Subcommittee,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “As a veteran myself, I’m well aware of the challenges that our nation's heroes face once they complete their service; I look forward to ensuring that they’re receiving the best possible care from a VA that puts their needs first. I deeply appreciate Chairman Bost’s faith in me and can’t wait to get to work!”
Subcommittee on Technology Modernization: Rep. Matt Rosendale (MT-02)
“I’m honored to serve veterans as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization,” said Congressman Rosendale. “As the son and brother of military veterans, I’m committed to ensuring that the VA’s technology meets the standard of care that our nation’s heroes deserve.”
IMPORTANT TO REITERATE: VA Housed More Than 40,000 Homeless Veterans In 2022
By: VA Office Of Public Affairs | VA.gov
During 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs permanently housed 40,401 homeless Veterans, providing them with the safe, stable homes that they deserve. This exceeded the department’s goal to house 38,000 Veterans in 2022 by 6.3%.
Nationally, the total number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has decreased by 11% since January 2020. In total, the estimated number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in America has declined by 55.3% since 2010.
This success is a result of VA efforts to reach out to every Veteran experiencing homelessness, understand their unique needs, and address them. These efforts are grounded in the evidence-based “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then provides the Veteran with the wraparound support they need to stay housed — including health care, job training, legal and education assistance and more.
“There are thousands of formerly homeless Veterans who are going to sleep tonight in good, safe, stable homes – and there’s nothing more important than that,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “This is great progress, but it’s just the beginning: we at VA will not rest until the phrase ‘homeless Veteran’ is a thing of the past.”
Ending Veteran homelessness is a top priority of VA and the Biden-Harris Administration. Earlier this year, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness released All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, which set forth President Biden’s ambitious goal to reduce all homelessness by 25% by 2025. As a part of that effort, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which closely partners with VA in the fight to end homelessness, announced today that through HUD and USICH’s House America initiative, communities have housed over 100,000 households since September 2021.
Throughout 2022, VA staff helped Veterans find permanent housing such as apartments or houses that Veterans could rent or own, often with a subsidy to help make the housing affordable. VA staff also helped some Veterans end their homelessness by reuniting them with family and friends.
VA also continues to focus on combating Veteran homelessness in the Greater Los Angeles area. During 2022, VA provided 1,301 permanent housing placements for formerly homeless Veterans in LA, the most of any city in America.
If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Visit the VA Homeless Programs websiteto learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
AFSA 2023 Total Force Survey!
The Total Force 2023 survey is now available on the HQAFSA.org website, just in case you missed it or haven't caught up. Please take the time to complete the survey so that our Military and Government Relations Team can best assist you. The survey this year is thorough and covers a variety of vital subjects for our members, such as an Active Component, Reserve Component, and more! Have any inquiries? Contact our M&G team by sending an email to milgov3@hqafsa.org.
Several historic events occurred on Tuesday, the first day the 118th Congress met. Despite being a long list, these legislation addresses a larger variety of public policy objectives that fall under the purview of the seven main emphasis groups of our legislative platform. The bills are currently being introduced, and AFSA is striving to provide more details on the following:
H.R.254 – To amend title 10 United States Code, to improve the administration of the TRICARE program in Puerto Rico, and for other purposes.
H.R.236 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate a week as “Battle Buddy Check Week” for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sheila Lee Jackson [D-TX-18]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.234 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a burial allowance for certain veterans who die at home while in receipt of hospice care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Jack Bergman [R-MI-1]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.228 – To amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department of Defense physical examination for separating members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
Committees – House Armed Services, House Veterans Affairs
H.R.226 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to promote and encourage collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning that provide administrative assistance to veterans.
Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.221 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand eligibility for participation in the Federal Pell Grant program to certain trade schools.
Sponsor: Robert J. Wittman [R-VA-1]
Committees – Education and Labor
H.R.214 – To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide eligibility for TRICARE selected for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Gregory W. Steube [R-FL-17]
Committees – House Armed Services, House Veterans Affairs
H.R.196 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modify the information technology systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the automatic processing of claims for certain temporary disability ratings, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Matthew M. Rosendale Sr. [R-MT-2]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.129 – To require the Secretary of Defense to ensure drop boxes are maintained on military installations for the deposit of unused prescription drugs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Vern Buchanan [R-FL-16]
Committees – House Armed Services
H.R.105 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to veterans with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sponsor: Andy Biggs [R-AZ-5]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.104 – To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to formally recognize caregivers of veterans, notify veterans and caregivers of clinical determinations relating to eligibility for caregiver programs, temporarily extend benefits for veterans who are determined ineligible for the family caregiver program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Andy Biggs [R-AZ-5]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
H.R.41 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure the timely scheduling of appointments for health care at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: James R. Baird [R-IN-4]
Committees – House Veterans Affairs
If you have any additional questions on this specific issue, please e-mail our Military and Government Relations team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.
This edition features Port Mortuary and America’s Missing Heroes, Living with Bipolar Disorder in the Military, Fly-By Wire Defense and AFSA’s American Award Recipient – Don Ward. Read, download, print and share: https://www.hqafsa.org/fallmagazine.html
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!
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In sum, the new subpanel's chief told Military.com in an interview on Monday that raising pay for junior enlisted service members and improving living circumstances for military personnel would be among its top priorities.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., wants his new quality-of-life panel to look into issues like gaps in military health care coverage, long waitlists for daycare facilities, and the challenges military spouses experience in the job market.
The first sessions of the quality-of-life panel, according to Bacon, would center on pay-related issues. Despite the fact that military members receive annual pay hikes, including a 4.6% increase this year that was the greatest pay increase in 20 years, the congressman claimed that the uniform raises had made the pay disparity between junior and senior employees worse. The exact solution will depend on what the panel discovers during its hearings, but Bacon noted that pay scales may be changed or stipends like the Basic Allowance for Subsistence could be modified.
In addition, VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal told reporters on Thursday that from the beginning of August 2022 to last week, around 21,000 more veterans had registered for VA medical care. In comparison to the same five-month period a year prior, that represents a rise of more than 17%. Elnahal stated that although there is no concrete evidence connecting the increase to the passage of the PACT Act (also known as the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act) last summer, officials do feel the two problems are connected.
The PACT Act required that soldiers receive 10 years of VA health care coverage after leaving the military, along with extended disability benefits for people who suffer from illnesses related to burn pit smoke and other pollutants from military service.
About 800,000 veterans were affected by that benefit expansion. Additionally, VA officials have been publicly urging more veterans to enroll in the Department of Health Care in recent months to make sure their military-specific ailments are being monitored and addressed.
And lastly, Denis McDonough, the secretary of the VA, revealed plans to place 38,000 veterans who are experiencing severe financial difficulty and housing issues in stable, permanent homes by the end of 2022 eleven months ago. According to department officials, they attained 40,401 by December 31.
Federal officials reported that from roughly 37,000 in January 2020 to about 33,000 in January 2022, there were significantly fewer homeless veterans on any given night across the nation.
The data originates from the yearly Point-In-Time count, which is conducted in January. They don't contain a complete list of everyone who will become homeless over the course of a year, but they do provide a snapshot of the veterans' housing crisis as it stands right now. This week is PIT count week for 2023.
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
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!
