This Week In Congress: Ukraine's Future After A Year Of Fighting 

Just days after the one-year anniversary of the start of fighting in Eastern Europe, Ukraine will be the focus of multiple congressional hearings as lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week. To read more, please click here.

Opt Out Or Pay: All Troops To Automatically Get Life Insurance March 1

All eligible troops are going to be signed up for $500,000 worth of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage starting on March 1 -- even those who chose not to buy SGLI coverage in the past -- unless they opt out. To read more, please click here.

Military Services Will Amend COVID Vaccine Refuser Records So They Aren't Passed Over For Promotions 

All of the military services are currently reworking their policies to adjust separation and promotion records for service members who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, after the Pentagon ended the inoculation mandate last month. To read more, please click here.

Veterans Can Now Access Their Disability Benefit Decisions Online 

By: VA Office Of Public Affairs  | VA.Gov

Veterans can now access their disability benefit claim decision notice letters electronically on VA.gov, empowering them to quickly and easily see their disability decisions.

Before this option was available, Veterans had to wait for a paper copy of their decision notice to be mailed to them. While previous iterations of VA.gov allowed Veterans to access benefits summary letters, they could not access the full copy of these decision notification letters from their electronic claims folders.

This service became available to Veterans on VA.gov on Jan. 17. Since launching, nearly 280,000 decision notice letters have been downloaded.

“Veterans now have access to their benefits decisions anytime, anyplace – right at their fingertips,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VA disability benefits can also open the door to other federal and state benefits, so quick and easy access to a decision means quicker access to the additional benefits Veterans deserve.”

The new electronic option is also expected to reduce calls to the National Call Centers, freeing up call center respondents to answer other questions and requests from Veterans and their families.

To access their decision letters, Veterans can log in to VA.gov and check the status of their claim. 

IMPORTANT TO REITERATE: Life Insurance Premiums For Service-Members Are Increased By $100K, And Disabled Veterans Now Have A New Choice.

By: Vanessa Lee  | AFSA's Legislative Communications & Administrative Assistant

Starting March 1, military life insurance premiums will rise for the first time in 18 years. A further $100,000 in life insurance will be automatically added for service members, increasing the total Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage to $500,000.

The Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Program will now allow up to $500,000 in coverage, instead of the previous $400,000 maximum. This policy benefits specified beneficiaries.

Even individuals who have previously decreased or denied their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, or SGLI, will automatically receive the expanded coverage. All eligible individuals for SGLI, including Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve members, are covered more comprehensively.

The monthly out-of-pocket costs of military members' paychecks will rise by roughly 30% to $31 for the coverage.

According to a Department of Veterans Affairs online update, all eligible service members will initially receive SGLI coverage automatically at the maximum coverage level unless they choose to deny it.

The rise results from the cost-of-living adjustments granted by Congress as part of the S.2794: Supporting  Families of the Fallen Act, which President Joseph Biden signed into law on October 17.

One dollar is included in each monthly SGLI premium for TSGLI. The Traumatic Injury Protection benefit under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance helps eligible service members recover financially in the near term after suffering a serious accident, such as a limb loss or other types of injuries. Like before, the service member's dependent children are likewise covered for $10,000 by SGLI at no additional charge. The Family SGLI program, a different one that offers additional life insurance for partners and dependent children, does not modify the coverage amounts.

Former service personnel have the option to keep their coverage under the Veterans' Group Life Insurance after they leave the military, as long as they continue to pay the premiums.

According to the department, VGLI coverage won't automatically be increased. At specific anniversary periods, eligible veterans under 60 who have maintained coverage will be able to acquire more coverage.

A new life insurance program for veterans with disabilities related to their service was also introduced this month by the VA.

As a veteran matures, starting at age 30, the VGLI rates rise every five years, unlike the rates for service members. The monthly premium for coverage of $500,000 for veterans under the age of 29 will be $35. Beginning March 1, the full table of premiums for $500,000 for all ages will be accessible on the VA website.

Although SGLI is regarded as a reliable benefit for service members at a fair price, it expires when a person quits the military. Within a year and 120 days, SGLI can be changed to the Veterans' Group Life Insurance scheme. In comparison to other insurance plans, VGLI is more expensive. Yet, it's crucial to keep in mind that, regardless of condition, everyone leaving the military with SGLI coverage is eligible for VGLI. You don't have to provide documentation of your physical fitness if you apply for VGLI within 240 days of your separation.

VALife will be an option for veterans enrolled in the current Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance, according to a VA statement. Veterans will also have the choice to keep their current coverage.

LAST CHANCE: AFSA 2023 Total Force Survey!

The Total Force 2023 survey will expire soon 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.

To complete the survey, please visit https://www.hqafsa.org/takeaction.html

Introduced By The 118th Congress 

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.
• Sponsor: Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon [R-PR-At Large]
• Committees – House Armed Services

• 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.

Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?

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 more information, please click here.

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: 

1. Call Member & Field Relations team directly at 800-638-0594 x 288 (Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
2. Email to: msvcs@hqafsa.org
3. 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, Colin Kahl, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, will testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday to discuss US military assistance to Ukraine and how that equipment is being used.
Republicans in the chamber have expressed concerns about rising fraud and waste in previous aid deals.

In parallel, experts from outside think tanks will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee to give a status report on the most recent developments in the conflict and discuss what they might indicate for a durable end to the combat.

Hearings before the Senate Banking Committee and House Appropriations Committee are anticipated to cover the subject as well. 

In addition, if military personnel don't take action before the deadline in March, they will be charged automatically.

The higher sum indicates an increase in the maximum benefit of $100,000.
If you pass away while on active service or while enlisting in the National Guard or Reserve, the insurance, which is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), pays your beneficiaries.

Service members have until March 31 to opt out of the new automatic paycheck deductions or pay the entire $31 fee for $500,000 in coverage before coverage begins on March 1.
The previous cap of $400,000 came with a $24 monthly charge. 

During March, eligible troops need to decide whether to:

• Do nothing and accept the maximum coverage.
• Reduce their coverage. TSGLI and dependent child coverage remain in place all the way down to the coverage minimum of $50,000.
• Change their beneficiaries.
• Decline the coverage entirely. This will also cancel the TSGLI and dependent child coverage.

Go to the SGLI Online Enrollment System from March 1-31 to make any needed changes; access it on the milConnect website.

And lastly, according to a press release on Friday, the Pentagon ordered all the services to "officially retract any policies, directives, and guidelines implementing those vaccination mandates as soon as feasible, if they have not already done so."

By March 17, the service branches must inform the Pentagon that they have made the necessary changes. The reinstatement of service members who were discharged from the military for refusing the shot is not included in the new policy guidelines to the services. 

Some of the branches, including the Army and Air Force, started issuing their directives on the same day the Pentagon set the deadline for the services, stating they will erase or modify adverse actions in records relating to vaccine rejection.

Letters of admonishment, counseling, or reprimand, records of individual counseling, nonjudicial sanctions, and ongoing involuntary discharge processes relating to vaccine refusal will all be revoked, according to the Secretary of the Air Force, which also provides direction for the Space Force. 

And that's the way it is for Tuesday, February 28, 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!