Breaking News

Republican Bill With Massive Boost To Junior Enlisted Pay Sparks Veto Threat From Biden 

The White House is taking issue with a House Republican proposal to give junior enlisted troops a more than 30% pay bump next year.

To read more, please click here.

Military Budget Bills Set To Move Ahead, But Shutdown Threat Looms

Two major pieces of military budget legislation are expected to be on the move this week, but whether either will help stave off fears of a looming government shutdown at the end of the month remains unclear.

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Air Force Secretary Calls Tuberville's Hold On Military Promotions 'Unprecedented'

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall blasted Sen. Tommy Tuberville's six-month hold on military promotions, marking some of the strongest rhetoric to date from the service secretary on the Alabama Republican's blockade.

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AFSA On The Hill

9/11, A Day Of Service And Remembrance

By: Wesley R. Walls | VA.Gov

As we embark on the 22nd anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and remember all of those who were injured and killed, let’s take time to give back to those Veterans who gave so much to defend our country after these tragic events.

9/11 is recognized as a National Day of Service. VA has many great opportunities for you, your family, a community organization or a service group to give back to area Veterans.

If you like to be on the go, VA has a volunteer driver assignment with the Volunteer Transportation Network. In this role, you can transport Veterans from their home to their VA appointments via a VA-provided vehicle.

Virtual volunteer opportunities are available through the Compassionate Contact Corps. This social prescribing program connects a trained volunteer with a socially isolated Veteran or a Veteran who is experiencing loneliness to make routine phone calls to them.

Join 22,000 volunteers

These are just two of the many robust experiences available with other assignments, including working at a food bank to help combat food insecurity, assisting Veterans with wayfinding support at the medical center by aiding them as an escort, or simply greeting Veterans at the main entrance as a Red Coat Ambassador.

Your time and talent do not have to be a full-time obligation. The assignment you choose can be worked around the schedule you have and the hours you would like to give. By becoming a VA volunteer, you are joining over 22,000 volunteers who give their time to honor the sacrifices of Veterans across the nation.

With this year’s 9/11 anniversary, take time to research these opportunities or explore the many avenues to monetarily support or donate items to your local VA. Through your efforts, you can truly make a difference in the lives of Veterans, families and caregivers.

To learn more about donations and becoming a VA volunteer, visit www.volunteer.va.gov.

Legislative Action Center

Below are the campaigns that are currently located on our Action Center. Please take no more than 5-10 minutes to scan through each of the campaigns and click on the custom links provided below. 

NEW: Support the Sergeant First Class Michael Clark TRICARE Reserve Parity Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107490/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Amend existing law to ensure three years of benefits for Guard and Reserve families, as is standard for active duty military.
• Bringing parity for guard and reserve survivor benefits to that of active-duty personnel.

NEW: Support the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2023!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107499/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.

NEW: Support the Mental Health For Military Children Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107509/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Would direct the DoD to establish a pilot program to provide routine mental health screenings or check-ups for common disorders for children ages 3-17, including questions about patients' mood, emotional state, habits, and behaviors.
• To ensure that children of military families who are at a greater risk for mental and behavioral health problems than the general population, have access to mental health screenings and check-ups at Department of Defense Education Activity schools (DoDEA). 

NEW: Support the Revisit Pay Equity Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/107467/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Increases the rate of the differential wage payment tax credit from 20% to 50% and requires that the maximum dollar amount of such credit be adjusted for inflation after 2023. 
• The credit is allowed to employers for their employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services. 

Support the Military Spouse Hiring Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103707/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Military Spouse Hiring Act would encourage companies to employ military spouses, who frequently face disproportionate impediments in the job market, by extending the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include them. 
• Intends to help military spouses find better work opportunities. 

Support the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/93860/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Authorizes veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation. 
• Makes qualified disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service eligible for concurrent receipt, subject to specified reductions in retired pay.

Support the Major Richard Star Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/93862/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Qualify approximately 42,000 military retirees with combat-related injuries to concurrently receive both military retired pay and Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation. 
• Provide total offset relief to veterans who suffered combat injuries or illnesses who were medically retired with less than twenty years of service.

Support the Retired Pay Restoration Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/92798/Respond

Legislation Summary

• Allows the receipt of both military retired pay 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.

Support the Military Family Nutrition Access Act of 2023!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103672/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Military Family Nutrition Access Act was created to aid military families with active duty members who are facing food insecurity. 
• By eliminating Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the income calculations used to establish eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the bipartisan bill will combat food insecurity. 
• Military personnel risk their life to protect our nation; they shouldn't have to worry about providing for their families. 

Support the Not Just a Number Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/103681/Respond

Legislation Summary

• The Not Just a Number Act would oblige the VA to look into how veterans use their benefits in their yearly report on suicide prevention in order to assess the connection between VA benefits and suicide outcomes. 
• In its fight against veteran suicides, the VA evaluates which VA benefits have the best impact on preventing suicide and requires the Department to submit recommendations for an increase in such benefits.

If you have any questions, please reach out to AFSA's Military and Government Relations team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.

AFSA Membership Information

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.

And That's The Way It Is...

In sum, no service member would receive less than the equivalent of $15 per hour for a 40-hour workday under the spending proposal made by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this year and planned for a vote by the full House later this week.

For instance, the measure would increase the monthly basic pay for an E-1 with at least four months of service from $1,917.63 to $2,600.60. This is in contrast to the current rate of $1,917.63. Under the proposed legislation, an E-6 with under two years of experience might earn $3,210 per month as opposed to the current $2,980.47 per month.

In addition, the yearly measure appropriating funds for the Defense Department is expected to be discussed on the House floor this week, according to House Republican leaders. Preventing any budget lapse for department operations by passing the $826 billion proposal for fiscal 2024 before the fiscal year ends (Sept. 30) is viewed as a long shot, however, given Senate Democrats' objection to certain of the measure's elements.

It's unclear when the bill will be put to a vote. More than 330 modifications to the measure need to be sorted through by members of the House Rules Committee before it can be considered on the floor.

And lastly, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who opposes the Pentagon granting leave time for abortions, was singled out by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who delivered the keynote speaker at an Air and Space Force Association convention at National Harbor, Maryland. Kendall accused Tuberville of making things difficult for the military.

Due to his opposition to the Pentagon's policy of covering leave and travel costs for service members who need abortions in the wake of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, Tuberville has used a procedural maneuver known as a hold to obstruct the confirmation of all general and flag officers since late February.
 

And that's the way it is for Tuesday, September  12, 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!