Breaking News

What's In Store For VA Disability Benefits With New Office OF Management And Budget Chief

(AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

During his confirmation hearing on Jan. 21, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins pledged to preserve veterans benefits and not "balance the budgets on the backs of veterans."

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Air Force's Big Reorganization Effort Focused On China Paused By Defense Secretary

(U.S. Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox)

The Air Force and Space Force have paused wide-ranging reorganization efforts aimed at becoming more competitive with China, with the delay allowing the next service secretary to weigh in on the plan.

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House Military Personnel Panel Eyes Reforms To Recruiting Efforts 

(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Last year, House Armed Services Committee members focused on getting better pay and benefits for troops in their personnel policy discussions. This year, the goal is to help bring more troops into the ranks to enjoy those quality-of-life boosts.

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AFSA On The Hill

LEGISLATIVE NEWS | On our Radar this week.

Legislative Update | 

AFSA is tracking reports of moving mishaps with Homesafe Alliance and the new Global Household Goods Contract(GHC).

If you had trouble with your move, please tell us about your experience:

https://www.hqafsa.org/legcontact.html

Read more about this issue:

https://www.stripes.com/.../service-member-hhg-moving...

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at milgov3@hqafsa.org.

Legislative Action Center

The 119th Congress 

Several historic events occurred on Friday, January 3rd, the first day the 119th Congress met. Despite being a long list, this 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:

Support Education Savings Accounts For Military Families Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/108025/Respond

Legislation Summary

• This bill urges the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to give cash for educational expenditures to children whose parents are on active duty in the uniformed forces.
• Specifically, ED must create a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account for dependent children of parents in uniformed services to pay for their educational expenditures.
• Savings account funds may be utilized for specific objectives, such as the cost of attending a private elementary or secondary school or a higher education institution, private tutoring, or expenditures associated with an apprenticeship or other vocational training program.

Support Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act!

Link to Advocacy Campaign:

https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/113524/Respond

Legislation Summary

• This bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs to create and implement a 5-year pilot program to treat TBI and PTSD. 

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 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.

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

Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?

AFSA NEWS | Read, download, print, and share the latest AFSA Magazine here now.... Featuring Honoring Kerry L. Wright, the AFSA Eye on Washington, American University, AFSA AField, Veterans Health Alert, Final Fly Bys, USAF Honor Guard, and the Barnes Center for Enlisted Education.

Fall Magazine 2024 - AFSA (hqafsa.org)

Have you called to verify, update, and correct your membership contact information? If you received a postcard asking you to call in, please take a few moments to call to update your info, and learn about the AFSA Oral Historical Project 2023. Learn more here now... 

Please click here to view

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, the confirmation of Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, who contributed to two conservative playbooks that favor large changes to VA disability benefits, has put veterans' service organizations on alert for any prospective changes in VA compensation.

Vought, confirmed Thursday by a 53-47 Senate vote, led the Center for Renewing America think tank's 2023 report, which proposed for cutting VA disability compensation for veterans who reach Social Security retirement age and abolishing unemployability benefits for these veterans as well.

Additionally, a year ago, the Department of the Air Force announced a comprehensive strategy for the services to prepare for great power competition, which is defense talk for increased budget and methods aimed at rivals such as Russia and China. In total, 24 initiatives were launched, the majority of which were led by former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden.

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's new defense secretary, placed a halt to the reorganization plans last week, a Department of the Air Force official informed Military.com.

In other news, Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, the incoming head of the committee's military personnel panel and an Air Force veteran in his third term in Congress, will lead the Armed Services' personnel subcommittee following one of the most consequential legislative years for troops and their families in decades. 

In 2024, lawmakers authorized a major pay hike for junior enlisted troops, which will take effect in April, as well as increases in medical care access, day care opportunities, and military spouse aid programs, all in an effort to promote recruiting and retention.

And that's the way it is for Thursday, February 13, 2025.

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!