Breaking News

Senate To Kick Off Fiscal 2025 Markups This Week

Francis Chung/POLITICO

The Senate will begin marking up annual spending bills next week, starting with three fiscal 2025 measures and overall funding totals for a dozen appropriations bills.

To read more, please click here.

Senators Implore VA Secretary Keep Community Care Access For Veterans

(Robert Turtil/VA photos)

The ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee urged Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to address a policy that he said is making it difficult for veterans to receive care, according to a June 25 letter.

To read more, please click here.

How The Military's Basic Allowance For Housing Compares With Civilian Housing Costs

KidStock / Getty Images

CBO compared the housing standards used to determine the military’s basic allowance for housing (BAH) with the housing units rented by comparable civilians. CBO also compared BAH rates with the rental costs paid by those civilians.

To read more, please click here.

AFSA On The Hill

LEGISLATIVE NEWS | On our Radar this week.

Legislative News | IMPORTANT TO REITERATE

An update from our Legislative Policy Advisor.

To view an Important Video Message, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=852131526963454

Voice your opinions: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/116669/Respond

Legislative Action Center

Support (H.R.542) the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act of 2023!

Link to Advocacy Campaign:

https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Campaigns/109556/Respond

Legislation Summary

This bill addresses home care and caregiver programs provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Under the bill, the cost of providing noninstitutional alternatives to nursing home care generally may not exceed 100% of the cost that would have been incurred if a veteran had been furnished VA nursing home care. (Under current law, these expenditures are limited to 65% of the cost.) However, for specified veterans, the VA may exceed 100% of the cost if it determines the higher cost is in the best interest of such veterans (i.e., veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a spinal cord injury, or a condition the Secretary determines to be similar to such conditions).

Among other requirements, the VA must

• Seek to enter into an agreement with the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in certain areas to furnish non-institutional alternatives to nursing home care;
• Implement various programs (e.g., the Veteran Directed Care program) to expand access to home- and community-based services;
• Provide specified support and benefits to caregivers of certain disabled veterans;
• Implement a pilot program to provide homemaker and home health aide services to veterans who reside in communities with a shortage of home health aides; and
• Ensure the availability of home and community-based services for Native American veterans.

For veterans or family caregivers who are discharged from the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, a caregiver support coordinator must provide for a personalized transition to an appropriate program.

The Veterans Health Administration must review programs administered through the Office of Geriatric and Extended Care to ensure consistency in program management, eliminate service gaps at the medical center level, and ensure the availability of and access to home and community-based services.

The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through January 26, 2032, under the VA's home loan program.

Support (H.R.3649) the 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 (H.R.2935) 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.

Support (H.R.1045) 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 up to 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 (S.2072) 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). 

Support (H.R.3253) 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 (H.R.1277) 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 (H.R.333) 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 (H.R.1282/S.344) 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 (H.R.303/S.1515) 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.

AFSA Membership Information

THE SUMMIT 24/AFSA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AFSA Professional Education, Personal Development Symposium Registration is LIVE!!!

THE SUMMIT24/AFSA International Convention Registration is LIVE!!!  This year’s Summit/AFSA International Convention will convene Friday, August 9, through Sunday,  August 11, 2024, (Departures: Monday, August 12, 2024) in Houston, Texas, at the Marriott Marquis Houston, 1777 Walker Street, Houston, TX, USA.  For more details, please click on the link below:

SUMMIT24 - AFSA (hqafsa.org)

Have You Read The Latest AFSA Magazine?

Read the latest AFSA Magazine -- it's the Spring Edition! Eye on Washington, American Military University, Final Fly Bys, Air Force Historical Foundation, Leashes of Valor, Legislative Platform, Dropping Nuggets, Annual Report. Read it here now: Spring 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

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, On July 11, the full Senate Appropriations Committee will consider its Legislative Branch, Military Construction-VA, and Agriculture-FDA funding bills, as well as a dozen subcommittee allocations known as the 302(b)s, without first going through subcommittee markups.

Like last year, Senate Democrats and Republicans have not reached an agreement on overall budget levels for 12 appropriations bills, and the amounts will most likely pass the committee along party lines. However, spending measures based on those totals are expected to pass the committee with bipartisan backing.

In addition, as ranking member, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., led 19 other senators in asking McDonough to protect veterans' rights to community care, a program used by the VA to connect veterans to health care through local doctors.

The senators claim that a panel known as the Red Team, which was tasked with determining the rationale for increasing community care spending, produced recommendations that have a negative impact on veterans who require care.

And lastly, the organization discovered that BAH rates for military personnel were often higher than those paid by comparable civilians for rent and utilities. It also discovered that in high-cost areas, many comparable civilians rented smaller dwelling units than the military housing standard. Civilians' housing options varied greatly by location, however military housing standards are consistent regardless of location.

To view the Presentation by David Mosher, CBO’s Director of National Security, at the 2024 Conference of the Western Economic Association International, please click here.

And that's the way it is for Tuesday, July 9, 2024. 

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, guard and reservists, and military family members. Stay happy, and stay healthy!