Breaking News

This Week In Congress: One Week Left To Avoid A Government Shutdown 

(Leo Shane III/Staff)

Congress enters its final scheduled week of work before the November elections with a plan to avoid a government shutdown next month but only a few days left on the calendar to get it passed.

To read more, please click here.

Veterans Not Covered By Toxic Hazards Legislation Wait Decades For VA Recognition, Report Finds

(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

The passage of the PACT Act gave millions of veterans the chance at expedited disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, but thousands of others exposed to environmental hazards in military service wait roughly 31 years to receive similar recognition from the VA, a new report has found.

To read more, please click here.

Amid Military Housing Crunch, Lawmakers Propose Incentive For Development To Build Near Bases

(Derick Fennell/U.S. Army)

Hoping to provide service members more affordable housing options near military bases, a bipartisan pair of House members wants to offer developers a tax incentive to build that housing.

To read more, please click here.

AFSA On The Hill

LEGISLATIVE NEWS | On our Radar this week.

Much was accomplished at the AFSA International Convention and SUMMIT24. Read the Approved 2024/2025 AFSA Legislative Platform here now... be sure to share it with your Division and Chapter members! We are AFSA. WE ARE FOCUSED ON EDUCATION - ADVOCACY - COMMUNITY - ACTION 

Legislative Platform - AFSA (hqafsa.org)

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

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 Sunday, House leaders unveiled proposals for a short-term budget extension that would support federal operations until December 20. The funds would ensure minimal disruption to federal programs and services during the fall elections, as well as an opportunity for the newly elected White House administration to weigh in on the full federal budget later this year.

House leaders had planned for a lengthier budget extension and additional provisions on voting security in their initial budget bill drafts, but those proposals did not receive enough support to move forward. If legislators do not accept the compromise plan by Oct. 1, it may lead to a partial government shutdown, delaying military payments and closing some non-essential Defense Department and Veterans Affairs functions.

In addition, the passage of the PACT Act provided millions of veterans with the opportunity to receive expedited disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, but thousands of others exposed to environmental hazards while serving in the military must wait approximately 31 years for similar recognition from the VA, according to a new report.

According to a report released Wednesday by Disabled American Veterans and the Military Officers Association of America, the VA's disability claims filing process, which requires veterans to prove that their health conditions are directly related to military service, is difficult for those who are unaware that they were exposed to toxic substances or who do not associate a latent illness with military service.

And lastly, Reps. Blake Moore, R-Utah, and Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., have introduced a bill that would provide a low-income housing tax credit, or LIHTC, to developers that create homes within 15 miles of significant military facilities. The bill would also eliminate service members' housing allowances from income calculations when applying for low-income housing. For years, service members and policymakers have expressed worries about housing affordability and the scarcity of affordable homes near military bases.

And that's the way it is for Tuesday, September 24th, 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!