Current Capitol Hill Updates

Current as of March 2011

New Legislation

 H.R. 938, by Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, would establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I and to designate memorials to the service of men and women of the United States in World War I.

H.R. 943, by Rep. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, would establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

H.R. 948, by Rep. David Loebsack, D-Iowa, would require the provision of behavioral health services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness standards.

H.R. 961, by Rep. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., would amend title 18, U.S. Code, with respect to the prohibition on disrupting military funerals.

S. 514, by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., would provide that fathers of permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be included with mothers of such veterans as preference eligibles for treatment in the civil service.

H.R. 985, by Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, D-Northern Mariana Islands, would require the Armed Forces to display the flags of the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands whenever the official flags of all 50 States are displayed.

S. 536, by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., would provide that utilization of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs.

H.R. 1003, by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, would authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for reserve members, former members of a reserve component, and unremarried surviving spouses and dependents of such members and former members.

H.R. 1014, by Rep. Robert E. Latta, R-Ohio, would recognize the dependent children of members of the Armed Forces who are serving on active duty or who have served on active duty through the presentation of an official lapel button.

H.R. 1019, by Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, R-Fla., would ensure that members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who were killed or wounded in certain attacks in 2009 and 2011 directed at members or employees outside of a combat zone are treated in the same manner as members and employees who are killed or wounded in combat zones.

H.R. 1025, by Rep. Timothy J. Walz, D-Minn., would recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law.

S. 542, by Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, would authorize space--available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserve components, a member or former member of a reserve component who is eligible for retired pay but for age, widows and widowers of retired members, and dependents.

S. 551, by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would improve procedures for the detention and review of status of detainees of the United States in connection with the continuing armed conflict with al Qaeda, the Taliban, and affiliated groups.

H.R. 1046, by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., would authorize a member of the Armed Forces to designate anyone as the person authorized to direct disposition of the remains of the member if the member dies while on active duty.

H.R. 1089, by Rep. Rush D. Holt, D-N.J., would direct the Secretary of Defense to provide members of the Individual Ready Reserve, Individual Mobilization Augmentees, and inactive members of the National Guard who served in Afghanistan or Iraq with information on counseling to prevent suicide.

H.R. 1092, by Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., would prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care.

S. 579, by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., would direct the Secretary of Defense to provide members of the Individual Ready Reserve, Individual Mobilization Augmentees, and inactive members of the National Guard who served in Afghanistan or Iraq with information on counseling to prevent suicide.

H.R. 1110, by Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif, would increase the maximum monthly rate for the military special pay known as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or hazardous duty pay, to increase the maximum monthly rate for the family separation allowance paid to deployed members of the Armed Forces.

H.R. 1130, by Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., would provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents.

H.R. 1133, by Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services associated with certain supported housing programs for veterans.

H.R. 1142, by Rep. Allen B. West, R-Fla, would ensure the equitable treatment of members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who are killed or wounded in an attack, occurring outside of a combat zone, that targeted the members or employees on account of their status as members of the Armed Forces or civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

H.R. 1154, by Rep. John R. Carter, R-Texas, would prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.

H.R. 1178, by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., would extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.

Major Victories

·       Montgomery GI Bill Payment Rate Increased to $51,300.  As of October 1, 2010, the monthly Montgomery GI Bill payment rate will increase 4.2% to $1,426 making the total benefit worth over $51,300 for a full-time student.

·       S. 3234, the “Veteran Employment Assistance Act,” would improve employment training and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

·       S. 3447, the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act,” would improve educational assistance for those who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001.

·       S. 3517, the “Claims Processing Improvement Act,” would improve the processing of claims for disability compensation filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

·       S. 3325, the “Veterans Telehealth and other Care Improvements Act,” would improve the quality of health care provide by the VA, increase access to health care and benefits provided by the VA, and authorize major medical facility construction projects of the VA.

·       S. 3107, the “Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act,” would provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2010, in the rates of VA disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation.

·       S. 3609, a bill that would extend the temporary authority for the performance of medical disability examinations by contract physicians for the VA, improve SGLI and VGLI programs, and modify the provision of compensation and pension to surviving spouses of veterans in the months of the deaths of the veterans.

Continuing Efforts

AFSA Director of Military and Government Relations met with key staff members of Senators Akaka and Collins to encourage legislation that would allow adult children to continue medical coverage under the TRICARE health care plan until the age of 26, at no additional cost to the sponsoring parent – either an active duty or retired parent (enrolled in TRICARE).

As many of you know, recently passed civilian health care reform allows adult children to continue coverage under their parent’s healthcare until they reach 26. (Under TRICARE, however, military children age-out of the military medical plan when they turn 21 or 23; 23, if attending college and 50% or more support comes from the parent.) On the civilian side, we are finding that many civilian insurance companies are absorbing the additional cost at this time, rather than increasing premiums on each individual child. Here’s how it works. If the family currently is enrolled in a family plan, there will be no increased costs. If they are in a single plan and have children under the age of 26, they would simply enroll in the family plan.

The current military (DOD) TRICARE proposed “plan” would cost military families (active duty or retired) close to $4,000.00 per child - per year to enroll them in the Continued Health Care Benefit Plan (CHCBP).

AFSA is working closely with The Military Coalition to ensure the NDAA this year allows military adult children coverage up until age 26 – AND with no increased costs to our family members who are enrolled in TRICARE! We believe there’s no reason for military healthcare beneficiaries to pay extra when many of their civilian counterparts do not.

Top Goals

· Prevent (or minimize) TRICARE enrollment fee increases

· Reduce Guard and Reserve Retirement age (from 60 to 55)

· Support Concurrent Receipt of Retirement and Disability Pay

· Ensure technical corrections to the Post-9/11 GI Bill

· Promote enhancements to Exceptional Family Member Program/Respite Care/Child Development Centers