AFSA Chapter 1075
P.O. Box 257 Randolph AFB, TX 78148
http://www.afsa1075.org/
Legislative Update – 13 August 2015
Support Full 2.3% Military Pay Raise
Background: By law, annual military pay raises are intended to parallel private sector wage growth. Each October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics takes a look at the third quarter of the current year as compared to the third quarter of the previous year. If there is an increase in private sector wages (as measured by the Employment Cost Index (ECI)), military pay will be increased by the same percentage. In other words, the military pay formula in law is set so that military pay grows by the same percentage as increases in private sector wages. This allows the pay of military members and their families to keep pace with the economy in which they live.
However, there is a provision in the law that allows presidents to ask for a raise lower than that for a national crisis or economic emergencies. For the past three years, President Obama has made that declaration, calling his proposed cuts "modest," yet overtly indicating that his motivation is to slow the growth of military compensation. AFSA absolutely opposes this as attempting to balance the budget at the expense of the extraordinary people who defend this nation. Unfortunately, for the past two years Congress, who could oppose this, has approved the President's proposals. They may do so again for the 2016 military pay raise, unless you act.
As the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been debated and accomplished in the House and Senate (separately) during the first six months of this year, the House has indicated it supports the full 2.3 percent military pay raise as dictated by the ECI formula. However, the Senate effort (in its version of the NDAA), spearheaded by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has once again agreed to the President's wishes for only a 1.3 percent military pay raise starting in January 2016. Because the House and Senate are in disagreement over the pay raise, this issue must be resolved via the joint House and Senate conference (now underway) to come up with a single FY 2016 NDAA to send up to the President for veto or signature.
Action Request: In order for us to succeed in securing the full 2.3 percent pay raise, your participation is needed now. We urge all AFSA members, their family members, colleagues and friends to send a letter to their two Senators and their Representative urging that the Senate yield to the House on the matter of the military pay raise for 2016-and that House members/conferees stick to their guns on the 2.3 percent pay raise. We strongly maintain that military members and their families must receive pay raises that at least allow them and their families to keep pace with the growth in the economy in which they live.
Veterans Choice Program!
In August 2014, President Obama signed into law the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014. The law directed the temporary creation of a Veterans Choice Card benefit that allows Veterans to seek care outside of VA if they face wait times longer than 30 days or in situations where a VA medical facility is not easily accessible from their home. Now one lawmaker wants to make Choice a permanent program. On Wednesday, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the"Permanent VA Choice Card Act," which would make the three-year pilot program permanent for veterans who live more than 40 miles from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital or cannot access care in a reasonable timeframe. "Today I am introducing thePermanent VA Choice Card Actto make the current three-year pilot program for the VA Choice Card permanent, removing the 40-mile limit and making all veterans eligible" said McCain. "This would help remove uncertainty from within the VA, among providers, and especially among our veterans, while sending a strong signal to all Americans that this program is here to stay."
2015 Legislation Actions
H.R. 572: Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2015
Background: To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use existing authorities to furnish health care at non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities to veterans who live more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest medical facility of the Department that furnishes the care sought by the veteran, and for other purposes.
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use the Secretary's existing authority to furnish health care to veterans at non-VA facilities to provide health care at non-VA facilities to veterans who reside more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest VA medical facility providing the care they seek.
Status as of 12 Aug 2015
2/6/2015 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
1/27/2015 - Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
H.R. 303 Concurrent Receipt
Background: To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service and combat-related special compensation.
Expresses the sense of Congress that military retired pay should not be reduced because a military retiree is also eligible for veterans' disability compensation awarded for a service-connected disability.
Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability (under current law, only a disability rated at 50% or more). Repeals provisions phasing in the full concurrent receipt of such pay through December 31, 2013. Makes eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability.
Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that military retired pay earned by service and sacrifice in defending the United States should not be reduced because a military retiree is also eligible for veterans’ disability compensation awarded for service-connected disability.
Status as of 12 Aug 2015
6/24/2015 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.
2/6/2015 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
1/13/2015 - Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
1/13/2015 - Referred to House Armed Services
1/13/2015 - Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
CAPWHIZ is now Voter Voice!
You can access it at the HQ AFSA website under “Legislative Action Center” (https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/home) or the Voter Voice link on the Chapter 1075 Website (www.afsa1075.org)