Author Archives: Gene Fenstermacher

Legislative Update 13 January 2017: Renewed Push For Full Concurrent Receipt

                    We have no Action Items today

                                           Issues 

                  Click on the underlined titles below: 

PUSH FOR FULL CONCURRENT RECEIPT IS RENEWED IN THE 115TH CONGRESS

Lawmakers introduce bills to help disabled retirees

Veterans groups cheered this week as legislators introduced new bills to allow full concurrent receipt.

 
 

TRUMP NAMES NEW VA SECRETARY

President-elect names first non-veteran to lead the VA

This week President-elect Donald Trump nominated Dr. David Shulkin to head the VA.

 
 

MATTIS STRESSES NEED FOR BETTER READINESS, STRONG ALLIANCES IN NOMINATION HEARING

Four-star moves towards confirmation as next SecDef

Congress agrees on a waiver to allow Gen. James Mattis, USMC (Ret) to become the next Secretary of Defense.

 
 

BEVY OF BILLS TO BOOST VETS

Congress kicks off session by addressing veteran’s issues

Members of the 115th Congress began introducing a deluge of legislation targeting veterans, including bills aimed at extending benefits to “Blue Water Navy” veterans, revoking bonuses paid to VA employees, and expanding the rules of concurrent receipt of retired and VA disability pay.

 
 

CAMP LEJEUNE, WATER CONTAMINATION, AND VA BENEFITS

New rule for VA benefits related to water contamination announced

A new rule provides presumptive service connection status for certain conditions likely caused by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

 

 

 

 

 

Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends –  don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources.

.                      That’s it for today- Thanks for your continuing help!

 

Legislative Update 6 January 2017: The 115th Congress Begins

                         We have one Action Item today at Issue 1 below

                                           Issues 

                  Click on the underlined titles below: 

REPEAL SEQUESTRATION NOW

Send your legislators a MOAA-suggested message urging repeal

Without a sequestration fix, DoD’s budget options go from bad to worse next year and beyond.

DOD UPDATE ON CA NATIONAL GUARD BONUSES

Army works overtime to reach resolution

DoD moves forward to quickly resolve debts created by erroneous bonus payments.

AVALANCHE OF ENACTED TRICARE CHANGES POSES CHALLENGES

Lots of TRICARE changes coming

Implementation might not be seamless.

TWO KEY SECRETARIES SHARE THEIR DEPARTING THOUGHTS

DoD Secretary Ash Carter’s exit memo can be found here.

VA Secretary Bob McDonald’s exit memo can be found here.

THE EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM: THE LONG ROAD TO PARITY

A focus on programs and services for DoD family members with special needs

The next Military Family Readiness Council meeting spotlights the needs of exceptional family members.

DEFENSE BILL WINS

Personnel and health care gains in defense bill

Check out our quick video recap of the FY 2017 defense bill.

 

 

 

 

 

Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends – don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources.

.                  That’s it for today- Thanks for your continuing help!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legislative Update 23 December: 2016: Happy Holidays From MOAA

        We have one Action Item today at Issue 4 below

                                           Issues 

               Click on the underlined titles below: 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MOAA

A message from MOAA President Lt Gen Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret)

MOAA wishes you the best! (No legislative update next week.)

COMBAT WOUNDED VETS MAY RECOUP WITHHELD SEVERANCE TAXES

Combat-Injured Veterans Fairness Act signed by president

New law provides 14,000 combat wounded vets a way to collect wrongfully withheld taxes.

COSTS KILL BIG VET GAINS

Career reservists finally recognized as veterans

Tom Philpott notes new legislation is long on tweaks and studies, short on impactful change.

ONE OF YOUR LEGISLATORS DESERVES THANKS

Career reservists finally recognized as veterans

Please thank them for completing a good defense bill.

 

 

 

 

Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends – don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources.

.                      That’s it for today- Thanks for your continuing help!

 

Legislative Update 16 December 2016: What Coming TRICARE Changes Will Affect You?

                       We have no Action Items today

                                           Issues 

                  Click on the underlined titles below: 

WHAT COMING TRICARE CHANGES WILL AFFECT YOU?

Who’s footing the bill?

In his December On Watch column, MOAA Government Relations Vice President Col. Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), takes a look at the changes in-store for TRICARE.

 
 

COLA FIZZLES

The November Consumer Price Index takes a dive but stays in the black

Follow trends on MOAA’s COLA Watch.

 
 

CONGRESS PASSES VET BILL BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Needed improvements coming to VA

Major VA reforms omitted, but some progress is being made.

 
 

US HOUSING ALLOWANCE RISE AVERAGES 2.4 PERCENT

Tom Philpott’s column highlights locality changes for 2017

Allowances fail to keep up with housing costs for third straight year.

 
 

TOP TEN MILITARY FAMILY ISSUES IN DEFENSE BILL

Family leave changes in store

Take a look at how the defense bill affects families.

 

 

 

 

 

   Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends –don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources.

.                       That’s it for today- Thanks for your continuing help!

 

Legislative Update 9 December 2016: Are Your Benefits Veto Bait?

We have two Action Items at the first and fourth Issues below

                                           Issues 

                  Click on the underlined titles below:

ARE YOUR BENEFITS VETO BAIT?

Defense bill heads to White House as Congress works on short-term budget deal

Lawmakers sent the defense bill to the White House, but will the president veto it?

 
 

GATES: CONGRESS SHOULD “ABSOLUTELY” APPROVE MATTIS TO BE SECDEF

MOAA sits down with former Defense Secretary Robert Gates

Gates thinks Mattis is the exception to the rule.

 
 

NATIONAL GUARD CHIEF: NO INDICATION OF SYSTEMIC BONUS PROBLEMS OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA

Pentagon officials on the hot seat in congressional hearing

DoD confident that FY17 defense bill provides adequate remedy.

 
 

HOUSE OKS IMPROVEMENTS FOR VETS, SURVIVORS

Omnibus bill passes unanimously

But action must be taken in last days of Senate session.

 
 

VIDEO WARRIORS FACE UNIQUE MORAL STRESS

MOAA welcomes Tom Philpott’s Military Update as weekly feature

Remote pilots must watch crimes and punishment in high definition.

 
 

FAMILY PCS FLEXIBILITY LOSES IN DEFENSE BILL

Requirement dropped in favor of report

Provision would have let spouse, family relocate before or after servicemember.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends –

don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources.

.                               That’s it for today- Thanks for your continuing help!

 

Legislative Update 2 December: 2016: Defense Bill: Pay, SBP, TRICARE, and Housing Wins

       We have two Action Items at first and second Issues below

                                           Issues 

                  Click on the underlined titles below:

 

DEFENSE BILL: PAY, SBP, TRICARE, AND HOUSING WINS

Victories in military compensation and health care

House and Senate leaders reach agreement on a sprawling piece of legislation.

 
 

TELL THE SENATE TO PASS VA APPEALS REFORM

Little time is left to act

The House passed a comprehensive VA reform bill and now the Senate needs to act.

 
 

TRUMP SAYS IT’S TIME FOR A GENERAL TO RUN THE PENTAGON. IS HE RIGHT?

Should a general lead DoD?

Trump taps General James Mattis, USMC (Ret) to be the next Secretary of Defense.

 
 

MOAA AND SECDEF DISCUSS SEQUESTRATION, FORCE NEEDS

Sequestration would slash DoD budget

MOAA President Lt Gen Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret) meets with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.

 
 

YOUR PHARMACY OPTIONS HAVE CHANGED

CVS out, Walgreens back in pharmacy shakeup

As of Dec. 1, prescriptions filled at CVS are considered out-of-network for TRICARE beneficiaries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collectively We Can and Are Making a Difference

 

FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends –

don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources.

.                     That’s it for today- Thanks for your continuing help!