washingtonscene
california Signs
Service (DfaS) to identify SBP annuitants Bob corker (r-tenn.) for their strong bipar-
Kids’ compact
eligible for Dic who remarried after their tisan, bicameral leadership on this bill.”
57th birthday. Qualifying survivors will be congressional approval of the charter
n In October, California
became the 26th state
eligible to receive both payments in full, ret- ensures Moaa leaders in every state can
to join the Interstate
roactive to Jan. 1, 2004, or the date of their participate on state-level veterans’ councils.
Compact on Educational remarriage, whichever is later. at least 10 states — alabama, illinois,
Opportunity for Military
Payments will be reduced by the louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Children. The compact
amount of any previous SBP premium Minnesota, North carolina, ohio, or-
helps ease the educa-
tional transition problems
refund and by the amount of any Special egon, and Pennsylvania — limit partici-
for military kids whose
Survivor indemnity allowance payments pation on such councils to members of
parents are reassigned
the survivor might have received. organizations with a federal charter.
between states. DfaS will send letters to all of the af- Van Hollen and Jones were joined by 137
fected survivors with an accounting of cosponsors for the House bill (H.r. 2017),
the refunds and deductions. Survivors do and Nelson, leahy, corker, and 39 cospon-
not need to apply for the payment. sors championed the Senate bill, S. 832.
although the number of survivors af-
fected is relatively small, this decision gives
us yet another equity argument to change coalition
the law for all remaining SBP/Dic widows.
it simply doesn’t make sense to have Awards
two separate standards in the law, one that
Hill ceremony recognizes
allows payment of full SBP and Dic for
survivors who remarry after age 57 and
legislators, staffers.
another that forces a dollar-for-dollar offset
between the two benefits for all others.
congress OKs
O
n Oct. 6, the Military coali-
tion (tMc) presented its highest
awards (first announced in august)
to two legislators and two congressional
mOAA charter
staff members who have championed legis-
lative improvements for military families.
recognition is important to
Sen. Blanche lincoln (D-ark.) was
presented the tMc award of Merit for
state leaders.
her leadership in sponsoring legislation to
improve National Guard and reserve Gi
T
he House of representatives Bill benefits, provide tax relief for certain
approved legislation granting disabled military retirees, and improve
Moaa a federal charter oct. 2 7. compensation for military widows.
the Senate passed an identical bill Sept. “Senator lincoln has been in the fore-
24. at press time, it was being forwarded front of multiple initiatives to improve the
to the president for his signature. quality of life for the military community,”
“this is a historic day in Moaa’s 80- said col. Steve Strobridge, USaf-ret.,
year history,” said Moaa President Vice tMc cochair and Moaa Government
adm. Norb ryan Jr., USN-ret. “We’re relations director. “Her efforts paved the
grateful for the public recognition a federal way for adoption of an ‘earn as you serve’
charter provides. We extend our heartfelt principle for activated reservists to qualify
thanks to reps. chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for the Post-9/11 Gi Bill.”
and Walter Jones (r-N.c.) and Sens. Bill rep. Joe Wilson (r-S.c.) received the
Nelson (D-fla.), Patrick leahy (D-Vt.), and same award for his leadership in supporting
38 Military officer december 2009
Dec_Scene.indd 38 11/4/09 2:44 PM
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