washington scene
REDUX retirees: Servicemembers who entered service on or after Aug. 1, 1986, and who elected to accept a $30,000 career retention bonus at the 15-years-of-service point agreed to accept reduced retired pay and COLAs as a trade-off for the bonus. REDUX retirees’ COLAs are depressed 1 percent below the normal COLA rate, so they’ll see a 0.7-percent COLA this year.
Coalition Honors Hill Champions
Legislators and staffers are recognized for their work.
On Oct. 3, The Military Coalition (TMC) hosted a Capitol Hill reception to present its highest awards to two legislators and two congressional staffers whose efforts this year have been particularly valuable to the military and veterans community.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) was recognized for her leadership in pursuing legislation to promote hiring of returning veterans, improve GI bill protections, and increase veterans’ access to mental health services.
House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (D-Calif.) was honored for his leadership in seeking to mitigate the destructive effects of so-called “sequestration” budget cuts on military quality-of-life and other programs and for developing alternatives to protect military beneficiaries against large increases in health care and pharmacy fees.
TMC also presented its 2012 Freedom Award to Carrie Wofford of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee staff and to Jeanette James of the House Armed Services Committee staff for their outstanding efforts in support of GI bill protections and health care programs, respectively.
Col. Steve Strobridge, USAF (Ret), TMC cochair and MOAA Government Relations director, said, “No one on Capitol Hill has done more to defend the military community against drastic, arbitrary budget cuts than Chairman McKeon. His determined and persistent leadership on a wide range of military personnel programs has materially improved protections for every segment of the military population — currently serving, Guard/Reserve, retired, survivors, and family members.”
Master Chief Petty Officer Joe Barnes, USN (Ret), TMC cochair and national executive director of the Fleet Reserve Association, said, “We’re extremely gratified and proud to honor Sen. Patty Murray for her tremendous leadership in supporting the community of returning veterans. She has truly gone the extra mile to ensure they and their families get needed care, have access to top-quality education programs, and experience the best possible transition to civilian work life.”
“The legislators are the champions,” said Col. Herb Rosenbleeth, USA (Ret), TMC president and national executive director of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, “and their staffs expend huge amounts of effort in crafting legislation, working with military associations to fill in the details, and coordinating our mutual efforts to get other legislators and the public on board. Carrie Wofford and Jeanette James have shown extraordinary dedication and professionalism in ensuring the government and beneficiaries alike get the biggest possible return on every federal dollar. Their innovative work will save billions of dollars for the government and for beneficiaries in terms of GI bill and health benefits alone.”
34 MILITARY OFFICER DECEMBER 2012
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