washington scene
Tasked by Congress to review the SBP/ DIC offset (also known as the “widow’s tax”) in October 2007, the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission concurred with MOAA and other military and veterans’ associations that when military service causes a servicemember’s death, DIC should be paid in addition to the SBP annuity, not subtracted from it.
The storming event was designed to educate members of Congress and their staffs about the SBP/DIC offset issue.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), champion of the SBP/DIC repeal bill (H.R. 32) in the House and chair of the Personnel Subcommittee in the House Armed Services Committee, spoke about the unfairness of the offset at a MOAA-hosted congressional breakfast the morning of the event.
Surviving spouses Traci Voelke and Suzanne Gerstner spoke about the death of their spouses and the struggles their families face as a result of the offset.
MOAA’s Government Relations team outlined the issue for the congressional staffers who were present at the event.
“In order to fully understand the importance of complete elimination of the SBP/DIC offset, it is vital that [members of Congress] understand the issue and its impact on surviving spouses and families,” said MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret). “The ultimate goal is complete elimination of the SBP/DIC offset, and I am proud of this group of surviving spouses for their advocacy and determination.”
The storming efforts and the associated grassroots advocacy from MOAA members already are showing dividends, with cosponsorship levels for both the House and Senate bills increasing.
Drawdown Plans Outlined
Army will cut combat forces.
Gen. Ray Odierno, Army Chief of Staff, announced in June the Army would be eliminating combat forces from 10 bases across the U.S. The decision is part of a planned drawdown of 80,000 active duty troops over the next five years, resulting in an Army end strength of 490,000 by 2017.
These reductions do not reflect additional reductions that will be required if sequestration-driven funding reductions remain in place.
Brigade combat teams (BCTs) will be deactivated at the following locations by 2017: Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Campbell and Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, Texas; and Joint-Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Two BCTs stationed at U.S. Army garrisons Baumholder and Grafenwoehr, Germany, will complete their inactivation this year, leaving two BCTs in Europe to fulfill strategic obligations.
The across-the-board cuts under sequestration, which calls for some $500 billion in military spending reductions by 2022, could force the Army to speed up its current plans for force reductions.
Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said he would take a close look at the force reductions. “As damaging as they are, these cuts don’t begin to reflect the crippling damage sequestration will do to our armed forces and national security,” he said in a statement. He added “we all must understand that this is only the tip of the iceberg; much deeper cuts are still to come.”
38 MILITARY OFFICER SEPTEMBER 2013
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