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LEGISLATIVE NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOU Budget Decision

The House and Senate reached a bipartisan agreement in early December on the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, and cuts to benefits are less than what DoD had proposed.

C

ongress returned to Washing- ton in early December with only 12 days remaining before the end

of the legislative session and made quick work of the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act*, reaching a bipartisan agreement between both chambers. Before Thanksgiving recess, House and Senate negotiators were at an im- passe over two DoD proposals: increased pharmacy fees and lowering the active duty housing allowances by 5 percent over three years. The 26-member Senate Armed Services Committee had accepted DoD’s proposals while the 435 members of the House rejected them. “With time running out, it would have been easy for the House to just cave to the Senate,” says MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret). “However, House negotiators helped blunt the blow to military families and retired beneficiaries.” Instead of a 5-percent decrease over

three years in servicemembers’ hous- ing allowance, the final bill will include a 1-percent decrease for FY 2015 and no further decreases in the future years. Pharmacy copayments will see a one-

year, $3 increase for both retail and mail-or- der prescriptions instead of DoD’s proposal that would have doubled or tripled current rates. Negotiators were able to keep the ge- neric mail-order prescriptions at no cost. “With increased threats and uncertainty around the globe, we’re asking more and

more of our armed forces,” Ryan says. “For- tunately, with just a few days left in the seat, [House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Howard “Buck”] McKeon and his lead- ership team went to the mat to stave off an even greater erosion of benefits.” MOAA members kept the pressure on

Congress by sending more than 55,000 messages to the Hill. “Although we are very disappointed that the full Senate never debated the Senate Armed Services Committee pro- posal for the second year in a row, we’re relieved that Congress was able to put aside political differences and work to- wards a bipartisan solution to ensure that a defense bill was completed for a 53rd consecutive year,” Ryan says. This year will be even more uncertain, with sequestration still looming and the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission scheduled to report out in February.

A New Congress MOAA says good-bye to several

key military champions. T

he latest election results com- bined with several retirements in Congress mean the military and

veterans’ community is losing some legisla- tors who have been among the strongest supporters of military personnel issues in the past, including:

*more to come: The February issue will provide more details on the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. JANUARY 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 35

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