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survivors of servicemembers who died of service-connected causes. MOAA strongly believes when military service causes a servicemember’s death, DIC should be paid in addition to SBP rather than being subtracted from it. To the extent funding cannot be obtained for immediate, full repeal, MOAA will seek interim steps to extend and substantially upgrade compensation for these most deserving survivors, as indicated below.

Extend SSIA authority Support legislation to extend the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) beyond the current statutory expiration date of Oct. 1, 2017. Congress enacted SSIA as an interim means of easing financial penalties for survivors affected by the deduction of DIC from SBP. Since October 2008, qualifying surviving spouses have received gradually increasing monthly payments. The FY 2017 monthly allowance will be $310. It will be essential to include an extension provision in the FY 2017 defense bill to keep these survivors from experiencing a significant income loss.

USFSPA equity Reform the unfair provisions of the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA). Divisible retired pay should be based on the servicemember’s grade and years of service at the time of the divorce rather than at the time of the member’s retirement from service. State courts should be barred from requiring payments to start before the servicemember actually retires from active duty and barred from dividing VA disability compensation, which is the exclusive property of the servicemember.

Final retired pay for survivors Support legislation to authorize payment of a full month’s retired pay for the

month of a servicemember’s death. Under current law, the last month’s retired pay is recouped summarily from the survivor and then a separate pro-rated check is issued for the days the retiree was alive. MOAA thinks it’s wrong to impose such unexpected and insensitive financial penalties on survivors at what is already a traumatic time in their lives.

DIC continuation Seek authority to lower the age at which survivors in receipt of DIC retain this benefit upon remarriage from 57 to 55. Continuation of benefits on remarriage at age 55 is authorized for all other federal survivor programs, including SBP. DIC survivors deserve equal treatment.

Pediatric care TRICARE’s payments to doctors are based on Medicare’s. But services for children differ significantly from those for the elderly. TRICARE payment for pediatric care must be made more flexible to meet military children’s needs.

Active and Reserve Force Issues

Operations and manpower Sustain military manpower levels needed to match service missions, ease deployment rates, and improve quality of life, retention, and readiness. Current operating tempos are easing, but budget-driven end-strength reductions might cut end strength too deeply to meet our national security inter- ests. Adequate manpower levels and as- sociated resources for recruiting, retention, training, and family support are essential.

Guard/Reserve retirement Guard and Reserve families cannot be indefinitely burdened with irreconcilable tradeoffs between civilian employment,

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