washingtonscene
pay raise at 1.6 percent and cuts force levels for all services, as proposed in the Pentagon’s budget. The House bill would fund a full 2.1-percent raise and plus up force levels. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain (R-Ariz.) has supported adding funds for both increases, so that gives MOAA hope on those scores, subject to the resolution of the two issues previously mentioned. TRICARE fee hikes. The Senate bill would phase in substantial increases for retirees under 65 years old and roughly double pharmacy copayments over nine years. The House bill would impose in- creases for future entrants but would mostly grandfather current fee levels for currently serving and retired beneficiaries. Housing allowances. The Senate bill would impose dramatic allowance cuts for servicemembers who share housing with other servicemembers, whether they are married or roommates. The House bill makes no such changes. Military Health System organization. Both bills would impose new require- ments to improve health care access, quality, and continuity. Both also would put all service hospitals and clinics under the purview of the Defense Health Agency. Service leaders have been spend- ing a lot of time on Capitol Hill arguing for modifications on the latter issue. Greater sage grouse. If you can believe it, an initiative by an Armed Services committee member to prevent the greater sage grouse from being declared an endangered species proved to be a signifi- cant stumbling block to achiev- ing a compromise. The provision is aimed at freeing up land for military use that now is blocked to protect the grouse.
Because of the political inter- twining of defense and non-de-
30 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2016
fense spending, there seemed a reasonable chance final action on the defense bill also would be kicked to the post-election lame duck session, when the political landscape for next year will be more projectable.
Vet Bills A
Lagging MOAA testifies before the Senate on VA care.
s Congress inches closer to the end of the year, many vet- erans’ bills remain on the table
and are at risk of not passing before the new fiscal year begins. On Sept. 14, MOAA Director of Veter-
ans Health Issues Cmdr. René Campos, USN (Ret), testified before the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee (SVAC) to provide MOAA’s views on the recent Commission on Care recommendations concerning VA health care. Also testifying were VA Secretary Bob
McDonald, Undersecretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin, the Commission on Care chair and commissioner, and sever- al veterans’ service organizations (VSOs). MOAA supports most of the commis-
sion’s findings and is pleased many of the recommendations echo changes the secretary and VSOs have been advocating for since the implementation of the Vet-
Cmdr. René Campos, USN (Ret)
PHOTO: CSPAN
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