DEFENSE BILL PASSES SENATE S. 2943, THE FY2017 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT


Lawmakers reached an agreement on S. 2943, the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act in early December and as of press time, the bill was simply awaiting the president’s sig- nature. In brief, S. 2943 authorized $618.7 billion in spending for national security ($611.2 billion in discretionary spending and $7.5 billion in mandatory spending) and $67.8 billion for


FY2017 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT Provides a 2.1 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel Reauthorizes over 30 types of bonuses and special pays


Eliminates the 2-year eligibility limitation (after PCS) for noncompetitive appointment of military spouses to federal civilian positions


Authorizes up to 12 weeks of paid leave (including 6 weeks medical recuperation leave) for primary caregiver after childbirth; 21 days authorized for servicemember who is the secondary caregiver


Allows “variable pricing” strategies and “house brand” products at commissaries nationwide, but specifi es current patron savings and satisfaction must be maintained Directs DoD to conduct an extensive review of the department’s efforts to recover bonuses paid to members of the California National Guard Merges TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra into a new program called TRICARE Select Authorizes higher TRICARE fees for future retirees who join in 2018 or thereafter Consolidates responsibility for military health care delivery, budgeting, and facilities under the Defense Health Agency


Improves benefi ciary access, care quality and system productivity (i.e., eliminates preauthorization requirement for urgent care and man- dates that on-base urgent care be available through 11 p.m. daily)


Establishes a new requirement for retired members and families (except those in TFL) to execute an annual enrollment agreement in either TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, starting in 2017 (VERY IMPORTANT! That means retirees will have to physically sign a piece of paper to enroll; enrollment will be required for TRICARE coverage.)


Restores equity to the Reserve Component’s Survivor Benefi t Program Extends the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance through May 31, 2018 Makes military retired pay amount divisible with former spouses based on grade and years of service at time of divorce (future divorces only) Prevents a new round of military base closures


Requires DoD to study the feasibility of a single-salary pay system which would repeal the basic allowance for subsistence (BAS) and the basic allowance for housing (BAH) and report back to Congress by January 2018


overseas contingency operations (OCO) spending. Specifi c items in the bill are referenced in the table below. Controversial provisions like requiring women to register


for the draft and protections for the Sage Grouse were even- tually removed from the package to help reach consensus between the two chambers. Also not included in the bill were additional cuts to BAH or higher copays for prescription medicines—two key legislative issues (wins) for this Asso- ciation! All-in-all, we are pleased with the bill and commend the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for their eff orts in the face of very tight fi scal constraints.


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EYE ON WASHINGTON


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