washington scene LEGISLATIVE NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOU
Bill Differences
The House and Senate versions of the Defense Authorization Bill reject proposals to consolidate TRICARE options and cut commissary savings. But the chambers disagree on copayments, pay, and housing.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the FY 2015 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 4435) May 22 after considering more than 300 amendments.
The bill rejects administration proposals to cap military pay, consolidate TRICARE options, increase health care fees, raise out-of-pocket housing costs for currently serving families, and significantly reduce savings at the commissary.
This represents a major victory in MOAA’s effort to resist the administration’s attempt to shift significant personnel costs onto the backs of servicemembers and retirees and their families. Key amendments added to the House bill during debate include:
prohibiting DoD from using funds to close commissaries;
authorizing Space-A travel for veterans with a permanent and total VA disability;
ensuring access to behavioral health treatment under TRICARE — including applied behavior analysis — for children with developmental disabilities;
requiring DoD to establish an electronic tour calculator for reservists to track early retirement credit;
requiring the secretary of defense to conduct a comprehensive search to determine what ships operated near Vietnam to help determine Agent Orange exposure; and
making breastfeeding supplies available under TRICARE.
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) completed its markup of the Senate version of the defense bill (S. 2289) on the same day and rejected cuts to commissaries and consolidation of TRICARE.
Defense Bill Comparison on Key Issues
Administration Proposal; SASC (S. 2289); House (H.R. 4435); MOAA Position
Consolidate TRICARE options and implement TFL enrollment fee; No; No; Support both House bill and SASC markup
Increase retail and mail-order TRICARE pharmacy copays; Yes; No; Support House bill
Require all beneficiaries to use mail-order pharmacy or military treatment facilities for maintenance medication refills
Increase out-of-pocket housing costs by 5 percent; Yes; No; Support House bill; Yes; No; Support House bill
Cap 2015 military pay raise at 1 percent (0.8 percent below private-sector wage growth); Yes; No; Support House bill
Reduce commissary savings by 66 percent; No; No; Support both House bill and SASC markup
Stay in the Know
Sign up for MOAA’s weekly Legislative Update e-newsletter at
www.moaa.org/email to get up-to-date information about legislation and news that affect the military community.
JULY 2014 MILITARY OFFICER 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84