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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

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