Military Officer - February 2006 - (Page 33) washingtonscene Non-Health Care Issues Issue House (H.R. 1815) Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity No provision Senate (S. 1042) End deduction of VA survivor benefits from SBP annuities in cases of service-connected deaths, effective Oct. 1, 2005. Implement 30-year, paidup SBP coverage Oct. 1, 2005 (vs. Oct. 1, 2008). Restore full retired pay for unemployables, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005. Final Outcome Not adopted. Paid-up SBP coverage No provision Not adopted. Concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation Military pay raise Restore full retired pay as of Oct. 1, 2009 (vs. 10-year phase-in), for disabled retirees deemed “unemployable.” 3.1% raise for active duty, Guard, and Reserve. Pay full housing allowance if member is mobilized more than 30 days. Increase Army strength by 10,000 and Marine Corps by 1,000. Reduce Navy strength by 13,200 and Air Force by 2,300. Raise death gratuity to $100,000, retroactive to Oct. 7, 2001, for combatrelated deaths only. Bar new commissary privatization studies before 2011. Pay a differential (up to $3,000/month) after 18 months on active duty, 24 of previous 60 months, or if remobilized involuntarily within six months of last tour. House provision adopted. Similar provision Adopted. Guard and Reserve housing allowance Similar provision Adopted. Military manpower levels (versus FY 2005 levels) Same, except increase Army strength by 20,000. House provisions adopted. Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and death gratuity Commissary Increase SGLI coverage to $400,000 and gratuity to $100,000 (both are retroactive to Oct. 7, 2001). No similar provisions Senate provisions adopted for all active duty deaths since Oct. 7, 2001. Bars privatization studies through 2008. House provision adopted. Guard/Reserve pay differential Similar, except pay after 180 days on active duty. FEBRUARY 2006 MILITARY OFFICER 33
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