Military Officer - August 2007 - (Page 33)

washingtonscene Big Votes Coming Senate defense bill action scheduled; votes likely on amendments to address TRICARE fees, survivor beneﬁts, education, pay raises, and more. L E G I S L AT I V E N E W S T H AT A F F E C T S Y O U A s this column went to press, the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1547) was working its way to the top of the agenda in the Senate — bringing with it a slew of potential amendments on everything from the Survivor Beneﬁt Plan (SBP), concurrent receipt, and retiree health care ﬁxes to wounded warrior assistance, military pay raises, and Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) beneﬁts. The original Senate plan was to consider the defense bill the last week of June. But revival of the high-priority immigration bill pushed defense bill consideration into July. (See sidebar at right.) In the meantime, MOAA has been working with multiple senators who plan to offer amendments to improve the bill once it comes up for action. For example: ■ Sen. Bill Nelson’s (D-Fla.) amendment will propose implementing 30-year paidup SBP coverage and ending deduction of VA survivor beneﬁts from SBP; ■ Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Chuck Hagel’s (R-Neb.) amendment will seek protection against disproportional increases in TRICARE fees; and ■ Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s (D-Ark.) amendment will propose upgraded MGIB beneﬁts for Guard and Reserve servicemembers. In addition, MOAA has been talking with potential sponsors for amendments to improve the military pay raise, concurrent receipt, and more. By the time you receive this magazine, Senate action may already be complete, but resolution of differences between the defense bill versions passed separately by the House and Senate likely will take several months to resolve. The September and October issues of Military Ofﬁcer will include options for you to make your voice heard as Congress deliberates these critical issues. What’s the Outlook for Senate Action? ■ Senate debate on the Defense Authorization Bill usually takes at least a week, because it draws hundreds of amendments, including many “people program” issues. But debates over Iraq timelines may drag Senate defense bill action through July and even into September — or beyond. Wounded Warrior Relief Is on the Way Key panel endorses broad ﬁxes on care, disability decisions. T he Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), took a major step June 14 by unanimously approving S. 1606 — the Digniﬁed Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act. This comprehensive package of initiatives proposed by Levin and 29 bipartisan cosponsors would address the problems highlighted in media articles and subsequent government studies concerning problems faced by outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, (WRAMC), Washington, D.C., and other military and VA facilities. AUGUST 2007 MILITARY OFFICER 33

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - August 2007

Military Officer - August 2007 Contents From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: No Longer in Reserve A Different Path Weird Science Charge? Pages of History Faces of MOAA Member Books Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Calendar MOAA Scholarship Donors Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - August 2007

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