Military Officer - November 2006 - (Page 29)

washingtonscene No Fee Hikes The ﬁnal FY 2007 Defense Authorization Act bars any health fee increases for 2007 but takes no action to address SBP, concurrent receipt, or reserve retirement age. 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 t 2:15 a.m., Sept. 30, ment for a Pentagon report on issuing ID the Senate ﬁnally apcards without Social Security numbers; proved the FY 2007 De■ $400,000 free life insurance coverage fense Authorization Act for servicemembers assigned to Iraq and (H.R. 5122), clearing the Afghanistan; measure to be sent to the president for ■ restrictions on unscrupulous payday his signature. It was Congress’ last ofﬁlenders, including a 36-percent annual cial act before adjourning for a month of interest rate cap on loans to serviceﬁnal campaigning for the election. members; and The bill allows the Pentagon $463 bil■ “full replacement value” reimburselion for FY 2007 plus an additional $70 ment for household goods damaged billion in supplemental war funding. during military relocations. It also addressed a top Bad news: Though MOAA is grateful to the Armed SerMOAA priority by barring any TRICARE or pharvices committees for these Once initiatives, we’re disappointed macy fee increases for FY health care Congress chose to drop or 2007. Congress agreed that reviews are lowball several other muchthe Pentagon shouldn’t needed improvements previraise retiree fees before finished, ously passed by the House or exhausting other ways to MOAA hold down military health Senate, including: expects costs and directed several ■ a minimum 2.2-percent renewed military pay raise rather than reviews of such options. the 2.7-percent House plan Once those reviews are efforts to (the bill does include extra ﬁnished next spring, we raise retir“targeted” increases for warexpect renewed efforts to ee fees. rant ofﬁcers and senior enraise retiree fees. Good news: Other good listed grades); news in the bill includes: ■ dropping provisions that ■ manpower increases for the Army, Army would have implemented 30-year, paidNational Guard, and Marine Corps; up Survivor Beneﬁt Plan (SBP) coverage ■ TRICARE fee reductions for thousands immediately and ended deduction of VA of drilling Guard and Reserve members survivor beneﬁts from SBP when military and their families; service caused the servicemember’s death; ■ permanent ID cards for permanently dis■ dropping a proposal that would have proabled dependents of retirees and a requirevided full, immedi- [CONTINUES ON PAGE 32] NOVEMBER 2006 Higher Priority for Defense? ■ This is the first time since 1999 that Congress has passed the Defense Authorization Act before the start of the fiscal year. In four of the past five years, this legislation has not been enacted until Nov. 24 or later. MILITARY OFFICER 29

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From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Financial Guidebook Got (the right) Insurance? A Penny Saved, a Degree Earned The “Y” MOAA Scholarship Recipients Pages of History Information Exchange Member Books MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - November 2006

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