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6-8-2012

FRA Advocates Sustained Commitment to Career Veterans

FRA spoke before the Senate Appropriations’ Defense Subcommittee this week to share its members’ concerns regarding the proposed FY 2013 Department of Defense (DoD) budget.  John Davis, FRA’s director of Legislative Programs, asked lawmakers to exclude DoD from sequestration and ensure commitments made to past and present service members are honored.

Provisions of the 2011 Budget Control Act require that half of the automatic budget cuts (sequestration) slated to take place beginning in January 2013 must come from the Defense budget. FRA agrees with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta that such a drastic reduction in DoD spending will “do catastrophic damage to our military … and [degrade our] ability to protect the country.” Davis reminded panel members that DoD expenditures account for 17 percent of the overall federal budget, but will be asked to shoulder 50 percent of the sequestration cuts unless Congress agrees to exclude Defense from the reduction.

Adequate funding for military healthcare programs and maintaining the current military retirement system are FRA’s top legislative priorities for the year, and both are potential targets as Congress considers budget cuts. The Administration’s FY 2013 budget request seeks significant increases in TRICARE healthcare enrollment fees for military retirees, as well as increases in pharmacy co-pays. Davis expressed FRA’s support for legislation (S. 3203) that seeks to protect TRICARE beneficiaries from excessive increases in premiums and copayments, and proposals to increase active duty pay in FYs 2013 and 2014 by the Employment Cost Index (ECI). FRA also believes the Defense budget should be at least five percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).