January 13 2017

FRA Launches 2017 Survey on Military, Veterans Benefits
Concurrent Receipt Legislation Introduced
New VA Secretary Nominated by President-Elect Trump
New Congress Provides Legislative Restart
NHQ Closed for MLK Day and Inauguration Day


FRA Launches 2017 Survey on Military, Veterans Benefits
YOU are an important component of FRA’s Legislative Team! As part of our mission to fight for the concerns of enlisted personnel, FRA is conducting an online survey to determine which military and veterans’ benefits are most important to active duty and Reserve personnel, retirees, veterans and their families. The survey asks current and former service members and their spouses to rate the importance of various benefits and quality-of-life programs.

FRA will share the survey results with elected officials on Capitol Hill, key committee staff, and leaders within the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. The FRA Legislative team will ensure these crucial decision-makers understand the enlisted sea service perspective.

The brief online survey is available at:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MVLKCLJ.  
Please let FRA know which military and veteran benefits are most important to you!

Concurrent Receipt Legislation Introduced
Senators Dean Heller (Nev.) and Jon Tester (Mont.), have introduced comprehensive concurrent receipt legislation, the “Retired Pay Restoration Act” (S. 66).  Which would authorize the immediate payment of concurrent receipt of full military retired pay, and veterans’ disability compensation for all disabled retirees.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fla.) also introduced the “Retired Pay Restoration Act” (H.R. 303), which would expand the eligibility of retirees with less than a 50 percent disability rating, to receive service-connected disability from the VA and full retirement pay for retirees eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP). Currently, only CRDP for retirees with a rating of 50 percent or more are eligible for concurrent receipt. Rep. Sanford Bishop (Ga.), has also introduced comprehensive concurrent receipt reform (H.R. 333) that includes disabled retirees with CRDP with less than a 50 percent rate and CRDP (Chapter 61) to medically retired, with less than 20 years of service. Rep. Sanford’s House bill is similar to the Senate bill and would have the same impact.

Members are urged to use the FRA Action Center (action.fra.org/action-center) to contact their legislators to ask for their support of these proposals.

New VA Secretary Nominated by President-Elect Trump
Dr. David J. Shulkin, the current VA Under Secretary for Health, was selected by President-elect Trump to run the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Dr. Shulkin has served as Under Secretary since June 23, 2015. As Under Secretary of Health, Shulkin lead the nation’s largest integrated health care delivery system with more than 1700 locations and serving 9 million American Veterans. Shulkin, M.D., FACP is board certified in Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.  Prior to serving as Under Secretary of Health for the VA he was President of Morristown Medical Center and President/CEO of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.  

In related news, the House of Representatives recently passed its first two pieces of legislation. The “Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act” (H.R. 27) is sponsored by Rep. Ryan Costello (Penn.). The bill requires a copy of reprimands or admonishments to be retained in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee’s permanent record. Secondly, the House passed the “Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act,” (H.R. 28), sponsored by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman David Roe (Tenn.). It directs the VA to adopt and implement a standard identification protocol for use in the tracking and procurement of biological implants.  Both bills will go to the Senate for further consideration.

In addition, the House passed (H.J. Res. 3), which approves the selection of a location in Washington, DC for a memorial to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield. The Senate must approve this resolution before sending to the president for enactment.

New Congress Provides Legislative Restart
When Congress ends its session at the end of an even number year, all bills not enacted by either the House or Senate, die. Legislation does not carry over to the next session so all previously introduced legislation becomes null and void.  FRA is working with several of our House and Senate champions to reintroduce legislation that matches our goals during the 115th Congress.  Keep in mind, any legislation will be considered new bills so their numbers such as H.R. or S. may differ from the previous congressional sessions.   

NHQ Closed for MLK Day & Inauguration Day
FRA National Headquarters will be closed Monday, January 16th, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year marks the 31st anniversary of the federal holiday designated to honor Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil rights leader who was slain on April 4, 1968.

FRA National Headquarters is also closed Friday, January 20th, in observance of President-elect Trump’s inauguration ceremonies. Nearly one million people are supposed to attend the day-long event. Many organizations, agencies and companies will also be closed.

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