June 23 2017
In this issue:
FRA Hosts Coast Guard Caucus Event
NDAA Gets Subcommittee Markup in House
Arlington National Cemetery Plans to Expand
FRA Hosts Coast Guard Caucus Event
FRA hosted its 19th annual Coast Guard Caucus breakfast this week. This
event is designed to expand awareness on issues between senior Coast Guard
leaders that promote dialogue between those members and members of Congress.
FRA National Executive Director Thomas Snee, who introduced the
Commandant, Admiral Paul Zukunft, noted: "Each meeting brings a new
dimension towards success, and mission of accomplishments for the
"5th" branch of service that not only provides security in our inland
water ways, environmental studies, reduces trafficking; it also strengthens our
national security."
The Coast Guard's 25th Commandant Admiral Paul
Zukunft, recently returned from the International Sea Power Symposium, was the
keynote speaker. The Commandant claimed that America was not only the world's
best coast guard but also the world's best sea services (Navy and Marine
Corps). He boasted that the U.S. Coast Guard has twice the retention rate to
that of other sea services. The Commandant noted that the Coast Guard has
serious funding challenges with implementing the new Blended Retirement System
(BRS) that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2018.
Two Coast Guard Caucus co-chairman Reps. Duncan
Hunter (Calif.) and John Garamendi (Calif.), who are the Chairman and Ranking
Members of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee
respectively, spoke at the meeting to express support for adding a Coast Guard
Ice Breaker. They also noted that the Coast Guard will have funding
issues with the BRS.
Zukunft acknowledged FRA's long-standing and
strong commitment to the Coast Guard, thanking the association for its constant
support of the personnel and their families. FRA's advocacy work focuses on
compensation, health care and various quality-of-life programs that affect
those in the USCG. Specifically, FRA works to ensure Coast Guard pay and
benefits remain on par with those enjoyed by Department of Defense personnel,
and that adequate funding is available to support these programs. FRA is
committed to educating members of Congress, their staff and the public about
the Coast Guard's critical missions as a part of the Department of Homeland
Security.
Coast Guard Caucus Co-Chairman Rep. Joe Courtney
(Conn.), assistant MCPO Leilani Cale-Jones and FRA National President Donald
Larson, were also in attendance.
NDAA Gets Subcommittee Markup in House
The House Armed Services, Military Personnel Subcommittee (HASC-MP) along other
HASC Subcommittees completed their mark ups of their portion of the House
version of the FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA-H.R. 2810). The
HASC Subcommittee that deals with FRA issues is the HASC-MP. Subcommittee
Chairman Mike Coffman (Col.) stated that the bill would rebuild and grow the
military. Ranking Member Jackie Speier (Calif.) expressed disappointment
that the Subcommittee could not at this time find funding or spending offsets
for extending or eliminating the expiration date (May 31, 2018) for the Special
Survivors Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) for widows/widowers.
The Subcommittee markup includes:
• Prohibiting TRICARE fee
increases or pharmacy co-pay increases;
• Providing larger than requested pay increase (2.4% vice
2.1%);
• Increasing Navy end strength by 4,000 and maintain Marine
Corps end strength;
• Enhancing OTH discharge review for Vietnam combat veterans
presumed to have PTSD;
• Adding $30 million for impact aid to public schools with
large military population;
• Prohibiting active duty wrongful broadcast or distribution
of intimate visual images;
• Reimbursing military spouse for state licensure arising
from relocation to another state;
The combined subcommittee mark ups will be
reviewed by the full committee and then go to the full House for amendments,
debate and approval. Once the Senate completes its version of the FY 2018 NDAA,
the two chambers will appoint a conference committee made up of Senators and
Representatives to arrive at a final Defense Authorization Bill to be approved
by both chambers and sent to President Trump for signature or veto.
Arlington National Cemetery Plans to
Expand
The Army Times is reporting in the June 15, 2017 issue that Arlington
National Cemetery will move forward with plans to expand the cemetery by more
than 50,000 spaces that will extend the life of the cemetery from 2041 to until
2050. These additional burial sites will provide expansion from lands from the
original Navy Annex complex and other adjacent areas at the cemetery. A
December 2016 survey of FRA members reveals that 92 percent support immediate
expansion of the Cemetery and 67 percent want to reserve a set amount of space
for Medal of Honor recipients and/or active duty deaths. For more
information on this matter and survey results, be sure to read the upcoming
FRAtoday July 2017 issue.
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