May 19 2017

In this issue:
HVAC Approves Bills to Speed up Veterans Disability Benefits
U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Divorced Military Retiree
FRA Supports CFPB Military Affairs Office
FRA Salutes Outstanding Sailors
Navy Reserve Force Master Chief Selected

HVAC Approves Bills to Speed up Veterans Disability Benefits
The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (HVAC) marked up and approved several proposals that include two FRA-supported bills that aim to improve adjudication of disability claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs.  The "Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act" (H.R.2288), sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost (Ill.) addresses the growing backlog of disability appeal cases. There are more than 470,000 cases awaiting appeal.

The bill would create three "lanes" for veterans' appeals, and would give the Secretary the authority to test the new system prior to full implementation. It would also allow some veterans, already going through the appeals process, to opt into the new system. It would require the VA to provide a comprehensive plan for processing legacy appeals-appeals filed before the effective date of the bill.

The Committee also approved The "Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act" (H.R.1725), introduced by Rep. Tim Walz (Minn.). The bill requires (current law allows) the VA to accept, for purposes of establishing a claim for veterans disability benefits, a report of a medical examination administered by a private physician.  If the report is sufficiently complete, it no longer requires confirmation by a Veterans Health Administration physician.
Both of these legislative proposals are listed on our website in the FRA Action Center  and members are urged to ask their representatives to support the bill. 

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Divorced Military Retiree
The United States Supreme Court recently ruled (8-0) in Howell v. Howell (Docket 15-1031) holding: A state court may not order a military retiree to indemnify a divorced spouse for the loss in the divorced spouse's portion of the retirement pay caused by the retiree's waiver of retirement pay to receive service-related disability benefits. FRA has expressed concern in Congressional testimony that some state courts have been awarding a percentage of veterans' compensation to ex-spouses. This is a clear violation of U.S. law yet, until now, the Federal government has done nothing to stop this transgression.
          
FRA Supports CFPB Military Affairs Office
In the wake of Congressional efforts to make substantial changes to law creating the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), FRA signed onto a letter to Congress, supporting CFPB's Office of Servicemember Affairs (OSA). 

The CFPB was created in 2010 and within the CFPB is the OSA, which is headed by Mrs. Holly Petraeus, wife of former CIA Director and four-star General David Petraeus. OSA works with bank examiners on military-specific issues and plans to make it easy for military and their families to contact the CFPB with questions or complaints about consumer financial products and services. The OSA was an FRA-supported provision in the 2010 financial regulation law. The need for OSA was demonstrated in 2011 when the House Committee on Veterans Affairs (HVAC) held hearings on banks ignoring the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act that indicated widespread abuse of SCRA. Mrs. Petraeus testified at one of the HVAC hearings, ensuring the committee that the OSA will work on educating military about their financial protections and best financial practices.

FRA Salutes Outstanding Sailors
FRA congratulates the Navy's 2016 Sailors of the Year (SOY), who were meritoriously promoted to chief petty officers during ceremonies in the D.C. this week. There activities included an FRA-sponsored tour of the Library of Congress along with a Capitol Hill luncheon for the SOYs and their families. An advancement ceremony was held at the U.S. Navy Memorial.

The finalists included:

•    Navy Reserve
      AWRC (NAC/AW/SW) Mark W. Brown, USNR
      Mobile Tactical Operations Center, Detachment, Detroit, Mich.

•    Fleet Forces Command, Atlantic
     CTTC (NAC/IDW/AW) Courtney P. Evers, USN
     NIOD Kaneohe Bay

•    Fleet Forces Command, Pacific 
     ICC (SW) Brent T. Schermerhorn, USN
     USS PREBLE (DDG 88) 

•    Navy Shore
     LSC (SW/EXW) Amber L. Wilson
     Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes 

Navy Reserve Force Master Chief Selected
Commander, Navy Reserve Force Vice Admiral Luke McCollum recently announced Command Master Chief Christopher D. Kotz will take charge from Force Master Chief "CJ" Mitchell this October.

"Master Chief Kotz will be a tremendous leader and loyal advocate for all our Sailors. He is a highly qualified, well-rounded professional with multiple sea and shore assignments. His depth of knowledge, experience, and deck plate leadership will have a positive effect on our Force and future leaders." said McCollum.

Kotz, who will be the 16th Navy Reserve Force Master Chief, is a native of North Augusta, S.C. He enlisted into the Navy in February 1991. Following completion of basic training at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, he attended Basic Hospital Corps School, Naval School of Health Sciences, San Diego. "We are very excited for Master Chief Kotz and his family. He will be an outstanding representative for Navy Reserve Sailors," said Mitchell.

As Navy Reserve Force Master Chief, Kotz will be responsible for advising the Chief of Navy Reserve on matters affecting the morale, retention, Sailor development, and general well-being of more than 43,500 enlisted personnel of the Navy Reserve. The Force Master Chief is also charged with ensuring active communication throughout the force, instilling a sense of heritage, and actively promoting core Navy values to all Sailors.

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