Weekly newsletter of the Fleet Reserve Association

May 25 2018
          

In this issue:

NDAA Moves Forward
VA MISSION Act Passes
AFRH Update
Willkie Nominated for VA Secretary
Memorial Day Observances

NDAA Moves Forward in the House and Senate
All of the Senate Armed Services subcommittees marked up and approved their portion of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The next day the full committee marked up the Senate version of the NDAA in closed session. DLP John Davis attended the Personnel Subcommittee markup. The Chairman Thom Tillis (NC) announced the legislative text would not be available until after it was approved by the full committee. He did announce that the Subcommittee (SASC-P) markup provided the full active-duty pay increase at 2.6 percent.  FRA signed onto a The Military Coalition (TMC) statement provided to the Senate Subcommittee before the meeting that urged the Subcommittee to do the following:

• Expand concurrent receipt;
• Require the Defense Health Agency to review and report on the impact higher fees are having on beneficiaries;
• Provide an annual active-duty pay increase (2.6 percent) that is at least equal to civilian pay increases (in the markup);
• Continue to adequately fund Commissaries;
• Increase the government contribution in the new Blended Retirement System from 4 percent to 5 percent of base pay; and
• Eliminate the SBP/DIC offset.

Before approving the still unnumbered legislation, the Subcommittee approved 46 amendments that were added to the 92 separate provisions in the Subcommittee mark up. Copies or summaries of the subcommittee amendments were not available at the hearing. As NewsBytes goes to press, the actual text of the Senate Armed Services Committee markup was not available. Subcommittee staff has informed FRA staff that the Senate bill does not include any TRICARE fee increases or pharmacy co-pay increases. The bill does not include any concurrent receipt reform and FRA is working to file a Senate floor amendment to the bill to expand concurrent receipt. 

The full House amended and passed (351 to 66) its version of the FY2019 Defense Authorization Act. An FRA supported House floor amendment on concurrent receipt was blocked because it did not have a "pay for" to offset the cost of the amendment. More than 550 floor amendments where filed and most where blocked from being debated and voted by the full House.  The House did vote to include a two-year U.S. Coast Guard authorization bill into the House version of the NDAA (H.R.5515). The bill that passed the House (H.R.5515) provides:

• No TRICARE fee increases or pharmacy co-pay increases;
• Mandates Defense to make a report to the HASC on the TRICARE structural changes impacting beneficiary access to health care services no later than March 29, 2019;
• The full by-law and highest pay raise for the troops in 9 years (2.6 percent);
• Repeal of a scheduled one percent cut in Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH);
• An increase in active duty end strength by 15,600 (Navy increased 7,500);
• For the Secretary of the Army to take steps to extend the life of Arlington National Cemetery;
• That DoD review mental health and wounded warrior programs for effectiveness; and
• Reform of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

Once both chambers of Congress approve their legislation a conference committee will be appointed to resolve the differences between the two bills. This final version will then be voted on by both chambers of Congress and if approved will be sent to President Trump to be signed into law or vetoed.  

VA MISSION Act Passes
The Senate approved the VA Mission Act (S.2372) by a vote of 92 to 5 and sent it to the President to be signed into law. The bill will do the following:

• Expanding the VA Caregiver program to include all disabled veterans;
• Consolidating seven VA community care programs into one to improve access to care;
• Funding for the VA Choice program; and
• Auditing VA infrastructure.

The expansion of the VA Caregiver program to include all disabled veterans is a major victory for FRA. Currently program is available only veterans who were seriously disabled on or after September 11, 2001. The Association wants to thank all of the Shipmates who used the FRA Action Center to weigh in on this important legislation.

AFRH Update
Assistant Director of Veterans Programs, Brian Condon meet with FRA Shipmates at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Washington, DC in regard to huge rent increases scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2018. Shipmates in attendance thought the increase was a result of poor management and the cost to fix it should not be put on them. They entered the Home with the belief that they would stay there for the remainder of their life time. They are not against an increase but the sudden and substantial increase starting October 1, 2018 is viewed as excessive.

After the member meeting, ADVP Brian Condon attended a meeting with senior officials of the Washington DC AFRH to discuss the pending implementation of significant fee increases for its residents. Major General Stephen Rippe USA (Ret.), the new AFRH Chief Executive Officer stated that he had been given his marching orders to close the $22 million gap in the annual budget. Rippe said Congress wants to cut costs and has an eye on the approximately $60,000 a day it spends on the AFRH. The fee increase is estimated to grow revenue by $7 million a year. Other proposed sources of revenue are estimated to produce approximately $1 million a year and a possible increase in the amount active duty contributes (from $.50 to $1) would raise another $7 million. Rippe said he already has the support of the top Senior Enlisted to increase the active duty contribution. This increase will not close the full $22 million funding gap. Rippe and his staff said as of right now there would be no phase in of the fee increase.

Your Shipmates at the AFRH (Gulf Port and Washington, DC) want to encourage FRA members to go to the FRA Action Center and tell Congress to provide additional funding. 

Trump Nominates Willkie for VA Secretary
President Donald Trump recently nominated the current acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to be the next Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a position that requires Senate approval. The announcement was made during a White House summit on prison reform and caught many Washington observers by surprise. Wilkie has served as acting secretary since March, following the firing of David Shulkin amid a travel scandal. Trump's first pick to replace Shulkin, former White House physician Navy Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, withdrew his name from consideration after allegations emerged about unprofessional behavior and medication mismanagement while serving at the White House.

Before his appointment as VA Acting Secretary, Wilkie was the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The son of an Army artillery commander he spent his youth at Fort Bragg (N.C.). He has more than 20 years of experience at the national and international level. Wilkie served both Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld as Assistant Secretary of Defense from 2005 to 2009 and was the youngest senior leader in DoD. Prior to his first Pentagon tour, he was Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and a senior director of the National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Wilkie also has extensive experience in the United States Congress including recent service as Senior Advisor to Senator Thom Tillis (N.C.) as well as being Counsel and Advisor on International Security Affairs to the former Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, the Honorable Trent Lott (Miss.).

Wilkie is a reserve officer in the United States Air Force Reserve assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff. Prior to joining the Air Force, he served in the United States Navy Reserve with the Joint Forces Intelligence Command, Naval Special Warfare Group Two and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

A graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, Air Command and Staff College, the United States Army War College and the Joint Forces Staff College, Wilkie has published articles in the Naval War College Review, Parameters, Armed Forces Journal International, The Air and Space Power Journal and Proceedings. He holds personal and unit decorations as well as the Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian award of the Department.

Memorial Day Observances
FRA's National President William Starkey will represent the Association during the Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, May 28. He will join other national leaders in honoring the men and women who have died in service to their nation by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Branches from the East Coast Region's Central Liaison Committee are sponsoring a ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial on May 26. Other FRA leaders will participate in Memorial Day ceremonies across the country to pay tribute to America's fallen heroes.

On Saturday and Sunday (May 26 and 27) shipmates from around the D.C. area and members of the FRA National Headquarter (NHQ) team will staff an information booth at Rolling Thunder, an annual motorcycle tribute in the nation's capital to show the country and the world that Vietnam POWs and MIAs are not forgotten.

FRA NHQ will be closed on Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial Day.  

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