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Weekly newsletter of the Fleet Reserve Association
April 6, 2018
In this issue:
Help FRA Storm the Hill
ANC Survey
Expanded Chiropractic Care for Veterans Passes
Help FRA Storm the Hill
The FRA National Board of Directors and other Association leaders are scheduled
to "storm" Capitol Hill next Thursday, April 12. Storm the hill is
designed to bring the enlisted perspective to Capitol Hill as they visit their
respective elected officials in Washington, D.C. These Shipmates will share the
Association's position on priority legislative issues with their senators and
representatives. They will ask their legislators to extend veterans disability
benefits to "Blue Water" Vietnam veterans exposed to the Agent Orange
herbicide while serving off the coast of Vietnam. Additionally, requests will
be made to pass concurrent receipt reform, and to exclude Defense from
sequestration. Unfortunately not all FRA Shipmates are able to visit their
elected officials on Capitol Hill, but you can visit our website and use the FRA
Action Center to weigh in on these, and other issues listed. Your
messages to Capitol Hill complement and are imperative to FRA's advocacy
efforts.
ANC Survey
The Arlington National Cemetery (ANC)
Advisory Committee tasked with providing independent advice for extending the
availability of the ANC has been considering altering or restricting the
eligibility criteria for burial. The possible criteria changes would be placed
in hopes of extending the accessibility of the cemetery for future generations.
The Advisory Committee is conducting a public survey to gather input from the
general public about the future of the cemetery. Members
are urged to participate in the survey by clicking
here.
ANC conducts around 150 funerals
a week and accommodates approximately 3.3 million guests every year. Currently,
ANC does not have any plans for expansion beyond the Southern Expansion
project. It was pointed out however, that even if all options of expansion were
to be utilized and no changes to eligibility were to be made, ANC eventually
would have to close.
Last year, FRA surveyed members
on their thoughts and concerns regarding burial eligibility at ANC. A very
large majority (92 percent) believes that ANC should pursue all possible options
for acquiring additional land before making any restrictions on the current
eligibility. More than 67 percent want to reserve a set amount of space for
Medal of Honor recipients and/or active duty deaths. ANC is managed by the
Department of the Army and does not fall under any of the rules and regulations
of veterans' cemeteries administered by the Department of Veterans
Affairs. FRA will continue to monitor developments on this issue.
Expanded Chiropractic Care for Veterans Pass
The recently passed omnibus spending bill for FY2018 includes a provision to
expand access to chiropractic's nondrug approach for pain relief to veterans.
There are many veterans suffering from back pain and other musculoskeletal
conditions as a result of their time in service.
The provision is similar to FRA
supported legislation sponsored by Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.), which mandates
that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expand the availability of
chiropractic services at no fewer than two medical centers or clinics in each
Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) by no later than Dec. 31, 2019; and
at no fewer than 50 percent of all medical centers in each VISN by no later
than Dec. 31, 2021. For the first time, the measure codifies and broadens chiropractic
services in the VA to include services provided by doctors of chiropractic
under the Preventive Health Services and Medical categories.
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