August 31, 2018

In this issue:
Briefing on Predatory Lending 
Veterans Treatment Bill Sent to President
New MCPON Selected
SASC Chairman Passes

FRA Media Briefing on Predatory Lending Regulations
DLP John Davis participated in a media briefing to explain the Association’s concerns about media reports indicating the Administration is planning to rollback enforcement of the Military Lending Act (MLA). Davis told the media that this legislation was included in the FY2007 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and passed in 2006. In addition, the Dodd-Frank banking regulation legislation that passed in 2010 included the creation of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) that empowered the Office of Serve Members Affairs to enforce the MLA and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). 

FRA, with several other likeminded groups, signed and sent a letter to President Trump expressing the group’s concerns that include the impact on military readiness and security clearances for service members.  Members are strongly urged to use the Action Center to send a message to President Trump asking him not to reduce regulatory oversight of predatory lenders.  

In related news the Department of Defense (DoD) made some significant changes to the way they monitor security clearances. The federal government recently implemented new security clearance guidelines that make it more important than ever for service members to stay on top of their bills and monitor their credit histories.  DoD will now “continuously” monitor the financial status of service members with security clearances. This means that a past-due bill or an error on your credit report could jeopardize your clearance status. For more information on new changes to security clearances go online .

Bill to Expand Veterans Treatment Court Sent to President
The Senate recently passed the “Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act” (H.R.2147), sponsored by Chairman of the House Armed Services, Military Personnel Subcommittee, Mike Coffman (Colo.). The House passed this bill in June and recently the Senate passed it unanimously. The bill now goes to the President’s desk for his expected signing into law. 

This FRA-supported legislation requires the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to hire 50 additional Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists to aid in the rehabilitation of veterans caught up in the criminal justice system due to misdemeanor convictions. Under the expansion of this program, more veterans will be diverted from serving sentences behind bars to Veterans Treatment Courts. The courts will provide veterans a second chance by participating in a court-mandated treatment program with services coordinated and provided for by the VA. Currently, there are not enough VJO specialists to serve all eligible veterans. Veterans Treatment Courts are designed to deal directly with behavioral problems associated with PTSD, substance abuse and anger management—symptoms that are often associated with repeated combat tours of duty.

CNO Selects New MCPON
The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson selected Fleet Master Chief Russell Smith to be the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) August 29. “After a thorough and deliberate review process, I am confident that Fleet Master Chief Smith is the right leader to be our Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy,” said Richardson. “I look forward to working with him to advocate for our Sailors and their families selflessly serving around the world.” The previous MCPON Steven Giordano resigned this past June. His resignation came during an ongoing inquiry by the Navy Inspector General’s office into claims that Giordano created a “toxic work environment.”  Fleet Master Chief SW/IW/AW Russell Smith had been acting MCPON since Giordano resigned. Smith joined the Navy in 1988 and began his career as an airman, later becoming a weapons technician and an intelligence specialist. His sea duty assignments have included SEAL Team 4 and the aircraft carriers USS ENTERPRISE, USS CARL VINSON and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

As the Navy’s 15th MCPON, Smith will serve as the senior-ranking enlisted leader and advisor to the CNO. The position of MCPON was created by legislation in 1966 that was strongly supported by FRA.  The MCPON also serves as a spokesperson on issues impacting enlisted personnel.

SASC Chairman Passes
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator John McCain passed away from brain cancer just before his 82nd birthday. The Senior Senator from Arizona who served as a Navy fighter pilot and for more than five years was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, served nearly 32 years in the Senate (1987-2018) and two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1983-1987).  The Navy Academy graduate ran twice for President unsuccessfully (2000 & 2008). FRA awarded Senator John McCain the Pinnacle award in 2000. 

The Senator will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Only 31 Americans have lain in state or in honor in the Capitol Rotunda since the structure was completed in 1824. Most recently, evangelist Billy Graham lay in honor from February 28 to March 1, 2018.