Weekly newsletter of the Fleet Reserve Association

January 19 2018

In this issue:
Fourth CR Approved by House
SVAC Hearing on VA Accountability
EO to Improve Mental Health Resources for Veterans Signed
CRDP/CRSC Open Season
Persian Gulf War Anniversary
 

Fourth CR Approved By House
The current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires this Friday, January 19 at midnight. As NewsBytes goes to press, the House has passed (230-197) another CR (H.R.195) to keep the government operating for another four weeks. This would be the fourth time since October 1, 2017, Congress passed a CR to avoid a government shutdown. The House Appropriations Committee's approved resolution includes a six-year extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for children in low income families and delays implementation of the medical device tax that provides some funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It is still unclear if the Senate will pass the CR later today. Senate Democrats are demanding that the CR includes a provision permanently shielding from deportation about 690,000 undocumented or illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Republicans want to keep that issue separate from current funding and budget negotiations.

If there is a government shutdown, some services will be stopped or curtailed while other services will not be impacted.  The impact on certain services and compensation is as follows:

• Military retiree's compensation and benefits will NOT be impacted by a government shutdown;
• Active duty/Reserve pay could be delayed during a government shutdown but would eventually be paid when the government re-opens;
• Veterans' compensation, medical care, and the Post 911 GI Bill benefits will continue to be paid;
• Some military civilian employees could be temporarily laid off. The Pentagon, however, is allowed to pay "essential" civilian employees;
• Commissaries will have reduced hours and will lay off some employees;
• Social Security, Medicare and unemployment benefits would be paid, but new applications for those payments could be delayed;
• All national parks would be closed, as would the Smithsonian museums. Visitors in overnight campgrounds at national parks would be given 48 hours to make alternate arrangements to leave the park; and
• The U.S. Post Office will remain open.

Beyond passing an omnibus spending bill, Congress needs to lift the spending caps on Defense. Members can use the FRA Action Center to ask their legislators to repeal these spending caps known as sequestration.

SVAC Hearing on VA Accountability
During a Senate Affairs Committee testimony, VA Secretary Shulkin provided a progress report on implementing 2017 legislation for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reform. Shulkin's report focused on five areas of reform that include:

• Improving the VA Choice program;
• Modernizing VA claims and appeals processes;
• Focusing on better use of VA resources;
• Ensuring timeliness of delivering care to veterans; and
• Reducing veteran suicide.

Secretary Shulkin pointed out VA successes over the past year. The Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) was established on May 12, 2017. The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act was enacted on August 23, 2017. The Forever GI Bill was signed into law and to date 13 of 34 provisions have been enacted. A plan to make interoperability between the Department of Defense and the VA was put into action. Community Care and funding for the Choice Program was funded.  

He further stated that the claims backlog is being addressed—there are approximately 470,000 claims still pending. The VA is implementing the Decision Ready Claims (DRC) Program. Three percent of claimants have taken advantage of DRC and 75 percent of those claimants have received a favorable ruling from the VA.

The secretary also highlighted that veteran homelessness dropped 46 percent. Unfortunately, last year there was a two percent rise in vet homelessness. The highest rise was found in Los Angeles, Calif. and Seattle, Wa. On the upside, the VA implemented an emergency mental health program for veterans seeking mental health treatment for up to 90 days. There has been a 41 percent reduction in veteran opioid addiction.  Secretary Shulkin further claimed staff at VA facilities are being trained to treat women veterans for their specific issues.

The VA has had difficulty in filling vacancies across the nation—especially doctors in rural areas—but also within the VA HQ. As of today, there are four undersecretary positions that have not been filled. Fortunately, selectees for two of those positions are currently being vetted by the White House while another must first be under a legally-obligated commission review.

President Signs EO to Improve Mental Health Resources for Transitioning Veterans  
President Trump signed an Executive Order titled, "Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition From Uniformed Service to Civilian Life." This order directs the Departments of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs (VA) and Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a plan that ensures all new veterans receive mental health care for at least one year, following their separation from service.

The three agencies will work together to develop a Joint Action Plan that ensures new veterans who currently do not qualify for enrollment in healthcare (primarily due to lack of verified service connection related to the medical issue at hand), will receive treatment and access to services for mental health care for one year, following their separation from service.

"As service members transition to Veteran status, they face higher risk of suicide and mental health difficulties," said VA Secretary Dr. Shulkin. "During this critical phase, many transitioning service members may not qualify for enrollment in health care. The focus of this Executive Order is to coordinate Federal assets to close that gap."

The DoD, VA and DHS will work to expand mental health programs and other resources for new veterans for a year following departure from uniformed service, including eliminating prior time limits and:

• Expanding peer community outreach and group sessions in the VA Whole Health initiative from 18 Whole Health Flagship facilities to all facilities. Whole Health includes wellness and establishing individual health goals;
• Extending the DoD's "Be There Peer Support Call and Outreach Center" services to provide peer support for veterans during the year following separation from service; and
• Expanding the DoD's Military One Source, which offers resources to active duty members, to include services to separating service members to one year beyond separation.

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with the VA to ensure veterans who have served our country continue to receive the important mental health care and services they need and deserve," said Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis.

"The Department of Homeland Security is where many veterans find a second opportunity to serve their country — nearly 28 percent of our workforce has served in the armed forces, in addition to the 49,000 active-duty members of the United States Coast Guard," said Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.  

"This critically important Executive Order will provide our service members with the support they need as they transition to civilian life. These dedicated men and women have put their lives on the line to protect our nation and our American way of life and we owe them a debt we can never repay. We look forward to working with the VA and DOD to implement the president's EO," said Secretary Nielsen.

"In signing this Executive Order, President Trump has provided clear guidance to further ensure our veterans and their families know that we are focusing on ways to improve their ability to move forward and achieve their goals in life after service," said Secretary Shulkin.

FRA's 2018 Legislative Agenda includes ensuring adequate funding for DoD and VA health care resource sharing in delivering seamless, cost effective, quality services to personnel wounded in combat and other veterans and their families.

CRDP/CRSC Open Season
FRA wants to remind retirees who qualify for both Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC), they can choose which compensation they prefer to receive during the CRDP/CRSC annual open season. It will be open for the entire month of January 2018. According to federal law, retirees can receive either CRDP or CRSC, but not both.

All eligible retirees should have received a CRDP/CRSC Open Season Election Form in the mail, which includes a comparison of the CRDP and CRSC entitlement amounts and information about tax implications. Retirees should return the form only if they wish to make a change from CRDP to CRSC or vice versa. No action is required to keep things the way they are and the current payment will continue uninterrupted.  Forms must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2018. The usual processing time is 30 days. All choices remain in effect, unless changed in a subsequent annual open season. For more information click here.
 

Persian Gulf War Anniversary
This week marks the 27th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm. Also referred to as the "Persian Gulf War", it was a coalition of 38 countries led by the U.S. against Iraqi's occupation of Kuwait. From beginning to end, the war lasted 43 days. Nearly 700,000 U.S. troops took part in the war and 299 lost their lives. Last year, FRA supported legislation that approved Washington D.C. as the location for the memorial to those who served on active duty of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield.

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