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.
If you would like to hear a recorded version of NewsBytes, dial 1-800-FRA-1924 (ext. 112)
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