Newsbytes April 3, 2026
 

In this issue:
Convenience in VA Virtual Care
War Powers Clock Ticks
Military Suicides Declined
Partial Claim: VA Home Loan
Coast Guard Readiness Eroding 
Written Consent Survey

Convenience in VA Virtual Care
A recent report highlights the experience of Navy Veteran Frank Moore, who has successfully utilized VA virtual care to manage multiple chronic health conditions. Moore, who lives a significant distance from the nearest VA Medical Center, emphasized that the ability to connect with specialists via video appointments has removed the logistical nightmare of travel while maintaining a high standard of clinical oversight. The VA continues to scale these digital health tools to reach veterans in rural or underserved areas, aiming to bridge the gap in healthcare equity for those with mobility challenges.

The VA identifies these anywhere care models as a primary method for increasing health equity and reducing the burden of in person appointments. For many sea service veterans, especially those with service connected disabilities that limit mobility, the integration of video appointments and digital health monitoring is a significant improvement over traditional, travel intensive care models. The VA reports that these tools are becoming a cornerstone of their strategy to reach a younger, more tech savvy veteran population while supporting aging retirees.

The FRA views the expansion of telehealth as a critical component of  our VA EHR Modernization legislative effort. A significant portion of our membership is retired and relies on VA infrastructure that is often centralized in urban hubs. However, the Association remains vigilant: virtual care must remain a supplement to, not a replacement for, robust in-person specialty care. We will continue to advocate for the necessary IT infrastructure funding to ensure these digital models are backed by a stable, modernized Electronic Health Record system that follows our Shipmates across the care continuum.

War Powers Clock Ticks
President Donald Trump has indicated a preference for a short and decisive engagement regarding ongoing tensions with Iran, even as the 60 day window mandated by the War Powers Resolution draws closer to a deadline. The administration’s posture suggests a reliance on high intensity, brief operations rather than prolonged ground commitments. This strategic signaling comes as the White House seeks to maintain a position of strength in the region while avoiding the political and fiscal pitfalls of another "forever war."

On Capitol Hill, this development has sparked a heated debate regarding constitutional authority and oversight. Lawmakers from both parties are questioning the executive branch’s authority to maintain hostilities without a formal Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) from Congress. As the War Powers clock ticks, the tension between executive military action and legislative oversight is reaching a boiling point, with significant implications for how future conflicts are authorized and funded.

The potential for increased OPTEMPO in the Middle East directly impacts Sea Service End-Strength and Readiness. Navy and Marine Corps assets are consistently the first responders in such scenarios. 

Military Suicides Declined
The Department of War (DoW) recently released the Annual Report on Suicide in the Military (ARSM) for calendar year 2024. The data shows a decrease in the total number of service members lost to suicide: 471 in 2024 compared to 531 in 2023. While the decrease in the raw number is an encouraging sign for current prevention programs, the report’s authors warned that the long term trend for the active duty component has shown a steady upward trajectory since 2011. The Navy and Marine Corps, in particular, continue to grapple with high stress environments that exacerbate mental health challenges.

The DoD emphasized that while the year over year decline is a step in the right direction, the persistent long term increase remains a top priority for leadership. The report highlights the need for continued investment in unit level support, peer to peer intervention, and the removal of the stigma associated with seeking help. For the sea services, where isolation during long deployments can be a factor, the DoW is looking at ways to improve connectivity and mental health resources aboard ships and at forward deployed locations.

This remains a Standing Priority Issue Area for the Association. While we welcome the reduction in total losses, the "gradual increase" in the long term trend line validates the feedback from our 2026 Legislative Survey, where active duty members gave current mental health access the lowest possible effectiveness rating. FRA is using this data to push for mental health services. We are advocating for Quality of Service reforms that address the root causes of fleet burnout, ensuring that our Shipmates have access to care that is proactive, not just reactive.

Partial Claim: VA Home Loan
In a critical oversight hearing before the House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on March 27, VA Executive Director Patrick Zanderevan confirmed a timeline that puts thousands of sea service families at risk. The new VA Partial Claims program (H.R. 1815) will not be operational until June 2026. This follows the May 2025 termination of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program, leaving a year long dead zone where struggling borrowers have no viable safety net. FRA is particularly alarmed by VA waterfall rules that may force delinquent Shipmates into a 15% monthly payment increase ($150 to $200 average) before they can even access assistance.

The operational hurdles for homebuyers extend beyond foreclosure risks. Subcommittee Chairman Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) highlighted how cosmetic appraisal red tape, such as chipped paint or missing handrails, continues to kill VA loan deals in competitive markets. Furthermore, VA seller concessions remain capped at 4%, while FHA and USDA loans allow up to 6%. This 2% disparity is a readiness killer in high speed markets like San Diego, Norfolk, and Jacksonville, where Navy and Marine Corps families are routinely outbid by buyers using non-VA products simply because the math of the VA loan is less attractive to sellers.

Perhaps most damaging is the impact on the VA’s specialized workforce. The hearing revealed that VA’s rigid 5 year experience requirement for appraisers has created a shortage of qualified inspectors, delaying closings for members transitioning between duty stations. The VA signaled a potential shift to a 1.5 to 2 year requirement to align with FHA standards, a move FRA supports to speed up the Home Port transition for our members. However, without immediate intervention, the VA estimates a recovery timeline that could see the backlog of delinquent loans persist well into the next fiscal year.

The Association views this testimony as a clarion call for immediate legislative and administrative action. As recruitment and retention already face significant headwinds, the added stress of housing instability is an unacceptable burden on those who serve. The Association maintains that the men and women executing our nation’s maritime strategy should not have to worry about losing their Home Port because of bureaucratic timelines and outdated lending caps in Washington.

Coast Guard Readiness Eroding 
The ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding stalemate has reached a critical tipping point, forcing thousands of Coast Guard members to rely on food pantries and community support services just to feed their families. While the Department of Defense (DoD) remains funded, the Coast Guard is once again caught in the crossfire of political gridlock, with local "Chiefs' Mess" pantries reporting record demand. This reliance on external charity for basic necessities is a systemic failure that directly burdens overall military readiness; when a boatswain's mate is distracted by the threat of eviction or hunger, their focus on high stakes search and rescue missions is dangerously compromised.

This cycle of "grim uncertainty" is not just a temporary hardship but a long term "readiness killer" that is actively sabotaging the Coast Guard’s retention and recruitment efforts. Talented members are increasingly looking toward the private sector or other military branches where funding is secure, creating a multimillion dollar maintenance and training backlog that will take years to recover. For every day the shutdown continues, the service estimates it loses two and a half days of future operational capacity due to deferred maintenance and stalled recruit training, fundamentally eroding the effectiveness of our nation's maritime defense.

Our 2025 Legislative Survey confirms that "Pay and Benefits" are the primary drivers of enlistment and retention, yet the current funding disparity effectively tells prospective recruits that Coast Guard service is less valued than that of the Navy or Marine Corps. Allowing our maritime defenders to serve without pay while their counterparts are made whole creates a tiered system of military service that weakens the joint force and breaks the "sacred trust" between the government and those who wear the uniform. The stress of financial instability during a 41 day shutdown is an unacceptable burden that no member of the sea services should be forced to carry while executing dangerous missions.

The Fleet Reserve Association is calling on Congress to take immediate, bipartisan action to make our military services fully operational. 

Your Health. Your Right to Know. Your Voice Matters.
You served with honor and made high-stakes decisions with full awareness of the risks. You deserve that same transparency in your healthcare. Currently, many veterans receive powerful medications without full written disclosure of risks, side effects, or alternatives.

H.R. 4837, the Written Informed Consent Act, puts control back in your hands. This legislation ensures written informed consent is required not just for opioids, but also for antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants, and anxiolytics.

This means:
Full information before treatment begins.
Clear understanding of risks and alternatives.
The power to make informed decisions for your body and future.

This is about accountability and protecting those who have given so much. We need your voice. Take a moment to complete this survey and stand in support of stronger protections. You fought for this country; now fight for your right to informed care.

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