NewsBytes January 13, 2023
In this issue:
FRA Survey on Military, Veterans Benefits
Congress Moves Forward
Omnibus Spending Bill Includes Veterans Provisions
FRA Closed Monday
FRA Launches 2023 Survey on Military, Veterans Benefits
As part of its mission to bring the enlisted concerns to Capitol Hill, the FRA is conducting an online survey to determine which military and veteran benefits are most important to active duty and Reserve personnel, retirees, veterans and their families. The brief survey asks current and former members of the uniformed services, as well as their spouses, to rate a variety of benefits and quality-of-life programs associated with their service to our nation.
The FRA is asking all current and former military personnel and their spouses to share their opinions about the programs they value most. Survey responses and comments from participants provide the legislative team important reference information when we testify before Congress or one-on-one meetings with lawmakers and their staff. The FRA also shares the survey results with elected officials on Capitol Hill, key committee staff, and leaders within the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs — ensuring these crucial decision-makers understand the enlisted sea service perspective. The survey is available online.
Congress Moves Forward
After 15 votes for Speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) was elected Speaker of the House. The House approved a rules package, and the House and Senate began selecting committee Chairman and Ranking Members. Rep. Mike Rogers (Ala.) was selected as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.) will serve as Ranking Member. Rep. Mike Bost (Ill.) was selected as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Rep. Mark Takano (Calif.) will serve as Ranking Member. Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.) was selected to serve again as Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and Sen. Jerry Moran (Kan.) was selected to serve again as Ranking member. Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.) will again serve as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Sen. Roger Wicker (Miss.) will serve as Ranking member. The FRA looks forward to working with these legislators and all the members of the 118th Congress to make it a productive session.
FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill includes Veterans Provisions
The FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package (H.R.2617), is a 4415-page bill that passed within days of its release last December. The Omnibus bill combines the 12 appropriations bills and provides the federal government with $1.7 trillion funding for fiscal year 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2023). That legislation also provides provisions for veterans that include:
• Improving mental health care; care for veterans in rural areas; bolster services for aging veterans; improve research-related matters; expand and modify programs for homeless veterans.
• Establishing a pilot program to provide travel reimbursements for low-income veterans in advance of medical appointments.
• Expanding VA treatment and research of prostate cancer.
• Strengthening VA’s mental health care workforce, expand care options, and support mental health research at the Department.
• Improving the Veterans Crisis Line’s staff training, management, and response to veteran callers at risk of suicide.
The FRA will work to ensure these provisions are effectively implemented and support additional Congressional oversight.
FRA Closed Monday
The Fleet Reserve Association National Headquarters will be closed Monday, January 16 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
NewsBytes is FRA's weekly legislative update. If you received this through a forward and would like to subscribe, please e-mail us and include your name and contact information in the body of e-mail. If you are a member of FRA or LA FRA, please include your member number.
Follow FRA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FRAHQ); Follow FRA on Instagram (www.instagram.com/fra_hq) and "like" FRA on Facebook (use the shortcut of www.fra.org/fb)