NewsBytes June 14, 2019
In this issue:
AOBWN Bill Passes Senate
Markup of NDAA and Concurrent Receipt
Coast Guard Coin Legislation
Senate Confirms Marine Corps Commandant
Flag Day
AOBWN Bill Passes Senate and on its Way to President to Sign into Law
In the wake of the Procopio v.Wilkie decision the Senate passed the FRA-supported “Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act” (H.R. 299). This legislation will essentially codify the Procopio decision into law. FRA is listed as a “Friend of the Court” by the petitioner Blue Water Navy Veteran, Mr. Procopio.
Agent Orange was an herbicide used during the Vietnam era that has been known to be associated with certain health issues in people who have been exposed to its chemical components. The Agent Orange Act of 1991 stipulated that if a veteran served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975 and has a disease that has been associated with exposure to Agent Orange, they are automatically presumed to have been exposed and, therefore, qualify for VA disability compensation. This included Blue Water Navy veterans who served of the coast until 2001 when the Department of Veterans Affairs arbitrarily changed to interpretation of the law allowing the presumption based on “boots on the ground.” The legislation and the court decision bring back this presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to veterans who served offshore of Vietnam. The legislation also expands presumption for certain Korean veterans and provides benefits to children with spina bifida with at least one parent who served in Thailand.
FRA wants to thank the Shipmates that called and e-mailed their legislators. Your efforts paid off.
HASC Markup of NDAA and Concurrent Receipt Amendments
The House Armed Services Committee marked up its version of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization bill (NDAA-H.R. 2500). One of the major differences between the House NDAA and the Senate Armed Services Committee bill is the top-line spending for the Department of Defense (DoD). The House provides for $733 billion and the Senate bill (S. 1215) provides $750 billion. It should be noted that neither spending level will occur unless Congress eliminates or raises the spending caps on sequestration. Key provisions in the bill include:
• No TRICARE fee increase;
• Prohibiting DoD from realigning or reducing military medical end strength until analyses are conducted on combat readiness, quality of care and the availability of health care services for beneficiaries
• Pay increase that keeps pace with civilian pay (3.1%);
• Continuing reforms of sexual assault and prevention;
• Increasing end strength for Navy and Marine Corps;
• Cutting $1.2 billion in military personnel funding; and
• Prohibiting the Marine Corps from segregating men and women in boot camp within five years at Parris Island and within eight years at San Diego.
FRA opposes the controversial plan to cut more than 17,000 military medical billets over three years and welcomes the twoyear delay provided in the House committee markup to determine the impact on access and quality of care for beneficiaries. The subcommittee mark will go onto the full House for consideration.
The Senate Committee has already marked up its version of the defense authorization bill (S.1790) and the bill is awaiting consideration by the full Senate as early as next week. Once both chambers pass their version of the NDAA, a conference committee will be appointed to resolve the differences between the two bills. Once that occurs both chambers will vote on the final bill, and if approved by both chambers the bill will go to the President to be signed into law or be vetoed.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fla.) has filed a floor amendment for the House NDAA (H.R. 2500) that would extend concurrent receipt for retirees with Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) rated less than 50 percent disabled. Sen. Jon Tester (Mt.) has filed a Senate floor amendment to the Senate version of the Defense Authorization bill (S. 1790) to provide concurrent receipt for CRDP beneficiaries medically retired with less than 20 years of service (Chapter 61) phased in over 5 years. These amendments were filed at FRA’s request and members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center located on the website (www.fra.org) to ask their legislators to support these critical amendments.
Coast Guard Coin Legislation
The “United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act” (HR 1257-S. 509) has been introduced in the House and Senate and is sponsored by Rep. Joe Courtney (CT) and Sen. Mike Murphy (CT) respectively. This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue in commemoration of the U.S. Coast Guard (1) $5 gold coins, (2) $1 silver coins, and (3) half-dollar clad coins. The design of such coins shall be emblematic of the traditions, history, and heritage of the Coast Guard and its role in securing the United States since 1790. The issuance of such coins is restricted to the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2020. Proceeds from the coin shall be paid by Treasury to the National Coast Guard Museum Association to help finance the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of the Coast Guard Museum.
This bill would honor the men and women of the Coast Guard and support the establishment of the National Coast Guard Museum. Despite its significant role in our national defense, the U.S. Coast Guard is the only uniformed service without a national museum to showcase its 229 year history. Legislation was passed authorizing the National Coast Guard Museum to be located in New London, Connecticut. Construction on the museum is scheduled to begin next year. This bipartisan bill would honor all those who have served in the Coast Guard by the minting of a special commemorative coin and proceeds from sales would be used to support the development and operation of the museum via the National Coast Guard Museum Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the facility and to expanding awareness of the important history, service and missions of the Coast Guard.
Members are encouraged use the FRA Action Center on the website (www.fra.org)
Senate Confirms Marine Corps Commandant
Lt. General David Berger has been confirmed by the Senate to be the next (37th) Commandant of the Marine Corps. He will assume leadership of the Marine Corps on July 11 when the current Commandant Bob Neller will step down. Berger was commissioned as a Marine infantry officer in 1981, and before his current assignment he commanded U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. He also deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Berger is set for a promotion to four-star general as Commandant.
Flag Day
Flag Day is celebrated on June 14, and it commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on that day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day and in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday.
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