NewsBytes June 25, 2021
In this issue:
Half the Senate Supports Concurrent Receipt Reform
FRA meets with HVAC about Toxic Exposure
Allow Retirees to Take DoD Jobs Without Delay
House Passes Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act
Half of the Senate Supports Concurrent Receipt Reform
Half of the U.S. Senate (50) is now co-sponsoring key concurrent receipt reform legislation; the “Major Richard Star Act” (S.344). The House companion bill (H.R.1282) has 105 co-sponsors. Concurrent receipt reform is of paramount importance to the FRA and the association is continuing to work to eliminate this unjust offset to benefits.
There are still many lawmakers who would support this legislation if they heard from constituents. Click the links to see whether your senators or your House members support this legislation. With turmoil over delayed budgets and work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it is impactful to email and call your elected officials asking them to support concurrent receipt reform.
You can call your lawmaker through the toll-free Capitol switchboard at 866-272-6622. If you provide your zip code, they will connect you to your legislators. When talking to legislators or their staff remind them that retired pay is for vested years of service paid by DoD, while disability compensation is for lifelong injury paid by the VA. To reduce retirement pay because of a disability is an injustice!
Members are also urged to continue to use the FRA Action Center to weigh in on this issue.
FRA Staff Meets with HVAC Staff on Toxic Exposure
FRA staff (Theo Lawson), as part of the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) coalition, held a meeting with House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) staff to discuss and compare the House and Senate veteran’s toxic exposure bills, The Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act (H.R.3967) and The Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops (COST) of War Act (Senate). The Toxics (PACT) Act is a comprehensive toxic exposure omnibus bill introduced in the House and sponsored by HVAC Chairman Rep. Mark Takano (Calif.) is comprised of several FRA-supported toxic exposure bills. The COST bill is sponsored by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) Chairman Jon Tester (Mont.) and is also comprised of several toxic exposure bills introduced in the Senate.
This HVAC bill is still in committee and the SVAC bill has passed out of committee and is awaiting further action on the Senate floor. Both sponsors have announced that they hope to pass their respective bills out of their chamber later this year with the goal of passing an agreed to bill before the end of the year. Many other legislators have expressed concern about the cost of this legislation. The FRA wants to ensure that no veteran who had exposure to burn pits or other environmental toxins goes without access to VA health care benefits. Members are strongly urged to weigh in on this issue on the FRA Action Center.
Allow Retirees to Take Civilian DoD Jobs without Delay
Senator James Lankford (Okla.) has introduced FRA-supported legislation (S.2161) authorizing repeal of the requirement for those retiring from military service to wait 180 days before entering the Department of Defense (DoD) civil service General Schedule (GS) positions for GS13 and below. The FY2021 NDAA includes a temporary 3-year pilot program for depots and industrial activities. The FRA welcomed this improvement last year, but more work needs to be done.
The 180-day waiting period has resulted in a talent management problem for hiring officials who are grappling with an antiquated hiring process that takes too long to hire a qualified candidate with a current security clearance. The FRA will work to include this legislation in the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to permanently authorize military retirees to transition to DoD GS13 and below positions for all DoD facilities, not just depots.
Members can weigh in on this issue by going to the FRA Action Center.
House Passes Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act
The House of Representatives voted 416-5 to pass the “Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act” (H.R.983), sponsored by Rep. Ted Deutch (Fla.) to help protect our nation's veterans from targeted scams and financial predators.
Currently, it is against the law for unauthorized agents to charge veterans a fee in exchange for assistance with claims or appeals with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Unfortunately, this crime carries no penalty. Financial predators pursue veterans, luring them with false offers to expedite their claims or benefits and charging them exorbitant costs. This legislation would impose a fine or imprisonment of up to five years or both for defrauding veterans. “After veterans and their families have made such sacrifices for our country and our national security, it is so deeply reprehensible that people would seek them out to defraud them with these scams,” said Congressman Deutch. “Congress must put a penalty to the crime so we can discourage this predatory behavior. Let’s close this despicable loophole and protect our veterans from pension poachers and fraudsters.”
The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration. Members are encouraged to use the FRA Action Center to ask their Senators to support this legislation.
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