Newsbytes June 6, 2024
In this issue:
MILCONVA Releases Appropriation Bill
Support the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act
FRA Grassroots Efforts Driving Aces Act!
BH-GEAR Boosts Warfighter Readiness
MILCONVA Releases Appropriation Bill
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) welcomes the $149.7 billion discretionary budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the FY 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, a 1.8% increase from FY 2025’s $147.1 billion. Key allocations include $74.2 billion for medical services, $33.8 billion for community care (up 11.2% from $30.4 billion), $10.7 billion for medical facilities, $6.6 billion for information technology (including $900 million for Electronic Health Record Modernization), and $3.2 billion for benefits administration. Construction receives $2.4 billion, with $1.6 billion for major projects and $800 million for minor upgrades, while $480 million supports national cemeteries and $470 million funds administration. The FRA applauds the $135.8 billion in advance appropriations for FY 2027, ensuring stable benefits. The association commits to monitoring service quality to ensure these funds translate into tangible improvements for veterans.
The funding increase offers significant benefits, particularly the $3.4 billion boost to community care, which enhances access to private providers, reducing wait times and aiding rural veterans. The $74.2 billion for medical services supports critical mental health and telehealth programs, vital given the approximately 17 daily veteran suicides. The $2.4 billion for construction and $10.7 billion for facilities will modernize aging VA infrastructure, improving care environments. The $135.8 billion advance appropriation (up 4.4% from FY 2026’s $130.1 billion) secures disability and education benefits, protecting veterans from budget disruptions. The FRA views these investments as a strong step toward meeting veterans’ growing needs, especially for PACT Act-related care, with about 600,000 new enrollees since 2022.
However, real-term deficits and policy restrictions raise concerns. Adjusted for 2.5% inflation, medical services face a $0.7 billion shortfall, benefits administration a $0.2 billion deficit, and construction a $0.2 billion gap compared to FY 2025, potentially straining healthcare and claims processing. A prohibition on reporting veterans to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System without judicial review protects Second Amendment rights but may complicate suicide prevention. The FRA, mindful of proposed 83,000 job cuts, notes the $345 million bonus cap could impact staffing, risking service delays.
Community care’s increase benefits rural veterans and those needing specialty care, but deficits in medical services and benefits administration may lead to longer wait times. The Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase program’s closure, unaddressed in the bill, threatens housing stability for about 20,000 veterans. Modernized facilities and EHRM funding promise better care coordination, but past implementation issues highlight the need for oversight. The FRA will advocate for robust staffing and alternative housing solutions, ensuring veterans receive timely, high-quality services aligned with funding increases.
The FRA celebrates the FY 2026 VA budget’s focus on community care, infrastructure, and benefits stability, which enhances healthcare access and modernizes facilities. However, funding deficits, restrictive policies, and workforce concerns risk delays. The FRA urges shipmates to contact the legislative team with concerns to ensure accountability. By monitoring service quality, the FRA will work with Congress and the VA to address gaps, such as housing risks and claims delays, ensuring the budget’s promise translates into meaningful support for veterans.
Support the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act
The VA Home Loan Program Reform Act (HR 1815) represents a critical step toward ensuring veterans can maintain homeownership and financial stability in challenging economic times. Having passed the House of Representatives, the bill now awaits Senate approval to become law. This legislation addresses a significant gap in the VA Home Loan Program, particularly following the discontinuation of the VA Servicer Purchasing Program (VASP), which previously allowed veterans who missed three or more mortgage payments to refinance at a reduced interest rate. Without VASP, veterans are left without a vital tool to prevent foreclosure, making HR 1815’s proposed reforms both timely and essential.
The VA Home Loan Program has long been a cornerstone of support for veterans, enabling millions to achieve the dream of homeownership. However, rising interest rates and economic pressures have increased the risk of foreclosure for some veterans, particularly those facing financial hardships. The now-defunct VASP provided a lifeline by allowing struggling veterans to refinance their loans and reduce their monthly payments. Its absence has left a void, as veterans lack access to home retention options comparable to those available through other federal programs, such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
HR 1815 proposes a practical and sustainable solution: a partial claim program. This program would allow veterans to address missed mortgage payments by adding them to the end of their loan term, effectively spreading the financial burden over time. By aligning the VA Home Loan Program with FHA’s partial claim model, HR 1815 ensures veterans have equitable access to home retention tools, helping them avoid foreclosure while preserving their financial stability.
Homeownership is more than just a financial milestone for veterans—it’s a foundation for stability, community, and personal well-being. Losing a home to foreclosure can have devastating consequences, including financial ruin, displacement, and emotional distress. HR 1815 addresses these risks by offering a fair and accessible solution that reflects the unique needs of veterans. The bill has garnered widespread bipartisan support from congress, veteran service organizations and veterans across the country, who recognize its potential to protect those who have served.
The urgency of this legislation cannot be overstated. With high interest rates continuing to strain household budgets, veterans are increasingly vulnerable to falling behind on mortgage payments. Without immediate action, many risk losing their homes—a reality that undermines the very benefits the VA Home Loan Program was designed to provide. By passing HR 1815, the Senate can ensure veterans have the same protections as other homeowners, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to those who have sacrificed for their country.
The FRA and veterans’ advocates are calling on the public to urge their senators to support HR 1815 and prioritize its passage. The VA Home Loan Program Reform Act of 2025 is more than just a policy proposal—it’s a lifeline for veterans facing financial hardship. By establishing a partial claim program, HR 1815 ensures that veterans have the tools they need to stay in their homes and build a secure future. The bill’s passage in the House is a promising step, but Senate approval is critical to making this solution a reality. Veterans and their supporters must act now to advocate for this legislation, ensuring that those who have served our nation are not left behind. Click on this link to take action:bit.ly/3SwFVlN
FRA Grassroots Efforts Driving Aces Act!
Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) members, your relentless grassroots advocacy continues to make waves! Thanks to your tireless efforts, the bipartisan bill to study cancer among military aviators, led by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Tom Cotton (R-AR), has cleared the Senate and is now headed back to the House for final passage. This critical legislation, detailed in the Senate press release, is a direct result of your unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators.
The bill directs the Department of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study on cancer rates among military pilots and aircrew, investigating potential links to occupational hazards such as radiation, jet fuel, and other environmental exposures. FRA members have long sounded the alarm on the troubling cancer diagnoses among aviators, and your powerful advocacy—through letters, calls and meetings—has propelled this issue to this milestone.
The FRA celebrated this milestone, stating, “The FRA applauds the Senate for passing this important legislation to study cancer rates among military aviators. Our members, many of whom have served in high-risk roles, have been vocal about the need for answers. This bill is a testament to the power of grassroots advocacy and the commitment of lawmakers like Senators Kelly and Cotton to prioritize the health of our veterans.”
To every FRA shipmate who has rallied for this cause, your dedication is bringing this bill closer to becoming law. Your efforts have ensured that the sacrifices of our aviators are recognized, setting the stage for critical research that could improve prevention, early detection, and treatment for those who’ve served in the skies. Congratulations on this incredible achievement—your voice is making a difference!
As the bill heads back to the House for final passage, FRA members are urged to keep the pressure on. Contact your representatives and encourage them to support this vital legislation. Stay the course, shipmates, and let’s see this through to the end!
New Behavioral Health Training Enhances Warfighter Readiness
At Special Operations Forces Week in Tampa, Florida, last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that people are the military’s greatest asset, surpassing even advanced equipment. This philosophy drives the Defense Department’s readiness initiatives, exemplified by the Behavioral Health Guidelines for mEdic Assessment and Response (BH-GEAR) program. Developed by Dr. Katie Nugent at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, BH-GEAR trains combat medics to manage behavioral health crises in high-pressure battlefield settings, ensuring warfighters remain mission-ready.
BH-GEAR emerged from 2018 interviews with 23 soldiers, including special forces medics, who highlighted challenges like sleeplessness, panic attacks, and team conflicts in remote environments. Published in Military Medicine, these findings revealed the need for a new approach to mental health care in multidomain conflicts. The one-day BH-GEAR course equips medics to assess mental distress, conduct structured conversations, and apply techniques like paced breathing to de-escalate crises. Medics also learn a decision tree to determine whether a service member can return to duty or requires evacuation.
The program addresses gaps identified in Nugent’s 2022 study, which noted that medics received only eight hours of behavioral health training despite psychiatric issues driving many evacuations from Iraq and Afghanistan. BH-GEAR’s hands-on training, including role-playing and refresher courses, has been piloted with Army medic trainees in San Antonio and is being adapted for Navy and Air Force medics. Demand is high, with graduates reporting sustained confidence and real-world application on deployments.
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) strongly supports BH-GEAR, believing early intervention is key to reducing veteran suicide rates by addressing mental health challenges while service members are still in uniform. The FRA will monitor the program’s impact and advocate for legislative support if needed to expand its reach. By equipping medics to prevent small issues from becoming mission-critical, BH-GEAR aligns with the FRA’s commitment to warfighter well-being.
Dr. Nugent envisions a tiered training model, with foundational skills for new medics and advanced courses for veterans. “There aren’t enough providers for every patrol base, especially in contested areas,” she said. “BH-GEAR creates an on-site asset to keep problems manageable.” By prioritizing human readiness, BH-GEAR ensures warfighters stay in the fight, reflecting Hegseth’s emphasis on the primacy of people over hardware.