Newsbytes 03-06-20

In this issue:
FRA NP Testifies Before Joint Veterans Affairs Committee
New Concurrent Receipt Bill Introduced
Privatized Military Housing Hearing


NP Jansky Testifies Before Joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
The FRA’s National President Donna Jansky testified before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee expressing FRA member concerns on veteran’s issues. Jansky thanked the House Chairman Mark Takano (Calif.) and Ranking Member Roe (Tenn.) for sponsoring the Agent Orange Blue Water Navy bill (H.R.299) last year. Jansky expressed concern about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sending a report to these committees asking to delay new presumptive conditions linked to exposure to the Agent Orange herbicide. NP Jansky informed the committees that FRA is supporting the Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R.5610), which would add these presumptive conditions linked to exposure to Agent Orange. 

Jansky voiced concern about the high rate of suicide in the veteran’s community and urged Congress to pass the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act (S.785), sponsored Sens. Jerry Moran (Kans.) and Jon Tester (Mont.), SVAC chairman and ranking member respectively. The bill is a comprehensive and aggressive approach to connect more veterans with the mental health care they need and have earned.  Jansky also applauded the VA for launching the Solid Start program, which informs new veterans about the benefits and support services available through the VA.  

Jansky expressed support for the Deborah Sampson Act (H.R.3224) sponsored by Rep. Julia Brownley (Calif.), which passed the House and is awaiting further consideration in the Senate. This legislation addresses barriers that women veterans face when trying to obtain VA benefits. Jansky also urged adequate Congressional oversight of the implementation of VA technology upgrades. The FRA wants to ensure there is funding for the VA health care and the Department of Defense resource sharing that will deliver a seamless, cost effective, quality services to personnel wounded in combat and other veterans.  

Shipmates are urged to go to the Action Center and weigh in on legislation mentioned above (H.R.5610, S.785, and H.R.3224).



New Concurrent Receipt Bill Introduced
Director of Legislative Programs John Davis attended a press conference with Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fla.) to announce that the legislator has introduced the Major Richard Star Act (H.R.5995), which would expand concurrent receipt eligibility for certain medically retired veterans seeking combat related special compensation.  The FRA has long argued that retired pay and VA service-connected disability compensation are fundamentally different benefits, granted for different reasons. Military retired pay is an earned benefit for vested years of service. Service-connected disability compensation is for injury. To deny retired pay because of a disability is an injustice. Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) introduced similar legislation (S.3393) in the Senate. Members are urged to go to the Action Center to weigh in on these newly introduced bills as well as other pending concurrent receipt proposals. 


Privatized Military Housing Hearing
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Military Privatized Housing. Witnesses included housing company executives, tenants, acting assistant secretary of defense (Sustainment) and defense capabilities and management (GAO).  As noted in last week’s NewsBytes the secretary of defense signed only 15 of the 18 stated Tenants Bill of Rights authorized in last year’s NDAA (S.1790). The following 3 rights that were excluded are: 
  • Access to maintenance history
  • A process for dispute resolution
  • Withholding of rent until disputes are resolve

Colonel Scott Gerber’s testimony of horrendous living condition was echoed by many military families in the audience who have gone through similar ordeals. Gerber’s petition was very simple; the families want a level playing field with the contractors. Gerber believes this can be accomplished by enacting three key points:  
  • Full implementation of the Tenants Bill of Rights  
  • Expanding military advocacy groups to partake in decision making
  • Allowing independent party inspectors

Other tenants who testified believe military housing complaints should be handled differently than through the chain of command because lower enlisted personnel’s hesitation to contact their command.  

The contractors testified that they have collectively lost sight of their responsibility of supporting the services and they pledge to make drastic changes. They all agreed to adhere to the full Tenant Bill of Rights. The GAO testified that privatized housing is underfunded. They also suggested a complete audit be conducted on BAH calculations, proper staffing of military housing officers and standardized oversight across the services. 

The FRA supports full implementation of the Active Duty Tenant Bill of Rights and wants to ensure service members and their families have safe, quality homes and communities. We also support increasing the accountability of privatized housing companies by putting more oversight authority in the hands of local military leaders.

Members can weigh in on this issue through the FRA Action Center located online.

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)