In this issue:
SASC-P Discusses DoD Personnel Budget
SVAC Reviews Disability Claims Process
SecNav Nominee


SASC-P Discusses FY2022 DoD Personnel Budget
Despite that the Biden Administration has not released a FY2022 budget proposal, the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee held a hearing on Defense personnel programs. There was extensive discussion about pulling sexual assault cases from the chain of command and concerns about the lack of data on domestic abuse. In addition, there was discussion about the need for adequate end strength for the services as well as the problem of active-duty suicide.

The FRA submitted a statement for the record in conjunction with this hearing. The statement explains FRA’s opposition to more TRICARE fee increases, the need to expand concurrent receipt, and the need for an increase in accountability of military privatized housing companies. In addition, the statement also recommends adequate active duty pay increase, improved BAH and USFSPA reform.  To see a copy of the statement, go online.



SVAC Reviews Disability Claims Process
The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a hearing to discuss and review the disability claims process at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The hearing focused on claims processing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The SVAC also discussed the challenges the pandemic posed to the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), lessons learned, and efforts to make the disability compensation claims process more veteran focused. 
 
At the hearing, the VA announced the centralization of all military sexual trauma (MST) claims through five regional offices to help improve accuracy in claims decisions and better support survivors. There was discussion of lowering the evidentiary standards for MST claims, ensuring veterans have direct contact information for their local MST coordinator, in VBA and VHA, and that they are made aware of the medical benefits that might be available to them.


SecNav Nominee
Carlos Del Toro, a Naval Academy graduate and CEO of a tech consultancy, is expected to be the Biden administration’s nominee for Navy Secretary. After coming to the United States as a child from Cuba in 1962, Del Toro would go on to become the first Hispanic to serve as the first Captain of an Aegis cruiser or destroyer. His career also included Middle East deployments during Operation Desert Storm.

The Navy remains the only service without a nominee for its civilian secretary, after the Biden administration nominated long-time Pentagon officials Christine Wormuth to lead the Army and Frank Kendall to run the Air Force. 

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