NewsBytes May 21, 2021
In this issue:
Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act Introduced in Senate
HAC Subcommittee Discusses Navy and Marine Corps Quality of Life Issues
VA Will Review Blue Water Navy Claims for Vietnam Veterans
House Passes Veterans Legislation
Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act Introduced in Senate
Sens. Rob Portman (Oh.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) have introduced the "Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act" (S. 1669). An identical bill was introduced in the House in February at FRA's request by Rep. Jon Garamendi (Calif.). This legislation allows for the retention of the full final month's retired pay by the surviving spouse (or other designated survivor) of a military retiree for the month in which the member was alive for at least 24 hours.
Surviving spouses who are unaware that the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) should be notified immediately on the death of the military retiree are surprised to learn of this requirement. Those who had joint bank accounts, in which retirement payments were made electronically, gave little if any thought that DFAS could swoop down and recoup any overpayments of retirement pay from such accounts. This action could easily clear the account of any funds remaining, whether they were retirement payments or money from other sources. Instead of withdrawing the payment all at once, the bill would allow a gradual repayment over 12 months and give the Secretary of Defense the option to forgive the over payment.
Members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center to weigh in on this issue. Action Center
HAC Subcommittee Discusses Navy and Marine Corps Quality of Life Issues
The House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee (H.MilCon/VA) held an oversight hearing on Navy and Marine Corps Quality-of-Life issues. The Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz noted that the Trump Administration re-directed $3.6 billion from military construction accounts that included 18 Navy and Marine Corps projects, for building the border wall. She explained that military construction includes Child Development Centers (CDC), security for military families, and good housing. The Chairwoman specifically noted concerns about Navy and Marine Corps CDC capacity and quality. Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA) noted the importance of improving employment opportunities for military spouses.
Master Chief Petty Office of the Navy (MCPON) Russell Smith and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC) Troy Black, among others, testified at this hearing. This is a subcommittee long-standing tradition, to have senior enlisted testify on quality-of-life concerns. MCPON Smith noted enlisted concerns about childcare. SMMC added that the Marines are currently adding two new CDC locations.
Witnesses were also asked about active-duty suicide, sexual assault, and the need for improvements to privatized military housing. At the hearing, the Department of Defense committed to fully implementing the Tenant Bill of Rights by June 1, 2021. FRA is working to ensure service members and their families have safe, quality homes and communities. The Association is supporting an increase in 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 by going to the FRA Action Center at: Action Center
VA Will Review Blue Water Navy Claims for Vietnam Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it will begin immediately re-adjudicating Blue Water Navy claims for veterans who served in the offshore waters of Vietnam following a push from Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC). This review is part of the Veterans Benefits Administration's implementation of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California order to re-adjudicate previously denied claims, per the Nehmer vs. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs consent decree.
"This review provides an entire generation of veterans with another shot at getting the health care and benefits they've earned. And it sends a clear message that VA is working to right a wrong perpetrated by a government that ignored their service and sacrifice for far too long." Said SVAC Chairman Jon Tester (Mt.). As of April 30, VA processed more than 45,000 Blue Water Navy claims and paid nearly $900 million in retroactive benefit payments to disabled Blue Water Navy veterans.
In March, Tester sent a bipartisan letter asking VA Secretary Denis McDonough to provide the VA's estimated timeline for completing initial processing of Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act claims and the VA's plan to adhere to the Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs consent decree.
The FRA-supported Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act guaranteed that veterans who served off the shores of Vietnam could access VA health care and benefits related to their exposure from Agent Orange. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on June 25, 2019.
Vietnam veterans and their survivors who believe that VA has not assigned them the correct effective date for the award of benefits for their Agent Orange-related disease can contact the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) Nehmer team at the toll-free hotline number - 855-333-0677.
House Passes Veterans Legislation
Over the past two weeks, the House passed 12 bills, assigned to the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) that uphold our promise and commitment to veterans and their families. With Memorial Day coming up, these bills - passed with strong bipartisan support - honor veterans with action by building equity for all veterans, strengthening oversight of the Department of veterans Affairs (VA) and COVID-19 relief funds, expanding mental health resources for veterans, and supporting veteran mothers. The HVAC bills passed out of the House this month include:
H.R. 958 - Protecting Moms Who Served Act (Rep. Underwood)
H.R. 1448 - PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act (Rep. Stivers)
H.R. 2704 - Improving VA Accountability to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021 (Rep. Pappas)
H.R. 2788 - Equal Employment Counseling Modernization Act (Rep. Lamb)
H.R. 2911 - VA Transparency and Trust Act of 2021 (Rep. Bost)
H.R. 240 - Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act (Rep. Brownley)
H.R. 711 - West LA VA Campus Improvement Act of 2021, as amended (Rep. Lieu)
H.R. 2167 - GI Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline Act, as amended (Rep. Sherrill)
H.R. 2878 - Native Vet Success at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act, as amended (Rep. Gallego)
H.R. 1510 - To direct the VA Secretary to submit to Congress a report on the use of cameras in the medical centers of the VA, as amended (Rep. McKinley)
H.R. 2494 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the VA, the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for other purposes (Rep. Wenstrup)
H.R. 2441 - Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act (Rep. Axne)
These bills are now going to the Senate for further consideration.
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