NewsBytes November 22, 2019
In this issue:
CR Passes to Keep Government Open
Arlington Cemetery Survey: Burials for Retirees
FRA Participates at Veterans Roundtable
Commissary, MWR, and Exchange Access Expands
Happy Thanksgiving!
CR Passes to Keep Government Open until December 20
As predicted in last week’s NewsBytes, the House and Senate passed a second Continuing Resolution (CR) that keeps the government operating until Dec. 20, 2019. The first CR passed before the Oct. 1, 2019 deadline. It ensured the enactment of the 12 appropriations (spending) bills and kept government operating until Nov. 21, 2019. The main sticking point is funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall. President Trump diverted several billion dollars from military projects last year, which enraged Democrats. The issue is now in the courts.
The House has passed 10 of 12 FY2020 funding bills, while the Senate has passed four funding bills. The Senate did not have enough support on Oct. 31 to overcome procedural obstacles to debate a second four-bill spending package. Further, The FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act is in conference committee awaiting the House and Senate to resolve the differences between the two bills but efforts have stalled.
ANC Survey-Burials for Retirees
Acting Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy has proposed changes to eligibility criteria for burial at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) that includes military retirees, without combat experience, for above-ground inurnment. For more details on proposed changes, see the 10/4/2019 NewsBytes.
The FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act directed the Secretary of the Army to revise eligibility criteria to keep the cemetery functioning as an active burial ground “well into the future,” which is defined as 150 years. The Army will now begin the federal government’s public rule making process that will include soliciting public feedback to the proposed changes. The FRA would like to know your thoughts on providing retirees above-ground inurnment at ANC.
Please complete the short surve and we will share your responses with the ANC.
FRA Takes Part in House Speaker Veterans Roundtable
Director of Legislative Programs John Davis participated in a VSO/MSO roundtable discussion of pending issues with House Democrats. The Capitol Hill event was hosted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (Calif). Other legislators in attendance include Reps. Gil Cisneros (Calif.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Julia Brownley (Calif.) Susan Lee (N.V.), Elaine Luria (Va.), Debra Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), Joe Cunningham (S.C.) and Donald Norcross (N.J.).
Speaker Pelosi boasted that the House had just recently passed nine veteran bills, including the Debra Sampson Act (H.R.3224) while expression concern about the veteran suicide problem. In closing she expressed opposition to any effort to privatize the VA.
The group of MSO/VSO organizations thanked Chairman Takano for his efforts to pass the Agent Orange Blue Water Navy Bill (H.R.299) and thanked the committee for holding hearings to ensure prompt implementation of the Act.
The FRA issues that were shared are, concurrent receipt expansion, opposing the “skinny” NDAA and ensuring timely implementation of Agent Orange Blue Water Navy law. Other issues discussed included veteran suicides, helping women veterans, SBP/DIC offset repeal, opposing the “skinny” NDAA, veteran homelessness and the GI Bill housing payments backlog. Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Chair of the House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, discussed how the MilCon/VA Appropriations Bill passed the House unanimously and has now stalled in the Senate.
DoD to Expand Commissary, MWR and Exchange Access
The Department of Defense is expanding commissary, military exchange, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail privileges on U.S. military installations, as required by the FY2019 Defense Authorization Act. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, access will expand to include all veterans with service-connected disabilities, veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, veterans who are former prisoners of war, and approved individuals designated as the primary family caregivers of eligible veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Program for Family Caregivers. While this expansion will extend eligibility to more than 4.1 million new patrons, the DoD expects little to no impact on current patrons in most locations. There may be some impact in areas with a high cost of living, but the DoD is preparing to accommodate all new patrons.
New patrons now eligible by the Act should be aware that the law requires the DoD charge them a small user fee to offset the increased expense incurred by the Department of the Treasury for processing commercial credit or debit cards used for purchases at commissary stores.
The DoD is finalizing the details for these new privileges with the VA, Homeland Security and the Treasury. Information will be announced soon regarding installation access and the authentication process for these privileges. To learn more about the commissary, military exchange and MWR expansion, go online.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Please note the FRA NHQ will be closed Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday Nov. 29 and will be open Monday Dec. 2. The entire National Headquarters staff wishes everyone — and especially service members serving duty assignments throughout the world — a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
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