MOAA Legislative Update: Congress Returns…and They’re Looking at You!
2 September 2011 – SUMMARY OF ISSUES:
At Issue 1. we see that GEN Odierno at the MOAA-USNI Symposium will be a keynote speaker at the Sept. 26 wounded warrior symposium being held at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. (See Issue 1 below for the details. GF )
At Issue 2 we see that the Quote of the week is: “As our nation contemplates difficult budget decisions, I know that our leaders will remember that our people, our men and women in uniform, are our military, and that taking care of them and their families must be our paramount objective.” (See Issue 2 below to see who made that quote. GF)
At Issue 3 we see that TYA Retroactive Coverage is Closing.The opportunity to purchase retroactive TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) coverage expires on September 30. TYA allows military parents to cover their eligible children under TRICARE until age 26. (See Issue 3 below for the details. GF)
At Issue 4. we see What’s up with Military Retirement in MOAA’s exclusive video that highlights how proposed dramatic cutbacks in military retirement benefits would significantly undermine long-term career retention and military readiness. (See Issue 4 below for the details. GF)
At Issue 5. we see that Congress Returns…and They’re Looking at You! Legislators return to work Tuesday from a month-long recess, and have three months to decide how to cut the deficit by $1.2 TRILLION over the next 10 years. You can either help MOAA try to help influence the process, or take whatever is dished out to you. See Issue 5 below for the details and to send messages. GF)
At Issue 6. we see that TRICARE Offers Free Vaccines (Including Shingles). Defense health officials say TRICARE now offers beneficiaries free vaccines through the retail pharmacy network. (See Issue 6 below for the details. GF)
At Issue 7. we see that Separated Vets Can Apply for Review. The Physical Disability Board of Review gives veterans who were medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009, a new chance to have their disability ratings reviewed – and potentially upgraded. Most eligible vets haven’t taken advantage of this opportunity. Please help spread the word. (See Issue 7 below for the details. GF)
At Issue 8. we are wished A Safe Labor Day, and you might be surprised to know where and when the concept of Labor Day originated. MOAA has the answer. (See Issue 8 below for the details. GF)
Collectively We Can and are Making a Difference
FOR ALL, Please feel free to pass these Weekly Legislative Updates on to your group of Veteran Friends – don’t be concerned with possible duplications – if your friends are as concerned as we are with Veteran issues, they probably won’t mind getting this from two or more friendly sources.
Issue 1. Hear GEN Odierno at MOAA-USNI Symposium
Incoming Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno will be a keynote speaker at the Sept. 26 MOAA-USNI wounded warrior symposium being held at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC.
Odierno will assume his new duties next week, and the MOAA-USNI event will be among the first opportunities to hear his priorities for taking care of the Army’s people, and particularly wounded warriors and their families.
Register today to reserve your seat at this important event. (Click on Hear GEN Odierno at MOAA-USNI Symposium here or above for the details. GF)
Issue 2 . Quote of the Week
“As our nation contemplates difficult budget decisions, I know that our leaders will remember that our people, our men and women in uniform, are our military, and that taking care of them and their families must be our paramount objective.” (Gen David Petraeus, USA-Ret, at his recent retirement ceremony.)
Issue 3. TYA Retroactive Coverage Closing
The opportunity to purchase retroactive TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) coverage expires on September 30. TYA allows military parents to cover their eligible children under TRICARE until age 26. TYA-eligible beneficiaries may choose to purchase retroactive coverage back to January 1 if they’ve had significant health care expenses that weren’t covered by other insurance. (Click on TYA Retroactive Coverage Closing here or above to see the details. GF)
Issue 4. What’s up with Military Retirement?
MOAA’s exclusive video highlights how proposed dramatic cutbacks in military retirement benefits would significantly undermine long-term career retention and military readiness. (Click on What’s up with Military Retirement? here or above to see the details. GF)
Issue 5. Congress Returns…and They’re Looking at You!
Congress will reconvene Tuesday, Sept. 6 – kicking off a three-month frenzy to find $1.2 trillion in budget cuts.
Under the provisions of the budget-cutting law enacted in early August, a “Super Committee” of six U.S. senators and six U.S. Representatives must come up with a proposal by November 23 to save that much over the next 10 years, and that proposal will get an “up-or-down” vote by Congress, with no amendments allowed.
If they don’t do that, automatic cuts will take effect – with half the cuts coming from the defense budget.
Everything is on the table, including troop levels, weapons, military and federal civilian retirement, COLAs, health care, commissaries, and more.
The time for your action is now.
You can either help MOAA defend the military community and the key programs that sustain long-term retention and readiness, or you can stand by while other well-funded special interests work their persuasive ways at your expense.
But the most powerful voice of all is constituent mail, and volume counts!
Now is the time to tell your legislators – repeatedly – how important these programs are to the military community by sending MOAA-suggested messages to your senators and representative. (Click on MOAA-suggested messages here or above or go to Here are the processes at the end of this message to again send messages to the President, Vice President, our three Legislators, SecDef, and Chairman JCS. We have done it before and MOAA is asking us to do it again. GF )
Issue 6. TRICARE Offers Free Vaccines (Including Shingles)
Defense officials have announced that TRICARE will now offer free vaccines – including shingles vaccine for beneficiaries age 60 and older – through their retail pharmacy network.
Free vaccines previously were only offered only in military hospitals and clinics.
See what vaccines are offered through the TRICARE network and make sure you’re up to date on all of your preventative vaccines. (Click on vaccines are offered here or above to see the details GF )
TRICARE recommends calling your pharmacy in advance to ensure the vaccine is in stock and a pharmacist is available to administer it.
MOAA strongly applauds this outstanding initiative, which is particularly helpful to TRICARE For Life beneficiaries, who previously had to pay up to $150 out of pocket for the shingles vaccine.
Unfortunately, refunds can’t be provided for beneficiaries who previously paid for the vaccine before the new program was instituted.
Issue 7. Separated Vets Can Apply for Review
The Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) provides veterans who were medically separated from military service between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009, with a new chance to have their disability ratings reviewed for fairness, consistency and accuracy.
Unfortunately, many who were discharged with “low-balled” disability ratings haven’t heard of the PDBR or haven’t applied for a review.
So far, only 2,700 have applied…a tiny fraction of the 75,000 troops medically separated during the eligibility period.
To be eligible, a veteran must have been medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009 with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less, and must not have been found eligible for retirement.
Former reserve members with fewer than 20 years of active duty service and who meet the criteria listed above can also apply.
If you know a veteran who could qualify for this important review please pass this information on to them.
For more information, visit the PDBR website.
(Click on PDBR website here or above to see the details GF )
Issue 8. Have a Safe Labor Day
Labor Day originated in Canada and was first celebrated in New York City on September 5, 1882. It marks the symbolic end of summer and the last holiday weekend before children return to school. It also marks the return of Congress to Washington.
It’s a congested and dangerous time on the highways for those getting in a few days of vacation.
Have a great holiday weekend and be safe in your travels. We’ll need your voice in the weeks and months ahead.
Here are the processes:
If the steps below are new to some, I recommend that you review all of the steps and then you might want to copy this process by high lighting all of the steps below. Then click on “File” at the top of your screen, select “Print”, then click on “Selection” at the next display and then hit “Print”; or print the selected portion as you usually do this kind of task.
1. Click here on http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/
2. Under “Current Action Alerts”scroll down under Multi-Recipients: and click on ”Don’t Undermine The All Volunteer Force “.
3. At the next screen enter your Zip code if requested and hit “Go” and/or scroll down to “Take Action” and at “Compose Message” leave ‘Email’ checked or check ‘Printed Letter’ to Printed Letters instead of sending Emails if desired.
4.If an Issue Area: line appears just before the Editable Text: and doesn’t have an issue shown, click on the down arrow and select an issue; e.g., Seniors, Military, Veterans, etc.
5. Scroll down to the ”Editable text” area and edit/modify the text of the message if desired.
6. Insert “Your Closing” (I show ‘Respectfully), and “Your Name” and fill in the rest of the mandatory {asterisked} SENDER INFORMATION. The “Phone” number is now required by some Legislators. Fill in the ‘Guest Type”, “Service”, “Rank”, “Component”, and “Status” if you want that information to show in your message (recommended). You may be prompted to include a phone number if you try to send the message without entering your phone number. Don’t be concerned about entering a phone number. I haven’t received return calls except on rare occasions to thank me for my interest in a particular piece of Legislation, at which time you can comment (pro or con) to the staff member on how the Senator stands on the issue.
7. Check “Remember Me” (recommended) if you don’t want to have to re-enter all of your Sender Information the next time you send a message. You can always change your information or uncheck ‘Remember Me’ anytime in the future.
8. Check ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ as to whether you want to have a copy of your letter sent to your Email Address (suggested at least for you initial efforts, and to see how your personal data is included in the message).
9. Hit “Send Message”
10. If Printed Letter was selected at step 3 above, at the screen after hitting “Send Message” leave “Plain Paper Style” and “Word Processor (RTF)” checked unless you have another preference. Then left click on “Print Letter(s)” at the end of the “PRINT LETTER” screen. At the File Download” alert that appears next, click on “Open”. You can then edit and print or save the letter for editing, printing, signing and mailing..
That’s it for this week – thanks for your support. for more legislative updates visit: http://www.moaa.org/action/lac_issues/lac_issues_update/default.htm