Details:

1.      TRICARE Reserve Select:  House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), based on a technicality, struck from the House's National Defense Authorization Bill the amendment by Reps. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) (which passed in the HASC committee) that was to extend TRICARE Reserve Select to all drilling Reservists.  Rep. Taylor’s has introduced an amendment to restore the provision lost in a Rules Committee fight – to extend TRICARE Reserve Select to all drilling Reservists.  If you feel this is something important to you as a Reservist, or for those that are presently serving as Reservists, please act now.  If you do nothing, it will be lost this year.  The more you write, call, e-mail the better.

E-mails should use the subject line: “House Vote Yes for TRICARE for Reservists".

Speaker of the House:
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert. Fax 202-226-1996 Phone 202-225-0600
E-mail: speaker@mail.house.gov

Majority Whip:
Hon. Roy Blunt Fax: 202-226-1115 Phone 202-225-0197
E-mail: blunt@mail.house.gov

2.      Senator Harry Reid’s amendment to the FY2006 Defense Authorization Act would authorize immediate elimination of the “disabled veterans tax” for disabled military retirees designated as unemployable by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Two years ago, Congress authorized phasing out the disability offset to military retired pay over 10 years for disabled retirees with 20 or more years of service and VA disability ratings of 50% or greater.  Last year, Congress amended the law to authorize immediate elimination of the disability offset for members rated 100% disabled.  But the Department of Defense, for reasons it has declined to specify, has not applied this provision to members receiving VA compensation at the 100% disability rate by virtue of VA’s determination that their service-connected disabilities have rendered them unemployable.

For all other reasons, unemployable members are treated as 100% disabled.  For example, the Department of Defense treats them as 100%-rated members under the Combat-Related Special Compensation program.  It is unconscionable to discriminate in this arbitrary way against members who have been certified expressly by the VA as unable to work – especially since no such certification is required for 100%-disabled members.  Under DoD’s current implementation policies, unemployable retirees will be forced to wait until 2014 for full recovery of their earned retired pay.  This is no way to treat members whose service to their country literally cost them their ability to earn a living.  Send an e-mail or call your Senator now – to support this Amendment.

3.      BRAC Actions.  Most of you know that DoD has released its BRAC recommendations.  If you have not seen them, see the links below.  If you are negatively impacted by the proposed closure of a Navy or a Naval Reserve Activity near you let the BRAC Commissioners and your elected representatives know about it.  If you feel that the proposals will negatively affect the ability of the Navy and or Naval Reserve to carry out its National Security missions then you also need to let them know.  If you have the opportunity to be present when the BRAC Commissioners visit an installation close to you please take time to make your opinions known to them.  Public debate on this subject is critical to the end result.

a.    

2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission
2521 S. Clark St., Ste. 600
Arlington, VA 22202

4.      Commission on Guard and Reserve.  This is still stalled on Capitol Hill.  DoD has named the Chairman and two members.  The House has announced one of three members and the Senate has not announced any!   DoD has leased office space and equipment and is standing by to hand over the keys.  This is like pushing on a rope, but we’re still in there trying to get it started. 

5.      House Defense Authorization Act//(HR 1815)//Senate Authorization Act – FY 2006: 

The HASC has completed its action on the FY NDAA, and is currently considering Amendments during floor action on the bill. Please take the time to review the action:

Highlights from House Bill – (HR 1815) :
-         $49.1 Billion in Supplemental bridge funding for GWOT
-         Force protection needs for OIF/OEF
-         Recommended increases in 10,000 Army and 1,000 USMC AC personnel
-         Increases Death Gratuity – to $100K
-         Provides 3.1% pay raise
-         Eliminates BAH Type II – making reserve rates for basic allowance equal to active duty rates.
-         Increases max amount of hardship pay from $300 to $750
-         Calls for acquisition reform
-         Encourages shipbuilding reform – caps DDX $1.7 billion per ship
-         Requires GAO review of  Future Combat Systems
-         Recruiting and Retention
           i.      AC enlistments increase from $20K to $30K
           ii.     RC enlistments increase from $10K to $15K
           iii.    New pilot program of $1,000 bonus for service members who recruit new enlistees
           iv.      Casualty Assistance Program – requires Mil Secretaries to establish
-         Health Care – TRICARE Reserve Select improved;
           i.      Permitting up to 120 days after release to enroll in program
           ii.      Extend health care for qualified members who are involuntarily retired
           iii.      Extend health care for family members six months beyond death of enrolled TRS member
-         The Senate – is working to finish it’s version of the NDAA at this time, we will report the results as soon as they have finished.

6.      E-mail or write your support for these bills and issues to your Senators and Congressman, IF they do not hear from you they assume you have no issue with what they decide!

v     For your Senators: then find your state.  Each Senator has a link to send them an e-mail, this is the most effective way to contact them at this time.  

v     For your House of Representative members:  then put in your zip code, and the link will take you to correct site.

For the different Congressional Members & Professional Staff Members that work the issues important to you, and do not forget to contact the Appropriations committees 

For Senate committees contact: 

Senate Armed Services:                                                             Senate Appropriations - Defense

Chair: John Warner                                                                      Chair: Ted Stevens
SR 228 Russell                                                                            SD-119 Dirksen
Washington, DC 20510-0650                                                      Washington, DC 20510

Ranking Member: Carl Levin                                                 Ranking Member: Daniel Inouye
SR 228 Russell                                                                   SD-119 Dirksen
Washington, DC 20510-0650                                                Washington, DC 20510

Majority Staff                                                                     Minority Staff
Judith Ansley                                                                     Ms. Sid Ashworth
SR 228 Russell                                                                  SD-119 Dirksen SOB
Washington, DC 20510                                                       Washington, DC 20510
Fax: 202-228-0037                                                              ph: 202-224-7255//fax

House Armed Services Committee                     House Armed Service – Manpower Subcommittee
Chair: Duncan Hunter (CA)                                Chair: John McHugh (NY)                         

Ranking Member: Ike Skelton (MO)                    Ranking Member: Vic Synder (AR)

Staff Director: Rob Rangel                                                    Staff Director: John Chapla
2120 Rayburn House Office Building                                      2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515                                                        Washington, DC 20515

House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee:              House Appropriations Full Committee
Chair: Jerry Lewis (CA)                                               Chair: Jerry Lewis (CA)
Ranking Member: John Murtha (PA)                             Ranking Member: David Obey (WI)

PSM – Leslie Albright                                                 PSM – James Dyer - Staff Director
Room H-149 The Capitol                                             Room H-218 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515                                               Washington, DC 20515

Feel free to forward this e-mail.  For those of you who receive this, and you are not already a member, please consider joining the Naval Reserve Association.  Check us out at: www.ausn.org or call on our toll free number 866-672-4968.