Posted 17 Feb 2009, from NCOA HQ

National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity Act 

Let's Secure Cosponsors for H.R. 208 
 
Reserve Component Credit for Retirement Since 9/11
 
 
H.R. 208, Introduced by Mr. Wilson of South Carolina
Title: National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act.  The legislation would amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes.  Current Status:  Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
 
CONGRESS KNOWS:
Since September 11, 2001 (9/11) members of the Reserve Components have been sent in harm's way and fought alongside members of the regular components of the Armed Forces.  Between 9/11 and January 28, 2008 more than 600,000 members of the Reserve Components were mobilized for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other contingency operations.  More than 142,000 members of reserve components were mobilized more than once during that period. 
     
Public Law 110-181 offered an earlier retirement for members of the Reserve Components who are mobilized in support of contingency operations after January 28, 2008 which fails to recognize the service and sacrifice made by those who served between 9/11 and January 28, 2009.
 
COSPONSORS are needed.  Below are Representatives already signed on supporting H.R. 208.  If your Representative is listed, use our action email system to send a note of appreciation.   IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT LISTED, please send an email requesting that they become a cosponsor of H.R. 208.  This email should only go to your One (1) Elected Representative.  DO NOT send copies to your Senators, The President or Vice President.  This legislation is being worked in the House of Representatives.
 
Also, please share this Action Alert with your chapters, co-workers, family and friends and ask them to join you and the NCOA is support of all members of the Reserve Components who were deployed between 9/11 and January 28, 2008.  Let's us together support the effort to correct this inequity in retirement eligibility of these reserve component members.
 
  
Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] - 1/22/2009
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 1/6/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 1/22/2009
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 1/22/2009
Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 1/22/2009
Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] - 1/22/2009
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 1/22/2009
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] - 1/22/2009
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] - 2/10/2009
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] - 1/22/2009
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 2/10/2009
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 1/22/2009
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 2/10/2009
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 1/22/2009
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 2/10/2009
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 1/22/2009
Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] - 2/10/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 1/22/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 2/10/2009
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] - 1/22/2009
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] - 2/10/2009
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 1/22/2009
Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 2/10/2009
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] - 2/10/2009
Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] - 1/22/2009
 

CBO Budget Options for Federal Health Care
Federal Health Budget Options A Concern for Military and Retirees 
 
Military and VA Beneficiaries - CBO Offers 115 Health Care Budget OPTIONS
 
Every year there has been budget options made available by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to all federal departments and agencies for consideration in their upcoming fiscal budget requests. 
 
Bush Administration CBO Acting Director, Robert A. Sunshine, on December 18, 2008 provided the Congressional Health Care Staff of CBO's New Health Report Volume 1 which analyzes federal health care financing and delivery programs.  More importantly, Volume 1 provides estimates of budget impact of specific health care proposals in the form of 115 OPTIONS (not recommendations) that could be considered in the formulation of Federal Budget Proposals for the 111th Congress.    The Budget OPTIONS impact most all federal health care programs. 
 
The following CPO Report Options of special interest to NCOA are available to review on the Internet at http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf:
 
* Option 17 - Raise the age of eligibility for Medicare to 67
* Option 27 - Allow people and firms to buy health insurance plans through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
* Option 28 - End Enrollment in VA Medical Care for Veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8
* Option 29 - Reopen Enrollment for VA Medicare Care among Priority Group 8 Veterans for five years
* Option 87 – Increase the basic premium for Medicare Part B to 35 percent of the program's cost
* Option 92 - Base Federal Retirees' (employees) Health Benefits on Length of Service
* Option 95 - Increase health care cost sharing for family members of active-duty military personnel.  (Provide $500 cash allowance but charge 10 percent of the cost of care and impose a fee to use military hospitals and clinics)
* Option 96 – Introduce Minimum Out-of-Pocket requirements under TRICARE for Life.    (In 2011, not cover first $525 of Medicare annual cost share, than cover only half of next $4,725)
* Option 97 - Increase Medical Cost Sharing for Military Retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare.  (TRICARE user fees)
* Option 98 - Require Copayments for Medicare Care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to Enrollees without a Service Connected Disability
* Options 99 - 105 - Involve OPTIONS in Long Term Care federal programs
 
All Federal budget proposals are normally embargoed, not released or discussed, until the Administration formally presents its budget to Congress.   Remember the federal departments proposed budgets are individually reviewed, debated, appropriately ADJUSTED, approved by Congress, and recommended to the President for signature.  Throughout the Congressional process, military and veteran service organizations communicate with Committees, initiate grass roots efforts to raise citizen concern and comment for consideration by all members of Congress and those Committees that review specific budget proposals. 
 
The CBO Report is not new!  NCOA has seen a number of such budget "options" proposed in DOD and VA federal budgets which were rejected in the Congressional approval process.   Upon receipt of the proposed Administration's Budget, military and veteran service organizations scrutinize the Administration's Recommendations and initiate strategies, including national grass roots involvement, to recommend disapproval of those features which would be a detriment to military and veteran beneficiaries.  You'll recall that in past years Administration Budget Recommendations included a number of the "OPTIONS" pointed out above. 
 
The Bush Administration left office with a $1+ Trillion Dollar National Debt.  President Obama stated since becoming President Elect that all budget programs would be on the table for review in his Administration's budget proposals as part of the effort to turn America's economy around.  Also, as President Elect he also pursued a major appropriation Stimulus Package seen by many as positive even though it's estimated to increase the Nation's Debt to over $2 Trillion in the short term. 
 
NCOA, and hopefully all military and veteran service organizations, like Congress are now aware of the Federal Health OPTIONS presented by CBO and will be prepared to act in the best interest of its membership when such proposals are available in the Administration's Budget Programs.
 
Membership Inquiries – Visit www.ncoausa.org to become a Member of this Association and know that your Membership and future citizen votes are important to the Association's Legislative Program.

05 Jan 09

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