2007 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
TREA’s Washington Office
909 N. Washington St. Suite 301
Alexandria, VA 22314-1555
702-684-1981 – 800-554-8732
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The following resolutions passed by various national conventions of The Retired Enlisted Association comprise part of the TREA legislative agenda for 2007. However, every year legislative proposals appear that are not anticipated by the annual convention and which require action on the part of TREA, regardless of formal resolutions on such issues.
Such is the case this year with proposals by the Bush Administration to implement enrollment fees and increases in co-pays in both the DoD Tricare program, including pharmacy co-pays, and in the Veterans Administration’s health care program. TREA is fighting to stop these increases, despite the lack of a specific resolution on the issue.
In addition, TREA is fighting for increases in the VA budget to handle increasing case load of veterans who are using the VA system as a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
CONCURRENT RECEIPT OF RETIRED PAY AND DISABILITY COMPENSATION
The Retired Enlisted Association strongly advocates passage of legislation to permit the concurrent receipt of full longevity military retired pay and Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation without deductions from either, [for all military retirees] NOW;
The Retired Enlisted Association supports equal treatment for ALL service-connected disabled veterans.
There is legislation now before Congress to give immediate concurrent receipt to retirees who are rated 50% or above, and to medically retired and TERA retirees with less than 20 years of service. TREA is actively supporting this legislation: S 986, HR 333, HR 1436, HR 89
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE BUDGET
The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) supports increases to the VA Health Care Budget that, at a minimum, would allow for a level of continuing care.
TREA supports legislation that would actually provide for more than a level of continuing care because of the increased needs of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, as well as the continuing needs of those veterans already enrolled in the VA health care system. Increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs is contained in both the House and Senate versions of the VA Authorization and Appropriations bills currently being worked on in Congress.
The Retired Enlisted Association supports the principle that spouses of military personnel have a right to adequate support, but within the context of the Supreme Court decision of McCarty vs. McCarty (military pension is not marital property) and Mansell vs. Mansell (VA disability is not included in disposable income), and;
The Association fully supports legislation that will correct the inequities in the current Act. There is no legislation regarding the FSPA that has been introduced in Congress as of this time.
REPEAL OF DIC OFFSET FROM SBP SURVIVING SPOUSE ANNUITIES
The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) urges Congress to pass, and the President to sign, legislation to repeal the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Offset from Survivor Benefit Plan surviving spouse annuities.
There is legislation in Congress to accomplish this and TREA is working to get it passed: S 935, HR 1589
RESTRUCTURING VETERANS’ BENEFITS
The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) objects to any change in service connected benefits criteria regarding injuries incurred on active duty, whether or not they were combat related. If a line of duty determination finds the injury is not due to individual misconduct, compensation should be paid based on the level of disability, and;
The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) opposes any benefit reform that will cause a veteran currently receiving a benefit to receive less as a result of the reform.
There is a Veterans Disability Benefits Commission currently investigating all veterans’ benefits and TREA has testified before the commission and attended its hearings in support of the above resolution.
SUPPORT OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES
The Retired Enlisted Association supports the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States, and its allies, who participate in combat or humanitarian operations.
The Retired Enlisted Association believes that Congress should pass, and the President should sign, legislation which will create new national cemeteries throughout the United State, particularly areas with large veteran populations.
This is an on-going concern and TREA supports this as part of the annual Department of Veterans Affairs authorization and appropriations bills now being worked on in Congress.
FEMALE VETERANS’ PROGRAMS IN VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Retired Enlisted Association supports continued financial backing of women veterans educational and medical care programs.
Women are taking a more prominent role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan than in any other conflict in our nation’s history. It is vitally important that there sacrifices be recognized and their unique needs be met. TREA strongly supports inclusion of these provisions in the annual Department of Veterans Affairs budget which is now being worked on in Congress.
MEDICARE SUBVENTION TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Retired Enlisted Association, (TREA) supports legislation for Medicare Subvention.
No subvention legislation has been introduced in Congress as of this time.
The Retired Enlisted Association strongly urges that the age when a National Guard and Reserve retiree can start collecting their retired pay and be eligible for all other retiree benefits be dropped from 60 to 55 years of age.
Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia has introduced legislation, S. 648, that will reduce the minimum age for retirement by three months for each three months served on active duty for a contingency operation and for related emergency duty. TREA is working to pass this legislation.
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