TREA Washington Update

Once again Washington’s attention has been in large part directed outside the Beltway. This week the Democratic Presidential nomination contests have been in Wyoming and Mississippi. But this week more attention has been given to New York and the dramatic downfall of Governor Eliot Spitzer. But that story is over now so we can all go back to the federal budget etc.

1) Hearings Continue on “The Future of Military Health Care”-On Wednesday the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee held yet another hearing concerning TRICARE and direct care. The witnesses were Honorable S. Ward Casscells, M.D.,Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs; Dr. Gail R. Wilensky, Co-Chairman Defense Task Force on Future of Military Health Care and Ron Z. Goetzel, Ph.D.,Research Professor and Director

Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Vice President, Consulting and Applied Research, Thomson Healthcare. While it looks like we have made great progress at killing the proposed co-pay and enrollment fee increases for TRICARE for retirees under the age of 65; as well as the proposed co-pay increases in the TRICARE Pharmacy programs and the proposed yearly enrollment fee for TFL it is never a lock until the law is signed. And, of course, if we stop the proposals that will only be for this year. The fight will start again next year (which is not an election year). But surprisingly, I saw only 5 other VSO’s and MSO’s attending the hearing. The Subcommittee members were very doubtful about the enrollment fees and co-pay proposals. But the military retiree community cannot get complacent about these proposals. We must stay active. If these proposals would affect you, please continue to contact your Senators and member of the House and remind them how important this is to you.

2) Invitation to Nominate Candidates to be Under Secretary for Benefits in the Department of Veterans Affairs-TREA’s Washington Office just received an invitation to nominate candidates to be considered to be the Under Secretary for Benefits at the VA. This official manages the Department’s compensation and pension, education, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation and employment and insurance programs. The candidate will be succeeding Navy Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cooper (Ret) who is leaving the post after 6 years. A Commission headed by Deputy Secretary Gordon Mansfield has been formed to recommend candidates to the President for appointment. The invitation asks that nominations be submitted by March 18-so there is very little time. If you have any suggestions please either call Deirdre Holleman at 1-554-8732 or e-mail me at dholleman@treadc.org so we can discuss the position’s requirement in detail

3) Operation Purple Camp Program Announces Sites for 2008-Operation Purple is a program that gives military kids the chance to go to free sleep away summer camp. It is run by TREA’s good friend, the National Military Family Association. The organization focuses on families of the active duty, National Guard and Reserves. We work together on numerous projects in Washington. Below you can find the 2008 schedule for the 1 week programs. Registration is going to begin on March 24 and go through May 5. First priority will go to children who have had a parent in the Active Duty, Guard or Reserves deployed May 2007-September 2008. For any remaining slots, any child who has a parent in any of the Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force Coast Guards, Uniformed Services of the Public Health and NOAA) will qualify. This year camps will be held at 64 locations in 37 states and territories. You can get more information and the application by going to www.operationpurple.org, This will be great fun for many deserving kids.

STATE	CITY	START DATE	END DATE	AGES
Alaska	Lost Lake	12-Jul	20-Jul	9-15
Alaska	Wasilla	15-Jun	20-Jun	9-15
Arizona	Oracle	15-Jun	21-Jun	7-15
Arizona	Oracle	22-Jun	28-Jun	7-15
California	Ft. Bragg	24-Jun	3-Jul	10-14
California	Ft. Bragg	24-Jun	30-Jun	8-9
California	Santa Barbara	13-Jul	19-Jul	7-13
California	Santa Barbara	6-Jul	11-Jul	13-18
California	Santa Barbara	13-Jul	18-Jul	13-18
California	Santa Barbara	20-Jul	25-Jul	10-14
California	Miramonte	22-Jun	27-Jun	7-15
California	Maramonte	29-Jun	4-Jul	7-15
California	Catalina Island	27-Jul	1-Aug	7-12
Colorado	Larkspur	2-Jun	8-Jun	10-17
Colorado	Larspur	14-Jun	20-Jun	10-17
Colorado	Larkspur	29-Jun	5-Jul	10-17
Colorado	Snow Mountain Ranch	6-Jul	11-Jul	7-11
Florida	Eglin AFB	11-Jun	13-Jun	16-18
Florida	Eglin AFB	18-Jun	25-Jun	13-15
Florida	DeLeon Springs	6-Jul	11-Jul	7-14
Georgia	Danielsville	20-Jul	26-Jul	8-14
Georgia	Tybee Island	14-Jul	18-Jul	10-12
Georgia	Hampton	21-Jul	25-Jul	10-12
Hawaii	Waialua	15-Jun	20-Jun	7-15
Idaho	Mountain Home AFB	10-Aug	16-Aug	12-16
Idaho	Coeur d' Arlene	4-Aug	9-Aug	8-18
Indiana	West Lafayette	1-Jun	7-Jun	10-15
Indiana	Princeton	3-Aug	8-Aug	7-16
Illinois	Waterloo	13-Jul	18-Jul	9-16
Iowa	Des Moines	8-Jun	13-Jun	7-12
Kansas	Elmdale	28-Jun	4-Jul	7-17
Kansas	Elmdale	6-Jul	12-Jul	7-17
Kansas	Elmdale	12-Jul	18-Jul	7-17
Kansas	Elmdale	20-Jul	26-Jul	7-17
Kansas	Elmdale	26-Jul	1-Aug	7-17
Kansas	Elmdale	3-Aug	9-Aug	7-17
Kentucky	Ft. Campbell	22-Jun	29-Jun	9-12
Kentucky	Louisville	22-Jun	27-Jun	8-14
Kentucky	Carrollton	20-Jul	25-Jul	7-14
Kentucky	Carrollton	27-Jul	1-Aug	7-14
Maryland	Chestertown	17-Aug	21-Aug	9-13
Massachusetts	Spencer	22-Jun	27-Jun	8-15
Massachusetts	Spencer	29-Jun	4-Jul	8-15
Michigan	Pinckney	21-Jun	27-Jun	7-12
Michigan	Jackson	15-Jun	21-Jun	8-13
Michigan	Jackson	27-Jul	2-Aug	12-15
Michigan	Jackson	2-Aug	8-Aug	12-15
Mississippi	Tishomingo	8-Jun	14-Jun	11-13
Missouri	Waldron	27-Jul	1-Aug	7-15
Montana	Neihart	7-Jul	11-Jul	9-17
Nebraska	Fremont	13-Jul	18-Jul	7-13
New Hampshire	Allenstown	10-Aug	15-Aug	7-16
New Mexico