Talking Points for June Drill

Talking Points for June Drill

The National Office hopes that all of you enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We have been hard at work influencing the House and Senate during their considerations of the National Defense Authorizations Acts. Below you will find an overview of the legislation and EANGUS successes. The National Office staff will continue to use social media, website posts, and legislative alerts to keep members engaged as legislation affecting our members progresses.

H.R. 4909, the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act

On Wednesday, May 18, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4909, the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 277-147. Many Democrats voted against the annual legislation because it shifts $18 Billion in temporary, Overseas Contingency Operations (a.k.a. OCO) funds into the base defense budget, which caused President Obama to issue a veto threat. Representative Poliquin’s (R-ME) amendment (amendment #30) to assist members of the National Guard who travel long distances to report to active duty training was adopted by voice vote. The amendment calls for a DOD study on the annual travel distances of Reserve Component Servicemembers and stemmed from a 2016 EANGUS Legislative Workshop point paper. The adoption of the amendment is a big win for the EANGUS National Office and EANGUS members. Other successful Guard-friendly amendments include amendment #4 to fund the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, amendment #47 National Guard Counter-Drug Programs funding, and amendment #48 reauthorizing funds for an existing suicide prevention and resilience program. Those amendments, and all others, considered in the House or Representatives can be found here.

H.R. 4909 authorizes Army National Guard end strength at 350,000 and Air National Guard end strength at 105,700. The Army National Guard end strength is a 15,000 increase from the President’s budget request. The Air National Guard end strength equals the President’s budget request. A full analysis created by National Guard Bureau Legislative Liaison (NGB-LL) officecan be found here.

The bill authorizes a 2.1 percent military pay increase.

Section 624 Equal Benefits Under Survivor Benefit Plan for Survivors of Reserve Component Members who Die in the Line of Duty during Inactive-Duty Training, amends Title 10 United States Code, to eliminate the different treatment under the Survivor Benefit Plan afforded to members of the Reserve Component who die from an injury or illness incurred during Inactive-Duty training compared to members of the Armed Forces who die while on Active Duty.

Section 701—TRICARE Preferred and Other TRICARE Reform

Please see the EANGUS National Office overview by clicking here.

S. 2943, the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act

During the week of May 9, The Senate Armed Services Committee marked up S. 2943, the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). S. 2943 authorizes $543 billion in base activities and $59 billion in the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account. The Senate will resume consideration of S. 2943 during the week of June 6, when it returns from Memorial Day Recess. Consideration is expected to last until mid-June and Senate Democrats might delay a final vote on the legislation, in light of the election. A full analysis created by National Guard Bureau Legislative Liaison (NGB-LL) office can be found here.

S. 2943 authorizes Army National Guard end strength at 335,000 and Air National Guard end strength at 105,700. Both end strengths meet, but do not exceed, the President’s budget request.

The bill authorizes a 1.6 percent military pay raise across the board.

To appease criticism from some of the TAGS and the National Association of Governors, section 1048 of the bill delays the conversion of some military technicians to Title 5 civilians until October 1, 2017. It also directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to submit to SASC and HASC a report on the feasibility and advisability of converting remaining military technicians (dual status) to personnel performing active Guard and reserve duty under section 328 of title 32, United States Code, or other applicable provision of law. The report is due on March 1, 2017.

Section 707, a Pilot program to provide health insurance to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, would authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out a 5-year pilot program in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to provide commercial health insurance coverage to eligible reserve component members who enroll for either individual, self plus one, or self and family coverage. If DOD or OPM determine that a pilot program is feasible, OPM could contract with qualified health insurance carriers to provide beneficiaries with a variety of health benefits plans, varying in design, covered benefits, geography, and price. Please note that RC servicemembers already eligible for FEHBP will not be allowed to enroll in said pilot. Section 707 is a direct win for the EANGUS National Office, following testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Personnel Subcommittee in March 2016.

Potential Amendments

Amendments to legislation considered before the U.S. Senate are kept close hold until the Senate is prepared to debate. However, the EANGUS National Office understands that Senator John McCain, Chairman of SASC, plans to debate an amendment which would increase funding to DOD by $17 Billion. The amendment, if adopted, would match the overall funding level in H.R. 4909, the House-passed FY17 NDAA. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is reportedly considering an amendment to mirror Section 624 of H.R. 4909 related to SBP-IDT. If adopted, these amendments would solidify their position in conference between the House and Senate. House and Senate conferees cannot remove identical language adopted by both chambers.

S. 2921, Veteran First Act

Chairman Isakson and Ranking Member Blumenthal, of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, recently announced S. 2921, the Veterans First Act, a large bipartisan package that makes reforms and improvements in a number of areas, including VA accountability, health care, homelessness, and education. Section 403 will ensure that National Guard and reserve members ordered to active duty to receive medical care and National Guard and Reserve members serving under sections 12301(g), 12304(a) and 12304(b) accrue time toward Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility. Section 408 will ensure that reservists can regain lost entitlement to MGIB-SR when activated to active duty and section 409 ensures that reservists who lost eligibility for REAP can gain credit toward the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Section 905 would honor as veterans certain individuals who performed service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces. Section 905 is honorary veteran status legislative language that has proven so elusive for the EANGUS National Office. The U.S. Senate is slated to finally pass honorary veteran status for members of the Reserve Component who served 20 years, but never 180 consecutive days of active duty service.