My Life As A Military Spouse

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the early hours of the morning on June 17. It now heads to the House floor for approval. The National Military Family Association was pleased several provisions we advocated for in areas of relocation, healthcare, custody and Survivors have been included. We appreciate the HASC’s steadfast commitment to expanding and enhancing programs that support our military families - the Nation’s families. We also appreciate the decision of the President to increase funding for family support programs by $263 million over the FY 09 budget request for a total of $2.1 billion and for recognizing these programs are critical in providing support to our military families as they face continuing deployments. The House recently passed a resolution calling 2009 the “Year of the Military Family” which was reflected by the many provisions included that impact military families. Among those are:

Compensation
*3.4 percent pay raise, an increase of 0.5 percent above the budget request
*Reducing maximum monthly percentage of a service member’s pay that may be deducted from 20 percent to 10 percent when they have been erroneously overpaid. Also provides a grace period of 180 days if the service member is wounded or injured in a combat zone

Spouse Employment
*Establishment of a pilot internship program for military spouses to expand portable federal government career opportunities

Housing and Relocation
*Providing $1.95 billion for family housing programs to support and expand quality housing for military families
*A report on housing standards used to determine Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
*Transportation of an additional motor vehicle to or from non-foreign areas outside the continental United States
*Increased weight allowance for non-commissioned officers in grade E-5 to E-9

Wounded, Ill and Injured
*Providing for travel and transportation for three designated persons, including non-family members to visit hospitalized service members
*Enabling seriously injured service members to use a non-medical attendant for help with daily living or during travel for medical treatment
*Requiring a medical examination for members diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) before separation

Transitions
*Modification of the Form DD214 to permit a member to include an email address on the form

Healthcare
*Increases to the Armed Forces Health Professional Scholarship and Financial Assistance program to 6,300 from 6,000 to increase mental health professionals in the military
*One year extension of bonuses for psychologists, nurses, nurse anesthetists and other medical officers in short wartime specialties
*Creation of a Department of Defense (DoD) School of Nursing to address nursing shortages in the military
*Expansion of TRICARE Standard eligibility for Gray Area Retirees (Reserve component members who are retirement eligible but under age 60) and their families, requiring payment of a premium
*Extending TRICARE eligibility to Reserve component members so they can receive full TRICARE coverage 180 days before they go on active duty (increased from 90 days)
Allowing the Secretary of Defense to establish cooperative health care agreements between military installations and local or regional health care systems
*Establishing a National Casualty Care Research Center
*A report on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder efforts
*A report on health care needs of military family members to include an analysis of how families seek care, the 10 most common medical conditions for which they seek care and recommendations on how to improve access to care for those families. It also calls for a pilot program to assess the needs for mental health care for military children and adolescents
*A report on a program established under the FY 08 NDAA that provided stipends to pay for employer provided health care for family members with special needs of the Reserve Component *A report on the required number of military mental health providers

Education of Military Children
*Authorization of $50 million in aid to schools with significant number of military dependent students
*Authorization of $15 million in aid to schools with enrollment changes due to base closures, force structure changes or force relocations
*Reduction in minimum number of student units for receipt of basic support payments under *Department of Education Impact Aid from 6,500 to 5,000
*Providing $21 million for facilities sustainment and recapitalization for Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools to bring the funding up to 100 percent of the requirement for FY 10

Casualties and Survivors
*Codification of the guidelines regarding return of remains and media access at ceremonies for the dignified transfer of remains at Dover AFB
*Expanding the TRICARE Dental benefit for surviving children of those who die on active duty to age 21 or 23 in college to match the health care benefit
*A report on progress made in implementing recommendations to reduce domestic violence in military families found in GAO report 06-540 “Military Personnel: Progress Made in *Implementing Recommendations to reduce Domestic Violence, but Further Management Action Needed”

Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
*Expansion of service contracts eligible for termination or suspension during deployment under protection by the SCRA to cell phone, cable service, Internet access, water, electricity, oil, gas or other utility services
*Protection through SCRA of child custody arrangements for deployed service members until the service member returns from deployment. It also directs courts not to consider the absence of the service member due to deployment in determining the best interests of the child

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
*Expanding coverage of deployment exigencies under the FMLA to family members of active duty service members

To read the full text of H.R. 2647, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type “HR 2647” into the search field.

posted by LoveMyTanker @ 9:04 AM