MOAA's Legislative Action Center has recently gone through a significant redesign. This is in response to upgrades to the system used to connect members with their elected representatives so they can exercise their influence as a voter and citizen. (Note the appearance and configuration will vary depending on which browser you're using and whether you access the information on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or phone.)
The Issues menu, found on the right-hand side of the Legislative Action Center's blue menu bar, highlights topics of particular importance facing the military community. This is where you can find background information, as well as MOAA's official position, on each issue. These pages can be used as fact sheets when meeting with elected officials.
Further down on the page, you can confirm your elected officials by typing in your ZIP code. When you enter the ZIP code of the address where you are registered to vote, the system will populate your legislators' information automatically.
From an elected official's page, you can access their biographical information, committee involvement, and local office location.
As you scroll further down the main page of the Legislative Action Center you will find a red bar titled “Contact Your Representatives.” All of MOAA's Take Action alerts have been collected in this area with suggested messages for you to send to your representatives. To send a message, simply click on the Take Action alert that you would like to send. From there, fill out the necessary contact information. If you check the “Remember Me” box at the bottom of the form, your contact information will be saved automatically for future uses. (Note: Security settings on certain web browsers can prevent the Remember Me function from saving your information.) As you scroll further down the main page of the Legislative Action Center you will find a red bar titled “Contact Your Representatives.” In this area, we've collected all of MOAA's Take Action alerts with suggested messages for you to send to your representatives.
Our individual use of this functionality to contact our elected officials is a key component of MOAA’s ability to influence an outcome when tackling military issues in Washington, so it behooves each of us to become familiar with this new functionality and put it to use in support of the initiatives that MOAA has identified.
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for December 2017
Federal.
Budget. As of this writing, The House and Senate negotiated two more weeks to pass legislation to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. There is a desire to increase funding for the Pentagon, however any boost in military spending will generate requests for non-defense budget, dollar-for-dollar increases.
TRICARE. You may have seen from several sources DoD’s plan to increase TRICARE costs. Even though current beneficiaries are grandfathered from increased fees, DoD is changing the rules to upcoming TRICARE programs. As of 1 Jan 2018, other than TRICARE for Life beneficiaries will see cost-share changes in the new TRICARE Select option to a fixed amount. This fixed amount allows the head of the Defense Health Agency to change these fees. This most likely will affect costs in all areas of care. This effort ignores the intent of the FY 2017 NDAA grandfathering.
Caregiver Support. The VA announced an advisory committee which will focus on the needs of military families and caregivers. Former Senator Elizabeth Dole is leading this committee which will help those disabled veterans. The great news is although post 9/11 have been eligible for these services there is an effort to expand these services to pre-9/11 veterans who are entering a period of their life requiring care in greater amounts.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for November 2017
Federal.
Budget. The current Continuing Resolution funds the government through the first week in December. Again, programs and personnel are managed on a continuingly unstable short-term plan reactive to international incidents ranging from N. Korean missile testing to combat operations in the Middle East and Africa. This uncertainty has an impact on recruitment. Army Recruiting Command is challenged to find adequate numbers of potential recruits based on their eligibility to join the military. Only one in three graduating seniors meets the requirements to join the military, and they are also being actively recruited by the civilian sector and other government agencies. To that point, Doug Minton, Mike Neuser, Dale Lewelling and I were honored to participate on Senator Corker’s military academy candidate’s board this month. The candidates coming before the board all had credentials that were humbling to us, to include the fact that many are being actively recruited by colleges and universities for their academics, sports, and demonstrated leadership qualities. These are immense challenges for our federal government to resolve.
State.
Hal Sauer and Doug Minton met with COL (Ret.)/State Representative Sam Whitson following our Chapter Meeting on 24 October 2017. They discussed a broad range of topics that included his perception of TN State Government, the TN Veterans Coalition of which he is a member and their building enthusiasm over the upcoming TVET Veterans visit to the TN State Legislature occurring early in 2018 (tentatively scheduled for 7 February, 2018). Sam indicated that he now feels quite comfortable with the legislative process and his role on committees, and is looking forward to the new legislative session. The temporary move to the James K. Polk Building will make things a bit more difficult, but once they are in place all should be fine. He spoke quite highly of the TN Veterans Coalition members and the fact they really want to make a difference for Veterans; which will tie in nicely with the upcoming Veterans Day on the Hill. Representative Whitson had only an introductory understanding of what the TVET organization is trying to become, but seemed genuinely pleased it is beginning to take shape. Sam recently announced he will run for a second term. He will also attend the November meeting, and will introduce our presenter, Speaker Beth Harwell.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for October 2017
Federal.
I had the opportunity since last month’s legislative report to attend two briefings which highlighted a great deal of positive activity at the Federal VA level and MOAA. I attended a presentation in GA and met with DEPSEC VA Mr. Thomas Bowman. He explained in detail several of the landmark improvements in the VA and those soon expected.
-The VA has direction to become more community involved. I see this in action within the Nashville community and those I work with in the Regional VA office. There is high level direction to make this happen. The VA’s focus is to improve timelines of service, quality of care and reduce suicides. The VA made it a priority to provide resources to the current opioid crisis where 91 Americans die each day from overdoses.
-The VA Secretary has legislative support to remove senior government employees who do not meet current standards of performance. The VA is embracing tele-health counseling to reach Veterans and their Families unable to travel to the VA centers. Interestingly, Dr. Shulkin the SECVA uses tele-health to care for Veteran patients he continues to provide care. In the future, Veterans will begin seeing programs which include lifetime care for Veterans. The creation of Joint Electronic Health care records between the DOD and the VA is one example.
-In a private discussion with Mr. Bowman, he explained mental health care for all Veterans, regardless of current eligibility, is a goal with strong possibility.
Several MTCMOAA Board members recently participated in the MOAA’s Council & Chapter Affairs Leadership Workshop for the East South Central region in Memphis, TN. Several issues discussed included updates to the Thrift Savings Plan-traditional blended retirement program soon to go into effect for incoming military members. I attended the Legislative Affairs breakout meeting. There are several bills introduced at the Federal level which may apply to MTCMOAA members or their families.TheShawna Hill Post 9/11 Education Benefits Transferability Act authorizes the reassignment a Veteran's or Armed Forces Member’s Post-9/11 education benefits to another eligible dependent in cases where the original designated beneficiary dies without having used all such benefits. The TN chapters present explained our association with the blossoming Tennessee Veteran Empowerment Team (TVET) organization and partnership with the KY Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations (JECVO). Several chapters are sponsoring Veteran Treatment Courts with mentors, recruit’s mentors, and matches of mentors with veterans in the VTC program. VTC programs exist in many TN counties. Montgomery, Davidson, and Williamson Counties have programs in the MTCMOAA area.
State.
The current race for the TN Governors position was impacted by Senator Bob Corker recent decision by not to run for another 6-year term. Sen Corker recently spoke at our MTCMOAA luncheon explaining his thoughts on current issues in Washington. Both positions have a robust list of notable candidates and this election year promises to be a good year for Military and Veteran Services organizations like MOAA to have the concerns of its members heard.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for September 2017
Federal.
Choice Program. Since my last report in August, the VA Choice program received congressional support to fund the program for another six months. This $2.1 billion funding bridge will hopefully allow congress to come up with a more permanent solution. Additionally, the administration’s plan to discontinue the Individual Unemployability benefit when a veteran becomes eligible for Social Security payments at age 62 has been dropped. This is due to the realization that Veterans “don’t suddenly stop suffering from a service-connected disability once they’re old enough to retire”.
State.
TVET. Doug Minton and I attended the inaugural Tennessee Veteran Empowerment Team (TVET) meeting on 2 Sept. TVET is a loose organization of TN Veteran Organizations focused on passing legislation supporting Veteran issues. During the last legislative session, TVET helped orchestrate the push that resulted in two major bills being passed; one of which was the restoration of the tax exemption limits for permanently and completely disabled Veteran home owners in TN.
Members of the Ft. Campbell MOAA Chapter have led the way in the creation of the TVET framework, primarily using the KY Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations (JECVO) as their model, and members of that organization attended this meeting. JECVO was organized in 1967 and has many years of experience pursuing the needs of KY’s 330,000 veterans. JECVO and the TVET organizers present all reinforced the principle of Veterans leverage through contact with their state representatives to voice their opinions on issues affecting veterans. Although we are blessed with supportive representatives on all aisles of the state legislature, issues proposed by other organizations often receive their funding over veterans issues because our voices have not been loud enough to be heard.
TVET is soliciting any issues and is identifying concerns for this coming legislation session. Please contact any of your MTCMOAA representatives with your concern’s and ideas.
Several Board members will attend a MOAA Regional workshop this month. One of our goals is to come away with ideas that will make us more effective at the federal level.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for August 2017
Federal.
Choice Program. A lot has been said recently about the status of the VA “Choice” Program. This temporary program begun in 2014, resulted from the long wait lists and gaps in access to health care in the VA. The intent was to provide additional access to care through community providers and to help the VA rebuild and expand its capacity. Previous to this and still existing is the “Fee-based” program where Local VA’s determine patient care when at capacity.
Last month, VA Secretary David Shulkin told the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees he expected Veterans Choice program funds to run out sometime in mid-August. The program is generally now more popular with veterans; however, the Government was not initially reimbursing providers for their services in a timely manner. That has improved.
Since then, lawmakers have been working on a solution to keep alive the Choice program, funding it at least for the near term.
MOAA, along with nine other veterans' organizations pushed to expedite a bill through Congress to fund the Choice Program during the interim. The House bill would appropriate $2.1 billion for Choice for another six months and would reauthorize a number of urgently needed medical facility leases to expand VA's internal capacity to deliver care. House chairman Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and ranking member Tim Walz (D-Minn.) were instrumental passing this bill in the house. The bill now needs to pass through the Senate.
Forever GI Bill. The “Forever GI Bill,” is rapidly gaining bilateral support both in the House and Senate. The bill would eliminate the current time limit to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill for new servicemembers entering the military beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
Veteran Complaint line. The president began a “Veteran “Complaint line” for those Veterans wanting to direct their Veteran concerns with the President. As of August 1 ,the line (855) 948-2311 will be active 24/7 to hear any concerns you may have regarding Veteran issues. Please let us know if access was beneficial to you.
State.
State Representative visit. Board members hope to meet State Representative and MOAA member Sam Whitson this month, as well as meet with personnel from Senator Corker’s staff.
TVET. TVET, standing for Tennessee Veterans, is moving ahead with the goal of creating a formal coalition of veterans groups to work specifically on veterans’ legislation. The organizational meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 2 September, 2017.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for July 2017
Federal
Budget - The administration released its FY 2018 budget proposal in May. It appears TRICARE fees are to be increased if included in the final budget. This would not include increases to active duty, families of those who died on active duty and those medically retired. All others may see fee increases especially for those under the age of 65. Increases would also affect pharmacy fees and catastrophic caps for retirees. The President’s budget is obviously the initial step to budget development in the House. Your input to your representative can influence the final budget.
VA - MOAA and especially the MOAA Chapters in TN are very concerned about the budget request item to terminate individual unemployment benefits for disabled veterans once they reach age 62 and become eligible for Social Security. The thought from the VA is those disabled veterans typically would not be working at age 62 so why would the government pay unemployment benefits for someone not considered in the employment pool. The challenge is those “totally disability based on individual unemployability” unable to work during their employment period were unable to build a retirement portfolio adequate to cover their costs after age 62. VA Sec Shulkin explained he plans to extend benefits to pre 9/11 care givers and veterans with OTH discharges suffering from mental health issues. Although this is the current policy, at least the middle TN VA system has unclear direction and is not currently offering this service to all in this category.
State.
As of 1 July, several of this year’s state legislative bills passed go into effect. These include:
-Allowing older adults without a college degree or certificate to attend community college free of charge. The law allows both full and part-time students to be eligible to participate.
-Total and permanently disabled veterans can receive tax relief on the value of the first $100,000 of their home. This TN MOAA driven bill would increase the amount to $175,000 which reinstates changes to the property tax relief program made several years ago.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for June 2017
Federal.
Budget: Last week, DoD released its 2018 budget proposal. According to MOAA, the document included large increases in TRICARE fees across the board. The proposed fee increases will be directed towards Retirees under the age of 65 and their family’s active duty family members who choose not to enroll in TRICARE Prime. MOAA believes these fee increases are disproportional as DoD's healthcare costs continue to decrease and do not reflect the service and sacrifice of the beneficiaries who have earned the health care benefit. - See more at: http://www.moaa.org/
VA: The White House unveiled its Veterans Complaint Line, to give veterans direct access to the Trump administration. Veterans can voice their concerns or individual complaints by calling (855) 948-2311. The call center will be fully operational in August. Then, veterans can expect 24-hour continuous coverage. The complaint line is a vehicle for the VA to start collecting, processing, tracking, and responding to complaints in a more responsive way. The VA will use the data to improve the delivery of high quality health care and benefits to veterans and their families in a measurable way.
State.
Tennessee's budget for the coming year is just above $37 billion, an increase over previous years. Monday, Governor Haslam held ceremonies in three different areas of the state to sign the IMPROVE Act. This legislation also restores the property tax exemption to $175k for 100% permanently and totally service disabled veterans was a success. In addition to the IMPROVE Act, lawmakers this session approved the Governor’s plan to offer tuition-free community college to eligible members of the Tennessee National Guard.
-State Sen. and MOAA member Mark Green says he will not resume his bid for Tennessee governor. Green said he will remain in the state Senate, but focusing his future towards DC where he feels there is opportunity to make significant improvements.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for May 2017
Federal.
Budget. House and Senate appropriations 1 May released an omnibus spending bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. This is more than a $1 trillion effort which includes helping boost the military. The omnibus includes a $15 billion increase in supplemental defense spending. The president wants to increase FY 2018 defense spending by $54 billion or about 10%.
VA. Fortunately, Congress extended the funding for the Choice Program beyond its current expiration date of Aug 2017. This program allows Veterans, among other things, receiving care from the VA to use outside private providers if wait times are excessive. Sec. Shulkin maintains the VA will not be privatized during his watch, but become an integrated health care system. This will provide increased “Choice” options, care closer to veterans homes and maintain lower costs for veterans. Sec. Shulkin emphasized suicide prevention is the VA’s top clinical priority.
State. We are happy to report the effort to pass legislation restoring the property tax exemption to $175k for 100% permanently and totally service disabled veterans was a success. Both houses passed Gov. Haslam’s IMPROVE (gas tax initiative) Act which this legislation for veterans was a part. This was a multi-year effort which included many setbacks and legislative learning opportunities. This could not have been successful without the collaborative effort of many veteran organizations in TN coming together to form the Tennessee Veteran Empowerment team (TVET). Additionally, the hiring preference legislation to identify veterans as a recognized hiring group also passed.
The end of the 2017 legislative session should be mid-May. The House appropriations subcommittee should meet 2 May and Senate appropriations subcommittee 3 May to vote on other bills delayed because of the IMPROVE act. Much applause to Ft. Campbell MOAA representative Bill Summers and Middle TN chapter MOAA members who attended many of the legislative hearing to show support. Evidence shows this is critical.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for April 2017
Federal. Dr. David Shulkin, the newly appointed VA Secretary is working with congress to extend the Choice Act program which allows qualified veterans to receive care in the private sector. This program is set to expire in August. Since its inception in 2014, over 1 million veterans have accessed care through the VCP. Mr. Shulkin also said that the VA will reform its operations, but that will not include privatization. He plans to ensure greater accountability and access to include expanded care options.
State. These are interesting and in part, unprecedented times in the TN State legislature. The effort to pass property tax relief for 100% permanently and totally service disable veterans continues to take challenging and interesting turns through both the legislature and the Governor’s office. Senate leaders and the Governor a few weeks ago, included property tax relieve as part of Gov. Haslam’s IMPROVE (gas tax initiative) Act. This caused some members of the legislature and especially the Veterans Caucus to voice their opinion veterans are being used as political pawns to get support for approval of the gas tax bill. MOAA members attended this 22 March caucus meeting.
Other leading legislators believe including this legislation into a gas tax bill, an effort very likely to pass, will better ensure the tax relief effort for veterans. House Majority Leader Casada recently advanced a bill to give disabled veterans and the elderly property tax relief.
Saturday 1 April 2017, President Trump announced the nomination of TN Senator Mark Green as the incoming Secretary of the Army. Sen Green is sponsor of several Veterans bills which will now require sponsorship by other members of the legislator because of his imminent departure:
SB0023/HB0020 - Sen. Green & Rep. Pitts
SB0021/HB0023 - Sen. Green & Rep. Hill
SB0025/HB0005 – Sen. Green & Rep Ragan
We will be monitoring the passage of these bills and alert all MOAA members for their support and participation if required.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter Legislative Affairs Report for March 2017
Federal. Dr. David Shulkin was nominated and selected on February 13th as the VA Secretary. He previously held the position of VA undersecretary. The Secretary and new administration promises to reform areas in the VA system needing critical attention. For example, several months ago, the Vet Center, a branch of the VA, significantly diverged from past policy and now provides no cost mental health care counseling to all veterans regardless of era of service or discharge status. There are five Vet Center locations in TN typically located in professional office locations. Some Vet Centers have mobile outreach locations open one or more days a week to better serve less populated areas. https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/
State. The effort to pass state senate and house bills supporting veterans continues in this session. On February 8th, the MTCMOAA participated with other veteran organizations in a “Day on the Hill” promoting veteran support. Monday, 6 March MTCMOAA members, other TN state MOAA chapters and veteran organizations in the state attended a subcommittee hearing discussing two of Senator Mark Green’s sponsored bill:
SB0023/HB0020 – Sen Green & Rep. Pitts
SB0021/HB0023 – Sen. Green & Rep. Hill
These bills increase the property tax relief from its current $100k to $175k. A very informative presentation on the history of the property tax relief program and these bills potential impact on the budget was presented. It is important to remember that property tax relief can be awarded either for any low-income property owner over 65 years of age or 100% totally and permanently disabled veterans regardless of war time service. MTCMOAA is currently assisting a chapter member receive this benefit who appears to meet these requirements. Any potential challenges to these bills may come from the significant increase in service related claims for tax relief since 2006. All bills were passed on with neutral support to the committee for a full vote.
And one last point, no matter how many times your MOAA Chapter comes before any of our elected representatives, the impact does not match you as a constituent contacting YOUR representative to support an issue. We must have grass-roots support by voters for these issues, so please let your representative know how you feel about them!
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter MOAA Legislative Affairs Report for February 2017
Federal:
Much of the feared TRICARE hikes projected were NOT realized for this year. This included enrollment fees for TRICARE for Life and raises in TRICARE Prime and Standard.
State:
The Second Annual TN Veterans on the Hill Event was held on 8 Feb 2017, and it was obvious that much had been learned from the previous years’ hastily organized visit. The entire process was better planned and executed, and attended this year, with an estimated (exact numbers not yet available) 300+ veterans participating this year. The MTC members in attendance were Doug Minton, Mike Patenaude, Hal Sauer, John Furgess, and Larry McKnight.
Our primary focus was on:
Bill supporting restoring $175,000 property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans:
SB0023/HB0020 – Sen Green & Rep. Pitts,
SB0021/HB0023 – Sen. Green & Rep. Hill,
SB0025/HB0005 – Sen. Green & Rep. Ragan
Bill enabling Private Industry to have legal Veterans Hiring Preference for Veterans, Spouses and widows/widowers:
Bill numbers are awaiting number assignment. (Sen. Green & Rep. Pitts.)
With the Legislature in session, not every representative was able to break free to meet with constituents; however those that were attended sessions that included a state senator and the corresponding representatives included in that senate district meeting together with their veteran constituents for approximately 20 minutes. This process was quite fluid so sometimes there were multiple senators and the corresponding representatives in a session. A facilitator was assigned for each meeting to clearly explain the purpose of the meeting and engage the constituents. In addition to educating the representative on these two bills, there was time for attendees to introduce other veteran issues which many did. Most legislators met were strongly supportive of these bills.
These two bills are extremely important to our 100% disabled veterans and those veterans currently in the work force. This visit is only one part of a very tedious effort to keep these issues on the forefront of our legislators’ priorities. We will be alerting MOAA chapter members when committees will soon be meeting to discuss these bills. Your calls, emails and in person appearance really make a difference. It is very important that our members continue to reach out to their elected representatives to ensure that they understand that there is widespread support for their passage.
A big “thank you” needs to be passed on to Mark Breece of the TN Department of Veterans Services, State Senator Mark Green, Operation Stand Down TN, and the host of volunteers that dedicated time and resources to making this event a success. In particular it would not have happened without the leadership and countless hours provided by Bill Summers and Sherry Pickering.
Respectfully submitted
/s/ Kent Crossley
Kent Crossley
Board Member, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Middle TN Chapter MOAA Legislative Affairs Report for January 2017
State:
The 2017 “Veterans Day on the Hill” event will be held on February 8 at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville. Veterans will enter at the War Memorial Hall for in-processing at 8AM, which is adjacent to Legislative Plaza. The event will end at 5 p.m. Veterans/organizations may stay the entire day or leave upon concluding their business. Coffee/drinks, light eatables and lunch will be available at the War Memorial Hall at no charge.
Bills to be discussed with legislators:
1) Restore the FULL $175,000 property tax credit that had been awarded to 100% disabled (P&T) veterans since the 1970’s, but was reduced two legislative sessions ago to $100,000.
2) Enable private business to legally establish preferential hiring policies for veterans.
Legislator Meeting Schedules: A Senator and the corresponding House members will gather at one room locations at one specific time for veteran constituents to introduce themselves, shake hands and meet (as a group) to discuss the need to support the two proposed legislative bills. These meetings will last about 20 minutes. All legislators are invited to stop by at lunch to meet and talk with veterans. Most veterans will meet both of their legislators in one meeting.
Additional information will be provided during the MTCMOAA luncheon with updates prior to Feb 8th. Please consider coming. Email Kent Crossley kent.crossley1@comcast.net with any questions.
Federal:
The Senate and House passed and President signed into law, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017." This Act authorizes fiscal year 2017 appropriations principally for the Department of Defense national security programs, provides vital benefits for military personnel and their families, and includes authorities to facilitate ongoing operations. The Act includes a 2.1% raise for service members. This will exempt current service members and retires from larger TRICARE fee or change the basic allowance for housing benefits. The NDAA will extend the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance until May 2018 at the current rate of $310/month.
MOAA Goals:
The new administration and congress will take office January 20th and MOAA has identified our top 10 Goals for 2017. First is the removal of the sequestration which cut the defense budget and affected compensation and benefits. TRICARE reform could be a major topic because of Military Health System changes. It is essential to ensure TRICARE reform improves access and maintains quality care. Access to VA health care not only to those eligible, but having service related injuries is essential to improving the impact of PTSD and suicide both in the Active force as well as for Veterans.
