From: FRA NewsBytes [Newsbytes@fra.org]
Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:35 AM
To: fra@fra367.org
Subject: FRA NewsBytes -- 12-11-09
This week in NewsBytes:
Omnibus Spending Bill Passes Without DoD Funding
Beware of Inaccurate Internet Messages on Health Care Reform
FRA Applauds Congressional Support for Navy SEALs
Problems with Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits
DFAS Account Statements, Tax Forms Available Next Week


Omnibus Spending Bill Passes Without DoD Funding
The House of Representatives passed an omnibus spending measure (H.R. 3288) this week that includes six of the seven remaining FY2010 appropriations bills. The measure includes funding for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon/VA) and provides a seven-percent increase over last year's spending levels.  The legislation authorizes $23.3 billion for military construction, $134.6 billion for the VA, including funding for 1,200 additional claims adjustors to reduce the backlog of VA disability claims.  FY2010 appropriations for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is increased by 10 percent over last year and, for the first time, provides advanced funding ($48.2 billion) for VA medical accounts for FY2011.

The House is expected to pass the Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations measure next week before the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires on Friday, December 18, 2009. The DoD funding bill is the only remaining appropriations legislation left for House consideration.


Beware of Inaccurate Internet Messages on Health Care Reform
Many shipmates are receiving and forwarding inaccurate e-mail messages claiming that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has drafted legislation to impose new fees on TRICARE for Life (TFL) beneficiaries. Neither CBO, Congress nor the Administration has proposed such legislation. The national health reform legislation passed by the House in October and currently being considered in the Senate do not directly impact health care benefits for military personnel, their families, retirees or veterans. The Association is closely monitoring these legislative proposals as they advance on Capitol Hill and has received repeated assurances from key lawmakers, congressional staff and the White House that the final health care reform will not impact TRICARE or VA health care.  For more detail, read Tom Philpott's syndicated Military Update  column (11-26-09) at www.fra.org.

The Association is also monitoring the progress of the House-passed "Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act" (H.R. 3961) that seeks to halt a 21-percent cut in Medicare and TRICARE reimbursement rates scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2010. Unless this rate cut is eliminated or delayed, many doctors are expected to stop seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients.  To weigh in on these concerns, please visit FRA's Action Center (www.fra.org) to weigh in on this issue.


FRA Applauds Congressional Support for Navy SEALs
FRA thanked Representative Duncan Hunter (Calif.) for, along with 36 other members of Congress, sending a bi-partisan letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates expressing "grave concerns" about court-marshal proceedings against three Navy SEALS. These seemingly unwarranted actions are aimed at the Sailors captured Ahmed Hashim Abed, the alleged accomplice in the murder of four American contractors in Fallujah, Iraq in March of 2004. The letter to Hunter is posted on the FRA website (www.fra.org).


Problems with Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits
The Post 9/11 GI Bill program has been plagued by a series of administrative problems since it was implemented August 1, 2009. Many student veterans, particularly those who have dropped or added classes or switched schools, are still not receiving their education benefits.  Tom Philpott's syndicated Military Update column (12-3-09), which is available at www.fra.org, includes details.

In related news, the Navy is reminding Sailors they must be on active duty and must meet defined service criteria in order to transfer the Post-9/11 education benefit to their spouses and/or children. Exceptions to re-enlistment requirements that are available to some Sailors will expire on January 1, 2010.  Service members should consult with career counselor before applying for specific benefits.  


DFAS Account Statements, Tax Forms Available Next Week
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) announced that retirees with a myPay online account will be able to digitally download their annual account statements. Annuitant statements will be available online on Monday, December 14th. Internal Revenue Service 1099R forms for retirees and annuitants will also be posted on December 14.  

DFAS officials plan on mailing hard-copy account statements and tax forms in a single envelope, starting on December 16th.  Retirees with questions about the documents should call the DFAS Contact Center at 1-800-321-1080.

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