PMOAA :: Legislative Issues

Pursuant to our ByLaws a primary mission of PMOAA is to support the national Legislative Goals and Initiatives defined by the MOAA national organization. The chapter also establishes supportive goals that include local and state initiatives impacting our membership's status with the larger Military Community. While MOAA/PMOAA membership is limited to present/retired/former officers of the seven uniformed services MOAA recognizes a responsibility to consider the impact of legislation on the benefits and well being of all ranks and grades and their dependents and survivors as part of the greater Military Community.

The National and Legislative Affairs Committee follows pertinent issues and endeavors to keep members and friends informed and to call for individual action in contacting legislators. A column in the chapter's print newsletter serves this purpose. .

Legislative Goals

PMOAA SERVES
THE NATION, THE COMMUNITY,
THE MEMBERSHIP

The Pensacola Chapter supports the national objectives and legislative goals of MOAA for 2012

Active/Reserve Force/Family Issues

Sustain active duty, Guard and Reserve force sizes to meet mission requirements
Sustain military pay comparability with private sector
Credit all post-9/11 active duty service toward Guard/Reserve early retirement
Restore tax deduction for reservists’ out-of-pocket expenses for drill travel of 50 miles or more
Create new incentives for employers to hire and retain drilling Guard/Reserve members
Provide incentives for employers/government/contractors to hire military spouses
Protect funding for commissary/exchange, dependent schools and family support programs
Improve educational transition for military children
Establish flexible spending account coverage for out-of-pocket health/dependent care expenses
Improve access to affordable child care
Expand career advancement account program (MyCAA) to career spouses and degree programs
Require better education on serious financial disadvantages of the REDUX retirement option

Health Care Issues

Avert 30% Medicare/TRICARE payment cut and fix statutory formula to improve access to care
Protect against disproportional increases in TRICARE fees
Oppose enrollment fee for TRICARE For Life or curtailment of TFL coverage
Allow three years of active-duty-level TRICARE coverage for disability retirees/families
Improve seamless transition between Defense and VA health care/benefits systems
Authorize option to subsidize retention of operational reservists' civilian family health insurance
Increase orthodontia payment cap under active duty dental plan

Retirement/Survivor Issues

Oppose military benefit changes that are inconsistent with service career sacrifices
Preserve full-inflation cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)
End deduction of VA disability compensation from military retired pay
End deduction of VA survivor benefits (DIC) from military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities
Implement a more equitable military disability retirement system
Restore VA survivor annuities for qualifying widows who remarry after age 55
Expand permanent ID card eligibility for elderly/disabled beneficiaries
Authorize survivors to retain a deceased retiree’s full final-month retired pay
Authorize SBP annuities to be paid to Special Needs Trusts for permanently disabled annuitants
Reform the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA)

Veterans and Other Issues

Improve quality, efficiency, and timeliness of VA claims-processing system
Establish Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for Surviving Spouses of Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts
Authorize pre-tax payment of health, dental and long-term care premiums
Reduce Social Security penalties for certain civil service and state retirees/survivors
Prevent disproportional Social Security/Medicare penalties for any population segment