BACKGROUND

The Senate is expected to consider the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), S. 1042, this week on the Senate floor.

During floor consideration, several amendments of importance to EANGUS members are expected to be offered. A brief description of these amendments follows:

TRICARE
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) are expected to offer an amendment that would expand TRICARE coverage to all members of the Reserve Components by offering them cost share access to the TRICARE program regardless of drilling status.

Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) is expected to offer an amendment to enhance benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Reserve Component MGIB. The amendment would increase MGIB educational benefits to cover the cost of education at the average public college or university. It would also increase the Reserve Component MGIB and link future increases to the active duty benefit. The amendment would also open an MGIB enrollment window for career service members on active duty who declined to enroll in the “VEAP” program.

Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay & VA Disability Compensation
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to offer an amendment that would give immediate relief from the “disabled veteran’s tax” to 100% disabled retirees who have been rated as unemployable (UI) by the Department of Veteran’s Administration. This group of veteran’s was left out of the SBP changes that were made in last year’s NDAA.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) is expected to offer an amendment that would allow a surviving spouse of a service member to collect both SBP and DIC. Under current law, the surviving spouse’s military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity is reduced by the amount of Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC).


RECOMMENDATION:

Step one: Dial 1-866-877-HILL(4455). This is a toll-free number. Calling it will connect you to the Capitol switchboard where you can ask to be connected to your Senator=s office.

Step two: Tell the individual who answers the phone in the Capitol Hill office that you are a constituent of the Senator. Give your name, address and phone number. Tell them you support the following amendments to the NDAA (1) cost share access to TRICARE for all members of the Guard and reserves regardless of drilling status; (2) improvements to the MGIB; (3) elimination of disabled veteran’s tax and (4) elimination of the SBP-DIC offset. Ask your senator to support these amendments to be offered during floor consideration of the bill.

Step three: Fax a letter to your Senator at his Capitol Hill or district office. Tell them that you called the office, the date you called and the name of the person you talked to. Remember, ask for a reply.

Step four: Forward a copy of the correspondence you sent to the Capitol Hill office to the Senator’s state/local office. Ask them to contact the Capitol Hill office to express your view on the issue. State and local offices are in constant communication with the Capitol Hill offices.

Step five: Send the EANGUS National Office a copy of your correspondence.
Email: eangus@eangus.org
Mail to: EANGUS
3133 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22305-2640
Fax: (703)519-3849

The Honorable [name of your representative]
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator [name of your Senator]:

I am writing on behalf of 45,000 members of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard (EANGUS). We urge you to vote for the following four amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

TRICARE
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) are expected to offer an amendment that would expand TRICARE coverage to all selected members of the Reserve Components by offering them cost share access to the TRICARE program regardless of drilling status.

Mongtgomery GI Bill
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) is expected to offer an amendment to enhance benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Reserve Component MGIB. The amendment would increase MGIB educational benefits to cover the cost of education at the average public college or university. It would also increase the Reserve Component MGIB and link future increases to the active duty benefit. The amendment would also open an MGIB enrollment window for career service members on active duty who declined to enroll in the “VEAP” program.

Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay & VA Disability Compensation
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) is expected to offer an amendment that would give immediate relief from the “disabled veteran’s tax” to 100% disabled retirees who have been rated as unemployable (UI) by the Department of Veteran’s Administration. This group of veteran’s was left out of the SBP changes that were made in last year’s NDAA.

Survivor Benefit Plan-Dependency Indemnity Compensation
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) is expected to offer an amendment that would allow a surviving spouse of a service member to collect both SBP and DIC. Under current law, the surviving spouse’s military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity is reduced by the amount of Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

Since September 11, 2001, over 400,000 members of the reserve component have been deployed. The Graham-Clinton amendment to provide cost share access to TRICARE and the Kerry amendment to provide enhancements to the MGIB bill are needed to address current retention and recruiting concerns.

The Reid and Nelson amendments address compensation inequities concerning surviving spouses and disabled veterans.

If you have any questions, please contact me or my representative at the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, 1-800-234-3264.

Sincerely,