Capitol Hill Happenings We’ve Been Busy!

2 ND SESSION (2008):  Military pay raise of 3.9%, 0.5% over what the President asked  Civilian pay raise tied to military  New Post-9/11 GI Bill with better financial benefits  Tuition assistance for spouses for portable career schooling  Increased full time support positions  Recalculation & lowering (29-42%) of TRS premiums  No TRICARE fee or pharmacy increases (3rd year in a row) Legislative Accomplishments 110 th Congress (January 2007 – October 2008)

Legislative Accomplishments 110 th Congress (January 2007 – October 2008) MORE OF 2 ND SESSION:  Copayment waiver for preventive health services for under 65  Expanded medical & dental readiness  Health risk management demonstration project  Smoking cessation programs -- Rx at no cost and 24 hr quit line  Presumption of service connection for retirement eligibility  Increased Medicare/TRICARE provider payment rates 10.5%  Began $500 per month payments for stop lossed soldiers

Capitol Hill Happenings We Have New Friends On the Hill!

New Faces on the Hill: 54 New Representatives (12 with military service) 2 New Delegates 9 New Senators (Minnesota Race still undecided) 4 Senators to be replaced due to appointments New Spaces on the Hill: Reapportionment due to population moving Gaining House Seats: TX (+3); AZ, FL, GA, NV, UT (+1) Losing House Seats: IA, LA, MA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA (-1)

Capitol Hill Happenings We’ve Got Work To Do!

Legislative Initiatives 111 th Congress (beginning January 2009)  Retroactivity of the early retirement provisions of the 2008 NDAA  TRICARE access beginning at alert order and not 90 days prior to mob  Gray area retirees purchase TRICARE standard at full premium rate  Authorize transferability of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to spouse  Restore value MGIB to historic 47-50% of active duty level

Legislative Initiatives 111 th Congress (beginning January 2009)  Expand travel allowances for those traveling IDT, including tax deductibility of expenses above the line  Elimination of BAH-II  Pilot program for certification for caregiver personal care attendants  Issuing a DD Form 214 for any length of active duty  Military technicians treated as an exempted class of employee (retire at 25 years service, or age years svc)

Legislative Initiatives 111 th Congress (beginning January 2009)  Allow AGRs to receive bonuses in any combat zone  S urviving spouses of military members to travel space a  Expand tax deductibility, decreasing distance requirement to 50 miles  Amend definition of “veteran” for gray area NG - Res retirees

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