Is the Military Draft in Our Future??

WASHINGTON - The House Armed Services Committee chairman is warning that further reductions to projected defense spending could make a military career so unattractive that it would force the Pentagon to revive the draft.   Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., suggested that spending cuts beyond the $350 billion that President Barack Obama and Congress agreed to in the debt accord this past summer could force the military to slash the number of service members, now some 2.3 million, including National Guard and reserves.

A special bipartisan committee is trying to come up with $1.5 trillion in spending cuts from all government spending. If it fails, or if Congress rejects its proposal, automatic cuts of $1.2 trillion would kick in, with half coming from defense. "We also need to understand what it's going to mean to keep an all-volunteer force. Do we want to reinstitute the draft? Some of the cuts we're talking about would take over 200,000 out" McKeon said Monday in an interview with Fox News.

The military draft ended in 1973 as the U.S. switched to an all-volunteer force after the Vietnam War. In the decades since, some in Congress have suggested reviving the draft, but the Pentagon has rejected the idea and efforts have gone nowhere with Republicans or Democrats. McKeon fears that defense cuts would force the Pentagon to reduce the size of the force, delay improvements for weapons and slice military benefits, steps that would made a military career far less attractive to recruits.

"Our troops that go outside the line over in Afghanistan every day should not be having to think about what their retirement's going to be, what their pension's going to be, are they going to be able to stay in the military," McKeon said. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., chairman of the Armed Services personnel subcommittee, on Wednesday expressed concerns about defense cuts but said a draft was unnecessary.

"I'm concerned that the cuts are so devastating to our national security that almost any negative consequence can arise, but I actually have supported and continue to support as a budget-cutting measure elimination of the Selective Service," Wilson said in an interview.

Military Tuition Assistance Reduction

Congress has amended the Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (HR 1540)to direct the DoD to reduce the current 100 percent tuition and fees rate by 25 percent. The amendment was offered by Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO). Currently servicemembers can get up to 100% of the tuition and fees covered as long as the per semester credit limit of $250 is not exceeded. Anything tuition costs which exceed the per credit hour cap must be paid through secondary sources like their GI Bill benefit, scholarships, grants or out-of-pocket.

GI Bill Reform to Expand Transferability Eligibility

Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has introduced H.R. 2002.  A bill that would expand Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability to cover those who have been retired due to disability or medical reasons and allows retirees to make the transfer within 36 months of their retirement. H.R. 2002 would amend current law to allow service members retired due to a service-connected injury or disability to qualify for GI Bill transferability even after leaving the service.  The proposed legislation would also extend service members transfer eligibility 36 months after retirement, with an additional 12 months extension upon DoD approval for special circumstances. 

H.R. 2002 does not increase costs, as the funding already exists for service members who qualify for the benefit and there are no additional costs associated with transferring the benefits to a dependent or spouse. According to the Bill's author, the bill simply restores equality and fairness to the process, allowing the service member to determine who gets to use their earned benefit.

BELOW ARE SOME CURRENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST.

EDUCATION :

H.R. 276 to allow for the transfer of educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program to certain dependents to be used for special education.
Introduced by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)  

 H.R. 614 “Post 9/11 G.I. Bill Dependent Coverage Improvement Act “to extend the age of eligibility of dependent children for receipt of transferred educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.   Introduced by Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)  

 H.R. 1130 “Education Assistance to Realign New Eligibilities for Dependents (EARNED) Act of 2011” to provide authority for certain members of the Armed Forces who have served 20 years on active duty to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to their dependents.  Introduced by Rep. Rodney Alexandria (R-LA)

 H.R. 1383 “Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011” to temporarily preserve higher rates for tuition and fees for programs of education at non-public institutions of higher learning pursued by individuals enrolled in the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs before the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010.  Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL)  

 S. 745 A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to protect certain veterans who would otherwise be subject to a reduction in educational assistance benefits.  Introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

 S. 536 to provide that utilization of survivors' and dependents' educational assistance shall not be subject to the 48-month limitation on the aggregate amount of assistance utilizable under multiple veterans and related educational assistance programs.  Introduced by Sen. Jim Webb  (D-VA)

H.R. 284 “Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and Persons With Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2011” to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination through the use of nationwide testing, to increase funds for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program.   Introduced by Rep. Al Green (D-TX)

 H.R. 535 “Military Families Financial Preparedness Act” to expand the matters covered by pre-separation counseling provided to members of the Armed Forces and their spouses.  Introduced by Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)

H.R. 687 “Military Spouses Employment Act” to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make employers of spouses of military personnel eligible for the work opportunity credit.  Introduced by Rep. John Carter (R-TX)

GUARD & RESERVE ISSUES:

H.R. 179 to eliminate the requirement that certain former members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces be at least 60 years of age in order to be eligible to receive health care benefits.  Introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) 

H.R. 181 “National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act” to ensure that members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.   Introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)   

H.R. 743 “Hire A Hero Act of 2011” to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small businesses which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard. Introduced by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R- KS)  

 S. 367 “Hire A Hero Act of 2011” Introduced by Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA)  

 H.R. 948 “Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011” to require the provision of behavioral health services to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces necessary to meet pre-deployment and post-deployment readiness and fitness standards, and for other purposes.
Introduced by Rep. David Loebsack ( D-IA)

S. 325 “Embedded Mental Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011”  Introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) 

 H.R. 1025 to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law. Introduced by Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN)  

S. 491 “Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011” to recognize the service in the reserve components of the Armed Forces of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law Introduced by Sen. Mark Pryor ( D- AR) 

H.R. 1089 “Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act “to direct the Secretary of Defense to provide members of the Individual Ready Reserve, Individual Mobilization Augmentees, and inactive members of the National Guard who served in Afghanistan or Iraq with information on counseling to prevent suicide.  Introduced by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) 

S. 579 “Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act” Introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)   

H.R. 1283 “Reserve Retirement Deployment Credit Correction Act” to eliminate the per-fiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service. Introduced by Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA)   

H.R. 1570 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to employers for the value of the service not performed during the period employees are performing service as members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard.   Introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) 

H.R. 1577 to authorize advance appropriations for military personnel, reserve personnel, and National Guard personnel accounts of the Department of Defense, generally Title I of the annual Department of Defense appropriations Act.   Introduced by Rep. Scott Rigell (R- VA)

HEALTHCARE:

H.R. 115 CHAMPVA Children's Protection Act of 2011to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program. Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)   

S. 490 to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program.  Introduced by Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) 

H.R. 248 “Depleted Uranium Screening and Testing Act” to provide for identification of members of the Armed Forces exposed during military service to depleted uranium, to provide for health testing of such members.Introduced by Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY)

 H.R. 409 “Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act” to require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits for certain new beneficiaries as part of the TRICARE program.   Introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)   

H.R. 652 to limit the increase of premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other charges for health care provided under the TRICARE program. Introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK) 

H.R. 930 to improve the disability compensation evaluation procedure of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma.   Introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) 

H.R. 1092 “Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act” to prohibit certain increases in fees for military healthcare. Introduced by Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) 

H.R. 1285 “Military Health Care Affordability Act” to prohibit certain increases in fees for military healthcare before fiscal year 2014. Introduced by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

PAY & COMPENSATION:

H.R. 237 to amend the Homeowners Assistance Program of the Department of Defense to give the Secretary of Defense flexibility regarding setting the commencement date for homeowner assistance for members of the Armed Forces permanently reassigned during the mortgage crisis.  Introduced by Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA)

 H.R. 303 “Retired Pay Restoration Act” to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt.  Introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) 

H.R. 333 “Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act” to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.  Introduced by Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) 

H.R. 561 “Veterans Employment Tax Credit Act of 2011” to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the work opportunity tax credit with respect to veterans. Introduced by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) 

H.R. 923 “Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011” to exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children of veterans, and for other purposes.  Introduced by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) 

S. 780 “Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011” Introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)

 H.R. 1110 “Combat Act” to increase the maximum monthly rate for the military special pay known as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or hazardous duty pay, to increase the maximum monthly rate for the family separation allowance paid to deployed members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Introduced by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA)   

H.R. 1178 “Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act” to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.  Introduced by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)      

S. 344 “Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2011” to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation.   Introduced by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

VETERAN/RETIREES:

H.R. 120 “Disabled Veterans' Surviving Spouses Home Loans Act” to provide for eligibility for housing loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the surviving spouses of certain totally disabled veterans.   Introduced by Rep. Virgina Foxx (R-NC)

H.R. 186 to expand the eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation to include all members of the uniformed services who are retired under chapter 61 of such title for disability, regardless of the members' disability rating percentage.  Introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

H.R. 240 to promote jobs for veterans through the use of sole source contracts by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Veterans Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.  Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 238 “Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2011” to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid for coverage under Medicare Part B.  Introduced by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)

H.R. 287 “Homes for Heroes Act of 2011” to expand the supply of permanent housing for very low-income veteran families; and (2) to provide supportive services through such housing to support the needs of such veteran families. Introduced by Rep. Al Green (D-TX)

H.R. 329 “Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act” to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and to expand access to such care and services.  Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 781 “Veterans' Employment Transition Support Act of 2011” to allow employers a credit against income tax for hiring veterans.  Introduced by Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)

H.R. 804 to clarify the eligibility of certain veterans who serve in support of Operation New Dawn for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 806 “End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2011” to make certain improvements in the services provided for homeless veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 814 “Medicare VA Reimbursement Act of 2011” to provide Medicare payments to Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions. Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 865 Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011 to extend the work opportunity credit to certain recently discharged veterans.  Introduced by Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN)

S. 146 Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011 Introduced by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

H.R. 923 Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011 to exempt reimbursements of expenses related to accident, theft, loss, or casualty loss from determinations of annual income with respect to pensions for veterans and surviving spouses and children of veterans, and for other purposes.  Introduced by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)

S. 780 Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011 Introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)

H.R. 1133 Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services associated with certain supported housing programs for veterans, and for other purposes. Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 1312 “Jobs for Veterans Act of 2011” to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an increased work opportunity credit with respect to recent veterans, and for other purposes. Introduced by Rep. Peter King (R-NY)

H.R. 1407 “Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011” to increase, effective as of December 1, 2011, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. Introduced by Rep. Jon Runyan (R-NJ)

H.R. 1460 to provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system.  Introduced by Rep. William Owens (D-NY)

H.R. 1484 “Veterans Appeals Improvement Act of 2011” to improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish a commission to study judicial review of the determination of veterans' benefits. Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

H.R. 1595 “Veterans' Home Loan Improvement Act of 2011” to make all veterans eligible for home loans under the veterans mortgage revenue bond program.  Introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

SURVIVOR BENEFITS:

H.R. 178 “Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act” to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan for military surviving spouses to offset the receipt of veterans’ dependency and indemnity compensation.   Introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

S. 260 to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation.   Introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)

H.R. 493 “Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act” to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay paid to deceased retired members of the Armed Forces following their death.   Introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)

H.R. 813 to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death.  Introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)

If any of these issues are pertinent to you, need more information or want to know what other pieces of legislation are happening regarding military and veterans. Please visit www.thomas.gov and type in the specific piece of legislation for all the current information and updates. Likewise, if you want more action contact your elected official exercise your right to voice your opinion.