TREA: The Enlisted Association Blog

Inside this issue TREA "The Enlisted Association" Washington Update • SBP-DIC Offset -- Contact your Senators -- Spending Debt Limit Signed TREA "The Enlisted Association" Washington Update SBP-DIC Offset -- Contact your Senators -- Spending Debt Limit Signed SBP/DIC Offset Update -- More Members Cosponsor bills than ever before TREA continues to support efforts and urges Congress to pass legislation to allow military retiree survivors to receive full Survivor Benefit Plan benefits. H.R. 553 (352... Read More

SBP/DIC Offset Update -- More Members Cosponsor bills than ever before TREA continues to support efforts and urges Congress to pass legislation to allow military retiree survivors to receive full Survivor Benefit Plan benefits. H.R. 553 (352 cosponsors) in the House and S. 622 (75 cosponsors) in the Senate would end the deduction of Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities from Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) paid to survivors of fallen service members, also known as... Read More

P.L. 116-23 – Navy Blue Water Vietnam Veterans Act TREA continues to be briefed on VA s implementation plan to provide benefits to these newly eligible veterans. TREA is advocating begin the processing of claims as soon as possible and not wait until January 1, 2020. Budget and Debt Limit Deal Reached Congress and the Trump Administration announced on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, that a two-year budget and debt limit deal has been reached. Speaker... Read More

Defense Health Agency continues to transform the Military Health System TREA is pleased to provide the June 2019 TRICARE Online Patient Portal Secure Messaging toolkit. The toolkit offers a variety of products about TOL PP, including a fact sheet, step-by-step info sheet, posters, and a flyer and brochure. Access the toolkit using the link: https://www.trea.org/TREA/Resources/Important%20Links%20and%20Document%20Library/TREA/Important%20Links%20and%20Document%20Library.aspx?hkey=82e6a804-c61e-46ca-8a45-a61c9f44cb5e... Read More

House of Representatives Passes National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) The House passed its version of the annual defense bill on July 12, 2019, by a vote of 220-197, along party lines. The $733 billion defense spending bill is the largest in American history. Provisions call for curbing presidential war powers, a 3.1 percent troop pay raise and repeals of the controversial Widow's Tax and Feres Doctrine. The House and Senate will now try to craft... Read More

TREA joins Toxic Exposure in the American Military Working Group In June, TREA joined a new coalition of 13 VSOs/MSOs to address the issue of toxic exposure. The T oxic E xposures in the A merican M ilitary (TEAM) coalition will research currently available data to develop resources and advocate for additional exposure treatment for veterans and active duty service members. There are more than 165,000 veterans enrolled in the VA's Burn Pit Registry -... Read More

TREA REPORTS GOOD NEWS FOR VIETNAM VETERANS Senate clears Navy Blue Water Bill Measure goes to President for Signature On June 12, 2019, the Senate cleared legislation, H.R. 299, that would expand disability compensation for Vietnam-era veterans who have been unfairly denied benefits for illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure for decades. The House passed the bill on May 14 on a 410-0 vote. The Senate action sends the bill to the President to sign... Read More