TREA: The Enlisted Association Blog

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TREA "The Enlisted Association" Washington Update

• • Congress Passes FY 2020 Spending Bills -- Government Funded to September 30, 2020, Concurrent Receipt, HR 4183 and HR 3530

TREA "The Enlisted Association" Washington Update

Congress Passes FY 2020 Spending Bills -- Government Funded to September 30, 2020, Concurrent Receipt, HR 4183 and HR 3530

On Friday, December 20, 2019, President Trump signed two major spending bills to fund the government for FY 2020 to September 30, 2020. This avoided the need for another Continuing Resolution as well as a government shutdown. Most important to TREA and its members was the funding for the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Enactment provides both DOD and VA flexibility to fund prciograms and services for active duty service members, veterans, retirees as well as Guard and Reserve Components. TREA is reviewing the funding levels and will provide specific details in the near future.

TREA continues to work hard to support Concurrent Receipt 
by seeking the enactment of legislation that authorizes comprehensive expansion of concurrent receipt of uniformed services retired pay and VA disability compensation, by expanding Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments (CRDP) to beneficiaries with 20 or more years of service with less than 50 percent disability rating and all those medically retired with less 20 years of service (Chapter 61) who are not eligible for concurrent receipt.
 

Two Important Bills Pass The House

Last week, the House also passed the Identifying Barriers and Best Practices Study Act (HR 4183), which calls upon the GAO to study the disability and pension benefits earned by members of the National Guard and Reserves. The vote was 408-1.  
 
HR 3530, which calls upon the VA to enforce licensure requirements for medical providers within the Department, also received an almost unanimous vote of 409-1.

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