WORK FOR PASSAGE OF HR 3997

No movement since before Christmas. Need to write to your Rep and our Senators and ask for assistance.

This is the legislation that will change the IRS Code and open the CA Veterans Home Loan Program, partially financed by Qualified Veterans Mortgage Bonds (QVMB), to those who entered military service after 1 Jan 1977.

Right now, only those who came in before that date may take advantage of this financing.

If you recall, 51 of CA Representatives signed on as Co-sponsors of Rep Susan Davis’ HR 551 which was melded into HR 3997.

This legislation needs to be moved and approved.

You don’t need to write a long epistle. A postcard will do or even a phone call to your Reps office.

Use the MOAA toll-free number to call the Capitol Operator (1-866-272-6622) and ask for your Representative’s office. Identify yourself as a California Veteran/Spouse/Voter/MOAA Member or whatever your affiliation and ask your Legislator to help move HR 3997 out of the Ways and Means Committee closet and onto the floor for approval.

Please pass this to your members and fellow advocates.

Bill Gavitt
William F. Gavitt, Jr., Col, USAF (Ret)
7007 Seville Way
Riverside, CA 92504-4832

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NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES

Legislative Alert #08-02
March 20, 2008

The Issue: National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008

Immediate Action Required: Contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support and co-sponsor S. 2760 or H.R. 5603 - National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008.

On March 14, a bipartisan team of National Guard supporters in Congress - Senator’s Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Kit Bond (R-MO), co-chairs of the Senate National Guard Caucus, and Representative’s Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Tom Davis (R-VA) introduced the National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2008.

Empowerment legislation enacted in the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA); elevated the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) to 4-stars, designated the National Guard Bureau as a joint activity, required the Defense Secretary to develop a Charter for
the National Guard Bureau, identified the CNGB as a principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs for matters pertaining to non-federalized Guard forces, and more. continue reading

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STOP THE 10.6% MEDICARE/TRICARE CUT

Unless Congress acts, we’re only three months away from a 10.6% cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors. That would dramatically reduce the number of doctors willing to accept military and Medicare patients. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has introduced S. 2785, the ?Save Medicare Act of 2008?, to reverse the cuts and provide a 1.8% increase instead.

Please send the MOAA-suggested message below urging your senators to cosponsor and pass this critically important bill. continue reading

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EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO PROVIDE NEEDED FUNDS

Dear Friend:

We continue to hear regular news reports about members of the military or veterans who are not receiving the care they need after having been in combat. Those of us who care deeply about the well being of our military and veterans cannot help but be distressed to hear these reports.

I recently joined in a bipartisan effort to ensure that the Veterans Benefits Administration has the funding it needs to process veterans claim forms. Claims for compensation and pension benefits continue to increase. Notably, the rate of claims pending for more than 180 days is now nearly 27 percent. This delay in processing can cause hardship to veterans and their families, and we must make greater efforts to reduce the processing time.

I joined other Senators in writing to the Senate Budget Committee, and asking that funding be provided to ensure that the Veterans Benefits Administration can deal with the claims backlog. We also ask that a commitment be made to increase the training and technology to further address the claims backlog and improve the timeliness, accuracy and consistency that our veterans deserve. It is the least that we can do for these brave heroes.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS

On Thursday, February 14, 2008, the President signed into law:

H.R. 4253, the “Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008,” which requires an interagency task force to coordinate efforts to improve opportunities for small businesses owned by veterans; permanently reauthorizes the SBA Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs; and expands small business development and loan programs for veterans and reservists.

ESGR Mrach ARB
489th Combat Support Co.
FAMILY READINESS LEADER
TALIA WESLEY

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MORE EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR RESERVISTS, GUARDSMEN

WASHINGTON /March 3, 2008
Some members of the National Guard and the Reserves who serve on active duty will see a significant increase in their educational benefits, thanks to improvements announced today by
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“Reservists and National Guardsmen who serve multiple tours on active duty may get an increase in their educational benefits, in keeping with the value of their service to our nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.

Under new provisions, members who accumulate three years on active duty, regardless of breaks in service, may be eligible for the maximum payment under the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP). Previously, reservists and guardsmen had to serve two continuous years on active duty to receive the highest payment. continue reading

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IRS RETURNS DUE IN 2008

Beginning in 2008, small tax-exempt organizations that previously were not required to file returns may be required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations not Required To File Form 990 or 990-EZ. For more information, click on the link above.

See the MOAA website for full information http://www.moaa.org/

Source: MOAA Call to Action

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BUDGET HITS MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES’ WALLETS

The Administration’s FY2009 budget would deal heavy blows to Medicare and many older beneficiaries.

Physician reimbursement cuts of almost 10% originally planned for January will go into effect in July unless Congress acts to reverse them, and the budget envisions further cuts in January 2009.

The new budget would repeal annual inflation adjustments to the income levels used to means-test Part B premiums. If enacted, that would push more and more people each year into paying significantly higher Part B premiums. This year, the higher premiums apply to single seniors with incomes over $82,000 ($164,000 for a married couple) as opposed to $80,000/$160,000 last year.

Additionally the budget proposes freezing payment levels through FY2011 for inpatient care, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and ambulance services, and a freeze through FY2013 for home health agencies. continue reading

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