War Supplemental Spending Bill Stalled 

Since early May, AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan has been pressing Congress to finish work on the war supplemental spending bill. 

While the impact of an interrupted funding stream on troops in combat is pretty obvious, there are many other ‘not so obvious’ areas where “stop and start” funding just does not work.  The 24 May edition of the AUSA Legislative Update outlined some of the impacts on the military if Congress failed to pass the war supplemental spending bill in a timely manner.  

* Military pay for the troops both base pay and bonuses.
* Civilian pay, which if not funded, triggers furlough procedures and/or the freezing of civilian hiring.
* Expenditure of operational funds are slowed down and threatened with stoppage on certain dates in each budget funding crisis.
* Parts production and repair contracts both at home and in theater can be slowed, deferred or even halted in the event of funding shortfalls.
* Ordering of “non-critical” supplies and spare parts grinds to a halt when the funding stream is not timely.
* Ongoing critical research and development programs can be slowed or stopped. Restart requires additional and unbudgeted funds.
* Funding slow downs or halts can seriously impact domestic base restructuring plans within the overall Base Realignment and Closure mandates related to building contracts and unit rebasing.
* If advertising dollars slow or are stopped there is a negative impact on recruiting and if recruiting operations support funds (travel, training, recruit and influencer activities) dry up, recruiters can't look for recruits and recruits that are ready for training can't get to their duty stations.
* Retention program funds including bonuses are slowed or stopped during a hiatus of budget support. Reenlistment may be deferred and promotions frozen.
* Family programs for deployed or deploying troops are no longer available to support Family Readiness Groups across the Army: Active, Army Guard, and Army Reserve.
* The transportation of family household goods is delayed along with payments for family travel on change of station.
* Youth activities funded by appropriated funds are shelved or cut.
* The start of new and mandated programs is stalled.
* Critical flight safety programs and procedures are jeopardized from training to execution.
* Facility and family housing repairs, emergency and routine, are suspended.
* Training at unit, individual, and training centers is slowed, postponed or just stopped.
* Procurement of new equipment or replacement equipment is stopped with contract suspensions

In a letter to key lawmakers, Gen. Sullivan urged the Congress to pass the measure before they departed for the Memorial Day recess.  He said, “The Army simply cannot be subjected to the lengthy process and delays that have occurred in the last several budget cycles.  Our Army does not need to move into the summer of 2010 facing another iteration of crisis management. It has had more than enough practice!  Congress should focus its considerable energies on completing legislation that will provide an uninterrupted stream of funds and will be ready for signature by the president before the end of May 2010.  May passed with no bill.

The 21 June Legislative Update detailed testimony that Defense Secretary Robert Gates provided to the Senate Appropriations Committee.  “We begin to have to do stupid things if the supplemental isn’t passed by July Fourth.  We will turn to O & M [operations and maintenance] money” to pay for the Navy and the Marine Corps.  “The Army comes a little later.”  At that time, the Army “would have to furlough civilians and not pay” soldiers, warned Gates.

Gen. Sullivan again urged lawmakers to pass the spending bill before the July Fourth recess.  “In a time of war, expeditious completion of defense legislation is absolutely essential.  Our Army in the field needs timely access to appropriate funding,” he said.

Secretary Gates said, “We could reach a point in August, in early to mid-August, where we actually could be in a position where the money that we have available to us in the base budget runs out.  And we could have a situation where we are furloughing civilians and where we have active duty military we cannot pay.”

With no bill passed before the July Fourth recess, the 6 July update summarized Gen. Sullivan’s latest message to the Hill.  “The impact of having to constantly plan for multiple financial contingencies to deal with potential shortages or lack of operational funds does not allow the Army to operate at maximum efficiency while involved in ongoing combat.  Such contingency planning is a detractor from mission focus and has long term implications both for readiness and for the well being of the force, including the readiness of our non-deployed units and quality of life for Soldiers and their families.  Congress must pass this critical legislation as well as the regular defense bills as soon as they return.”

It is absolutely the eleventh hour.  Congress departs for the August recess at the end of the month and will not return until 14 September.  Unfortunately, the supplemental spending bill is stalled.  A $58.8 billion measure that focused only on funding for the wars, veterans and disaster relief was passed by the Senate in May and sent to the House for their action.  However, before passing its version on 1 July, the House added $22.8 billion in domestic spending including $10 billion to avert teacher layoffs.  Because the House bill differed from the Senate's version, it had to go back to the Senate for another vote. 

Senate Republicans strongly object to the added domestic spending while some of their counterparts on the other side object to the $800 million cut in other education initiatives that would pay for it.  To top it off, the White House threatened to veto the bill over the proposed education cuts.

What now?  Democratic leaders in the Senate said last week that they are trying to find alternative offsets.  Additionally, it was reported that they are either considering scaling back the House domestic spending additions in an effort to attract the 60 votes needed to pass the measure or will attempt to pass the House version as it is.  Any change to the bill would then require another vote by the House.

Something has to give.  We are asking that you add your voice to Gen. Sullivan's.  Please send an AUSA-suggested letter to your member of Congress urging them to pass the supplemental immediately.  Go to the AUSA website, www.ausa.org, click on “Contact Congress”, type in your zip code beside “Elected Officials”, and scroll down to “Pass the Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill Now!!”  Your voice does make a difference.

Simplified Procedures for Receiving PTSD Compensation in Place

The VA has simplified its procedures for veterans seeking health care and disability compensation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  The biggest change comes in not requiring corroboration of the stressor that the veteran was in fear of his or her life in a combat situation or terrorist attack.

In announcing the changes that took effect July 13, Michael Walcoff, Acting Under Secretary for Benefits, said 400,000 veterans are already receiving compensation for PTSD and all who have claims pending will fall under the new regulations.  Veterans who have had PTSD claims denied in the past can re-apply.  “We made them jump through hoops” in seeking records to corroborate the claim, a process that could take months or years, he said.

Compensation of up to $2,700 a month would be retroactive to the date of diagnosis.  The change applies to all veterans and not just those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Disability compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to a veteran for disabilities that are a result of – or made worse by – injuries to diseases associated with active service.

Speaking by video-teleconference at a press conference announcing the changes, Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y., Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance, said, “No longer does one have to prove” an incident took place.  “There is no stenographer following you” in combat or during a terrorist attack.

In his July 10 radio address, President Obama said, “I don’t think our troops on the battlefield should have to take notes to keep for a claims application.”

VA officials said that under the new regulations, a veteran’s claim would be approved: if there was a diagnosis of PTSD by a VA psychologist or psychiatrist; the veteran stated he or she feared for his or her life in a military action or a terrorist act; and the veteran’s overall service record was consistent with the claim.

Bradley Mayes, Director of VA Compensation and Pension Service, said, “There are certain thresholds that have to be met” to have the claim approved.  He added the change should particularly benefit women veterans because their service records often do not indicate they served in a combat situation.

Walcoff said the VA did not have a number on how the change in regulation would affect the workload but added the VA is receiving new claims daily as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue and veterans from earlier wars are diagnosed with PTSD.

As to cost, he said, “We have always paid for this” either through the VA or other agencies.  “We expect eventually costs will be minimally higher.”

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a prepared statement, “This final regulation goes a long way to ensure that veterans receive the benefits and services they need.”

For more information, go to www.va.gov or call the VA benefits toll-free number (800) 827-1000.