Soldiers and their families are the bedrock of readiness. In recent years, Congress has made great strides in recognizing issues that affect military families and proposing legislation to improve well-being. However, much remains to be done.
As part of AUSA's overall legislative effort and in cooperation with AUSA's Directorate of Government Affairs, AUSA Family Programs pays close attention to legislation affecting military families and provides input to the AUSA Resolutions Committee on issues relating to Army families.
2007 AUSA Resolution --"Supporting Soldiers and Families"
Legislative News for Military Families
New Bill Introduced to Improve Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans and Focus on Quality of Life (05/01/2008)
The Chairman of the Veteran Affair’s Committee, Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) introduced legislation to improve the Department of Veteran Affair’s Independent Living program which serves severely disabled veterans who are unable to work.
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Bill Proposed to Improve Health Care for Female Veterans (05/01/2008)
Legislation known as the “Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008” (S.2799) was introduced to the Senate today by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) along with a group of 9 bi-partisan co-sponsors.
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Bill Introduced to Increase Benefits of the Montgomery G. I. Bill (05/01/2008)
U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Burr (R-NC) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the “Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention and Readjustment through Education Act”.
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$1.9 Billion Construction Bill Introduced to Aid VA Hospitals (05/01/2008)
U. S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced legislation, at the request of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, requesting $1.9 billion for repair and construction of countrywide VA hospitals.
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Maryland Legislature Introduces Plan to Help Military Children (03/17/2008)
Maryland has joined a growing number of states considering legislation to help ease school transition for military children.
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Expanded GI Bill Raises Concern (03/17/2008)
According to a recent story published by Military.com some Department of Defense officials are expressing concern that a new bill to expand GI Bill benefits would negatively impact retention by encouraging veterans to leave the military early to pursue educational opportunities.
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New Law Improves Reserve GI Bill (03/17/2008)
The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act contained a number of enhancements to the Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR) and the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP).
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Questions Raised About Childcare Center Staffing (03/04/2008)
A Senator from Arkansas has criticized the Department of Defense for failing to staff new childcare centers appropriately.
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Senator Proposes Law to Pay for Guard and Reserve Travel (03/04/2008)
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) recently introduced legislation (S 2623) to allow the Secretary of Defense to use Department of Defense (DoD) funds to pay for travel if a Reserve member is placed on leave because of training suspensions or staffing issues.
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New Bill Seeks to Increase Cost of Living Benefit for Veterans (03/04/2008)
Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) has introduced legislation to increase veterans' compensation through a cost of living adjustment (COLA). The COLA is designed to offset inflation and other factors that alter the cost of living over time.
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House Passes Amendment to Lower College Tuition for Military Children (03/04/2008)
The House passed an AUSA-supported amendment that would lower the burden of college tuition for children of military families by allowing them to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public universities across the country.
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Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act Legislation Introduced (02/19/2008)
On January 22, 2008, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), introduced legislation to change Title 38 of the U.S. Code to forgive the debt owed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of men and women who have lost their lives in combat.
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Senators Call for Stronger Suicide Prevention Programs in Defense Department (02/19/2008)
On January 31, several Senators introduced legislation directing the Department of Defense to enhance its suicide prevention programs.
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Senate Committee Hears Testimony about VA Benefits (02/19/2008)
At a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on January 25, the chairman of the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission testified that benefits for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder were inadequate.
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Military Widows Press for End to DIC/SBP Offset (02/19/2008)
In late January, three military widows went to federal court to press for a change to the law regarding benefits for widows.
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Stimulus Package Will Include Disabled Veterans (02/19/2008)
President Bush signed the economic stimulus package on Wednesday, February 13th, after a short but contentious debate in the Senate over whether the bill would include a tax rebate for disabled veterans.
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Senate Committee Hears Testimony about VA Benefits (02/04/2008)
At a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on January 25, the chairman of the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission testified that benefits for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder were inadequate.
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Bush Urges Programs to Benefit Military Families, Wounded Troops (02/04/2008)
President Bush called on Congress tonight to reward the contributions servicemembers and their families make every day through better services and laws that let them share unused education benefits and give military spouses hiring preference for federal jobs.
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Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act Legislation Introduced (01/31/2008)
On January 22, 2008, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), introduced legislation to change Title 38 of the U.S. Code to forgive the debt owed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of men and women who have lost their lives in combat.
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2008 Defense Authorization Bill Now Law (01/29/2008)
The revised 2008 Defense Authorization Bill was signed into law by the President on Monday, 28 January. The bill contains a number of provisions dealing with service pay and benefits, including a 3.5% basic pay raise, retroactive to January 1st.
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The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (01/29/2008)
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was established through the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (Public Law No. 99-660). It establishes the Vaccine Program as a no-fault compensation scheme whereby persons allegedly suffering injury or death as a result of the administration of certain compulsory childhood vaccines may petition the federal government for monetary damages.
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Legislative News 2007 Archive
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