Year of the Military Pay Raises
Dateline: 07/4/99
The Kosovo situation allowed the military to win more than one war this year -- in addition to stopping the bloodshed in Kosovo, the situation brought military pay and benefits question to the forefront of our President and Legislature. If the Government pay computers don't break down for Y2K, military members will be receiving not one, but two pay raises during the year 2000. The first one will be an across the board 4.8 raise, effective 1 Jan 2000, and the second will be a "targeted" raise, directed toward many members, effective on 1 Jul 2000.
The House and Senate have each passed its version of the FY 2000 Defense Authorization Bill. The House-Senate conference to iron out the differences between the two versions of the defense bill has begun, so now is the time for you to write, call or email your representative and senators to let them know which items you want them to support. The House-Senate conference on the FY2000 Defense Authorization Bill, S. 1059, adjourned in progress for the Independence Day break. Congress will return from the Independence Day Recess on Monday, July 12. (Sheesh....most other Americans were lucky if they got a three day weekend for July 4th).
Briefly, here are the individual items the Senate and House will be negotiating:
- The pay raise.
- An option for those under the "new" retirement system to opt into the "old" retirement system at the 15 year point of their career. Or, they can elect to stay with the "new" system, and take a $30,000 bonus.
- TLE for first-time PCS moves
- An expanded time-period for cashing in leave.
- Career Enlisted Flight Pay, like the officers get.
- An increase in Foreign Language Proficiency Pay.
- Broader destination choices for emergency leave travel.
- An overseas WIC (Women and Infant Child) program
- More enlistment/re-enlistment bonuses.
- An additional monthly check for the severely disabled.
- A Thrift Service Plan, where servicemembers could save up to 5 percent of base pay and have the Government match it.
- Supplemental pay for those eligible for food stamps.
- SBP increase for survivors over the age of 62.
- BAH increase of 6 percent.
- Lodging expense reimbursement for Reservists.
- 100 percent tuition assistance for those deployed.
- Extension of the "Troops to Teachers" program.
- G.I. Bill monthly benefit increase.
- Elimination of monthly G.I. Bill contributions.
- Allow VEAP participants to change to G.I. Bill.
- Allow Year-Round Uniformed Services Family Health Plan enrollment.
- Increase Tricare coverage.
- Make it easier to use Tricare in different regions.
- DOD would have more reimbursement flexibility to ensure an adequate number of doctors in remote locations.
- Would require a Tricare Advocate to be established at each Tricare location.
- Improve the Retiree Delta Dental plan
- Establish a Reserve family dental plan.
- Require DOD to contract for health care at remote locations for recruiters, etc.
- Improve Tricare claims processing time to 30 days.
- Waive Tricare deductible for Reservists.
- Establish a pharmacy plan for Medicare-eligible members.
Quite a list for a change, huh? Not all of these are guaranteed to be passed into law. Now is the time to make your voice heard!
For more detailed information on the above items, visit the Air Force Sergeant's Association's Defense Authorization Act Page. Other bills of interest to the military community can be viewed at the Fleet Reserve Association Legislation Page. You can read the latest on Veteran issues on the Hill by visiting the House Committee on Veteran Affairs Page. And, finally, for those of you who absolutely need to find out every single little thing about the legislation can search the Library of Congress.
Above graphics used with license from Nova Development Corp.
