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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Credit: Architect of the Capitol Legislative and Bene t Updates

Summer Mariner 2020

By Michael P. Hughes, OSC, USNR (ret.)

FY 2021 NDAA
At the time of writing, the nal version. It will have to be worked out by a conference
most important legislative committee and forwarded for the President's signature.
issue is the introduction Past experience tells us that it is unlikely a nal enactment
of the FY 2021 National will occur before the start of the new scal year on Oct. 1,
Defense Authorization Act 2020. Keep in mind that the NDAA is an authorization
(NDAA) in Congress. e Senate and House Armed act and Congress still has to consider and pass an appro-
Services Committees have reported on their mark-ups of priation act to fund whatever is authorized. Last year the
a draft bill and the House Armed Services Committee is NDAA wasn't enacted until Dec. 20, 2019 and DOD
still considering its version. ere are some favorable and operated on a Continuing Resolution (CR) until then. A
unfavorable proposals in both versions so far, but it is very CR generally mandates that they operate at the previous
early in the process. Of note is that both have proposed a year’s funding with no new program starts or increases.
3% active duty pay raise. Inevitably, there will be di er-
ences between what the House and Senate pass and the

VA Agent Orange Blue Water Navy Claims

I am pleased to report that the VA has begun consider- established by presumption. e most common granted
ing Blue Water Navy (BWN) Agent Orange presumptive Agent Orange disabilities are:
claims as promised this year. As of the end of May 2020,
they have reported having received 58,336 claims and diabetes; malignant growths of genitourinary system;
have completed 23,735. A little over 74% of the com- arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary heart disease); cor-
pleted claims have been granted. e most common rea- onary bypass surgery; and malignant growth of the lung.
sons for denial of claims were no diagnosis and claim not

TRICARE Dental Plan (TDP) Increased Bene t

United Concordia, the administrator of the TDP, has $300 from $1500 to $1800 this year for eligible active
announced that due to the downtime related to the pan- duty and guard and reserve members and families.
demic, they are increasing the annual limit per person

TRICARE Select Increased Fees
TRICARE Select Group A retirees and family members e enrollment fees starting Jan. 1, 2021 will be $12.50
will begin paying monthly enrollment fees on January 1, per month for an individual and $25.00 per month for a
2021. Group A is retired members in TRICARE Select family plan. ese fees were mandated by law in the FY
where the initial enlistment or appointment or that of a 2017 National Defense Authorization Act and the Defense
spouse of the eligible member began before January 1, Health Agency obtained an extension until January 2021
2018. Active duty members are not a ected by these fees for implementation.
and will not pay enrollment fees.

8 The Mariner • 2020 SUMMER Edition • Volume 63 • Issue 2