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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES






           Credit: Architect of the Capitol  Legislative and Benefit Updates

                                     Winter Mariner 2020


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


                                     FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and Defense
                                     Appropriations for FY 2021
                                     At the time of writing this   Congress still has to consider and pass an appropriation
                                     in early November, one of   act to fund whatever is authorized. Most of the federal
                                     the most important legis-  government is operating on a Continuing Resolution
                                     lative issues is the FY 2021   (CR) until December 11, 2020 as of this writing. A CR
                                     NDAA in Congress. The      generally mandates that they operate at the previous fiscal
            Senate and House Armed Services Committees have     year funding with no new program starts or increases. It
            reported out their versions of the bill. There are some   is unclear if Congress will pass either the authorization
            favorable and unfavorable proposals in the both versions.   and/or appropriation, or if the president will sign it prior
            Of note is that both have proposed a 3% active duty pay   to the convening of the new Congress in January 2021
            raise. There are differences between House and Senate   and the inauguration of the new president. There is very
            versions that will have to be worked out by a conference   limited scheduled House and Senate session dates for the
            committee then forwarded for the President's signature.   remainder of 2020 with the breaks for the holidays.
            Keep in mind that the NDAA is an authorization act and

            HR 8237, Protecting the Employment Rights of Service Members Act

            This act will clarify the scope of procedural rights of service   Prohibits agreements and practices that interfere with the
            members related to employment and reemployment rights:  right of persons to participate in joint, class, or collective
                                                                actions.
            Prohibits predispute arbitration agreements that force
            arbitration of disputes arising from employment and   NERA supports this legislation.
            reemployment disputes.


            HR566/S332, Agent Orange Exposure Fairness Act
            This act expands eligibility for presumption of service con-  neuropathy  and porphyria  cutanea tarda associated  with
            nection for veterans exposed to herbicide agents (e.g., Agent   Agent Orange exposure. None of the other Agent Orange
            Orange (AO) ) during service in Vietnam. The bill(s) remove   conditions have such time limitations or rating requirements.
            the manifestation period required for presumption of ser-
            vice connection for chloracne, acute/subacute peripheral   NERA supports this legislation.

            TRICARE Select Increased Fees

            TRICARE Select Group A retirees  and their family   of age and not qualified for Medicare Part B which is
            members will begin paying monthly enrollment fees on   required for TRICARE for Life. Active duty members are
            January 1, 2021. Group A includes those retired mem-  not affected by this and will not pay enrollment fees.
            bers in TRICARE Select where the initial enlistment or
            appointment or that of a spouse of the eligible member   The enrollment fees starting Jan. 1, 2021 will be $12.50
            began before January 1, 2018 and they are under 65 years   per month for an individual and $25.00 per month for




     10 The Mariner  •  2020 WINTER Edition  •  Volume 63  •  Issue 3
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