Page 6 - Mariner Winter 2023 Volume 65 Issue 3 Jan

LEGISLATIVE AND BENEFIT UPDATES

Credit: Architect of the Capitol Legislative and Benefit Updates

Winter Mariner 2022

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

FY 2023 Defense and appropriations bills were not enacted until March
Authorization and 2022, almost 6 months into the Fiscal Year.
Appropriation Bills As of this writing in early December the House has
The current most pressing passed their version of the FY 2023 NDAA, H.R. 7900.
legislative issues are the FY The Senate Armed Services Committee has reported
2023 National Defense out its version of the of the FY 2022 NDAA, S. 4543,
Authorization Act (NDAA) which has yet to be debated and passed by the full
and the Defense Appropriations bills. The NDAA is Senate. When the Senate passes their version of the
mainly under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate NDAA there is typically a Joint Conference Committee
Armed Services Committees and determines the require- formed to iron out any differences between the House
ments for defense and military for the fiscal year, recom- and Senate versions. The revised version is then voted
mends funding levels for defense and establishes policy on by both bodies and if passed will be forwarded to the
for how funds will be spent. The Defense Appropriations President for signature.
provides the funds for the fiscal year.
Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
The government, including Defense, is currently operat- COLA is calculated each year based on the Consumer
ing on a Continuing Resolution (CR) until December 16, Price Index (CPI-W) to compensate for inflation in federal
2022 for FY 2023 which began October 1, 2022. A CR government payments for military retirees, Veterans Affairs
limits appropriations, for the most part, to the previous compensation and Social Security. The Cola for 2023,
fiscal year's funding levels. It is possible another CR could effective December 1, 2022, is an increase of 8.7%.
be enacted if Congress can't agree on and pass a budget
before the December 16 date. NOTE: This does not include military pay and Defense
employee pay increases which are legislated annually in
This is the 14th time in the last 15 years that Congress the authorization and appropriations process discussed
has failed to enact Defense authorizations and appropri- earlier. Currently the proposed increase in introduced leg-
ations bills for the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. islation is 4.6 %.

Continuing Resolution restrictions prevent new program As always NERA continues to follow and represent our
start-ups, pay and benefit changes, equipment changes members with Congress, Department of Defense and
and raises issues with readiness and recruiting according Department of Veterans Affairs to protect and promote
to military leaders. Last year the FY2022 authorization the benefits and compensation earned by our members.

If you have specific questions or concerns please contact me

by calling or texting me on my cell phone at 1-443-812-9591.

6 The Mariner • 2022 WINTER Edition • Volume 65 • Issue 3