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Legislative Update

By Steve White

This is TROA’s legislative update for Friday, April 2, 2002

Senate Returns to Take Up Budget Resolution.

Before departing for Easter recess, the Senate Budget Committee approved its version of the FY2003 Budget Resolution, including $581 million ($6.1 billion over 5 years) to phase out the disability compensation offset to military retired pay over 5 years for disabled retirees who served 20 years or more and have a 60% or higher service-connected disability rating.

The House Budget Committee approved a similar Budget Resolution proposal a week or so earlier, and the full House already has approved it.

Senate leaders hope the full Senate will be able to consider the Budget Resolution next week, or perhaps the week after.

When it does, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated he will propose an amendment to the Budget Resolution to add the necessary funds to allow complete elimination of the disability offset to retired pay as of October 1 for all disabled retirees with 20 years or more, regardless of disability rating.

This has been TROA’s and The Military Coalition’s goal for many years, and the full Senate approved a similar plan last year – only to see it dropped in negotiations with the House. With 81 Senators having already cosponsored Sen. Reid’s “full concurrent receipt” bill (S. 170), our hope is that the Reid Budget Resolution amendment will be approved.

If the Senate approves a resolution calling for full concurrent receipt, Budget Committee leaders would then meet with their House counterparts in a conference committee to work out their differences on this and other Resolution issues.

For concurrent receipt, the issue would be whether to adopt the House phased approach to eliminate the offset for the more severely disabled, to adopt the Senate “full concurrent receipt” option, or do something in between.

TROA is gratified that previous positive action by both Budget Committees seems to have assured some significant progress this year. But our objective remains to win full concurrent receipt if at all possible.

Now is the time to begin contacting your senators to urge them to vote for the Reid Amendment to the FY2003 Budget Resolution. TROA offers two ways to do this:

a. Visit TROA’s Web site at http://capwiz.com/TROA/home/ , enter your ZIP code in the box and click “GO”. Then click on the “Vote FOR Reid Amendment” link above your legislators’ photos.

b. Use TROA’s toll-free hot line to Capitol Hill (1-877-762-8762). Ask the Capitol operator to connect you with both of your senators’ offices and urge them to “Vote FOR the Reid ‘concurrent receipt’ amendment when the Budget Resolution comes up for Senate floor action.”

Next week, TROA’s Board of Directors and 50 state council and chapter presidents will be “Storming the Hill” to urge legislators to support concurrent receipt and other needed initiatives, including an SBP annuity increase and improved pay raises for active duty, Guard and Reserve members.

Copyright © 2002, The Retired Officers Association (TROA), all rights reserved. Part or all of this message may be retransmitted for information purposes, but may not be used for any commercial purpose or in any commercial product, posted on a Web site, or used in any non-TROA publication (other than that of a TROA affiliate, or a member of The Military Coalition) without the written permission of TROA

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Member News

By Al Garcia

Member, LTC (Dr.) Don Castle, USAF, called on Wednesday, March 27 to let us know that he and Eleanor are doing fine.  They have been in Rocky Mount, NC for a few weeks where he is helping out at a clinic.  He expects to be there for another few weeks. 

Don wanted to know if we could get him  some information on a TROA chapter in that area and we did.  He asked about many of you and we gave him information.  He and Eleanor send regards to all.  He said, "We sure miss you guys."  I thanked him again for having us over for the summer annual picnic at their home. 

Incidentally, he said their house here in Farmington has sold.

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President's Page

By Al Garcia

Spring is here! We are busy cleaning house and yards, especially those of us that are fully retired. Some of us are preparing out garden plots and flower beds while others prune trees. What a beautiful time of the year, the Spring. There are some of us that can take advantage of these joys but there are some members that have to give up these activities due to illnesses and other reasons.

Col. Duckworth underwent knee replacement surgery on April 2. He is recovering at the local hospital and claims to be mending rapidly. He has been in pain but his spirit is strong and he expects to be mobile in a few weeks.

LTC Joe Ziems has had a hard time after the back surgery he underwent last Fall but according to Irene he is improving.

Maj. Mike Mikitka and Mary are getting along. But it is hard from them to get around especially after dark. Mike told me that it was "hazardous" for either of them to go driving at night.

There are others in our Chapter that have medical problems but they get around and aren't house bound. I encourage each of us to call these good members or stop and visit at their convenience. We can do that.

Lastly, I want to thank Heidi for her wonder idea of raffling a German Dinner for two at our March general membership meeting. The Hanharts owned the winning ticket and Heidi honored her commitment in German fashion on March 19. Heidi, the dinner was delicious and very German. THANK YOU!