CBO Budget Options: Will These Cuts Threaten Your Earned Benefits?
MOAA National supports a number of national legislative priorities, and we focus also on issues facing veterans in the great state of Michigan. To that end, we encourage members to familiarize themselves with both sets of issues. Review the MOAA Advocacy page and the Michigan Commander's Group (MCG) page, and then take a stand on issues you can get behind. Both the MOAA and the MCG will get your voice to your state and national legislators. Click the buttons below for more information.
Interested members work with national and state government representatives in advocating for legislation supporting national defense and benefits for military members and their families. Chapter members are encouraged to make regular use of pre-drafted legislative emails found in the MOAA Legislative Action Center that are automatically routed to their representative in the House of Representatives and their Senators. Members are also encouraged to follow up with telephone calls, letters, and/or visits. For state legislation, members are encouraged use the MCG legislative functions. The chapter is ready to assist, train and educate members in the use of these legislative advocacy tools.
Selected members who represent the chapter at meetings of the Michigan Council of Chapters of MOAA may also be eligible to represent Michigan at MOAA’s annual spring advocacy campaign in Washington DC, Advocacy in Action.
Selected members who represent the chapter at meetings of the Michigan Council of Chapters of MOAA may also be eligible to represent Michigan at MOAA’s annual spring advocacy campaign in Washington DC, Advocacy in Action.
MOAA's PRIORITIES FOR THE 119th CONGRESS
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Military Housing
MOAA seeks to improve funding and condition transparency for unaccompanied housing by requiring an annual, publicly available report, which will highlight areas that require the most attention from both DoD and Congress. |
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Retirees/VeteranToxic Exposure
MOAA will focus on capitalizing on our recently released report, Ending the Wait for Toxic-Exposed Veterans, to advocate for veterans exposed to toxic materials during their service. |
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Spouse Employment
Rates of unemployment for military spouses continue to be four to five times higher than the national average. This persistent challenge requires not only providing education and employment resources for spouses, but also incentivizing businesses to hire someone who will likely move in two to three years. |
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Access to Care
MOAA seeks a digital MHS assistance platform allowing beneficiaries to report access-to-care challenges and receive help navigating the MHS, including reporting requirements to increase visibility on barriers to access so fixable issues can be addressed. |
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Support for Caregivers
MOAA strongly supports the reintroduction and enactment of the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act. This legislation acknowledges caregivers’ invaluable contributions while addressing the significant economic and emotional burdens they face. |
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Persistent Efforts
MOAA will always advocate for some issues until they are addressed. Among these are concurrent receipt for combat wounded (Major Richard Star Act), Arlington National Cemetery access, and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). MOAA will also continually monitor certain issues and will immediately mobilize the entire association, our membership, and VSO/MSO allies to ensure these issues are not negatively impacted. These issues include:
MOAA will always advocate for some issues until they are addressed. Among these are concurrent receipt for combat wounded (Major Richard Star Act), Arlington National Cemetery access, and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). MOAA will also continually monitor certain issues and will immediately mobilize the entire association, our membership, and VSO/MSO allies to ensure these issues are not negatively impacted. These issues include:
- Decrements to scheduled pay increases.
- New TRICARE or TRICARE Pharmacy Program fees.
- TRICARE cost-sharing increases that exceed military retired pay COLA or TRICARE Pharmacy Program cost sharing that exceeds common industry practice.
- Unequal decrements of compensation and benefits based on rank, age, family composition, retirement status, or disability benefits.