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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - July 12th
2017
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The Department of Veterans Affairs released this past Friday a list of actions taken since January 20th in which employees have been dismissed or suspended for more than 14 days for issues related to their employment. Though individual's names were not included, the 525 job actions reported did identify positions, locations, and the action taken (see list
here).
In releasing the list, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David J. Shulkin called this "another step in long-sought transparency and accountability actions at VA, and noted that VA is the first federal agency to make such data public."
When the announcement was made Shulkin also indicated that he now requires any settlement with an employee over the amount of $5,000 must be approved by a senior official within the agency - at the Under Secretary level or equivalent status in the organization in which the action occurs.
The release of the list of adverse employee actions comes on the heels of the President's signing of the Department's Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 late last month. This act (full text
here) passed as a bipartisan measure and is designed to provide the VA Secretary greater authority to expedited demotion, suspension, or removal of employees based on job related inadequacies. Under the act the Secretary may also revoke bonuses and reduce pensions for employees who have been found lacking.
A quick scan of the list of adverse actions reveals individuals disciplined by the Department range from physicians to registered nurse to senior service representative to mason to plumber to general attorney. No chaplains are on the list.
Lyman Smith
Executive Director
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In Memoriam
Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired
Baptist
Deceased June 29, 2017
Wilmington, NC
Colonel, USAF, Retired
MCA Member 1974
Catholic
Deceased April 21, 2017
Morrisville, PA
wife of Chaplain Carl E. Bilderback
COL, USAF, Retired
Deceased June 12, 2017
Denison, Texas
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Higher TRICARE Fees?
In the 2018 defense authorization bill, pharmacy co--payments are once again in the crosshairs of the budget writers. These provide an especially ripe target for increases, because the pharmacy benefit consists of mandatory spending for beneficiaries over the age of 65. The savings resulting from these potential fee hikes can then be used to fund other accounts and programs, including measures like the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) to remedy the SBP/DIC Widows Tax, which offsets a military survivor's monthly Survivor Benefit Plan annuity by any Dependency and Indemnity Compensation they receive. MOAA has a long-standing record of advocating for a permanent fix for the widow's tax/SSIA situation. However, taxing beneficiaries' earned benefits is not the way to fix it. Keep in mind, many of those affected by the Widows Tax also use the pharmacy benefit.
TRICARE enrollment fees, as well as other fees, most likely will get hit with hikes, too. DoD is looking for ways, in their words, to "plow savings back into readiness." Raising fees by repealing the grandfathering clause for TRICARE fees contained in last year's law which shielded currently serving members from new fees, as is currently proposed by the DoD, is one way they aim to supplement readiness or other unspecified projects.
"We do not think raising TRICARE fees through the repeal of last year's grandfathering, which is now law, is in any way fair to beneficiaries," says Capt. Kathy Beasley, USN (Ret), MOAA's Government Relations Director for Health Affairs. "The House saw fit to maintain the existing grandfathered fee structure and to maintain focus on the implementation of current TRICARE reform efforts. MOAA strongly agrees with the House."
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Annual MCA Awards and
National Executive Committee Members
Please make your nominations now for our Annual Awards and NEC.
Each year we present three awards to deserving individuals who represent the values and principles we embrace and advance as an organization. The three are:
The National Citizenship Award - presented to an individual or individuals
who make a significant contribution in public service and who support the values and needs of our nation's military members and their families.
The G, William Dando Volunteer Service Award - Our award for volunteer service is named for Chaplain Dando and honors one of our members who exemplifies a life long commitment to sacrificial service.
The David E. White Leadership Award - Presented by the Military Officers Association of America to a chaplain wit a
lifetime commitment and
vision for Joint service, inter-agency collaboration, and overall ministry professionalism.
We also elect
four new members to our NEC each year seeking to have all segments of our membership represented on our governing board.
Please send your nominations and supporting reasons to
[email protected]. Nominations will be received through June 30. Thank you.
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Religion and Spirituality:
The Impact on Chaplains
MCA National Institute 2017
October 23 - 26, 2017
Newport News, Virginia
or call
866-329-1758
ask for Military Chaplains
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If you missed the June 28th
edition of the Newsgram
click here
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SUPPORTING CHAPLAINCY IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM: Active, Retired and Former Chaplains of the
United States Army,
United States Navy,
United States Air Force, Department of
Veterans Affairs, and
Civil Air Patrol
AND THOSE THEY SERVE: military members, veterans, and their families
at home and around the world
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The Military Chaplains Association of the USA
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