NewsBytes September 4, 2020
In this issue:
NDAA Final Passage Coming Soon
HVAC Subcommittee Discusses Improvements for TAP
New PTSD Therapy for Couples Shows Promise
VJ Day Anniversary
NDAA Final Passage Coming Soon
The House and Senate versions of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will soon go to conference committee to resolve the differences between the two bills (H.R.6395, S.4049) and create a final bill. Now is the time to let your elected officials know your concerns on such issues as:
• Adding more diseases to list of diseases caused by exposure to Agent Orange herbicide ;
• Stopping the scheduled cuts to military medical staff during the pandemic ;
• Waiving TRICARE Mail order co-pay fees during the pandemic ;
• Stopping the plan to exclude retirees and dependents from MTFs; and
• Supporting the repeal of a 180-day delay for retirees applying for DoD jobs at a GS-13 level and below .
Once the final bill is agreed to by the conference committee, it will be sent to both chambers of Congress and if approved by both, it will be sent to President Trump to be signed into law or be vetoed. This can happen very quickly once there is an agreement between the two versions. So, now is the time to use the FRA Action Center to weigh in on these critical issues.
HVAC Subcommittee Discusses Improvements for TAP
The House Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a virtual hearing on coordinating transition resources for service members who are transitioning out of the military. The subcommittee members want an approach that would assist any service member transitioning into civilian life to include job placement, assistance in educational, financial, entrepreneurial, and healthcare benefits. Some of the services offered by these agencies include job training, interview coaching, resume building, and recommendations for mental health treatment programs. The subcommittee members want to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach when assisting transitioning service members. The metrics of success in the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) will be based on a reduction in the suicide rate, placements in sustainable jobs and the overall mental and financial wellbeing of the veteran and their families. Although it is difficult to quantify emotional wellness since it can sometimes be hidden, there is hope since some of the emerging mental health programs are yielding great results.
New PTSD Therapy for Couples Shows Promise
A study published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy reveals that couples that have one person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may soon have faster access to more efficient therapy that treats the disorder and simultaneously improves their relationships. Current treatment usually involves a 15-week process that may soon be shortened to only one weekend.
The pilot program included active duty and veteran couples and was created by Consortium to Alleviate PTSD (CAP). The CAP is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research consortium jointly funded by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to advance the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of PTSD among post-9/11 service members and veterans.
The FRA supports robust funding for research to treat PTSD. According to the researchers, the impacts of PTSD on military members or veterans and their families is significant, with estimates suggesting that 15 percent of service members and 23 percent of veterans who have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001, suffer from PTSD. The disorder affects not only individuals, but also their spouses and families. The researchers noted that PTSD is associated with relationship distress, physical and psychological aggression, and partner psychological distress.
VJ Day Anniversary
This week marked the 75th anniversary of the Victory over Japan Day. Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) is the day on which the Imperial Japanese Empire surrendered, in effect ending World War II. The term has been applied to two different days. The day when the initial announcement of Japan’s surrender was made on Aug. 15, 1945, in Japan and then when the surrender document was signed on Sept. 2, 1945, officially ending World War II.
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