NewsBytes December 1, 2023
In this Issue:
FRA Launches 2024 Survey
Support Concurrent Receipt Reform
Navy Suspends “High-year Tenure” Program
VA Pauses VA Home Loan Foreclosures
Coast Guard Manpower Shortage
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
FRA Launches 2024 Survey on Military and Veterans Benefits
As part of its mission to convey enlisted concerns to Capitol Hill, the FRA is conducting an online survey to determine the most crucial military and veteran benefits for active duty and Reserve personnel, retirees, veterans, and their families. The brief survey invites current and former members of the uniformed services, as well as their spouses, to rate various benefits and quality-of-life programs linked to their service to our nation.
The FRA urges all current and former military personnel and their spouses to share opinions on the programs they value most. Survey responses and participant comments offer the legislative team vital reference information for Congressional testimony and one-on-one meetings with lawmakers and their staff. Survey results are shared with elected officials on Capitol Hill, key committee staff, and leaders within the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the enlisted sea service perspective. Access the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K2BXMRL
Support Concurrent Receipt Reform
The FRA advocates for the House's passage of the "Major Richard Star Act" (H.R.1282) this year. Encourage legislators to support bills offering concurrent receipt for service members unable to complete 20 years of service due to combat-related injuries (H.R.1282, S.344). The House Armed Services Committee unanimously approved the House version (H.R.1282), sending it to the House floor for further consideration. Over two-thirds of the House and Senate co-sponsor the "Major Richard Star Act." Legislators are realizing that reducing a disabled retiree's retired pay is unjust. Please ask legislators to support this legislation promptly. Please ask your legislators to support this legislation today!
Navy Suspends "High-Year Tenure" Program
The Navy has indefinitely suspended its "high-year tenure" program, introducing its successor, "high-year tenure plus," as a permanent replacement. The new program prevents separations or involuntary transfers for sailors who do not advance at a sufficient pace. This elimination of the controversial program, aimed at removing low-performing sailors, aligns with the Navy's commitment to retaining service members in the ranks and at sea. The Navy's policy changes also encompass a reexamination of service aspects like fitness tests.
VA Announces Pause in Foreclosures on VA Home Loans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a suspension of foreclosures on VA-backed loans, extending pandemic protections for veterans facing mortgage payment difficulties. The VA plans to contact mortgage services to pause VA foreclosures and extend the COVID-19 Refund Modification program until May 31, 2024, ensuring veterans can remain in their homes.
This decision follows a November 11 report by National Public Radio revealing the risk of veterans losing homes after the VA ended the Partial Claim Payment program. Veterans using the mortgage forbearance program during the pandemic faced bills for missed payments, risking large sums or refinancing at higher rates. Approximately 6,000 VA homeowners are in foreclosure, and another 34,000 are delinquent. The VA calls for mortgage services to pause foreclosures and collaborates on workable home retention solutions for veterans.
The extension of the COVID-19 Refund Modification program enables veterans to obtain zero-interest, deferred-payment loans from the VA, covering missed payments and modifying existing VA-guaranteed loans for an affordable monthly payment structure. The VA is establishing a VA Servicing Purchase program to purchase defaulted VA loans, modify them, and include them in the VA's direct loan portfolio. Veterans struggling with mortgage payments are encouraged to visit the department's housing assistance website or call 877-827-3702.
Coast Guard Manpower Shortage
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster (Fla.) conducted a subcommittee hearing, examining the Coast Guard's performance in maritime law enforcement missions. These include drug enforcement, illegal migration, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Lawmakers expressed concern about a potential personnel shortage greater than current estimates due to data and workplace assessment failures. Testimony revealed an unknown exact number.
Although the Coast Guard suggested a 3,000-person shortfall, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates thousands more, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive branch-wide manpower assessment. The Coast Guard, missing recruiting goals for the fourth consecutive fiscal year, is likely closer to a shortage of around 4,800 members. Only 15 percent of workplace assessments have been completed for units across the service. The GAO underscores the importance of assessments in addressing recruitment goals and ensuring overall readiness.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
National President John Handzuk will be in attendance at the Wreath-Laying Ceremony on December 7th at 10:00 AM Eastern at the United States Navy Memorial to commemorate National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. This solemn ceremony, honoring the lives lost during the historic attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, will showcase the remarkable presence of the U.S. Navy Band and the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard. The event is open to the public and can also be viewed online at: https://navymemorial.swoogo.com/pearl-harbor-23