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*H.R. 36 (Bilirakis, R-FL) would allow qualifying survivors over age 55 to retain Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if they remarry after the age of 55. Currently, they must forfeit that compensation if they remarry at any age.

*S. 19 (Daschle, D-SD) would authorize full concurrent receipt; restore tax equity for military homeowners and drilling Reservists; establish a mandatory funding mechanism for the VA health care system; and permit prescriptions from non-VA providers to be filled at VA pharmacies. NOTE: S. 19 is not intended as a vehicle for legislative action, but as a statement of the Democratic leadership's support for these initiatives in the 108th Congress. The individual provisions of S. 19 will be introduced as separate bills, and we'll list the separate bills on MOAA's Web site.

*S. 58 (Johnson, D-SD) and H.R. 56 (Edwards, D-TX) would allow military retirees to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) as an alternative to TRICARE. Retirees who entered service before June 7, 1956 would be exempt from paying FEHBP premiums.

MOAA's Legislative Update for Friday, January 24, 2003:

Issue 1: Relative Personnel Costs at 20-Year Low

Over the past few months, we've heard various administration officials - some in the Pentagon and some in the Office of Management and Budget - complain that personnel costs take up too much of the defense budget.

Personnel costs comprised 30.8% of the Defense-minus-procurement budget in FY2002 - vs. 37% in 1991, 47.6% in 1986, and 34% in 1976. Today's figure, by that measure, isn't far from 1981's 28.6% low.

In 1976, the Defense Budget stood at 5.4 percent of the GNP. That figure rose in the 1980's, but began to decline towards the end of the Cold War. The Defense budget now stands at 3.2 percent of the GNP -- barely half the 1986 figure, and still far below the 5% of 1979's military doldrums. See more data at www.moaa.org/Legislative/BudgetRatios.asp .

We say again: with a force that's 30% smaller than it was 15 years ago, it's not personnel costs that are the problem.

Issue 2: Help MOAA Get a Handle on TRICARE Access Problems

Most legislative update subscribers know that a top MOAA goal is to attract more providers to participate in TRICARE. We're talking to legislators and Defense officials about legislative and policy options to accomplish that goal.

But the discussions always start with, "We need your help in identifying the specific areas of the country with the most significant access problems and gathering data about the extent of those problems."

If we're going to help get the problem solved, we need your help in getting our arms around it in a very specific way.

To that end, we've set up a simple survey form on MOAA's Web site (www.moaa.org/Legislative/TRICARESurvey2003 )

The February issue of MOAA's Military Officer magazine has a centerfold with three tear-out letters for members to send to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

The letters urge actions that will make TRICARE more attractive to providers and require DoD's health care contractors to help TRICARE Standard beneficiaries find participating providers.

We hope you're willing to foot the cost of three stamps to get this message to senior officials in positions to help address these important problems.

MOAA's Legislative Update for Friday, February 14, 2003:

Issue 1: (NOTE: Pres. Bush signed into law the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for 2003 on 20 February) Medicare Payment Agreement Reached. Congress will reverse the cuts in Medicare and TRICARE payments to providers previously planned for March 1.

13 February, the House and Senate passed an omnibus FY2003 appropriations bill (H.J.Res 2) which includes a provision to stop the planned 4.4% payment cut that had been scheduled to take effect on March 1, and increase payments by 1.6% instead. It also would authorize a correction to the erroneous payment formula that got the payment rates out of whack. The change will increase payments to doctors by an aggregate $49 billion through 2012.

If you have had a problem finding a TRICARE Standard provider, and you haven't already taken MOAA's access survey, please visit www.moaa.org/Legislative/ TRICARESurvey2003/ and answer a few simple questions about your difficulties. Just a few minutes of your time will help give us the data we need to fight for your interests.

Issue 2: Push Legislators to Upgrade Survivor Benefit Plan. Use MOAA's Web site to urge co-sponsorship of H.R. 548 and include funding for increased SBP annuities in the FY2004 Budget Resolution.

Introduction of H.R. 548, Rep. Jeff Miller's (R-FL) bill to phase in a series of increases in the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity for survivors age 62 and older. The bill would raise the annuity for older widows from 35% of covered retired pay to 55% in four steps over five years. It also would authorize an open enrollment period to allow current non-participating retirees to cover their spouses under the improved benefit. Members enrolled in the current Supplemental SBP coverage would see their premiums reduced.

This bipartisan bill has 119 cosponsors so far, including virtually equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats.

But we need to build overwhelming legislator support if we're to win enactment this year. Your input to your legislators is particularly important if you have a Representative who sits on the House Budget Committee. (Check the Budget Committee roster at http://www.house.gov/budget/members.htm )