Legislation

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The VA and a Government Shutdown

Updated: September 20, 2023

What is open for business during a federal government shutdown?  Operations for the Internal Revenue Service and National Park Service are shuttered. The U.S. Coast Guard goes without pay, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is also unfunded.  But what about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)? The VA has issued statements in […]

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defense-budget

FY 2024 Defense Budget

Updated: August 11, 2023

The Department of Defense (DoD) budget for Fiscal Year 2024 is a strategy-driven, comprehensive financial plan outlining the allocation of federal resources for United States military activities.   If you are currently an active duty member or veteran of America’s armed forces, here’s an update you’ll want to know about. A Quick Budget Overview The […]

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Military Retiree Cola Watch 2024: COLA Sees Decrease from 2023

Updated: October 12, 2023

The Social Security Administration announced a 3.2% increase in the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2024. 3.2% is a notable decrease from the 8.7% increase beneficiaries saw in 2023​. COLA affects more than 71 million Americans, including Veterans receiving VA disability. Higher Inflation, Lower COLA 3.2% appears modest compared to 2023’s four-decade high of 8.7% and […]

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Legislation Watch

Legislation Watch

Updated: December 23, 2022

Many types of introduced legislation directly affect active-duty military, Guard, Reserve, retirees, veterans, dependent children and spouses of military members. Legislation Watch includes recently introduced bills and resolutions, those that have had significant action and those that have or are about to become law. There are various stages of legislation, including bills and resolutions that […]

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The HEROES Act

The HEROES Act

Updated: November 3, 2022

The HEROES Act is a confusing topic because there are many pieces of legislation that incorporate the phrase “Heroes Act. ”They include the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act passed in 2006 that forbids public protests within 300 feet of the entrance of any cemetery under control of the VA-operated National Cemetery Administration. Other pieces […]

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2023 Defense Budget

Updated: January 30, 2023

President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law on Dec. 23, 2022, approving the 2023 defense budget and allotting $816.7 billion to the Department of Defense. The new budget increases military pay by 4.6 percent. The annual United States defense budget affects service members, DOD civilian employees and Veterans. The defense budget codifies […]

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Defense budget

2022 Defense Budget

Updated: December 27, 2022

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sets spending for military pay and benefits, defense operations and national-security programs for each fiscal year. President Joe Biden signed the FY2022 NDAA into law on Dec. 27, 2021. The United States Senate had passed the 2022 defense budget on Wednesday, Dec. 15, after the House forwarded its version of […]

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2021 Defense Budget

2021 Defense Budget

Updated: December 23, 2022

The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act has been approved which sets spending for military pay and benefits, defense operations and national-security programs for the 2021 fiscal year. President Donald Trump sent a proposed FY2021 budget request on Feb. 10, 2020. The request included $740.5 billion for National Security, allocating $705.4 billion for the […]

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The Military And Border Security

The Military And Border Security

Updated: May 12, 2021

During the tenure of the 45th President of the United States, much political noise was made about constructing a proposed border wall that, according to several sources, was originally meant to be made out of concrete and stretch some two thousand miles. What actually happened? A BBC.com report from October 2020 notes that 15 actual […]

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