Coalition priority: Keep promised initiatives

Coalition priority: Keep promised initiatives
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 8, 2008 17:04:48 EST

Representatives of major military associations told a key House subcommittee that their priority for 2009 is not to push for new benefits but to hold on to what troops and their families have been promised.

Blocking big increases in out-of-pocket health care costs, fixing a flawed reserve retirement plan, expanding child care services and raising housing allowances made the short list of initiatives.

If there is even more money, association members said they would like full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans disability pay for all disabled retirees, expanded federal help for public school districts with large numbers of military families, and better family and spouse support programs, including more help for spouses to find employment.

The Military Coalition, a group of more than 30 military-related organizations that represent active, reserve and retired service members and their families, dropped a 50-page list on the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee, with requests ranging from the ability to ship a second car to any duty station at government expense to increased funding for recreation programs.

Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., a subcommittee member who has championed many issues for associations in the past, said the requests were not unreasonable.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/military_wishlist_080208w/