Roa Legislative Agenda - politics and the army

ROA's 2001 Legislative Agenda reflects the post--Cold War environment and the many concerns of its members. The agenda, which follows, includes those issues that ROA will pursue in working with Congress in calendar year 2001. Although not prioritized or all-inclusive, the agenda provides focus for the association's legislative efforts.

Urge DoD to promote the chiefs of the armed services' Reserve components to the three-star level.

Urge Congress and DoD to support a restructuring of the Total Force that capitalizes on the proven performance and cost-effectiveness of the Reserve components and the added public support they contribute.

Urge Congress to provide adequate levels of resources required to support mobilization missions, peacetime support of active forces, and training of Reserve component forces and individuals.

Support authorization and funding of modern equipment and military construction required to meet Reserve component mission and readiness needs.

Urge Congress to authorize and fund full-time support personnel to adequately meet Reserve component requirements.

Urge Congress to regulate accessibility to Reservists while protecting the interests of both Reservists and their employers.

Urge Congress to develop and effectively implement a viable Reserve income insurance program to allow for greater protection of all insured Ready Reservists.

Urge Congress to provide tax credits to employers of members of the Guard and Reserve to compensate employers for absences resulting from training and the performance of active duty.

Urge the adoption of legislation that would restore the full tax-deductibility of non-reimbursable expenses related to military duty of Reservists.

Urge Congress to establish separate accountability of Reserve flag officers and general officers on active duty in support of the Reserve components.

Urge Congress and the President to adopt legislation ensuring that all U.S. forces involved in international peacekeeping activities remain under US command and control.

Support establishing a viable U.S. Public Health Service Reserve component.

Urge Congress to continue requiring the federal government to set the standard for the employment of Reservists by concurrently paying civil servant salaries and military pay to Reservists while on active duty for training.

Urge Congress to allow satisfactorily participating Reservists and their dependents full access to the commissary system and space-available travel on the same basis as active-duty service members and their dependents.

Ensure the continued availability of commissaries and exchanges for Selected Reservists and retired military personnel.

Continue to support across-the-board COLA equity for all earned federal entitlement programs, including those of military retirees.

Urge Congress to support previously unfunded military construction projects, thus reducing backlogs, overcrowding, inefficient energy use, and the diversion of already limited O&M funds to provide temporary leases and emergency maintenance support.

Urge Congress to improve the current dental care plan for all Reservists and their families.

Support legislation to amend the Survivor Benefit Plan to make it more equitable, understandable, and "user-friendly," and to remove the Social Security Offset.

Urge Congress and DoD to take all action necessary to ensure that the nation's military medical structure can provide adequate peacetime and wartime medical support to all eligible service members (active, Reserve, and retired) and their dependents.

Urge Congress to maintain the vital United States partnership in NATO and to support its strong military membership in NATO.

Urge Congress to resist all attempts to lessen the value of the total earned compensation package for all uniformed service members--active, Reserve, and retired.

Urge Congress to take all necessary action to ensure that all veterans and retired servicemembers and their dependents receive the lifetime medical care that was promised to them when they entered the service.

Urge Congress to ensure that all veterans who are victims of Persian Gulf War illnesses receive the fullest possible support and treatment from the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Urge Congress to make permanent the Reserve disability retirement authority, which is due to expire 31 December 2001.

Urge Congress to require DoD to develop a consistent and equitable separation physical policy for activated Reservists.

Urge Congress to extend the 10-year limitation for Montgomery GI Bill benefits for Selected Reserve members.

Urge Congress to authorize concurrent receipt of military retired pay and service-connected disability payments.

Urge Congress to pass legislation ensuring military service members' rights to participate in state and national elections.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Reserve Officers Association of the United States
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group