HEALTH CARE:

• Won 1.5% Medicare/TRICARE rate increases instead of projected 4.5% cuts
• Won legislation requiring Pentagon to improve TRICARE Standard by:

  • Surveying provider availability by location
  • Taking measures to attract enough providers to meet needs
  • Ensuring every beneficiary has info on benefits and how to find providers
  • Assisting beneficiaries who need help finding participating providers
  • Appointing one official to oversee/submit plan to Hill by March 2004
  • Requiring ongoing GAO review of adequacy of DoD efforts

• Won legislation waiving Part B late enrollment penalty for TFL-eligibles
• Ended $1500 annual cap on Medicare payments for physical therapy

ACTIVE DUTY ISSUES:

• Won 4.15% average 2004 pay raise (vs. 3.2% for average American)
• Won standard stating that future pay raises should match average American's
• Double death gratuity, tax-free
• Restored homeowner capital gains tax equity
• Exempted BRAC-related Homeowner Assistance Plan payments from taxation
• Increased Family Separation Allowance and Imminent Danger Pay
• Won authority for full replacement cost of goods damaged in PCS moves
• Won Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act upgrades

GUARD/RESERVE ISSUES:

• Won same pay raise provisions as active duty
• Authorized year-round, premium-based TRICARE coverage for unemployed Selected Reservists and those without employer health coverage
• Won tax-exemption for drill-related travel expenses if drill is 100 mi. away
• Extended full commissary privileges to drilling and gray area Reserves
• Extended government long-term care coverage to gray area Reserves
• Averted reduction in Navy Reserve aviation authorizations/manpower
• Defeated effort to reduce training limit to 38 days

RETIREE/SURVIVOR ISSUES:

• Expanded Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) eligibility to cover all ops-related disability ratings for members with 20 or more years of service
• Authorized Concurrent Receipt for members with 50% or higher disability ratings who otherwise had sufficient service for non-disability retirement
• Expanded eligibility for CRSC and concurrent receipt to Guard/Reserve retirees with 20 qualifying years of service (regardless of point total)
• Won Survivor Benefit Plan coverage for members who die on inactive duty training
• Won additional election options for survivors of member who die on active duty
• Restored Dependency and Indemnity Compensation to eligible survivors who remarry at age 57 or older

VETERANS ISSUES:

• Won extra $1.3 billion for veterans health care
• Increased education benefits for survivors and dependents of members who die of service-connected causes