HEALTH CARE ISSUES:

• Won permanent ID cards for spouse/survivors of military retirees at 75 years of age
• Won premium-based single or family TRICARE coverage for Selected Reserve members mobilized at least 90 days since Sept. 11, 2001 who continue in Selected Reserve
• Permanently authorized 180 days of TRICARE upon separation from active duty
• Permanently authorized Pre- and Post-Callup TRICARE coverage Period For Guard/Reserve
• Prohibited imposing higher pharmacy cost shares on TFL beneficiaries vs. under-65s
• Waived recoupment of previous TRICARE payments for under-65 Medicare eligibles who were not informed of Medicare Part B enrollment requirement
• Authorized health care for academy/ROTC cadets for service-incurred conditions
• Consolidated all TRICARE For Life trust fund deposit obligations within Treasury Dept (eliminated any possible budget impact on other DoD programs)

• Won legislation phasing out SBP age-62 'Widows' Tax' in 3 ½ years (by April 1, 2008)
• Ended requirement to pay supplemental premiums for retirees who had already been paying extra for supplemental SBP coverage (which maintains higher annuity after age 62)
• Authorized SBP open-enrollment period starting Oct. 1, 2005--lump-sum payment required
• Won full concurrent receipt for 20+-year retirees with 100% disability ratings (Jan 2005)
• Indexed military death gratuity to rise annually by same percentage as basic pay raise
• Authorized disability retirement of academy cadets for reasonable service-related conditions

• 3.5% active duty, Guard / Reserve pay raise for 2005 (.5% above average American's)
• Raised BAH to cover 100% of the median cost of housing for each grade and location
• Increased Army end strength by 20,000; Marine Corps end strength by 3,000
• Removed the funding cap on military housing privatization/construction programs
• Established DoD obligation to provide commissary benefit in law; strengthened protections
• Repealed requirement that servicemembers pay subsistence charges while hospitalized
• Permanently increased Family Separation Allowance and Imminent Danger/Hostile Fire Pay

• Doubled survivor education benefit eligibility period to 20 years after death on active duty
• Authorized Selected Reserve members activated for two years to enroll in the Montgomery GI bill and have a year to pay the $1,200 premium after demobilization
• Provided additional $250 per month DIC for two years after service-connected death to any surviving spouse who has at least one child under age 18
• Increased from 18 to 24 months the maximum period of employer-sponsored health coverage that mobilized Guard/Reserve members may elect to continue
• Protected spouses as well as servicemembers under Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act for residential and motor vehicle lease termination provisions on joint leases
• Increased the maximum VA home loan guaranty amount to $333,700