The first session of the 106th Congress produced many important legislative victories for The Military Coalition and its 30 member associations. Some represent the culmination of many years of effort, such as the repeal of the REDUX retirement cutbacks imposed in 1986, authority to provide "comparability-plus" active and Reserve force pay raises and provide a minimum Survivor Benefit Plan to "forgotten widows" -- both of which the Coalition pushed for more than two decades. Others represent "initiatives of opportunity" addressing more recent problems.

The Coalition does not claim primary responsibility for winning all items on this list. Coalition organizations did, indeed, conceive the idea and even draft the legislation in many cases. In others, the Coalition worked to keep the issue alive until government leaders came to share our views. In still others, the Coalition supported initiatives developed by others inside or outside government. In most cases, they would not have happened without broad support from others. These collective efforts won some of the biggest gains in years for the entire uniformed services community.

ACTIVE DUTY COMPENSATION:

• Won active/Guard/Reserve pay raises for 2000-2006 that will exceed private sector pay growth by one-half percentage point per year, vs. previous caps below that standard
• One-time "pay table realignment" raise of zero to 5.5% on July 1, 2000, depending on grade and longevity
• Authority (subject to budget action) for active/Reserve members to put 5% of basic pay and bonuses into tax-deferred savings (up to $10,500 per year)
• Significant increases in enlistment/reenlistment bonuses and special pay authorities
• Enhanced housing allowance funding to raise allowances in high-cost areas
• Requires SecDef to implement Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) overseas
• Increased Impact Aid funding for local school districts with large numbers of military dependents
• Defeated proposal to revamp ongoing (popular and successful) tests of improved household goods relocation