WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.070 --> 00:00:04.440 Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for dd-dd month June 2025], your essential 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:07.820 guide to the latest news impacting the military and veteran community. 00:00:08.329 --> 00:00:11.989 Whether you're currently serving in uniform, a military retiree, a veteran, 00:00:12.029 --> 00:00:16.059 or a family member, this is your source for the critical updates you need to know. 00:00:16.330 --> 00:00:19.880 Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the most important developments 00:00:19.880 --> 00:00:23.280 from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:26.750 We’ll cover everything from new policies and pay raises affecting 00:00:26.750 --> 00:00:30.440 active and reserve forces, to changes in healthcare and benefits for 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:34.720 retirees, and the latest on VA services and legislation for our veterans. 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:36.170 Let's get you informed. 00:00:36.510 --> 00:00:37.900 Here’s what’s happened this past week. 00:00:38.250 --> 00:00:41.190 Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel 00:00:41.577 --> 00:00:45.177 Personnel serving on active duty or in the reserve components began the 00:00:45.177 --> 00:00:51.427 reporting period of 11 January 2026 to 17 January 2026 adjusting to the financial 00:00:51.427 --> 00:00:53.527 realities of the 2026 calendar year. 00:00:53.887 --> 00:00:58.977 Effective 1 January 2026, service members received a 3.8 00:00:58.977 --> 00:01:02.937 percent increase in their basic pay, a move designed to help military 00:01:02.937 --> 00:01:06.037 compensation keep pace with the broader national labor market. 00:01:06.567 --> 00:01:08.897 This increase was paired with a 4.2 00:01:08.897 --> 00:01:12.337 percent average rise in the Basic Allowance for Housing, although 00:01:12.337 --> 00:01:15.827 the specific impact for individual service members varies by their 00:01:15.827 --> 00:01:19.217 geographic location and the local cost of civilian housing. 00:01:19.777 --> 00:01:21.967 Additionally, those receiving a Cost-of-Living 00:01:21.967 --> 00:01:25.137 Adjustment for 2026 saw a 2.8 00:01:25.137 --> 00:01:28.797 percent increase, reflecting the latest inflation data provided by 00:01:28.797 --> 00:01:30.427 the Social Security Administration. 00:01:30.773 --> 00:01:34.023 Institutional readiness remains a concern, as highlighted by a 00:01:34.023 --> 00:01:38.373 Government Accountability Office report released on 16 January 2026. 00:01:38.953 --> 00:01:42.233 The GAO noted that the Navy lacks a cohesive plan to replace its 00:01:42.273 --> 00:01:46.313 aging self-defense test ship, which is a remotely operated vessel 00:01:46.313 --> 00:01:49.763 essential for testing how warships defend against incoming missiles. 00:01:50.293 --> 00:01:54.363 Furthermore, the Naval Sea Systems Command reported that only 41 percent 00:01:54.363 --> 00:01:57.883 of ships undergoing maintenance in service-owned shipyards were completed 00:01:57.883 --> 00:01:59.413 on schedule in the previous year. 00:01:59.873 --> 00:02:03.473 To address this, the Navy has set a goal to have 80 percent of the fleet 00:02:03.473 --> 00:02:08.563 deployable by 2027, with a focus on earlier contract awards and more rigorous 00:02:08.563 --> 00:02:10.403 advance planning for maintenance periods. 00:02:10.798 --> 00:02:13.938 The Air Force is also navigating a shift toward next-generation 00:02:13.998 --> 00:02:15.208 and uncrewed systems. 00:02:15.738 --> 00:02:19.938 During the week of 11 January 2026, the service continued developing its 00:02:19.938 --> 00:02:24.218 Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which focuses on semi-autonomous 00:02:24.278 --> 00:02:27.678 "drone wingmen" intended to fly alongside crewed fighters. 00:02:28.208 --> 00:02:32.198 The Air Force requested 804 million dollars for this program in fiscal 00:02:32.198 --> 00:02:36.548 year 2026, with production decisions for prototypes from General Atomics 00:02:36.868 --> 00:02:38.828 and Anduril expected later this year. 00:02:39.338 --> 00:02:43.388 However, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026 has 00:02:43.388 --> 00:02:47.968 slowed the retirement of legacy platforms to ensure mission mass is maintained. 00:02:48.378 --> 00:02:52.808 Specifically, the legislation prohibits the retirement of A-10 Thunderbolt II 00:02:52.808 --> 00:02:58.438 aircraft below a fleet of 103 units and delays the planned drawdown of F-15E 00:02:58.438 --> 00:03:01.338 Strike Eagles until at least 2027. 00:03:01.742 --> 00:03:04.842 Domestic military presence in the nation's capital was a major focus 00:03:04.842 --> 00:03:10.012 on 14 January 2026, when a memo signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll 00:03:10.142 --> 00:03:13.682 authorized the extension of National Guard deployments in Washington, D.C., 00:03:13.852 --> 00:03:15.402 through the end of 2026. 00:03:16.152 --> 00:03:21.592 As of 16 January 2026, there are 2,429 troops committed to this 00:03:21.592 --> 00:03:25.212 mission, including 712 from the District of Columbia National Guard 00:03:25.422 --> 00:03:30.582 and 1,717 from eleven other states, including Indiana, South Carolina, 00:03:30.762 --> 00:03:32.842 Florida, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. 00:03:33.592 --> 00:03:38.032 This deployment follows a tragic incident on 26 November 2025, where 00:03:38.032 --> 00:03:40.912 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia National Guard 00:03:40.912 --> 00:03:42.622 was shot and killed while on duty. 00:03:42.865 --> 00:03:47.665 Special operations forces were active in the North Atlantic during this period, 00:03:47.665 --> 00:03:51.665 where elements of the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment 00:03:51.665 --> 00:03:55.665 participated in the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera. 00:03:55.665 --> 00:04:00.865 Operating from bases near the United Kingdom, the unit used MH-6 Little Bird 00:04:00.865 --> 00:04:05.265 helicopters to support the enforcement of a global blockade on sanctioned 00:04:05.265 --> 00:04:06.465 Venezuelan oil infrastructure. 00:04:06.465 --> 00:04:11.265 War Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed on 17 January 2026 that the blockade 00:04:11.265 --> 00:04:15.265 remains in full effect globally to target "Dark Fleet" vessels. 00:04:15.265 --> 00:04:20.065 On the same day, United States Central Command announced a retaliatory strike 00:04:20.065 --> 00:04:24.865 in Syria under "Operation Hawkeye Strike" that killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, an 00:04:24.865 --> 00:04:29.265 Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader tied to a December ambush that killed two American 00:04:29.265 --> 00:04:31.265 soldiers and a civilian interpreter. 00:04:31.335 --> 00:04:35.265 The Marine Corps implemented unified physical fitness and body composition 00:04:35.265 --> 00:04:40.775 standards starting 1 January 2026, which remained a top transition priority for 00:04:40.775 --> 00:04:43.945 units during the week of 11 January 2026. 00:04:44.545 --> 00:04:48.825 Marines in combat arms specialties are now required to adhere to sex-neutral 00:04:48.825 --> 00:04:53.865 scoring for the Physical Fitness Test, necessitating a minimum of 210 points out 00:04:53.865 --> 00:04:56.735 of 300 using male, age-normed standards. 00:04:57.165 --> 00:05:01.065 Additionally, the Corps is replacing its traditional tape test with a 00:05:01.065 --> 00:05:06.785 waist-to-height ratio method to evaluate body composition, where a ratio below 0.55 00:05:06.895 --> 00:05:09.645 is generally considered the threshold for acceptable risk. 00:05:10.235 --> 00:05:13.955 Despite these rigorous standards, the Marine Corps achieved its retention 00:05:13.955 --> 00:05:18.635 goals for 2026 within the first month of the fiscal year, a success attributed 00:05:18.635 --> 00:05:20.935 to the Talent Management 2030 strategy. 00:05:21.264 --> 00:05:23.724 In the Army, new standards for professional image and 00:05:23.724 --> 00:05:24.984 performance were introduced. 00:05:25.394 --> 00:05:29.344 Beginning in early 2026, the service is standardizing the use of the drill 00:05:29.344 --> 00:05:31.414 sergeant campaign hat for all trainers. 00:05:31.794 --> 00:05:35.474 Simultaneously, the Army expanded its Holistic Health and Fitness 00:05:35.474 --> 00:05:39.514 program, which focuses on a culture of human performance to ensure that 00:05:39.514 --> 00:05:43.014 warfighting readiness remains the primary focus for every soldier. 00:05:43.293 --> 00:05:46.283 Significant Congressional Bills for Active and Reserve Personnel 00:05:46.544 --> 00:05:49.974 Several pieces of legislation were introduced or actively discussed 00:05:50.194 --> 00:05:56.084 between 11 January 2026 and 17 January 2026 that directly impact current 00:05:56.084 --> 00:05:57.894 personnel and federal employees. 00:05:58.230 --> 00:05:58.600 H.R. 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:03.000 7137, titled the Pay and Allowances of Federal Employees and Armed Forces 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:08.090 Act, was introduced by Representative Dusty Johnson on 16 January 2026. 00:06:08.660 --> 00:06:11.650 This bill appropriates funds for the pay and allowances of federal 00:06:11.650 --> 00:06:15.420 employees, contract employees, and members of the Armed Forces 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:17.230 during any lapse in appropriations. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:21.120 For current federal employees and service members, this legislation 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:24.820 provides critical financial protection, ensuring that they receive their 00:06:24.820 --> 00:06:28.300 standard rate of pay on schedule even if a government shutdown occurs. 00:06:28.760 --> 00:06:29.190 Link: 00:06:29.498 --> 00:06:29.948 H.R. 00:06:29.948 --> 00:06:35.098 5401, known as the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, was sponsored by 00:06:35.098 --> 00:06:36.738 Representative Jennifer Kiggans. 00:06:37.268 --> 00:06:40.738 This bill provides continuing appropriations for military pay during 00:06:40.778 --> 00:06:45.818 any period in fiscal year 2026 when regular appropriations are not in effect. 00:06:46.168 --> 00:06:49.688 It ensures that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components 00:06:49.688 --> 00:06:53.978 on active service, as well as necessary civilian personnel and contractors of 00:06:53.978 --> 00:06:59.148 the Department of Defense, remain paid until 1 January 2027, during a shutdown. 00:06:59.438 --> 00:07:02.498 This provides immediate peace of mind for federal employees whose 00:07:02.498 --> 00:07:04.278 pay would otherwise be suspended. 00:07:04.958 --> 00:07:05.348 Link: 00:07:05.538 --> 00:07:05.968 H.R. 00:07:05.968 --> 00:07:11.708 7016, introduced by Representative William Keating on 12 January 2026, seeks to 00:07:11.708 --> 00:07:15.448 prohibit the use of federal funds to invade NATO countries and territories. 00:07:15.938 --> 00:07:19.708 While primarily a foreign policy measure, this bill affects current 00:07:19.708 --> 00:07:23.608 military personnel by restricting the operational deployment of forces 00:07:23.608 --> 00:07:27.688 to certain conflict zones unless specific legal criteria are met. 00:07:28.308 --> 00:07:31.178 This would impact the mission planning and potential deployment 00:07:31.178 --> 00:07:34.868 orders for thousands of active and reserve troops stationed in Europe. 00:07:35.788 --> 00:07:36.188 Link: 00:07:36.421 --> 00:07:38.811 Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel 00:07:39.154 --> 00:07:44.034 For military retirees and survivors, the week of 11 January 2026 to 00:07:44.034 --> 00:07:48.764 17 January 2026 was focused on the implementation of the 2.8 00:07:48.764 --> 00:07:50.524 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment. 00:07:51.024 --> 00:07:55.524 This increase, which began appearing in January 2026 payments, means 00:07:55.524 --> 00:07:59.124 that standard military retirees will receive an additional 28 dollars 00:07:59.124 --> 00:08:03.244 for every 1,000 dollars of military retirement pension they receive. 00:08:03.704 --> 00:08:08.354 However, retirees who opted for the Career Status Bonus (CSB/Redux) plan 00:08:08.604 --> 00:08:13.394 see a smaller increase of 18 dollars per 1,000 dollars, as their COLA is 00:08:13.394 --> 00:08:15.344 reduced by a percentage point by law. 00:08:15.784 --> 00:08:20.044 Those who retired in 2025 will receive a prorated adjustment based on the 00:08:20.044 --> 00:08:23.434 specific quarter of the year in which they separated from the service. 00:08:23.743 --> 00:08:26.943 Retirees must also navigate changes in healthcare administration. 00:08:26.943 --> 00:08:31.743 TRICARE benefits remain portable, but retirement is a qualifying life event that 00:08:31.743 --> 00:08:37.343 requires action within 90 days to avoid a break in coverage for civilian care. 00:08:37.343 --> 00:08:41.743 Retirees must enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select and begin 00:08:41.743 --> 00:08:43.343 paying annual enrollment fees. 00:08:43.343 --> 00:08:47.743 Furthermore, once a retiree or their family member becomes eligible for 00:08:47.743 --> 00:08:52.943 Medicare Part A, they must also enroll in Medicare Part B to maintain 00:08:52.943 --> 00:08:54.943 their TRICARE For Life coverage. 00:08:54.943 --> 00:08:58.143 For those seeking additional benefits, the Federal Employees 00:08:58.143 --> 00:09:01.743 Dental and Vision Insurance Program remains available to retired 00:09:01.743 --> 00:09:03.743 service members and their families. 00:09:03.813 --> 00:09:07.853 Financial management for retirees also saw a change in Department of Veterans Affairs 00:09:07.853 --> 00:09:11.023 policy during the week of 11 January 2026. 00:09:11.453 --> 00:09:15.943 On 13 January 2026, the VA affirmed a new ruling that limits the 00:09:16.133 --> 00:09:17.963 "apportionment" of disability benefits. 00:09:18.573 --> 00:09:21.843 Apportionment is a process where the VA pays a portion of a veteran's 00:09:21.843 --> 00:09:23.843 benefits directly to their dependents. 00:09:24.083 --> 00:09:28.293 Starting 9 February 2026, the VA will stop making new need-based 00:09:28.483 --> 00:09:32.013 apportionments to avoid conflicts with state family courts, which the 00:09:32.013 --> 00:09:35.953 department views as better situated to handle domestic financial matters. 00:09:36.453 --> 00:09:40.013 Current apportionments will not be affected, and new requests will only be 00:09:40.013 --> 00:09:44.303 granted if the veteran is incarcerated or institutionalized at government expense. 00:09:44.577 --> 00:09:47.677 Planning for future retirement has also been bolstered by new 00:09:47.677 --> 00:09:49.497 limits on the Thrift Savings Plan. 00:09:50.017 --> 00:09:55.057 For the 2026 calendar year, the catch-up contribution limit has increased to 8,000 00:09:55.057 --> 00:09:57.487 dollars for employees aged 50 and older. 00:09:57.797 --> 00:10:00.067 Additionally, under the SECURE 2.0 00:10:00.067 --> 00:10:05.517 law, a special catch-up limit of 11,250 dollars is now available for federal 00:10:05.517 --> 00:10:08.147 employees between 60 and 63 years old. 00:10:08.677 --> 00:10:12.047 This allows late-career employees and those nearing retirement to 00:10:12.047 --> 00:10:13.967 significantly increase their savings. 00:10:14.285 --> 00:10:16.855 Significant Congressional Bills for Retired Personnel 00:10:17.194 --> 00:10:20.924 Legislation introduced this week also sought to address the long-term security 00:10:20.924 --> 00:10:22.754 of federal and military retirees. 00:10:23.092 --> 00:10:23.532 H.R. 00:10:23.532 --> 00:10:24.802 491 and S. 00:10:24.802 --> 00:10:28.682 624, collectively known as the Equal COLA Act, were central to 00:10:28.682 --> 00:10:32.822 retiree advocacy efforts during the week of 11 January 2026. 00:10:33.262 --> 00:10:37.362 These bills aim to revise the formula for calculating Cost-of-Living Adjustments 00:10:37.592 --> 00:10:41.342 for the Federal Employee Retirement System to match the more generous formula 00:10:41.342 --> 00:10:44.062 used for CSRS and Social Security. 00:10:44.572 --> 00:10:48.392 For retired federal employees under the FERS system, this bill would result 00:10:48.432 --> 00:10:51.932 in larger annual pension increases during periods of high inflation, 00:10:52.272 --> 00:10:56.112 correcting the current cap that prevents their raises from exceeding 2.0 00:10:56.112 --> 00:10:58.342 percent in certain economic conditions. 00:10:58.862 --> 00:10:59.182 Link: 00:10:59.558 --> 00:10:59.968 H.R. 00:10:59.968 --> 00:11:03.898 7033, the Federal Correctional Officer Recruitment and Retention Act, 00:11:04.268 --> 00:11:06.898 was introduced on 13 January 2026. 00:11:07.488 --> 00:11:10.628 While primarily a recruitment tool, this bill improves the 00:11:10.628 --> 00:11:14.328 retirement incentives for federal correctional officers by enhancing 00:11:14.328 --> 00:11:15.878 their long-term pension security. 00:11:16.378 --> 00:11:19.608 For retirees from the correctional service, this bill reflects a 00:11:19.608 --> 00:11:22.968 recognition of the high-risk nature of their former employment and 00:11:22.968 --> 00:11:27.068 ensures that future retirees have a more stable financial foundation. 00:11:27.838 --> 00:11:28.258 Link: 00:11:28.542 --> 00:11:30.442 Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs 00:11:30.772 --> 00:11:35.172 Developments within Veterans Affairs during the week of 11 January 2026 00:11:35.172 --> 00:11:39.972 to 17 January 2026 were headlined by a critical evaluation from the 00:11:39.972 --> 00:11:41.172 Government Accountability Office. 00:11:41.172 --> 00:11:45.972 On 14 January 2026, the GAO testified before the House Subcommittee on 00:11:45.972 --> 00:11:49.972 Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, revealing that the VA is 00:11:49.972 --> 00:11:53.572 still making disability compensation decisions based on earnings loss 00:11:53.572 --> 00:11:55.972 data that dates back to 1945. 00:11:55.972 --> 00:12:01.572 While the VA has updated medical criteria for 11 of the 15 body systems 00:12:01.572 --> 00:12:06.372 in its rating schedule, the department is ten years past its original 00:12:06.372 --> 00:12:07.972 deadline for full modernization. 00:12:07.972 --> 00:12:11.972 The GAO warned that without updated earnings loss data, certain 00:12:11.972 --> 00:12:14.772 veterans—particularly those with mental health conditions—may be 00:12:14.772 --> 00:12:17.972 significantly undercompensated relative to the modern labor market. 00:12:18.032 --> 00:12:21.242 The VA's disability compensation program has been on the GAO’s 00:12:21.242 --> 00:12:23.342 High-Risk List since 2003. 00:12:23.792 --> 00:12:27.132 Although the department has met three of five criteria for 00:12:27.442 --> 00:12:30.882 removal—leadership commitment, an action plan, and monitoring—it has 00:12:30.882 --> 00:12:34.852 failed to meet the criteria for capacity and demonstrated progress. 00:12:35.292 --> 00:12:39.612 This is a massive operation; in fiscal year 2025, the VA provided 00:12:39.612 --> 00:12:44.932 approximately 195 billion dollars in compensation to over 6.9 00:12:44.932 --> 00:12:46.502 million veterans and their families. 00:12:46.947 --> 00:12:50.847 For disabled veterans, the 2026 disability pay rates have been 00:12:50.877 --> 00:12:52.977 officially increased by 2.8 00:12:53.037 --> 00:12:53.437 percent. 00:12:53.977 --> 00:12:58.477 A veteran with a 10 percent disability rating now receives 180.42 00:12:58.477 --> 00:13:02.367 dollars per month, while a 100 percent disabled veteran with a spouse and 00:13:02.367 --> 00:13:07.107 child receives approximately 4,671.47 00:13:07.107 --> 00:13:07.567 dollars. 00:13:07.767 --> 00:13:11.237 Special Monthly Compensation rates for veterans who have lost the use of limbs 00:13:11.237 --> 00:13:15.737 or certain organs now range from 4,584.77 00:13:15.737 --> 00:13:18.907 dollars to 11,843.74 00:13:19.247 --> 00:13:19.987 dollars per month. 00:13:20.297 --> 00:13:24.477 VA education benefits are also undergoing a significant administrative shift. 00:13:24.977 --> 00:13:28.837 Beginning in January 2026, all beneficiaries of VA education 00:13:28.837 --> 00:13:32.547 programs, including students under Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' 00:13:32.547 --> 00:13:36.217 Educational Assistance), are required to verify their enrollment every month 00:13:36.267 --> 00:13:37.667 to receive their benefit payments. 00:13:38.107 --> 00:13:41.737 This measure is intended to prevent overpayments and ensure the accuracy 00:13:41.737 --> 00:13:42.927 of the benefit distribution. 00:13:43.387 --> 00:13:47.527 Simultaneously, the department celebrated the three-year anniversary of the VALife 00:13:47.597 --> 00:13:50.457 program, which has provided over 2.2 00:13:50.457 --> 00:13:55.057 billion dollars in total life insurance coverage to more than 70,000 veterans 00:13:55.277 --> 00:13:56.947 with service-connected disabilities. 00:13:57.214 --> 00:14:02.014 In healthcare, the VA announced plans on 17 January 2026 to reorganize 00:14:02.014 --> 00:14:05.214 the management structure of the Veterans Health Administration. 00:14:05.214 --> 00:14:08.814 The goal is to streamline operations by empowering local 00:14:08.814 --> 00:14:12.014 hospital directors and eliminating duplicative layers of bureaucracy. 00:14:12.014 --> 00:14:16.814 The department also launched a request for proposals for new community care 00:14:16.814 --> 00:14:21.214 contracts to expand healthcare choice for veterans over the next decade. 00:14:21.214 --> 00:14:25.614 To support veterans in underserved areas, the VA launched an offline 00:14:25.614 --> 00:14:30.014 mobile app for Home-Based Primary Care teams, allowing clinicians to provide 00:14:30.014 --> 00:14:34.014 care and document visits in remote locations without internet access. 00:14:34.094 --> 00:14:37.944 Further support for disabled veterans was realized through an increase in building 00:14:37.944 --> 00:14:41.754 and material cost grant amounts for the Specially Adapted Housing program. 00:14:42.314 --> 00:14:46.114 This ensures that severely disabled veterans can afford to modify 00:14:46.114 --> 00:14:49.874 their homes for accessibility despite rising construction costs. 00:14:50.254 --> 00:14:54.024 Additionally, the VA completed Phase One of its new case management system for the 00:14:54.024 --> 00:14:58.034 Veteran Readiness and Employment program, modernizing the platform to improve 00:14:58.034 --> 00:15:01.464 job placement outcomes for veterans with service-connected disabilities. 00:15:01.738 --> 00:15:03.958 Significant Congressional Bills for Veterans 00:15:04.153 --> 00:15:07.353 Several legislative efforts were introduced between 11 January 00:15:07.353 --> 00:15:12.153 2026 and 17 January 2026 to expand the scope of veteran support. 00:15:12.153 --> 00:15:12.353 S. 00:15:12.353 --> 00:15:16.873 3591, the Veteran Benefits Notice Act of 2026, was introduced by 00:15:16.873 --> 00:15:21.603 Senator Angus King on 7 January 2026 and discussed extensively 00:15:21.603 --> 00:15:24.223 during the week of 11 January 2026. 00:15:24.853 --> 00:15:28.813 This bill requires the Department of Labor and the VA to create a standard 00:15:28.813 --> 00:15:32.533 notice detailing all available veteran benefits, which employers 00:15:32.533 --> 00:15:34.343 must display in the workplace. 00:15:34.923 --> 00:15:38.583 For federal employees who are veterans, this bill ensures they are fully 00:15:38.583 --> 00:15:42.693 aware of the healthcare and education programs they have earned, potentially 00:15:42.693 --> 00:15:46.583 increasing the utilization of these services across the federal workforce. 00:15:47.313 --> 00:15:47.713 Link: 00:15:48.035 --> 00:15:48.425 H.R. 00:15:48.425 --> 00:15:52.555 7047, the Homeless Veterans Assistance Act, was introduced by Representative 00:15:52.555 --> 00:15:55.445 Raul Ruiz on 13 January 2026. 00:15:56.045 --> 00:16:00.135 This bill seeks to expand eligibility for and make permanent several programs 00:16:00.135 --> 00:16:01.965 designed to assist homeless veterans. 00:16:02.505 --> 00:16:06.445 For federal employees within the Veterans Benefits Administration, this legislation 00:16:06.445 --> 00:16:10.145 provides long-term stability for the administrative roles and social work 00:16:10.145 --> 00:16:14.005 positions that manage these programs, moving them from temporary status 00:16:14.195 --> 00:16:15.925 to permanent authorized functions. 00:16:16.605 --> 00:16:17.005 Link: 00:16:17.302 --> 00:16:17.712 H.R. 00:16:17.712 --> 00:16:21.022 3944, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 00:16:21.022 --> 00:16:26.772 Appropriations Act of 2026, is a comprehensive bill providing 153.3 00:16:26.772 --> 00:16:31.192 billion dollars in discretionary funding for the VA, including 115.1 00:16:31.192 --> 00:16:32.952 billion specifically for medical care. 00:16:33.272 --> 00:16:36.362 This bill fully funds the VA's workforce for the upcoming year, 00:16:36.562 --> 00:16:40.282 supporting the salaries of clinicians, nurses, and administrative staff. 00:16:40.612 --> 00:16:44.162 Notably, the bill includes a provision that prohibits the VA from referring 00:16:44.162 --> 00:16:47.872 veterans with appointed fiduciaries to the National Instant Criminal Background 00:16:47.872 --> 00:16:51.722 Check System without a judge's order, a major policy shift regarding the 00:16:51.722 --> 00:16:53.532 second amendment rights of veterans. 00:16:53.942 --> 00:16:54.362 Link: 00:16:54.706 --> 00:16:56.076 And that's your Weekly Briefing. 00:16:56.396 --> 00:17:00.006 Staying on top of these changes is key to navigating your career, 00:17:00.116 --> 00:17:02.256 your retirement, and your benefits. 00:17:02.584 --> 00:17:03.494 Thank you for tuning in. 00:17:03.934 --> 00:17:07.744 Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update. 00:17:08.304 --> 00:17:11.604 We’ll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most 00:17:11.604 --> 00:17:13.524 to the military and veteran community.