AMVETS
DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS
The AMVETS Informer
May 2015
WEB SITE: AMVETS-MA.ORG
AMVETS, Department of MA
State House, Room 546-3
Boston, MA 02133
617-727-2972
www.amvets-ma.org
Office Hours M-F
8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
Commander’s Message:
AMVETS,
Spring is finally in the air, the sun is
shining warmer and this last winter
will soon be just a memory of
"Remember that bad winter when."
As we move forward with our busy
life's and endless tasks, let us all
take a moment to help our fellow
man. It could be an easy task like
spring raking for an elderly neighbor
or fellow veteran that may be unable
themselves. Or a more daunting
task that may take allot more time
and energy, but let us all remember
that is why we volunteer with this
great organization. We do this to
help and assist those we care most
about. Supporting our veterans and
communities is not just a saying, but
a way of life for most of us. So let's
get out there and do the great work
that we do, whatever the task may
be. And please remember to report
your great tasks to the National
threw your second vice in your Post.
This is how we can keep track of
our deeds and continue to help
others. See you all at convention in
June.
. Commander Peacey
E-MAIL [email protected]
1st Vice Commander’s
Message
Hello AMVETS.
There is still time to enter to
win a free cell phone and a
chance for a one week stay in
California. All you need to do is
recruit five new members by 15
July, 2015. When you do this,
contact me to fill out the entry
form. You will need all the info
on the new members. We then
send it to National and hope they
pick your name.
I have a tri-fold display board
for any post or district to use on
their standouts. You need a good
table to place it on. This is lent
out on a first come/first served
basis. A good recruiting tool.
Let's use it. Call me.
The Thursday and Friday
before Memorial Day, Randolph
Post 51 will once again be
putting out flags and flowers on
veterans graves in the Town's
cemeteries. They will be assisted
by students from the high school
on Thursday and by the 4th grade
students from the Kennedy
elementary school on Friday.
This is now the fifth year these
students have been participating.
It has become a great learning
experience for them.
On 27 April, 2015, I presented
a check for $3150.00 to Richard
Leeman, Assistant Chief
Voluntary Service, VA Boston
Healthcare System. The money
was earmarked for the adaptive
sports program. This money
was raised by the owners ands
patrons of Mia Regazza
restaurant in Abington, MA on
his annual "Fenway Opener"
party. Thank you to all who
participated. More money is
expected as patrons who arrived
to late to get in the raffles will be
writing their own checks.
I am seeking the position of
Department Commander for the
up-coming year and I ask for
your support.
Thank you
Don McLean
617-943-4337
([email protected])y.
served basis.
2nd Vice Commander’s
Message
Greetings Fellow AMVETS.
Although this fiscal year is
coming to a close at a rapid
pace, we are finding
ourselves even busier than
ever…if that’s possible.
On April 22, the Americanism
Committee, and I met at Post
28 Leominster. We Judged 17
entries submitted from
Massachusetts students
ranging from 1st grade, 3rd
grade, 5th grade and 9th
grade. I would like to thank
the outstanding job that
Chairman Larry McNeill did to
coordinate this effort, as well
as committee members:
Donald and Shirley Isabelle,
John Sheehan, and Tom
Davitt. All entries submitted
were definitely unique and
original, more importantly,
appreciated from a veteran
and or veteran family
member. Unfortunately, the
Americanism program is not
getting out to all school
districts in Mass. I implore
ALL members to get this
program out in each city /
town in the state next year.
We all have children,
grandchildren, and yes...
some of our members even
have Great Grandchildren ! I
am also at fault for this,
however I do intend to inform
the schools that my
grandchildren attend, and give
information of this program.
As the saying goes, our
children can and will continue
this legacy….but only if they
are informed.
Scholarships: I was recently
notified by Janice Jordan that
she has received approx 9
applications as of the cutoff
date. So for the time being,
this is in progress. I expect to
meet with the Chairman and
committee in the very near
future. As usual the end result
should conclude at the State
Convention, when the
scholarships are presented.
Since there will be no SEC
meeting in May, I conclude
this report, and I definitely
look forward to seeing all of
you in Sturbridge. With your
support, I will strive to
continue as one of your
voices of this great
organization.
Dates to
Remember:
Apr30 – May 3 National
Commander Larry Via Visits
Massachusetts
May 2- Post 12 PTD Ride @11;00
A.M.
May 12- Staff Meeting and Finance
Meeting @ Post 79 in Natick 7:00
P.M.
May 14-Convention Corp Meeting @
Post 79 in Natick 7:00 P.M.
May 20- Honors & Awards Meeting
@7:00 P.M. in Natick Post 79
May 22-White Cross Service @
Post 38 in Leominster 6:00 P.M.
May 24- Joint Memorial Service @
Bourne Cemetery 12:00 P.M.
VAVS Activities
Yours in AMVETS,
Bob
Sick Call:
Rev Don Hunt Post 2008
Agop John Dulgarian Post 2008
Jirair Papelian Post 2008
TAP S
Harry Sarkisian Post 2008
Bruce Cowles Post 96
Bedford - Richard Burnell
 Amvets and Sad Sacks Bingo
Party @ Bedford VA-10:00
A.M May, 9
Brockton - James Campbell
 District 6 Ice Cream Party @
Brockton VA May 14 & 27.
@ 7:00 P.M.
Jamaica Plains -Tom Davitt
 AMVETS and Sad Sacks
Bingo Party @ Bedford VA
May 26 @7:00 P.M.
Manchester -Gerry Marchand
 Manchester VA Bingo Party
May 28 @ 7:30 P.M.
Northampton - Bud Garrant
 Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner
Post 12 Chicopee May 20
Legislative
Officer
Submitted by Eric Segundo
April 27, 2015
I write to you in opposition to a
proposed Bill, H3319 “An Act
relative to Veteran's Agents”.
The bill restructures G.L. c. 115,
as it relates to the provision of
veterans’ benefits by veterans’
agents and the Commissioner
removing the local Veterans
agent in your community. The
cities and towns of the
Commonwealth are well-served
by the dedicated members of
Massachusetts Veterans’ Service
Officers Association (MVSOA),
who comprise the
Commissioners, Directors,
Officers, and Consultants, who
are the City and Town Veterans’
Agents.
The Commonwealth’s local
municipalities have Resident
Veterans and family members
who have individual needs that
are best served by their own local
Agent, rather than State
Government. Further
disempowerment of the
Commonwealth’s Municipalities
through reorganization of MGL
Chapter 115 is not prudent or
timely. Each city and town has
unique individual needs and
traditions which their Veteran
populations hold dear.
I respectfully request that you
contact your State Representative
and Senators to take a firm stance
against House bill 3319, and
encourage members of the
General Court to do the same,
immediately. To be clear, we
must support education,
credentialing and certifying
Veteran Service Officers in the
Commonwealth through the
Department of Veterans Services
and the Massachusetts Veteran
Service Officer Association
(MVSOA). We must insist Town
Agents have the most current
information on Veterans’
Benefits and programs available
to aid and assist the veterans in
their community. Most
importantly, we must ensure that
MGL Ch. 115 continues to keep
VSO in the cities and towns, and
not remove them to further grow
the State Government.
This bill in its current form is not
in the best interest of our
Veterans, their families and the
long-standing traditions of taking
care of Veterans Locally.
Respectfully,
Eric Segundo
State Service Officer
(Submitted by Eric Segundo SSO)
STEP
VA Works to Expand Choice
Program Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for 40 miles
calculation would change to
driving distance
Washington -- In order to expand
eligibility for the Veterans
Choice Program, the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) today
announced that it will change the
calculation used to determine the
distance between a Veteran’s
residence and the nearest VA
medical facility from a straight
line distance to driving distance.
The policy change will be made
through regulatory action in the
coming weeks. The Veterans
Choice Program was authorized
by the Veterans Access, Choice,
and Accountability Act of 2014
(VACAA).
“VA has worked very quickly to
implement the Veterans Choice
Program and we appreciate the
constructive feedback shared by
Veterans and our partners to help
us improve service to Veterans,”
said Secretary Robert McDonald.
“We’ve determined that
changing the distance calculation
will help ensure more Veterans
have access to care when and
where they want it. VA looks
forward to the ongoing support
of our partners as we continue to
make improvements to this new
program.”
The method of determining
driving distance will be through
distance as calculated by using a
commercial product. The change
is expected to roughly double the
number of eligible Veterans.
The Veterans Choice Program is
a new, temporary benefit that
allows eligible Veterans to
receive health care in their
communities rather than waiting
for a VA appointment or
traveling to a VA facility.
Veterans seeking to use the
Veterans Choice Program should
call
1-866-606-8198 FREE
to confirm their eligibility and to
schedule an appointment. Since
the Choice Program went into
effect on November 5, 2014,
more than 45,000 medical
appointments have been
scheduled.
Using expanded authorities from
VACAA, VA continues to
expand access to care through
increased staffing and enhanced
collaboration with both the
Indian Health Service and Native
Hawaiian Health Care Systems.
See the VACAA progress fact
sheet here:
VA is enhancing its health care
system and improving service
delivery to better serve Veterans
and set the course for long-term
excellence and reform. VA has
made significant progress in
various areas of the legislation,
such as extending the Assisted
Living/Traumatic Brain Injury
Pilot program and Project Arch,
to expand timely access to highquality health care for Veterans.
Name the Newsletter
Contest
The newsletter does have a new
name as you can see. The name
that was picked is The AMVETS
Informer submitted by Mickey
Rowbotham and she wins the
two night stay at the convention
this year . The runner up was
Veterans Serving Veterans! From
Tim Reim Post 74 in Three Rivers
and he wins a 1 night stay at this
years convention
AMVETS Riders
Chapter Events
2015
nd
nd
Saturday May 2
2 Annual
PTSD/TBI Awareness Ride AMVEST
Chapter 12 Chicopee $20.00
Registration 9:00AM Kickstands Up
11:00AM
750 Montgomery St. Chicopee, MA
GLOUCESTER UNITED
VETERANS COUNCIL
AND THE CITY OF
GLOUCESTER
ARE PROUD TO SPONSOR
Sunday June 28th
Annual
Poker Run AMVETS Charities
AMVETS Post 51 Randolph
$20.00/$10.00 Registration 10:00AM
Kickstands Up 12:00AM
9 AMVETS Lane Randolph, MA.
Tuesday July 7th
Moving
Wall Escort MASP & AMVETS
Riders AMVETS Chapter 32
Gloucester T.B.D. MA Stateline to
Gloucester Center 14 Prospect St
Gloucester, MA.
Sept 12th 6th Annual Warrior
Thunder Fisher House Ride
AMERICAN LEGION Post 110
$20.00/$15.00 Registration
9:15AM Kickstands Up 11:30
AM
110 Peter Kristoff Way Medfield,
MA Police Escorted Ride 45 Miles
National Rallies:
28th Annual Rolling Thunder
Ride for Freedom May 24th
92nd Annual Laconia Bike Week June
13th -21st
Please Post this on your
Post Bulletin Boards.
Make Copies and pass
them out to your members
If you want a copy sent to
you send e-mail to
[email protected]
to get on the newsletter list
THE WALL THAT HEALS
THE TRAVELING VIETNAM
VETERANS MEMORIAL
WALL AND MUSEUM
"WE MUST NEVER
FORGET"
DATES: JULY 9-12,
2015TIMES: OPENING 10:00
A.M. JULY 9th -5:00 P.M.
JULY 12th
LOCATION: FULLER
SCHOOL 4 SCHOOLHOUSE
ROAD (OFF RTE 128 at
BLACKBURN CIRCLE)
GLOUCESTER, MA
FREE ADMISSION
Convention Corp.
2015 State Convention Pin design
was selected at the February
meeting. Order and request for
quote has been submitted by A.
Temple to the supplier in R.I.
Convention 201
Place: The Sturbridge Host
Hotel, Sturbridge, Ma.
WHEN: Wednesday June 10 to
Sunday June 14, 2015
RESERVATIONS: Call the
Hotel and ask for Catherine the
Reservationist between 8am-2pm
Monday thru Friday 508 347
7393 or 1-508-347-2273
RATE OF ROOM: $106.47
INCLUSIVE OF TAX, THE
CUT-OFF DATE FOR THIS
RATE IS MAY 15TH.
Delegate Registration? Adjutant
Steve Garner has put out many
notices and I'm sure he will
follow this with more.
Thursday night SAD
SACK/SACKETTE function: In
the Commons (behind the large
fire place as you come in) A
donation of $3.01 is requested at
the door. REMEMBER!!!! This
has never been a Dinner Meal. If
you need a full meal we suggest
that you eat before arriving. We
will have finger food to
accompany the beverage that you
purchase. This will be put out in
two phases, the first part of the
evening and then half way
through the night. Function time:
501pm to 10:01pm. The
entertainment is being looked at
for booking.
FRIDAY NIGHT: The Blues
Brothers are back!! Excellent
show band to sing with, dance
with, and raise hell with. For
tickets please Call Jay Cassie at
508 655 6985 or Steve Garner at
978 618 1883 these will be tables
of eight (8). Price: after the
March SEC, you will be paying
$35.00 per person. The meal will
be a multi entrée one. I have not
got the exact meal, yet. As
Saturday, the soft drinks are
complimentary. Saturday Night’s
Commander’s Banquet: THE
PLACE TO BE TO SEE THE
MEMBERS OF OUR AMVET
FAMILY RECEIVE THEIR
AWARDS FOR THE WORK
THAT THEY DO FOR THE
AMVETS, SAD SACKS,
AUXILIARY, SACKETTS,
SONS OF AMVETS The ticket
prices are the same as for Friday
with the March SEC the
determining factor in saving
$10.00 or not. For tickets call
Dick Burnell at 978 373 3216 or
Tom Davitt at 508 620 1153.
Tables of eight with this one
also. The meal will be a prime rib
with the normal starch and
vegetables. PLEASE
REMEMBER, SOFT DRINKS
SUCH AS COKE ARE
COMPLIMENTARY.
QUESTIONS?????
Call any member of the
Convention Corporation.
President Charlie Studebaker at
781 828 4156, State Commander
Jim Peacey at 413 547 0119,
Vice President Phil Furtado at
508 540 5121, Secretary: Steve
Garner at 978 618 1883, Tom
Davitt at 508 620 1153, Jay
Cassie at 508 655 6985, Gerry
Marchand at 603 378 2005, Dick
Burnell at 978 373 3216, or Al
Temple at 978 568 8492 That’s
it. Let’s make this a Convention
to Remember!
Yours in AMVETS, Al Temple
The Convention Corporation
have been working diligently to
put together your Convention for
this year. The contract has been
finalized and signed.
The committee approved the
pin designed and it has been sent
for production. Cost of the pins
will be $1.00 per pin with a
minimum of 10 pins per order.
Al Temple will be taking orders
for the pins.
The Convention book is
completed and has been sent to
the publisher for printing. The
books will be delivered to the
hotel the weekend before the
Convention. I am having 10
copies delivered to my house as
soon as they are printed so the
committee can review them.
The next Convention
Corporation meeting will be on
Thursday May 14th at 7:00 PM
in Natick. This will be the last
meeting to finalize everything
for the Convention. I will be
expecting everyone on the
Convention Corporation
Committee including the I.P.C
to attend this meeting and
bring all information
pertaining to their assignments.
I expect the Thursday night band
to be decided on by then. I will
have the upper and lower tiers of
the head table seating at the
meeting. Charles Studebaker
National
Commander
Visitation
National Commander Larry Via
is coming to visit Massachusetts
on April 30 thru May 3, 2015.
The tentative itinerary is printed
below. Those posts that are
giving him gifts his shirt size is
large and his jacket size is extra
large if you have any questions
please contact Leon at 1-207595-1169 or
[email protected].
National Commander Larry
Via’s Visitation
Thursday April 30, 20015
Commander and entourage meet
the National Commander at
Comfort Inn in Randolph;
register Leave at 2:00 P.M. to go
to Post 2012 at 3 Eaton St in
Westminister. Return to hotel for
the night whenever the
Commander wishes
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Depart from the Hotel at 8:30
A.M. for President John F.
Kennedy Library Tour on
Columbia Point in Dorchester.
Leave the Library for Gloucester
Post 32 at 14 Prospect St in
Gloucester MA by 11:00 A.M.
Arrive at Post 208 for breakfast
and Post 208 presentation
Arrive at Post 147 around
3:00P.M. Meet and greet the
members and light snack.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE
NATIONAL COMMANDER'S
VISITATION. THANK YOU
TO ALL. EVERYONE IS
INVITED ON THIS
VISITATION, AMVETS, SAD
SACKS, LADIES AUX.,
SACKETTS, SONS OF
AMVETS, and AMVET
RIDERS
Leave Post 147 at 5:00 P.M.
Hotel Information
Arrive at McKeon Post 146 on 4
Hilltop St in Dorchester MA
around 6:30 P.M. For supper and
the Commander to work the bar.
Leave the post whenever the
Commander wishes
Comfort Inn, 1374 North Main
St., Randolph. Rate will be
around $99.00 + tax per night, 1
781 961 1000, mention
AMVETS Due to the late
confirmation on travel
arrangements, please book
ASAP. Cutoff date for the hotel
room is April 10, 2015 to receive
this rate a full continental
breakfast is included with eggs,
breakfast meat, and much more.
Arrive at Post 32 around 12:30
P.M. for lunch.
Leave Post 32 for Haverhill Post
147 on 576 Primrose St in
Haverhill MA at 2:00 P.M.
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015
Depart Hotel at 7am
Arrive at Post 79, Natick for
breakfast at 8:00A.M. Meet and
Greet
Leave Post 79 at 9:00 A.M.
Arrive at Post 12 at 11:00 A.M.in
Chicopee for Riders send off on a
bike run. Meet and Greet and
lunch
PLEASE MAKE IT EASY FOR
ALL INVOLVED BY NOT
WAITING FOR THE LAST
MINUTE TO DECIDE.
THANKS,
YOUR NEC,
Leave Post 12 at 2:30 P.M.
Leon Proctor
Arrive Post 1977, 1591 Central
St., Stoughton at 4:15 P.M. For
meet and greet
Arrive Post 51, 9 AMVETS
Lane, Randolph at approx. 6:30
P.M. Dinner and meet and leave
for the hotel whenever the
Commander wishes
Sunday May 3, 2015
This Agenda is Tentative as
times may change due to the
traffic and length of the posts
visits.
Please remember that the
National Commander is here for
a visit and not for business thank
you for your consideration and
let’s make this a good visit for
the National Commander
Department
Officers
Nominations
Commander
Don McLean – Accept
1st Vice Commander
Joseph Kenyon – Accept
2nd Vice Commander
Bob Boulay – Accept
Dean Thayer – Accept
3rd Vice Commander
Tom Norton – Accept
Adjutant
Stephen Garner - Accept (Ltr)
Finance Officer
Tom Davitt – Accept
Judge Advocate
Joseph Dineen – Accept
Gerard Marchand – Accept
Ken Montgomery - Decline
Provost Marshal
John Pasierbiak - Accept
Wayne Anthony - Accept
Service Foundation
Richard Burnell – Accept
Tom Davitt – Accept
Don McLean - Accept
Convention Corporation (*)
Tom Davitt – Accept
Gerard Marchand – Accept
Al Temple – Decline
(*) Vacancy due to passing of Jim
Blake. Cdr Peacey called for an
election to be held at the June
Convention to fill remaining 2
years of this 3 year position.
Nominations to be added or deleted
at the Convention.
Congratulations to Gerard
Marchand on becoming the new
Post Commander at Post 147.
Gereard will have to take his name
off the Judge Advocate list due to
his new position at Post 147
At the March SEC I was not sure
with my present health situation
that I would be a candidate for
the Department Judge Advocate
Office. I have had shoulder
surgery and I am fully recovered
from the operation so now I can
make a decision if I wish to run
for the Judge advocate position. I
have decided to run for Judge
Advocate and will have my name
put in nomination on the floor
Saturday afternoon at the
convention. I have asked that
Leon put this information out in
the newsletter so that the
members who support my
candidancy will know of my
intentions
Thank you
Ken Montgomery
Rochester NH News
Come join the Rochester
Community honor the special
men and women of our
ARMED FORCES.
•Learn the history of our
freedom!
•Military vehicles, Re-enactors,
motorcycles, military
ceremonies, VET STORE
DISCOUNTS at participating
stores!
•Activities for the kids! Bring
your camera!
ARMED FORCES
DAY TRIBUTE
Saturday, May 16th
10AM until 3PM
Lilac Mall Rochester, NH
Come one, come all!
“Agent Orange” as well as
other VA Claims will be
processed. Vets bring your
DD214!
Contact Dennis Sellers at 603312-2235 or
.
AMVETS Sons
Memorial
Dedication submitted by
Michael Bruno
After nearly two years, our
Membership has
commissioned a monument
to be created and installed at
the Massachusetts
National Cemetery at
Bourne.
Sons of AMVETS f will be
dedicating this marker on
Sunday May 24th, 2015. We
have been assured and
confirmed by the Director of
the Cemetery we will be
able to do so following
Memorial Day Observances
being held that day.
22...a DAY
Submitted by Chrissy Peacey
A recent study showed that an
estimated 22 veterans commit
suicide in the United States every
day,about one every 65 minutes.
A slightly higher number than
the 18-per-day rate the
Department of Veterans Affairs
had indicated in years past,
according to a VA study made
public
The analysis found that the actual
number of estimated suicides per
day among veterans has
remained relatively stable,
ranging from 20 per day in 2000
to 18 per day in 2007 and 22 per
day in 2009 through 2014... the
largest estimates available,
according to a report on the study
released.
First four weeks after leaving
military is a high-risk time for
suicides.
Vietnam and female vets need
particular attention.
The most common means of
committing suicide by veterans
— in half of the deaths — is drug
overdose or poisoning, according
to the VA study.
The rate of suicide among
veterans who use VA health care
services has remained steady in
recent years, at about 36 per
100,000.
Americans in uniform have
displayed astonishing courage
over the thirteen years of
continuous fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
But a conservative estimate from
researchers at New York
University School of Medicine
determined that 20% of the total
1.7 million men and women who
served in Iraq and Afghanistan
have now been diagnosed with
PTSD.
Such injuries can inflict lasting
damage to brain regions
associated with fear and anxiety.
“Experiencing such acute shock
and psychic injury permanently
alter and restructure brain
patterns and cognitive processes
that even with years of extensive
therapy and support can never be
the same.
” Victims’ minds often develop
“automatic defense mechanism
operating through denial,
repression, projection, and the
least harmful sublimation allows
PTSD victims to minimally
function, but leaves them feeling
empty, all too often missing and
craving the adrenalin rush and
camaraderie of combat, and
merely going through the
motions of life forever changed
never for the better.”
The department says it has
responded to the findings by
creating a task force "to provide
recommendations for innovative
mental health care."
It has also increased staff for the
VA crisis hotline, which the
department says has been
instrumental in 26,000 rescues.
The VA has also is expanding its
mental health staff by 1,600
clinicians and is training 800
peer-to-peer specialists to work
with other veterans.
The new analysis of veteran
suicides was possible because of
a nearly 20-month effort to
obtain suicide data on veterans
from each state.
At least 34 states have
cooperated and another eight are
in the process of doing so.
The final analysis released was
based upon only a partial
completion of data received from
21 states, the VA says.
With 22 veterans expected to
commit suicide today,
developing and expanding
effective veterans’ mental health
and social support systems must
be a priority of the Obama
Administration, Veterans
Administration, and Congress.
These men and women have
given their best for America; it is
our responsibility to provide the
best for our heroes.
We all need to place a call to
congress and tell them how we'll
be voting in the next election.
We hand money out to everyone
but those who protect America
Help us help them...attend our
run and event ...help us support
PTSD /TBI Awareness
SAVE THE DATE
May 2,2015
AMVETS Riders Chapter 12,
Chicopee MA. will be hosting
this 2 nd year Event.
The Springfield Vet Center will
be on hand to assist and answer
any questions you may have for
them.
Registration starts at 9:30 ,kick
stands up at 11:00...
The ride will start and end at
AMVETS Post 12, 754
Montgomery St., Chicopee, MA.
FOOD, LIVE MUSIC and
RAFFLES at the after party.
The ride will be approx. 50
miles.
This event will benefit the Vet
Center for their PTSD /TBI
programs' and Ward 8 Leeds VA
Hospital.
Tickets $20 per person
No Bike you say.... >>WALK
INS' WELCOME
For more information or tickets
contact 2nd vice Riders
MA.#12, Michelle Riverin at
413-627-1454 or 1st vice
Riders MA.#12,Christine Peacey
at
413-250-9552.
If you or someone you know
would like to make a donation
please write checks or money
orders to AMVETS Riders
Chapter MA. #12 Chicopee,
MA.,754 Montgomery Street
Chicopee, MA.,01013
House Rejects
Proposed
Overhaul to
Commissary and
Tricare
A series of proposed
Tricare and commissary
cuts have been rejected
by House lawmakers,
and will not be included
in their version of the
annual defense spending
bill, lawmakers said
April 22.
Both the Pentagon's 2015 budget
request and recommendations
from a congressionally mandated
panel included major overhauls
to Tricare and the Defense
Commissary Agency (DeCA).
House lawmakers, however,
chose to ignore those
recommendations and instead
focus their reform efforts on an
overhaul of the military
retirement system.
Despite reports that Rep. Joe
Heck, R-Nevada, head of the
House Armed Service
Committee's Personnel
Subcommittee, favored a plan
proposed by the Military
Compensation and Retirement
Modernization Commission
(MCRMC) to combine the
commissary and exchange
systems, the committee
dismissed the proposal.
Also rejected was a plan from the
Pentagon to slash commissary
funding by $1 billion over
several years. Instead, the
committee's version of the
legislation is silent on the subject
of commissary spending.
The legislation also does not
address plans to overhaul
Tricare. While a Pentagon
proposal called for combining
Tricare's various plans into a
single program known as
"Consolidated Tricare," the
MCRMC proposed dismantling
Tricare and pushing users instead
into a healthcare marketplace like
one currently used by civilian
federal employees.
The committee, however,
dismissed both of those options,
instead opting to leave Tricare
intact as it is.
The legislation does, however,
direct the establishment of a
Pentagon level "unified medical
command" designed to better
facilitate medical interoperability
across the services.
The proposed bill also authorizes
the Pentagon to conduct a
pharmacy pilot program to "look
at the landscape of pharmacy
networks across the health care
industry and identify if there are
any best practices that can be
piloted within the DoD health
system to improve the benefit
and reduce the cost," according
to a committee spokesman.
But changes to the commissary
and Tricare are not completely
off the table.
Senate lawmakers will begin
work on their version of the
legislation in the coming weeks
and overhauls could be included
there. Differences between the
House and Senate legislation will
be worked out in a conference
later this year.
-- Amy Bushatz can be reached at
[email protected]