The FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act was completed on 21 December. Appropriations legislation in the form of an Omnibus government funding bill was passed on 23 December 2022, just hours before the revised deadline driven by expiration of Continuing Resolution. President Biden signed both bills into law, thus avoiding a Government shutdown for Christmas. The $1.7 trillion Omnibus Appropriations Act funds all Executive Branch agencies until 30 September 2023. DoD received $798 billion, $40B more than the President’s request, plus $19B for Military Construction. DoD appropriations include a 4.6% pay raise and increases in allowances for housing and subsistence and for the Basic Needs Allowance. The Veterans Administration received $304 billion, which includes an 11.9% increase to cover expected PACT Act (toxic exposure) claims and significant increases for care-giver support, homelessness prevention and mental health care, including suicide prevention. The NDAA is a massive bill. You can find additional details of the authorized programs on the MOAA website.

The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act finally passed in Congress and was signed into law by President Biden on 10 August 2022. This legislation includes, among other things:

- Expands VA care to over 3.5 million post-9/11 veterans

- Adds 23 presumptive conditions for toxic exposure

- Requires toxic exposure screenings and education in VA clinics

- Adds 31 new VA facilities

- Expands the list of locations with presumed exposure to Agent Orange

The PACT Act also includes the Camp LeJeune Justice Act, which allows people who lived and worked on the base from 1953-1987 to apply for compensation for a variety of presumptive conditions approved in the legislation.

The Veteran’s Administration has set up a website to provide detailed information on eligibility and filing requirements for medical issues related to PACT Act conditions. You can access this information at The PACT Act And Your VA Benefits | Veterans Affairs .

SENCLAND Chapter maintains a non-partisan policy just as the National and NC Council of Chapters. We are dedicated to maintaining a strong national defense and ensuring our nation keeps its commitment to all serving and all who have served our country.

One of the goals of MOAA national is to increase participation by Chapter members in legislative advocacy efforts.

Strong grass roots support for NC and National legislation that benefits MOAA members is one way to ensure that the message of our organization reaches our elected officials.

In-person meetings and events are returning now that COVID-19 restrictions are being relaxed. The annual Advocacy in Action campaign is being planned as an in-person event in Washington in late April. There is likely to be a similar state-level event in Raleigh. But frequent member communication via mail or email remains an effective and essential method to get the MOAA message heard in the General Assembly and Congress. I encourage you to become one of our grass roots advocates.

To make your participation easier, we will provide Council-approved tools and materials for your use when NC legislation or events require increased participation. You can, at any time, join in MOAA National advocacy efforts using tools available within MOAA’s on-line Legislative Action Center. Just click on the link below in the dark gray box. To help make your participation as easy as possible, I have provided the current contact information for all Federal and NC Legislators serving the SENCLAND area in this section of our Web Site.

I am recruiting for an Assistant Legislative Affairs Chairman to help out with our Chapter legislative affairs education and action activities. This person would assist for a year or so and then become Legislative Affairs Chair. SENCLAND Chapter has one of the best and most active Legislative programs in the State. If you would to help keep that going or just learn more about the duties of this position, please contact me at 703-795-6987 or bcoyle1947@gmail.com.