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Congressman Kim Secures Major Wins in NDAA
On Wednesday, June 22nd, Congressman Kim voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 through the House Armed Services Committee. In it, the Congressman secured investments for our servicemembers and military families as well as investments in America's defense and cyber security to meet emerging challenges.
Notably, this legislation includes:
● Congressman Kim’s Dental Care for Our Troops Act, which would ensure all National Guard and reservists have access to no-fee dental care like active-duty servicemembers do, even when they are not on active status.
- That is part of Congressman Kim’s larger Healthcare for Our Troops Act to make no-fee healthcare available to the over 800,000 Americans serving our nation in the Reserves and National Guard. The Congressman believes that anyone who wears the uniform and defends our nation should have healthcare.
- Dental issues have been identified by the Reserve Organization of America as a leading medical reason guard and reservists are found unfit to deploy.
● A pay raise for all military servicemembers.
● Providing military families with up to $400 more per month through DoD’s Child Care Fee Assistance Program to afford civilian childcare if they are placed on a waitlist for on-base care.
- Access to childcare for military families has been one of the biggest issues that Congressman Kim has heard from leadership at JBMDL.
● An audit of TRICARE’s behavioral health provider network directory to ensure accuracy, improve the referral process, and reduce wait times for access to civilian providers.
● To address concerns that servicemembers, their families, and providers’ complaints are not being adequately heard or resolved, and that servicemembers and their families experience delays getting behavioral health care appointments, requires DoD to report to Congress on how they capture and resolve customer complaints, measure access to care standards for behavioral health appointments, track follow on appointments, and how this will be managed in the next TRICARE contract.
● Congressman Kim’s Military Protection from Debt Act to limit interest rates on pre-service loans for the families of active servicemembers and ease financial burdens while their servicemember is deployed.
- Interest rates are already capped at six percent for servicemembers during their deployment. This legislation would expand the same protections to military family members.
Congressman Kim Votes to Pass the STRONG Veterans Act
On June 23rd, Congressman Kim voted to pass the bipartisan STRONG Veterans Act to expand suicide prevention and mental health services at local VA health centers and Vet Centers. Suicide care and prevention for veterans is a top priority for Congressman Kim, who last year secured double the funding for veteran suicide prevention in the annual government funding package. Congressman Kim led the effort in a bipartisan letter.
Supporting Veterans’ Small Businesses
At a House Small Business Committee hearing on June 8th, Congressman Kim spoke about his BUILD Veterans Businesses Act and how the Small Business Administration can better help veteran-owned businesses compete for federal contracts. You can watch the full exchange here.
Helpline for Urgent Medical or Mental Health Questions
If you have an urgent medical or mental health question, call the VA’s VISN 4 Triage Nurse clinical contact center. Available 24/7 at 1-833-835-3874.
Creating a HealtheVet Account to Manage Your VA Health Care and Benefits Online
The VA’s HealtheVet online service offers you tips and tools to help veterans partner with their health care team to easily manage health care needs. In your HealtheVet, you can refill your VA prescriptions, view your VA appointments, communicate securely with your providers, and view your lab and test results all from your own home. You can learn more about My HealtheVet here.
If you have questions about creating an account, you can call Yvette Roberts at 215-823-5800 ext. 7799.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) Update
On June 16th, U.S. Air Force Col. Janette Ketchum relinquished command of the 87th Mission Support Group to U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Grimmett.
On June 24th, the 305th Operations Group changed command. Col. Michele LoBianco relinquished command as 305th Operations Group superintendent to Col. Jordan P. Norman.
JBMDL’s tour program is up and running! Veteran Service Organizations and ROTC units that are interested in a base tour can contact [email protected] for more information.
The DoD STARBASE program is underway at STARBASE JBMDL! In this program, students participate in challenging “hands-on, minds-on” activities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They interact with military personnel to explore careers and observe STEM applications in the “real world.” Teamwork is stressed as students work together to explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate concepts. Contact our local STARBASE at [email protected].
Do you have a copy of your DD-214?
If you do not have a copy of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), you should request a copy from the National Archives and Records Administration since it can take up to 6-12 months to receive. DD-214s are necessary to apply for many of the benefits you are eligible for as a veteran. If you don’t have your DD-214, medical treatment can be delayed for a long time. If you have questions about this, you can contact our office here.
Honoring American Heroes Throughout the Month
Since our last newsletter, Congressman Kim honored servicemembers’ sacrifice and service in the armed services on our country’s national holidays and anniversaries. On May 30th, Congressman Kim paid respects to fallen servicemembers and their families for Memorial Day. On June 6th, Congressman Kim recognized the 78th anniversary of D-Day and honored the allied forces who sacrificed everything in the name of freedom. On June 14th, Congressman Kim wished the U.S. Army a happy 247th birthday and thanked soldiers for their courage! Congressman Kim looks forward to celebrating our Independence Day in a few days on the 4th of July!
Upcoming Local Events
From June 30 - July 7, the 63rd Army Band is holding their free 2022 Summer Concert Series across New Jersey. For locations and times, click here.
The Jersey Shore Blueclaws’ Military Appreciation Night will be on July 7th at 6 p.m. at ShoreTown Ballpark in Ocean County and Florence Township Patriotic Celebration Day will be on July 9th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Post #194 in Burlington County. DMAVA will have a VSO and its outreach van present at both events to help and assist any veteran or member of their family. More information here.
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