DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

Thanks Tommy

FROM:  NAUS HQ

SENATE REVISITS FY01 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL

    On 14 June, the Senate recalled the FY2001 National Defense

Authorization Act, S. 2549, to consider a series of amendments.  Sen.

Warner asked for and received unanimous consent that the amendments from

both sides of the aisle, numbers 3382 through 3424 be agreed to "en bloc",

which were adopted: A brief explanation of selected adopted amendments

follow below.

    > No. 3386 - To remove the inclusion of housing in the determining of

income eligibility for WIC support for members of the Armed Forces

overseas. Would require DoD to follow the current practice of the state in

excluding the basic allowance for housing when determining income

eligibility for food stamps and equalizes the treatment of CONUS and OCONUS

stationed families.

    > No. 3387 - to improve access to health care under the TRICARE program

by prohibiting a requirement for statements of non-availability. Would

waive the requirement of TRICARE-Standard users to obtain statements of

non-availability or pre-authorization from MTFs, except for in certain

circumstances.

    > No. 3389 - to treat as veterans individuals who served in the Alaska

Territorial Guard during World War II.

    > No. 3390 - to extend to members of the National Guard and other

reserve components not on active duty the entitlement to receive special

duty assignment pay.

    > No. 3391 - to authorize the expansion of service areas for

transferees of former uniformed services treatment facilities that are

included in the uniformed services health care delivery system. Would allow

USTFs to expand their service areas into one or more noncontiguous areas.

  > No. 3397 - to increase the TRICARE maximum allowable charge for

physicians in rural States, and to require a report on non-participation of

physicians in TRICARE in rural States. Would require TRICARE/CHAMPUS in a

rural state to be equal to 80% of the customary and reasonable charge for

service to encourage more health care providers to participate in TRICARE

Networks and calls on DoD to conduct a study assessing access problems in

rural states, and present Congress recommendations for solving this problem.

    > No. 3402 - to express the sense of the Senate that members of the

Armed Forces who receive special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or

imminent danger should receive the same tax treatment as members serving in

combat zones.

    > No. 3403 - to modify the basic allowance for housing for service

members assigned to area or under circumstances that require their families

to reside in another area to receive the housing allowance appropriate for

family's location; and also increases the basic allowance for other certain

conditions.

   On Monday, 19 June, when it reconvenes at 3:00 pm, the Senate is

expected to continue floor action on S. 2549, although the recalled and

amended bill might be voted on after this posting.