MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), and MOAA government relations staff members met with Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) last week to share MOAA’s priorities for the 118th Congress and discuss a newly announced panel on military quality-of-life issues.

Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general and MOAA member, will lead the bipartisan panel expected to be stood up in the next few months. Military pay, housing, health care, child care, spouse employment, and food insecurity are likely to be on the panel’s agenda when hearings begin in late spring or over the summer.

During the meeting, Kelly emphasized the importance of ensuring the ongoing viability of the all-volunteer force. He pledged MOAA’s support for the panel and appreciation for the committee’s renewed focus on military quality-of-life issues – topics that align closely with MOAA’s legislative priorities.

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A Military.com article noted the congressional panel’s efforts will likely extend beyond this year with recommendations potentially included in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the defense authorization bill Congress will consider in 2024.

The article also quoted Bacon on the bipartisan nature of the effort: "I know there's folks on both sides of the aisle really desiring to be part of this because this has a chance to impact our military for decades to come," he said. "I think people are also yearning for a bipartisan focus. This is not a Republican or Democrat focus. It's going to be a patriotic national focus of serving the folks who defend our country."

MOAA looks forward to working with Bacon, his staff, and all members of the congressional panel to address quality-of-life issues for servicemembers and their families, and to ensure our nation fulfills its commitments to the uniformed services community.