By MOAA Staff

MOAA advocacy leaders met with a key House member June 26 on Capitol Hill as part of ongoing engagement on a number of legislative priorities leading up to the annual defense authorization process.

MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), joined Maj. Gen. April Vogel, USAF (Ret), MOAA’s vice president of Government Relations, to discuss these priorities with Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC). His committee is expected to begin the markup session for the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in July, to address the many needs of the all-volunteer force, along with retirees, military families, and other stakeholders.

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Rogers has chaired the committee since 2023. That year, he established its quality of life panel, which fielded input from MOAA and other stakeholders in crafting the initial FY 2025 NDAA. That legislation would address several key MOAA priorities, such as a generational pay raise for junior enlisted members, improvements to health care and child care services, and more.

For this work and other efforts on behalf of those in uniform and their families, Rogers was one of four recipients of MOAA’s 2024 Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award.

Kelly stressed MOAA’s support for ongoing efficiency efforts, along with the need to ensure any cuts aren’t made at the expense of those in uniform, or their families. He thanked Rogers for listening to MOAA’s top concerns, and for his continued support.

“MOAA’s mission is to protect service-earned benefits as we maintain a strong national defense,” Kelly said. “We thank Congressman Rogers for his tireless work on behalf of those who serve and have served, and their families, and we look forward to working with all HASC members and the rest of Congress to pass bipartisan legislation that protects service-earned benefits and makes a real difference for those in uniform.”

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But work on the Hill is only part of MOAA’s fight.

“Our membership opens the doors wider for our advocates in Washington,” Kelly said. “We need your voice not just as current, former, or retired officers and surviving spouses, but as constituents – by making your priorities known to your lawmakers, you can help us ensure the NDAA reflects MOAA priorities.”