Lawmakers are returning to their home states for summer recess, a time they will use to connect directly with their constituents at public events and meetings. This is an important opportunity to remind them that caring for servicemembers, past and present — and their families — requires support at every stage of service.

As you may recall, MOAA brought several key issues to Capitol Hill during the spring. Your actions on these issues made a real difference. You turned out in numbers in support of improving unaccompanied housing across military bases – and recent legislation secured over $1 billion dedicated to enhancing these facilities.

 

Since spring, several other MOAA-supported initiatives have garnered interest and momentum among lawmakers. For this year’s Summer Advocacy in Action campaign, we are capitalizing on this momentum by focusing on the following topics: 

• Major Richard Star Act: Combat-injured veterans deserve their full earned compensation, and this legislation reinforces our promise to support those who served — long after they’ve left active duty. The Star Act is an enduring priority for MOAA, and we are excited to report it has generated significant momentum since spring. We are sharpening our focus and targeting our efforts to drive this initiative even further.
  
  
• TRICARE Access to Care: Servicemembers and military families can often face administrative barriers and red tape their counterparts covered by civilian health plans do not when it comes to reproductive health. By strengthening access to care, we can improve mission readiness and boost retention across the all-volunteer force.
  
  
• Military Spouse Hiring Act: Spouse employment is a critical component for the financial stability of military families, and adding military spouses to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit will incentivize more businesses to hire military spouses. 
  

The August recess offers a timely opportunity for you to engage with your lawmakers, and MOAA will need your help to ensure every lawmaker, every district, and every state hears our message. 

 

As your president and CEO, I am impressed and inspired daily by the stories from the field of our members demonstrating selfless service and advocating for our community. We need your voice to make a difference. Please join us in our summer advocacy campaign. 

 

Visit MOAA.org/summerAiA for issue papers and other resources to help you connect with your lawmakers while they’re home. You can also use our Legislative Action Center to send messages directly to your elected officials.