Provisions designed to improve the TRICARE benefit, military housing, child care, and other critical programs are “essential to addressing the challenges facing today’s servicemembers and strengthening the foundation for those who will serve tomorrow,” MOAA’s president and CEO wrote to key lawmakers as must-pass defense authorization legislation takes shape.

Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), urged lawmakers to ensure important servicemember- and military family-focused provisions remain intact as the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) moves toward floor consideration. The letter was sent to every member of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees – panels that play a pivotal role in shaping defense policy.

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The Aug. 12 letter came after both committees passed versions of the NDAA but before either chamber has taken floor action. This pre-floor period is a critical opportunity for lawmakers to add, amend, or protect provisions before the legislation advances to the next phase of the congressional process.

Kelly’s letter identifies several priority items from both the House and Senate committee-passed NDAA bills:

House

• Presentation by a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Counseling: Supports transition by requiring approved VSO involvement to help navigate and access benefits.
  
  
• Family Separation Allowance (FSA) Increase: Increases FSA to $400 per month, improving support for families while servicemembers are away from home in service of our country.
  
  
• Pilot Program on Access to Obstetrical and Gynecological Care Under TRICARE Prime: Streamlines access to care by eliminating a TRICARE Prime referral requirement for OB-GYN care.
  
  
• Pilot Program to Treat Pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event for Enrollment in TRICARE Select: Improves access to prenatal care by allowing pregnant beneficiaries to switch TRICARE plans outside of the annual open season.

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Senate

• Modifications to Calculation of Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for Enlisted Members: Protects BAS from decreased payments.
  
  
• Increased Awareness and Improved Calculation of Rates for the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Requires the creation of online tools to support servicemember understanding of their pays and how they are calculated.
  
  
• Report on Unmet Need for Child Care in Areas with Significant Populations of Members of the Armed Forces: Directs DoD to assess the unmet child care need for each military installation, review efforts to recruit and retain child care providers, and develop a plan to reduce those unmet needs.
  
  
• Expansion of Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER): Directs DoD to expand the ILER to document all exposures, including within the U.S., and ensure the data is available to the VA for care, research, and benefits processing.
  
  
• Improvements to Annual DoD Reports on Waivers of Privacy and Configuration Standards for Covered Military Unaccompanied Housing: Increases oversight of unaccompanied housing waivers and requires get-well plans for facilities that don’t meet standards.

Ensuring these provisions are part of the final bill “will result in meaningful improvements to overall quality-of-life and important support programs,” Kelly wrote.

The coming weeks will determine whether these MOAA-backed provisions survive the floor debate and amendment process. Stay tuned for more information about how your grassroots advocacy can help keep these measures in place to support the uniformed services and veteran communities.