(This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Military Officer magazine.)

Lawmakers will spend most of August away from the nation’s capital. But while the halls of power might be a little less crowded, lawmakers will be busy in their home states and districts, meeting with constituents just a few weeks before many will stand for election.

And that’s why MOAA needs your voice now.

Our Summer Advocacy in Action campaign will show House and Senate members that the issues core to the uniformed services and veteran communities reach well beyond the Beltway — they make a difference in the lives of voters, and they must be priorities when the 119th Congress reconvenes.

[REGISTER NOW: MOAA’s Legislative Action Center]

This year, we’ve selected three issues:

Supporting combat-injured veterans: After years of work by MOAA and other veterans’ advocacy groups, the Major Richard Star Act has made remarkable progress. But if the 119th Congress can’t pass the legislation — either on its own or as part of a larger bill — we start from scratch in January.

That’s simply an unacceptable outcome for the 59,000 combat-disabled men and women who lose a dollar of earned retirement pay for every dollar of VA disability compensation.

[TAKE ACTION: Advocate for the Major Richard Star Act]

Expanding employment opportunities for veterans and military spouses: Adding veterans to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit helped address an unemployment crisis a decade ago; now, the veteran jobless rate regularly lands lower than that of the overall U.S. population. The credit offers businesses a financial incentive to employ populations that face significant barriers to employment, but it expired at the end of 2025 and hasn’t been renewed.

The bipartisan Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act would do just what it says by not only restoring the incentive but also by adding military spouses to the list of groups that could get a much-needed leg up.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act]

Restoring pharmacy coverage parity for TRICARE For Life beneficiaries: MOAA continues its efforts to reverse an August 2025 Pentagon decision to revoke coverage of certain GLP-1 drugs under TRICARE For Life. This sets a dangerous precedent, weakening a service-earned benefit by establishing a two-tier coverage system.

This is simply not the world-class care many earned via decades in uniform; Congress must use its oversight power to correct this misstep.

[TAKE ACTION: Reinstate TRICARE for Life Coverage of GLP-1 Medications]

Our April Advocacy in Action event on the Hill always reminds me of the dedication of our nationwide network of council and chapter leaders, some of whom traveled thousands of miles to bring our advocacy priorities to the offices of hundreds of lawmakers.

But their work, and that of MOAA’s advocacy team in their daily duties, becomes more impactful when the support of 350,000-plus members can be heard loud and clear.

That’s why we are asking you to write to your lawmakers over the summer recess, to call their offices, and to visit them during this preelection work period. Make sure they understand these three issues aren’t just talking points — they are critical to their constituents, to their communities, and to their reelection.

As always, thank you for supporting our advocacy efforts — one of the many ways MOAA members never stop serving.