SASC Completes Input to Defense Bill

By: fedweek

The Senate Armed Services Committee has completed its input to the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill. It proposes a 3.5 percent military pay raise for 2008, which parallels the House version. It also blocks any increase in fees for Tricare Standard and Tricare Prime, and any rise in Tricare pharmacy copays. In addition, it eliminates the offset to retired pay for Chapter 61 retirees with combat-related disability ratings who retired with 15 or more years of service. And it reduces reserve retirement age for reserves three months for each 90 days of mobilization, effective upon passage and signing of the act. Furthermore, it increases Army and Marine Corps end strengths by 13,000 and 9,000 respectively, which mirrors the House version. The full Senate is expected to consider the committee’s input this month, to be followed by House-Senate conference committee action.