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​Scroll down to learn more.


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Our Military and Government Relations Program
​

Relationships. Reputation. Results.​

Did you know that just 25 years ago, service members did not have annual basic military pay raises tied to the economy, a GI Bill even close to as generous as that enjoyed today, 100 percent Tuition Assistance, protected allowances for subsistence and housing, and absentee voting protection?

Through our Military and Government Relations Program, AFSA has been improving your 
quality of life since 1961.
SEE OUR LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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A leading member of The Military Coalition (TMC): 

​
Representing more than 5.5 million current and former service members, their families, and survivors.
VISIT TMC Website
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An active member of the Toxic Exposures in the American Military (TEAM) Coalition:

​Gathering data, raising awareness, promoting research, and drafting legislation on the impact of toxic exposures on those who were made ill as the result of their military service.
VISIT the TEAM Website
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A participating member of the Clear 2 Connect (C2C) Coalition:

Protecting the right for Americans with hearing loss to have access to quality, accurate communication technology, especially those from underserved communities.
VISIT THE C2C Website


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​Our Legislative Platform
​
​
For Our Members. By Our Members.

​​Each year, our members vote to approve AFSA's official Legislative Platform.

​Our Platform is non-partisan and covers the quality of life matters for all service members past and present and their families - of all military branches.


See our 2021-2022 Legislative Platform
See our 2021-2022 Legislative Brochure

​Our Major Focus Groups

Veteran/Retiree Affairs
Benefits & Programs
Military Families
Education
Military Healthcare
Caring for Survivors
Air National Guard & Air Force Reserve
Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Budget
Veteran / Retiree Affairs
We develop legislative proposals that improve access to quality VA healthcare, thus ensuring the nation fulfills its obligation to care for those "who shall have borne the battle".
We strive to enhance the disability claims and appeals process and advocate for solutions that reduce backlog.
We seek to ensure ancillary programs, services, etc. remain fully funded.
We work to extend concurrent receipt to all retirees with disability ratings.
We expand and enhance access to and quality / scope of health care coverage for women veterans.
We ensure the delivery of full and timely benefits for Veterans exposed to toxic substances and toxicants - including but not limited to Agent Orange, burn pits, and K2 Uzbekistan.
Benefits & Programs
We sustain military pay comparability with the private sector via full military pay raises.
We enhance related benefits such as leave, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), bonuses and special pays, commissaries, base exchanges, MWR facilities, and Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA).
We fight to ensure access to affordable and quality housing.
We protect the voting rights of service members.
We craft forward thinking solutions that address the problems being experienced by the Total Force today.
We strive to establish a catastrophic leave program and allow service members the capacity to transfer their annual leave to other military members.
Military Families
We promote and enhance training programs and employment opportunities for spouses.
We fight to improve access to affordable and quality childcare.
We monitor CDC extensions to ensure they reflect operational pace of service members and families using the facility.
We support DoD's encouragement for States to engage in immediate actions to fully implement military spouse licensure laws.
Education
  • We support the promotion of future success via the use of hard-earned education benefits such as the Military Tuition Assistance (MilTA) program, MyCAA, Montgomery or "Forever” GI Bill
  • We ensure that education programs remain relevant and fully funded for service members and any dependents whom their benefits may have been transferred.
  • We lobby to fully fund Impact Aid.
  • We advocate for clear and maximized transfer credit between accredited colleges and universities.
Military Healthcare
  • We enhance existing coverages and services.
  • We fight to improve access to your earned military healthcare benefits.
  • We resist TRICARE fee increases, pharmacy co-pays and authorize pre-tax payment of health, dental, and long-term care premiums to include chiropractic care.
  • We strive to ensure proposed military medical billet cuts, any other uniformed/civilian/contracted medical personnel reductions and/or military treatment facility downsizing, or closures are not implemented until DoD presents to Congress a thorough analysis of civilian care availability and plan to mitigate impacts on readiness and beneficiary care. 
  • We monitor transition of MTF administration to DHA and secure a transparent analysis and report on access to care at the MTF level as well as beneficiary problem tracking and resolution.           
Caring for survivors
Air national guard & air force reserve


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​Our Military and Government Relations Team​
​

Persistent. Present. Proactive.

The Military and Government Relations Team is highly respected ​​and sought after by our members and the nation's policymakers.
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Keith Reed
Chief executive
Biography
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Matthew
Schwartzman
Policy advisor, legislative affairs
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Vanessa ​Lee
Legislative communications & Administrative Assistant
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Bria ​Coles
Policy advisor, military affairs
To ask the Team about ​AFSA's ​Military and Government Relations Program, ​​please click the button below.
CONTACT THE TEAM

Book a Briefing*

Only available when Congress is not in session. Please check with the M&G Team for availability.
If you are an AFSA Chapter or Division representative and wish to have a member of the Team provide your members with an ​up-to-the-minute legislative update, please click the button below.
Book a Briefing

Track the Team
​
​
117th Congress


​​Bills Introduced

​Bills Reviewed

​Bills of AFSA Interest

​AFSA Supported Bills to Become Law
Using the Legislative Platform as a blueprint, the Team works around the clock to analyze key legislation and ​​lobby ​for the care, benefits, and services you and your family deserve.​
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See our lobbying list
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Read our resolution
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Read our Open Letter
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Read Our FY23 Budget Blog


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Advocacy AFSA's Way​
​

Anytime. Anywhere.

​​Our Legislative Action Center is a one-stop-shop where you can:
​
Contact your elected officials supporting AFSA's customized advocacy campaigns.

​See how your elected officials voted on key legislation.


Subscribe to AFSA's 2x weekly fact-based, spin-free newsletter, the Military and Government Brief (M&G-B).
​​

Receive in-time updates on the most important bills to our members via AFSA's Legislative Action Alerts (LAA) and ​Legislative Time Sensitive Targets (LTST).
Visit Our Legislative Action Center


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​LEAD in the Field​
​

Lobby. Educate. Advocate. Develop.

Our Legislative Lineup and Legislative Bulletin is regularly updated with virtual legislative events and professional government affairs resources.

If you are an AFSA member or Chapter/Division representative, please scroll down to check out the latest from the M&G Team.

​Our Legislative Lineup

If you have any questions, contact the Team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.
With a fast-paced operational environment in Washington D.C., it can be difficult to stay in the know how.

To help keep you informed and engaged, the M&G Team hosts ​virtual legislative events throughout the year.

On our Legislative Lineup​, you can register for up-to-the-minute legislative updates
, professional development programs, ​and more.
​
Scheduling conflict? Do not worry!

All events from the Lineup will be posted to the Legislative Bulletin so you can view them on your schedule. 

Scroll down for more information and to share with your AFSA family.

​Our Legislative Bulletin

Are you looking for one, central location where you can find everything legislative?

​Look no further than our Legislative Bulletin below.

Letters to Leaders

Testimony

Video Updates

Executive Summaries

Bill Biographies



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​Why Join the Fight for Quality of Life?

​With the percentage of congressional representatives to have served in uniform at an all-time low and the largest national debt in recorded history, the need for AFSA's Military and Government Relations Program is at an ​​all-time high. 

Members of Congress

​​Members of Congress w/ previous military service

National Debt
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Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/03/10/the-changing-face-of-congress/
To become an AFSA member and an integral part of our Military and Government Relations Program,
​please click any of the buttons below.
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Apply for Scholarships

AIRMEN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION: Apply for Scholarships
Join to receive a free One-Course Scholarship from CSU

Read Breaking News from the Veterans Administration

Take Action

 Search for AFSA Chapter Nearest You 
​
Visit the Legislation Action Center

​Contact Your Elected Officials
Advertise with AFSA

Be Informed

Read the AFSA Magazine
Subscribe to the AFSA E-Newsletter
Subscribe to the Weekly Military & Government Brief


GET CONNECTED - Visit our Social Media Outlets and Subscribe to AFSA Information

SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE AFSA INFORMATION NOW!

  • Home
  • About Us
    • AFSA MEMBER LOGIN
    • Board of Directors >
      • Retired Veterans Affairs
      • Family Matters
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    • Past Auxiliary Presidents
    • Executive Directors/CEOs
    • Chapters/Divisions
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    • AFSA Magazine >
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      • AFSA Magazine Spring 2020
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      • AFSA Summer Magazine 2019
      • AFSA Spring Magazine 2019
      • AFSA Winter Magazine 2019
      • AFSA Magazine Fall 2018
      • AFSA Magazine Spring 2018
      • AFSA Magazine Summer 2018
    • AFSA PUBLICATIONS >
      • AFSAGivesBack
    • PODCAST
    • Videos
  • LEGISLATION
    • Legislative Platform
    • Key Issues
    • Key Accomplishments
    • Action Center
    • Resources >
      • FY22 NDAA Summary
    • LAW 2022 >
      • LAW 2021
      • vLAW 2020
  • Member Benefits
    • AFSA Insurance
    • USAA - Auto and Banking
    • Vietnam Veterans Commemoration
    • Homes for Heroes
    • Membership Information
    • Shop AFSA
    • Apply for Scholarships >
      • 2020 Scholarship Recipients
      • 2019 Scholarship Recipients
      • 2018 Scholarship Recipients
      • 2017 Scholarship Recipients
      • 2016 Scholarship Recipients
    • EdConnect >
      • EDCONNECT AFRC
      • EDCONNECT Guard Reserve
    • Preferred Learning Partners >
      • Columbia Southern Education Group
      • Waldorf University
    • JROTC and CAP Awards
    • Clear2Connect
    • Military Family Resources
    • Suicide Prevention
    • Disabled Vet Student Loan Help
    • Transition Support and Services >
      • eMentor Programs
      • National Labor Exchange
      • Veterans Job Support
      • Colorado Technical University
      • Oklahoma State University Entrepreneur Programs
    • Debt Destroyer Program
    • Financial Literacy
    • K9s for Warriors
  • Chapter Corner
    • Professional Development
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    • Important Dates
    • Set It Forever AutoPay Membership
    • CAMPAIGNS >
      • Deployed
      • Family Matters
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  • AFSA SUMMIT 23
    • USF Charity Golf 2023
    • CONVENTION 22
    • AFSAPEDS21 >
      • AFSAPEDS21 Schedule
    • AFSAPAC2020
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    • 2018 Professional Development Conference >
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