AFSA LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES
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INFORMATION TO SHARE & REVIEW: In addition to advocating on your personal behalf, AFSA's Military and Government Relations Team provides a number of resources accessible to our members that will help to keep you informed and engaged with the fast-paced legislative process.
Scroll down to review topics and select for more information.
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LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM: serves as a blueprint for testimony and lobbying efforts, in conjunction with responses dictated by day-to-day events. At the over-arching level, our mission encompasses seven major focus groups; these focus groups are military healthcare, veteran / retiree affairs, benefits and programs, military families, education, caring for survivors, and the Air National Guard & Air Force Reserve. Our Legislative Platform is available in regular print format and as a brochure - legislative_platform_23-24_9-5.pdfdownload here now.
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AFSA Chapter Engagement ProgramAFSA's has registered lobbyists who work hard in Washington to create, protect, and improve upon policies that improve the quality of life for our current and past Airmen and their families. However, our Chapters also have an important role in the grassroots infrastructure that supports our Headquarters’ important work.
Especially now, with Veteran representation in Congress at an all-time low, it would be a massive understatement to say that a strong Legislative Program at the Chapter level is pivotal to the success of AFSA’s legislative mission. In this informational program, our M&G Team has provided a top level guide to assist you in building your chapter legislative program that will nicely compliment the Team's lobbying efforts. It is important to note these are only suggestions, and we encourage anyone reading to tailor your Chapter Legislative Program to the needs and challenges you face at the local level. And for further consultation, you can always feel free to contact the M&G Team at [email protected] |
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POLICY SUMMARIES AND ISSUE PAPERS: Frequently, policy proposals and departmental reports that are crucial to your quality of life will be hundreds or thousands of pages long. To save you the time and effort of having to understand and process these proposals and reports in their written form, our M&G Team periodically gathers or creates summaries that will extract only the most important information to you.
Please use these resources to be the best-informed advocate you can:
Please use these resources to be the best-informed advocate you can:
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FY25 NDAA Resources:
The House and the Senate both have their own versions of the NDAA. Some provisions are the same, however many are not. Here are some resources that will help with understanding the differences and how AFSA's priorities fit into the discussion. Senate Version FY25 NDAA Summary download House Version FY25 NDAA Summary download |
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AFSA LEGISLATIVE ARCHIVES
MILITARY SHUTDOWN GUIDE - DOWNLOAD FLYER TO PRINT & SHARE HERE Message from your Legislative Chair and HQ:
As you're all aware, a federal government shutdown can impact various agencies and operations. While this creates uncertainty, AFSA wants to provide some clarity and key points specific to the Uniformed Services. These can be stressful times, so please check in with each other and utilize the available resources. The mission continues, stay informed, support one another, and remain focused.
BLUF (BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT)
Active-duty service members will continue to serve—but pay would be delayed if the shutdown crosses a pay period without an appropriation. Guard and Reserve drill weekends may be canceled or delayed. Military benefits, such as healthcare and commissaries, may be scaled back. Travel, PCS moves, and certain bonuses could be delayed until funding resumes.
PAY & COMPENSATION
➔ Active Duty: Will keep working, but paychecks may be delayed. Back pay is guaranteed by law.
➔ Guard & Reserve: Drills and training may be postponed or canceled.
➔ Bonuses & Incentives: May be delayed, but will be paid retroactively.
HEALTH CARE & BENEFITS
➔ TRICARE: Remains operational and uninterrupted.
➔ Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs): Stay open, but some elective care may be slowed.
➔ VA Health Care & Benefits: Continue on schedule due to advance appropriations.
PCS, TRAVEL & TRAINING
➔ PCS: New orders may be delayed unless essential. Moves in progress are usually funded.
➔ Official Travel & Training: Suspended unless essential to national security.
➔ TDYs/Schools: May be postponed or rescheduled.
BASE OPERATIONS & QUALITY OF LIFE
➔ Commissaries: CONUS may close or reduce hours; OCONUS typically remain open.
➔ Child Development Centers: Stay open for mission-essential personnel.
➔ MWR & Gyms: May close or operate on reduced staff.
What You Can Do
➔ Stay Informed: Follow the chain of command and installation updates.
➔ Advocacy: Share readiness concerns with AFSA and coalition partners.
➔ USAA Mission Partner: In the event a funding deal is not reached in time, and a paycheck will be missed, eligible members can begin applying for relief on Oct. 8.
More information, including eligibility requirements, is available at usaa.com/relief.
Even in a shutdown, the mission continues. Pay and benefits may be delayed, but are not lost—retroactive pay is guaranteed.
As you're all aware, a federal government shutdown can impact various agencies and operations. While this creates uncertainty, AFSA wants to provide some clarity and key points specific to the Uniformed Services. These can be stressful times, so please check in with each other and utilize the available resources. The mission continues, stay informed, support one another, and remain focused.
BLUF (BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT)
Active-duty service members will continue to serve—but pay would be delayed if the shutdown crosses a pay period without an appropriation. Guard and Reserve drill weekends may be canceled or delayed. Military benefits, such as healthcare and commissaries, may be scaled back. Travel, PCS moves, and certain bonuses could be delayed until funding resumes.
PAY & COMPENSATION
➔ Active Duty: Will keep working, but paychecks may be delayed. Back pay is guaranteed by law.
➔ Guard & Reserve: Drills and training may be postponed or canceled.
➔ Bonuses & Incentives: May be delayed, but will be paid retroactively.
HEALTH CARE & BENEFITS
➔ TRICARE: Remains operational and uninterrupted.
➔ Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs): Stay open, but some elective care may be slowed.
➔ VA Health Care & Benefits: Continue on schedule due to advance appropriations.
PCS, TRAVEL & TRAINING
➔ PCS: New orders may be delayed unless essential. Moves in progress are usually funded.
➔ Official Travel & Training: Suspended unless essential to national security.
➔ TDYs/Schools: May be postponed or rescheduled.
BASE OPERATIONS & QUALITY OF LIFE
➔ Commissaries: CONUS may close or reduce hours; OCONUS typically remain open.
➔ Child Development Centers: Stay open for mission-essential personnel.
➔ MWR & Gyms: May close or operate on reduced staff.
What You Can Do
➔ Stay Informed: Follow the chain of command and installation updates.
➔ Advocacy: Share readiness concerns with AFSA and coalition partners.
➔ USAA Mission Partner: In the event a funding deal is not reached in time, and a paycheck will be missed, eligible members can begin applying for relief on Oct. 8.
More information, including eligibility requirements, is available at usaa.com/relief.
Even in a shutdown, the mission continues. Pay and benefits may be delayed, but are not lost—retroactive pay is guaranteed.
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NDAA PROGRAM: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an omnibus legislative package that provides the authorization of appropriations for an abundance of programs, departments, and policies pertinent to national defense, security, and quality of life. Included in this section of the AFSA’s Legislative Key Issues Page is the summaries compiled by our Military and Government Relations Team of each NDAA since FY2020. You will also find the FY2022 NDAA Executive Summary and Grassroots Guide. If you have questions about any of the provisions contained in these resources, please reach out at [email protected].
Visit our FY2022 NDA Overview here now. |
ASFSA Veteran's 119th policy priorities
AFSA LAW WEEK 2023
AFSA LAW WEEK 2022
AFSA LAW WEEK 2021
AFSA LAW WEEK 2020
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AFSA Legislative Awareness Week: Normally held during the second week in October. During this Legislative focused week, we share a wide range of information through videos, newsletters, emails, our website and social media outlets featuring important legislative and advocacy programs. We also encourage our members to help us as we send thousands of letters in support of AFSA-sponsored legislative initiatives to the members of Congress. Take a look back through our archives to see our past success... it may spark a few ideas of how you can help us during this very special week and beyond.
If you have any additional questions about this or anything else in reference to the 2023 Legislative Awareness Week, please reach out to our Military and Government Team at [email protected]. |