Apr. 28, 2010

Did You Know? ROA contributed to the extension of the Selective Service Act of 1941.

SERVICEMEMBERS' LAW CENTER:
ROA to Brief Supreme Court on USERRA Case
With the Supreme Court’s announcement that it will accept its first ever case dealing with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), the Reserve Officers Association’s Servicemembers’ Law Center will file an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief with the Supreme Court in the case of Staub v. Proctor Hospital.
Read the press release
Read the law reviews about the case: 0922, 0922 Update

New Law Reviews
No. 1031 DOJ Files and Settles on the Same Day, Again
No. 1028 A Case Study of 38 U.S.C. Sections 4311 and 4312: Erickson v. United States Postal Service

LEGISLATION AND MILITARY POLICY:
Senate Reserve Caucus Breakfast Held at ROA
The annual Senate Reserve Caucus Breakfast was held at the Minuteman Memorial building April 22 with about 90 attendees from Senate offices, industry, the Pentagon, and the National Guard Bureau. This breakfast provides an opportunity for Reserve Chiefs and National Guard Directors to talk about their top three issues in an informal gathering.
Read about the event
View event photos (Flickr)

Post 9/11 GI Bill Hearing
ROA attended a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing April 21 on the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Fixes to the bill were discussed, along with inconsistencies in rules, separation of tuition and fees, establishing a national baseline for the Yellow Ribbon Program, and more.
Read about the hearing

HASC Approves Defense Acquisition Spending Overhaul
The House Armed Services Committee approved the IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010 to overhaul defense acquisition spending, save taxpayer dollars and expedite the process of getting equipment to warfighters, April 21 by a vote of 56 to 0.
Learn more about the IMPROVE Acquisition Act

House Passes Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act
ROA attended a press conference announcing the passage of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, which creates a caregiver support program, improves health care services for America’s women veterans, and expands the mental health services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), among other things.
Learn more about the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act

Reserve Component Hearings
The House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces held a hearing on the posture of Army and Air Force Reserve Components which focused on modernized equipment needs, the importance of NGREA funding, and recapitalization of aircraft. The Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing on USAR, USARNG and USANG training and operations needs, which include modern equipment at training centers and separate funding for Reserve Component equipment.

TRICARE Dependent Coverage Act
During a recent HASC Subcommittee on Military Personnel hearing, the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act was announced which extends TRICARE coverage to certain dependents until age 26 as included in the national health care plan recently passed. The House bill has 76 cosponsors, and the related Senate bill has 24 cosponsors.

EDUCATION:
DEF Hosts Program on Legal Issues Related to Targeted Killings
The Defense Education Forum and American Bar Association Committee on Law and National Security held a program focused on on legal issues related to targeted killings and the use of drones in current Overseas Contingency Operations.
Read a summary of the program
Watch video of the program (90 minutes)