MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

2.4 million acres already burned in 2026, western states on front lines of predicted severe fires in coming months

VIDEO from Harder’s remarks at Capitol press conference are available here

WASHINGTON – Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) joined wildland firefighters, advocates, and lawmakers in a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol to demand emergency action to combat the growing megafire crisis and better support firefighters. Harder highlighted his legislation to modernize wildfire response and reduce firefighter shortages during the event.

California is on the front lines of a severe, yearslong megafire crisis:

• The 2024-25 fire season was the second most severe on record for North America, and the LA Fires in January of last year were the most disastrous wildfire event in modern U.S. history.
• 2.4 million acres have already burned across the U.S. in 2026, with western states like California facing significant wildfire potential in the coming months.
• We’re increasingly calling on wildland firefighters to respond to megafires, but this critical workforce is struggling with growing burnout and low morale alongside a persistent shortage.

“Our communities and our firefighters are not getting the support they desperately need from Washington, and that’s an outrage,” said Rep. Harder. “We need better tools, stronger mitigation efforts, and more personnel – we have to make it easier to hire, train, and retain firefighters now, not after the next megafire strikes. I’m going to fight tooth and nail to pass solutions that treat this crisis with the urgency it demands and keep our promise to those who stand between our families and disaster.” 

Harder’s bills to tackle megafires in California:

• Modernized Response– Harder is leading landmark legislation to invest in modern tools, tech, and data to comprehensively upgrade interagency response to wildfires.
• Firefighter Benefits – New bills to fix rules that punish firefighters for taking time off,  and to create a casualty assistance program at the Department of Interior to support firefighters and their families when tragedy strikes.
• Air Quality – Harder is championing legislation to declare public health “smoke emergencies” when wildfire smoke becomes severe, and to establish a new national air quality monitoring system.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

More housing grants, expanded loan financing for affordable housing

Cleared final passage in the U.S. House and Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced that two of his bills to build more homes in Stockton are headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Included in historic housing reforms that Harder helped negotiate, the bills received final passage from the U.S. Senate yesterday and the U.S. House today.

Harder’s Increasing Housing in Opportunity Zones Act, led with Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-16), requires more federal housing grants to be awarded in low-income communities. The Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act, led with Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04), expands federal financing for affordable housing like manufactured homes and smaller housing units. Harder also chairs the bipartisan Build America Caucus, whose Members secured a total of 27 bills and policies in the final package.

“The dream of owning a home is out of reach for so many Valley families because we’re in a severe housing shortage – that changes starting today,” said Rep. Harder. “These bills are going to lower costs, jumpstart new construction, and unlock affordable homeownership for thousands of our neighbors. I look forward to the President signing this package into law, and to keeping this bipartisan, families-first momentum going.”

What historic housing reforms will look like on the ground in the Valley:

• New Federal Housing Grants in Stockton – Much of Stockton is in a federal Opportunity Zone, but the community is still missing targeted, long-term housing investment. Harder’s Increasing Housing in Opportunity Zones Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to give priority to Opportunity Zone communities when awarding competitive housing grants.
• Expanded Loan Financing for Affordable Housing– Housing options like manufactured homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) offer families an early path to homeownership, but outdated financing rules are limiting these options. Harder’s Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act increases limits on loans for manufactured homes and opens up new financing for ADUs.
• More Housing Projects Finished Faster and Cheaper– The broader package also includes provisions to cut paperwork, speed up environmental reviews, and reduce costly bureaucracy that drives up housing costs.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Last year, Harder passed his bill into law to lift salary caps at VA facilities causing doctor shortages

As wait times for some specialties persist, new bill would allow VA to issue an unlimited amount of salary waivers

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced new legislation to build on reforms he successfully signed into law and fix doctor shortages at local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. Harder’s VA COMPETES 2.0 Act, led with Rep. Tony Wied (WI-08), allows the VA to waive salary limits on as many vacant positions as needed to fill doctor shortages and drive down wait times for veterans.

Last year, Harder’s VA COMPETES Act was signed into law in response to unacceptable wait times at the Stockton VA Clinic. At the time, veterans were forced to wait more than 100 days just to get an appointment for basic care because the VA couldn’t offer competitive salaries to fill vacant positions. Harder’s law empowered the VA to waive salary caps for targeted positions, and since then wait times for appointments like primary care have plummeted. 

However, vacancies in specialties like pulmonology and orthopedics are still difficult to fill, and more and more communities are experiencing these kinds of shortages. Harder’s new VA COMPETES 2.0 Act expands on his law’s proven approach and allows the VA to issue an unlimited amount of waivers, ensuring even the toughest specialties to hire for are filled at every VA facility across the country.

“We’re losing VA doctors to the private sector because of outrageous red tape, and our veterans are paying the price in months of delays for life-saving care,” said Rep. Harder. “That’s beyond unacceptable – it’s why we passed a law last Congress to bring down primary care wait times, and why we’re continuing to fill the toughest specialties. I’m confident we’ll see this new bill get signed into law just as quickly because we have a responsibility to make sure veterans can get the care they need.”

How Harder’s bills transform the VA health care system:

• Cuts wait times by filling vacant positions, from primary care to difficult-to-hire specialties.
• Improves care by ensuring the VA has the ability to hire the best and most talented doctors anywhere in the country.
• Increase transparency and accountability by requiring annual reports to Congress detailing which clinics made pay changes, how many employees were affected, and what adjustments were made.

“When our veterans go to the VA, they deserve access to the best care possible,” said Rep. Wied. “In order for that to be the case, we need to ensure they have the best health care practitioners available to treat them. The VA Competes Act 2.0 will help the VA compete with the private sector, recruit and retain critical healthcare personnel, and ensure our veterans receive the high-quality care they have earned.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Local education leaders joined Harder in roundtable on improving literacy in the Valley

Harder also read to local students as part of the Stockton Ports’ “Baseball by the Books” reading challenge

STOCKTON – Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) joined educators, parents, and students in a roundtable discussion at the Stockton Ports’ Banner Island Ball Park to discuss local and federal efforts to improve literacy in the Valley. After the roundtable, Harder participated in the Ports’ “Baseball by the Books” literacy challenge, reading “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” to dozens of local students. Harder also threw out the first pitch at the Ports’ game against the Visalia Rawhide.

“Like every parent, I want our kids to have the resources and support they need to succeed in and outside of the classroom,” said Rep. Harder. “We have a lot of work to do to solve our nationwide literacy crisis, and roundtables like these are critical to building momentum for solutions that actually work for students, teachers, and parents. I’m grateful for everyone who came out to show their support, and I’m committed to making sure Washington takes this issue seriously.”

In response to the growing literacy crisis across the country, Harder is leading efforts to restore the National Reading Panel, which established a roadmap in educational excellence in 2000 but has not seen enough state-level adoption. Harder is also pushing to increase investments in comprehensive state literacy grants that prioritize literacy improvements, and to reform federal programs that help improve educational research.

Harder was joined by representatives from the San Joaquin County Office of Education, local Valley school districts, local and national education advocates, and educators associations.

Above: Harder hosts roundtable discussion on addressing the nationwide literacy crisis

Above: Harder throws out the first pitch at the Ports’ game against the Visalia Rawhide

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Harder secured $5.5 million to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety for thousands of Valley supercommuters

VIDEO from the ribbon cutting is available here

MANTECA – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) joined local leaders in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the completed State Route 99/120 Interchange Connector project. Harder secured $5.5 million in federal funds for the infrastructure upgrades, which will reduce traffic and improve safety at one of the busiest highway junctions in the Valley.

“This new interchange is going to reduce congestion, improve safety and air quality, and ultimately help ensure that commuters can spend more time with their families and less time stuck in traffic,” said Rep. Harder. “It’s exactly the kind of infrastructure upgrade we need to see more of across the Valley, and I’m going to continue working to bring more federal investments back to the communities that need them the most.”

Completed upgrades at the SR 99/120 Interchange Connector include:

• Better Lanes– Widening both sides of the interchange and creating a new merge and weave lane.
• New Roadways – High-traffic connector ramp for southbound SR 99 traffic, modern bridge along Austin Road, and new street to expand surface direct access.
• New Surface Street Upgrades – Median improvements, streetlights, and upgraded railroad crossing.

These investments are especially impactful for the 100,000 supercommuters traveling through San Joaquin County every day and spending more than 4 hours in the car. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, Harder is working to support Valley commuters by suspending the gas tax and working to bring more economic opportunities to the Valley.

Harder was joined by San Joaquin Council of Governments Executive Director Diane Nguyen, Manteca Mayor Gary Singh, representatives from Caltrans, and local and regional elected officials from across the Valley. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“No one should ever have to fight cancer alone. As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand the importance of having a strong community and support system during this battle,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’m proud to stand with my fellow House Cancer Caucus Co-Chairs in recognizing the often-unseen roles of families, friends, and neighbors in this fight.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $2,840,000 award. The funding will support design development of a novel power electronics converter that delivers superior power compared to traditional converters. The funding is supported by the agency’s Disruptive Direct Current Converters for Grid Resilient Infrastructure to Deliver Secure energy (DC-GRIDS) program. 

In response to this news, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Virginia Tech leads projects that can transform our electric grid and deliver more reliable energy to American communities. 

“Such projects are necessary when challenges to our electric grid persist. We must build a resilient energy system to better serve Virginia communities.

“This more than $2.8 million award helps Virginia Tech research advanced technologies that secure the U.S. electric grid.”

BACKGROUND

Virginia Tech’s project is one of 12 selected to support the DC-GRIDS program.

ARPA-E notes that the DC-GRIDS awarded projects will focus on developing high voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies that transform conventional alternating current (AC) infrastructure. The Virginia Tech project can potentially enable more resilient and cost-effective energy transmission for the future.

In March 2026, Congressman Griffith announced a $2.5 million ARPA-E award to Virginia Tech for the DC-GRIDS campaign.

This comes as ARPA-E launches a $35 million campaign to triple U.S. transmission capacity.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Announces Opening of 2026 Congressional App Challenge

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced that his office is accepting submissions for the 2026 Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide competition that encourages middle and high school students to explore coding, computer science, and careers in STEM fields.

Students who live in or attend school in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District are eligible to participate individually or in teams of up to four. The challenge is open to students of all skill levels, regardless of coding experience. Students may create an app using any programming language and for any platform, including desktop, web, mobile, Raspberry Pi, video games, or code used to power robots. 

The Congressional App Challenge was established to encourage students to learn to code and pursue careers in STEM. The competition helps students build computer science skills, encourages innovation, and recognizes young people for their work in technology.

“There is a growing need to fill high-paying jobs in STEM fields, and the Congressional App Challenge is a fun and engaging way to show students they can play a real role in shaping the future through innovation and technology,” said Rep. Bacon. “I strongly encourage students from across Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District to participate, learn new skills, and put their creativity to work.”

The submission portal for the 2026 Congressional App Challenge is now open. Students must register and submit their applications by 12:00 p.m. ET on October 26, 2026.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges from the local community and honored by Rep. Bacon. Winning apps may also be featured in the U.S. Capitol, on House.gov, and on the Congressional App Challenge website.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), introduced the GRACE (Granting Rollover Access and Contribution Extensions) for Military Survivors Act, legislation that extends the time period in which surviving family members of a Military servicemember can make important financial decisions about their survivor benefits.

“When a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice, their family deserves our unwavering support – not unnecessary bureaucratic deadlines. Military families should have the time and flexibility to make important financial decisions without added pressure during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. I’m proud to support the GRACE for Military Survivors Act to ensure we honor their sacrifice by giving surviving loved ones the compassion and certainty they deserve,” said Rep. Jack Bergman. 

“Grieving military families have enough on their plates when they lose a loved one — they should not be forced to make urgent, consequential financial decisions on top of everything else. Ensuring families have the time they need to decide the best path forward just makes sense. Grateful to work with my colleagues to introduce this important legislation,” said Rep. Mike Thompson.  

“The families of our fallen service members have already sacrificed more than most Americans can imagine. The last thing they should have to worry about is financial deadlines while grieving the loss of a spouse, parent, or child,” said Rep. Greg Steube. “As a veteran, I understand the sacrifices made by military families, and they deserve to make thoughtful financial decisions without unnecessary pressure from the federal government.”

“When a service member dies in the line of duty, their families should never be forced to make urgent financial decisions while enduring the pain of immeasurable loss. They deserve time, flexibility, and grace,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “I’m grateful to join my colleagues in introducing this critical legislation.”  

BACKGROUND 

When a service member dies in the line of duty, surviving families are forced to navigate immense grief while also making important financial decisions under compressed timelines. Current law allows surviving spouses and children to roll over military death gratuities and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) benefits into certain tax-advantaged savings accounts, but only within one year of receiving the benefits. For many military families, that timeline is simply too short. This legislation would provide surviving military families with additional flexibility and time to make thoughtful long-term financial decisions.

The bill would:

• Extend from one year to three years the period in which military death gratuities and SGLI payments may be contributed to Roth IRAs and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts without penalty.
• Ensure military families are not penalized while grieving and adjusting to life after the loss of a service member.

The GRACE for Military Survivors Act was developed in conjunction with Gold Star Spouses of America. Reps. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Pat Harrigan (R-NC), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Shri Thanedar (D-MI) are original cosponsors.

The bill is endorsed by: American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS), Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Spouses of America, Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO), Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS), United Services Automobile Association (USAA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Veterans Survivor Coalition, Vietnam Veterans of America, and With Honor Action.

“Gold Star Spouses of America strongly supports the GRACE for Military Survivors Act. Surviving spouses are often advised not to make major financial decisions during the first year after the death of their loved one, a recommendation that can inadvertently cause families to miss opportunities to utilize military death benefits in tax-advantaged savings accounts. Extending the contribution period from one year to three years acknowledges the realities of grief and gives surviving families the time they need to make thoughtful financial decisions that strengthen their long-term financial security,” said Tamra Sipes, National President, Gold Star Spouses of America.

“Military families give more than most Americans will ever be asked to. When a service member passes, we should not ask surviving spouses and families to set aside their grief to focus on finances,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “This legislation is notable for what it is not—it is not partisan, costly, or controversial. It imposes no new federal spending, creates no new bureaucracy, and asks nothing of taxpayers. It simply removes an arbitrary constraint that punishes military survivors for taking the time they need to grieve. Keeping faith with military families means ensuring they are treated with dignity and compassion during life’s most difficult moments. With Honor Action enthusiastically endorses the GRACE for Military Survivors Act and appreciates For Country Caucus members Rep. Mike Thompson and Rep. Bergman for their strong commitment to honoring military families and those who served.”

“USAA is proud to support the GRACE for Military Survivors Act, which reflects both sound financial policy and compassion for military families. This bill gives military families the time and flexibility they need to make solid financial choices for the future, empowering them to achieve financial security.” said Maj. Gen. John Richardson, U.S. Army, Ret., USAA Senior Vice President, Head of Policy & Alliances.

“The current one-year deadline is often unrealistic for grieving military families navigating the emotional, financial, and logistical challenges that follow the loss of a loved one in service. The Veterans Survivor Coalition supports extending this window to three years gives survivors the time and flexibility they deserve to plan for their family’s future,” said the Veterans Survivor Coalition. 

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Last week, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense – and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) – a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee – introduced the bipartisan Duty Status Reform Act in the Senate to make comprehensive reforms to the National Guard by consolidating and streamlining the duty status framework.

Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI-01) and Gil Cisneros (D-CA-31) led the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Michigan’s National Guard members are among the most dedicated servicemembers in the country, and they deserve a system that works as hard as they do,” said Rep. Bergman. “The current duty status framework – nearly 30 classifications – creates unnecessary confusion, delays pay and benefits, and limits commanders’ ability to mobilize quickly when our Nation calls. The Duty Status Reform Act fixes that by cutting through the bureaucracy and giving our Guardsmen the clarity, consistency, and equity they’ve earned. I’m proud to lead this effort in the House alongside Rep. Cisneros, and I thank Senators Moran and Rosen for carrying this forward in the Senate.”

“The men and women of the National Guard in Kansas and across the country play a critical role in serving our communities and defending our nation,” said Sen. Moran. “As the Guard’s mission has evolved, the duty status system has become increasingly complex. This legislation will simplify the structure and strengthen the Guard’s ability to carry out its missions by standardizing pay and benefits, bolstering readiness and better supporting those who serve.”

“Duty Status Reform is a necessary overhaul to antiquated administrative systems that have negatively impacted our Reserve and National Guard servicemembers’ quality of life and readiness,” said Sen. Rosen. “That’s why I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to cut through the red tape by simplifying the duty status structure from nearly 30 statuses down to four so the reserve component will receive timely and equitable pay and benefits without preventable delays or disruption. This legislation ensures the reserve component receives fair and equitable treatment when answering the call to service at a moment’s notice.”

“In our ever-changing operational environment, our military leaders need the flexibility to act quickly and effectively. But the duty status system has limited commanders’ ability to quickly mobilize guard and reserve units. The broken duty status construct is hurting our readiness and fixing this long-standing issue has remained my number one priority since returning to Congress,” said Rep. Cisneros. “The Duty Status Reform Act is a bipartisan, bicameral solution that will bolster our readiness and improve our servicemembers’ lives by giving them predictability, pay parity, and hard-earned points towards TRICARE and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. I am thankful to Senators Moran and Rosen for leading the Senate’s efforts on this complex issue, and I look forward to working with partners in Congress, the administration, and the Department of Defense to get this legislation across the finish line.”

Specifically, the Duty Status Reform Act would:

• Standardize pay and benefits;

• Improve deployment readiness by clearly outlining mission eligibility requirements;

• Provide servicemembers and commanders with greater clarity on the duties servicemembers can perform before extensions are required;

• Ease transitions as servicemembers move from one status to another; and

• Improve consistency in Veterans’ benefits eligibility for Guard members by reducing disparities resulting from differing duty statuses.

The legislation would create four duty statuses:

• Category 1: Active Duty – war, national emergency, disaster response, cyber/WMD events, presidential call-ups and pre-planned missions.

• Category 2: Active Duty – disciplinary jurisdiction, missing status, required active-duty training and Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) functions.

• Category 3: Reserve Component Duty – required annual training, musters, Inactive Duty Training (IDT)-like duties and additional training with consent.

• Category 4: Remote Assignments – flexible tasks, online learning and individually assigned non-supervised duties.

“The National Guard has become an indispensable operational force for this country, but the duty status system has not kept pace with the way our Soldiers and Airmen serve today,” said Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Francis M. McGinn, President, National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS). “Duty Status Reform will reduce administrative burdens, simplify a system that has become too complex, and make the Guard easier to access and employ when the nation needs us most. NGAUS is grateful to Senators Moran and Rosen for their leadership, and we are encouraged by the broad bipartisan support behind this legislation. That momentum reflects a growing recognition that the Guard deserves a modern system that matches the reality of its service.”

“Duty Status Reform replaces a burdensome maze of statutory authorities governing reserve service with a clear, predictable framework, allowing the military to operate faster and directly tying service to defined pay and benefit entitlements,” said Maj. Gen. (Ret.) John Hashem, CEO, Reserve Organization of America (ROA). “It ensures uniform benefit accrual, reduces record disputes, and delivers equal DoD/W and VA benefits for identical service. ROA thanks Senators Rosen and Moran for introducing the Duty Status Reform Act and urges the 119th Congress to enact it into law.”

“The Duty Status Reform Act is about ensuring our National Guard members can focus on the mission – not the patchwork of benefits, entitlements, and protections tied to the type of orders they are serving under. Whether responding to wildfires, hurricanes, civil emergencies, overseas deployments, or national security missions, Guardsmen answer the call without hesitation,” said Chief Master Sgt. Josh J. Baker, President, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS). “They should not have to stop and wonder whether the orders they were placed on will impact their healthcare coverage, pay protections, retirement credit, or family support programs. HR 6976 moves us closer to a more equitable and modern system that recognizes the operational reality of today’s National Guard. EANGUS strongly supports this legislation because taking care of our service members and their families strengthens readiness, improves retention, and allows Guardsmen to remain fully focused on serving their state and nation.”

“For the Marine Corps Reserve, the Duty Status Reform Act represents a long-overdue transition from a legacy Cold War administrative framework to a model that reflects the high-tempo, operational reality of the 21st-century Reserve Component. Our Reserve Marines are no longer a ‘force in waiting’; they are a force in execution, seamlessly integrating with the active component to meet global contingencies,” said Col. (Ret.) Ken Hopper, President & CEO, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA). “Streamlining these statuses ensures that pay, healthcare, and retirement credit are tied to the service itself, rather than a confusing array of statutory authorities. This legislation is a critical step in removing the ‘bureaucratic fog’ that distracts from lethality and readiness. The Marine Corps Reserve Association fully supports this reform because it honors the sacrifice of our Citizen-Marines and provides their families with the stability and equity they have earned through their selfless service to the Corps and the Country.”

“Guard and Reserve members have long navigated a maze of 30 duty status classifications that created confusion, large administrative burdens, errors, and in some cases pay and benefit inequities,” said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Brian Kelly, President & CEO, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). “The introduction of this Senate companion legislation marks a critical step toward delivering the clarity these servicemembers deserve. MOAA applauds Senators Moran and Rosen for championing this reform and urges swift action to get it across the finish line.”