The 118th Congress will return to Capitol Hill the week of Dec. 2 and is set to end its work on or before Dec. 20. Lawmakers in this lame-duck session have a long list of tasks left to accomplish in that short span, many of which will affect the pay and benefits of those who serve and have served, their families, and their survivors.

As legislators and their staffs scramble, MOAA will continue its work across multiple channels to preserve service-earned benefits and strengthen military readiness. While this will take many forms – from supporting new legislation near the end of the session to pushing older bills past the finish line – three key priorities are taking shape as the year winds down.

Here’s a look at these areas, what the outcomes might mean for you in the coming year and beyond, and how you can support MOAA’s efforts. Keep up with the latest on all these issues and more at MOAA’s Advocacy News page.

The NDAA

What: The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) serves as a vehicle for many MOAA-backed legislative priorities, and the FY 2025 version is no exception. The House-passed version includes:

• A 15% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers, in addition to the 4.5% pay boost for all ranks – a meaningful step toward strengthening the current and future force.
  
  
• A restoration of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to cover 100% of housing costs, albeit for a single year; an expansion of the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) to reach more lower-income servicemembers; and a review of Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) rates aimed at assisting military families.
  
  
• TRICARE updates such as adding pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) under a pilot program, and improvements designed to align family planning benefits with commercial plans.
  
  
• Family support ranging from more in-home child care locations to better benefits for DoD child care employees to flexibility for federally employed military spouses seeking to keep their position during a PCS move.

[RELATED: MOAA Leads Effort to Address Military Spouse Employment Challenges in Federal Workforce]

So What: The first NDAA passed Congress in 1961, and an annual bill has passed every year since. But the final form of this year’s legislation is far from clear – the full Senate did not vote on its version and likely will vote on a compromise bill instead. MOAA will remain active in these negotiations, ensuring lawmakers do not strip or weaken critical provisions as part of any rushed compromise.

Now What: MOAA members should remain engaged with their representatives on the many important issues that make up the NDAA. MOAA’s Legislative Action Center offers several prewritten messages that can be sent with only a few clicks and convey your feelings as a constituent; these messages can be personalized for a greater impact:

• Support a Substantial Pay Raise for Junior Enlisted
• Support a TRICARE Pregnancy QLE Pilot Program
• Pay Full Housing Costs for Servicemembers

The Budget

What: Continuing a trend lasting decades, Congress did not pass a budget before the end of the fiscal year and instead put forth a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government running. That resolution runs out Dec. 20 – just before the end of the congressional session – meaning lawmakers will need to pass a full budget by that point, pass another CR … or allow the government to shut down.

So What: A shutdown would prove disastrous for servicemembers who’d work without pay, and for veterans and retirees seeking care and benefits from agencies which would be working with only the most essential personnel available. But a follow-up CR comes with its own long list of problems – misaligned funds leading to waste across DoD and other departments, a full stop on new construction that could benefit quality of life programs, and potential disruptions to training and other military activities which would denigrate mission readiness.

[RELATED: Readiness, Benefits Remain Under Threat Despite Short-Term Budget Fix]

Now What: By passing full DoD and VA appropriations as part of a comprehensive (if overdue) FY 2025 budget, lawmakers can show their true commitment to supporting our servicemembers and veterans. MOAA will continue its work with the 118th Congress on this issue and stands ready to press the 119th Congress to move faster on these critical budget bills to avoid uncertainty and confusion for the wider uniformed services community.

The Dole Act

What: Many of Congress’ year-end legislative priorities will take the form of omnibus bills, and the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371) is a prime example. The Dole Act, supported by MOAA and more than 50 other organizations, represents a bipartisan bundle of veteran and caregiver benefit improvements that will provide a lifeline to some of those who need one the most – especially those who rely on VA benefits as their main source of support. Already long delayed, MOAA’s work to move the bill forward recently saw some success with overwhelming House passage Nov. 18.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Dole Act]

So What: The bill includes upgrades to all manner of support systems: Pilot programs designed to expand VA-provided assisted living options, improved at-home care for aging veterans, multiple improvements to caregiver support programs, and more important changes for homeless veterans, VA employment programs, survivor benefits, and suicide prevention efforts. Bottom line: The 118th Congress has yet to pass meaningful, wide-ranging veterans legislation since it was sworn in nearly two years ago, and veterans and their families cannot afford to see this bill fail to reach the president’s desk.

Now What: Unlike the must-pass NDAA and the looming shutdown, the Dole Act risks falling off the legislative radar during a busy year-end session. MOAA needs your help in keeping it top of mind for your legislators – send a message today on behalf of millions of fellow servicemembers, veterans, and caregivers who will (or soon could) benefit from these critical program improvements.