By MOAA Staff

Below, you'll find everything you need to take part in MOAA's 2019 Summer Storm. Please share this page -- MOAA.org/SummerStorm -- and its resources with others interested in joining the effort.

General Resources

Engage with your local officials: Find contact information for your representative and Senators on MOAA's Take Action page by typing your ZIP code into the field under "Find your elected officials" (on the right column for desktop users). While you are on the official’s page, scroll down to get the address for their closest office – call them and schedule your visit.

Send a message to Congress: MOAA's Call To Action links not only allow you to edit and send a pre-written letter to your lawmakers on these issues, it also provides MOAA with engagement data -- knowing how many Summer Stormers have sent these messages makes for good data to have when we make our pitches on the Hill. 

• Send a message asking Congress to End the Widows Tax.
• Send a message asking Congress to Protect Military Medicine. 

 

Also, be sure to call your member of Congress using MOAA’s toll-free Capitol Switchboard: 1-866-272-6622. Tell the operator you would like to leave a message for your member of Congress; suggested messages can be found at the bottom of this page. 

MOAA's call to action: Read more about the Summer Storm here. And watch and share this video:



GET SOCIAL: Use #MOAASummerStorm in your social-media posts about your Storming efforts. Don't forget to share them with MOAA; learn all about MOAA's social media platforms here. And feel free to use and share our seasonal logo.

More Resources: Ending the Widows Tax

• ISSUE PAPER: Download all the details on this unfair offset ... and the work underway to repeal it.
• VIDEO: Share this explainer with others to highlight MOAA's fight on behalf of surviving spouses.
• MORE VIDEO: WUSA9, the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., aired this report about the widows tax. Click to watch and to share with your social networks. 
• THEIR STORIES: The Impact of the Widows Tax: 3 Stories You Should Know
• MAKE THE CALL: A suggested message for your lawmaker (call them via MOAA’s toll-free Capitol Switchboard: 1-866-272-6622): 

  
  My name is _____________ and I live in ________.  I stand with the Military Officers Association of America and urge you to support language in the House-passed defense bill to end the Widows Tax on military survivors.
  
  Military survivors currently face financial penalties of up to $12,000 a year when they receive benefits from both DoD and the VA. These separate benefits are paid for separate reasons and shouldn’t been seen as “double dipping.” Please do all that you can to ensure the House language remains in the final version of the defense bill.
  
  Thank you.

 

More Resources: Protecting Military Medicine

• ISSUE PAPER: MOAA breaks down the effect these cuts could have on servicemembers, retirees, and their families. Download the details.
• VIDEO: Share this explainer with others to show the scope of the proposed reductions, and watch MOAA's recent Facebook town hall on the issue.
• THEIR VOICES: Three retired service surgeons general and a retired Army doctor share their deep concerns with DoD's plan. 
• MAKE THE CALL: A suggested message for your lawmaker (call them via MOAA’s toll-free Capitol Switchboard: 1-866-272-6622):  

  
  My name is_____________ and I live in ________.  I stand with the Military Officers Association of America and urge you to support language in the House-passed defense bill regarding DoD medical billet reductions.
  
  Congress needs to understand how the reduction of 18,000 military medical billets impacts the readiness of the force, their families, and all military beneficiaries in the communities where they live and work. This provision will halt these reductions pending a Congressional review. Please do all that you can to ensure the House language remains in the final version of the defense bill.
  
  Thank you.