MOAA’s Virtual Storming the Hill efforts are gaining traction within the House of Representatives.

Reps. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) are circulating a congressional letter urging House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) to ensure the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes language to stop planned cuts to military medical capacity.

Their letter clearly articulates MOAA’s position: The COVID-19 pandemic demands that medical readiness requirements be reassessed and updated with lessons learned based on our nation’s response to the coronavirus emergency. 

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your House Member to Sign the Letter TODAY]

Reps. Posey and Castor are circulating the letter for sign-on by other House members. The more members who sign, the greater the letter’s impact. The deadline for signatures is the close of business on Thursday, May 21.

Lead bipartisan effort and worked with MOAA @MilitaryOfficer to ensure Military Retirees have greater access to Military Treatment Facilities. #MOAAStorms pic.twitter.com/8UKK5eFWUL

— Bill Posey (@congbillposey) May 18, 2020

“Even before the COVID-19 emergency, we had concerns about downsizing the [military treatment facilities],” the letter reads. “Specifically, our constituents raised concerns about how the civilian community will absorb new patients with TRICARE. … [T]he Defense Health Agency needs to complete a review on how proposed reductions in care facilities will affect beneficiaries. This review should be completed before there is a reduction in medical billets or reduction in MTFs.”

Please continue MOAA’s Virtual Storming the Hill efforts by contacting your member of the House of Representatives and urging them to sign on to this important bipartisan Congressional letter.   

All plans to reduce military health system capacity must be re-evaluated in light of lessons learned from the whole-of-nation response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress and DoD must reassess planned cuts to military medicine based not only on surge capacity to address a national health emergency, but also the role of military medicine in medical research and development, as well as pandemic prevention efforts.

Thank you in advance for joining MOAA in this effort to protect access to medical care for servicemembers, retirees, their families, and survivors.