Congressional Synopsis

Drug overdoses among military members dropped sharply in recent years, DOD report finds Overall active-duty fatal drug overdoses reached an eight-year low in 2023, according to a Pentagon study.

Fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses among U.S. service members dropped by more than 40% over a two-year span, the Defense Department said this week in a new report that found fentanyl-related deaths at a seven-year low.

Breakfast sandwiches sold at AAFES stores recalled

RECALL ALERT 🚨 If you’ve bought Lettieri’s Food to Go French Toast breakfast sandwiches; has or serves food to someone with a sesame allergy; and shops at Army & Air Force Exchange Services locations, we've got some bad news for you: Hearthside Food Solutions has issued a total recall.

It's real -- HR 1161. You can look it up at Congress.gov

Just a couple observations.
DoD not observing "identity months," but quietly released an email yesterday highlighting the accomplishments of an African-American Air Force nurse in the 1950s.

Music on the DoD Live site is now more peaceful; much less martial than it used to be.

Some Head Start childcare centers say they can't get federal funds. They're paying staff out of pocket and worried about closing: 'Folks are scared.' Childcare center employees told BI that they're locked out of their federal grants, leaving them unable to pay staff and other bills.

Childcare center employees told BI that they're locked out of their federal grants, leaving them unable to pay staff and other bills.

Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been unleashed on federal agencies. ProPublica is attempting to document who is working with him and what they are doing.

NEW: President Donald Trump has given Elon Musk sweeping authority to overhaul the U.S. government bureaucracy and its operations around the globe.

ProPublica confirmed the identities and roles of more than 20 key people affiliated with Musk.

Trump’s federal hiring freeze raises fears about VA medical care VA hires about 40,000 new workers every year to maintain operations at VA medical sites. It's unclear if that can continue under Trump's hiring halt.

What will Trump's federal worker hiring freeze mean for VA hospitals and staffing? www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

FWIW, women outnumber men 8-6 on the HASC military personnel subcommitee (its a 47-10 split in favor of men on the full committee) and there's an even split between veterans and non-veterans (both Fallon and Houlahan are vets).

I've been covering DC for a long time. First time I've seen a nominee asked about how many pushups he did this morning. Civility was stretched to the limit on the committee, especially among junior members.

HOLY 💩
I’m very surprised the Republicans went for it

Senators voting no: Baldwin, Booker, Braun, Kim, Lee, Markey, Merkley, Paul, Sanders, Schiff, Stabenow, Warren, Welch, & Wyden.

Senator Vance did not vote.

Republicans barely have a majority.

Congress finalizes sweeping bill to help veteran caregivers The measure to expand assistance for veteran caregivers easily passed both the House and Senate, and now heads to the White House to become law.

Breaking — Congress finalizes Dole Caregiver Act. It now heads to the White House to become law. Details here www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Coming up this afternoon -- House is expected to give its final stamp on the Dole Act, sweeping veterans legislation regarding caregiver benefits and community care options. The Senate approved it last week with technical changes. If the House OKs those, it heads to the White House to become law.

Virus responsible for respiratory illness is increasingly common in Tokyo area

The Japanese Health Ministry has reported higher than expected numbers of parvovirus B19 infections in and around Tokyo, according to an alert from U.S. Army Medical Department Activities-Japan.

Pentagon ups housing allowance for troops by about 5% The Defense Department will raise rates for the Basic Allowance for Housing for service members by an average of 5.4% beginning Jan. 1.

Housing allowance rates for service members will increase by an average of 5.4% beginning Jan. 1, the Defense Department announced.

Learn more:
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...

15 military veterans convicted of nonviolent crimes receive pardons Fifteen military veterans who were convicted of nonviolent crimes, including drug offenses, were granted pardons by President Joe Biden on Thursday.

Among those granted pardons Thursday by Joe Biden are 15 military veterans who were convicted of nonviolent crimes, including drug offenses. (from @svetashko.bsky.social)

A Coast Guard Commander Miscarried. She Nearly Died After Being Denied Care. U.S. service members have long faced strict limits on abortions, even when used to resolve miscarriages. Under federal law, the military will only pay for abortions in cases of rape, incest or to save the mother’s life.

NEW: The morning that Cmdr. Elizabeth Nakagawa was scheduled to have a D&C to remove fetal tissue after losing a very wanted pregnancy, she learned the surgery had been canceled because the military’s health insurance plan refused to pay for it.

propub.li/3BsQK3e

Each year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identifies improper payments as a major issue across the government. HOWEVER, this includes both over- and underpayments, as well as ones w/o sufficient documentation but the amount is right. It's not all fraud.

Elizabeth Warren, Josh Hawley Co-Sponsor Bill to Break Up Giant Health Care Conglomerates New legislation would force UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health and Cigna to each sell their pharmacies within three years.

Members of Congress are pushing legislation that threatens to break up some of the biggest U.S. health care conglomerates, including UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health, by forcing them to sell off their retail or mail-order pharmacies.

Lawmakers call for in-depth VA study on blast pressure injuries The 10-year research plan would examine blast injuries among veterans and offer suggestions for treatments.

Out today -- Sens. Moran and King are pushing for VA to study signs and treatments for blast overpressure injuries, saying the scope of the problem is still largely unknown.
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

No surprise -- Rep. Bost reappointed as chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for next session.

Medical care limits for transgender minors complicates defense bill A provision in the must-pass defense measure would block certain military medical care options for transgender youth.

Medical care restrictions for transgender minors in military families complicates defense bill
www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

This is why my son was reading Tom Clancy in middle school. My Dad was so happy to share his books with his grandson.

🚨🚨🚨REPORTER JOBS ALERT!🚨🚨🚨 We have not one but TWO jobs open, one in our South bureau and another in the Southwest bureau. Both fascinating regions that desperately need more investigative journalists: boards.greenhouse.io/propublica/j...

BLS unemployment data for November: 2.8% for all vets (2.8% in October), 3.1% for OIF/OEF era vets (3.2% in October), 4.2% for the nation (4.1% in October).

VA plans to expand caregiver benefits, postpone program discharges Rules surrounding VA's caregiver support have been in limbo for more than two years after families complained about harsh eligibility guidelines.

Out now -- VA unveils plans to expand eligibility for caregiver support services and promises fewer check-ins for participants. But it's unclear if the reforms will be continued by the next adminstration.
www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Chuck Schumer unanimously reelected as Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer was unanimously re-elected as Senate Democratic Leader on Tuesday as he aims to move the party forward.

Chuck Schumer was unanimously re-elected as Senate Democratic Leader on Tuesday as he aims to move the party forward.

Senate approves expanding jobs program to surviving spouses of fallen troops A Senate bill was approved Monday to expand a job counseling program created for disadvantaged veterans to provide free career services to surviving spouses of fallen service members.

A job counseling program created for disadvantaged veterans would be expanded to provide free career services to surviving spouses of fallen service members under a Senate bill approved Monday.

Learn more:
www.stripes.com/veterans/202...