Middle Tennessee Chapter - MOAA

MOAA Leaders descend en mass at the Capitol in Washington every year in Spring – this year on 15 April – for Advocacy-in-Action to draw special attention to items of legislation that impact our uniformed services community.  There are a LOT of issues going on all the time, but MOAA identifies a few for special attention.  Here are the four specifics for 2026:

• Shutdown Fairness Act (S.3168) supports those currently serving, including National Guard and reservists with continuity of pay during the periodic shutdowns awaiting continuing resolutions.

• Military Care Act (HR.6796) supports all TRICARE beneficiaries who experience problems getting access to care or the care itself with a standard way to report the problems and seek out resolution.

• Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act, acronym is GUARD, (HR.1732) to protect beneficiaries from dealing with unaccredited representatives who then defraud the VA system.  The goal is for individuals seeking assistance with VA services to receive that assistance from professional providers so that better care is delivered and the VA is not defrauded.

• Major Richard Starr Act (S.1032 & HR.2102) to amend Title 10USC, to provide for concurrent receipt of veterans’ disability compensation and retired pay for disability retirees with combat-related disabilities.  While this is heavily sponsored by legislators, it never quite gets across the finish line.  There is supposed to be a Senate vote on this bill on March 3^rd, so hopefully this is the year to get it through.

You can read greater details in Military Officer magazine, March issue, page 20 and following on page 26.  Our MOAA impact increases significantly when the officials and their staffers know that constituents care about these items and then we visit their offices; that is to say, we all have roles to play in pushing these matters forward.

When you visit the Advocacy section of the MOAA.org website, you surely notice how many issues there are and how some draw your attention more than others.  That is fine, because there is so much happening.  Please make special visits to the Advocacy section of the website this month to help make greater impact.  When you write do mention the bill numbers that are shown, because legislators and staffers understand that you have done your homework when they see that you know the bill numbers. I will report back on our visits in the May column.

CDR Ted Edwards, USN (Ret)

MTC Legislative Chair

CDR Ted Edwards, USN (Ret.)

MTC Legislative Chair

We are starting a new year, and Congress is back in session.  This seems like an opportune time to bring up the subject of legislative action in several ways.

First is the MOAA Legislative Action Center.  If you sign into the moaa.org website, there is a drop-down menu for Advocacy then you can choose the Legislative Action Center.  It will give you topics of interest from which you can choose and adapt letters on a range of topics.  Your zip code will enable forwarding the letters to our two senators and your specific representative.  There is an icon below letters to allow you to edit them and personalize them including adding your name to the signature line. 

Moving away from the generic text to individualize your note is a good idea to separate your letter from the pack.  There is a submit button, and not long after you will probably receive an email acknowledging your letter.  It is all quite easy to do, and there is no limit – so write often and vary the chosen topic.

Our chapter has a reputation for high level of advocacy activity.  It is one of many measures that supports our continuing Five Star chapter status.  That advocacy delivers not only impact for our congressional members getting supported by your participation but also for our Middle Tennessee Chapter as a whole.  Supporting critical benefits and advocacy issues on a regular basis pays dividends.  Even if you do not often make our monthly meetings, your participation in advocacy activities furthers our national level mission to “Never Stop Serving”.

Further to that matter, this is an election year for the whole House of Representatives.  The usual cycle of candidate announcements of primary elections will start soon.  You may know some of these potential candidates personally.  As the Advocacy system only addresses those elected and in office, how can you help the Chapter communicate with unelected candidates so that they know what matters to our chapter of officers and the larger veteran’s community.  How powerful would it be if aspiring candidates could have a sense of what we value and what matters to us?  Something to think about…

Tennessee "Veterans Day on the Hill" is 28 January.  Registration is open if you wish to attend. I know of a half dozen or so who plan to participate – myself among them – and you could as well.  Here is the website to learn and register:   https://tnvet.org/veteran-day-on-the-hill/information-on-attending

Happy 2026 to Everyone!

CDR Ted Edwards, USN (Ret.)

MTC Legislative Chair