Fayetteville Observer - How the Defense Act Affects Fort Bragg, Military Families

Op-Ed

By Rep. Tillis

This week, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act legislation that funds our military and provides a much-needed pay raise for our men and women in uniform.

I worked directly with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain and the Ranking Member Jack Reed to secure several provisions in the NDAA that will directly benefit Fort Bragg and our military community.

One of my provisions will assist in expediting the extension of Pope Field's runway, which is needed to fully support the rapid deployment capabilities of America's Global Response Force. Currently, the runway has an 8,500 foot takeoff length. However, fully loaded C-17s and C-5s require a takeoff length of 10,500 feet, and 11,500 feet, respectively.

The extension is long overdue. In fact, prior to the latest round of base realignment and closures, the extension of Pope Field's runway was Air Mobility Command's number one airfield project, and the Air Force's number two project. My provision would require the secretary of the army to work with Fort Bragg leaders to submit a report to the Senate and indicate whether the project is a priority for the Army, which I am confident they will affirm.

The Senate version of the NDAA also contains desperately needed overhauls to TRICARE, aimed at improving health care options and outcomes for active-duty service members, reservists and their family members. Included in the TRICARE reform package are several provisions I originally proposed to increase collaboration between the military and the private sector.

One will establish high performance military-civilian integrated health delivery systems that will promote innovation in military treatment facilities and improve access to specialized medical care.

Another will require the Department of Defense to enter into performance-based contracts with the private sector to improve the delivery of health-care services at military facilities that have limited ability and resources to provide primary care or expanded-hours urgent care.

My TRICARE reform provisions will open the door to many new military-private sector partnerships in North Carolina, potentially including one between the Womack Army Medical Center and the Cape Fear Valley Health System, which will help ensure the Fort Bragg community always has access to timely and quality health care options.

In an effort to strengthen military families, I also secured an amendment that will eliminate the two-year time limit for military spouses to seek federal employment following their notification of a permanent change of station. Considering the tremendous demands of raising children, adjusting to new surroundings, and the tenuous availability of federal jobs, it's simply unfair for military spouses to miss consideration for employment because of an arbitrary time limit. My amendment will provide them with more flexibility to pursue federal employment at a time that is most convenient for them and their families.

While I'm pleased that that these provisions are included in the Senate version of the NDAA, I'm disappointed that the White House has already issued a threat to veto the final conference version of the bill.

The White House objects to the NDAA's inclusion of a ban on the president's ability to transfer dangerous terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, and that it doesn't give the president the authority to enact additional base closures. However, the White House's most ridiculous objection to the NDAA is that it would expend too many resources to fundamentally reform the TRICARE system.

Apparently, the same president who didn't blink an eye when adding $8.4 trillion to our national debt over the last eight years has now suddenly become a budget hawk when it comes to modernizing and improving the health care offered to our service members and their families. There are few better examples of absurdity in our political system.

It is my hope that President Obama will come to his senses and not play politics with such vital bipartisan legislation. The NDAA supports our troops and their families and will strengthen the readiness capabilities of North Carolina's soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors. It needs to be signed into law.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is a Republican from North Carolina.

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