Veterans
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The bill, AB 46, was introduced earlier this year by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) who also authored a similar measure last year that did not make it out of the Assembly.
“I’m not one to give up on something I think is important,” Ramos said. “California is the only state to tax the pensions of our military personnel. We need to make the state more veteran friendly and honor the many sacrifices of our armed services personnel and their spouses.”
AB 46 tax benefits would begin on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2034.
Esmeralda Soria, chairperson of the Assembly Committee of the Military and Veterans Affairs Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) and a joint author said: “I am proud to be a co-author on this important legislation that supports retired veterans and retains them in California.”
Ramos said the tax relief would help make California more veteran friendly. “Military retirees bring benefits to our state such as stability, job skills used in second careers, and federal funding. These men and women served our nation in a variety of valuable capacities, and they and their families have frequently done so at great personal sacrifice. California needs to more fully acknowledge the contributions they make.”
Jeffrey Breiten, retired Naval Officer and member of the California Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America, endorsed the Ramos measure. “I want to thank Assemblymember James Ramos for his efforts. California is the only state in the nation that fails to provide an exemption on military retirement from state income taxes. California is home to the largest number of active-duty military personnel in the country, yet California’s military retiree population has realized a steady decline dating back to 2010. Military retirees contribute to the state's workforce development where they chose to retire. Our state loses out on millions of dollars in federal funds that follow military retirees after retirement.”
AB 46 is sponsored by the Military Officers Association of America and the California Council of Chapters Affiliated Military Officers Association of America. It is also supported by the San Diego Military Advisory Council, Orange Empire Military Officers Club, California Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, California State Commanders Veterans Council, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, and individual chapters of the military officers association.
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- Written by: VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Biden-Harris administration and VA are proud to implement this rule, which is estimated to impact approximately 25,000 American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.
Under this new policy, VA will reimburse copayments paid on or after Jan. 5, 2022, and waive future copayments for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.
Beginning Tuesday, April 4, veterans can submit documentation to qualify for the copayment exemption.
Eligible veterans include any veteran who meets the definitions of “Indian” or “urban Indian” under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act — including veterans who are members of an American Indian Tribe, certain veterans who are descendants of Tribe members, Alaska Native veterans and more.
“American Indian and Alaska Native veterans deserve access to world-class health care for their courageous service to our nation,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “By eliminating copays, we are making VA health care more affordable and accessible — which will lead to better health outcomes for these heroes.”
To receive this financial relief, eligible Veterans should mail 1) a completed VA Tribal Documentation Form (VA Form 10-334), and 2) a copy of official tribal documentation demonstrating that they meet the definitions of “Indian” or “urban Indian” to PO Box 5100, Janesville, WI 53547.
For more information on copayment waivers for Native American and Alaska Native veterans, visit here.
VA posted a final rule for public inspection in the Federal Register today establishing the waiver and process for Veterans to submit documentation to have their VA copays waived. This rule implements Section 3002 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 Public Law 116-315, signed into law Jan. 5, 2021.
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- Written by: VETERANS AFFAIRS
The new clinic, Santa Rosa VA Clinic South opened on Aug. 15.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
The new South Santa Rosa Clinic, located at 2285 Challenger Way, is the culmination of years of work.
Planning for the clinic has taken several years and construction of the $12 million clinic began in 2020.
It will not replace the existing VA clinic at 3841 Brickway Blvd. in the Airport Business Center north of Santa Rosa, but instead will add more services to complement those already offered to Sonoma County veterans.
“We’re very excited to have this clinic open and operational,” said Jia Li, Acting San Francisco VA Health Care System director. “We are now able to offer a multitude of services for our Veterans in a modern, healing environment. With two clinics now in Santa Rosa, many more Veterans will now have access to care right in their backyard, saving them the lengthy trip to San Francisco.”
The new clinic is just under 58,000 square feet, and this expanded footprint will allow for a dynamic team model for primary care, as well as provide ample space to expand mental health and other specialty care services.
Services available at the new Santa Rosa VA South Clinic include primary care, podiatry, dermatology, vascular, mental health, social work, women’s health, physical therapy, chiropractor, acupuncture, prosthetics, telemedicine, orthopedics, radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, member services and patient advocate.
The existing Santa Rosa VA Clinic, now named the Santa Rosa VA North Clinic, will remain operational and will provide audiology, optometry, supportive housing services (HUD VASH), member services, occupational therapy mobility, dental, home based primary care and veterans justice outreach.
The San Francisco VA Health Care System, or SFVAHCS, is a comprehensive network that provides health services to Veterans through the San Francisco VA Medical Center, or SFVAMC and community-based outpatient clinics in Oakland, Santa Rosa, Eureka, Ukiah, Clearlake, San Bruno and downtown San Francisco.
It has a long history of conducting cutting edge research, establishing innovative medical programs, and providing compassionate care to veterans.
The SFVAHCS has been affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco, or UCSF, School of Medicine for over 60 years. All physicians are jointly recruited by SFVAMC and UCSF School of Medicine.
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- Written by: Operation Tango Mike
Operation Tango Mike, Operation Thanks Much, is an all volunteer nonprofit that ships monthly care packages to deployed military personnel.
Since 2003, the group has shipped more than 24,000 care packages.
There will be prizes, raffles and more. Anyone bringing a donation item for military care packages will receive a shopping discount, and a portion of the day’s sales will be donated to Operation Tango Mike.
Suggested donation items include nuts, jerky, tuna pouches, protein bars, individual drink mixes, stick deodorant, foot/body powder and lip balm.
Hallmark owner Linda Banfill is a staunch supporter of Operation Tango Mike, and her sons were care package recipients during their Marine Corps deployments.
Come check out the beautifully remodeled store, see the new inventory and support the troops!
For further information or to add someone to the care package recipient list, please call 707-349-2838, e-mail
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- Written by: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
“Sexual assault is not a women’s issue; it’s a crime that can happen to anyone,” said Dr. Catherine Novotny, military sexual trauma, or MST, recovery coordinator at VANCHCS. “Veterans who experienced MST don’t have to heal alone. No matter how long it’s been, VA is here to help.”
Every April, VANCHCS joins the nation in recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or SAAM, and highlighting recovery support for those who may be suffering.
The goal is to reach former military service members who may not know VA resources exist or if they are eligible to use them.
Eligibility for VA MST treatment is broader than for most other VA health care services. Veterans do not need to have reported the incident when it occurred or have documentation to receive care.
In 2021, VANCHCS provided MST-related treatment to 2,409 Veterans across Northern California.
VANCHCS general mental health teams provide individual and group therapy and referrals for national VA MST residential programs. Veterans can also access web and app-based recovery tools and attend video appointments from home.
Northern California Veterans who would like to learn about VA support may call 925-372-2554 or visit www.va.gov/northern-california-health-care/programs/military-sexual-trauma-care.
Information about VA’s national MST-related services is available at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This is the first legislation ever introduced in Congress to require the U.S. Department of Defense — the largest institutional consumer of petroleum in the world — to purchase all-electric or zero-emission vehicles.
Garamendi’s bill would apply to all future non-tactical vehicles purchased and leased for the Department of Defense, such as passenger cars, vans, or light-duty trucks. It would not apply to vehicles used in combat or warzones, like Humvees.
“We have a responsibility–as a nation and within our military–to make thoughtful purchases that address the climate crisis,” said Garamendi (D-CA-03). “Transitioning the military’s enormous fleet of passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and vans with internal combustion engines to American-made electric and zero-emission vehicles is a common-sense way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I plan to make this critical legislation a top priority in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. The United States Postal Service and other federal agencies must also transition towards an electric vehicle fleet, and I plan to see the military do the same for non-tactical vehicles,” concluded Congressman Garamendi.
In December 2021, the Biden White House published its Federal Sustainability Plan, indicating that 56 percent of the federal government’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from the U.S. Department of Defense. In November 2021.
According to the General Services Administration (GSA), the U.S. military currently has more than 174,000 nontactical vehicles across the 5 service branches, including the Coast Guard, and the various defense agencies. That is the second-largest share of the overall federal vehicle fleet, after the Postal Service at more than 225,000 vehicles.
The “Military Vehicle Fleet Electrification Act” (H.R.7379) would:
• For fiscal year 2023 (October 1, 2022) and thereafter, require that all non-tactical vehicles purchased or leased for the U.S. military be electric or zero-emission vehicles, as much as practicable.
• Apply the strongest possible “Buy American” requirements to all non-tactical vehicles purchased or leased for the U.S. military.
• Ensure that electric vehicle components, including batteries, are not sourced from hostile foreign countries like the People's Republic of China or Russia.
• Require that all electric vehicles purchased or leased for the U.S. military employ interoperable charging ports and connectors, per industry standards.
• Apply to both direct procurement by the U.S. Department of Defense and any non-tactical vehicles for which the General Services Administration acts as the procurement or leasing agent, on behalf of the Department of Defense.
• Build upon the $5 billion to convert the federal vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, including non-tactical vehicles used by the DOD, included in the House-passed “Build Back Better Act” (H.R.5376).
National Endorsements: Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) and SAFE’s Commanding Heights Initiative, National Electrical Contractors Association, Natural Resources Defense Council; National Mining Association; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs).
The full text of the “Military Vehicle Fleet Electrification Act” (H.R.7379) is available here.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
SB 1311, jointly authored by Sen. Talamantes Eggman and Pro Tem Atkins, and sponsored by Attorney General Bonta, stems from the California Department of Justice’s investigation and prosecution of businesses that have targeted service members and military families.
It also draws from previous discussions between the Attorney General and military personnel, JAG legal assistance attorneys, command financial counselors, and other members of the military and veterans community, including a July 2021 roundtable event at Naval Base San Diego.
If passed, the bill would establish stronger consumer protection laws for California’s service members.
“Military life and deployment place unique demands on service members and their families,” said Bonta. “With SB 1311, we are looking to shore up California’s military consumer protection laws to better serve our military community. I commend Senator Talamantes Eggman and Senate President pro Tempore Atkins for their leadership and efforts to implement stronger consumer protections for our military. Our brave service members and their families deserve nothing but our unwavering support, which is why I am honored to announce my sponsorship of this important legislation.”
“As a veteran myself, and coming from a family with a long history of service, I am familiar with how the very nature of serving in the military creates vulnerabilities to consumer scams and unfair business practices,” said Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman. “This legislation will provide service members with the consumer protections they need and deserve.”
“Given the extraordinary sacrifices veterans, active duty service members, and their families make in service to our nation, they should have confidence that they are protected from unfair and exploitative business practices, and have consumer protections befitting the unique circumstances of their service,” said Pro Tem Toni Atkins. “This bill will go a long way towards strengthening that assurance.”
SB 1311 draws from the Department of Justice’s experience protecting and working with military families in California. The Attorney General’s Office also sponsored Assembly Bill 3212 (Irwin), similar legislation unanimously approved by the Legislature in 2018 to expand consumer protections for California service members. Like that bill, SB 1311 seeks to strengthen California’s existing military consumer protection laws.
If signed into law, SB 1311 would, among other things:
• Establish the right to appear remotely, or through another military member, in small claims cases seeking the return of an improperly withheld security deposit;
• Make it illegal for a business to access the sensitive personal information stored on chip-based military ID cards (called Common Access Cards or CACs), or from using those cards to access sensitive military pay and personnel websites;
• Clarify existing law, which allows members of the Guard and Reserve to defer payments on mortgages and other obligations during a deployment, to ensure that interest is not accrued on a deferred mortgage obligation during the period of deferment;
• Prohibit businesses from offering military discounts that are conditioned on the service member or veteran waiving their rights under federal or state law;
• Amend state law regarding security interests to prevent businesses from taking advantage of a loophole and denying service members the full protections of the federal Military Lending Act;
• Impose enhanced civil penalties for violations of the Unfair Competition Law (UCL) perpetrated against service members and veterans;
• Enhance the ability of service members to terminate auto leases when they are reassigned or deployed; and
• Provide enlisted service members at the rank of E-5 (an Army, Marine Corps, or Space Force Sergeant, an Air Force Staff Sergeant, or a Navy or Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class), or below, who are all too often the targets of predatory auto sales practices, with an automatic 30-day cooling off period for auto purchases and leases to allow them to return the purchased or leased vehicle.
For more information about SB 1311, click here.
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- Written by: Office of Assemblymember James C. Ramos
“I thank Speaker Rendon for this new assignment and the privilege of serving our state’s military and veterans communities,” Ramos said. “I look forward to working even more closely with veterans and armed forces groups from around California in this new role.”
The committee’s primary jurisdictions are the Cal-Vet loan program, state Department of Veterans Affairs, California National Guard and veterans.
“Congratulations Assemblyman James Ramos,” said Colonel James M. Durant III, U. S. Air Force Ret.”Today marks a significant turn in California’s dedication to veterans and Veterans Affairs under your astute and highly effective leadership. You will bring the measure of change and hope that veterans so desperately need from a grateful state and country. I am honored to call you my dear friend and colleague of over 50 years, and I salute you.”
Jeffrey Breiten, past commandant, Marine Corps League Detachment 1459, said, "Assemblymember James Ramos' selection as the chair of the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee is great news for the 1.8 million veterans who call California home. Assemblymember Ramos has a proven track record of ensuring all California veterans have access to the resources and benefits provided to them by CAL-Vet.” He added, “Congratulations Assemblymember Ramos on your selection, and thank you for your proven commitment to our veterans across this great state."
Ramos proudly represents the 40th Assembly district which includes Highland, Loma Linda, Mentone, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and San Bernardino. He is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature.
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- Written by: Editor
The annual legislation supports all aspects of the United States military, including all personnel, installations, and equipment for our national defense.
The legislation now heads to the United States Senate, which is expected to also pass the bill and send it to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
As chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Garamendi authored the Readiness Subcommittee’s provisions in the final NDAA. Garamendi also secured funding for several key projects at Travis and Beale Air Force Bases in his Congressional District.
Specifically, the final legislation includes $33 million for Beale’s 940 ARW Squad Operations and Maintenance Complex and provides $13 billion for military construction projects nationwide, building upon the $295.7 million in ongoing military construction projects Garamendi secured for Travis Air Force Base.
Additionally, Garamendi helped secure $20 million in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, or ISR, planning and design funds to help build facilities like the Multi-Doman Operations Complex at Beale Air Force Base.
“I am pleased that Congress has once again come together to address critical issues facing our service members and the more than 1,000 military installations worldwide,” Garamendi said. “As Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, I am requiring the military to be an ally in the fight against the climate crisis and reduce unnecessary fossil fuel use across the U.S. military. Our bill aggressively identifies and cleans up Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances contamination at military installations to protect our service members and neighboring communities. This issue is close to home for me, as high levels of PFAS contaminants were found at Travis Air Force Base in my district.”
“This year’s NDAA includes strong provisions to reverse the precipitous rise in military training deaths throughout the service branches in recent years, which are avoidable and completely unacceptable. I’ve held three hearings on this matter as Chair of the Readiness Subcommittee, including a May 2021 hearing that included powerful testimony from bereaved families of service members who died due to preventable training mishaps. The Readiness Subcommittee’s contributions to this year’s NDAA will transform the military command’s culture of neglect into a culture of safety by establishing a joint safety council and accident investigation review board to fully investigate training accidents and prevent similar incidents in the future,” Garamendi continued.
“I’m also pleased that several of my amendments to the NDAA to unlock new military resources to help fight wildfires were adopted in the legislation. As California’s wildfire season continues to become longer and deadlier, all available military resources should be utilized to help track and fight fires,” Garamendi continued.
“This year’s NDAA also improves childcare facilities on bases to ensure military families have the quality childcare and daycare support they deserve. Our bill also updates the ‘Tenant’s Bill of Rights’ that I established last year to provide good-quality on-base housing for service members and their families,” Garamendi continued.
“Throughout the NDAA markup process, I fought to support several ‘Buy American’ amendments that were introduced at the hearing to ensure the military uses American materials and workers to the extent possible. I’m pleased that several of those provisions were included in this legislation,” Garamendi concluded.
Specifically, this year’s Readiness Subcommittee’s contributions to the NDAA address:
Climate change and resiliency:
Installation Master-planning: Requires each military service branch to complete installation master plans at two of their most at-risk installations within one year.
Microgrids: Requires the Defense Department to amend the on-base building codes to incorporate microgrids early in the planning process, including renegotiating contracts for existing on-installation renewable energy projects to enhance installation resiliency during power disruptions.
Energy efficiency targets for defense data centers: Requires the DOD to assess energy and water usage at existing data centers and set conservation goals for new data centers.
Requires DOD to assess strategic vulnerabilities to climate change: Adds a climate and extreme weather facility resiliency assessment to the existing annual reporting requirement on the health of the organic industrial base, which supports American manufacturing.
Quality of Life Infrastructure, Family Housing, and Working Mothers
Effective oversight of military privatized housing: Requires that performance evaluations of certain officers and enlisted personnel with duties related to military privatized housing include an assessment of the extent to which the individual exercised effective oversight and leadership of military privatized housing.
Improves child development centers and child care for military families: Requires the military departments to conduct regular safety inspections and develop 10-year facility improvement plans for child development centers on bases.
Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization projects: Requires the Defense Department to spend at least 5% of total building cost for repairing and improving FSRM facilities like barracks and dormitories.
Supports active-duty Coast Guard members: Adds the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) society to the list of mutual aid societies eligible to receive enhanced support from a military organization.
Preventing avoidable training deaths and building a culture of safety:
New Joint Safety Council: Establishes a DOD Joint Safety Council responsible for overseeing all operational safety matters and establishing better safety standards.
Accident Investigation Review Board: Establishes a DOD Accident Investigation Review Board to improve oversight and independent review of mishap investigations.
Plan to prevent tactical vehicle training accidents: Requires the Army and Marine Corps to implement the recommendations contained in the Government Accountability Offices’ investigative report on tactical vehicle mishaps.
Environmental Cleanup and PFAS Policy:
AFFF spill prevention: Requires best practices to prevent or mitigate AFFF spills.
National Guard Access to Defense Environmental Cleanup Funds: Allows DOD funding to be used for all environmental restoration and cleanup activities at National Guard installations, which are jointly controlled by the military and state governments.
Public Disclosure of Results of DOD Testing for PFAS: Builds on provisions from previous NDAAs to increase transparency with defense communities impacted by PFAS contamination. Includes Reps. Garamendi and Elissa Slotkin’s (D-MI) “Military PFAS Testing Disclosure Act” (H.R.4339).
Contested logistics and operational energy:
Contested Logistics Working Group: Creates a working group of program planners, energy staff, joint staff, and geographic combatant commands to enhance the integration of military department energy initiatives into operational planning and platform development.
Operational energy: Requires DOD to assess and report on alternative fuels, including hydrogen, that can be used by the military instead of fossil fuels.
Global bulk fuel management and delivery: Requires the Secretary of Defense to designate a Combatant Command as the agency responsible for global bulk fuel storage, delivery, and distribution; directs the so-designated Combatant Command to conduct a strategy on the infrastructure and programs necessary to optimally support global bulk fuel management of the Department of Defense.
Supports military working dogs: Includes Congressman Garamendi’s “Support Our Military Working Dogs Act” (H.R.1739), which directs DOD to pay fees associated with the transfer of adopted dogs to the adoption agency or individual; Also allows the DOD’s Joint Trauma Education and Training Directorate to provide veterinary care and services for military working dogs and their veterinary caretakers.
Burn pits: Prohibit the use of open-air burn pits during overseas contingency operations unless an exemption is issued by the Secretary of Defense for a particular location and exigent reason. Improves public transparency of burn pits usage by requiring Congressional notification detailing the location, size, duration, and need of the burn pit, the number of personnel assigned to the location, and the personal protective equipment or other methods that will be used by those personnel to mitigate the health effects of said pit.
Additionally, Garamendi successfully added the following provisions to the NDAA at Armed Services Committee markup or on the House floor in September:
Combating wildfires: Garamendi successfully added the following amendments from his “Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act” (H.R.5560) to the NDAA to allow U.S. military assets to be used in the fight against wildfires throughout the nation:
• Reauthorizing the FireGuard program with the California National Guard to use satellite tracking technology to track and fight California’s wildfires.
• Directing the Department of Defense to implement its own recommendations on improving the use of unmanned aircraft systems by the National Guard, from Congressionally directed report.
• Requiring the DOD to include the accounting of costs for wildfire response in the annual budget request to Congress, including military support for states and FEMA/federal land management agencies. Current law only requires DOD to account for climate adaptation and mitigation costs on U.S. military installations in the President’s annual budget request.
• Removing the arbitrary cap on the number of excess military aircraft that DOD may transfer at no cost to DHS (FEMA) or the U.S. Forest Service for firefighting. Current law only allows DOD to transfer 7 excess military aircraft. Requires an annual report to Congress by DOD on transfers of excess military aircraft authorized by prior NDAA’s.
• Requiring the DOD/OMB to review existing authorities for using Air Force and Air National Guard modular airborne fire-fighting systems and other military assets to fight wildfires. Then requires an update to the 2004 Congressionally directed report on any changes to the law needed to enhance those authorities.
Civil Reserve Air Fleet: Garamendi also successfully added an amendment to the legislation that strengthens transparency and oversight of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) to ensure that military air charter contracts go to US-based airlines.
Honoring veterans: Garamendi successfully added an amendment to the legislation that authorizes the Maritime Administrator to use appropriated funds to purchase duplicate medals authorized under Congressman Garamendi’s Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–125). This awards the Congressional Gold Medal — one of our nation’s highest honors — to the Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II.
Creating local jobs: The legislation includes Reps. Garamendi and Andy Kim’s (D-NJ) “Put Our Neighbors to Work Act” (H.R.6764). This legislation creates more local jobs for military construction projects by increasing transparency and awareness of contracting and subcontracting business opportunities for multi-million-dollar military construction projects.
DOD Joint Task Forces on Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Extends the U.S. Department of Defense’s authority to interagency Joint Task Forces coordinate actions by the military and federal agencies on counter-narcotics, counterterrorism, or counter-transnational organized crime activities. Congressman Garamendi has introduced legislation (H.R.5862) to permanently reauthorize these DOD Joint Task Forces and expand them to combat wildfire poaching and trafficking.
