Senate Passes NDAA Amendment to Cover Additional Agent Orange
Presumptives
By: Cory Titus
The
Senate passed an amendment to its version of the FY 2021 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday that would add three medical conditions
to the
list of Agent Orange presumptives (https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/),
a MOAA-supported move that would expand benefits to tens of thousands of
Vietnam veterans.
The
amendment, introduced by Sen. Tester (D-Mont.) would add bladder cancer,
hypothyroidism, and Parkinson’s-like symptoms to the list. It passed
overwhelmingly by a vote of 94-6.
The
32 military and veterans organizations in support of this amendment sent
a letter last week to Senate and House leadership voicing the need to
care for these veterans. These organizations were supported by MOAA’s
grassroots efforts, which included thousands of messages sent in support.
Attention
now turns back to the House, where an identical amendment was proposed in a
bipartisan fashion by Reps. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Pete Stauber (R-Minn.),
along with 15 other cosponsors. That measure did not make it out of the House
Rules Committee, as it did not meet certain technical criteria for a floor
vote. However, with the provision included in the Senate’s version, the House
Rules Committee requirements are no longer applicable, and there is another
opportunity to include this provision in the final bill. With the House version
of the NDAA recently passed and the Senate’s final vote imminent, the next step
is for the chambers to work out differences in the NDAA conference.
File Your Taxes ... Even If You Can't Pay
By: Vera Wilson
July
15 was Tax Day 2020. As we all know, it was extended from the usual April 15
deadline because of the pandemic. Unfortunately, a not-so-small number of us
let the deadline pass without taking any action at all. I get it — you know you
owe money that you can’t pay, so rather than file and face the ugly truth, you
evade it by not filing at all. But here’s the problem: If you don’t file,
there’s a late-filing penalty. It’s usually a monstrous 5% of the taxes owed
for each month (or part of a month) that your return is late, up to five
months. If your return is over 60 days late, the minimum penalty is the smaller
of $435 of 100% of the tax owed. The maximum penalty is 25% of the unpaid tax. Compare
that to the less costly late payment penalty, which is only .5% of the taxes owed
for each month (or part of a month) that return is late. The rate increases to
1% after the IRS issues a final notice of intent to levy or seize property. The
maximum penalty is 25% of the unpaid tax.
So
let’s recap. Say you owe $2,000 and you file and pay four months out. You’ll
owe $435 for filing late, but you’ll only owe $40 for paying late
(plus interest). The definite takeaway is to file as soon as possible, even if
you can’t pay. Don’t let incomplete information keep you from filing — you can
always file an amended return. If you wait too long, the IRS will file a
substitute return for you and send you a tax bill, which is usually higher than
if you had prepared your taxes yourself.
Penalty
relief is available. Check
out the IRS website for reasons penalties can be waived (https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/penalty-relief). Interest
on the amount due will be charged until you pay (rates vary over time), and
it’s rarely waived. Servicemembers may qualify for an extension to file and pay
based on their military status. You must notify the IRS that your ability to
pay has been materially affected by your military service. Don’t forget to take
into account the penalties associated with not filing or paying your
state-level taxes. Sure you’re due a refund? No late filing penalties apply, so
take your time, but not too much. You have three years from the due date to
file.
Five Facts About REACH, the
VA’s New Anti-Suicide Effort
By: Tony Lombardo
The
White House and the VA launched a new national anti-suicide campaign this month
with an emphasis on supporting veterans.
The
REACH campaign is part of PREVENTS, the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans
and End a National Tragedy of Suicides, a three-year effort President Donald
Trump created by executive order in March 2019. MOAA supports PREVENTS, and we
called it a “much-needed call to action” in testimony delivered in Congress earlier this year. Here’s
what you need to know about the new campaign:
1.
What is REACH? It’s both an awareness campaign and a call to action – and not
just for veterans. VA states the mission is “to educate all Americans that
suicide is preventable and to encourage them to REACH to those in need to
provide hope. It also encourages people who are hurting to REACH to find help.”
2.
Who is leading the charge? The president’s executive order created
the PREVENTS Task Force, which includes leadership from VA Secretary Robert
Wilkie. Its lead ambassador is Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence
and mother of a Marine Corps officer.
“We
owe it to [veterans] and all Americans to play a critical role in preventing
suicide,” Pence said in a PREVENTS webinar July 8. “We’re facing an
epidemic of suicide right now.”
3.
What do the numbers say? Despite years of suicide prevention
efforts across DoD, the data reveal a sustained challenge that needs more
research and new solutions.
·
On average, 132 Americans die by suicide each day, accounting for
47,173 suicide deaths in 2017.
·
The number of veteran suicides exceeded 6,000 each year from
2008-2017.
·
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among all ages and the
second leading cause of death among those ages 10-34 in the United States.
4. Has COVID-19 affected efforts? If anything, the campaign is
well-timed. A PREVENTS Roadmap summary released in June notes, “The long-term
psychological stress resulting from the pandemic and the massive disruption to our
mental health delivery system threatened the mental health of those already
vulnerable and increased the likelihood that many more Americans would suffer —
resulting in a possible increase in deaths by suicide.”
5.
How can you get involved? Visit the REACH website, wearewithinreach.net
(https://www.wearewithinreach.net/). There you can sign up for campaign updates.
You’re encouraged to use the hashtag #REACHnow to “tell your network, it’s time
to REACH to prevent suicide.”