Glenn Thompson: “Each year, Congress deliberately acts to craft, pass, and sign into law the National Defense Authorization Act, the…”

“Each year, Congress deliberately acts to craft, pass, and sign into law the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual policy bill for the U.S. Department of Defense. For the first time in 52 years, this may no longer be the case. This year, the House passed its version in June, while the Senate, again, dragged its feet. Fortunately, earlier this week, congressional leaders reached a compromise that will allow both Chambers to move forward. It includes an important amendment I offered accepted under the House version dealing with the Transitional Assistance Management Program, or TAMP, which offers health care coverage for servicemembers transitioning into civilian life. All too often, symptoms related to post-traumatic stress do not appear until 8 to 10 months after deployment. The amendment will extend coverage under TAMP by 180 days for all services rendered through telemedicine, which is critical, especially for those coping with mental injuries. As a father of an Active Duty soldier, I am hopeful we can bring this bill to the finish line and make good on our commitments to our troops and continue meeting our obligations around the world. ____________________”