MOAA representatives discussed ongoing concerns in key areas during a recent meeting with professional staff from both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, part of our work to protect service-earned benefits in the face of budget constraints and a compressed congressional calendar.

The talks covered four key areas: unaccompanied housing, military spouse employment, military health system (MHS) access to care, and veterans exposed to toxins while in uniform. Professional staff on both committees characterized the year ahead as primarily defensive, with limited opportunity for advancing new legislative priorities.

They expressed the greatest openness to efforts reinforcing or improving existing policies — particularly in areas related to DoD health care. Other issues, such as unaccompanied housing and military spouse employment, were met with interest and constructive discussion, though committee staff acknowledged constraints that may limit broader legislative action this year.

Here's a look at what was discussed in the March session, and how you can keep up with progress on these critical issues.