The president of the country's largest association of military officers lauded the VA Mission Act during an interview Wednesday on the Government Matters television show.

Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret.), also discussed pay raises and veteran healthcare during the show, which will air on the Department of Defense' American Forces Network. For those who live in the Washington, D.C. metro area, the show will also appear on News Channel 8 on Wednesday at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. After it airs, the interview can be viewed on the Government Matters website.

The bipartisan VA Mission Act transforms the health system by consolidating seven existing community care programs into one, eliminating the Choice Act and integrating providers into a broader network that will expand veterans' access to care. It is expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump within the coming days.

More than 30 veteran service organizations, including MOAA, have been outspoken supporters of the VA Mission Act.

“There's really three pillars of the VA Mission Act that I think are particularly good,” Atkins said during the show.

• The bill will allow veterans to see doctors outside the VA network, ultimately expanding access to care.
• It will empower the VA to conduct an Asset Infrastructure Review in an effort to modernize and eliminate under-utilized facilities.
• And it will extend the VA caregiver program to veterans of all eras who are seriously disabled, rather than limiting benefits to those who fought in post-9/11 conflicts.

“Right now, benefits go to caregivers of post 9/11 veterans, and so the previous generations get no benefit at all,” Atkins said during the show. “I think the generation that probably is most in need is that Vietnam-era veteran. There's certainly evidence of that.”

While praising the benefits for veterans, Atkins said it's also important to provide appropriate pay and benefits to active-duty troops. He cited the defense spending bill's plan to increase pay by 2.6 percent and maintain basic housing allowances for troops.

“When you survey those that are coming into the military, you ask, 'What is the number one incentive that brought you to the military?',” Atkins said. “The response is it's pay and benefits."

The recruitment pool is strained because of inability to serve, lack of desire to serve and even discouragement from parents, Atkins said.

“I think it's very important for our nation to keep the pay and benefits aspect of this pretty high simply because the demand signal for the military is so high, and the resource pool is so limited,” he said.

Finally, Atkins said MOAA is keeping an eye on Congress' plan for veteran healthcare under the TRICARE system.

“Obviously those in the military and those who have served are interested in their current health care and recurring health care once they retire,” he said.

Amanda Dolasinski is MOAA's staff writer. She can be reached at amandad@moaa.org. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMOAA.