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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 | 2:19 p.m.
Nevada got two nods in the National Defense Authorization Act that just passed the Senate: Funding to pay for an Army Reserve facility in Las Vegas and a directive to furnish Reno veterans with information about forthcoming changes to their health coverage.
Sen. Harry Reid sponsored the provision for an Army Reserve Center in Las Vegas, which will include a 37,000-square-foot training building and a 21,000-square-foot maintenance support facility.
Sen. Dean Heller, meanwhile, sponsored legislation requiring the Department of Defense to issue a report describing where certain veterans health care services under Tricare Prime will be reduced or unavailable when United HealthCare takes over the contract that serves Western veterans and military members in April.
The provision also requires the Department of Defense to detail what costs recipients will incur as a result of the change.
Reid also secured support for an amendment to the bill to ensure injured military retirees are paid retirement pay and disability payments.
A “glitch” in the Combat-Related Special Compensation Program was leading to certain reductions in pay for retired injured veterans when their VA disability ratings were increased.
The bill is awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature.
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