Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4310, the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after nearly three days of debate and consideration of amendments.

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What's new at headquarters for the month of May.

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Recognizing that this is an election year and that colors everything in Washington, we wanted to share some impressions of the process and why AUSN is involved. Because AUSN is an advocate for a strong Navy and The Voice for America’s Sailors we pay close attention to the defense bills that move through the House and Senate authorization and appropriations committees.

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AUSN sent letters of support to the offices of Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) and Senator Marco Rubio (FL) for their bipartisan introduction of S. 3203, the Military Healthcare Protection Act 02 2012.  This bill would protect armed services retirees utilizing TRICARE from unreasonably high increases to fees.

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AUSN created a spreadsheet listing of House floor amendments to the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that is expected to be considered for a vote by the full House this week.

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AUSN sent letters of support to Senator's Mark Begich (AK), John Boozman (AR) and Representative Janice Hahn (CA-36) on homeless veterans legislation after meeting with staff last week.

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Yesterday, on 10 May 2012, the House passed H.R. 5652, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012, which would exempt the Department of Defense (DOD) from deep automatic spending cuts early next year by putting in place reductions to a host of social programs as well as other savings from various Executive Branch agencies and programs under their administration.

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On 10 May 2012, at 2am, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) completed its markup of H.R. 4310, the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee's on Defense and Military Construction/Veterans' Affairs released their markup of the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) Annual Appropriation bills.

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AUSN sent a letter of support for bills sponsored by Representative Frank Guinta (NH-01) and Senators Kelly Ayotte (NH) and Mark Begich (D-AK) which addresses the decline of the Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Philippines.

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The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has announced its first of many Tour Dates for its "Defending our Defenders" listening and informational forum on looming defense cuts.

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During the week of 30 April 2012, AUSN hand delivered a letter to ALL Members of the House regarding concerns on the impact sequestration would have upon the Department of Defense (DOD)

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AUSN sent a letter of support to Representative Allen West (FL-22) for his bill H.R. 4294, which addresses the cuts in end-strength in the President's Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) Budget Request.

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On 25 April 2012, AUSN sent a letter of support for Senator Jim Webb's (D-VA) bill S. 2179, the Military and Veterans Educational Reform Act of 2012.

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On 23 April 2012, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) officially ruling that veterans programs (VA) would be exempt from sequestration.

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AUSN sends letter of support to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) for S. 2299, the Servicemembers Rights Enforcement Act of 2012.

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Atached is a presentation given to the SECNAV Retiree Council on 17 April 2012 at the DC Navy Yard and the AUSN Board of Directors on 20 April 20...

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Next week, 23 April 2012 thru 27 April 2012, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC)- Subcommittee's will hold their markups of the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 4310.

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An update on what's going on at AUSN headquarters in April on the topics of annual audits, NJROTC medals, scholarship applications, Year of the Chief, SECNAV Retiree Council, Sailors of the Year dinner, and more.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website released a detailed page on the VOW To Hire Heroes Act of 2011 with information on new benefits for unemployed veterans.

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AUSN sent letters of support to Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-IN-03) and Senator John Boozman (R-AR) on their introduction of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Modernization Act.

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Today, 16 April 2012, the offices of Senator's Mark Pryor (D-AR), John Boozman (R-AR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a Dear Colleague to the United States Senate in an effort to push for continued consideration on an AUSN priority, the Honor America's Guard and Reserve Retirees Act, which would honor career Guard and Reservists with the title of "veterans of the Armed Forces."

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Today, 12 April 2012, AUSN's Executive Director and Legislative Director had a roundtable discussion with VSO's and staff of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA-25) and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-22) on DOD Sequestration and efforts to eliminate its implementation.

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Last week, AUSN attended The Military Coalition (TMC) Veterans subcommittee meeting in which of the things discussed was a bill by Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-TX-16), H.R 3279.

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AUSN sends Senator Jon Tester (MT) letter of thanks/support for S. 2244, the Veterans COLA Act.

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On 3 April 2012, the Department of Defense (DOD) sent Congress a 37 page proposed plan to implement Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) for two rounds; one in 2013 and one in 2015.

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AUSN sent letters of support to Senators Mark Begich (AK) and Rob Portman (OH) for introduction of S. 2244, the Veterans Missing in America Act.

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Senator James Webb (D-VA) agreed with DoD’s Chief Financial Officer, the Honorable Robert Hale, that DoD must develop a comprehensive package of the costs of health care. He said, however, “You can’t renegotiate the front end once the back end is done,” referring to the proposed TRICARE fee hikes. “This is an obligation that has been made to people whose military careers are now done.”

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“I Hire Veterans.” That was the poster at a great event in the Mansfield room of the U.S. Senate this past Wednesday. AUSN was there as we were an early signatory to the letter urging all Senators to join the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus.

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The House Armed Services Committee Chairman and Ranking Member announced introduction of the 'by request' version of the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as H.R. 4310 on 29 March 2012.

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On 29 March 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives approved House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R-WI-01) FY13 Budget Resolution, H.Con. Res. 112 by a vote of 228-191.  The Resolution would limit discretionary spending at $1.028 trillion.

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Yesterday, AUSN monitored a hearing that Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) chaired of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Subcommittee on Personnel to discuss changes to military personnel programs proposed in the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) Budget Request.

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Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs is holding a hearing on a recent piece of l...

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Yesterday, AUSN’s Legislative Director met with the staff of Representative Todd Akin (R-MO-02) to talk about AUSN Priorities, including veteran...

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Last week, AUSN’s Legislative Director met with staff of Representative Chris Gibson (R-NY-20) to talk about AUSN Priorities, including Agent Or...

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The second shoe in Budget Control Act of last year is poised to drop. If Congress does not take serious action before January of next year Sequestration will take place. That will mean just short of another $500 Billion in cuts forced on the Department of Defense.

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This morning, AUSN’s Legislative Director attended the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Joint Hearing to receive testimony on ...

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A few weeks ago, AUSN’s Legislative Director met with the staff of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee as well as the staff of Represent...

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Today, the House of Representatives, House Committee on the Budget, released their Budget Resolution to the public.  The Budget Resolution, which is the response to the President’s Budget Request and released no later than 6 weeks from when the President releases his budget, is the starting point for the House’s annual appropriation bills.

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Last week AUSN’s Legislative Director met with the staff of Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) and amongst discussing the FY13 Legislative Priorities of AUSN, Space Available Travel for the reserve was raised.

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What's been happening at AUSN Headquarters in March.

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Today, AUSN’s Legislative Director met with the staff of Representative Pat Tiberi (R-OH-12) regarding an alarming issue that their office is tr...

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Yesterday, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) used the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Army Posture hearing to inform the audience about the real costs of...

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Today, AUSN attended a meeting with other members of The Military Coalition (TMC) with the staffs of Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).&...

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As hearings have commenced on all things budget related, it is clear that there is a concern amongst lawmakers on Capitol Hill with what the future force will look like if cuts to programs, such as TRICARE, go through.

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What's new for February at AUSN headquarters.

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As the President’s budget for 2013 is unveiled there are three undercurrents being discussed around Washington:

• The President intends for the Navy to shift focus to the Pacific.
• The budget for the foreseeable future will likely lead to fewer than 285 ships not 313 as called for in the Navy’s latest 30 year shipbuilding plan.
• Cost overruns in the F-35 and LCS programs are a threat to Navy plans.

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Key Arizona state legislation passes in favor of Reserve and Guard programs.

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There are now more Americans age 65 and older than at any other time in U.S. history. According to a new Census Bureau report, there were 40.3 million people age 65 and older on April 1, 2010, up 5.3 percent from 35 million in 2010 (and just 3.1 million in 1900).

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New and noteworthy at AUSN headquarters in January 2012.

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Irons in the Fire continues to evolve. Originally begun three years ago as a vehicle for HQ to communicate with the elected officers, Irons expanded to include conference attendees and others with an interest in the internal working of AUSN. With this issue Irons becomes a part of our routine e-newsletter communication with all of AUSN’s members.

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Below is VetJobs President Ted Daywalt's letter to General Martin Dempsey, Chairman, JCS, after their discussion at the US Chamber’s Veteran program.

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By now just about everyone has heard that the “Super Committee” of twelve failed to reach an agreement on reducing the national debt. In accordance with the Budget Control Act of 2011 therefore sequestration is set to occur which mandates a $1.2 Trillion cut over ten years split evenly between defense and, generally speaking, entitlements. That means that beginning in 2013 the Pentagon is facing and additional $600 Billion in cuts beyond the approximately $400 Billion already called for by the President as the 2012 budget works its way through Congress.

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It was last Friday in Manhattan at the 2011 Veterans Day parade. Our group of Vietnam veterans "marched" north, up Fifth Avenue. Starting from 25th Street around 1300 (1 pm) it took us about an hour to arrive at the dispersal point on 53rd.

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AUSN Veterans Day activities, business, new corporate sponsor, legislative activities and more in the latest Irons In the Fire.

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For years strategic experts dismissed the rise of the Chinese Navy.  Their reasons included the theory that China, being a land power, lacked naval ambitions. A later school of thought claimed that as long as we recognized China as a fellow stakeholder in the Western Pacific, it would not become a military threat.

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In the Fire this month is the video tapping of our TV messaging that is being done by the PBS program Biography. This Wednesday we will be shooting in the National Naval Museum in the Washington Navy Yard and in Senator McCain’s office on Capitol Hill.

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Welcome aboard to the many newly pinned Chief Petty Officers in our Navy! I attended the NOSC Phoenix pinning ceremony and saw many proud Sailors pinned before Shipmates and their families. Their journey as Sailors continues. Once a Sailor, always a Sailor? Is there a connection – and should we to those who have served? Here’s my challenge to those new CPOs...

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Today marks the 236th birthday of our United States Navy. This morning the Secretary, Ray Mabus, the CNO and the MCPON offered their birthday messages to the fleet. We have a great deal to be proud of in our Navy and today we are represented by great young Sailors. At CNO Roughead’s retirement three weeks ago I heard him choke up as he repeated President John F. Kennedy’s line “… I served in the United States Navy.” I understood his emotion completely as I remembered my retirement ceremony in 2002 where I acknowledged that while my father had been an army brigadier, I always wanted to be a Sailor. Tomorrow night AUSN will be a sponsor of the Washington Navy Birthday Ball and we have invited a dozen of those Sailors as our guests.

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An update on the activities at AUSN headquarters.

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Despite recent press reports, the employment situation of veterans has always been positive. In fact, the unemployment rate for ALL veterans has always been lower than nonveterans and lower than the national unemployment rate.

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This blog is part two of our discussion on Modernizing the Military Retirement System, the preliminary report from the Defense Business Board.

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This time there is no MIGHT. If any of the changes to military retirement now being considered are enacted they WILL affect you! If you are already re...

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It’s the Dog Days of Summer in Washington, hot and humid. Just because Congress is in recess, however, things don’t slow down. CAPT Puzon ...

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First the conference: From the staff perspective everything ran smoothly and that is always my number one. Thanks to Bill Overend and the Southeast Re...

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This is the second in our Happening blog series. Remember, your comments are always appreciated. Defense to pay for fixing the deficit. That&rsqu...

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This is the second Irons for June and I have to begin this one on a sad note. On the 14th of June Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Emanuel “Manny&...

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For those not familiar, the Current Strategy Forum at the Naval War College is an annual event always held in the week before graduation. Invited part...

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This blog will be a place to update our readers on the Navy/DoD issues percolating around our nation’s capitol. Initially it will be a monthly e...

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Conference registration is picking up but we have a ways to go before we will be comfortable that we will have good attendance. Remember the guarantee...

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VA Secretary Eric Shinseki's Memorial Day message reminds us that today is a day to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to the Nat...

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Tricare, Medicare and Obamacare (PPACA) March 17, 2011 Introduction: Vice Admiral Harold Koenig, MC (Retired) was a member of the USNA Great Class...

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Member of USNI:   It is clear from our April PROCEEDINGS that many members & leading members of USNI believe this professional group should...

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Here it is, time for another Irons message already. As I am writing this a government shutdown seems more possible than when the last CR was running o...

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Our Intent: The intent of this blog is to provide more information on the proposed changes to TRICARE that are a part of the FY 2012 DoD budget submis...

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Reminder, conference registration and info are on the web. Please register early and please sign up for the Wednesday event at the World War II museum...

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Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-Minnesota) proposed ten days ago that $4.5 Billion be saved in the Federal budget by "freezing" any increase whatsoever in he...

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Conference registration information will soon be on the website and in the February magazine. The dates are 13 through 16 July and the location is the...

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I’m sending a second Irons message this month for several reasons: Our membership card fundraiser that is in the mail right now has a major sna...

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Happy New Year! Captain McAtee is on vacation this week (he stayed here last week while I was gone). Linda has returned from a two week + visit back h...

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Just as a reminder the office will be closed on Thanksgiving and the Friday following. With Christmas being on a Saturday the office will be closed on...

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Another month has flown by. Can you believe it is October already? We are busy on a number of fronts and I’ll try to get you updated. Today, Fr...

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Well we certainly had a good time in Las Vegas and more importantly a lot of good work was accomplished. We now have a new slate of elected officers a...

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As I sit here in Alexandria on a Sunday morning we are working on the conference registration packages and things are slowly coming together. Speakers...

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A summer in DC has introduced me to the life of a commuter - trains, buses, cars, traffic and people fill my morning and evening commutes into, and ou...

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A few days ago I was assigned the task of taking photographs of RADM Coane during his testimony in front of the Senate Committe on Appropriations - De...

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Happy Fourth of July to all of you. I sincerely hope that you and your families will have a chance to take time out to celebrate our independence on t...

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Settling into life at the Association has been quite an experience. The deluge of emails and daily reading materials has continued (and perhaps increa...

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A look back at AUSN's Inaugural Golf Tournament and Navy Now Forum. A look forward to the two-day Career Development Symposium in the works and the Fall 2010 Conference in Las Vegas. Plus updates on our legislative activities.

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