Association of the United States Navy

FY 2011 National Defense Authorization and Appropriations Update

Ike Puzon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:11:00 GMT

The FY-2011 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is currently awaiting Senate floor action after passage in the House. The original defense budget proposed a $549 billion base budget (a 3.4% increase) and $159 billion more to support war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The FY 2011 Defense Appropriations Bill or War Supplemental have still not been passed at this time. Some highlights follow which have not passed at this writing:

Legislation Update 111th 2nd Session of Congress – Some Key Bills to Watch

Ike Puzon — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:11:00 GMT

May 2010 Navy

by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

AUSN attempts to provide you updates on Congressional Bills that address issues that are important to our members and friends. This is not a complete list. We will be tracking these to support the legislative goals of AUSN. Some of these may be provided just for your interest. The Library of Congress maintains free online information that anyone can use to track a bill. We encourage our readers to check this service http://thomas.loc.gov to see where the bill is in the legislative process. You can also go to specific Congressional committees’ Web sites to view legislation and hearings; www.house.gov and www. senate.gov. Feel free to contact me if you need assistance; ike.puzon@ausn.org.

The following bill, H.R. 4887, was introduced by Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO-4) and was passed by the House – 403-0. This bill explicitly protects TRICARE in the new National Health Care coverage. The bill is in the Senate at this time; and Senator Webb introduced a companion bill – S. 3148.

H.R. 4887 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that health coverage provided by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential coverage.

Sponsor: Rep. Ike Skelton [D-MO-4] (introduced 3/19/2010) Cosponsors (20)

Status: Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S. 3148 – A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of Department of Defense health coverage as minimal essential coverage.

Sponsor: Sen. Jim Webb [D-VA] (introduced 3/22/2010) Cosponsors (65)

Latest Major Action: 3/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee.

Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

The following bill was introduced by Congressman Martin Heinrich, (RNM- 1) to extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26 as it applies in National Health Care Reform.

H.R. 4923 – To extend TRICARE coverage to certain dependents under the age of 26.

Sponsor: Rep. Martin Heinrich [D-NM-1] (introduced 3/24/2010) Cosponsors (12).

Latest Major Action: 3/24/2010 Referred to House committee.

Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

H.R. 296 – To revise the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay.

Sponsor: Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN-4).

H.R. 593 – Expand the authorized concurrent receipt of disability severance pay from the Department of Defense and compensation for the same disability under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all veterans who have a combatrelated disability.

Sponsor: Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA-9).

Our number one legislative goal at this time is the retroactive application of the new Reserve Retirement policy passed in 2008 to those Reserve Component members activated since 11 Sep 2001. Senator Saxby Chambliss has stated recently that this is one of his top priorities in the Senate. The Senate has passed this legislation in the last two sessions of Congress. The House is where we need your support.

H.R. 208, or its replacement, is the bill you need to get your Congressional delegation to support. H.R. 208 – Ensure that members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty or performed active service since 11 Sep 2001, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, receive credit for such service in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Joe Wilson [R-SC-2] (introduced 1/6/2009) Cosponsors (127).

Latest Major Action: 1/30/2009 Referred to House subcommittee.

Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Along with our many colleagues in other associations, we are strongly supporting a 0.5% increase in pay raise above the President’s request. We hope you will contact your Congressional delegation in support of this pay raise increase.

H.R. 4227 – Provide a pay increase of 1.9 percent for members of the uniformed services for the fiscal year 2011.

Sponsor: Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC-2) Cosponsors (15).

Other bills of interest to support:

H.R. 303 – Permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation, and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt.

Sponsor: Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-9) Cosponsors (122).

H.R. 333 – Permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a serviceconnected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans’ disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Marshall (D-GA- 8) Cosponsors (124).

H.R. 1695 – Reduce the minimum age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55.

Sponsor: Rep. Frank Lobiondo (RNJ- 2) Cosponsors (48).

H.R. 4857 – To allow amounts to be transferred from a qualified tuition program to the Thrift Savings Plan for the benefit of any individual who is eligible to participate in such Plan by virtue of being a member of the uniformed services or of the Ready Reserve, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Paul Hodes [DNH- 2] (introduced 3/16/2010) Cossponsors (None).

Latest Major Action: Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and, in addition, to the Committee on Ways and Means for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R. 4859 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the work opportunity credit to small business which hire individuals who are members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard.

Sponsor: Rep. Lynn Jenkins [R-KS-2] (introduced 3/16/2010) Cosponsors (22). Latest Major Action: Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R. 667 – Improve the diagnosis and treatment of TBI in members and former members of the Armed Services; to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep. John Salazar (D-CO-3) Cosponsors (43).

We strongly encourage you to support this bill, H.R. 4947, that corrects the inequities of doing active duty across different fiscal years by Reserve Components. This bill protects losing days when your active duty is completed in two different fiscal years.

H.H. 4797 – To amend Title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the perfiscal year calculation of days of certain active duty or active service used to reduce the minimum age at which a member of a Reserve Component of the uniformed services may retire for non-regular service.

Sponsor: Rep. Tom Latham [R-IA-4] (introduced 3/25/2010) Cosponsors (1). Latest Major Action: Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

As you know, the bill below, H.R. 270, was passed by the 1st Session of the 111th Congress. We have been pushing on DoD and TRICARE Management Agency to implement this program for gray area retirees. At this writing, we have no solid word from DoD on this implementation other than they expect full implementation by 1 Oct. 2010. We have teamed up with the original House sponsors to write letters to DoD to provide full disclosure of when the program will be implemented and how much it will cost. Watch for a legislative alert on this program in order to get full information on implementation.

H.R. 270 – To amend Title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve.

Sponsor: Rep Robert Latta [R-OH-5] (introduced 1/7/2009) Cosponsors (71). Companion bill: S. 731

Sponsor: Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).

We greatly appreciate all those that responded to the recent “protect” TRICARE campaign. Thousands of you responded and assisted in bringing about H.R. 4887. It was and is the right thing to do to ensure that TRICARE is explicitly protected. Some Congressional members have stated their support because it was a technical issue, but the vote in the House 403-0 shows the support for making sure TRICARE is explicitly protected. The Senate will consider this bill when it returns from recess. Please watch our Web site and capwiz legislative alerts for bills to express your opinion to Congress, and to send e-mails or letters to your delegation in support, www.ausn.org. If you need assistance or have a question, please send an e-mail to ike.puzon@ausn.org.

Watch the “Debt Commission” Closely!

Ike Puzon — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:10:00 GMT

April 2010 Navy

By CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

Recently, President Obama signed an executive order creating the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform — what most people in D.C. are calling the “debt commission.” The actual name of the commission tells a story! Advocates of the commission hope that it will help create a bipartisan solution to a politically charged and difficult issue—much like the Base Realignment & Closure Commission (BRAC) helped the government close “unnecessary” military bases since the end of the Cold War.

This National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform will have 18 members and will be charged with creating recommendations for Congress to balance the budget, excluding interest on the debt, by 2015. For those interested, Congress is considering the FY 2011 budget at this time. Any recommendations must be approved by at least 14 of the 18 members. Six members, including at least two non- Democrats, will be appointed by the President, and the rest will be appointed by Congress, with an even split between appointments by the majority and the minority. In theory, Congress will take up the recommendations at the end of the year.

The commission cochairs have been named: former Wyoming Republican Senator Alan Simpson, and Erskine Bowles, President Clinton’s former Chief of Staff. At this point, there’s no indication what the commission will recommend. But this is not the first “debt commission” wary of past debtcutting initiatives. All government programs will be subject to scrutiny, including defense expenditures, Medicare, Social Security, federal retirement programs, and VA benefits. Additionally, the commission will consider whether changes need to be made in the U.S. tax code.

AUSN is very concerned about the impact this commission could have on the entire military and veteran communities. Department of Defense budget, while one of the larger budget items presently, is there for a reason – war and our nation’s defense. The compensation to the 1.2 million active duty members and 1.3 million reserve members makes up only a very small portion of the federal budget each year, yet it tends to be the first place many people look to make cuts.

Many have praised Simpson and Bowles as “respected and even-handed Washington professionals.” But, in the past — especially during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s — federal retiree benefits faced cuts while other entitlement programs were untouched.

It’s easier to take from 2.5 million military members, rather than 40 million Social Security beneficiaries. It appears easier to provide for 30 million non-American citizens than to make sure earned benefits of military members and veterans are protected. History shows that after every major military event in the US, military and veteran budgets take a serious cut! In an environment where less than 18 percent of Congress has served in the military, you should watch this commission very closely. AUSN will follow the commission closely and call on you to let your voice be heard.

What does this mean to you? If you are retired, you will see serious debates on the benefits that service members and veterans earn through service and sacrifice. If you are actively serving, there will be serious suggested changes that will challenge you. During these depressed economic times, it is somewhat easy to fill the ranks of our military with highly qualified and dedicated people. Once a commission makes recommendations, Congress can and may act on those recommendations. I believe it will be extremely difficult to fill the ranks of the military and also more challenging to retain qualified personnel.

For those that do not know about the 1994 commission, that commission was cochaired by Senator Bob Kerry (D-NB) and former Senator John Danforth (R-MO). There was no consensus on that commission on any issue or recommendation. Therefore, the commission offered their own recommendations. From those proposals, none of the individual proposals were endorsed. That 1994 commission never did what they where supposed to do: evaluate the purpose and merits of each of the multitude of entitlement programs and document the savings and possible impacts to adjustments to the programs.

The danger is always that these types of commissions provide future impacts on legislation that can slip into harmless and irrelevant bills and greatly affect programs that are worthwhile, like US military personnel programs or veterans programs! Some that where considered then: military retirement options, deferring COLAs, limiting COLAs, adjustments to the CPI index, raising the age of Social Security applicability, changes to Medicare eligibility, and means testing veteran and military members’ compensation. These are just a few considered at that time. Stand by. Former Senator Alan Simpson (R-WO) was a member of that 1994 commission and supported some very radical adjustments to military and veteran programs. He will now cochair this National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

The commission’s recommendations are due in December 2010, during the lame duck session in the current Congress. This will make for even more interesting dynamics on the recommendations being implemented. I urge all members and friends to be prepared to let Congress and the White House know your thoughts prior to recommendations being released and after recommendations are released. Stay tuned – we will watch closely – www.ausn.org or our Friends of the Navy at https://ausnnat.groupsite. com/main/summary.

Legislative Update

At this writing, the following are the issues Congress is considering:

National Health Care Reform

As you may know, the process is taking another road to passage. Congressional reconciliation is the process by which only a simple majority (one more vote than 50%) vote is needed to pass legislation. The way the bill still reads, there are no guarantees that military members’ and veterans members’ health care earned benefits are protected. Let Congress know your stand on this issue: http://www.ausn.org/Advocacy/LegislativeActionCenter/

21% Cuts to Medicare/TRICARE and Impact on Access

Congress was expected to address the issue by 1 March 2010, but missed the date and finally passed a 30-day extension until 1 April. It is unclear if it will finish work on this extension in time to delay the cuts for another 6-7 months.

If these cuts are allowed to occur, they would have harmful impact on accessibility to care for beneficiaries. Doctors would be less likely to accept new Medicare or TRICARE for Life patients and some are likely to drop existing patients from these two programs altogether. For these individuals, TRICARE for Life would become a hollow benefit. Fixing this issue, both near and long term must be a top priority for Congress. We know many of you agree and have used our Cap Wiz system to ask your elected officials to take action. We need to fix this issue before it smashes earned health care benefits.

Defense Budget Hearings

Recently, the preliminary hearings on Defense spending began with the Service Secretaries and Chiefs making their initial presentations. As expected, a major concern from all was the amount of shortfalls all services have in retooling their forces. Navy is short on funding for ships and is funded for 9 ships – when 11 are needed. Another example is Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway who said although his troops that are deployed have all the equipment they need, he would be hard pressed to deploy any more as some of his stateside units are equipped as low as a 50 percent level. In this continuous era of debt and spending – the US military should not be denied equipment and training dollars that are needed for the nation’s defense and in response to natural disasters. http://www.ausn.org/Advocacy/LegislativeActionCenter/

Haiti Assistance

Congress is considering an assistance bill for Haiti relief. As you know, the US Navy did send several warships, aircraft, personnel, and the Comfort to Haiti to assist in this disaster. Congress is working on a longer term assistance bill that will help rebuild the infrastructure of Haiti.

Detention of Terrorism Suspects

Several Senators have introduced a bill that would block moving suspected terrorists from GITMO to the US and giving them Miranda rights. Meanwhile, the White House is still trying to close GITMO and move terrorists to US soil. This subject will remain a substantial issue for some time.

Please let Congress know your stand on several issues as they develop. We will continue to report through our Web site www.ausn.org and through our Friends of the Navy; https://ausnnat.groupsite.com/main/summary. Feel free to contact me with your questions at ike.puzon@ausn.org.

Legislative Update: VA, TRICARE, QDR, and RWW

Ike Puzon — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:09:00 GMT

March 2010 Navy

by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

As the President’s Budget and the Quadrennial Defense Review were rolled out last week, the issues are mounting ten fold that we all need to consider. If you are at all concerned about the Navy, the Navy’s mission and your family, the following are just a few of the topics that impact your benefits, and your Navy.

VA 2011 Budget Fast Facts

VA is calling this budget the “transformation” budget. Some of the VA Budget Facts follow.

Provides resources to support the transformation of VA into a 21st century organization to ensure Veterans are cared for over a lifetime, from the day the oath is taken to the day they are laid to rest.

Medical Care

Secures timely, sufficient, and predictable funding for health care through 2012 with advance appropriations.
Continues gradual expansion of health care eligibility, providing access to more than 500,000 previously ineligible veterans by 2013.
$5.2 billion (up $410 million) to expand inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health programs.
$799 million (up $265 million) to implement VA’s comprehensive plan to reduce homelessness. This includes $218 million for the Homeless Grants and Per Diem program and liaisons to assist community organizations.
$250 million to improve access to care in rural and highly rural areas.
$6.8 billion (up $859 million) to expand institutional and noninstitutional long-term care services. Of this amount, $163 million (up $42 million) is for home tele-health to improve access to care.
$218 million (up $19 million) to meet the needs of female Veterans.
$2.6 billion (up $597 million) for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to meet the needs of over 439,000 veterans.

These are just a few of the facts presented about the VA 2011 Budget.

You can view the entire facts at: http://www4.va.gov/budget/docs/sum mary/Fy2011_Fast_Facts_VA_Budget_Highlights.pdf

The Military Health System Blog

http://www.health.mil/MHSblog/Article.aspx?ID=750

Do you want to tell TRICARE your issues or do you seek information on your TRICARE benefits?

TRICARE, http://tricare.mil, is one of the first health care organizations in the world, military or civilian, to embrace Web 2.0 technology like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr. The results have been staggering as service members, veterans, and their families have been kept up to date more efficiently and have been given the opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns! This has revolutionized the way TRICARE interacts with its beneficiaries! To capitalize further on this success, TRICARE will launch a media center Web page during the month of March, which will serve as its central hub for social media activity. This will give users a “one-stop shop” for the latest TRICARE news, beneficiary information, and social media platforms. But before launching the new site, TRICARE is asking you – service members, veterans, and retirees – to give your feedback through Facebook or Twitter. You can sign in during the next few weeks to weigh in on important issues and help TRICARE make their services even better.

The Quadrennial Defense Review

http://www.defense.gov/qdr/

The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is a legislatively-mandated review of Department of Defense strategy and priorities. The QDR will set a long-term course for DoD as it assesses the threats and challenges that our nation faces and rebalances DoD’s strategies, capabilities, and forces to address today’s conflicts and tomorrow’s threats.

This document is very important to the Services and to you. Rarely has the QDR gotten all the issues of concerns correct. Tomorrow’s threats are difficult to predict. Because of our free society, values and ideals, we tend to deal with threats based on the past and not the future. I urge you to review this document since it is the second review to be completed during the time of war.

Regarding our abilities to view the future threats, Investor’s Business Dailey commented: “Last week the Russian air force celebrated the maiden flight of the Sukhoi T-50, Moscow’s version of the American F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. We have shut down the F-22 production line, viewing it as an unaffordable and unnecessary extravagance. We mention this in light of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s statement that President Obama’s proposed freeze on discretionary domestic programs should also cover defense expenditures. Unfortunately, our enemies aren’t freezing their defense budgets. ... Defense is not a discretionary budget item.” I agree with this view and hope that you will communicate your opinion to your Congressional delegations that the world is more dangerous than any time in our past. This is not the time to shrink or freeze our defense budget!

About Returning Warrior Workshops (RWW)

http://www.ia.navy.mil/rww.htm

I recently had the opportunity to attend a RWW to observe and understand more fully the issues surrounding our Navy members and their family members. AUSN has been engaged in congressionally mandating this Yellow Ribbon Program of which the RWW is a part. We urge all those service members to attend a RWW whenever possible. Additionally, this is one of AUSN’s legislative goals, and we urge all leaders to support those service members that have deployed recently or in the past to attend a RWW. It is more than worth the efforts for a strong Navy and strong Navy Reserve.

The workshops are for Sailors who have recently returned from a mobilization or deployment as an individual augmentee. They are invited to attend a Returning Warrior Workshop (RWW) with the guest of their choice.

The goal of the workshops is to give service members and loved ones a chance to reconnect. The guest may include a spouse, significant other, or family member. The definition of family member has been expanded to include: girlfriends, boyfriends, parents, brothers or sisters. The events are held at a four-star hotel away from military bases and everyday distractions. Civilian business attire is required. All lodging, meals, conference fees, and miscellaneous expenses are covered at the RWW and include: dinner Friday night, three meals on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Travel by personal vehicle is encouraged and mileage will be paid at the current government rate. Ideally, attendees should be within 350 miles of the workshop.

The Returning Warrior Workshop (RWW) is a weekend for the Navy to take care of military personnel who have been deployed in support of combat or combat support operations. Taking care of our people is one of the Chief of Naval Operation’s top three priorities. The RWW focuses on three major goals:

Honoring the Warrior and the Warrior’s guest for their service to our country. Both Active Duty and Reserve members are invited.
Providing information about the many resources available for the Active Duty and Reserve family that will assist with reintegration.
Raising awareness with the service member and the family about the symptoms associated with combat stress and provide the Active Duty members and Reserve members with resources for assessment and referrals.

From my perspective, I cannot say enough great things about the limited exposure that this RWW showed me and my wife as observers. The issues that surround our Navy members about going to war and going ashore are massive. Yet, everyday, we have over 5,000 Reserve members and another 5,000 Active Duty members ashore augmenting the other services in OIF and OEF. The stress of war is real. The issues our Sailors and their families have are not going away. These Returning Warrior Workshops are extraordinary for our Sailors. AUSN will work hard to continue funding them and to ensure the resources are there for the service member’s families. More information on RWW is available at http://www.ia.navy.mil/rww.htm. AUSN is energized about these workshops and is supporting the efforts.

Accomplishments for 2009, ambitious goals for 2010

Ike Puzon — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:17:00 GMT

Going forward, AUSN will focus and act on the greater national security and maritime security need of the U.S. Navy along with the needs of the Navy Reserve. We have built our 2010 legislative agenda and government relations goals around our new focus.

Military Health Care, Military Benefits, and Legislative Goals

Ike Puzon — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:11:00 GMT

January 2010 Navy

by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

“A Veteran – whether active duty, discharged, retired, national guard, or reserve – is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America,’ for an amount of ‘up to and including my life.’”

This quote was passed to me by a very astute E-9 Soldier! Read it again. If you read it – and chills do not go down your back and stir some emotions in your gut – you may want to go see a doctor. Very few Americans (less than 1%) are willing to accept the extraordinary sacrifices that military members and their families make. Service members make an enormous contribution toward benefits through extended and constant sacrifices in uniformed service. Military service is not and will never be comparable to any private civilian occupation or benefits.

It amazes me how hard you have to work, negotiate, and jump through hoops to get important but low cost (less than .003% of DoD Budget) provisions enacted for those citizens that have paid the ultimate price to serve their country. Why is it so hard? Perhaps it is because less than 22% of our elected officials (33% in 1999, 24% in 2007) have any military service. Perhaps, it is because less than 10% of staff members on Capitol Hill have any military experience. Perhaps, it is because of America’s changing values on national security and defense. More likely, it is because we sit back and let those we elected to office make decisions and cast votes. At one time in all our lives, defense issues were viewed as the number one concern of Americans. Right now, with America at war, defense issues still do not rank very high on some American’s concerns. Utterly amazing when Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are dying and America is cashing their checks!

Military members actually do write a blank check to the people of the United States of America for any amount when they make a commitment to serve. It seems clear that America should provide the benefits that come with such a pledge. However, Congress is distracted by multiple issues. Hoping that Congress does the right thing for the military is an empty wish without your inputs and without our cumulative inputs.

Military health care and veteran health care are earned benefits. Members paid the price for it and, in some cases, paid with their lives for the benefit. As we follow the contemptuous debate on health care reform, an overwhelming majority of you have uneasy feelings deep within your psyche. You have responded with thousands of letters – in response to our legislative alert system – asking Congress to protect service members’ and veterans’ Medicare and TRICARE systems during the health care reform process. We are receiving your alarmed e-mails. Thank all of you for responding and reaching out and letting your Congressional delegations know your particular stand on health care, pay, readiness, equipment, and a host of other issues important to today’s military. It does make a difference. I know your input is important and it makes a difference.

Our legislative goals in the national health care debate are:

We oppose any increases in TRICARE fees at this time. All retired service members earned equal health care coverage by virtue of their service. DoD should make all efforts to provide the most efficient use of allocated resources and cut waste prior to any additional increased fees. The authority for fee increases should be with Congress not DoD.
Regarding national health care reform. We strongly oppose any effort to integrate TRICARE and VA health care systems into other systems. TRICARE and VA health care are critical to readiness and manning. We, along with our partners will work to ensure:
Protection of unique TRICARE, TRICARE for LIFE, TRICARE Reserve Select, and VA health system from unintended consequences.
We oppose any cuts or savings in Medicare to fund a national health care program – that will have impact on TRICARE systems.
We strongly oppose any form of taxation of TRICARE, TRICARE for LIFE, TRICARE Reserve Select, and VA systems.

At this writing, there are some guarantees in the House health care bill that protects TRICARE and Medicare changes from affecting military and veterans. Currently, the Senate is in debate on the issue; but the Senate health care bill does not have those same guarantees. Members of Congress and staffs indicate that health care reform will not affect service members, veterans, and their families. Where is the guarantee? When you are herding cats, you can never get them together. We (all of us) are the only true guarantee that Congress will do the right thing. www.ausn.org

The following are some legislative goals that AUSN will pursue in the CY-2010 111th Congress. There are many more posted at our Web site at www.ausn.org. Your active assistance is requested:

Ensure adequate personnel strengths and associated funding in order to meet national security strategy requirements. Monitor extended deployments and recalls to active duty.
Ensure appropriate funding for Navy and Navy Reserve equipment, aircraft, ships, submarines, training, maintenance, expeditionary forces, readiness, and reconstitution of Reserve units and forces.
Protect access to the commissary benefit and all MWR programs. Maintain a well-funded Family Readiness and Support structure.
Emphasize improvements in wounded warrior programs: seamless transition programs, women veterans health care, veterans small business assistance, and veterans homelessness.
Seamless transition for separating Active Duty and mobilized Reserve members through yellow ribbon programs and benefits delivery discharge programs.
Better protections and enforcements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the Servicmembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
Reserve retirement system improvements including the retroactivity of new authority for reduction to all Reserve members who served since 11 September 2001.
Continue to seek timely implementation of legislation that authorizes the concurrent receipt of uniformed services retired pay and VA disability pay.
Fully support compensation for loss of member’s quality of life and to assist in transition from DoD to VA.
Work for improved educational benefits with the post 9-11 GI Bill, greater improvements with the Selected Reserve MGIB benefits and total force architecture of the GI Bill.
Veterans status for certain Reserve retirees.
Work for tax credits for employers of Reserve Components and tax deductions for premiums paid on health insurance. Improve above-the-line deductions for overnight travel expenses for Reserve members, and authorize tax deductions for long term care premiums.
Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) improvements for all Navy and Navy Reserve members. We urge Congress to update credit awarded service members who have completed accredited service war college non-resident courses.

Passing legislation of any kind is purposely difficult. You never know what you are going to end up with when you start the process because of the amendment process. And, as our founding fathers wanted it, no one group, no one state or organization has total control. This is the exact reason why your input is the ultimate input. Your opinion as members and former members of the military does make the difference between good legislation and bad legislation. Very few Americans ever reach out to their Congressional delegations except when they vote. Voting Congress into office is the least effective means of passing good legislation. Voting them out could be the most effective means. We need your help and membership to be effective when we lobby Congress for you for these benefits you have earned. ike.puzon@ausn.org

Legislative Update–Current Issues/Legislation

Ike Puzon — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:13:00 GMT

At this writing, AUSN recently learned that the Pentagon leadership has increased the inpatient fees for TRICARE Standard. We have written letters to the Department of Defense and leadership in Congress expressing our shock and disagreement with these TRICARE Standard copayment increases.

Defense Budget, Personnel, and Weapons Programs

Content Manager — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:11:00 GMT

October 2009 Navy Magazine

by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

DoD leaders continue to assert that rising health care costs and personnel benefits are contending with weapons programs. In past years, the military Joint Chiefs endorsed TRICARE fee increases because the choice was forced on them by their political leaders, who wanted the increases to bring military beneficiary costs more in line with civilian practices and most likely to save needed Defense dollars for weapons programs.

Comparison with corporate civilian practices has been occurring in DoD for some time and is unacceptable. The U.S. military is not a corporation. Earned military benefits and exceptional military medical and retirement benefits are the primary offsets for enduring decades of extraordinarily demanding service conditions. Military retirees and veterans pay huge “up front” health premiums through 20-30 years of service and sacrifice. Their families often pay even higher costs. Recruiting problems show few Americans are willing to pay these heavy and stressful premiums for that benefit.

Past proposed increases are grossly out of line with benefit levels enacted by Congress. Proposed increases would far surpass annual retired pay increases. With pending zero cost of living allowances (COLA) for retirees, by imposing any increase in TRICARE fees, DoD would be grossly decreasing retiree and veteran benefits. We have a military that has to be ready to fight now. We have a Guard and Reserve force that has to be ready to deploy within 72 hours. In times of natural emergency – the National Guard must respond immediately. Maintaining proper military health is not inexpensive. Having a military not ready to fight now or not ready to deploy rapidly would be extremely expensive for our national goals and our national security strategy. Our country must have a healthy military react to any emergency. We cannot penalize retirees or veterans by imposing any increases in TRICARE fees on any military health program.

The last proposed DoD increase which would quadruple fees for those who served 20-30 years in uniform would be wrong. The nation’s obligation to military members and retirees exceeds any corporate obligations.The country and our government have a reciprocal obligation to provide benefits commensurate with the extraordinary commitments it requires from career service members. Military personnel losses can’t be replaced like civilians employees can.

DoD and Congress have recently studied several military benefits: military health care, military pay, military retirement pay, to name just a few. Eroding benefits for career service can only undermine longterm retention, recruiting, and readiness. Today’s military are very conscious of Congress’ actions concerning their future benefits. Reducing military retirement benefits would be especially ill-advised. How could we convince our youth to serve in an all-volunteer Total Force if it was treated the same way a corporation treats its employees?

By improving TRICARE efficiencies and military health care inefficiencies, we can reduce cost. The priority should be making sure solid benefits are available to members of the military that are willing to pay the ultimate price with their lives.

The debate over national health care has reached a boiling point. Americans are showing that they may not want governmental control of national health care. Military members are attuned to these debates. No one knows at this hour how pending health care changes could or would impact the military and veteran health care plans. If Congress or the Administration attempts to change military health care with pending national health care improvements – it must NOT impact veterans or military members. It is up to us – former military and serving military members – to ensure Congress does not impact military health care plans. You must take action to inform your Congressional delegation of no fee increases and no changes to military or veteran health care.

Weapons Programs

Our military weapons systems are programmed and purchased in a complex and detailed budgeting system. It is a necessary vetting system. Force commanders are key in any weapons system acquisition most of the time. Our military has been fighting a war for eight long years. Prior to our current wars, the Total Force (military) was engaged in contingency operations world wide in an unprecedented number. At the same time, our National Guard and Reserve Components have been responding in unprecedented numbers for natural emergencies and wartime efforts. Weapons systems have to evolve and the training on them is crucial to a Total Force. History shows our country’s economic, political, and military goals and military strategy depend on a strong, well-trained, and well-equipped military.

The weapons and personnel programs argument actually is complex and revolves around a robust national security policy, and a national commitment. As a nation, we have chosen to have a welltrained, properly equipped, and fully manned military. The question has been and is – funding for both!

Current requirements and needs of the Navy revolve around the current maritime strategy. Equipment is essential in a successful strategy. The current needs of the Navy (as with all services) are enormous because we need to reconstitute a military that has been at war since 2001, and involved in over one hundred contingency operations in the previous fifteen years. The Navy needs ships, submarines, and aircraft. The Navy needs quality people for this equipment.

Our nation is having funding identity problems in the worst way. The current debate of national health care, bailout of financial institutions, car makers, and home owners has gotten in the way of our common sense. It appears that when we need a billion (or trillion) here or a billion (or trillion) there for special projects, our nation’s leaders find the money. In fact, if we need trillions to bail out corporations that have not necessarily paid the ultimate price, we find it, or we go in debt and worry about it later. Aren’t these the same corporations that have those wonderful health programs our DoD leaders are trying to duplicate?

When we need funding for a personnel benefit, or if we need funding for a critical weapons program such as J-35, or the F-18 Growler, or a new class of ship that will replace 30+ year old, overused equipment, we have a difficult time funding equipment and personnel programs. It has to fit within the total obligation authority which naturally makes it compete with personnel programs. How can we “find” money for a discretionary program like banks or cars, yet not find funds for “discretionary” or entitlement military programs like military aircraft or the people that operate warships? This does not pass anyone’s common sense program.

At this time, we have to be able to pay the price through an increase in the defense budget. To make a common sense defense budget work, we also have to back away from programs that are not passing anyone’s common sense test that both in the defense budget and “the bailout budgets.” Without a strong defense, other American budgets do not matter. Our national power and strategy greatly depend on us having strong weapons programs as well as having strong military personnel programs. The only way to pay the price in the current environment is through a commitment to increase the defense budget.

The country can afford to pay for both weapons and military health care. Recent defense budgets (in wartime) represent only about 3.5% of GDP — far lower than the 5.7% peacetime year average since World War II. The world’s richest country doesn’t need to make military retirees or serving members pay for weapons through any reduction in benefits. However, a choice has to be made. It is a serious choice. Do Americans want a strong military that does all the multitude of complex and challenging tasks that our country expects the military to complete? Or, do we want a second rate military that responds slowly to revolutionary challenges?

The solution is you! You must let your Congressional representatives know that you expect certain operating parameters when they vote on bills. No pork barrel spending would be a good place to start. If you speak up and make a choice on the issues, results will happen. Recent town hall meetings show the power of you. Few can understand 1,000-plus-paged legislative bills. This is what makes poor legislation that affects us all.

We have to refuse pork barrel spending that runs undisciplined through Congress on late night votes. The U.S. Navy needs J-35 aircraft. We need F-18 Growlers. We must have C-40A combat support aircraft. And, we need new ships and submarines for a Navy that is spread across the entire globe engaged in war and engaged in carrying out our nation’s military requirements.

Without your engagement in the process, Congress will make up their own minds on what is needed in weapons systems and personnel systems. By any measure, this is unacceptable.

So take action now!

Senate Passes Defense Authorization Bill, S. 1390

Content Manager — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:13:00 GMT

September 2009 Navy

by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

The Senate surprisingly passed the Senate version of the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on 24 July 2009. The measure now goes to the House and the House and Senate will appoint conferees to work out the thousands of differences. The conference will most likely begin in September, but could last a long time due to contentious differences.

Some of the Senate amendment provisions actively supported by AUSN are listed below. We ask you to watch for our legislative alerts and take action to get these provisions, our legislative goals, passed. Along with our coalition partners, we are pushing the passage of several key legislative issues in the FY 2010 NDAA.

Key Senate NDAA (S. 1390) Amendments supported:

Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-NY) amendment (with inputs by Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX) to protect military absentee voting rights by authorizing electronic communications and limiting the counting of absentee ballots based on technicalities.
Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA) and Saxby Chambliss’ (R-GA) were successful in including an amendment on early retirement. It would allow for service back to 11 September 2001 for the determination of a reduced eligibility age for receipt of pay National Guard and Reserve retired pay.
Sen. James Risch (R-ID) got Senate agreement to authorize the service secretaries to increase the end-strength of the Selected Reserve by two percent.
Improving active dwell time, this should also reduce pressure to deploy the Army National Guard and Reserve.
An amendment by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) would extend monthly special pay benefits for members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces to include time spent performing predeployment and reintegration duty.
Two accepted amendments from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) would improve and expand suicide prevention and community healing and response training under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program; and require a report on plans for further implementation of the program as a whole.
An amendment by Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) would require a report on the feasibility of requiring postdeployment health assessments of Guard and Reserve members deployed in connection with contingency operations at their home stations or counties of residence.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) amendment would require DoD to improve access to mental health care for family of National Guard and Reserve members who were deployed overseas.
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) seeks to permit Guard and Reserve members to continue in an active duty status during the physical disability evaluation process resulting from disabilities incurred during deployment in an area of imminent danger.
Sen. Bernard Sanders’ (I-VT) amendment requests a report to Congress on financial assistance for child care available to deployed members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces.
Another key amendment was Sen. Bill Nelson’s initiative to end the deduction of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) amendment emphasizing the need to sustain a military health benefit consistent with the unique demands and sacrifices inherent in a military career, and the need to find other ways of cutting DoD health costs besides shifting costs to retirees.
Sen. Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) amendment expressing Congress’s view that the Secretary of Defense should use existing authority to implement Flexible Spending Accounts for currently serving members so they can set aside pretax money to pay out-of-pocket health and dependent care expenses, just as all other federal and major corporate employees can.
Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-NC) amendment to give military spouses the option to elect the same state of domicile as their servicemember spouse.

The above amendments to S. 1390 – were strongly supported by AUSN.

One provision we lobbied heavily was the TRICARE Standard Coverage for Reservists (gray area) who are qualified for a non-regular retirement but are not yet age 60. Reservists that qualify can purchase the TRICARE standard health care plan by paying full cost.

There are several provisions within the House bill, H.R. 2647, that AUSN actively and aggressively supported. A few of the provisions passed in the House version of the FY 2010 NDAA (H.R. 2647):

Authorizes a pay raise of 3.4% (also in the Senate version).
Medical Examination before Separation of Service Members with PTSD or TBI.
Travel Benefits for Wounded Service Members.
Extended TRICARE Eligibility for Reserve Members; Extended TRICARE eligibility to reserve members so they can now receive full TRICARE coverage 180 days before they go on active duty. Previously, reserve members were only eligible 90 days before they went on active duty.
Extended special pays and bonuses for a wide variety of groups and services, including reenlistment, referrals and critical wartime specialties such as mental health professionals and nurses. (Also addressed in the Senate version.)
Access to TRICARE Standard health care for retired National Guard and Reserve Members, gray area retirees.
Get the full version of the House NDAA (H.R. 2647).

We will have details of the Senate and House versions available on-line shortly. The House and Senate leaders will be appointed to a conference committee to resolve more than a thousand differences between the House- and Senate-passed versions of the defense bill, including many difficult issues.We are asking all to send e-mails, letters, faxes to your representatives in Congress in support of our key legislative agenda and goals, as well as those issues above. Your active support is critical to having these included in the final version of the FY 2010 – National Defense Authorization Act.

Why Join an Association – The Association of the United States Navy

Content Manager — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:16:00 GMT

On the Hill

August 2009, Navy

by CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

We have been working hard for our members, service members, and families to accomplish the legislative agenda that our members desire us to complete. We will accomplish a sizeable majority of our 2009 goals. Along with the support of our coalition members, we have made large gains in getting goals either introduced or accomplished this fiscal year in the House and in the Senate. The following issues are some goals that are moving forward at this time in the House or in the Senate, or in both:

No fee increase for DoD TRICARE programs.
Increase in VA health care funding.
TRICARE Standard access for gray area retirees.
Improve the Reserve early retirement provision.
Pay increases.
Special bonuses applicability.
Stabilize Navy and Navy Reserve manpower and end-strengths.
Veteran’s Status for gray area retirees.
Wounded Warrior improvements for remote/rural areas.
Improved medical/dental care.
Support for increased shipbuilding and aircraft programs.

One of the issues that few think about is advocacy for your career and family issues. The legislative team is working several issues that remain on the legislative agenda for this fiscal year. We had the opportunity this year, so far, to deliver testimony in person several times. And we have met with Speaker Pelosi to deliver our veterans goals. We were asked to provide our legislative goals to the incoming new Administration. We delivered your (the Association’s) legislative agenda directly to those in Congress that can and will do something about the issues. Several of the issues have been adopted in the House version of the Authorization bill. The Senate version of the NDAA will be considered in July. We are working the Appropriations bills. I feel confident that we will be successful in the Senate version on some of our legislative goals. Additionally, we have met with numerous Congressional and DoD/military staffs in order to deliver the Association’s legislative agenda. You should feel secure that your ideas and legislative agenda are being exposed to those that can make a difference.

Military members are very cautious about joining an association. Some military members are more cautious than they should be. In addition to advocacy for you and your family, below are some reasons to join our Association and, hopefully, you recognize the value-added in joining the Association of the United States Navy (ausn) per existing rules of engagement:

Supporting National legislative agenda and objectives for the good of the US Navy and US Navy Reserve and in support of DoN objectives and missions.
Being a part of first-rate programs that help families and wounded warrior service members.
Providing overall support to all service members and their families.
Supporting USN and USNR members through outreach and reintegration programs.
Providing assistance to Navy members through a viable scholarship program.
Providing education to Americans (young and seniors) about the military and what it means to be a veteran.
Supporting for JROTC, ROTC, and other youth programs.
Professional Development seminars and career advice.
Record reviews available – when requested.
Up-to-date Veterans information.
A powerful veterans job search partnership – VetJobs.com.
Answers to your questions: Veterans, education, career, departing the service, and family issues.

Existing DoD and DoN directives do not preclude a service member from joining an association, but provides rules/regulations for the actions of such groups. A service member is prohibited from speaking on behalf of an association and representing himself/herself as speaking for the Navy either in or out of uniform. Similarly, an active service member may not advocate on behalf of an association while in uniform. That is why our elected officials who are in the Navy do not appear in our magazine in uniform – it avoids the appearance of speaking for the Navy. Additionally, service members are prohibited from joining subversive groups, as you know.

Our Association does lobby Congress on behalf of our members’ stated legislative goals. Once again, this does not prohibit a service member, a family member, a friend of the service, or a retired member from joining and supporting such an association. Often, our advocacy results are for the better of the service – when an association acts on behalf of issues that complement a service. One example of this is our full, continuous, and total support for signage of the Law of the Sea Treaty, which every CNO and SECNAV has supported in the last 30 years. We have assisted in moving this issue forward inside of Congress. There are many other examples.

If you have wondered how a service organization or group achieved a particular result, you need to examine the advocacy in Congress and the emphasis placed on advocating for members’ goals. As we move forward as an association, or as you make your way through a challenging career, an association like ausn can and will make the difference to you and your family. One needs only to look at the numbers of associations and coalitions that exist in Washington to understand the power of an association in Congress. The voices heard are overwhelming when an association approaches the Legislative or Executive branches. Members in Congress pay attention. Nothing stops you from being a member. See our advocacy and legislative pages at www.ausn.org.

AUSN Congressional Testimony

Ike Puzon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:04:00 GMT

At a recent Senate Armed Services Committee – Personnel Subcommittee hearing, I delivered the following testimony in conjunction with our TMC (The Military Coalition) partners. Because of only three minutes to deliver oral remarks, I focused on needed improvements in (1) early retirement, (2) health care benefits for Guard and Reserve members, and (3) the Montgomery GI Bill for Reserve members. This testimony can be seen on our

Did a Few of Our Founding Fathers Predict "Pork Barrel" Spending?

Content Manager — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:48:00 GMT

Few things arouse the American public more than the announcement of each year’s Congressional “pork barrel” spending. The Citizens Against Government Waste, a taxpayer watchdog group, even publishes their own Pig Book to further incite the American public toward the wasteful spending of their Senators and Representatives. However, is there a veiled political purpose to this type of spending?

Association Legislative Update and Intern Program

Ike Puzon — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:10:00 GMT

As we move towards changes in our Association, we will incorporate future equipment and personnel issues in our new legislative agenda that will focus on the overall needs of the Navy and the Navy Reserve. For the remainder of this calendar year, we will continue to focus on our original CY 2009 legislative agenda posted on our Web site.

Start of 111th Congress

Ike Puzon — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:05:00 GMT

We have received numerous inquires about a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report. Many have claimed that TRICARE for Life (TFL) is at risk.The CBO report lists 115 options for reducing federal spending on health care, altering federal health care programs, and making substantive changes to the nation’s health insurance system.

Legislative Agenda for CY 09 & Legislative Update

Ike Puzon — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:06:00 GMT

February 2009 NRA News

by CAPT Ike Puzon, Director of Legislation

It is clear that the entire U.S. budget is under pressure for this year and for many years to come. This does not mean that NRA doing business as AUSN should not petition for those items that will keep the Navy and the Navy Reserve strong, trained, and ready for conflicts. Budget debates can be argued from both sides. One thing is sure that terrorists and our enemies do not care if the U.S. budget is under pressure. It is very clear that our adversaries are not worried about their budgets. To our enemies, it does not matter what our budget will support or will not support. We do need to be responsible. Now, let's hope Congress will be responsible.

The first few hearings in the new 111th Congress have given us some indication of where we are headed. The Defense budget for FY 10 may be safe, but it will not stay that way for long. Therefore, we have to watch closely our legislative issues that are of the utmost importance to the defense of our Nation. Again, what is important is in the eyes of the beholder. Budget issues can be argued many ways – but people have always been our most precious asset. Equipment can be arguably as important. Recent Mumbai terrorist attacks show us that we may not need all our technology now – but we need excellent training and well-organized forces for sure. We will need new equipment to keep people trained and ready for the unpredictable. For the 38 years I have been associated with the military services, DoD, and, now, the Congress, there has never been enough money in the budget for equipment or people that we really need. This is a sad fact when people are plotting to kill us in our malls, in restaurants, concert halls, and in tall buildings. Americans are very complacent until a catastrophe occurs. Right now, Americans want change; but they are not sure what change they want. I do not believe it is time to reduce the Defense budget. Recent terrorist actions indicate that we cannot minimize the Defense or Homeland Security budgets.

The following are issues/agenda items that we see as issues we must push for this year and next year during the 111th Congress – to make sure that the Navy is ready to fight and win:

Manpower/End-Strength; Reserve Component and Active Duty Personnel End-Strengths

Track manpower levels to ensure there are an adequate number of personnel available to meet the demands of operational requirements, including current OIF/OEF and contingency operations. Navy has taken enough personnel cuts.

Reserve Retirement Compensation Under "Operational Reserve" Policy

We must provide those Reserve Component members since 9-11 that have performed Active Duty this benefit. Wounded Warrior & Seamless Transition for Mobilized Reserve Component members, Their Families, & Separating Active Duty members – Reserve and Active Duty members that mobilize or depart the service need transition assistance when they return to their home of record. We strongly encourage full funding for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program.

Navy and NGREA Equipment; Surface and Undersea platforms

At least $20 billion annually is needed for development and/or delivery of CVN-21, LPD-17, DDG-1000, LCS, CG(X), LHA-R, and SSN-774. Seven billion is required in top line funding increases for FY 09 and beyond. We support modernization of our Aegis fleet assets.

Aircraft: We support funding for aircraft to sustain at least 10 carrier air wings through multi-year procurement of F/A-18E/F, and E-2C/D and Joint Strike Fighter development.

NGREA: Reserve Components are 40% of deployed forces in OIF/OEF. To maintain an operational Reserve Component, training, and readiness, we support C-40A, P-8A, and EF/A-18 (Growler) for Reserve Component assignment and utilization.

Legislative Update

Support Funding for Defense Health Program

Continue working with Congress and DoD to ensure adequate funding for the Defense Health Program in order to meet readiness needs, fully fund TRICARE, and improve access for all beneficiaries regardless of age, status, or location.

Oppose TRICARE Enrollment Fees

The Defense Department has not sufficiently investigated other options to make TRICARE more cost-efficient as alternatives to shifting costs for any TRICARE program and other health care benefits to retiree beneficiaries under age 65, or Reserve Component members.

Active Duty/Reserve Component Pay

Secure additional annual pay increases that are at least .05% above the Employment Cost Index (ECI), along with targeted increases.

Reserve Component Education Enhancements

Improve education benefits for Reservists and family members plus survivors of disabled or deceased veterans who died of a service-connected disability or were killed on active duty. The new Post 9-11 GI Bill left many Reserve members behind. We will push for a Total Force approach to the Montgomery GI Bill.

Commissaries/MWR

Oppose privatization and ensure adequate funding for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to preserve the value of the current benefit for all patrons, protect the exchange benefit, and ensure adequate funding for MWR programs. Our entire legislative agenda and important issues are posted on our Web site for your review. We encourage our readers to review these issues. During the course of the 111th Congress, we will need your enthusiastic interaction with your Congressional delegation to ensure these issues are properly addressed.

Encouraging A New Total Force

Ike Puzon — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:56:00 GMT

The Department of Defense and the military services have stated that the level of Reserve Component contributions to the total force will continue at the same pace for many years. Currently, over 677,000 Guard and Reserve members have been mobilized for GWOT and contingency operations.

The Condition of the Strategic Operational Navy Reserve

Ike Puzon — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 15:15:00 GMT

With the recently passed FY06 Defense Authorization and Appropriation Acts, the Navy Reserve has had five years of rebalancing and transformation. Because these critical defense bills were passed extremely late, the military, including Reserve Components, are implementing FY06 budget authorities, reacting to the FY07 budget request, and working on POM FY08 submissions.

Recap of FY06 NDAA and Legislative Agenda for FY07

Content Manager — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:48:00 GMT

The Senate passed the FY06 NDAA on 22 December 2005, following the House passage earlier in that week. The President signed the NDAA into law on 6 January 2006. The Naval Reserve Association played a key role in the successful inclusion of a number of issues in the NDAA through direct involvement with Congress and through our membership with The Military Coalition, National Military Veterans Alliance, along with other associations.

Usage High for New Reserves

Content Manager — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 14:18:00 GMT

By the time you read this article, Congress will, in fact, have completed the authorization bill by mid-December, and hopefully, the Defense Appropriations Act as well. What’s wrong with this picture? Two months have passed in the FY06, and our service members, their families, and unit commanders are operating under a continuing resolution. For those who operate in the military, this is almost a totally untenable position. Your involvement with your Congressional delegation can change these types of things, including obtaining legislative goals.