Cooperation in Washington

May 2011 - Navy
By CAPT Ike Puzon, USN (Ret)

At this writing, most of Washington politicos are working on their "bets" of whether or not the government will shut down because Congress cannot agree to a FY 2011 budget or appropriations bill to run the federal government. The continuing resolu- tions are extended and extended. Congress is basically knotted and entangled on what must be cut and what must not be cut to proceed with the FY 2011 appropriations. As most of you know, this causes havoc for our operational forces, and also if you didn’t know, creates serious backlogs in training and equipping all forces. This has serious consequences. Even after this FY 2011 appropriations are settled, if they are, the FY 2012 process follows and that will prove to be even more difficult to have Congress cooperate.

Whatever side you come down on – cut more spending or hold current FY 2011 spending – we have to change the way we do business in Washington. The federal deficit is a National Security issue when China holds most of our debt, and China has decided to report an increase in Chinese Defense spending of 13%! For sure, all of that spending is not just to make them a regional power. Even if it is, we have National Security interest agreements all over Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia that 13% increase in Chinese Defense spending will impact. And, let’s not forget, we are involved in three wars or contin- gency operations and a large humani- tarian operation at the same time. So, we must get our financial house in order to move forward with our own National Security policies and interest.

No matter how you tally the current military actions, we are involved in three wars, or contingency operations, or conflicts. We are spending enormous amounts of national treasure and mili- tary members are at serious risk in three major conflicts – Iraq, Afghanistan, and now, Libya. As a note, Operational Iraqi Freedom will soon change names to Operational New Dawn, with our own military on the ground and in the air (including Navy and Navy Reserve members). Many of you remember the days when we were, in fact, involved globally in a war on terror, but that became unconventional to describe military and homeland security efforts. Nevertheless, the Navy and Navy Reserve were deployed worldwide and involved in “shooting conflicts” in three parts of the globe. Sounds like a global conflict to me.

While all this military action is going on, suggested changes are happening to our military and veterans at an unprecedented level. The Department of Defense has suggested major savings totaling around $75 billion. As you have seen and heard, the Department of Veterans Affairs does have an increase in funding for FY 2011 – if it ever passes. Nevertheless, there has been a run on health care for veterans and retirees in the name of “saving” money for future personnel and opera- tions! Keep in mind that TRICARE is managed by Department of Defense, and you have to have some kind of military disability to be in the Veterans Department health care system.

At the same time, AUSN is trying to lobby Congress for your goals which do come with a price tag, and the federal bank is broke. We have met with many Congressional offices and staffs and the same word is coming out of each office: deficit spending is finished – so, what do we cut? “Cut-go” is the only way any issue will be passed over the next few years. Cut-go means something must be cut from the budget to pass any new issue that costs money. All types of spending are at jeopardy, and should be.

With this environment in mind, we are forging ahead to find ways to pass legislative goals that help or assist our service members, wounded warriors, retirees, veterans and their families. We are attempting to find cost savings to put against any suggested provision that requires new spending. Why? Because it is the right thing to do for our National Security – the first and some say the only mandate of the Constitution.

A current list of some bills to watch/support is listed on this page. We are lobbying Congress for these issues, but only you can make Congress aware of these and to push them forward. You must take some kind of action – call, e-mail, write a letter, attend a town hall meeting or become a member of your Congressional delegation military or veteran advisory council. Use our CAPWIZ system to send them a note at our Web site http://www.ausn.org/Advocacy/tabid/150/De fault.aspx.

Some tips on writing or contacting a Member of Congress: letters or e-mails are the most used and popular ways to communicate with your Congressional offices. Office visits in the district, in Washington or calls are ways to get them your positions on the issues. Whatever means you use, the following tips will assist you in getting the message through:

• State your purpose up front; if you want to support a particular bill, use the bill number (HR for the House or S for the Senate).
• Be courteous, to the point, and include key information or personal examples for sup- port (but be short).
•  Address one issue in each contact you have – unless you are in person – then, max of two.
• Ask the Congressional members to support the bill or position, and ask for their position. If they disagree with your position, ask themto state the reason.
• Always use for a Senator and Representative: The Honorable in letter addresses. Use Dear Senator (last name), or Dear Represent- ative (last name) for the salutation.
• Do not be afraid to write the President or the Secretary of the Department that is in charge of the issue.

Bills of interest to support and/or watch:
H. R. 1092   Sponsor: Rep. Walter B. Jones, Jr. [NC-3] (introduced 3/15/2011) Cosponsors (6)
Title: Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. To amend Title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care.
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
S. 491 Sponsor: Sen. Mark L. Pryor [AR] (introduced 3/4/2011) Cosponsors (3)
Title: Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2011
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
H.R. 1025 Sponsor: Rep. Timothy J. Walz [MN-1] (introduced 3/10/2011) Cosponsors (35)
To amend Title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the Reserve Components of certain persons by honor- ing them with status as veterans under law.
Latest Major Action: 3/10/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
S. 367 Sponsor: Sen. Scott P. Brown [MA] (introduced 2/16/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Related Bills: H.R. 743 Title: Hire A Hero Act of 2011 Latest Major Action: 2/16/2011 Referred
to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
S. 146 and H.R. 865 Sponsors: Sen. Max Baucus [MT] and Rep. Timothy J. Walz [MN-1]. They are identical companion bills that revise the meaning of a qualified vet- eran in the tax code and provides a $2400 tax credit to employers who hire a veteran who has served over 180 days of active service in the last five years.
H.R. 1283 Sponsor: Rep. Tom Latham [IA]; Cosponsors: Rep. Dan Boren [OK]
Official Title: A bill to amend Title 10, United States Code, to eliminate the per- fiscal 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.
Last Major Action: March 31, 2011–– Read twice and referred to: House Armed Services. Congressional Record p. H2213.
S. 696 Sponsors: Sen. Jon Tester (MT) Official Title: A bill to amend Title 38,
United States Code, to treat Vet Centers as Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for purposes of payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to Department facilities, and for other purposes.
Cosponsors: No reported cosponsors
Last Major Action: March 31, 2011–– Read twice and referred to: Senate Veterans’ Affairs. Congressional Record p. S2046
H.R. 1285 Sponsor: Rep. Michele Bachmann [MN]
Official Title: A bill to amend Title 10, United States Code, to prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care before fiscal year 2014.
Cosponsors: No reported cosponsors
Last Major Action: March 31, 2011–– Read twice and referred to: House Armed Services. Congressional Record p. H2213
H.R. 1263 Sponsor: Rep. Bob Filner [CA]
Official Title: A bill to amend the Service members Civil Relief Act to provide sur- viving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage fore- closures.
Cosponsors: No reported cosponsors
Last Major Action: March 30, 2011–– Read twice and referred to: House Veterans’ Affairs. Congressional Record p. H2106
S. 325 and H. R. 948 Sponsors: Sen. Patty Murray [WA] and Rep. David Loebsack [IA]
Title:   Embedded   Mental   Health Providers for Reserves Act of 2011 – To amend Title 10, to require behavioral health services to members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces neces- sary to meet the predeployment and post- deployment readiness and fitness standards.
H.R. 181 Sponsor: Rep. Joe Wilson [SC]
Title: National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act. Ensure that members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces who have service on active duty or performed active service since September 11, 2001, in support of contingency operation or in other emergency situations receive credit for such service in determining eligi- bility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.
H.R. 865 Sponsor: Rep. Timothy J. Walz [MN-1] (introduced 3/1/2011) Cosponsors (43)
Title: Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2011
Latest Major Action: 3/16/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.