In this issue:

• As Year Winds Down, Important Votes Expected on Defense Bills
• Army Announces Civilian Cuts
• Senate Army Caucus Breakfast

AS YEAR WINDS DOWN, IMPORTANT VOTES EXPECTED ON DEFENSE BILLS

As the 1st Session of the 112th Congress winds down, lawmakers are putting the final touches on the defense authorization and appropriations bills.

Last week, AUSA and its partners in The Military Coalition sent a letter to defense authorization conferees thanking them for including a 1.6 percent pay raise for the military.  The Coalition letter also highlighted certain provisions in the House and Senate authorization bills that AUSA strongly supports.

Here are several items we think deserve particular attention:

End Strength - We remain very concerned that end strength cuts are premature in view of continuing deployment requirements.  Our nation continues to demand more and more of our men and women in uniform and their families.

Annual enrollment fees for TRICARE Prime - We strongly urge the conferees to retain the House provision that expresses the “Sense of Congress” that career military people endure unique and extraordinary demands throughout their career which constitute a significant pre-paid health premium.  Both the House and Senate versions of the bill specify that the Secretary of Defense may only increase annual enrollment fees by an amount equal to the percentage by which military retired pay is increased.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) - The Senate’s bill includes a provision that would end deduction of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from SBP annuities when the member’s death is service-connected.  AUSA strongly urges the conferees to retain this provision in the final bill. 

Wounded Warriors - The Coalition urges the conferees to retain the House and Senate bill provisions that would help provide greater access to mental and behavioral health care for wounded warriors and their families.  The burden of multiple and extended deployments has stretched our servicemembers and their families to, and in some cases, beyond the breaking point.

Conferees worked over the weekend to resolve issues regarding whether or not detainees including those captured in the United States, would be held in military rather than civilian custody.  The Obama Administration has threatened to veto the bill if the provision remains in the final bill.  The Administration opposes the language on the grounds that it limits their options in dealing with alleged terrorists.

At the same time authorizers are finishing work on their bill, appropriators are also making progress on the defense spending bill.  However, appropriators have indicated that the bill will also include the Administration-opposed detainee language. Clearly this issue must be resolved this week.

The appropriations bill will be rolled into a year-end omnibus spending bill that Congress hopes to clear by Dec. 16, the deadline for the end of the existing continuing resolution.

It is expected that the House will vote on the authorization bill as early as Thursday, Dec.15, with the Senate vote to follow.  


ARMY ANNOUNCES CIVILIAN CUTS

Last week, the Army announced details of its plan to reduce the size of its civilian employee workforce.

The Army plans to reduce the workforce by 8700 positions and has identified 70 different locations affected by these reductions across eight commands and agencies with nearly 90 percent of the cuts taking place within Installation Management Command, Army Materiel Command, and Training and Doctrine Command. 

Thirty seven states will be affected by these reductions with the majority of personnel cuts occurring in those states with the largest military and Army civilian populations.

Army commands and agencies are continuing to take necessary actions to reduce their civilian on-board strength to meet funded targets established by the secretary of defense and reflected in the President’s Budget,” said Thomas R. Lamont, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. “To the maximum extent possible, the Army will rely on voluntary departures to achieve these manpower reductions. 

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the co-chair of the Senate Army Caucus, reacted with strong disappointment when he learned that Fort Sill will lose 176 civilian positions.

“I am deeply disappointed by today’s announcement,” said Inhofe.  “In the history of the United States, the U.S. Army has played a pivotal role in defending our nation and its people, and the hard work from our men and women at Fort Sill is no exception.  He added, “If defense sequestration is allowed to proceed as currently scheduled, these cuts will be just the beginning of a total decimation of our armed forces, threatening our national security.  We cannot allow that to happen.  While I understand that many of these cuts at Fort Sill are position cuts and not job cuts, I will work with those in Lawton and at the Pentagon to mitigate the impacts."

SENATE ARMY CAUCUS BREAKFAST

The Army’s reduction in force announcement came shortly after the Senate’s Army Caucus Breakfast hosted by Sen. Inhofe, Caucus co-chair and Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, the other co-chair.  AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA. Ret., was in attendance along with other key senators and senior staff members.

Army Secretary John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno were the breakfast speakers.  Gen. Odierno shared some sobering statistics with the audience.  “Our Soldiers have been the backbone of our Nation's successes. They have displayed mental and physical toughness and courage under fire in conditions that have been as demanding as any that our Army has experienced in its 236 year history. Our Soldiers' actions speak for themselves. However, these accomplishments have come at enormous cost. 

"Since 9/11, more than 4,500 Soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice; another 32,000 have been wounded, with thousands requiring long term care.  There have been six awards of the Medal of Honor, 22 Distinguished Service Crosses, well over 600 Silver Stars, and more than 14,000 awards for Valor.”