Yet again I must report that defense appropriations legislation remains unfinished more than two months after the beginning of the new fiscal year.The defense appropriations legislation is tied up in the current negotiations over the "fiscal cliff."Currently the Department of Defense is operating under a continuing resolution that funds the federal government at 2012 levels until March 27. Many of the "fiscal cliff" items, however, expire or kick in on Jan. 1.So, time is not on the side of Congress, though they insist that they will find a solution.Based on past performance – good luck with that!The National Defense Authorization Act legislation has been passed by the Senate and now is in conference where differences between the House and Senate versions will be ironed out before being sent to the president for signature.This is the 51st year that a national defense authorization bill has been completed and it should be signed by the president before the end of the year.One issue that is especially troublesome is the looming 27 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians (that affects TRICARE providers as well) unless Congress passes legislation to prevent it.Congress has never mustered the wherewithal to find a permanent solution to this usually annual problem.AUSA President Gen. Gordon Sullivan, USA, Ret., has written a letter to the senior leadership of both houses of Congress urging a quick resolution to this seemingly intractable problem.You can add your voice to his by sending an online letter to your congressional members.Go to the AUSA website, www.ausa.org, click on "Legislative Agenda," then click on "Contact Congress," type in your zip code beside "Elected Officials" and scroll down to "Prevent the 27 Percent Cut in Medicare/TRICARE Payments."So the 112th Congress, split between parties, has proven no more adept at passing "must pass" legislation than the previous one that was controlled by one party.Meanwhile, as AUSA NEWS reported last month, after each Annual Meeting, on-line voting for the next year’s AUSA Resolutions begins.This year’s voting has been completed and 112 chapters out of 123 participated in the process.This is an amazing advance for grassroots activity because when we began the on-line vote several years ago, 45 chapters participated.Is it important that AUSA’s chapters overwhelming adopted its 2013 Resolutions?Yes, because the resolutions provide the framework for the Association’s legislative agenda for the coming year.The 2013 resolutions highlight the fact that these are difficult economic times and with the federal deficit increasing to record heights, this will be an era of constrained defense spending.The resolutions warn that Congress must not allow an erosion of benefits – particularly in health care and military retirement – which are crucial to the success of the all-volunteer force.The resolutions also thank Congress for the strides made in pay, compensation, health care, retirement, survivor programs, housing, readiness, procurement and transformation but note that more remains to be done such as maintaining parity between military and civilian pay and providing better compensation and health care packages for the National Guard and Army Reserve.AUSA will urge creation of a defense budget of at least 4 percent of gross domestic product with an Army share of the defense budget of 28 percent.AUSA believes that the number of soldiers on active duty in the Army should be 650,000 with the Army National Guard at 360,000 and the Army Reserve at 215,000.The 2013 Resolutions can be seen online at www.ausa.org by clicking on "Legislative Agenda" and then on "Resolutions 2013."These resolutions will guide the Association’s efforts on the Hill during the first session of the 113th Congress.We will be calling on you to add your voice to ours as we seek to help our great Army and its members and their families.So, during this holiday season, the Government Affairs Directorate – Matt, Julie and I – wish you and yours a successful and safe New Year.We ask that you remember those who serve our nation in the armed forces and especially the families of those who lost their lives or were injured, and consider how lucky we are to live in a representative democracy where political power changes peacefully.