a. AUSA Moderator – “Will Congress end Sequestration during this Session?”
“The 1st Session of the 115th Congress is not even a month old and already the Department of Defense budget is a hot topic…Just days after Congress convened, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz, released a white paper that calls for an immediate $54 billion increase in defense spending for fiscal 2018 as part of an overall $430 billion increase over five years.
The first thing McCain calls for is an end to sequestration, the automatic and equal cuts to defense and non-defense programs that were part of the Budget Control Act of 2011.”
b. NCO and Soldier Programs – “What else would you want to know about the new Army pistol?”
The Army has finished their pistol selection competition and the winner is Sig Sauer's P320 polymer striker-fired pistol. Check out the article below and the 11 things you need to know about this new pistol.
c. AUSA Moderator – “Are you aware of the Army Museum project’s latest advances?”
“To date, $139 million has been raised in cash and pledges, more than two-thirds of the way to the Army Historical Foundation’s $200 million goal. Actual construction of the museum will begin this year. When completed, the facility will total about 185,000 square feet of exhibit space, showcasing selections from among over 630,000 artifacts, documents, and images, officials said. Outdoor features of the museum campus will include a memorial garden, amphitheater, parade ground and an ‘Army trail.’ About 500,000 to 700,000 visitors are expected to visit the museum each year.”
d. AUSA Five Things – “What concerns you most about the Annual Congressional Budget Office’s recommendations?”
AUSA Five Things: A Weekly Tip Sheet for AUSA Members, dated January 23, 2017: “Worrying Budget Options.”
“A December report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, ‘Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2017 to 2026,’ has caused a stir for making recommendations like capping pay increases for soldiers, denying veterans disability pay for off-duty injuries or hereditary diseases, and increasing health care fees for working-age military retirees.
What to Watch: The annual report contains options, not recommendations, for Congress. It warns lawmakers of the political fallout that would result from things such as taking money away from soldiers and veterans. AUSA will keep a close eye on legislation introduced in the 105th Congress to see if any of these ideas surface.
THIS WEEK'S POLL QUESTION:
(To Vote: Scroll down to the footer of the page)
Do you support the Army’s push to close excess bases?
- Yes
- No
- Not sure