ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

DEFENSE REFORM TOPIC AT HOUSE HEARING

AUSA’s president told lawmakers this week that while he agrees the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 should be tweaked, lawmakers should also proceed with caution.

Goldwater–Nichols, signed by President Ronald Reagan, fundamentally reworked the command structure of the United States military and is most responsible for the current military and defense institutional organization.

HEALTHCARE, PAY AMONG TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED IN NDAA CONFERENCE

Now that both the House and Senate have passed their fiscal 2017 defense policy bills, the next step is to reconcile the differences between the two versions.  However, there is virtually no chance they will unveil a final version until after they return from their extended summer recess. 

Congress heads out of town in mid-July for their conventions and summer recess and will not return until after Labor Day. 

Senate:  No boost to defense budget

An amendment to the Senate’s defense policy bill that would have authorized additional funds to pay for extra personnel and equipment and a larger pay raise was shot down by Democratic lawmakers after Republicans rejected their call for an equal boost for non-defense accounts.

White House Issues Veto Threat of Defense Policy Bill

Despite a veto threat from the Obama Administration, the Senate started their debate on the fiscal 2017 defense policy bill this week. 

In its Statement of Administration Policy, the White House outlined several areas of disagreement they have with the bill.  They also issued a warning in response to an amendment offered by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain that would add $18 billion to the Defense Department budget by boosting the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account. 

weekly electronic newsletter, and is published every Thursday when Congress is in session.     ★★★CONGRESS HEADED FOR THE DOORAlthough much progress has been made on defense-related legislation, it will come to a halt as Congress heads into the Memorial Day recess.  Her

Military Health Care Reform Details Released by Senate 

weekly electronic newsletter, and is published every Thursday when Congress is in session.  ★★★DEFENSE SPENDING BILL DETAILS RELEASEDDetails of the draft House defense spending bill for fiscal 2017 were released this week by the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Foll

weekly electronic newsletter, and is published every Thursday when Congress is in session.     ★★★ WAR OF WORDS ERUPTS OVER OCO SPENDINGSecretary of Defense Ash Carter has taken a negative position on the House Armed Services Committee’s plan to shift funds from the Ove

weekly electronic newsletter, and is published every Thursday when Congress is in session.     ★★★HOUSE DEFENSE PANEL APPROVES POLICY BILLAt 2:34 this morning, by a vote of 60-2, the House Committee on Armed Services approved their version of the defense authorization b

weekly electronic newsletter, and is published every Thursday when Congress is in session.     ★★★ AUSA ON THE HILLWith Congress about to start writing the 2017 defense budget, the president and CEO of the Association of the U.S.