Transcript October 26, 2005 Task Force Chair Meeting

NGAUS Update
2007
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
“For 128 years, the National Guard Association has
been fighting for the citizen-soldiers who fight for America.”
— President George W. Bush, Feb. 9, 2006
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Objectives
• Educate the Public
• Resource the National
Guard
• Work with State
Associations
• Maintain a Library and
Museum
• Encourage Membership
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Organization
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Board of Directors
Full Time Staff
Committees
Legislative Process
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Board of Directors
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Chairman – MG R. Martin Umbarger
VP Air – Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress
VP Army – BG Norman E. Arflack
President – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen Koper
Treasurer – Brig. Gen. Ken Ross
Secretary – COL. Al Faber
Immediate Past President – BG (Ret.) Robert V.
Taylor
• Three Directors from each of 6 NGAUS Areas
• An Adjutant General & Air and Army Officer
• Two Company Grade Officers - Army and Air
• One Warrant Officer
• Two Retired Officers - Army and Air
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Full Time Staff
• President – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Stephen Koper
• Chief of Staff – LTC Wayne Hunt
• Directors
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Legislative Staff – Richard Green
Membership/Benefits – Ron Sutton
Communications – John Goheen
National Guard Education Foundation – Jason Hall
Industry Liaison – Hazell Booker
Finance – Pam Buckler
• Total Full Time Employees - 28
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Committees
• Standing committees
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Audit
Awards
By-Laws
Company Grade Issues
Finance
Membership
Warrant Officer issues
• General Conference Committees
• Credentials and Rules
• Nominations
• Resolutions Committee
• Special Committees
• Task Forces
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Legislative Staff
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Richard Green – Director
Pete Duffy – Deputy/Joint Programs
Emily Breitbach - Air Programs
Chris DeBatt – Army Programs
Bernie Phelps – Senior Analyst
Analyst - Vacant
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Focused Lobby
Techniques
Legislative Strategy
• Strengthening the Bonds
 NGAUS, NGB, EANGUS, AGAUS, Industry, Congressional
Caucuses, and more – “Together we Succeed!”
 Coordinating the message & connecting the dots
• Promoting the “Strategic” Issues & “Top” Priorities
 How does it all “fit”; NGAUS – NGB - State - Industry
• Working closely with Allies and Champions in Congress
 Legislation sponsors/co-sponsors pave the way
 National Guard Caucuses – outstanding support!
 New Military Legislative Assistants (MLA) and Professional Staff
• Energizing the “Grass Roots”
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We are only “scratching the surface” of our potential influence!
A continuous focus & critical element for success
Attending state conferences; spreading the word
Facilitating “Hill” visits – National Guard Memorial
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Legislative Process
House
Hearings
Subcommittee
Mark-up
Committee
Mark-up
Floor
Vote
Floor
Vote
Conference
Committee
President
Signs
Senate
Hearings
Feb - Apr
Subcommittee
Mark-up
Committee
Mark-up
Floor
Vote
May
Jun
Jul -Aug
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Floor
Vote
Sep
October 1
Improved
Communications
• Web Site
 Lots of information – it’s all there!
 Legislative Alerts – timely and focused
 Weekly review & updates
• Email Contacts
 The addresses we know (BoD, TAG’s, ED’s, etc.)
 The addresses we need - our members!
• Washington Update
 Keeping our members informed
• NGAUS Issues – New!
 Monthly newsletter for members of Congress and their staff
• LEGIT
 Electronic and Blackberry versions
• NGAUS 101 Series of Informative Handouts
 What has NGAUS done for me lately?
 Legislative Process, Resolutions, Task Forces, etc.
 Will be posted on the web
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Resolutions Cycle
Jan
Jan - Jun
Jun - Jul
Sep
Oct – Dec
Draft Resolutions distributed to the states
State associations pass resolutions
packages at their state conference and
forward to NGAUS
Resolutions are reviewed by NGB, task
forces and NGAUS Board of Directors
Resolutions are considered at NGAUS
General Conference for adoption
NGAUS staff prepares Legislative
Objectives; task forces prioritize
resolutions
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Resolutions
Organization
Brig. Gen. Hugh Broomall
Resolutions Chair
LTC James Lewis
Army Resolutions Chair
Col. Michael R. Morgan
Air Resolutions Chair
State Army Delegates
State Air Delegates
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Resolutions
Documents
• Resolutions
 Driving force behind NGAUS legislative agenda
 May be policy or equipment related
 Become our member’s voice on items of importance
and “marching orders” for legislative staff
 Prioritized by task forces & BoD
 Outlined in “Legislative Objectives” booklet
• Fact Sheets
 Developed with task forces, NGB and industry to
support resolutions
 Provides the details; how much/how many
 Directed to members of Congress
 Included in “Red Book”
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Task Forces
• Composition
 Chairman/Vice Chair
 Six NGAUS Area Representatives
 Professional Staffers (industry, NGB, etc.)
• Objectives
 Help prepare draft resolutions for distribution to
the states based on validated issues
 Comment on resolutions received from states
prior to and at NGAUS general conference
 Prioritizes resolutions adopted at NGAUS
conference and develops legislative fact sheets
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Task Forces
NGAUS
PRESIDENT
Brig Gen (Ret) Stephen Koper
NGAUS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
MG R. Martin Umbarger
(IN)
NGAUS VC - ARMY
BG Norman Arflack
(KY)
AVIATION
COL Chris Latchford
(PA)
ENGINEER
MG King Sidwell
(MO)
NGAUS VC - AIR
Maj Gen David B. Poythress
(GA)
FIRE SUPPORT
BG (Ret) Sykorah
(SD)
C4I
BG Henry McCann
(DE)
COMBAT VEHICLE
MG (Ret) Wesley Craig
(PA)
FIGHTER
Brig Gen Michael Brandt
(MO)
CS/CSS
COL M. Washburn
(IN)
PERSONNEL/BENEFITS
COL Steve Joyce
(GA)
MEDICAL
Col Peter Bickel
(OH)
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
AIRLIFT/TANKER
Col William Reddel
(NH)
C4I
Col Ed Hull
(PA)
Highlights of FY07
Defense Acts
• TRICARE!!! - after 7 years, we achieved our
goal!
• Retained 350,000 ARNG end-strength
• A variety of equipment earmarks; NGREA
ARNG $575M – ANG $75M; $2.9B in
equipment reset
• Authorizes Title 32 AGR & technicians; training
and operational missions
• MILCON: ARNG - $561M, ANG $294M
• Empowerment - Referred to CNGR
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Top Strategic Issue
Empowerment
• Lack of Empowerment - The “Root” Problem
 Symptoms include BRAC 2005 & QDR 2006
 National Guard leaders were either restricted by “non-disclosure” or
“caught by surprise” – but were not “in the huddle” or “at the table”
 DOD doesn’t seem inclined to change their methods; method of doing
business appears to be changing under Secretary Gates
• The Solution - Legislate Empowerment
 2006 - National Defense Enhancement and National Guard
Empowerment Act of 2006 introduced by Senator’s Leahy and Bond as
S.2658 & Rep’s Taylor & Davis as H.R.5200
 DoD and Administration vigorously opposed several provisions of
the legislation and DoD “denied” that a problem even exists during
congressional hearings
 FY07 Defense Authorization Act referred issue to CNGR with a
“Report Back” date of 1 Mar 07
 2007 – National Guard Empowerment Act of 2007; S.430/H.R.718
(same sponsors)
 1 March – CNGR presented Empowerment Report; A step forward
but not at the table quite yet!
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
FY08 “Strategic”
Issues
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Empowerment; S.430/H.R.718
 The CNGR report gives us “momentum” for follow up legislation (23/8)
 National Guard Caucuses keeping the pressure on!
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Force Structure and Missions
 OK this year; BCT restructuring a state issue; status of ANG personnel cuts/TFI
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Reset & Modernization; S.756 - Sen. Dodd $38 Billion over next 5 years
 We made progress in the FY07; need to keep the heat on!
 Defense budget; a function of Gross Domestic Product (GDP); below 4%; needs to
go up!
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Mobilization Process
 The recent announcement of a 12 month mobilization is good; “devil is in the details!”
 Tied closely to full-time manning
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Full-time Manning
 Critical for administrative, training and readiness; necessary to implement new 12
month mobilization; validate GWOT requirements; need 100% NOW!
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Reduced Age Retirement; S.548/ H.R.690 & 1428 (Latham)
 A popular issue; we’re coordinating our efforts; we need strong constituent support!
 Goal this year; Senate and House come together on legislation that can pass (foot in
the door); it may not be “exactly” what we want
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
FY08 “Strategic”
Issues
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Montgomery G.I. Bill; S.644/H.R.1102
 AD & RC under different statutes (Title 38/Title 10); disparity and unfairness;
movement to restructure RC under Title 38, then fix disparity
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MILCON; TAGS working this issue
 $3.1M dropped from Continuing Resolution; we can’t allow the NG program to be
used as a “bill payer” for BRAC;
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Repeal of Insurrection Act Changes PL 109-364; S.513/ H.R.869
 Erodes authority of governors; should be rescinded
 This issue “slipped by” last year; strong support for repeal this year
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TRICARE; S.604/ H.R.579
 Program approved in FY07 Defense Authorization will begin 1 Oct
 DoD cut $1.8B from TRICARE; non-specified fee increases; DoD waiting for
Future of Military Health Care Task Force report in May
 NGAUS is opposing fee increases for “gray area” (under 65) retiree’s
 Bills introduced by Congress to oppose fee increases; Sen’s Lautenberg/Hagel
and Rep’s Edwards/Jones
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Concurrent Receipt; H.R.303 & 333/S.439
 Full retirement benefit PLUS disability
 Changes to laws governing this look good
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Joint Priorities
• Fully fund each Uniformed Services
University Health Sciences Center
(USHUS) for the study of traumatic stress,
disaster and humanitarian assistance, and
casualty care research
• Reduction in retirement age
• Review of the mobilization process
• Full-time manning for ARNG and ANG
• Increased funding to properly equip and
train National Guard for medical response
to WMD and HLD & HLS
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
ARNG Priorities
• Leave Behind Equipment
• UH-60 & CH-47 Helicopters
• 3 Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) of M2A3 &
M1A1 tanks (6 BCT already in the POM)
• Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) &
Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV)
(including all variants)
• High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
ANG Priorities
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A-10 Satellite Communications
(SATCOM)
C-130 Large Aircraft Infrared
Countermeasures (LAIRCM)
F-15C/D Active Electronically Scanned
Array (AESA) Radar
F-16 Secure Satellite Communications
Mobile Approach Control System
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
What Have “Our” Associations
Done for us Lately?
• “Just about Everything”…from funding
and equipment, to pay, benefits and
quality of life initiatives
• Since 1878, NGAUS has been the voice
on Capitol Hill for the National Guard
• While a specific piece of equipment or
benefit doesn’t come with a label, I can
assure you that most everything we have
was impacted by a combined effort that
includes “our” associations
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
BROUGHT TO
YOU BY OUR
ASSOCIATIONS
To Succeed…
”We” Need to…
• Focus on the most important issues – both
strategic and tactical
• Coordinate our efforts with state
associations, TAGS, governors, NGB,
Congress, industry, etc.
• Communicate the “Guard” story; our
strengths, capabilities and needs - a clear and
consistent message
• Improve membership and keep them
informed; web site, LEGIT, NGAUS Notes,
Issues, National Guard magazine, etc.
• Energize our members to participate in the
political process; Command emphasis, “Write
to Congress” , visits to the Hill, task forces,
etc.
• Together…We “Will” Succeed!
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!
Our “future” is in the hands of all
of us…working together to ensure
a strong and viable National Guard
Questions?
Transforming Resolutions into Reality!