| NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE TOP PRIORITY OBJECTIVES 2010 - 2011 |
STRENGTHEN THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE
1. INCREASE THE SIZE OF GROUND FORCES
2. PREVENT THE EROSION OF TRICARE BENEFITS
3. HELP THE WIDOWS AND WOUNDED
Our nation is at war and defense is the first duty of national government. We are in an "era of persistent conflict" and we need a national strategy for the long term violent extremism. Also the threat of a conventional high intensity war is a real possibility. We must re-balance our force to meet the full spectrum of potential conflict. Our defense budget must match our strateby; not the reverse.
We need a wartime budget! Our country can afford and must devote, a greater share of its resources to national defense. Past wars have required a larger sacrifice from our nation; this war is no less important. Our defense budget must be increased to at least 5% of our GDP! Only the military is bearing the brunt of war; we must quit shortchanging them. Also, we need a national solution to our energy problem in order to maximize our available defense dollars.
| OBJECTIVES APPROVED BY VCOC AT 8 JAN 2010 MEETING. SEE DOCUMENT BELOW.
|
| CLICK HERE FOR ONE-PAGE DOCUMENT OF THE DRAFT OBJECTIVES - PDF FILE |
SEE ALSO PAGE 3 OF DEC 2009 COUNCIL CRIER - LEGISLATIVE NATIONAL Use the Word Document page in your own newsletters.
VCOC Legislative Committee Chair is Don Kaiserman, Col, USA, Ret of Richmond Area Chapter. 1st Vice Chair for National Legislation is Stu Williams, COL, USA, Ret of Mt Vernon Chapter.
|
| PREVIOUS OBJECTIVES - recent years |
VCOC Legislative point-of-contact is VCOC Vice President, COL Sam Wilder, USA, Ret.
Sam chairs the VCOC Legislative Committee which consists of Legislative Reps from each Virginia chapter of MOAA.
Documents, below have the info at right, plus a graph about Defense Spending as a Percentage of GDP, and a logo/header. The same document is provided in both Word & PDF format.
SCROLL DOWN FOR LINKS TO MOAA PAPERS
This is just one page in the National Legislative portion of the VCOC website. Point your Curser to the Menu Item "NATIONAL Legislative" to see more available pages, including the annual VCOC Congressional Luncheon.
|
VCOC MOAA
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE TOP PRIORITY OBJECTIVES
2009 - 2010
Strengthen the All Volunteer Force
Our nation is at war and defense is the first duty of national government. We are in an “era of persistent conflict”. We are fighting counter-insurgencies, but the threat of a conventional high intensity war is also a real possibility. We must re-balance our force to meet the full spectrum of potential conflict.
We need a wartime budget! Our country can afford, and must devote, a greater share of its resources to national defense. Past wars have required a larger sacrifice from our nation; this war is no less important. Our defense budget must be increased to at least 5% of our GDP! Only the military is bearing the brunt of war; we must not skimp in their support. Also, we need a national solution to our energy problem in order to maximize our available defense dollars.
1. Increase the size of ground forces: We are finally starting to increase the size of our land forces. But, we have dangerously stretched our Army and no longer have a viable strategic reserve. We must rebuild our readiness! We urge Congress to fully fund and increase the end strength of the active Army to at least 700,000; ARNG to 358,000, Army Reserve to 206,000 and Marines to 202,000. Do not reduce USAF/Navy strength to increase our land forces, nor resort to a draft.
2. Prevent the erosion of TRICARE benefits:. Cost savings in the Defense Budget must not be borne by the military community who have served an arduous 20 to 30 year career. Proposals that increase costs of retiree health care are unfair and send the wrong signal to those serving. We need a permanent fix to the Medicare reimbursement rate problem!
3. Fully Implement All Recommendations of Veterans Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC): Only some of the Commissions recommendations have been acted on by Congress; all have not. Specifically, Congress must eliminate the SBP-DIC off-set; approve full concurrent receipt for retiree disabilities; simplify and expedite the processing of disability claims and appeals. Our Wounded Warriors deserve the best care this country can provide. Enact legislation to implement the full range of the Commission’s recommendations.
1/9/2009
|
Word Document of National Legislative Priorities VCOC 2009-2010 |
PDF of National Legislative Priorities VCOC 2009-2010 |
|
LINKS TO MOAA PAPERS
Concerning VCOC National Legislative Objectives
Provided 24 March 2009 by COL Stu Williams, USA, Ret, Legislative Rep, Mt Vernon Chapter
(Also, see document package on Congressional Luncheon 2009 page of this website.)
|
| NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY OBJECTIVES 2008, 2009 |
| VCOC NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2007 & 2008 |
STRENGTHEN THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE
1. Increase size of ground forces.
2. Finally fix SBP & Concurrent Receipt.
3. Stop erosion of TRICARE benefits.
|
Talking Paper on Virginia National Legislative Priorities approved 22 Jan 2007 |
Of all the positions identified by MOAA, the VCOC has determined these are the top three needing attention this year. Virginia MOAA members, please write and talk with your federal legislators about these important issues and join your chapter representatives for the Virginia MOAA lunch with congresspersons in Washington DC APRIL 16, 2008.
|
|