Saturday, June 6, 2015
Friday, June 5, 2015
President Obama, President Poroshenko Discuss Ukraine Conflict
Leaders Call on Russia, Separatists to Abide Strictly
by the Terms of the February Minsk Implementation Plan
President
Obama spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko about the
conflict in eastern Ukraine and the upcoming discussions about Ukraine
at the G-7 Summit. The
President and President Poroshenko expressed their deep concern about
the recent assault by combined Russian-separatist forces across the
current line of contact near Donetsk, Ukraine, and once more called on
Russia and the separatists it backs to abide strictly
by the terms of the February Minsk Implementation Plan. The President
reaffirmed the strong support of the United States for Ukraine’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reiterated his determination
to continue working with international partners
to provide the support Ukraine needs as it undertakes transformational
reforms. The President also underscored the commitment of the United
States to supporting a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in eastern
Ukraine and the need to maintain costs on Russia
and the separatists until they fulfill all provisions of the Minsk
agreements.
White House to Host International Climate Resilience Event at U.S. Institute of Peace
WASHINGTON,
DC – On Tuesday, June 9th, the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy will convene leaders from government, the
international community, and the private,
academic, nongovernmental, and philanthropic sectors at the U.S.
Institute of Peace for an event launching new steps to boost climate
resilience in the developing world.
In
addition to leaders from the international community and private
sector, this event will feature remarks from senior Obama Administration
officials, including:
Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the President
John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science & Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)
Tamara Dickinson, Principal Assistant Director for Environment and Energy, OSTP
Alice Hill, Senior Director for Resilience Policy, National Security Council
Alfonso Lenhardt, Acting Administrator U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Laura Furgione, Deputy Director of the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Ellen Stofan, Chief Scientist, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Kit Batten, Global Climate Change Coordinator, USAID
WHEN: Tuesday, June 9, 9:30AM – 11:30AM EDT
WHERE: United States Institute of Peace - 2301 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037
'Flashback Friday': The Death of Tim Russert
The following quote was posted on YouTube with this video.
"Tim Russert's chair was empty on the first show of Meet the Press since he died suddenly on Friday, June 15, 2008.
"Tom Brokaw and coworkers from across the broadcasting community remember Tim Russert. Especially touching is the fact that this is Father's Day and Tim was all about dads as he wrote in his book 'Big Russ and Me'."
"Tim Russert's chair was empty on the first show of Meet the Press since he died suddenly on Friday, June 15, 2008.
"Tom Brokaw and coworkers from across the broadcasting community remember Tim Russert. Especially touching is the fact that this is Father's Day and Tim was all about dads as he wrote in his book 'Big Russ and Me'."
This part one of six YouTube videos.
Editor's note: As the seventh anniversary of his death approaches, From The G-Man and The G-Man Interviews salutes the legacy and life of Mr. Tim Russert, one of the greatest journalists in television history. May his work continue to inform and inspire people all over the world.....and may he forever rest in peace.
The G-Man
National Security Agency Bulk Data Collection
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Julian Sanchez discusses the passage of the
USA FREEDOM Act, how the law changes NSA data collection, and how the
federal government should address privacy concerns as it gathers
personal data for security purposes.
Washington Journal: Transgender Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara
Keisling discusses efforts by the transgender community to enact legal
protections to secure equal rights, as well as changing public opinion
on transgender issues.
Video link: http://www.c-span.org/video/?326281-5/washington-journal-mara-keisling-transgender-rights
Source: C-Span
'Personally Speaking' Series Held at the Bryant Park Screening Room
Pictured Left to Right: Seitu Jemel Hart, Edwin Torres, Jennifer Jones Austin, Cynthia Lopez, Tamir Muhammad and Martha Diaz (Photo Credit: Rob White)
June 5, 2015
(New York, NY) - The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA)
convened its Personally Speaking series on Wednesday, June 3 featuring
leaders in the fields of Arts & Entertainment
who have helped make New York a more vibrant and artistic city.
FPWA’s Personally Speaking is a speaker series featuring prominent
people who help shape the nonprofit, philanthropic, civic and business
sectors in New York City and beyond.
This installment of the Personally Speaking series, Sponsored by American Express, focused on leadership and business in the Arts. The panelists’ work, through both philanthropy and on the ground service, has helped some of New York City's most vulnerable. The panelists included: Cynthia López, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment; Tamir Muhammad, Director of Content and Artist Development, Time Warner, Inc.; and Martha Diaz, Founding Director, Hip-Hop Education Center. The evening's moderator was Edwin Torres, Deputy Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs.
Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of FPWA opened up the evening with welcome remarks and saluted the panelists for exploring how the arts & entertainment communities can engage further with the NYC non-profit philanthropic sectors by uplifting and inspiring NYC's underserved. According to Jones Austin: “The Arts have a long history of enacting social change; they now have a unique ability to reach and help the City’s most vulnerable. These panelists develop and oversee innovative, accessible methods of utilizing the Arts to educate and empower those in need. They are leaders whose work is important not only for the Arts industry but for all New Yorkers.”
Cynthia Lopez, Commissioner of The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), whose mission includes supporting relevant media and entertainment industries in New York City, talked to the audience about setting their own standards of excellence and not letting anyone change that for them. She also urged them to accept rejection and move on when it happens.
Also joining the panel was Tamir Muhammad, Director of Content & Artist Development for Time Warner Inc., who is responsible for a new content initiative that creates meaningful ways for today’s content creators to further engage Time Warner’s divisions with the company’s longstanding focus on the development of the next generation of storytellers. Mr. Muhammad was vocal about Time Warner's commitment to giving a voice for the voiceless and he urged the audience participants to be ready when opportunity knocks on the door and to make sure that they seek creative partners that are in sync with them.
The final panelist, Martha Diaz, is an award winning community organizer, media producer, archivist, curator, educator, mentor, and social entrepreneur. In 2010, Diaz founded the Hip-Hop Education Center to cultivate and professionalize the field of hip-hop-based education. Diaz is a Professor at New York University's Gallatin School and a Columbia University Community Scholar. Ms. Diaz said she pursued her path so she could challenge the media by becoming an independent film maker and she urged the audience to do the same.
Edwin Torres, Deputy Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs served as moderator of the panel and did a great job engaging the audience in the dialogue. He shared the commitment by the City to giving opportunities to New Yorkers in the Arts.
The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) is an anti-poverty, policy, and advocacy nonprofit with a membership network of nearly 200 human-service and faith-based organizations. Each year, through its network of member agencies, FPWA reaches close to 1.5 million New Yorkers of all ages, ethnicities, and denominations. FPWA strives to build a city of equal opportunity that reduces poverty, promotes upward mobility, and creates shared prosperity for all New Yorkers.
Washington Journal: Terrorist Recruitment Techniques
Mubin Shaikh, co-author of Undercover Jihadi: Inside the Toronto 18 - Al Qaeda Inspired, Homegrown Terrorism in the West,
talked about how Islamic extremist groups like ISIS recruit people to
their cause and how to counteract the radical mindset. He was drawn to
militant Islam at age 19, but rejected it and eventually worked with the
Canadian government to capture members of the “Toronto 18,” an al
Qaeda-inspired group that staged a series of attacks around
Canada. Mr. Shaikh spoke via video link from Toronto.
Video link: http://www.c-span.org/video/?326281-4/washington-journal-mubin-shaikh-terrorist-recruitment-techniques
Source: C-Span
'Female Viagra' Wins Approval From FDA Panel
The once-a-day pill Flibanserin aims to treat a sexual desire disorder known to affect about 1 in 10 women.
CEA Chairman: 'The Economy Added 280,000 Jobs in May'
Statement on the Employment Situation in May
WASHINGTON,
DC – Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, issued
the following statement today on the employment situation in May. You
can view the statement HERE.
The economy added 280,000 jobs in May—the strongest month of the year so far—as wages continued to rise and the participation rate ticked upward. We have now added 5.6 million jobs over the past two years, the best two-year job growth since 2000. Although the job market has made considerable progress throughout this recovery, challenges remain for our economy and there is more work to do. The President is committed to extending the positive underlying trends through a comprehensive agenda to boost employment and wages for the middle class, including opening new markets for U.S. goods and services through expanded trade, increasing investments in infrastructure, providing relief from the sequester, and raising the minimum wage.
FIVE KEY POINTS ON THE LABOR MARKET IN MAY 2015
- The private sector has added 12.6 million jobs over 63 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. Today we learned that private-sector employment rose by 262,000 in May. Our businesses created more than 200,000 jobs in fourteen of the past fifteen months—the first time that has happened since 1995. On the whole, our economy has added 3.1 million new jobs over the past twelve months, just off the fifteen-year high achieved in February. (Click on the graphs to enlarge them.)
- Manufacturing employment is up strongly as compared with the previous business cycle, while construction employment still has not recovered. In the manufacturing sector, employment trended down through the business cycle from 2000 to 2008. But manufacturing employment has rebounded since the financial crisis: today, there are 22 percent more manufacturing jobs than there would have been if the pre-existing pattern had persisted. A similar pattern is evident in the information services sector. Construction employment, however, has yet to return to pre-crisis levels and remains 22 percent below the trend over the previous business cycle. This is partly explained by an unsustainably high starting point for construction employment in January 2008, reflecting the state of the housing market at the time.
- More highly educated Americans participate more in the labor force at all ages, and, compared with less educated workers, their participation does not drop off until much older ages. The overall labor force participation rate has been highly stable over the past thirteen months. However, there is important internal variation in participation, particularly with respect to education. For all ages over 25, labor force participation is unsurprisingly higher for more educated workers. Eighty-eight percent of prime age Americans (those aged 25 to 54) holding four-year college degrees participate in the labor force, compared with only 66 percent of Americans without a high school diploma or equivalent. Notably, the education-participation gap increases toward middle age as less-educated workers stop participating at younger ages. College graduates ages 50 to 54 participate at the same rate as those fifteen years their junior (88 percent), but for those without high school diplomas, the gap is 8 percentage points (60 percent for 50-54 year-olds versus 68 percent for 35-39 year-olds). It appears that not only do educated workers participate more, but they also participate longer. Indeed, encouraging access to higher education and making it more affordable promotes all three of the main drivers of middle-class incomes: participation, productivity, and equality.
- The distribution of job growth across industries in May was highly consistent with the pattern observed over the past year. One way to evaluate whether the composition of job growth is in line with recent trends is to consider the correlation between the most recent one-month percent change and the average percent change over the last 12 months across various industries. Looking across the 17 industries shown in the next point, the correlation between the May change and the average percent change over the last 12 months was 0.90, suggesting that the distribution of employment gains last month was very much in line with recent trends, albeit shifting up in most sectors, reflecting the stronger overall job growth in May. Indeed, this month saw the highest correlation of monthly and annual employment changes since January 2009. From 2008 on, this correlation has averaged 0.60. It therefore appears that employment growth in May generally followed the sectoral pattern of the last twelve months.
- The majority of industries experienced stronger job growth in May than they have on average over the past year. Although the distribution of job growth generally followed recent patterns, in some cases it was a little above or below recent norms. May was an especially strong month for leisure and hospitality (+57,000), government (+18,000), health care and social assistance (+58,000), private educational services (+17,000), and temporary help services (+20,000). May was a weaker than usual month in mining and logging (-18,000), wholesale trade (+4,000), and information services (-3,000). In fact, May was the fifth consecutive month of declining mining and logging employment, likely reflecting cutbacks in oil production.
As
the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and
unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates
can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not
to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to
consider each report in the context of other data that are becoming
available.
OPM Data Breach: China Hits Back at U.S. Over Federal Cyberattack
BEIJING — China accused the United States of making "groundless
accusations" and being "irresponsible" Friday in blaming Chinese hackers
for a vast data breach that could be the biggest cyberattack in U.S.
history.
Four million federal workers may have had their personal information compromised in the attack, which officials said could affect every agency of the U.S. government.
U.S. officials and lawmakers identified the likely culprit as China, which has been suspected of involvement in previous government hacks.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the hack was "extremely sophisticated," and "that points to a nation state" as the responsible party, likely China.
"We're still evaluating how serious the breach is, but if it does involve the compromising of the personal records of four million Americans, I certainly think that a strong response is warranted," she said.
Alleged Dennis Hastert Sex Abuse Victim Steve Reinboldt ID'd: Reports
Dennis Hastert at Yorkville Illinois High School
The sister of a now-deceased Illinois man has identified him as an
alleged victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Dennis Hastert, according
to reports.
Steve Reinboldt was abused thoughout his high
school years while serving as the equipment manager of the wrestling
team coached by Hastert in Yorkville, Illinois, Jolene Burdge told ABC News and The Associated Press.
NBC News has not independently confirmed Burdge's allegation.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
First Lady to Travel to the United Kingdom and Italy
First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to London, Milan, and Vicenza from June 15-21, 2015. Accompanying Mrs. Obama on this trip will be her mother, Mrs. Marian Robinson, and daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama.
As part of the Let Girls Learn initiative
and following her recent visits to Japan and Cambodia, the First Lady
will visit London where she will meet with students and discuss how the
UK and the U.S. are working together to expand access to girls education
around the world – supporting adolescent girls in completing their
education.
As part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move!
initiative, the First Lady will lead a Presidential Delegation to the
Milan Expo 2015 representing our steadfast commitment to a healthier
nation. The Presidential Delegation will tour the USA Pavilion,
“American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet,” and participate in
activities to lift up efforts to support healthier families and
communities.
And as part of the Joining Forces
initiative, Mrs. Obama will visit members of the military and their
families stationed in Vicenza, Italy. The First Lady will also visit
cultural sites in Venice before returning to Washington, DC.
Additional
information on the First Lady’s travel, including information on the
Presidential Delegation to Milan Expo 2015, will be released as it
becomes available in the coming days.
Beau Biden Lies in Honor, Arrivals
Delaware residents and public officials arrive at a ceremony to honor
Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer on May 30, 2015, at the age of 46.
Source: C-Span
Lincoln Chafee Presidential Campaign Announcement
Former Governor Lincoln Chafee (D-RI) announced his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Video link: https://youtu.be/XEMwtaMSox4
Source: C-Span
Rick Perry Presidential Campaign Announcement
Former Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) announce he would seek the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
Video link: http://www.c-span.org/video/?326324-1/former-governor-rick-perry-presidential-campaign-announcement
House Speaker Weekly Briefing
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) briefed reporters and responded to questions on a variety of issues.
Source: C-Span
House Minority Leader Weekly Briefing
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) briefed reporters and answered questions.
Video link: http://www.c-span.org/video/?326396-1/house-minority-leader-nancy-pelosi-dca-weekly-briefing
Source: C-Span
The Courageous One: The Man in Tiananmen Square
A CNN crew covering the June 5, 1989, protests in Beijing recorded a man stopping a Chinese tank in Tiananmen Square.
Wrestling Champ John Cena Encourages Young Fan to 'Never Give Up'
Mason Taylor, an 11-year-old battling leukemia, is given words of inspiration from his hero in the ring.
Pro-Russian Journalist Oles Buzina Shot Dead in Kiev, Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine — A prominent Ukrainian journalist known for his
pro-Russian views was shot dead on Thursday in Kiev by two masked
gunmen, the interior ministry said, a day after a former lawmaker loyal
to ousted President Viktor Yanukovych was also killed.
Oles Buzina, 45, was known for his pro-Russian opinion pieces published in Ukraine's Sevodnya daily newspaper, which is part of the media empire of Ukraine's richest businessman Rinat Akhmetov.
"Today at 1320 hrs (6:20 a.m. EDT) ... two unidentifiable men in masks shot journalist Oles Buzina," the ministry said in an online statement. The shooting appeared to have taken place outside his home and a team of police investigators was at the scene.
Full article available here: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/pro-russian-journalist-oles-buzina-shot-dead-kiev-masked-gunmen-n342661
Source: NBC News
Note: This story was originally published on the NBC News website back in April of 2015.
Note: This story was originally published on the NBC News website back in April of 2015.
Burundi Elections Put Off Again, Fears of Violence Rise
Elections in Burundi,
postponed two weeks ago, have been delayed for a second time — local
and legislative. Police have been shooting at protesters in the capital.
Some 40 people are reported to have been killed in the crackdown.
Bujumbura has not announced a new election date, as tensions remain high. The re-scheduled polls were to have taken place this Friday.
The impoverished and landlocked country of some 10.5 million people is in the Great Lakes region of East Africa.
A presidential ballot is due in three weeks’ time.
Full article and video available here: http://www.euronews.com/2015/06/04/burundi-elections-put-off-again-fears-of-violence-rise/
Source: Euronews
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Raise the Age: Changing Youth Justice in NYC
Sponsored by the Center for New York City Affairs (http://newschool.edu/milano/nycaffairs) at the Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy (http://newschool.edu/milano).
New York is one of just two states in the country that automatically
treats 16- and 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system. In
recent years, advocates and legislators—including the state’s chief
judge—have pushed to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18.
Now, in the midst of a national scandal over the treatment of
adolescents at the Rikers Island Jail, we convene the experts for a
discussion of the movement to Raise the Age: How will the influx of
adolescents impact the city’s newly reformed juvenile justice programs?
How can the system ensure that 16- and 17-year-olds get their best shot
at success?
A conversation with:
A conversation with:
- Hon. Edwina Richardson-Mendelson, administrative judge, New York County Family Court
- Commissioner Ana Bermudez, NYC Department of Probation
- Sonja Okun, founder + executive director, exalt
- Soffiyah Elijah, executive director, Correctional Association of New York
Testimonials by:
- Kevin Williams, participant, exalt
- Charles Nunez, community advocate, Youth Represent
Moderated by: Abigail Kramer, associate editor, Center for New York City Affairs, The New School.
The NYPD: Bridging the Gap Between Police and the Public
‘Beat Cop of the Year’ Praises Eric Garner's Family, Offers
Assessment of the PBA President and the 'Anti-Police' Climate in New
York City
Washington Journal: Open Phones
News headlines were read and telephone lines were open for viewer calls
on President Obama’s signing of the USA FREEDOM Act, which ends the
National Security Agency’s (NSA) bulk phone data collection.
US House 'Morning Hour'
The House convened for Morning Hour, with members permitted to speak on a variety of topics.
Iran Nuclear Agreement and U.S. Middle East Policy
Middle East scholars testified on a potential Iranian nuclear agreement and its implications for U.S. policy in the region.
Video link: http://www.c-span.org/video/?326371-1/hearing-iran-nuclear-agreement-us-middle-east-policy
Source: C-Span
The Freedom of Information Act and Government Transparency
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officers from the Departments of Treasury, State, Justice, and Homeland Security testified on their agencies' compliance with and response to FOIA requests.
Source: C-Span
"The Four Days of Gemini 4": Reel America Preview
The 28-minute 1965 NASA film debuts on June 7 at 4p ET on C-SPAN3 - 50 years to the day after the splashdown of Gemini 4.
Active Terror Investigation Leads to Deadly Confrontation in Boston
Ussama Rahm was under surveillance for statements he made through social media.
Facebook Opens Artificial Intelligence Center in Paris
In Paris, the "love locks"
might be coming down, but super-intelligent machines are moving in. On
Tuesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that his company is
opening an "international research center for artificial intelligence"
in the City of Lights.
The center will provide a home for Facebook's artificial intelligence
team, which has the stated goal of "developing technologies that give
people better ways to communicate."
Full article and accompanying video available here: http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/facebook-opens-artificial-intelligence-center-paris-n368446
Source: NBC News
Tunisian Prime Minister: “Fighting Terrorism is a Priority”
On his first official visit to Brussels, Tunisian Prime Minister Habib
Essid met with European officials and members of parliament.
Source: Euronews
Families March to China Ship Rescue Site as Survivor Hopes Fade
JIANLI, China (Reuters) –
Dozens of family members walked in protest on Wednesday to the rescue
site of a sunken cruise ship in the Yangtze River, asking for news of
their relatives who are missing after the worst shipping disaster in
modern Chinese history.
Rescuers searched for more than 400 missing people, many of them elderly, but hopes of finding more survivors were fading.
Only 14 people, including the ship’s captain, have been found alive since the ship capsized in a freak tornado on Monday night with 456 people on board. Just 26 bodies have been recovered.
Full article available here: http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3021447-chinese-passenger-ship-with-458-aboard-sinks-in-yangtze-river-xinhua/
Source: Euronews
Ukraine Forces, Separatists Fight First Serious Battles in Months
By Alessandra Prentice and Pavel Polityuk
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian
troops and pro-Russian separatists on Wednesday fought their first
serious battles in months and Ukraine’s defence minister said an attempt
by rebels to take the eastern town of Maryinka had been thwarted.
Ukraine’s military said the Russian-backed rebels had
tried to advance using tanks and up to 1,000 fighters west of the main
rebel stronghold of Donetsk, in the most significant escalation of the
conflict in around three months and in defiance of a ceasefire deal.
The separatists denied their forces had launched an
assault on government-held Maryinka, a town which had a pre-conflict
population of around 9,900 and lies 15 km (9 miles) west of Donetsk.
Full article available here: http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3021896-ukraine-military-says-rebels-attempt-advance-on-east-ukraine-town/
Source: Euronews
Russian Investigators Point Finger at Ukraine Over Downing of MH17
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian federal
investigators said on Wednesday they had testimony from a former
Ukrainian air force mechanic supporting a Moscow theory that a Malaysian
passenger plane downed in east Ukraine last summer was attacked by a
Ukrainian fighter jet.
Moscow has stepped up a campaign denying any responsibility for the downing of the airliner on July 17, 2014, with the loss of all 298 people aboard. Several versions presented by various Russian officials, however, are contradictory.
Full article available here: http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3021981-russian-investigators-point-finger-at-ukraine-over-downing-of-mh17/
Source: Euronews
Eurogroup Head Dampens Greece’s Enthusiasm Over Debt Deal
The head of the Eurogroup is dampening Greece’s enthusiasm over striking a debt deal.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem says an agreement to release aid is not theoretically possible this week.
It comes after Athens revealed that it had sent its creditors a “realistic” package of reforms.
Full article available here: http://www.euronews.com/2015/06/02/eurogroup-head-dampens-greece-s-enthusiasm-over-debt-deal/
Source: Euronews
Nicola Sturgeon Sets Out Two Triggers for New Scottish Referendum
Scotland
could hold a second independence referendum if the Scottish National
Party wins a parliamentary majority in the country’s elections next
year, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
In an interview with Euronews, the Scottish National Party leader, whose party has a longstanding commitment to creating a separate country north of the border with England, set out two situations in which a new vote on the issue could be held.
Full article available here: http://www.euronews.com/2015/06/03/nicola-sturgeon-on-how-scotland-fits-into-the-eus-future/
Source: Euronews
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
President Obama Signs USA FREEDOM Act
Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 2048
On Tuesday, June 02, 2015, the President signed into law:
H.R.
2048, the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and
Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015" or the "USA
FREEDOM Act of 2015," which reforms and extends certain authorities
relating to foreign intelligence gathering and for other purposes.
Politics in Action: S. 1376
Statement Of Administration Policy
S. 1376 – National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2016
(Sen. McCain, R-AZ)
The
Administration appreciates the Senate Armed Services Committee’s
continued support of our national defense and supports a number of
provisions in S. 1376, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2016, such as authorities that support capacity-building
efforts with foreign military forces, enable the support of allies
sharing common objectives, and facilitate on-going operations.
While
there are areas of agreement with the Committee, the Administration
strongly objects to provisions in the bill that would constrain the
ability of the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct multi-year defense
planning and align military capabilities and force structure with the
President’s defense strategy. First, the President has been very clear
about the core principle that he will not support a budget that locks in
sequestration, and he will not fix defense without fixing non-defense
spending. Sequestration levels will damage our ability to restore
readiness, advance badly-needed technological modernization, and keep
faith with our troops and their families. Unfortunately, the bill fails
to authorize sufficient funding for our military’s priorities in the
base budget, and instead uses Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)
funding in ways that leaders of both parties have made clear are
inappropriate. Shifting base budget resources into OCO risks
undermining a mechanism meant to fund incremental costs of overseas
conflicts and fails to provide a stable, multi-year budget on which
defense planning is based. The use of OCO funding to circumvent budget
caps in defense spending also ignores the long-term connection between
national security and economic security and fails to account for vital
national security functions carried out at non-defense agencies.
Further,
the bill fails to adopt many of the needed force structure and weapons
system reforms included in the President’s Budget, and fails to provide
an authorization for a new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round to
allow DOD to properly align the military’s infrastructure with the needs
of its evolving force. The President’s defense strategy depends on
investing every dollar where it will have the greatest effect, which the
Administration’s FY 2016 proposals will accomplish through critical
reforms that divest unneeded force structure, slow growth in
compensation, and reduce wasteful overhead. The Committee’s changes
would constrain the ability of DOD to align military capability and
force structure with the President’s defense strategy, and would require
the Department to retain unnecessary force structure and weapons
systems that cannot be adequately resourced in today's fiscal
environment, contributing to a military that will be less capable of
responding effectively to future challenges. The bill also continues
unwarranted restrictions, and imposes onerous additional ones, regarding
detainees at Guantanamo Bay. If this bill were presented to the President, the President’s senior advisors would recommend to the President that he veto it.
The
Administration looks forward to working with Congress to address these
and other concerns, a number of which are outlined in more detail
below. The Administration also looks forward to working with Congress
to address concerns on classified programs.
Sequestration and Misuse of OCO Funds:
The Administration strongly objects to the bill’s authorization of
sequester level appropriations for items that were requested in and
belong in the base budget and the use of OCO, a funding mechanism
intended to pay for wars and not subject to the budget caps, to pay for
$38 billion in base requirements. Sequestration adds risk to our
national security by threatening the size, readiness, presence, and
capability of our military, and threatens the economic security on which
our national security depends. The Committee clearly recognizes that
the President’s Budget level for defense is needed, but authorizes it in
a way that fails to acknowledge the need to reverse sequestration for
both defense and non-defense spending.
Guantanamo Detainee Provisions:
The Administration strongly objects to provisions of the bill that
would impede efforts to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba. As
the Administration has said many times before, operating this facility
weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging our
relationships with key allies and partners, and emboldening violent
extremists.
While
the Administration appreciates the additional flexibility provided by
section 1034, which would permit the temporary transfer of detainees to
the United States for certain medical care, other provisions of the bill
are more restrictive than existing provisions to which the
Administration has repeatedly objected. Not
only would provisions of the bill extend existing restrictions, they
would impose additional unwise and unnecessary ones that would further
impede efforts to responsibly close the facility. While the bill would
relax certain of these restrictions if
Congress approves a plan to close the facility by joint resolution,
this process for congressional approval is unnecessary and overly
restrictive. Sections
1031 and 1032 would prohibit the use of funds to construct or modify
any facility in the United States to house detainees or to transfer
Guantanamo detainees to the United States, except in the limited case of
temporary medical transfers authorized by section 1034, until Congress approves a plan to close the facility. Sections
1033 and 1035 would impose more onerous restrictions than current law
does on transfers abroad and would prohibit certain categories of
transfers entirely. These provisions undermine our
national security by limiting our ability to act as our military,
diplomatic, and other national security professionals deem appropriate
in a given case. Under
existing law, the Secretary of Defense is already required to make a
determination that actions have been or will be taken to substantially
mitigate risks to the United States or U.S. persons or interests posed
by detainee transfers abroad.
The
President has objected to the inclusion of these and similar provisions
in prior legislation. The restrictions contained in this bill are
unwarranted and threaten to interfere with the Executive Branch’s
ability to determine the appropriate disposition of detainees and its
flexibility to determine when and where to prosecute them, based on the
facts and circumstances of each case and our national security
interests, and when and where to transfer them consistent with our
national security and our humane treatment policy. Sections 1032, 1033,
and 1035 would, moreover, violate constitutional separation-of-powers
principles under certain circumstances, and section 1035 could in some
circumstances interfere with a detainee’s right to the writ of habeas
corpus.
The
Administration also strongly objects to the requirements in sections
1033(b)(2) and 1037, which would require the Secretary of Defense to
provide Congress with diplomatic assurances regarding detainee transfers
and reports containing such assurances. Across two administrations,
the Executive Branch has consistently informed Congress and represented
before U.S. courts that disclosing such diplomatic assurances from
foreign governments would have a chilling effect on those countries’
willingness to cooperate on detainee transfers.
The
Administration objects finally to the additional reporting requirement
in section 1036, which would require the Secretary of Defense to submit
an unclassified report to Congress on past detainee assessments produced
by the Joint Task Force-Guantanamo. The Administration does not
believe this section, as drafted, is a productive measure and will treat
this provision, along with sections 1033(b)(2) and 1037, consistent
with the President’s constitutional authority in this area.
Defense Acquisition:
The Administration strongly objects to section 843 and related
provisions, which are inconsistent with the Secretary of Defense’s
exercise of authority, direction, and control over all of the DOD
programs and activities. Since DOD’s founding, the Secretary of Defense
has served as the principal assistant to the President in all matters
relating to DOD and subordinated the Departments of the Army, Navy, and
Air Force to the Secretary’s authority. This provision would undermine
this principle by seeking to exclude the Secretary and his assistants
from certain matters entrusted exclusively to the military departments.
Section 843 would significantly reduce the Secretary of Defense’s
ability - through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology and Logistics USD(AT&L) - to guard against unwarranted
optimism in program planning and budget formulation, and prevent
excessive risk taking during execution - all of which is essential to
avoiding overruns and costly delays. Program planning, management, and
execution are already Service responsibilities. The USD(AT&L)
reviews Service plans at discrete milestones associated with major
Department resource commitments to ensure programs are affordable,
executable, and follow sound business and risk management practices.
The prohibition on documentation without a determination by the Deputy
Chief Management Officer also abrogates the ability of the Secretary and
Under Secretary to conduct routine execution monitoring of programs,
thus handcuffing their ability to intercede unless and only until
notified programs are at risk of failure. Recent studies from the
Government Accountability Office (GAO) and DOD’s own performance reports
show clear empirical evidence of steady improvements in acquisition
results since the role of the Under Secretary has been enhanced in
recent years. DOD is committed to reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and
continuing the important work of improving the performance of its
defense acquisition system in close coordination with Congress,
including increasing the military Service Chief’s role. The
Administration strongly objects to these provisions because they would
not accomplish that goal, and would significantly increase the risk of
overly optimistic program planning and budgeting.
Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) Recommendations:
The Administration appreciates the Committee’s support for some of the
MCRMC recommendations to improve our military compensation and
retirement systems, and encourages Congress to support the additional
recommendations for which the Administration has transmitted
legislation. The Administration continues to evaluate how the more
complex recommendations of a Blended Retirement System would affect the
All-Volunteer Force and expects to provide the Committee with further
views on this proposal in the near future. The Administration looks
forward to continuing to work with Congress and the MCRMC on other
provisions, to meet our solemn responsibility to ensure that any changes
protect the long-term viability of the All-Volunteer Force, improve
quality-of-life for service members and their families, and safeguard
the fiscal sustainability of the military compensation and retirement
systems.
Compensation Reform and TRICARE:
The President’s Budget provides funding and common-sense reforms that
will ensure that service members receive competitive pay and benefits
and critical training and equipment. The Administration believes it is
imperative to slow the growth of personnel costs and modernize military
healthcare and appreciates the Committee’s support for several of these
compensation reforms. The Administration appreciates
the modification of TRICARE pharmacy cost-sharing requirements in the
bill. However, among reforms not included in the bill are other
proposed improvements that will modernize the TRICARE program. TRICARE
remains fundamentally unchanged since its inception in the mid-1990’s
and is antiquated by contemporary health plan standards. The
Consolidated Health Plan structure would provide DOD with substantial
projected savings, simplify TRICARE for beneficiaries, and offer
participants more freedom to choose providers. Failing to enact the
TRICARE and other various reform proposals would compel DOD to take
additional reductions in the areas of readiness, modernization, and
force structure. The Administration looks forward to working with
Congress on these and other reforms to modernize and enhance the
military health care system.
Commissary Streamlining and Privatization:
The Administration appreciates the Committee's efforts in adopting
provisions that would strengthen the defense commissary system by
treating commissary overseas transportations costs in the same manner as
we do domestically and allowing the use of commissary surcharges to
purchase operating supplies in lieu of appropriations. Currently, the
Administration has concerns with commissary privatization and the
willingness of private sector entities to participate in such a
project. However, there is an independent study under way to determine
whether privatization is a feasible option and we should wait for those
results prior to making any policy changes. In the meantime, the
Administration encourages Congress to authorize the Department to pursue
an alternative pilot program, as set forth in our current legislative
proposal. We also strongly encourage Congress to adopt the other
elements of our proposal as the primary means to offset operating costs
and develop effective commissary business practices without
significantly affecting patron savings.
Prohibition on Conducting Additional BRAC Round:
The Administration strongly objects to section 2702, which does not
authorize an additional BRAC round. This impairs the ability of the
Executive Branch to plan for contingencies or make other needed
adjustments that would improve military effectiveness and efficiency.
The Administration strongly urges Congress to provide the BRAC
authorization as requested, which would allow DOD to right-size its
infrastructure while providing important assistance to affected
communities, freeing resources currently consumed by maintaining
unneeded facilities. In the absence of authorization of a new round of
BRAC, the Administration will pursue alternative options to reduce this
wasteful spending and ensure that DOD’s limited resources are available
for the highest priorities of the warfighter and national security.
Prohibition on Retirement of A-10 Aircraft:
The Administration strongly objects to section 134, which is
inconsistent with DOD’s fiscal constraints and current priorities.
Section 134 would restrict DOD from obligating or expending funds to
retire A-10 aircraft and would require a study by an independent agency
focusing on what capabilities should be included in an A-10
replacement. The retirement restriction puts at risk needed
recapitalization efforts affecting the acquisition and manning of the
Air Force fighter enterprise. Additionally, the study specifies
capability thresholds that may or may not be valid in future conflicts.
DOD believes the Joint Strike Fighter and other multi-mission aircraft
will replace the A-10’s singular mission of close air support while also
providing other critical capabilities.
Limitations on Retirement, Management, or Acquisition of Aircraft:
The Administration strongly objects to sections 131-133 and 135-138,
which are inconsistent with DOD’s fiscal constraints and restrict DOD’s
ability to retire, acquire, or transfer weapon systems and aircraft
platforms in accordance with current strategic and operational plans.
Air Force management of its operational assets across the force is
critical. These sections would limit acquisition, retirement or
transfer of the following aircraft: B-1, B-2, and B-52 bomber aircraft;
all fighter aircraft; F-35A fighter, EC-130 H Compass Call aircraft;
C-130H aircraft and associated manpower; T-1A Jayhawk aircraft;
Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft; or Joint
Surveillance and Target Attack Radar Systems (JSTARS) aircraft. Such
prohibitions limit or delay savings, efficiencies, and operational
capabilities necessary to meet mission objectives in the current fiscal
environment.
Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI):
The Administration strongly objects to sections 1044 and 1045, which
would place new limitations on implementation of the ARI and negatively
affect the Army’s readiness and ability to prepare and deploy forces to
meet ongoing operations. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY
2015 (FY 2015 NDAA) established limitations on the ARI, but provided for
the transfer of certain numbers of aircraft and time for congressional
review of the report of the Commission on the Future of the Army before
transfer of additional aircraft. The Department’s plan for the transfer
of select numbers of aircraft between the components in FY 2016 is in
compliance with the FY 2015 NDAA and is the same as the number of Apache
aircraft (72) that the National Guard Bureau agreed to transfer in
their aviation proposal. Sections 1044 and 1045 combined would have a
negative impact on the combat effectiveness of three of eleven remaining
Regular Army combat aviation brigades by preventing the transfer of
Apache aircraft in FY 2016 to build the reconnaissance squadrons of the
1st Infantry Division in Kansas, the 25th Infantry Division
in Hawaii, and the 10th Mountain Division in New York. The remaining
combat aviation brigades would bear the rotational burden to meet
current and projected operational requirements around the world, and
would increase operational tempo and deploy-to-dwell ratios for these
low-density, high demand units. These new limitations also would likely
induce a 50-to-100 percent reduction of AH-64D inductions into the
AH-64E remanufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona and affect supporting
activities in Huntsville, Alabama, and elsewhere. The Administration
urges Congress to remain consistent with the FY 2015 NDAA and permit the
transfer of 72 Apache aircraft in FY 2016.
Streamlining DOD Management and Operational Headquarters:
While the Administration welcomes the Committee’s support for DOD’s
plan to reduce headquarters personnel and spending by 20 percent, the
Administration strongly objects to section 351, which would require a
reduction of 30 percent without recognizing reductions that have already
been made. By anchoring the reductions on the FY 2015 authorized
amounts, the scale and timeline of these reductions would preclude DOD
from implementing them through streamlining and process improvements.
Instead, DOD would be required to make deep, across-the-board cuts which
would undermine critical functions that support the warfighter. DOD’s
execution of then-Secretary of Defense Hagel’s Department-wide 20
percent headquarters reduction plan projects savings of $5.3 billion.
These cuts were incorporated into the President’s FY 2016 Budget and
will continue through FY 2019. Section 351 anchors the cost reduction
in DOD’s administrative operations and maintenance account, which
includes activities other than management headquarters; it is,
therefore, an inappropriate basis for cost reduction. Section 351
contains exemptions that would prevent enterprise-wide streamlining
efforts, presupposes the priority of certain support functions with
insufficient consideration of broader mission needs, and fails to
recognize the important functional distinctions between the Office of
the Secretary of Defense, Military Departments, Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and Combatant Commands that were established under the Goldwater-Nichols
DOD Reorganization Act of 1986.
Multiple Provisions Affecting Space Launch:
The Administration strongly objects to sections 1603, 1604, 1605, and
1606, which contain provisions addressing contracting and development of
launch capabilities. Section 1603 would effectively eliminate the
opportunity for meaningful competition during Evolved Expendable Launch
Vehicle (EELV) Phase 2 and leave restrictions in place that could
inhibit DOD’s ability to maintain assured access to space for National
Security Space satellites. Section 1604’s restriction on the use of an
EELV Launch Capability-like arrangement on future EELV competitions is
premature because such an arrangement may be required to maintain two
families of launch vehicles and support the Department’s mandate of
having assured access to space. This restriction may also preclude DOD
from meeting its commitments from the USG/Space X mediation. In the
event such an arrangement is determined to be in the Government’s best
interest, it would be applied fairly to all EELV launch service
providers. Section 1605 does not account for the 2-3 year lead time
between the procurement and launch of the system. Additionally, there
is significant capability variation between single-core and three-core
(heavy) launch vehicles. Finally, the section 1606 requirement for a
plan to develop and field a full-up rocket propulsion system would not,
by itself, preserve the Nation’s assured access to space. Developing a
rocket propulsion system independent of the rest of the space launch
system risks the Government investing hundreds of millions of dollars
without ensuring the availability of operational launch systems. Sound
systems engineering principles and over a half-century of launch vehicle
design work demonstrate that a rocket propulsion system must be
developed in conjunction with the rest of the space launch vehicle. The
Administration is committed to the same goals for space espoused in the
bill -- assured access to space via commercially-viable, competitive,
domestic launch providers using U.S.-developed launch systems for
national security space. Sections 1603-1606 would impede achievement of
those goals. Additionally, section 1605 would interfere with the
President’s constitutional authority to recommend to Congress such
measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.
Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF):
The Administration objects to the reduction of $1.1 billion of CTPF
because it would severely limit a valuable partnership-focused approach
to counterterrorism. Reducing CTPF precludes DOD from continuing
important security assistance programs begun in FY 2015. The
Administration strongly encourages Congress to authorize the $2.1
billion originally requested to continue support for CTPF activities in
FY 2016.
Open Skies Treaty:
The Administration strongly objects to section 1662, which would change
the reporting requirement to provide an assessment to Congress on the
national security implications of Russian proposals to introduce new or
modified sensors or aircraft, from 30 days to 90 days prior to the
United States certifying the aircraft or sensors. The 90-days
requirement is not feasible, as it would allow insufficient time for the
U.S. Government to assess the Russian proposal adequately and is only
30 days after we would be informed of Russia’s notification of intent to
certify, and before all analyses are completed.
Missile Defense Programs:
While the Administration appreciates the Committee’s support of
ballistic missile defense programs, the Administration objects to
sections 1641, 1642, and 1643. Section 1642 would require DOD to deploy
a long-range discrimination sensor by December 30, 2020, to defend
against potential future long-range ballistic missile threats from
Iran. DOD is conducting a comprehensive sensor analysis of
alternatives, and mandating deployment of a missile tracking radar by
2020 is premature and unfunded. Section 1643 would require a plan to
deploy anti-air warfare capability to the Aegis Ashore sites in Poland
and Romania. If a U.S. solution were implemented, this requirement
would entail hardware and software upgrades not previously planned and
would introduce additional costs and potentially delay the deployment in
Poland. Installing this capability would also require amending
previously negotiated agreements with the host nations as well as
extensive discussions with our NATO Allies. Section 1641 would require
DOD to provide a plan to accelerate by two years the fielding of a
potential future Continental United States interceptor site within 30
days of the completion of the ongoing Environmental Impact Statement.
Consistent with section 234 of the FY 2013 NDAA, DOD is already
preparing a contingency plan and believes this added requirement is
premature and inconsistent with best acquisition practices.
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative:
The Administration strongly objects to the limitation in section
1251(c)(2), which stipulates that no more than 50 percent of the $300
million in authorized funds may be obligated until at least 20 percent
is spent on lethal assistance or counter-battery radars. This
limitation forces the hand of the Administration in providing lethal
assistance to the government of Ukraine - a decision that should rest
with the Executive Branch.
Foreign Policy and Security Assistance-Related Authorities:
The Administration appreciates the bill’s inclusion of several
useful foreign policy and security assistance-related authorities. Such
authorities must strike the needed balance between specific defense
initiatives and broader foreign policy priorities. This delicate
balance can be jeopardized by narrow new assistance authorities that
address sensitive issues with profound foreign policy ramifications.
The Administration is currently conducting a review of existing
authorities to determine if there are gaps that need to be addressed.
The Administration looks forward to working with Congress on this effort
and on ensuring that any legislation strikes the appropriate balance.
Restrictions Imposed on CVN 78 Class Aircraft Carrier Program:
The Administration strongly objects to section 111, which would reduce
the cost limitation baseline for CVN 79 and subsequent FORD-class
carriers to $11.398 billion. A $100 million
reduction would degrade the capabilities of CVN 79 and follow-on ships
or increase the risk of a breach of the cap. The current cost cap
represents a significant reduction from CVN 78 and will be challenging
to achieve. Further reductions may impact the delivery of integral
warfighting capability. The Department has worked with the shipbuilder
and other system providers to revamp the construction process for CVN 79
to avoid the cost increases experienced with construction of CVN 78. The
Administration also strongly objects to section 112, which would add
debilitating restrictions to the construction and cost of CVN 79 by
requiring Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST) on CVN 78 by September 30,
2017. The three years of detailed planning and preparation activities
required to complete FSST would divert engineering resources needed to
complete the first-of-class integrated shipboard test program currently
underway on CVN 78. In addition, any further delays in delivering the
ship would compromise deployed presence and contingency support, as well
as surge capacity, to combatant commanders.
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Frigate (FF):
The Administration objects to limitations on Research, Development,
Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) and Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy
funding for LCS and FF ships. Withholding 75 percent of the RDT&E
Frigate funding would prevent the Navy from completing the necessary
design and integration efforts required to develop technical data
packages and proposal. Withholding funding in support of the Frigate
would jeopardize the Navy’s ability to achieve a FY 2019 production
contract, resulting in a gap in the production lines and additional
procurement costs.
U.S. Southern Border Security:
The Administration strongly objects to sections 1041 and 4401, related
to the provision of assistance to the Department of Homeland Security’s
(DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Section 1041 would require
the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to the CBP efforts to
secure the U.S. southern border. This section would supplant existing
laws, which authorize DOD support on a reimbursable basis, when
necessary, and as determined by the President, the Secretary of Defense,
and the Secretary of Homeland Security, with a law that mandates DOD
support on a non-reimbursable basis, whether necessary or not. This
would leave the Secretary of Defense with no choice but to direct cuts
in DOD programs intended to provide for the national defense of the
United States - a DOD mission - in order to fund a DHS mission.
Likewise, section 4401 would add funds in Military Personnel
Appropriations for additional National Guard support to CBP’s Operation
Phalanx. The additional funding in section 4401 would change this
National Guard support into a mission that benefits DHS at the expense
of National Guard training requirements.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for Married Members and Members Living Together:
The Administration strongly objects to section 604, which would
restrict BAH for uniformed service members who are married to another
member and limit BAH for members who choose to share housing with other
members. BAH is a part of every member’s regular military compensation
and is designed to provide a cash housing allowance. Section 604 would
impose a significant marriage penalty when a member is married to
another member. This section would penalize members who choose to
reside with other members as compared to those members who choose to
reside alone or share housing with nonmembers. This action would seem
to conflict with the fundamental fiscal responsibility required of our
service members.
Section
604 will have a disproportionate negative impact on women service
members, where 20 percent of women on active duty are in a dual military
marriage, compared with only 3.7 percent of active duty men. These
women will lose significant benefits and support they are owed for their
service to our country. Section 604 will degrade the culture and
environment needed to keep our military open and welcoming to military
families and risks sacrificing the strengths they bring to our nation’s
defense. Finally, section 604 will have a negative impact on the
recruitment and retention of the high quality service members, and
families, required for our all-volunteer force.
Auditing of Contracts:
The Administration objects to section 878, which would preclude the
Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) from receiving reimbursements from
non-Defense Agencies, unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that the
DCAA-incurred cost backlog is less than 12 months of inventory. This
provision would cause additional burdens on the already overtaxed staff
of the DOD Inspector General, DCAA auditors, and on industry, and would
decrease efficiency within DCAA. In the past three years DCAA has
reduced the incurred cost backlog by 90 percent and those reductions are
continuing. The restrictions imposed by this section will not lead to
the reductions envisioned and could result in unintended negative
consequences such as having to perform duplicative work and placing more
burden on contractors having to deal with more than one audit group.
Unrequested Funding:
In this fiscally-constrained environment, the Administration objects to
the authorization of billions of dollars of unnecessary funding offset
by equal cuts to higher priority items requested in the President’s
Budget. Unrequested items include $1.15 billion for extra F/A-18
aircraft and $1.1 billion for extra Joint Strike Fighters. The
Administration has made extensive efforts to assess, prioritize, and
balance force capacity, capability, and readiness in developing the FY
2016 Budget. Extra programs inserted in the budget come at the expense
of programs that are more important and will create ripple effects
across the rest of the budget.
Operation and Maintenance and Military Personnel Reductions:
The Administration objects to the billions of dollars of undistributed
reductions in the bill across the operation and maintenance and military
personnel accounts. The operation and maintenance reductions would be
applied to those programs which support readiness, depot maintenance,
base operations support, and facilities sustainment, restoration, and
modernization line items. These reductions will delay the Department’s
full-spectrum readiness recovery efforts and increase the backlog of
maintenance
at the military departments’ depot facilities.
No Entitlement to Unemployment Insurance While Receiving Post-9/11 Education Assistance:
The Administration objects to section 535 because the population of
veterans it covers is too broad. The intent of the MCRMC proposal was
to eliminate the dual receipt of unemployment benefits and a housing
stipend for veterans receiving Post-9/11 Education Assistance. However,
section 535 would affect every veteran receiving even a minimal amount
of assistance through the Post 9/11 GI Bill, such as technology
certification, credentialing, and licensing training. State-level
unemployment compensation programs already provide guidance regarding
students’ status within the workforce and eligibility to receive
benefits. This could have a disproportionate impact on Reserve
Component service members because it could affect both separated and
currently serving Reserve Component members.
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Raw Water Pipeline Military Construction Project:
The Administration strongly objects to the deletion of this essential
project which supports the long-term sustainability of a critical
training and deployment base by providing water security in a
drought-stricken region. The military construction project satisfies a
court order to find a physical solution to an ongoing, more than 64-year
dispute over water rights. This project is DOD’s contribution to the
physical solution which, if not built in time, would allow the State to
take Camp Pendleton’s water rights back and force the Department of the
Navy and the Fallbrook Public Utility District to reapply, thereby
losing some of the most senior water rights on the river. Without this
project, Camp Pendleton would not be able to ensure the future supply of
potable water that is required to train and deploy Marines of the I
Marine Expeditionary Force.
Availability of Information - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):
The Administration has a number of concerns with section 607, which
would require the Secretary of Agriculture, in administering the
supplemental nutrition assistance program, to “ensure that any
safeguards that prevent the use or disclosure of information obtained
from applicant households shall not prevent the use of that information
by, or the disclosure of that information to, the Secretary of Defense
for purposes of determining the number of applicant households that
contain one or more members of a regular component or reserve component
of the Armed Forces.” The Department of Agriculture would want to
ensure that no provision compromises access to SNAP and confidentiality
for military members in need who seek assistance, and is unclear on the
implications of the provision as drafted.
Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Contract Oversight:
The Administration objects to section 3115, to the extent that it would
establish an owner's representative to carry out certain inherently
governmental activities, such as the direct oversight of another
contractor and the resolution of nuclear safety issues. While the
Department of Energy (DOE) supports utilizing an owner’s representative
to provide assistance to the Federal Project Director, section 3115
would interfere with the relationship between DOE and its representative
by prescribing the representative’s duties. Section 3115 also
inappropriately mandates completion of updated preliminary documented
safety analyses before technical issues associated with the WTP are
resolved and necessary design changes are identified.
Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD):
The Administration objects to Section 3117, which would increase the
maximum amount that can be redirected from funded projects to the
National Nuclear Security Administration LDRD from six percent to eight
percent. Both the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the
National Energy Laboratories and Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board
are currently looking at the overall issue of LDRD and are going to be
making recommendations on LDRD rates in the future.
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program:
The Administration objects to section 1607, which would limit the
availability of all funding for the Defense Meteorological Satellite
Program (DMSP)-20 and its launch until several onerous prerequisites are
met. By 2017, only one DMSP satellite will be within its design life.
Senior DOD officials have already certified that this fully-built and
recently-refurbished satellite is a cost-effective solution to the
expected shortfall in polar-orbiting weather satellites, which GAO has
chronicled in its High Risk List. Because weather satellite data are
shared among defense, intelligence, civil, and international users,
delays in launching this satellite would have broad implications,
including reduced accuracy of weather prediction models and degraded
efficiency of surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. Launching
DMSP-20 as soon as possible also minimizes the hefty maintenance cost of
$70 million per year. Section 1607 would unnecessarily delay the
launch of this satellite, elevating risks to a variety of national
missions and increasing costs to the taxpayer.
Constitutional Concerns:
A number of provisions raise additional constitutional concerns. The
Administration looks forward to working with Congress to address these
and other concerns.
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