Legislative News Happy Thanksgiving! SECDEF Resigns

AFSA E-News 12/1/14, 7:03 AM

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Dear Darla, Nov. 26, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving! Legislative News

As we sit down on Thursday SECDEF Resigns
On Monday,
with friends or family to break Secretary of
Defense
bread and enjoy a well- Chuck Hagel
announced
earned day off from the he is
resigning
hustle and bustle of life, I from the

wanted to give you a few Pentagon's top civilian
position after less than two
things to think about. As you years on the job. He
intends to remain at the
all know, Thanksgiving has helm of the department until
his replacement is
its roots back to colonial confirmed by the Senate,
an action that will be
times, but it was first U.S. Air Force photo completed by the new
recognized by George Congress because only a
handful of working days
Washington in 1789 via remain in the present
session. Hagel was the
proclamation to call upon our citizens to give thanks for our third Defense Secretary to
serve during President
Revolutionary War efforts and to usher in a newly-ratified Obama's tenure and the
first-ever enlisted combat
Constitution. Later, President Lincoln declared it as a national veteran to lead the
department. His
"Thanksgiving Day" in 1863 during the Civil War in replacement is expected to
be named in the near
remembrance of those families who have sacrificed so much, future.

and to "heal the wounds of the nation." NDAA Update
Progress on the FY2015
We have come a long way from the early days of National Defense
Thanksgiving, and we now enjoy so many things surrounding Authorization Act came to a
this particular holiday to include time away from work, lots of standstill last week when a
good food, fellowship with family and friends, a full agenda of disagreement arose over
football, and maybe some great shopping. Most importantly, two key personnel issues:
it is a day we come together as a nation to give thanks for the
freedoms we all enjoy as Americans.

As you gather around the dinner table or find a moment of
personal quiet time in the next few days, please remember
those families who have an empty seat at the table due to a
deployed loved one. We have servicemembers serving
across the globe, many in harm's way, who will be sharing
meals with their deployed comrades-in-arms at a local dining
facility or enjoying a much-coveted "Meal, Ready-to-Eat." We
should never give thanks on just one day for these brave
professionals, but on this Thanksgiving, I ask you to join me in
an extra prayer, one more toast, or a moment of personal
reflection about your fellow warriors, family, and friends
defending freedom around the globe.

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AFSA E-News 12/1/14, 7:03 AM

Here to serve, reducing BAH payments
and raising TRICARE
Robert L. Frank pharmacy copays. The
AFSA CEO House wants to block both
changes, but the Senate
An Exciting Opportunity for Veterans appears unwilling to go that
far. On Monday House
Want to work at the White House? Veterans who have left Armed Services Committee
active duty in the past two years, graduated college in the Chairman Buck McKeon
past two years, or those currently enrolled in college may pledged to "hold the line" on
apply for an unpaid White House internship for Summer 2015. proposed cuts to benefits in
his fight with the Senate.
The White House Internship Program's mission is to make the According to McKeon, the
"People's House" more accessible to future leaders from staffs of the House and
around the Nation and prepare those devoted to public Senate Armed Services
service for future leadership opportunities. The deadline for a Committees will continue to
Summer 2015 internship is January 11, 2015; so APPLY work on the bill during the
TODAY. Thanksgiving recess, and
To apply for this unpaid internship and for more information, he remains hopeful that a
visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships. resolution can be reached
in the near future. In a
Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, 18 years of age on message intended for
or before the first day of the internship, and meet at least one congressional members,
of the following criteria: AFSA CEO Rob Frank
noted, "It is extremely unfair
Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate to those currently serving
program at a college, community college, or university (and their families) to
(two-to-four year institution) continue asking them to
give more and more while
Graduated from an undergraduate or graduate providing them with less
program at a college, community college, or university and less to do the job. That
(two-to-four year institution) no more than two years is why AFSA is urging
before the first day of the internship negotiators to adopt
language that sustains the
A veteran of the United States Armed Forces who full 1.8 percent active duty
possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent and pay raise as established in
has served on active duty, for any length of time, in law, and to block proposed
the two years preceding the first day of the internship. cuts to the Basic Allowance
for Housing and TRICARE
For any additional questions, please pharmacy copay
visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/faqs increases." You can read
his entire message
here http://bit.ly/1xOfskl and
then send one of your own
via AFSA CapWiz
at http://bit.ly/11reBt.

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AFSA E-News 12/1/14, 7:03 AM

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