NewsBytes December 23, 2022
In this issue:
Congress to Pass an Omnibus Budget Bill
HASC Defeats Request for Inquiry of DoD Woke Policies
The FRA Action Center Works
PCI History Project Verification for Shipmates
Headquarters Holiday Closures for FRA
Congress to Pass an Omnibus Budget Bill
After passing a week-long Continuing Resolution (CR) last week to keep the government operating, the House and Senate are expected to approve and send onto the President, a 4415-page omnibus budget bill this week within days of its release. The Omnibus bill combines the 12 appropriations bills and will provide the federal government with $1.7 trillion funding for fiscal year 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2023). The bill appropriates $858 billion for Defense, a $76 billion increase from the last fiscal year. This legislative action essentially ends the 117 Congress. The 118th Congress will be sworn in on January 3, 2023.
HASC Defeats Request for Inquiry of DoD Woke Policies
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) voted down (26-30) a “resolution of inquiry” to compel the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide committee with information on the DoD’s policies on gender identity, gender transition, gender-neutral pronouns, and so-called safe spaces. The HASC Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.) who opposed the measure said, “I do believe this is the mother of all fishing expeditions and that’s all it is.” Ranking Member Rep. Mike Rogers (Ala.) said “Our troops should not be in the vanguard for the left’s social agenda.” Pentagon officials have steadfastly denied that they are focused on woke policies and argue their efforts are only meant to foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect within the military. Furthermore, Defense officials dispute the claim that the issue is a source of division within the ranks.
FRA Action Center
The current session of Congress (117th) ends this week and the new 118th Congress begins Jan. 3, 2023. Legislation introduced during the current Congress that was not enacted into law is automatically tabled at the end of the session. Many of these bills will be re-introduced in the next session of Congress. The FRA Action Center generated more than 100,000 messages to Capitol Hill and use of the Action Center resulted in more than two-thirds of Congress supporting concurrent receipt expansion (the Star Act) in 2022. Support for H.R.1282 /S.344 grew to 336 in the House and 67 in the Senate with the 117th Congress. The FRA believes that continued grassroots engagement with legislators is critical to keeping the issue on the radar for rapid action in the 118th Congress, which begins its work in January.
FRA Verification for Fleet Reserve Association Members
You may have received a post card or email about Verification for Fleet Reserve Association Membership. The FRA has partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an Oral History Publication for the Fleet Reserve Association’s Centennial, which happens in November, 2024. This project allows the FRA to get updated contact information while providing you an opportunity to share your personal experiences and how the organization and the Sea Services helped to shape your life. For more information about the project go online, or give them a call, to update your information and share your story.
FRA Headquarters Holiday Closures
The FRA National Headquarters (NHQ) staff wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, a safe and joyous holiday and a very happy 2023! Our offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 (working remotely that day), and will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. NHQ will also be closed on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 in observance of New Year’s Day. Due to the holiday schedule, the next edition of FRA NewsBytes will be Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.
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