From: FRA NewsBytes [newsbytes@fra.org]

Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 03:36

To: fra@fra367.org

Subject: FRA Newsbytes -- January 29, 2010

This week in NewsBytes:
Senate Approves Medicare/TRICARE Doctor Payment Cut Delay
State of the Union Address/FY 2011 Budget
FRA Honors Outstanding USMC Personnel
New Coast Guard Enlisted Leaders Includes FRA Activist
Growing Grassroots Program Helps Advocacy Program

Senate Approves Medicare/TRICARE Doctor Payment Cut Delay
Legislation (H.J. Res. 45) that increases the Federal debt limit was amended in the Senate this week to authorize a five-year delay the Medicare/TRICARE doctor reimbursement rate cuts for 5 years that are scheduled to take effect February 28, 2010.  The Senate approved the legislation which now returns to the House for approval. Due to the pending rate cut many doctors are expected to stop seeing Medicare and TRICARE patients, joining others who already choose not to participate in the Medicare and TRICARE programs. Members are urged to use the FRA Action Center at www.fra.org to contact their U.S. Representative immediately to ask for their support for H.J. Res. 45 as amended in the Senate.

State of the Union Address/FY 2011 Budget
In annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress this week, President Obama focused on the soaring budget deficit, the economic slowdown, health care reform, and other challenges facing our nation. The President also proposed a three-year freeze on discretionary funding not related to national security beginning in FY 2011.

The Administration's FY 2011 budget request is scheduled to be released next week and there is a close hold on specifics including funding for TRICARE and the VA.  The budget is expected to include a 1.4 percent active duty pay increase, which is equal to the Employment Cost Index (ECI), and there are press reports about increased funding for family readiness programs.  Additional information will be available next week.

FRA Honors Outstanding USMC Personnel
For the 12th consecutive year, FRA recognized top Marine Corps enlisted personnel by participating in two special awards ceremonies this week at Quantico MCB, Va. On behalf of NP Gary Blackburn, John Davis, FRA's Director of Legislative Programs, presented awards on Thursday to honor the Marine Corps Recruiting Command's 2009 Staff Non-Commissioned Officers in Charge and Prior Service Recruiters Staff Non-Commissioned Officers in Charge of the Year in recognition of their outstanding service. Marine Corps leadership was represented by Major General R. E. Milstead Jr., Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, and Sgt. Major Fenton Reese.

FRA's National Executive Director Joe Barnes presented similar awards to the Marine Corps' top performers during today's 2009 Combined Awards Program. The annual ceremony, also held at Quantico, recognizes the Marine Corps' top Recruiters, Drill Instructors (DI), Marine Corps Embassy Security Guards (MSG), Career Retention Specialists and Combat Instructors (CI). Milstead and SgtMaj Dennis W. Reed, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, presided at this ceremony. The Association also hosted reception following both events.

New Coast Guard Enlisted Leaders Includes FRA Activist
Vice Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., USCG, who has recently nominated to be the next Commandant of the Coast Guard, has named the Coast Guard's next top active duty and Reserve enlisted leaders.  Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Michael Leavitt has been selected to be the next Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG). He will relieve MCPOCG Charles "Skip" Bowen during a change-of-watch ceremony on May 21 at Training Center, Cape May, N.J.

"I have always tried to be the best humble servant I can be," said BMCM Leavitt, "and that won't change in my new position as MCPO-CG. As my predecessors have done before me, I hope to enhance Coast Guard leadership and have a positive impact."

Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Mark Allen, USCGR, was selected as the next Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force. He will relieve Master Chief Jeffrey Smith during a change-of-watch ceremony May 15 at Telecommunication and Information Systems Command, Alexandria, Va.  Shipmate Allen is a member of FRA Branch 182 (Rockville, MD), Central Liaison Committee (CLC) Chairman, and a member of FRA's National Committee on Legislative Service (NCLS).

"My wife, Colleen, and I are both amazed and humbled by the opportunity to serve in this new capacity," said BMCM Allen. "Taking care of the crew is the number one priority and I look forward to being a conduit for communications between deck-plate Guardians and the Commandant."

Growing Grassroots Program Helps Advocacy Program
FRA congratulates and thanks shipmates who made their voices heard in 2009. By using FRA's Action Center, they sent more than 25,000 advocacy messages to their elected officials in Washington, D.C.  The Action Center usage last year increased by more than 8.4 percent over 2008. The Action Center (available at www.fra.org) provides pre-written messages that shipmates can edit and send to their elected officials in Washington. Grassroots advocacy has a direct influence on the Association's efforts to effectively advance the Association's legislative agenda, and represent the concerns of our members before Congress and appropriate federal agencies.  


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