Issue Position: Defense and Military

Issue Position

One of the most important jobs that we have as a nation is ensuring that our military, and their families, are taken care of during and after their service. These brave men and women sacrifice their own lives each and every day to protect the rights of all Americans. Carolyn McCarthy has been consistently involved in measures to that will protect the interests of our service members and will continue to work to ensure their safety and well-being.

Carolyn has cosponsored the following bills:

Deploring the ongoing violence by Iraqi security forces against the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq, H.Res. 704

Resolution deploring the ongoing violence by Iraqi security forces against the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq.

Resolution expressing the sense of the U.S. House regarding the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, H.Res. 339

Commends crew of Maersk Alabama and Captain Richard Phillips for their bravery. Passed, House of Representatives 4/22/09.

Recognizing the Commissioning of the USS New York LPD 21, H.Res. 856

Honors and commemorates the commissioning of the USS New York made from steel from the World Trade Center, honors those who lost their lives on 9/11. Passed, House of Representatives 11/4/09.

Expressing support of the House of Representatives for members of Armed Services and Vets with PTSD, H.Res. 443

Encourages VA to develop programs to treat PTSD, encourages increased counseling for those who have served.

Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009, H.R. 1283

Repeals current DOD policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces.

Expressing need for TBI public awareness and Nation Brain Injury Awareness Month, H.Res. 178

Expressing need for TBI public awareness and Nation Brain Injury Awareness Month. Passed, House of Representatives 3/23/09

Redesignating the Dept. of Navy as the Dept of Navy and Marine Corps, H.R. 24

Redesignating the Dept. of Navy as the Dept of Navy and Marine Corps. Passed, House of Representatives 5/4/10

Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, H.R. 775

As law now stands, surviving spouses of soldiers who die in service receive a lower rate of compensation than survivors of federal civilian employees killed during the performance of their duty, this bill would raise compensation for them.

To Award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), H.R. 2014

To Award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

Achievements of the GI Bill Gold Medal Act, H.R. 4745

Directs Congress to award a gold medal in honor of those who received assistance under the GI Bill of Rights for their accomplishments.

Designate US Post Office in Hornell, NY as Zachary Smith Post Office Building a KIA officer serving in Afghanistan, H.R. 4665

Designate US Post Office in Hornell, NY as Zachary Smith Post Office Building a KIA officer serving in Afghanistan.

Carolyn has supported the following legislation that has been voted on in the House:

Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009, S. 454

The measure seeks to promote competition in acquisition strategies and the consideration of trade-offs between cost, schedule, and performance. It also requires increased focus on programs in the early stages of acquisition when most costs are determined, and focuses oversight on programs which have demonstrated poor performance. This bill is currently law.

National Defense Authorization Act for FY10, H.R. 2647

$550.2 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DoE). The bill also authorizes $130 billion to support overseas contingency operations during fiscal year 2010. Increases the size of the military by 30,000 Army troops, 8,100 Marines, 14,650 Air Force personnel, and 2,477 Navy sailors in Fiscal Year 2010, as requested by the President. This bill is currently law.

National Defense Authorization Act for FY11, H.R.5136

$567 billion authorization that strengthens four pivotal national objectives including, but not limited to, nuclear non nonproliferation, and benefits and care to our nation's service members and their families. The bill provides a 1.9% pay raise to our troops, increases imminent danger pay, and expands college loan repayment benefits. The bill also includes a sense of Congress that hunger and obesity are impairing military recruitment and must be properly addressed. Passed House of Representatives 5/28/10

Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to Obtain Value in Every (IMPROVE) Acquisition Act of 2010, H.R. 5013

The bill would overhaul defense acquisition spending to clean up waste fraud and abuse--potentially saving $135 billion over five years and expediting the process to get the proper equipment to our troops on the battlefield. Passed House of Representatives, 4/28/10.

TRICARE Affirmation Act, H.R. 4887

Reinforces that military health care coverage will not be adversely affected by the health care reform law. This bill is currently law.

Source