Navy League of the United States
Washington Update
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
AGENDA
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Washington Programs Overview
Legislative News/Outlook
How we can help you
Ideas and Suggestions?
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Washington Programs
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Congressional Caucus Support
Office of Legislative Affairs Support
Education
Advocacy
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Caucus Support
Congressional Caucuses provide
opportunities for Members of Congress
to discuss relevant issues, hear from
experts, and meet interested parties.
The Navy League supports many
Caucuses that share our interests:
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Congressional Navy-Marine Corps Caucus
• Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA) and
Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), co-chairs
• Fills informational gaps from Congressional
Shipbuilding Caucus: Marine Corps, aviation, etc.
• NLUS supported the Marine Aviation Centennial
Breakfast
• Honorary Host of the Sea Air Space Congressional
Breakfast and helped drive staffer attendance
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Congressional Maritime Caucus
• Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and
Congressman Michael Grimm (R-NY), co-chairs
• Focuses on Merchant Marine, ports, maritime industry
• Founded in February 2013
• Kickoff event Monday featuring Navy League National
Vice President Rob Reilly on cargo preference
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
House Military Depot, Arsenal, Ammunition Plant,
and Industrial Facilities Caucus
• Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) and Congressman Dave
Loebsack (D-IA), co-chairs
• Dedicated to policy issues that affect military industrial
facilities, including aviation depots, arsenals, ammunition
plants, shipyards, and energetic material production facilities
• NLUS supported briefing on “The Status of the Shipyards and
Aviation Fleet Readiness Centers” and “The Health of the
Marine Corps Depots” with Rear Admiral Timothy Matthews
(Director, Fleet Readiness Division) and Major General Hudson
(commanding General, Marine Corps Logistics Command)
• Coast Guard Depots will be a topic this fall
• Honorary Host of the Sea Air Space Congressional Breakfast
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus
• Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Congressman
Joe Courtney (D-CT), co-chairs
• Navy League’s primary partner for advancing sea
service interests on the Hill
• Briefings at least every quarter
• Most significant voice on the Hill for shipbuilding,
Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard issues
• Honorary hosts for Sea Air Space Congressional
Breakfast
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Office of Legislative Affairs Support
• “Pizza Briefs” is the name of an educational series run by the
Navy Office of Legislative Affairs and sponsored by the Navy League.
• Primary audience is staffers, who act as advisors and
informational resources for Members of Congress
• Each week a different Navy command is features
• Turnout between 40-100 people at each brief
• Considered by OLA to be one of their most significant programs
• Provides opportunity for education for new staffers and a chance
to get expert answers for veteran staffers
• NLUS also sponsors informal receptions and get-togethers,
creating opportunities for Navy-USMC-USCG-Congressional
interaction
• Relationships between staffers and the military are crucial when
military programs are up for debate
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Education
• The Navy League provides an educational
service to Members of Congress
• Maritime Policy Report
• Seapower Almanac
• Seapower subscriptions
• We are a resource to offices when they have
questions about Navy, USMC, USCG, and U.S.flag Merchant Marine
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Advocacy
The Navy League has an excellent reputation on
Capitol Hill and is a trusted resource.
• Letters of support or concern
• Grassroots education is VITAL
• Members of Congress state that Grassroots
Outreach is the most important thing we do.
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Advocacy
SUCCESS!
Thanks to the Navy League, an amendment that would have
devastated the Merchant Marine was defeated last night. Our
advocacy efforts on this issue included:
• Letters to committees that held hearings
• NLUS Members calling their offices
• VP-LAs activated their councils
• Press release blasted to all Hill contacts
• Alerting Caucuses on the impacts to watch this issue
• Signing group letters opposing the amendments
• Other groups asked for our involvment
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
How We Can Help You
• Provide current, up to date information on what’s
happening in Congress
– Call or email anytime
– Website updates
• HQ can help research the relevant staff contacts
• We can help respond to post-Grassroots briefings
• We can provide draft letters or op-eds on sea service
topics to keep engagement open
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Legislative Outlook
• NDAA: Passed the House, will pass Senate
this week
• Appropriations: Passing the House. Senate
has not started to mark up, may be a sign of
another CR
• Sequestration: Still happening—the Call to
Action is not over yet!
• Environment: Austere atmosphere,
disinterest in national security, partisan
gridlock
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services
Navy League Legislative Affairs
•Ideas or suggestions?
•Contact us anytime:
•Sara Fuentes: 703-312-1560,
sfuentes@navyleague.org
•Chris Bennett: 703-312-1574,
cbennett@navyleague.org
Navy League of the United States
Citizens in Support of the Sea Services