The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA)
Legislative Alert
October 10, 2005

Washington Office
909 N. Washington St., Suite 301
Alexandria, VA. 22314-1555
(703)684-1981
www.trea.org

STATUS OF FY 2006 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA):

The FY 2006 NDAA is tied up by the Republican Leadership of the United States Senate. Also, Democrats are also to blame. As of now, 318 amendments are filed to the bill. Reports last week indicated that the Republican and Democratic leadership were trying to work out an arrangement so about 12 amendments on each side would be debated. No agreement has been made and no bill in Congress can be debated with 318 amendments. Although the Individually Unemployable (IU) and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Dependency Indemity Compensation (DIC) offset amendments are still pending, all is not lost. One year we did not get the NDAA until the following February and in another year it was November.

The U.S. Senate is out of session until next Monday. So now is the time to contact your U.S. Senators while they are at home. Call, write, email and visit them. Urge them to get Republican and Democratic leaders to come up with an agreement on amendments so the bill can be called to the floor by Senator Bill First (Tennessee), the Majority Leader. Also, call the Washington Office of your Senators by calling toll-free 866-272-6622, compliments of the Military Officers Association of America. Give the same message to the Washington Office as the local state office - urge Sen. Frist and Sen. Reid of Nevada (Democratic leader)to come up with an agreement so the FY 2006 NDAA can be brought to the floor of the U.S. Senate.