FANNING ASKS NAVY LEAGUE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT NAVY/MARINE CORPS CAUCUS

Navy League National President Timothy O. Fanning has asked Navy League members to "proactively" support the new House Navy/Marine Corps Caucus, established at the start of this year with the goal of informing members of the House of Representatives about: (1) the many significant contributions to national security made by the Navy and Marine Corps team; and (2) various ways to demonstrate their own support for the Navy/Marine Corps team and for a strong national defense program in general.

"Fewer congressmen today than at any previous time in our nation's history have had any military experience," said Schrock, a retired Navy captain from Virginia's 2nd District, who co-chairs the Caucus with Rep. Susan Davis (R-Calif.). "That is why it is so important at this critical juncture that we, as a Caucus, educate our colleagues--freshmen members in particular--on Navy and Marine Corps issues."

Caucus members attend regularly scheduled meetings that feature guest speakers discussing the current capabilities and operations of, and the problems facing, the sea services; the speakers also answer "any and all" questions they are asked. The Caucus members also tour military facilities to acquire additional first-hand knowledge about the sea services and to learn how they can best help the services meet their short- and long-term needs, especially in the area of funding. The Navy League frequently sponsors the Caucus meetings on sea-service issues and requirements.

Schrock told Sea Power that the other military services "have had their own caucuses" for some time, and commented that "It was about time that the Navy and Marine Corps have one of their own." Establishing a caucus, he said, formalizes the support provided to the Navy and Marine Corps by House members and adds legislative credibility to the process.

Commenting on the formation of the Caucus and its importance to the sea services, Fanning said, "This is an especially important time for all Americans, including members of Congress, to support all of the nation's armed services. The sea services are in particular need of strong support, though, not only because of their front-line role in the war against international terrorism but also because of the huge deficits in acquisition and procurement funding that have developed over the last decade." Fanning said he "strongly encourages" all members of the Navy League to express their personal thanks to current Caucus members for their support, and to recommend to those House Representatives who are not yet members of the Caucus to join the Caucus in the very near future. Following is the list of Representatives who were members of the Navy/Marine Corps Caucus as of 18 June:

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME), Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA), Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL), Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. Mike Capuano (D-MA), Rep. Brad Carson (D-OK), Rep. Gary Condit (D-CA), Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), Rep. Norman Dicks (D-WA), Rep. Calvin Dooley (D-CA), Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX), Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH), Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Rep. Ralph Hall (D-TX), Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC), Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN), Rep. Amo Houghton (R-NY), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Rep. Brian Kerns (R-IN), Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL), Rep. James Langevin (D-RI), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), Rep. John Larson (D-CT), Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Rep. Michael McNulty (D-NY), Rep. James Maloney (D-CT), Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA), Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX), Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID), Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS), Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA), Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Caucus Chairman Rep. Ed Schrock (R-VA), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. Ronnie Shows (D-MS), Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR), Rep. John Sununu (R-NH), Rep. John Tanner (D-TN), Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), Rep. Jim Turner (D-TX), Rep. Robert Underwood (D-GU), Rep. David Vitter (R-LA), Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Rep. David Wu (D-OR). DAV

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