washingtonscene “Before we move forward with changes

in survivor benefits, it’s imperative that we help the most disadvantaged beneficiaries first,” says Odom. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Sen. Bill

Nelson (D-Fla.) have introduced legislation to eliminate the SBP/DIC offset.

Congress Passes Budget

Resolution The blueprint balances the budget in 10 years.

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Gen. Joseph Dunford, USMC

Selva, USAF Gen. Paul

or the first time in six years, Congress passed a budget resolu- tion. The Senate voted 51-48 along party lines to adopt the budget plan. The House passed its version of the bud- get submission in late March. Only Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R- Ky.) broke ranks from their party. The budget submission increases de- fense spending above the sequester lim- its. To avoid triggering automatic cuts, however, the proposal shifts money to the Pentagon’s war accounts, which are not subject to sequester caps. The nonbinding resolution does not need to go to the White House for signature. It serves more as a blueprint for congressional leaders. The 10-year plan seeks to balance the budget by aggressively cutting govern- ment spending and dismantling the presi- dent’s health care reform. While MOAA is pleased the proposed budget provides defense planners some relief from sequestration, we remain con- cerned about using contingency accounts for normal DoD functions. DoD agrees. In late March, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said these kinds of budget gimmicks are “undermining basic

principles of accountability and respon- sible long-term planning.” It’s unlikely some of the central pillars of the budget resolution are politically feasible. “What we want to see is Congress come to a commonsense solution to pro- vide permanent sequestration relief,” says MOAA’s Director of Government Relations Col. Mike Hayden, USAF (Ret). “If seques- tration remains in place, the services will be on the hook for cutting a quarter tril- lion dollars in just five years.” Although debt reduction is a national

priority, military personnel and their fami- lies should not have to shoulder a dispro- portionate share of the rebalancing. They have sacrificed more than any other seg- ment of the American population.

New Joint Chiefs

Nominated The president taps new chairman and vice chairman.

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n May 5, President Barack Obama announced new leadership for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, nomi-

nating Gen. Joseph Dunford, USMC,* to be the next chairman and Gen. Paul Selva, USAF, to be the next vice chairman. The nominations are two of the presi-

dent’s most important national security advisors, representing the top two senior ranking officers in the military and serving as senior military advisors to the president, the secretary of defense, and the National Security Council. Dunford currently serves as the com- mandant of the Marine Corps. Selva also brings experience to the table,

currently serving as commander of U.S. Transportation Command. Previously, Selva was the top military advisor to then-Secre- tary of State Hillary Clinton.

*online: Read a Military Officer interview with General Dunford from December 2013 at www.moaa.org/dunford. 36 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2015