Improves Pentagon Management, Raises Pay for Troops, Supports our Veterans

Thanks to the efforts of Senator John Ensign, the Defense Authorization Bill that passed the Senate today included key provisions to help make the Pentagon’s operations more efficient.

“When it comes to spending the taxpayers’ dollars, we need to make sure we are not being wasteful or duplicative,” said Ensign.  “These changes will provide the Pentagon with a more effective tool to properly manage and prioritize resources for our nation’s military.”

As Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness last year, Ensign inserted language that establishes the Deputy Secretary of Defense as the Chief Management Officer and creates a new position, the Deputy Chief Management Officer.  Both will assist in day-to-day management and planning at the Department of Defense and will help coordinate the Pentagon’s transformation efforts.  Recently, the Pentagon began implementing some of these changes.

In a report to Congress, the Government Accountability Office recommended establishing a Chief Management Officer at DOD to improve strategic performance.  Ensign’s provision requires a regularly updated strategic management plan that includes

·         Performance goals for improving DOD’s business operations and key initiatives for achieving them;

·         Systems and processes to objectively measure progress on the goals;

·         Procedures to ensure that business operations systems and improvements to those systems are integrated across the Department.

The Defense Authorization Bill also included a well-deserved pay raise for our troops and the Wounded Warriors Act (WWA), which helps ensure that our troops and veterans receive the best care possible.  The WWA clears up inconsistencies in Pentagon and VA disability ratings, provides more money for the diagnosis and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and significantly strengthens support for the families of those injured.