Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) wants an “open and honest” dialogue about the state of wounded warrior care and “growing requirements” facing military medics in the war on terror and the need to support the expansion of the Army and Marine Corps. There is another complicating factor, says the chairman of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, “The military medical departments are being required to cut costs. They are being tasked to find ‘efficiencies’ in the system to the tune of $248 million in Fiscal 2008.” That’s not all. Snyder added, “They are further required to convert military medical positions to civilian ones, frequently reducing the overall number of medical professionals in the process.” He fears the Pentagon is asking too much.
Back from a Thanksgiving week recess, the push to pass the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act hit another snag Nov. 29, as the Senate voted against ending debate on its version of the bill. At the same time, Congress is staring down a Dec. 3 expiration date for its continuing…