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HAPPY BIRTHDAY USMC… On Saturday, the United States Marine Corps will turn 237 years old.  San Diego is home to thousands of active duty Marines, their families, and retirees.  Marines from bases throughout the region have served faithfully and supported major military campaigns that have called upon generations of Americans to step forward.  

In Afghanistan today, Marines from the region are serving honorably and courageously.  This year’s Marine Corps birthday marks more than a decade of combat operations in the post 9-11 world.  To those who wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world, and to those who are still Marines at heart even though they no longer wear a uniform, America thanks you for your contribution and sacrifice.  Semper Fi.

POST-ELECTION BUZZ—With the Presidency and Senate races settled, there are a total of eight House races still considered too close to call.  Here’s the breakdown so far for the upcoming 113^th Congress, beginning in January 2013:  In the House, right now Republicans will hold 233 seats.  Democrats will hold at least 194 House seats.  In the Senate, Democrats hold the majority with 53 seats, with the addition of a caucus-commitment from at least one of two Independent Senators.

There’s lots of work ahead, from budgets to taxes.  But the federal system we have today—the same one envisioned and created by our founders—is capable of achieving success under any arrangement.  And, surely, the rigorous debate over how to most effectively address the challenges on the horizon will continue.  For a perspective on how such debate might deliver results, click here. 

WORTH NOTING: FEWER VETS WILL SERVE IN THE NEXT SESSION OF CONGRESS due to retirements and electoral changes in the Senate.  The number of veterans in the Senate will drop by six while the number of veterans in the House will hold steady.  There will be six fewer veterans in the Senate come January 2013, dropping to 20 total for the upper chamber. 

ANSWERS ON LIBYA ATTACK ARE OVERDUE.  Writing in the Washington Post recently, columnist David Ignatius asked all the right questions regarding the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya.  The White House asserts that an unvarnished timeline will be released in the coming weeks, but certain facts have since come to light that demand direct answers from the Administration.  And, aggressive oversight in the House, through several committees, will certainly persist.  Watch my latest television interview on the situation in Libya, available here.

FIGHTING TO GIVE MILITARY FULL RECOGNITION… If you have read previous editions of my newsletter, then you definitely know that I’ve been critical of the military awards process.  Several high-profile judgments, in the cases of Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael Peralta and Army Captain Will Swenson in particular, have renewed focus on the integrity of the awards process.  Even more recently, several major discrepancies were discovered in the listing of the Army’s highest award recipients after personal identifying information was posted online.  Read more about my efforts here, from Human Events.               

AFGHAN PROGRESS REPORT: In late October, I traveled to Afghanistan with a small, bipartisan delegation of House members, including the Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith.  We met with military and civilian leaders, assessed progress in different areas of the country, including the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, and discussed details related to the drawdown of ground combat forces.  Read more about my visit, reported by the San Diego Union Tribune.  

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE THREAT OF SEQUESTRATION, there’s a lot of talk about the size and strength of the U.S. Navy—America’s most durable and reliable asset for projecting power, delivering aid and protecting global economic interests.  During an Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this year, I had an exchange with the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), who identified the need for a Navy exceeding 500 ships to meet full Combatant Command requirements.  While such a production target is unrealistic, especially in today’s fiscal environment, the Deputy CNO’s statement underscores the importance of an adequately sized Navy that is balanced by the right composition of vessels.  Two of my latest commentaries dive into this issue: Game of Battleship Could Prove Deadly, printed in the Washington Times, and, Asking More of a Shrinking Navy, printed in Roll Call.     

FISCAL CLIFF LOOMS—The biggest challenge facing Congress and the Administration is the so-called “fiscal cliff” right around the corner.  In January, should inaction prevail, tax rates for most working Americans will increase and massive budget cuts—specifically in the area of national defense—will go into effect.  There’s definitely opportunity ahead to work out a solution, before January 2, when the first year of sequestration is triggered.  The fiscal cliff will remain the focus of Congress and the rest of the federal government throughout the remainder of the year and predictably at the onset of the 113^th Congress early next year.