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Most of you have probably followed the developing controversy within the Tillicum community about proposed gate relocation for Washington National Guard's HQ at Camp Murray.

Seemingly a simple question of where to stack the queue turns into a more complex problem when the needful expansion of I-5 is considered. Recently, Lakewood, as lead in the Office of Economic Adjustment funded study of I-5 between (roughly) SR-512 and DuPont, found a necessity to accommodate the employment growth at JBLM to increase capacity and support infrastructure.

That point, among several, is brought home in an open letter by WNG Adjutant General Timothy Lowenberg on the issue pledging to work with (not "rolling over") the installation's neighbors. That's all here in the enclosed letter.

The Department of Defense announced today that Washington, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island were approved for waivers temporarily exempted them from complying with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, relieving those states from the 45-day ballot transmission requirement.

"The states granted waivers presented thorough and comprehensive plans to protect the voting opportunities for military and overseas voters," said Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). "In each case, we determined that the combination of measures presented provide military and overseas voters sufficient time to receive, mark and return their ballots so they can be counted, and thus met the requirement for receiving a waiver under the MOVE Act."

In 2008, a delegation of state secretaries of state reported after visiting military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Germany that, everyone the secretaries visited stated a preference for greater e-mail and Internet access to voting. Those same troops stated that email access extended even to remote areas of the theater. Many of the states' waiver application comprehensive plans provide such expanded email and internet access.

The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act not later than 45-days before an election for federal office, beginning with the Nov. 2, 2010 election. In accordance with the MOVE Act, states are allowed to apply for a waiver from the 45-day ballot requirement. Twelve states submitted waivers, and one state (Maryland) subsequently withdrew its waiver application. Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia were denied waivers.

In addition to the programs presented by the states in their waiver applications, DoD has been working with states to improve timeliness and opportunities for military and overseas voters to receive their ballot and submit their votes in adequate time to be counted in the election.

This year, FVAP launched new online products that make completing voting forms easier by developing electronic alternatives for voters to request, receive or return their ballots.

"DoD is working hard to make the absentee voting process seamless, easy, intuitive, and quick for military and overseas voters," said Carey.

Military members can now fill out their registration to vote and absentee ballot applications using FVAP's online tool, and if they do not receive their ballot in time, they may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), for which a full online tool is available.

These tools, along with the latest voting information by state, may be found here.  In addition, FVAP has launched a 24/7 call center for military and overseas voters, voting assistance officers, and election officials to get help with voting. Individuals can e-mail in their questions or use the online chat capability.

For more information about state waiver applications, visit here.   State waiver applications and DoD's waiver responses may be found at the hyperlinks in this document.

Being distributed to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's membership and community contacts is the new 2010 Military Impacts, containing articles on military civic volunteerism, economic impacts and a roster of the region's military leadership.

All you Chamber members will be receiving a printed copy as an insert in today's Calendar mailing.  For all others, you may download your copy here. 

The Chamber will distribute copies of the 2010 Military Impacts in the community at special, mililtary related-events, starting with the Citizen-Soldier of the Year event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma.

For veteran-business owners, the Governor signed SB5041 on March 10. 

The bill, as passed: Mitigates economic damage to veteran-owned businesses as a result of military service.

Requires the department of veterans affairs to:
(1) Develop a procedure for certifying veteran-owned businesses and maintain a list of those businesses on the department's public web site;
(2) Adopt rules necessary to implement the act; and
(3) Collaborate with and assist agencies in implementing outreach to veteran-owned businesses.

Requires state agencies to:
(1) Perform outreach to veteran-owned businesses in collaboration with the department of veterans affairs to increase opportunities for veteran-owned businesses to sell goods and services to the state; and
(2) Work to match agency procurement records with the department's database of certified veteran-owned businesses to establish how many procurement contracts are being awarded to those businesses.

Encourages state agencies to award three percent of all procurement contracts that are exempt from certain competitive bidding requirements to veteran-owned businesses certified by the department of veteran affairs.

Requires the department of general administration to identify in its vendor registry all vendors that are veteran-owned businesses as certified by the department of veterans affairs.

The bill, originating with Sen. Derek Kilmer attracted considerable co-sponsors in the Senate and legislative support in the House.  The Chamber testified in both the State's Senate and House in favor of the bill as an advocacy outreach for the veteran-owned businesses of the state.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber encourages members to support and employ members of the National Guard and Reserve. If your organization employs and provides exceptional support to a National Guard or Reserve member, please encourage your military employees to nominate your organization for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award by January 18.

What is the Freedom Award?

This is the highest public recognition given by the U.S. Department of Defense to outstanding employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense and is presented annually by the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Special focus is given to what employers do "over and above" the support required by law. The fifteen 2010 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 15th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 23, 2010.

Why is it Important?

As a military supporter, your organization can earn national recognition through this unique award. Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. Recipients of the 2009 Freedom Award met privately with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Dr. Jill Biden, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress, senior government and military leaders from all Guard and Reserve components.

How Can My Organization Get Nominated?

Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member. The deadline is January 18, 2010. Nearly 2,000 nominations have already been submitted. Please encourage your member employees to nominate your organization today!

For more information about the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, visit here. For more information on other ESGR programs and services, contact ESGR or at 1-800-336-4590.

Commanders of the Washington National Guard, Ft. Lewis and the 62nd AW were front and center for the annual Commanding Officers Briefing this morning.

The scheduled hearing before the State Senate Government Operations Committee has been delayed.

Formerly scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon, other issues have pre-empted the committee's calendar.

The issues:

1. "do no harm" to professional licenses/certifications for activated Guard/Reserve
2. accept applicable military training for civilian jobs/occupations

Look for future information and opportunities to be involved.

...will he have a job?

Making it easier for Guard and Reserve who are returning from deployments and easier for vets to apply their military training to civilian occupations are the intents of efforts by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.

Thanks to the efforts of Sen. Derek Kilmer, those issues are coming up for a hearing before the Washington Senate Government Operations Committee Monday, January 26, 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon in the Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 2.

Last year, Sen. Kilmer succeeded in getting two budget provisos calling for studies of these questions:

Page 221 (6) in the budget has the one for licensing on holding in abeyance. The language is:
(6) The department of licensing and the department of health shall jointly review and report to the appropriate policy committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, recommendations for implementing a process of holding in abeyance for up to six months following the conclusion of active duty service the expiration of, and currency requirements for, professional licenses and certificates for individuals who have been called to active duty military service.
Also, items 44 and 45 on page 164 of the budget:
(44) The department of licensing and the department of health shall jointly review and report to the appropriate policy committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, recommendations for implementing a process of holding in abeyance for up to six months following the conclusion of active duty service the expiration of, and currency requirements for, professional licenses and certificates for individuals who have been called to active duty military service.
(45) The higher education coordinating board, the department of licensing, and the department of health shall jointly review and report to appropriate policy committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, on barriers and opportunities for increasing the extent to which veterans separating from duty are able to apply skills sets and education required while in service to certification, licensure, and degree requirements.

These reports are not yet available and will be presented at that committee meeting. I know it somewhat disadvantages us to be asked to comment without having read the reports, but I ask your presence and willingness to speak about the issues you are familiar in getting trained for civilian occupations those with applicable military training. Please share with me your availability to participate.