H.R. 3580, America's FOCUS Act of 2013

[Ned]

Rep. Fattah of Pennsylvania introduced this on November 21st.

It would establish a very large fund for STEM training, drawn from fines and settlements, and then distribute the funds through various groups.

Interestingly, CAP is specifically named in the bill (along with other groups.)

Does anyone have any contacts with Rep. Fattah's office or background on this bill?

[a2capt]

http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=18235.msg330665#msg330665
You seemed to tiny the bit of debate on this already.. before it died on the vine, here.

[Eclipse]

Considering the nature of our existence, why do we have to go around begging grants and other funding sources.

Why aren't we simply going to our parent service and telling them what we need?

I understand the practical answer is based in our charter and related documents, I'm talking philosophically.
Even if the USAF isn't writing the check, they should be the ones asking for us, since they are in the office next to
the people with the money.

You can shape the same conversation with our other missions as well - who's going to be more effective,
a unit CC calling 1-800- local EOC and saying "we're here to help" or the CSAF or CAP-USAF CC calling FEMA
and reminding them of our existence, funding and mission.

[Ned]

Sigh.  My bad for not searching.

I'm sitting in the BoG meeting and this came up.  It seemed odd that such a bill had been introduced without any contact with us from the member's office.

Looking at the bill in THOMAS suggests what others pointed out in the other thread - it appears to be an orphan with few prospects for passage in anything resembling its current form.

[Private Investigator]

Considering the nature of our existence, why do we have to go around begging grants and other funding sources.

Why aren't we simply going to our parent service and telling them what we need?

Well how much of the USAF pie does the Auxiliary need? 

[Private Investigator]

You can shape the same conversation with our other missions as well - who's going to be more effective,
a unit CC calling 1-800- local EOC and saying "we're here to help" or the CSAF or CAP-USAF CC calling FEMA
and reminding them of our existence, funding and mission.

Now the second half of the apples and oranges debate. 

[Eclipse]

Considering the nature of our existence, why do we have to go around begging grants and other funding sources.

Why aren't we simply going to our parent service and telling them what we need?

Well how much of the USAF pie does the Auxiliary need? 

Well, since we get ZERO of the USAF's pie today, I would say somewhere North of that.

[Johnny Yuma]

Bad idea on 2 fronts:

1. Any monies we got from this fund would inevitably offset budgeted monies we were slated to receive, making this not exactly the windfall expected at all. Seen it happen at every level from Federal to the local United Way.

2. I object to the creation of government-controlled accounts funded by punitive fines, fees and forfeitures. All monies taken by the .gov should be entered into the general fund and appropriated by Congress, not a .gov agency. It could also allow the .gov a manner for legalized extortion of private entities to fund special interests of the government without Congressional or judicial oversight.