office of legislative affairs office of legislative affairs congressional inquiries/special interest...
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Office of Legislative Affairs
Office of Legislative AffairsCongressional Inquiries/Special Interest Correspondence(CONGRINTS)
Mr. Mike Sapronetti Deputy, OLAC
07 August 2014
Office of Legislative Affairs
Deputy Legislative Assistant to CMC
Brigadier General David J. Furness
Office of Legislative Affairs
Programs LNO
O-6, ACOverstaff
Asst Programs LNO
O-5, ACOverstaff
Special LiaisonGS-15
Leg. Aff. SpclstGS-13
Manpower LNO, O-6, AC
Overstaff
Asst Manpower LNO
O-3, ACOverstaff
Travel Mgt SpclstGS-11
I&L LNO, IMA OpSpon.O-5, AR
Admin OfficerO-4, AR
Admin ChiefE-7, AR
Admin AsstE-5, AC
Admin ClerkE-3, AC
Admin Spt Asst
GS-9
LA to CMCO-7, AC
Deputy LA O-6, AC
SEAE-9, AC
Readiness LNO
O-5, AC
Admin ClerkE-5, AC
Special LiaisonGS-15
(Vacant)
Admin ClerkE-3, ACVacant
Ops Officer
IMA DET(SMCR)
Cong. LNOO-4
Leg.AffO
O-5(Vacant)
Admin Spclst
E-5Filled
Admin SNCO
E-6
Spcl. LNOO-6
Filled
Leg.AffO
O-5
Leg.AffO
O-4 Filled
Leg.AffO
O-5(Vacant)
Cong. LNOO-4
Filled
Leg. ClerkE-5
Filled
Leg. ClerkE-5
(Vacant)
Senate AffairsO
O-5 (Vacant)
Cong. LNOO-4
Filled
Admin SNCO
E-7
Admin Spclst
E-5
Cong. LNOO-5
(Vacant)
Cong.Lias Asst.E-
6(Vacant)
House AffairsO
O-5 (Vacant)
Cong. LNO
Asst.,E-6
FMBEO-4, AC
FMBEO-4, AC
Overstaff
Reserve Admin. SNCO
Driver
CY-15 Fellows
OLAC HeadGS-14
Team LeadGS-12
OLAC DeputyGS-13
Team LeadGS-12
Team LeadGS-12
Team Lead
WriterGS-9/11
WriterGS-9/11
WriterGS-9/11
WriterGS-9/11
WriterGS-9/11(Vacant)
WriterGS-9/11
Writer
Writer
WriterE-6, AC
(Overstaff)
Office of Legislative Affairs Organizational Chart
Appendix A.1
Senate DirectorO-6, AC
Dep. Sen. Dir.O-4, AC
Post FellowOverstaff
Liaison OfficerO-3, AC
Admin ChiefE-7, AC
Admin ClerkE-5, AC
House DirectorO-6, AC
Dep. House Dir.
O-4, AC
Liaison OfficerO-4, AC
Overstaff
Admin ChiefE-7, AC
Admin ClerkE-5, AC
Liaison OfficerO-3, AC
Overstaff
House Member
CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)
Senate Member
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow(Overstaff)
CY-14 Fellow
(Overstaff)
Liaison OfficerO-3, AC
Overstaff
Office of Legislative Affairs
OLA
Legislative Assistant to
CMC
House Senate
OLAC Front Office
OLA Organization
Office of Legislative Affairs
OLAC Mission
The mission of the Office of Legislative Affairs Correspondence (OLAC) is to provide timely and accurate responses to Congressional inquiries on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
OLAC is responsible for the staffing, research, analysis, and formulation of official responses to
written, telephonic, and electronic mail inquiries from members of Congress, their staffs, and Congressional
Committees.
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Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Interest (Congrint)
CongrintsAll Congressional inquiries received by any Marine Corps organization falls under the cognizance of the CMC Office of Legislative Affairs Correspondence (OLA).
All congrints, regardless of origin, subject matter or method of receipt, must be forwarded to OLA for action and reply. Commands/HQMC agencies do not reply directly to Congress.
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Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Who initiates Congrints? Current and former Marines Parents, siblings, spouses and other
relatives of Marines Wanna-be Marines Civilian Marines (and their relatives) Concerned Citizens Members of Congress (MOCs)
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Office of Legislative Affairs
• Disciplinary status– Claims of unfair NJP/court-martial or disciplinary action– Marine placed on legal hold for long periods of time
• Assignments– HUMS discharges/transfers– More desirable location
• Deployment concerns– Marines want to remain in CONUS to care for dependents– Marine alleges s/he is physically unfit to deploy (includes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Command Allegations
Common Issues
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Common Issues Enlistment- Waiver Requests- Recruiter Allegations- DEP Discharges
Command support of discharged Marines- DD 214, Seps Pay, Final Travel
Dependent Issues
Awards- Verification and Replacement- Requests for upgrade
Records- Everything you could imagine
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Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Flagged Inquiries
Allegations of Sexual Assault
Allegations of Hazing
Allegations of Discrimination
Allegations of Unlawful Command Influence
Allegations against General Officers
Officer Misconduct11
Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
CMC GuidanceThe guidance to Operating Forces and HQMC Agencies is contained in MARADMIN 606/02.
All correspondence received from Members Of Congress (MOC) or their staffs should be forwarded to CMC (OLA) for a reply.
Commands must acknowledge receipt (via email or phonecon) of congrints from OLA within 48 hours.
Response Due Dates:- HQMC Departments: 8 working days- Marine Corps Recruiting Command: 10 working days- CONUS Operating Forces: 8 working days- OCONUS Operating Forces: 10 working days- OIF/OEF/GWOT: 15 working days- H&W Checks: 24-48 hours for status update, 5 working days
Privacy Act release statements are required with all command responses. 12
Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Processing Congrints CMC (OLA) receives an inquiry from a MOC.
A tasker (or route sheet for HQMC Agency) is prepared and sent out with copies of the inquiry attached.
The respective IG/agency receives the tasker/route sheet with a due date back to OLA. Commands/agencies acknowledge receipt.
The command initiates an inquiry and provides a response/information back to OLA.– Interview the Marine/subject of the congrint– Obtain written consent from the subject of the congrint to release
information– Enclose copies of relevant documents in the command response
CMC (OLA) replies to Congress. 13
Office of Legislative Affairs
no
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)Process Flow
CongrintInitiator
Command/Agency
OLA
MOC
Send inquiry toMOC
• MOC: Member of Congress (Representative/Senator)• PA: Privacy Act
Receive inquiry via US Postal, email,phonecon or fax
Receive inquiry via mail, email,phonecon or fax
Receive inquiry via fax, guard mail or
email/phonecon
•Interview Marine•Get PA statement•Review relevant policies
Fax inquiry
Email/phonecommand
Urgent?
yes
Send response back to OLA
Prepare CMC’s response to MOC
Receive CMC’sresponse via
US Postal or fax
Informedof CMC’s response
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BEGIN END
Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Processing Congrints (con’t)
For urgent inquiries, commands will be called/emailed:
Suicidal ideations Possible child/dependent endangerment Imminent death of immediate family members
Emails/phonecon responses on urgent inquiries can be routed through the proper chain of command for endorsements, provided such routing does not unnecessarily delay the response back to OLA
Normally, urgent inquiries are followed-up with a formal tasker
OLA should be informed ASAP of mis-directed inquiries
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Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Under no circumstances will the subject/initiator of a congrint be disciplined, formally or informally, for exercising his/her civil right to contact their Congressional Representative.
Allegations of retribution/retaliation are taken very seriously and are thoroughly investigated.
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Processing Congrints (con’t)
Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
The Privacy Act of 1974 All persons who are the subject of a congrint should be counseled on
the provisions of the Act and indicate their desire to waive or not waive their rights.
The waiver of privacy rights is strictly voluntary. Commands must provide a complete response, even if privacy rights
are not waived. For discharged Marines, OLA will work with Congress to acquire a
PA statement. OLA will ensure only releasable information is sent to Congress.
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Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)The Privacy Act (con’t)
If privacy rights are waived:– A complete reply will be sent to the MOC (and the MOC will
probably send a copy of our response to whomever initiated the congrint)
– In cases that involve child or spousal support, each person to whom information can be released must be indicated by name
If privacy rights are not waived:– A reply will be sent to the MOC indicating the subject of the
congrint chose not to waive his/her rights and we cannot divulge any information gathered during the inquiry
– Information concerning Government Regulations and Policies may be included in the reply to MOC
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Office of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Inquiries (Congrints)
Summary
The Secretary of the Navy and CMC has placed a high priority on timely responses to inquiries from MOCs.
OLA could not function without the steadfast support and cooperation of the IGs, G7s, G1s, Legislative Reps, and HQMC Agencies … so …THANK YOU!
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