1. Office of Legislative Affairs Office of Legislative Affairs Congressional Inquiries/Special Interest Correspondence (CONGRINTS) Mr. Mike Sapronetti Deputy, OLAC 07 August 2014

2. Office of Legislative Affairs Deputy Legislative Assistant to CMC Brigadier General David J. Furness

3. Office of Legislative Affairs Programs LNO O-6, AC Overstaff Asst Programs LNO O-5, AC Overstaff Special Liaison GS-15 Leg. Aff. Spclst GS-13 Manpower LNO, O-6, AC Overstaff Asst Manpower LNO O-3, AC Overstaff Travel Mgt Spclst GS-11 I&L LNO, IMA OpSpon. O-5, AR Admin Officer O-4, AR Admin Chief E-7, AR Admin Asst E-5, AC Admin Clerk E-3, AC Admin Spt Asst GS-9 LA to CMC O-7, AC Deputy LA O-6, AC SEA E-9, AC Readiness LNO O-5, AC Admin Clerk E-5, AC Special Liaison GS-15 (Vacant) Admin Clerk E-3, AC Vacant Ops Officer IMA DET (SMCR) Cong. LNO O-4 Leg.Aff O O-5 (Vacant) Admin Spclst E-5 Filled Admin SNCO E-6 Spcl. LNO O-6 Filled Leg.Aff O O-5 Leg.Aff O O-4 Filled Leg.Aff O O-5 (Vacant) Cong. LNO O-4 Filled Leg. Clerk E-5 Filled Leg. Clerk E-5 (Vacant) Senate AffairsO O-5 (Vacant) Cong. LNO O-4 Filled Admin SNCO E-7 Admin Spclst E-5 Cong. LNO O-5 (Vacant) Cong.Li as Asst.E-6 (Vacant) House AffairsO O-5 (Vacant) Cong. LNO Asst.,E-6 FMBE O-4, AC FMBE O-4, AC Overstaff Reserve Admin. SNCO Driver CY-15 Fellows OLAC Head GS-14 Team Lead GS-12 OLAC Deputy GS-13 Team Lead GS-12 Team Lead GS-12 Team Lead Writer GS-9/11 Writer GS-9/11 Writer GS-9/11 Writer GS-9/11 Writer GS-9/11 (Vacant) Writer GS-9/11 Writer E-6, AC (Overstaff) Office of Legislative Affairs Organizational Chart Appendix A.1 Senate Director O-6, AC Dep. Sen. Dir. O-4, AC Post Fellow Overstaff Liaison Officer O-3, AC Admin Chief E-7, AC Admin Clerk E-5, AC House Director O-6, AC Dep. House Dir. O-4, AC Liaison Officer O-4, AC Overstaff Admin Chief E-7, AC Admin Clerk E-5, AC Liaison Officer O-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 Officer O-3, AC Overstaff

4. Office of Legislative Affairs OLA Legislative Assistant to CMC HouseSenate OLAC Front Office OLA Organization

5. Office of Legislative Affairs OLAC

6. 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. 6

7. Office of Legislative Affairs Congressional Interest (Congrint) Congrints All 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. 7

8. 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) 8

9. 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)

10. 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 10

11. 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 Misconduct 11

12. Office of Legislative Affairs Congressional Inquiries (Congrints) CMC Guidance The 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

13. 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

14. Office of Legislative Affairs no Congressional Inquiries (Congrints) Process Flow Congrint Initiator Command/ Agency OLA MOC Send inquiry to MOC 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/phone command Urgent? yes Send response back to OLA Prepare CMC’s response to MOC Receive CMC’s response via US Postal or fax Informed of CMC’s response 14 BEGIN END

15. 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 15

16. 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. 16 Processing Congrints (con’t)

17. 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. 17

18. 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 18

19. 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! 19

20. Office of Legislative Affairs QUESTIONS???