Supporting and advancing the interests of the Commissioned Corps and its officers
Executive Director Jim Currie
Deputy Executive Director John McElligott
Government Relations Director Judith Rensberger
COA Board Chair CDR Heather Brake
8/1-31 Met with staff for 19 Members of the House and 3 Senators to discuss the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) proposals and language to authorize a Reserve Corps. Met with
and remain in contact with staff in the Assistant Secretary for Legislation/HHS.
8/2 Participated in monthly meeting of The Military Coalition.
Met with staff for Rep. David Price (D-NC) to discuss the threat to cut the Commissioned Corps.
8/7 Sent a second letter to the Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American
Indian, asking that the USPHS be included in the design of the veterans memorial.
Participated in a meeting of the Nursing Community Coalition and provided a short presentation
on the OMB proposal and distributed handout information on the PHS Commissioned Corps.
8/9 Sent a second letter to the Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, asking that they not
approve the design for a memorial to Native American veterans that does not include the USPHS
logo.
8/10 Attended the retirement ceremony of RADM Pam Schweitzer, who was so instrumental in the
success of the 2017 and 2018 Symposiums.
8/16 Reached out to National Public Radio, The Washington Post, Oklahoma public radio, and the
Oklahoman newspaper to tell them about the omission of the USPHS from the proposed
National Native American Veterans Memorial.
8/17 Met with staff for Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and discussed the omission of the USPHS from the
National Native American Veterans Memorial and the OMB threat to the Commissioned Corps.
8/21 Met with staff of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to discuss the National Native
American Veterans Memorial.
Staffed a COA webinar sponsored by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. COA will host a
series of webinars sponsored by Morgan Stanley, with guest speaker Ash Minor, Financial
Advisor.
8/23 Met with staff for Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and discussed the OMB threat to the
Commissioned Corps and the proposed National Native American Veterans Memorial.
Reached out to The Washington Post about the National Native American Veterans Memorial.
Attended a press call regarding Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposals to scale back
financial protections for service members.
Reached out to USA Today about what the OMB proposed cuts would do to the Federal Bureau
of Prisons.
8/24 Met with staff for Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and talked about the National Native American
Veterans Memorial. COA staff had already met with her about the OMB proposal.
Drafted a brief historical piece about the USPHS and NOAA in wartime. It can be found on the
COA website: http://www.coausphs.org/media/1921/the-usphs-and-noaa-in-wartime.pdf
8/28 Met with staff for Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and discussed the OMB threat to the Commissioned
Corps and the proposed National Native American Veterans Memorial.
8/29 COF Trustees selected recipients of the inaugural Barclay-Giel Seed Grants, awarding $5,000 to
20 organizations.
8/30 Attended a Washington, DC, meeting with leaders of HOSA: Future Health Professionals. HOSA
was a sponsor at the 2018 Symposium.
Drafted a letter to the new Lowe’s CEO/President about the military discount. The letter can be
found on the COA website at http://www.coausphs.org/media/1923/letter-to-lowes-aboutmilitary-
discount-august-2018.pdf
*Adapted by the Local Branch Committee from the Report to the COA and COF Boards
