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A "rucksack" of health care and retirement benefits that militarypersonnel select themselves and can carry with them would help thePentagon get the military that it needs when it needs it whilehelping to rein in spiraling manpower costs and could also become amodel for the civilian workforce of the future.
Executive Summary: Amtrak fails to fill half of its seats on anygiven day, and ridership has remained largely unchanged since 2005,yet Amtrak receives the highest federal subsidy of all modes oftransportation: $210.31 per passenger per 1,000 miles. Congressshould cap Amtrak's subsidy at $900 million for FY 2008 andcondition future subsidies on steady improvement in Amtrak'sridership.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has proposed amending the legal authority that empowers commanding officers to bring order and discipline to the military criminal justice system.
The financial reporting principles used by the private sector andstate and by local governments should be applied to the federalbudget to give policymakers a clearer picture of the nation'sfinancial health. Congress should change the federal budget processto reflect changes in long-term liabilities and obligations as thefirst step in addressing $36 trillion in unfunded entitlementobligations.
Executive Summary: Washington and Warsaw must resist attempts todivide, marginalize, or undermine the NATO alliance, especially EUplans for a European Army. In addition, Congress should includePoland in current plans to reform the Visa Waiver Program, andPoland and the United States should continue to explore all optionson ballistic missile defense.