The 112th United States Congress convened on January 3, 2011 and will adjourn January 3, 2013. In the Senate there are 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans, and 2 independents. In the House of Representatives there are 242 Republicans, 193 Democrats, and 6 nonvoting members.

Key Personnel 112th, 1st Session:

United States Senate
President of the Senate: Vice President Joe Biden (D-DEL)
Senate Majority leader: Harry Reid (D-NV)
Senate Minority leader: Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee: Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee: Carl Levin (D-MI)

United States House of Representatives
House Speaker: John Boehner (R-Ohio)
House Majority Leader: Eric Cantor (R-VA)
House Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
House Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Chair of the House Appropriation Committee: Hal Rogers (R-KY)
Chair of the House Armed Services Committee: Buck McKeon (R-CA)

Florida’s Members of Congress 112th, 1st Session:
Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Florida has 19 Republicans and 6 Democrats in the House of Representatives.  Congratulations to returning Members of Congress from our surrounding districts: Republicans Ander Crenshaw (4th) and John Mica (7th) and Democrat Corrine Brown (3rd). We are especially pleased about Mr. Crenshaw’s election because of his honorary membership in the Mayport chapter. Keep their contact information available should military related issues arise.

Military Service: Twenty-one percent of the 112th Congress have served in the military. Twenty of the freshmen members are veterans, all are Republican, and nine of the newly elected members served in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. There are currently three military reservists in the Senate: Mark Kirk (R-IL), Lindsey Graham, R-NC), and Scott Brown (R-MA).

Among the most notable combat veterans include Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), who served in World War II with the 442nd Infantry and is the only Member of Congress who holds the Medal of Honor. Senator Inouye and fellow Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka are the last remaining World War II veterans in Congress.

Two other impressive veterans are Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Jim Webb (D-VA). Senator McCain served in Vietnam as a naval aviator. He was captured and tortured as a prisoner of war for six-years. Senator Jim Webb, a Marine Corps veteran, served who in Vietnam as platoon commander with Delta Company, 1st Battalion 5th Marines. He is a highly decorated Marine who also received two Purple Hearts.

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Selected MOAA Legislative Goals for 2012: Read the legislative goals contained in the following categories:

• Active / Reserve Force / Family Issues
• Health Care Issues
• Retirement/Survivor Issues
• Veterans and Other issues

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