Focusing on Congress.

• Author: Reams, James M.
• Position: Student loan forgiveness program - President's page

As I SIT LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW at the almost three feet of snow that has fallen in January, the first snowfall of February has begun. It is the first of two storms in two days that are predicted to drop as much as two more feet of snow on us and possibly ice on top of the snow. Egad! We are all running out of places to pile the snow at our homes and on the highways. As a skier and snowboarder I am amazed to find myself screaming for relief. Can someone get me a ticket to somewhere warm? Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, huh?

My only means of retaining my sanity is by looking forward to the NDAA Board Meeting at Perdido Beach on the Alabama/Florida coast. I invite all NDAA members to join us at the Perdido Beach Resort with beautiful white sand beaches as far as the eye can see. Our committee meetings and board meeting are open to all members.

Last fall I decided that it was important for us to do our part to assist in the Gulf Coast recovery from the impact of the oil spill. As it turns out, Perdido Beach did not get fouled by oil, but the public has stayed away in droves on the assumption that it did get ruined.

NDAA held its Capital Conference in early February. Those of us in attendance took the opportunity to talk to our Congressional delegations about the NDAA legislative priorities in this Congress. Among other things, we honored Senator Richard Durbin (D-Il) for his stalwart pursuit of funding of the John R. Justice program, otherwise known as the student loan forgiveness program for prosecutors and public defenders.

By now many states have received their JRJ funds and have begun dispersing them to...