Food service and other military personnel are impacted by various forces that are unseen and little understood by many who are significantly affected.

Decision making in Washington is very diffuse and can be influenced by a host of forces. These forces work to promote rather narrow interests and the "Big Picture" can often not be seen.

II. The Funding Process

(Nothing sets priorities like who and what gets the money)

A. The Budget

1. Detailed

2. Controls what Department of Defense and units in DOD can do

3. Yearly process

B. The Executive Branch

1. Department of Defense develops its requests

2. Role of Office of Management and Budget

3. Submission of President’s Budget

C. Congress

1. Authorizing Committees

a. House Committee on Armed Services (9 subcommittees)

1. Chairman Bob Stump (R-AZ)

2. Ranking Minority Ike Skelton (D-MO)

b. Senate Committee on Armed Services (6 subcommittees)

1. Chairman John Warner (R-VA)

2. Ranking Minority Carl Levin (D-MI)

2. Appropriations Committees

a. House Committee on Appropriations

1. Chairman C.W. Bill Young (R-FL)

2. Ranking Minority David R. Obey (D-WS)

(a.) Defense Subcommittee

(1.) Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA)

(2.) Ranking Minority John Murtha (D-PA)

b. Senate Committee on Appropriations

1. Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK)

2. Ranking Minority Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)

(a.) Defense Subcommittee

(1.) Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK)

(2.) Ranking Minority

Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)

D. Role of Interest Groups (Lobbyists)

III. Congress

A. Law Making and Oversight

B. Hearings

C. Investigations

D. General Accounting Office

E. Role of Interest Groups

IV. Department of Defense Contracting

A. What and How to Buy

1. Competitive Bidding

2. Sole Source

3. Federal Supply Schedule

B. Developing a Procurement Program

C. Protests

D. Fraud and Failure to Perform