ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 122120Z FEB 04 ZYB MIN PSN 177646J31
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS //N01420//
ALNAV 017/04
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB//
 
SUBJ/GUIDANCE FOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE//
POC/ROBERT NEWELL/CDR/OLA/LOC:WASHINGTON DC/TEL:(703) 695-0395
/EMAIL:ROBERT.NEWELL1@NAVY.MIL//
 
RMKS/1. THIS ALNAV CLARIFIES POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO
CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.
 
2.  BACKGROUND:  THE NAVY RECEIVES MORE THAN 10,000 CONGRESSIONAL
INQUIRIES EACH YEAR.  SUBJECTS OF THESE INQUIRIES RANGE FROM
CONSTITUENT CASES TO QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC NAVY PROGRAMS.  THE
FOLLOWING PROCEDURES ARE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY
TRACK THESE INQUIRIES AND ENSURE A TIMELY PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE.
THESE PROCEDURES WILL BE REFLECTED IN SECNAVINST 5730.5G CURRENTLY
UNDER REVISION.
 
3.  DIRECT RECEIPT:  COMMANDS RECEIVING CORRESPONDENCE DIRECTLY FROM
A MEMBER OF CONGRESS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLYING DIRECTLY TO THE
MEMBER ON ALL ROUTINE AND NON-POLICY MATTERS.  COPIES OF BOTH
INCOMING AND OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE RESULTING FROM DIRECT CONTACT
WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY FAXED TO THE OFFICE OF
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS (OLA) AT THE FOLLOWING NUMBER:  COM:
703-693-6341/DSN:  223-6341.  COMMANDS IN DIRECT RECEIPT OF
CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE PERTAINING TO A SPECIFIC NAVY POLICY
MATTER WILL FAX A COPY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE TO OLA FOR COORDINATION
OF THE RESPONSE.
 
4.  COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUE DATES:  COMMANDS ARE DIRECTED
TO RESPOND TO CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE WITHIN 10 WORKING DAYS
FROM THE DATE OF RECEIPT.  IF A FULL REPLY CANNOT BE MADE WITHIN 10
WORKING DAYS, AN INTERIM REPLY SHALL BE MADE WITHIN FIVE WORKING
DAYS.  THE INTERIM REPLY SHOULD GIVE AS MUCH RELEVANT INFORMATION AS
POSSIBLE, INCLUDING THE REASON WHY ADDITIONAL TIME IS REQUIRED, AND
THE DATE FOR A FINAL REPLY.  WHENEVER A FINAL REPLY CANNOT BE MADE
BY THE DATE SET IN THE INTERIM REPLY, AN ADDITIONAL INTERIM REPLY
SHALL BE SENT TO THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS EXPLAINING THE ADDITIONAL
DELAY AND ESTABLISHING A NEW DATE FOR THE FINAL REPLY.  OLA WILL BE
UPDATED AS TO THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE OUTSTANDING CASE AND
PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THE INTERIM REPLY, AS WELL AS THE FINAL
RESPONSE.
 
5.  RESPONDING TO CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE IN A PROFESSIONAL AND
TIMELY MANNER IS IMPORTANT TO THE NAVY.  OLA IS DEDICATED TO
SUPPORTING SUCCESS IN THIS KEY AREA OF INTERACTION WITH CONGRESS.
THE FOLLOWING DIRECT POINTS OF CONTACT AT OLA ARE PROVIDED FOR
FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ALNAV AND THE PROPER HANDLING OF
CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE:  CDR ROBERT NEWELL, (703) 695-0395
(EMAIL - ROBERT.NEWELL1@NAVY.MIL) OR CHIEF ANDRE DYSON, (703) 695-
9359 (EMAIL - ANDRE.DYSON@NAVY.MIL).  YOU MAY ALSO RECEIVE
ASSISTANCE BY CALLING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
TELEPHONE NUMBERS, (703) 695-6357/4816/5195/5196/5075.
 
6.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//
 
BT
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