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Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA. Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking? Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom or subscribe to receive the brief in your inbox each morning at www.iava.org/dailynewsbrief.

MUST READS

1) Military gives OK to Twitter, Facebook

Everyone from troops in the field to the highest brass and civilian leaders will be allowed to Twitter, blog and use Facebook and other social networking sites on the U.S. military's non-classified computer network, the Pentagon announced. The new policy follows a seven-month review in which the Defense Department weighed the threats and benefits of allowing the wide use of emerging Internet capabilities.

2) Army chief: Soldiers have more time home between deployments

Soldiers are getting to spend more time at home between combat deployments as the U.S. military draws down in Iraq and the Army grows in size, said the service's chief of staff Gen. George Casey. Casey told reporters during a visit to Hawaii's largest Army post that soldiers are able to recover better from their deployments, although he acknowledged an increasing suicide rate remains a mystery.

3) Former guardsman leads U.S. bobsled team to first gold since 1948

Steven Holcomb, a former Utah Army National Guardsman from 1999 until 2006, piloted the U.S. to its first gold medal in the four-man bobsled since 1948. Holcomb served as a combat engineer in the 1457^th Engineering Battalion before being honorably discharged. Each of this year’s three U.S. entrants in the four-man bobsled were piloted by former or current guardsmen.

AFGHANISTAN

More than 2,000 U.S. Marines and about 1,000 Afghan troops who stormed the Taliban town of Marjah as part of a major NATO offensive against a resurgent Taliban will stay several months to ensure insurgents don't return

U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan will launch a new military operation later this year to get full control of Kandahar, the former "capital city" of the Taliban, a senior U.S. official said.

Recent military successes in killing and capturing top Taliban leaders have rattled the jihadist movement, deprived it of its most experienced men and raised doubts among recruits, the top allied leader in Afghanistan said Thursday.

IRAQ

The Iraqi government says it will reinstate 20,000 army officers who served under Saddam Hussein and were fired after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

At least 1,000 minority Christians, many holding olive branches, marched in protest near the city of Mosul on Sunday to urge the Iraqi government to act decisively after a series of killings.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

Actor Woody Harrelson said he is a changed man after working on the movie “The Messenger,” for which he is nominated for an Oscar. Harrelson portrays an Army officer who notifies families their loved ones died serving their country. He said the experience gave him a powerful and permanent connection with servicemembers.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen says the U.S. military is prepared to keep troops in Haiti so long as security for the relief effort is needed. The Army said Sunday six troops have gotten malaria while in Haiti.

A train hit an Army vehicle in Tooele County on Saturday, and two soldiers were hurt.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

A House subcommittee is considering legislation that would give two weeks of unpaid leave to the spouses, children and parents of any service member who is deployed or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation.

The Senate Veterans' Affairs will hold a hearing on Wednesday, March 3 on mental health care and suicide prevention for veterans.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE

THE SENATE

The Senate will convene at 2:00 p.m.

SENATE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

Morning Business until 3pm with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

At 3:00pm, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R.4213, Tax Extenders.

Votes:

There will be no roll call votes on Monday, March 1

COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

No issues today

FUTURE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST

March 3, 2010 SVAC Oversight Hearing: Mental Health Care and Suicide Prevention for Veterans 9:30 a.m.; 418 Russell

March 24, 2010 SVAC Oversight Hearing: VA's Plan for Ending Homelessness among Veterans 9:30 a.m.

THE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES



The House is not in session.

HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY of INTEREST

No issues today

HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST



No issues today

FUTURE HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS of INTEREST



March 3, 2010 HVAC Subcommittee on Health Hearing: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4241, regarding State Veterans Home reimbursement 2:00 p.m.; 340 Cannon HOB

March 4, 2010 House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies hearing: VA’s budget requests for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. 10:00 a.m.; 2359 Rayburn.

March 10, 2010 Full House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing: Structuring the VA of the 21st Century 10:00 a.m.; 334 Cannon HOB

March 18, 2010 Full House Veterans' Affairs Hearing: Claims Summit 2010 2:00 p.m.; 345 Cannon

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