Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Army Sees First Big Slip In Recruiting in 2 Years

The Army fell short of its recruiting goal for May, its first significant slip in two years.

Statistics released yesterday showed that the active-duty Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force met or surpassed their May targets, but that the Army National Guard and Air National Guard fell far short of their goals.

The Army signed up 5,101 recruits. That was short of its goal of 5,500, but it remains on track to meet its goal of 80,000 for the full year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2006, to Sept. 30, 2007.

"May is historically a difficult month to recruit," said Maj. Anne Edgecomb, an Army spokeswoman, citing high school graduation and other spring events that tend to make it harder to attract recruits.

The Army National Guard met 88 percent of its goal and the Air National Guard met 77 percent of its goal.

The Marine Corps had a banner month in May, signing up 2,225 recruits, many more than its goal of 1,665. The Navy hit exactly its target of 2,709, and the Air Force met its goal of 2,451.

The doctor overseeing Sen. Tim Johnson's recovery from a brain hemorrhage said he expects that the South Dakota Democrat will be able to resume his Senate duties.

Michael Yochelson said that Johnson showed improvement last week in walking unassisted and in his speech, which has become more fluid.

"I am very well aware that he is interested in continuing his work as a senator and I am confident that he will be able to resume his duties," Yochelson said in a statement issued through Johnson's office.

A spokeswoman for Johnson would not give a date for his return.

Johnson's term ends next year, and he has not said whether he will seek reelection.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said he expects Johnson to return to the Senate in September, if not earlier. Reid said Johnson has recovered 90 percent of his speech, although his right side remains weak.

The Food and Drug Administration met 112 times with pharmaceutical industry representatives and five times with consumer and patient groups over 15 months to develop proposed legislation, according to two lawmakers who said the agency is "inappropriately close" to the companies it regulates.

FDA staff met regularly with drugmakers to discuss how to change the law that regulates the review of new drugs and fees paid by the companies, Reps. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Maurice D. Hinchey (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

Congress is considering legislation recommended by the FDA with added provisions intended to strengthen supervision of drug safety. The Senate passed a version of the drug bill last month, and a House panel has scheduled a hearing for today on a similar measure.

Senators altered the FDA's proposal to give the agency new power to monitor harmful side effects of drugs after they are sold and to act on safety concerns.

-- From News Services