THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     THIS CR ISSUE     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           Next Document     New CR Search
Prev Hit        Back              Prev Document     HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Daily Digest      Help
                Doc Contents      

First, I would like to express my personal appreciation to the leadership of the Subcommittee on Military Readiness and my colleagues on both the

[Page: H3197]  GPO's PDF

   Let me say this, that even though the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman SPENCE) is not retiring, he will not be the chairman of this Committee on Armed Services any longer but he will be a member of the committee, and we value his leadership and his input as we continue to address matters that pertain to service men and women.

   My good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman BATEMAN) is retiring, but we wish him the best and thank him for his leadership.

   The readiness provisions in the bill reflect some of the steps that I believe are necessary with the dollars available to make some of the improvements needed. But it still does not provide all that is needed. As I have said before, while the readiness of the force has shown some improvements in some areas, we are nowhere close to getting where we should be. Much more needs to be done if we are going to support our forces with the equipment and material they deserve to perform the missions that we require of them.

   Also, I look forward to continuing to support the committee's effort to address two areas that have been neglected for a number of years, the readiness of our dedicated civilian employees and the modernization of our failing infrastructure.

   Mr. Chairman, the readiness provisions in this bill represent a step in the right direction. They permit the Department to build upon the improvements that have been started in an area that is crucial to our national security.

   I encourage my friends, all my colleagues, to vote for this bill. It is a good bill. It will do a lot for our troops.

   Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. WELDON), chairman of our Subcommittee on Military Research and Development.

   (Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

   Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina and my colleague, chairman and leader, for yielding time to me. I want to congratulate both he and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. SKELTON) for an outstanding bill. It is certainly appropriate that we have named it after the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman SPENCE). He is an outstanding patriot and American.

   I want to pay tribute to the ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. PICKETT). This is also his last bill, a distinguished patriot and a tireless advocate for the military, especially the Navy. He has been an outstanding co-director with me of our Subcommittee on Military Research and Development for 6 years. I am proud of the fact that in 6 years, Mr. Chairman, we have not had one split vote.

   In all of our deliberations, in everything that is said about how Congress cannot get along, I think our subcommittee has demonstrated that we can work together. Even when there are disagreements, we try to find common ground. Even where there are funding disputes, we try to resolve those issues.

   I extend my thanks to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. PICKETT) for his cooperation and leadership. The people of Virginia will surely miss his leadership on these issues and other issues.

   The chairman of the committee has done a great job in getting us some extra money. In the R&D area, we have been able to plus up the R&D portion of our bill by $1.4 billion over the President's request that has allowed us to fund things like cyberterrorism, information dominance, missile defense systems like THAAD, Navy area-wide, Navy upper tier.

   We have been able to increase funding for technologies dealing with weapons of mass destruction, chemical and biological agents. Because of his leadership, we were able to increase funding for the basic research accounts, the 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3 account lines. That would not have happened without the chairman's leadership.

   Mr. Chairman, we also have in this bill very important language that we worked out with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence asking that the CIA, the Defense Department, and the FBI come together in creating a national data fusion center so we can have an information intelligence capability in the 21st century that allows us to do data profiling, profiling of leaders, rogue groups, terrorist nations, to allow us to make the right decisions.

   I want to thank my colleague and friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. ANDREWS). He has been one of our shining stars in the subcommittee in the area of cyberterrorism. I will be supporting him on legislation that he intends to offer on this bill later on in the process.

   Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill. It is not as far as we would like to have gone, because we have shortfalls of dollars, but the chairman has done a commendable job and given us our basic support to meet the basic needs, albeit not all needs, of the military.

   I applaud the chairman for the work he has done and the way he has done it, allowing Democrats and Republicans to work together without having significant dissension. In fact, our vote on the bill was the most bipartisan lopsided vote we have ever had, if I am not mistaken, in the history of the Committee on Armed Services. I think there was only one Member that actually voted against the bill when it came out of the committee. That is a tribute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman SPENCE) and to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. SKELTON).

   I thank the chairman. Again I look forward to working with the chairman on the amendment process. All of our colleagues should support this bill without hesitation. It is a good bill. It provides for basic support for our troops. It does not solve all the dollar questions. The next administration is going to have a terrible problem trying to rectify those issues, but there is a good start. I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

   Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. PICKETT).

   Mr. PICKETT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me, and rise in strong support of H.R. 4205.

   Also, I congratulate the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman SPENCE) and ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. SKELTON), for their leadership in putting together an excellent authorization bill.

   Let me also thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. WELDON), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development, for his leadership in that portion of the bill. As ranking member on this panel, it has been a pleasure to work with him.

   With additional resources provided for each of the services and the various defense-wide accounts, this legislation, in my estimation, brings us one step closer to fielding a lighter, leaner, stealthier, more mobile, more precise, and more lethal military capability.

   The actions proposed in H.R. 4205 will mean that leap-ahead technologies will be fielded sooner, and that the investment strategy embraced will enable our Nation to field a robust force with a better chance of avoiding technological surprise in the future.

   Let me particularly commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman WELDON) for supporting additional resources for Apache upgrades, Navy theater-wide accounts, and a precision-guided miniaturized munitions capability for future air-to-ground missions.

   These initiatives will leverage other programs funded at the levels requested by the administration. I am, of course, speaking of programs such as DD-21, Joint Strike Fighter, F-22, Chinook , Comanche, and LOSAT, just to name a few.

   I am also pleased to report that the committee has authorized the full budget requested for all advanced concept technology demonstrations. These demonstrations offer significant promise for fielding improved capabilities in a timely fashion.

   I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. A vote in the affirmative will be a

[Page: H3198]  GPO's PDF

   Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. BUYER), the chairman of our Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

   Mr. BUYER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina, the chairman, for yielding time to me.

   Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4205. This bill addresses many of the most difficult national security challenges facing the Nation.

   In particular, the military personnel titles of H.R. 4205 meet two major national security challenges head on. First, it reforms the military health care system so it can promote, not detract, from readiness, recruiting, and retention. The bill breaks down numerous barriers to access for active and retired military individuals and their families, and it restores access to a nationwide prescription drug benefit for 1.4 million military retirees over the age of 65.

   It sets the stage for providing Medicare-eligible military retirees a permanent health care program in fiscal year 2004, and adds more than $280 million to the defense health programs to fund new benefits. It also promotes reforms that will save more than $500 million over 5 years.

   The Subcommittee on Military Personnel conducted hearings, and what we learned was that in TRICARE, it is costing us $78 a claim to process that claim. When we have 39 million claims, that is a lot of money. In Medicare, it costs us 80 cents to $1 to process one claim, so just do the easy math. Over a 5-year period, if we actually can get them to enact the best business practices and move to online billing, we can save over $500 million, and take those monies and pour them back into the health program. It is the right thing. It is pretty exciting that we are able to do this.

   The bill also aggressively attacks the major challenge of sustaining the viability of America's all volunteer military force. Therefore, the bill contains numerous recommendations for improved pay, bonuses, benefits, that continue the broad-based approach that Congress undertook last year.

   We also target certain specific problems like recruiting and retention, and with regard to the food stamp program.

   In short, this bill provides a strong, comprehensive set of initiatives that go to the heart of fixing some of the toughest problems confronting our military today. I urge all Members to support the bill.

   Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

   Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to compliment the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. BUYER), particularly on that part of the markup involving prescription drugs and the work the gentleman did overall to help this move forward. Of course, we do not agree on whether it went far enough, but I compliment the gentleman on a major step in that direction. We thank the gentleman for that.

   Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. ANDREWS).

   (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

   Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding time to me.

   I am very pleased and honored to rise in support of the aptly named Floyd D. Spence defense authorization bill. I congratulate our chairman on his service to our country. I thank my friend and ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. SKELTON), for his leadership.

   I also extend, as a member of the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development, my appreciation to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman WELDON) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. PICKETT).

   Throughout our history, when things seemed to be most safe for our country, we seemed to get into the most trouble. When we seem to be at the apex of our power, we seem to be most subject to risk. I believe that this bill, which is worthy of support, moves us in a direction of avoiding that mistake this time.

   The world is not placid and we are not secure if we ignore the need to provide for the common defense. This bill does that in three very important ways. First, it does provide for nearly $40 billion in research and development funds that will assure us that the best technology deployed in the most intelligent way will be at our disposal for years to come.

   Second, it recognizes that the most important aspect of our armed forces and defense structure is the people who work in those forces. Keeping those people is a function of what we pay them and how we retain them. The increase in pay, the steps forward in benefits for retirees, are important, positive steps in that direction. I salute the committee for that.

   I would urge the committee to later accommodate the Medicare subvention proposal of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. TAYLOR) in the second rule.

   Finally, I am pleased that this legislation includes legislation that I, along with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman WELDON), introduced that will provide us protection against cyberterrorist attacks in our most vulnerable places, the air traffic control system, the banking system, the 911 system.

   For the first time, this bill contains language that provides for a modest loan guarantee program that will help the private sector provide protection against those risks. I support the bill.

[Time: 13:15]

   Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. MCHUGH), who is chairman of the MWR panel. For those who do not know what that means, that is the Morale, Welfare and Recreation panel.

   Mr. MCHUGH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

   Mr. Chairman, let me begin by adding my words of deep admiration and appreciation to Chairman SPENCE. This naming of the bill in his honor is the most appropriate act. Frankly, it does not even begin to reflect the dedication that he has brought to the committee and to its efforts, and I salute him.

   I also want to thank our ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. MEEHAN), and the ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. SKELTON), and their never-ending, untiring efforts to working in a bipartisan way to produce what, as we are hearing on this floor today, is a very, very fine bill.

   As the Chair mentioned, I want to discuss for a moment the provisions in the bill that do pertain to morale, welfare and recreation activities of the Department of Defense and the military service.

   I think it is fair to say that all Members of this great body support their troops and their families, and that certainly is a very, very good thing. We can make a difference in the lives of young military families from each of our districts, as well as retirees across the country by supporting this bill.

   The legislation takes decisive action to protect a critical and highly-valued benefit for our troops, namely the commissaries. Lost in the discussions about food stamps is the fact that each military base operates a grocery store that sells name-brand products to our military men and women at substantial discounts.

   This long-standing military benefit has been endangered by a serious lack of funding for store modernization. It was primarily caused by the insidious drains on the building fund initiated by the Pentagon. This bill firmly shuts those loopholes and protects the commissary benefit well into the future.

   Mr. Chairman, the committee has also included other measures as well, that serve notice on the Department of Defense that inadequate defense budgets cannot be shorn up by using funds that properly belong to the troops.

   This is an issue that has been a continuing battle and that all of us on the committee have championed and through the adoption of this bill. It is a fight we can effectively wage in the future.

   Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

   Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. TAYLOR).

   Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, let me begin by complimenting the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman SPENCE). I think it is very appropriate that the bill is named after him. He is truly a gentleman who has been a great patriot and a great Congressman.

[Page: H3199]  GPO's PDF

   The bill overall does a heck of a lot of good things. The bill, unfortunately, fails to address adequately the problem of dealing with health care fraud and the Nation's military retirees. It is for that reason that eight of us, Democrats and Republicans alike, went to the Committee on Rules and asked for an opportunity to have an up or down vote on the prospect of Medicare subvention for our Nation's military retirees.

   Unfortunately, the Committee on Rules has failed to even vote on that. For the citizens who are watching, we have but one chance a year to change that. Medicare subvention involves Medicare. It involves something going out of the Committee on Commerce, and it involves Armed Services. So we really only have one chance a year to address that, and that is today.

   Mr. Chairman, and it is for that reason if by 2 p.m., the Committee on Rules has not ruled on this amendment and giving the Members an opportunity to vote on it, I will begin a series of procedural moves to tie up the House of Representatives, because all we are asking for is for the sake of those people who served our Nation so well for 20 years or more in horrible places away from their families, all we are asking for is the opportunity for 435 Members of Congress to decide whether or not we are going to improve their health benefits and give them what they were promised.

   We just want an up or down vote, and this is the only chance we get all year long to do that. If we do not get it today, we do not get it at all; otherwise, it is a wonderful bill.

   I am looking forward to the opportunity that once we further address health care needs for military retirees, to support it. But until then, we want an up or down vote of giving to our Nation's military retirees that what was promised to them so many years ago.

THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     THIS CR ISSUE     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           Next Document     New CR Search
Prev Hit        Back              Prev Document     HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Daily Digest      Help
                Doc Contents