Date: 2016-05-17
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I rise to speak on House consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year I thank Chairman THORNBERRY and Ranking Member SMITH and the Armed Services Committee for their work on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. I take our role in Congress as stewards of our nations security seriously. I offer my thanks and appreciation to the men and women of the armed services who place themselves in harms way each day for the safety and security of our nations people. The National Defense Authorization Acts purpose is to address the threats our nation must deal with not just today. but into the future. This makes our work vital to our national interest and it should reflect our strong commitment to ensure that the men and women of our Armed Services receive the benefits and support that they deserve for their faithful service. This is the 54th consecutive National Defense Authorization Act. which speaks to the long term commitment of the Congress and successive Administrations to provide for National Defense. This bill encompasses a number of initiatives designed to confront the military challenges posed by violent extremism. terrorists engaging in ground wars. making more efficient the work of protecting America. addresses the medical health needs of men and women in the armed services. and extends economic and education opportunity to small minority and women owned businesses. We do live in a dangerous world. where threats are not always easily identifiable. and our enemies are not bound by borders. Boko Haram. ISIL. and Al Shabaab remind us of how fragile our nations security could be without a well trained and equipped military. I appreciate the House Armed Services Committees continued support of our national defense and support a number of provisions in H.R. 1735. the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. such as authorities that support ongoing operations. The Administration also appreciates much of the work of the committee. but is expressing strong objections because the bill: Redirects $18 billion in funding intended for use in defeating ISIL to base budget programs. Extends operations at Guantanamo Bay. Cuba. Increases costs of the TRICARE administration. Prohibits the retiring or inactivation of TiconderogaClass cruisers or dock landing ships. Reduces by $250 million the Counterterrorism Partnership Fund. Bars the administration from making sure that companies that break United States labor laws are not rewarded. Prohibition on the use of funds for Countering Weapons of Mass Production. and Eliminates for the Department of Defenses Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund. Although the Administration points out areas of agreement with the Committee. the Administration strongly objects to several provisions in the bill. The opportunity to amend the bill will offer an opportunity to address these and other Administration concerns that will improve the bill. Congress should authorize sufficient funding for our militarys priorities. and avoid using the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding in ways that leaders of both parties over the years have made clear is inappropriate. The final bill considered by the Congress should adopt many of the needed force structure and weapons system reforms that have been identified by military leaders and experts. As written the Presidents senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill. It is my hope that the Rules Committee will make in order a number of perfecting amendments for consideration under the Rule for H.R. 4909. I have amendments that have been offered for consideration of H.R. 4909. Let me discuss briefly the amendments I offered that were adopted by the House and included in the final version of the bill. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 1 calls for increased collaboration with NIH to combat Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 2 provides authorization for $2.5 million increase in funding to combat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Jackson Lee Amendment Number 3 condemns the actions of Boko Haram and urges the CommanderinChief to ensure accountability for crimes against humanity committed by Boko Haram against the Nigerian people. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 4 authorizes the Secretary of Defense to work with local security partners in facilitating the provision of security at civilian nuclear research centers in educational institutions to ascertain that nuclear weapons do not end up in the hands of terrorists. in promotion of the United States and its allies security interests. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 5 authorizes the Secretary of Defense to work with local and international security partners. innovators. law enforcement. and other civil society organizations in the provision of technical assistance for the creation. facilitation and implementation of a technological app designed to enable the location. protection and tracking of missing persons. refugees. returnees and internally displaced persons. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 6 directs Secretary of the Navy to submit report to Congress on the feasibility of applying desalinization technologies to provide drought relief in areas impacted by sharp declines in water availability for both military as well as civilian purposes. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 7 authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide technical assistance to local and international security partners in the provision of security and protection for activists and civil society organizations advocating for and promoting freedom of religion. education. press expression and personal expression. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 8 directs Secretary of Defense to conduct study and submit to Congress report regarding the awarding of secret and top secret security clearances to better understand the process for awarding clearances in effective and fair. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 9 requires outreach for small business concerns owned and controlled by women and minorities required before conversation of certain functions to contractor performance. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 10 expresses the sense of Congress regarding the importance of increasing the effectiveness of the Northern Command ("NORTHCOM") in fulfilling its critical mission of protecting the U.S. homeland in event of war and to provide support to local. state. and federal authorities in times of national emergency. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 11 requires the Government Accountability Office to include in its annual report to Congress a list of the most common grounds for sustaining protests related to bids for contracts. Jackson Lee Amendment Number 12 directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the Departments ability to support the rapid development. production and deployment of vaccines or treatments of emerging tropical diseases. like the Zika and Ebola viruses. to protect the men and women of the armed forces and their families. We must continue to direct our efforts as a body to ensure that our troops remain the best equipped and prepared military force in the world. They are not just soldiers they are sons and daughters. husbands and wives. brothers and sistersthey are some of the people we represent as members of Congress. Support of our men and women in uniform is a sacred obligation of Congress both to those who are at risk on battle fields and serving as the guard against threats around the world. but they are also those who have returned home from war. I look forward to the inclusion of the Jackson Lee Amendments and others that will improve the underlying bill.