[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12532-S12546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996
The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
Amendment No. 2125 Withdrawn
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Brown, I ask
unanimous consent that amendment No. 2125, relating to Pakistan, be
withdrawn.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Burns). Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
So the amendment (No. 2125) was withdrawn.
crusader/lp
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I wish to engage the distinguished Senator
from Virginia, the chairman of the Subcommittee on AirLand Forces, in a
brief colloquy regarding the Army's Crusader program. Senator Warner, I
note that the committee has fully supported the Army's priority
development of the Advanced Field Artillery System, Crusader program
and I commend the committee for its action. However, I am concerned by
the actions of the House National Security Committee relative to the
liquid propellant [LP] gun aspect of the Crusader program. I have been
led to believe that the Army recognized the performance advantages of
the LP gun and that the Army in recognition of those performance
enhancements accepted the risks associated with LP development. Am I
correct in that understanding?
Mr. WARNER. The Senator is correct. The range and volume of fire
advantages of LP would greatly increase the performance and
capabilities of the Army's field artillery.
Mr. SHELBY. I am concerned that the House has written several pages
of bill language which would legislate noncontractual performance goals
which might add schedule risk and might jeopardize the schedule
flexibility critical to the successful management of any development
effort. I am also concerned that the House position appears to prejudge
the failure of the LP gun while not adequately considering the risk nor
providing comparable oversight for the Army's backup technology,
unicharge.
Mr. WARNER. The committee staff has reviewed the Army's Crusader
program and LP development in detail. LP development is receiving
intensive management by both the contractor and the Army. I understand
the Senator's concern that the House position legislating performance
goals and decision schedules might exceed the oversight needs of this
program. I do believe, however, that we should maintain adequate
congressional oversight over both LP and unicharge development as it
affects this important Army program. I would point out that the Army is
just completing the first year of an 8\1/2\ year development program
for the Crusader. We are pushing the limits of technology in an
entirely new area with the research and development of liquid
propellant for Crusader. I believe that the potential advantages of LP
justify the risks associated with its development. We will continue to
watch this program carefully. We expect that the development of LP will
be successful and that the Crusader will be produced and fielded on
schedule. If, on the other hand, the technology challenges are too
difficult, and LP simply doesn't work, then we won't buy it. However,
in the meantime, I believe we should allow the Army's developmental
efforts to proceed.
Mr. KENNEDY. If the Senator would yield, I would point out that the
Navy has a requirement to improve its naval surface fire support and
has a cooperative agreement with the Army to monitor and leverage off
of the liquid propellant gun development. The successful development of
LP offers great opportunities for the Navy in this important area and
in as much as the House legislation serves as a detriment to that
effort, I would be happy to work to resolve this issue in conference.
Mr. SHELBY. I want to thank the Senator from Virginia and the Senator
from Massachusetts for their understanding of this matter and for their
commitment to work to resolve this in conference.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise now to urge Senators who have
amendments to the Defense authorization bill to come to the floor and
take up their amendments. We are supposed to pass this bill today. If
they wait until this afternoon, then they are all stacked in at the
last minute and it is going to be very difficult to handle.
I urge them to come on out. We have been here all morning starting at
10 o'clock, and we have approved a few things. But there is a lot more
to be done. I want them to come and take up the amendments and let us
get them acted on one way or the other.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I would like to say we are making good
progress, working back and forth on both sides. I think with a little
cooperation here and a little cooperation there, this whole proposition
might move much more expeditiously than we had earlier anticipated.
I thank my friend and colleague from South Carolina for his usual
good cooperation, and we are going to be working very hard the rest of
the day to try to eliminate any and all barriers to cut down the time
dramatically and probably come to a resolution, hopefully, on the
authorization and the appropriations bills early this evening, and I
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emphasize the word ``early'' this evening, which I think would be good
news for all.
Amendment No. 2429
(Purpose: To amend the hydronuclear provisions of S. 1026)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for
its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for himself and Mr.
Bingaman, proposes an amendment numbered 2429.
The amendment is as follows:
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Act, the
provision dealing with hydronuclear experiments is qualified
in the following respect:
(c) Limitations.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
an authorization to conduct hydronuclear tests. Furthermore,
nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or
repealing the requirements of Section 507 of Public Law 102-
377.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the preceding amendments
are set aside.
The Senator from Nebraska is recognized.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this is a matter that myself, Senator
Hatfield, and many other Senators have put in a great deal of time and
effort on. I think this is a compromise amendment that has a chance of
being accepted on both sides. Therefore, we have set aside the hour and
a half, if I remember the figures correctly, that we agreed to in the
unanimous-consent request. In any event, at the present time I yield
such time as is assigned to me in the unanimous-consent agreement for
the following remarks.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, before the August recess, a number of
amendments to the Defense authorization bill were debated at length.
One of these was an amendment proposed by myself, Senator Hatfield, and
nine other Senators to delete the $50 million add-on to the bill for
hydronuclear weapons testing. While that amendment failed, I strongly
feel that the Senate should revisit the issue in a different form so
that it may be clarified in light of President Clinton's recent
decision to forgo such tests.
Therefore, Mr. President, I would emphasize that the amendment that I
have just offered and has just been read by the clerk is an amendment
that I believe goes a long way in clarifying the situation for all
concerned. And I firmly believe that it is simply a restatement, a
punctuation mark, if you will, with the wording that was agreed to on
matters in this regard in the Defense authorization bill as it came out
of the Armed Services Committee.
The Defense authorization in its present form contains section 3135,
a provision authorizing $50 million for preparation for the
commencement of hydronuclear tests. As my colleagues may know, the
United States has been negotiating a comprehensive test ban treaty with
the world's nuclear powers for the past 2 years. President Clinton's
August 11 announcement to push for an international agreement by 1996
that would prohibit these types of nuclear detonations was an important
development toward the goal of halting the spread of nuclear weapons
around the world.
I was particularly encouraged yet this morning to learn that the
French President has now indicated a signal to cut dramatically short
the full-scale underground nuclear testing that the French Government
had proposed in the South Pacific. Things are coming together perhaps
so that we can have a meeting of the minds.
After over 1,100--and I emphasize 1,100--nuclear tests conducted by
the United States over 50 years, the U.S. nuclear stockpile is the
safest and most reliable on Earth. Computer simulation backed up with
the data from these tests, not additional detonations, can maintain
this high degree of confidence in the future. But a nonnuclear nation
looking to obtain superpower status in the form of a nuclear bomb is
unlikely to develop such a capability without the means to test these
unproven weapons. A truly comprehensive and verifiable test ban treaty
will be an effective tool at closing membership in the nuclear club.
My amendment simply clarifies that the language in section 3135 is
for test preparation--that is how it reads now, preparation--and not
authority to violate the existing U.S. testing moratorium policy. My
amendment reaffirms the congressional review process for new tests
required by the 1992 Energy and Water Appropriations Act by adding the
following simple and straightforward paragraph to the bill:
I quote:
Nothing in this act shall be construed as an authorization
to conduct hydronuclear tests. Furthermore, nothing in this
act shall be construed as amending or repealing the
requirements of section 507 of Public Law 102-377.
Unlike my previous amendment on hydronuclear testing, this amendment
does not affect--I emphasize--does not affect the $50 million
authorization in the bill presently. The Department of Energy would be
allowed to spend the funds but only for the purpose stated in the bill,
that being test preparation. The intent of the bill language would be
made clearer by my amendment and brought into line with the
administration's stated policy. The funds can be spent on Department of
Energy stockpile stewardship activities but the authorization of funds
in no way should be construed as a congressional authorization to
conduct a test. That prerogative, as I mentioned earlier, is reserved
under a reporting requirement contained in the original Hatfield-Exon-
Mitchell provision to the 1992 energy and water appropriations bill,
wherein the President must report to Congress and seek its approval for
any new tests and provide the safety or reliability justification for
such tests.
There is no reason why the United States should restart nuclear
weapons testing. To do so would be expensive, end up scuttling the
comprehensive test ban negotiations, and, in a self-defeating turn,
encourage other nations to pursue obtaining a nuclear capability. The
preeminent nuclear weapons experts in America--if not the world--issued
on August 3 of this year a study on whether we should continue nuclear
weapons testing. The study, called the JASON study, was headed by
Sidney Drell of Stanford and was written by 14 top scientists,
including representatives from each of the national laboratories
responsible for the stewardship and maintenance of these weapons. Their
conclusion was unequivocal: There is no need to resume testing,
including the hydronuclear tests discussed in this bill.
Among the JASON report findings:
The United States can, today, have high confidence in the
safety, reliability, and performance margins of the nuclear
weapons that are designated to remain in the enduring
stockpile:
A further quote from that report:
A pervasive case has not been made for the utility of
hydronuclear tests for detecting small changes in the
performance margins for current U.S. weapons.
Further quote:
Underground testing of nuclear weapons at any yield below
that required to initiate boosting is of limited value to the
United States.
Further quote:
[Our] findings . . . are consistent with U.S. agreement to
enter into a comprehensive test ban [CTBT] of unending
duration, that includes a standard ``supreme national
interest clause.''
Mr. President, these are findings of the JASON report authors--the
foremost nuclear experts in the United States. They are saying, they
are telling and they are advising two things of primary importance:
First, that the United States does not need to test this year or the
next or into the foreseeable future in order to maintain a safe and
reliable nuclear arsenal. Second, they are saying that a comprehensive
test ban is in our national security interests.
I find it ironic that proponents of the fast-tracked national missile
defense system try to justify the estimated $48 billion project by
saying we can never be sure what rogue nation may develop nuclear
warheads in the next century and, therefore, we must protect ourselves.
A comprehensive test ban is an effective way of stemming this
proliferation tide. It is a means by which to limit the have-nots from
trying to find superpower status in the form of a nuclear warhead. A
nation is unlikely to develop a nuclear capability with any degree of
confidence if it cannot test the weapons. By the United States showing
leadership and announcing
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that all tests should be banned under a comprehensive test ban treaty,
the goal of nuclear nonproliferation has been greatly enhanced. Let us
keep it that way.
There is another reason why a comprehensive test ban treaty is
beneficial for the United States. No nation has tested more than the
United States and has more advanced computer technology than we do. A
comprehensive test ban will lock in the technological advantages that
we possess over the rest of the world.
But this discussion about a comprehensive test ban treaty is all
prospective. The negotiations are ongoing and no agreement has been
reached as of yet. All the more reason for the Congress not to
interject itself capriciously into the question of mandating weapons
testing of any kind.
The issue at hand is my amendment and whether the words in section
3135 of the bill mean what they say. My amendment does not touch the
$50 million add-on in the bill for test preparation. It simply
reiterates that ``preparation'' is different than an actual decision to
test.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. President, I reserve the remainder of my time. I will revisit
this issue at a later time.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Bingaman and
Senator Lieberman be added as original cosponsors of the Exon
amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I reserve the remainder of my time.
Pursuant to a previous discussion I had with my distinguished friend
and colleague from South Carolina, the chairman of the Armed Services
Committee, I think at this time we may be in a position to proceed with
the adoption of a series of amendments that I understand have been
cleared on both sides.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, on this particular amendment, I want to
say we are looking at the amendment. I ask unanimous consent that it be
laid aside until we can go to other things and then reconsider it at a
later time during the day. I am pleased to go the matters that have
been agreed upon.
Mr. EXON. I agree.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. EXON. May I inquire of my colleague from South Carolina if he is
prepared, as a manager of the bill, to proceed with the 20-odd
amendments that I understand have been offered and have been cleared on
both sides. We are prepared to take those matters up now, if it is the
will of the chairman.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, of those that have been cleared, it is
agreeable for us to take those up at this time. I would like for us to
get the staff here to see about that.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Craig). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Section 551 of S. 1026--The Determination of Whereabouts and Status of
Missing Persons
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, the fiscal year 1995 National Defense
Authorization Act directed the Secretary of Defense to review current
law related to missing service personnel and report to Congress on
recommended changes. In addition to the recommendations made in the
mandated report, the Department of Defense accommodated the committee's
concerns by agreeing to several additional provisions, which are
included in this bill, that went considerably beyond the scope of the
initial recommendations.
In the provisions of this bill, the committee has gone as far as the
Congress should on this issue. I believe the committee and the
Department of Defense have agreed on a course of action that will
improve current procedures without imposing a new and cumbersome
bureaucracy on the Department, the Services, and commanders in the
field.
However, the report language accompanying the bill does not
accurately reflect the intention of the bill language in one key
aspect. The recommended provision would not prohibit the Department of
Defense from declaring a serviceman dead when there are obvious
indications that he is indeed dead, including the passage of time.
Contrary to the report language, the bill language does not confer
immortality on MIA's. Further, I do not share the editorial
characterization of the current accounting system as insensitive and
unresponsive. Whereas this may have been true many years ago, the
Department of Defense and the Services have since taken extensive
measures to make the system sensitive, responsive, and most important,
workable.
When the bill before us goes to conference, I will steadfastly
support the Senate position and oppose the provisions in the House bill
which, in my view, are unwise and unworkable. I encourage my colleagues
in the strongest possible terms to do likewise.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, my colleague, the distinguished senior
Senator from Nebraska, will take up an amendment by Senator Harkin.
Amendment No. 2430
(Purpose: To increase the amount provided for the Civil Air Patrol by
$5,000,000)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Harkin, I offer an
amendment which will reduce and refocus the reduction of the bill to
the Civil Air Patrol budget from a $5 million reduction to a $2.9
million reduction. This amendment would effectively speed up the
ongoing reorganization of the Civil Air Patrol so that the savings plan
for 1997 would be achieved by 1996.
I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate
consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection the pending amendments will
be set aside. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Harkin, for
himself, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Robb, Mr. Heflin, and
Mr. Bingaman, proposes an amendment numbered 2430.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading
of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 72, between lines 18 and 19, insert the following:
SEC. 305. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE CIVIL AIR PATROL.
(a) Increase.--(1) The amount of funds authorized to be
appropriated by this Act for operation and maintenance of the
Air Force for the Civil Air Patrol Corporation is hereby
increased by $5,000,000.
(2) The amount authorized to be appropriated for operation
and maintenance for the Civil Air Patrol Corporation under
paragraph (1) is in addition to any other funds authorized to
be appropriated under this Act for that purpose.
(b) Offsetting Reduction.--The amount authorized to be
appropriated under this Act for Air Force support of the
Civil Air Patrol is hereby reduced by $2,900,000. The amount
of the reduction shall be allocated among funds authorized to
be appropriated for Air Force personnel supporting the Civil
Air Patrol and for Air Force operation and maintenance
support for the Civil Air Patrol.
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, on behalf of my esteemed colleagues
Senators Shelby, Campbell, Robb, Heflin, Bingaman, and myself, I offer
an amendment to restore the cuts in the Civil Air Patrol budget. The
Senate defense authorization bill S. 1026 cuts the Civil Air Patrol
[CAP] operations and maintenance by $5 million, from $14.7 million to
$9.7 million, a 34 percent reduction. This heavy cut would severely
limit the CAP's capability to carry out its search and rescue missions,
emergency air transport, counterdrug surveillance, and other important
functions.
The Harkin-Shelby-Campbell-Robb-Heflin-Bingaman bipartisan amendment
to the fiscal year 1996 defense authorization bill restores the CAP
budget to the amount approved by the House, the original $14.7 million.
The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit corporation designated as an
auxiliary of the Air Force by public law in 1948. It is mostly made up
of over 50,000 volunteers who are mainly ex-Air Force personnel, and
who often must fly over large areas of country in their missions of
mercy. It is to the credit of the CAP that their volunteers relieve the
Government of expense such that only 10 percent of the CAP budget need
be used to reimburse the volunteers. Furthermore, the CAP is undergoing
a reorganization to replace active duty Air
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Force personnel with retired fliers who receive only one-half their
former pay. This will save taxpayers about $3 million. Additionally,
the Air Force active duty personnel are being replaced by civilians at
the CAP headquarters, so the CAP budget reflects an increase equivalent
to the decrease in the Air Force budget used to pay for headquarters
personnel. These reorganizational changes were misinterpreted in a
General Accounting Office report to justify cutting the CAP. The
Harkin-Shelby-Campbell-Robb-Heflin-Bingaman amendment corrects the
well-intentioned but misguided cuts in the CAP. The CAP is invaluable
to our country, and performs its missions much more inexpensively than
could be done by Government.
Because the Air Force personnel are being replaced by retirees and
other civilians, the active duty Air Force personnel and operations and
maintenance budget should be reduced by $2.9 million. This reflects the
savings to the taxpayer that the recent reorganization attains.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I support this amendment to cut the level
of support for the Civil Air Patrol in the Air Force operations and
maintenance and personnel accounts by $2.9 million and restore $5
million to the Civil Air Patrol Corporation budget. The $2.9 million
cut from the administration's request for this program will reduce the
amount of military resources unnecessarily dedicated to its overhead
and administration.
Furthermore, although I believe that this program is noble, its
military benefits are negligible. The primary mission of this program,
search and rescue of downed civilian pilots, would more appropriately
be funded through the budget of the Department of Transportation or
another civilian agency. I urge the administration and the Congress to
explore alternative funding for this program in the future to ensure
its decreased reliance upon the Department of Defense.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been cleared by
the other side.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the Senator is correct. We support the
amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2430) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. I ask to have my personal view reflected in the Record. I
had occasion to visit Civil Air Patrol installations in several places
in my State and elsewhere. I also had a brief service with them during
the early stages of World War II. I think it is a highly useful and
productive organization, helping many of our young people in their
first introduction to aviation.
I strongly support the Civil Air Patrol.
Amendment No. 2431
(Purpose: To increase the authorization of appropriations for operation
and maintenance for the Air Force Reserve by $10,000,000, and to offset
that increase by reducing the authorization of appropriations for
operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities by $10,000,000)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on behalf of the chairman of the Armed
Services Committee, Mr. Thurmond, I offer an amendment which would
adjust funding for civilian personnel in the Air Force Reserve.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner] for Mr. Thurmond,
proposes an amendment numbered 2431.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 69, line 25, decrease the amount by $10,000,000.
On page 70, line 5, strike out ``$1,472,947,000'' and
insert in lieu thereof ``$1,482,947,000''.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, this amendment would adjust the funding
for civilian personnel under strength in the Air Force Reserve.
The Department of Defense made an error in verifying the degree to
which various accounts were overfunded. In response to my inquiry, the
Department reconsidered its report and determined the figure for the
Air Force Reserve should be $3 million in reductions, not $13 million
as previously reported. This amendment would restore $10 million of the
$13 million to the Air Force Reserve and reduce DOD funding by $10
million.
I thank the Chair, and yield the floor.
Mr. WARNER. This amendment has been cleared by both sides.
Mr. EXON. The amendment has been cleared on both sides.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2431) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2432
(Purpose: To provide $9,500,000 for the Joint Seismic Program and
Global Seismic Network)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Glenn, I offer an
amendment to authorize $9.5 million for seismic monitoring to detect
nuclear explosions. These funds would be used to continue the operation
of global seismographic network operated by the consortium of American
University.
I believe this amendment has been cleared on the other side of the
aisle.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Glenn, for
himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Pell, and Mr. Moynihan, proposes
an amendment numbered 2432.
Mr. EXON. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be
dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 49, between lines 14 and 15, insert the following:
SEC. 224. JOINT SEISMIC PROGRAM AND GLOBAL SEISMIC NETWORK.
To the extent provided in appropriations Acts, $9,500,000
of the unobligated balance of funds available to the Air
Force for research, development, test, and evaluation for
fiscal year 1995 shall be available for continuation of the
Joint Seismic Program and Global Seismic Network.
Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, the proliferation of nuclear weapons
continues to be one of the most serious threats to national security,
which underscores the need for the United States to maintain an
effective capability to detect and identify clandestine nuclear tests.
The challenge for seismic monitoring is the detection and
identification of events of small magnitude. To meet this challenge it
is necessary to acquire regional data not less than 1,000 kilometers
from a test.
For many years, a consortium of universities has operated a multiple-
use, global seismographic network that has been supported with funds
from the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.
These facilities represent a small but significant investment by the
U.S. Government, offer effective and needed nuclear test monitoring
capabilities worldwide, and enhance regional coverage in areas not
adequately covered by National Technical Means [NTM].
Data provided by this global seismographic network can be used to
locate seismic events, discriminate natural versus explosive sources,
and estimate magnitude and/or yield--all of which are critical in
detection and identification of clandestine nuclear tests. Enhancing
accuracy of event location is particularly important in greatly
reducing the area which must be investigated through costly on-site
inspections or the use of NTM. The data obtained from this network thus
complement, rather than compete with, data obtained from NTM.
This type of information will be invaluable in helping our Government
to verify a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. We are already well
into the evolution of the post-cold-war world, and one unpleasant fact
of life about such a world is that professional test ban monitors no
longer have the
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luxury of simply gathering data about activities at certain fixed,
well-characterized sites. Now the problem has gotten more complex: we
are increasingly concerned about small, low-yield test explosions, and
we are facing a verification challenge that is truly global in scope.
Given the global distribution of significant nongovernmental seismic
monitoring capabilities, it is only prudent for us to exploit whatever
resources are available and appropriate to get the job done.
The network is administered by a consortium which today consists of
over 80 research institutions and affiliates around the globe. The
National Science and Technology Council [NSTC] is developing a long-
term funding plan for the GSN and JSP. Because of delays in the NSTC
process funding recommendations were not included in the
administration's fiscal year 1996 budget request, but are being
incorporated in the fiscal year 1997 budget request. In the meantime,
this action is needed to ensure continuation of these important
programs.
My amendment specifies that $9,500,000 of prior year funds from the
Defense Support Program which are available as a result of the omnibus
reprogramming shall be available for continuation of the Global
Seismographic Network [GSN] and Joint Seismic Program [JSP]. This is
maintained by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research [AFOSR] in PE
601102F, project 2309.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2432) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2433
(Purpose: To reconcile authorization of the funds appropriated for the
construction of a Special Operations Forces [SOF] Group Headquarters at
Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the Senate Appropriations Committee
recommendation)
Mr. WARNER. I send to the desk an amendment on behalf of the senior
Senator from North Carolina [Mr. Helms].
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Helms,
proposes an amendment numbered 2433.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent further reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 422, in the table preceding line 1, in the matter
relating to the Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg,
North Carolina, strike out ``$8,100,000'' in the amount
column and insert in lieu thereof ``$9,400,000''.
On page 424, line 22, increase the amount by $1,300,000.
On page 424, line 25, increase the amount by $1,300,000.
(At the request of Mr. Dole, the following statement was ordered to
be printed in the Record.)
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, this technical amendment is to fix an
incorrect authorization level for construction of a mission essential
Special Operations Forces Group Headquarters at Fort Bragg, NC.
This project was authorized by the Senate Armed Services Committee at
the original, incorrect estimate of $2,600,000.
As background, the U.S. Special Operations Command--or USSOCOM, as it
is called--requested in its fiscal year 1996 milcon budget a Group HQ
originally estimated to cost $2,600,000.
Based upon that erroneous estimate, the administration requested and
the House Appropriations Committee appropriated that amount.
The correct project estimate is $3,900,000. The cost increase is
attributable to two key factors; a failure to account for the area cost
factor for construction in the Fort Bragg area and the realization that
special construction requirements are necessary.
Equipped with the new, accurate estimate, the Senate Military
Construction Subcommittee, approved $3,900,000 for the project.
My amendment will fix the discrepancy between the Senate Military
Construction Subcommittee's appropriation and the Senate Armed Services
Committee's authorization.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this is a technical correction to the
funding level of a project included in the President's budget request.
I believe this amendment has been cleared.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this is a technical amendment that is
entirely in order and has been cleared on this side.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2433) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2434
(Purpose: To state a rule of construction to clarify the supremacy of
the Secretary of State's authority to coordinate policy on
international military education and training)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Simon, I offer an
amendment to provide that nothing shall impair the authority and
ability of the Secretary of State to coordinate policy regarding the
international military education and training program.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Simon,
proposes an amendment numbered 2434.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 366, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:
(d) Relationship to Authority of Secretary of State.--
Nothing in this section or section 462 of title 10, United
States Code (as added by subsection (b)(1)), shall impair the
authority or ability of the Secretary of State to coordinate
policy regarding international military education and
training programs.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been cleared by
the other side.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the Senator is correct.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2434) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2435
(Purpose: To provide $5,000,000 for continued development of the
depressed altitude guided gun round system)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment on behalf
of Senator Smith.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Smith,
proposes an amendment numbered 2435.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 49, between lines 14 and 15, insert the following:
SEC. 224. DEPRESSED ALTITUDE GUIDED GUN ROUND SYSTEM.
Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section
201(1), $5,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for
continued development of the depressed altitude guided gun
round system.
Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, the amendment that I am offering would
authorize $5 million from within the Army research, development, test
and evaluation account to continue development of the depressed
altitude guided gun round [DAGGR] system.
DAGGR is a surface-to-air weapon that could provide an effective
defense against low-altitude threats, both in rear areas and for
maneuver forces in forward areas. It has an all-weather capability, and
could be mounted on either standard trucks or an armored
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chassis such as the AGS or M113A. DAGGR would integrate an existing
radar guided 60 millimeter gun round, developed by the Navy, with an
interferometric radar, developed by the Army.
As currently envisioned, DAGGR could address mortars, short range
rockets, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and helicopter
delivered air-to-ground missiles. The Army currently has little or no
direct capability against these threats
Mr. President, this program is not part of the Army budget. However,
the committee was contacted by the Army after markup and apprised of
their strong interest in the program. I have been fully briefed on the
potential application of this technology and believe that it has merit.
It would complement other ongoing efforts to provide 360-degree
coverage for our maneuver forces, and enhance the warfighting
capabilities of our frontline units.
I believe that this amendment has been cleared on both sides.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this amendment provides $5 million of Army
research and development funds which may be used to continue
development of the depressed altitude guided gun round system.
It is my understanding. this amendment has been cleared.
Mr. EXON. It has been cleared on this side, and we are prepared to
accept the amendment.
Mr. WARNER. I urge adoption of the amendment.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2435) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2436
(Purpose: To require the Army to provide a report to the Congress on
plans to provide T700-701C engine upgrades for Army AH-64D helicopters)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Kennedy, I offer an
amendment which would require the Secretary of the Army to submit a
report on the program upgrade of the engines AH-64D, Apache helicopter
fleet. This amendment would make no change in the current funding, but
would require the Secretary to submit a detailed plan and estimated
funding requirements for the program.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Kennedy,
proposes an amendment numbered 2436.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 21, following line 21, insert the following:
SEC. . REPORT ON AH-64D ENGINE UPGRADES.
(a) Report.--No later than February 1, 1996, the Secretary
of the Army shall submit to Congress a report on plans to
procure T700-701C engine upgrade kits for Army AH-64D
helicopters.
The report shall include:
(1) a plan to provide for the upgrade of all Army AH-64D
helicopters with T700-701C engine kits commencing in FY 1996.
(2) detailed timeline and funding requirements for the
engine upgrade program described in (a)(1).
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been cleared.
Mr. WARNER. The Senator is correct.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I therefore urge adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2436) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2437
(Purpose: To clarify that the $54,968,000 authorized to be appropriated
for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) is for
procurement of eight JPATS aircraft)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment on behalf
of the distinguished majority leader, Mr. Dole. It relates to the joint
primary aircraft training program (JPATS).
Mr. President, the amendment clarifies that the Air Force is
authorized to buy up to eight joint primary aircraft training systems
with the $54 million authorized for procurement of these aircraft.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Dole, for
himself and Mr. Thurmond, proposes an amendment numbered
2437.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 31, after line 22, insert the following:
SEC. 133. JOINT PRIMARY AIRCRAFT TRAINING SYSTEM PROGRAM.
Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section
103(1), $54,968,000 shall be available for the Joint Primary
Aircraft Training System program for procurement of up to
eight aircraft.
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator for offering
this amendment on my behalf. The amendment is simple. It allows the Air
Force to buy up to eight joint primary aircraft trainers [JPATS] in
fiscal year 1996.
In its fiscal year 1996 budget submission, the Department of Defense
had requested authorization to buy 3 JPATS aircraft for $55 million.
However, at the time the budget was submitted, the JPATS competition
had not been completed and the contract had not been awarded.
Consequently, the Air Force had to plan for the possibility that the
contract could be awarded for a much more expensive aircraft than the
submission which was actually selected. Let me be clear, this amendment
does not increase funding for JPATS procurement--it simply allows the
Air Force to procure this new trainer at a more efficient rate.
Additionally, my colleagues should know that this change has been
coordinated with the Air Force.
Again, I thank Senator Thurmond and my colleagues on the other side
of the aisle for their assistance in clearing this amendment.
Mr. WARNER. I urge the adoption of the amendment. It has been cleared
on both sides.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2437) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2438
(Purpose: To provide $15,000,000 (under the line item for the M1 Abrams
tank series (MYP)) for procurement of direct support electronic system
test sets (DSESTS) test program sets for the M1 Abrams series tanks and
the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Heflin and Senator
Shelby, I offer an amendment which would shift some funds within the
Army's budget to buy more software for direct support electronic system
tests.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Heflin, for
himself and Mr. Shelby, proposes an amendment numbered 2438.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 16, line 20, strike out ``$1,532,964,000'' and
insert in lieu thereof ``$1,547,964,000''.
On page 69, line 25, strike out ``$10,060,162,000'' and
insert in lieu thereof ``$10,045,162,000.''
Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, this amendment will provide funds for test
equipment for the U.S. Army.
The Army plans to field a number of modernized combat vehicles in the
years ahead including the M1A2, the upgraded Bradley, the new breacher,
and the new light tank. Unfortunately, the Army budget has been reduced
to the point where the Army is unable to
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fund the development of the test equipment required to support these
new vehicles. However, it makes no sense to field new vehicles without
simultaneously fielding the required support equipment.
The Army's acquisition decision memorandum dated March 30, 1995,
directs the continued use of DSESTS for the ASM fleet. Furthermore,
there is a standing Army requirement for new test program sets to
support these vehicles. I therefore ask the support of my colleagues in
adding $15 million to the ASM budget for the acquisition of DSESTS test
program sets needed to support our modern combat systems.
Let me say now that I am not pleased by the source of the funds used
to pay for this amendment. I stand firmly against raiding the readiness
accounts to fund procurement programs. In fact, I would not offer this
amendment if it were not for the fact that not purchasing the equipment
will cost the readiness accounts even more. If we do not buy this
equipment, the combat units will be forced to send broken equipment
back to the depot rather than repairing it in the field. This will add
millions in additional maintenance costs each year. Purchasing this
equipment will save much needed readiness dollars.
That being said, I hope that in conference the committee will be able
to provide an alternative source of funding for this important test
equipment.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the Army believes this additional software
would help save operation and maintenance funds, since testing will be
avoided, and shipping equipment to depots, when the action is not
necessary.
I believe this is a very worthy amendment. I understand it has been
cleared on the other side.
Mr. WARNER. The Senator is correct.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2438) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2439
(Purpose: To amend the effective date for the authority to pay
transitional compensation for dependents of members of the Armed Forces
separated for dependent abuse)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment on behalf
of the Senator from New Mexico [Mr. Domenici] entitled ``Spousal
Abuse.''
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Domenici,
proposes an amendment numbered 2439.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 277, after line 25, insert the following:
(b) Effective Date for Program Authority.--Section
554(b)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1994 (107 Stat. 1666; 10 U.S.C. 1059 note) is
amended by striking out ``the date of the enactment of this
Act--'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``April 1, 1994--''.
On page 277, beginning on line 21, strike out ``:
Clarification of entitlement''.
On page 277, line 23, insert ``(a) Clarification of
Entitlement.--before ``Section''.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I offer a technical correction to
section 1059 of title X, United States Code, which provides the
authority to the Secretary of Defense to provide transitional benefits
for abused military spouses and their children. I understand that my
amendment has been accepted on both sides, and I want to thank the
chairman and ranking member for their support.
I would like to take just a few brief moments to refresh my
colleagues memories about this issue. Members will recall that in the
fiscal year 1993 Defense authorization bill I offered an amendment to
provide up to 50 percent of the retirement pay of a military member to
his spouse and children if that member were dishonorably discharged
from the service for spouse or child abuse. That amendment was accepted
by this committee and it had the full support of both the chairman and
ranking member. I am very proud of that amendment, Mr. President. Today
abused military spouses and their children have a way out.
There was such a recognized need for that amendment that the fiscal
year 1994 Defense authorization bill included language that provided
the Secretary of Defense with this authority to make
transitional benefits for up to 3 years payable on a force-wide basis
to any military spouse or child whose member was dishonorably
discharged from the service for spouse or child abuse.
By the fiscal year 1995 Defense authorization bill, the Department of
Defense had not implemented the language from the fiscal year 1994
bill. When the bill came to the floor, I offered an amendment to make
the fiscal year 1994 language mandatory and to provide commissary and
other benefits that were not included in the fiscal year 1994 language.
On July 1, 1994, during the consideration of the Defense
authorization bill, in a colloquy with Senator Nunn I informed
Senators, ``Frankly, I was going to try to make this mandatory in the
original amendment, but I am not doing that because I have assurance of
the Chairman that he is going to join me here on the floor urging that
the military take care of this responsibility.'' Senator Nunn did that.
On July 7, 1994, Assistant Secretary of Defense Dorn, sent a letter
to Chairman Nunn stating that the DOD ``intends to implement
transitional compensation, authorized by the fiscal year 1994 Defense
Authorization Act, on October 1, 1994, with coverage retroactive to
April 1, 1994.''
Despite Secretary Dorn's letter, DOD did not implement the fiscal
year 1994 language until January 25, 1995, and they only made benefit
payments retroactive to October 1994, not April 1994 as they committed.
I wrote to Assistant Secretary Dorn on February 9, 1995, expressing
my extreme displeasure and informing him that the only reason we
withdrew our amendment to the fiscal year 1995 DOD authorization bill
was because the DOD gave the staff of the Senate Armed Services
Committee assurance that the transitional benefits would be retroactive
to April 1994.
Assistant Secretary Dorn responded on March 6, 1995. Most
importantly, he said, ``As you correctly stated in your letter, the DOD
made a commitment, and we do plan to take the appropriate actions to
rectify the situation. My staff is preparing the request to Congress
asking for a technical change in the language that will allow us to
make retroactive payments to April 1, 1994.''
Assistant Secretary Dorn submitted the request to both the House
National Security Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee for
inclusion in the fiscal year 1996 Defense authorization bill. The House
National Security Committee included the technical correction in
section 556 of their bill. My amendment achieves the same objective.
Mr. President, I have been working on this issue for 4 years. Every
year it seems that there is always something else standing in the way.
It took a few years to convince the DOD to acknowledge the problems
they face in this area, and they were very reluctant to follow the
Congress' leadership and direction.
Last year, I was informed that the DOD was poised to implement the
program. A letter was sent to then Chairman Nunn on July 7, 1994,
stating the program would be implemented and that it would be
retroactive to April 1, 1994. It took the DOD a half year to implement
the program after I withdrew my amendment, and that was already after a
1-year delay. When they did implement the program, it was only
retroactive until October 1, 1994; a full half-year later than the date
committed on me and to the Senate Armed Services Committee in the July
7, 1994 letter from Assistant Secretary Dorn to then Chairman Nunn.
For whatever reason, the DOD did not honor their commitment to the
committee, and my amendment makes sure that the commitment is honored.
I appreciate the support of my colleagues. Mr. President, I yield the
floor.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this amendment establishes the effective
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date of the transitional spouse abuse payments as April 1, 1994. This
amendment, it is my understanding, has been accepted on both sides.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I think this is a very worthy amendment
offered by Senator Domenici. We have accepted this on this side and I
urge its adoption.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2439) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2440
(Purpose: To require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the
feasibility of using private sources for performance of certain
functions currently performed by military aircraft)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Robb, I offer an
amendment which would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a
report on the feasibility of using private sources for performance of
certain functions currently performed by military aircraft.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Robb,
proposes an amendment numbered 2440.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 137, after line 24, insert the following:
SEC. 389. REPORT ON PRIVATE PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN FUNCTIONS
PERFORMED BY MILITARY AIRCRAFT.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than May 1, 1996, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the
feasibility, including the costs and benefits, of using
private sources for satisfying, in whole or in part, the
requirements of the Department of Defense for VIP
transportation by air, airlift for other personnel and for
cargo, in-flight refueling of aircraft, and performance of
such other military aircraft functions as the Secretary
considers appropriate to discuss in the report.
(b) Content of Report.--The report shall include a
discussion of the following:
(1) Contracting for the performance of the functions
referred to in subsection (a).
(2) Converting to private ownership and operation the
Department of Defense VIP air fleets, personnel and cargo
aircraft, and in-flight refueling aircraft, and other
Department of Defense aircraft.
(3) The wartime requirements for the various VIP and
transport fleets.
(4) The assumptions used in the cost-benefit analysis.
(5) The effect on military personnel and facilities of
using private sources, as described in paragraphs (1) and
(2), for the purposes described in subsection (a).
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, these functions would include personnel and
cargo transport, in-flight refueling, and such other military aircraft
functions as the Secretary considers appropriate to discuss.
I believe, also, this amendment has been cleared on the other side of
the aisle.
Mr. WARNER. The Senator is correct. This is a very worthy amendment.
It has my full support and the support of all of our Senators.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2440) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2441
(Purpose: To require the Department of Defense to conduct a study to
assess the risks associated with transportation of the unitary
stockpile within the continental United States and of the assistance
available to communities in the vicinity of chemical weapons stockpile
installations that are affected by base closures and realignments)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment on behalf
of the Senator from Colorado [Mr. Brown], and ask for its immediate
consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Brown,
proposes an amendment numbered 2441.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
At the appropriate place in the bill add the following:
SEC. . STUDY ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE.
(a) Study.--(1) The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a
study to assess the risk associated with transportation of
the unitary stockpile, any portion of the stockpile to
include drained agent from munitions and the munitions from
one location to another within the continental United States.
Also, the Secretary shall include a study of the assistance
available to communities in the vicinity if the Department of
Defense facilities co-located with continuing chemical
stockpile and chemical demilitarization operations which
facilities are subject to closure, realignment, or
reutilization.
(2) The review shall include an analysis of--
(A) the results of the physical and chemical integrity
report conducted by the Army on existing stockpile;
(B) a determination of the viability of transportation of
any portion of the stockpile, to include drained agent from
munitions and the munitions;
(C) the safety, cost-effectiveness, and public
acceptability of transporting the stockpile, in its current
configuration, or in alternative configurations;
(D) the economic effects of closure, realignment, or
reutilization of the facilities referred to in paragraph (1)
on the communities referred to in that paragraph; and
(E) the unique problems that such communities face with
respect to the reuse of such facilities as a result of the
operations referred to in paragraph (1).
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report on the study carried out under subsection (a). The
report shall include recommendations of the Secretary on
methods for ensuring the expeditious and cost-effective
transfer or lease of facilities referred to in paragraph (1)
of subsection (a) to communities referred to in paragraph (1)
for reuse by such communities.
Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, as you know, several communities have been
affected by the recent base closures and base realignments. I have been
working with these communities in my State, trying to assist them to
make these transitions as smooth as possible.
For nearly 50 years the Pueblo Depot Activity [PDA] in Pueblo, CO,
was an integral part of the U.S. Army's system of supply and storage
depots. In 1988, however, the Pueblo Depot Activity was designated for
realignment. Since this base currently stores chemical weapons, the
Army does not plan to transfer ownership of any of the unused lands or
buildings at the Pueblo Depot Activity until the destruction of
chemical weapons is complete. According to the Army, this would occur
at the earliest in 9 years, fully 16 years after it wad designated for
realignment and eventual closure.
Despite the fact that the PDA was slated under the law for
realignment, it was not planned for closure. Consequently, many
programs available to other communities whose bases are to be closed
are not available to communities like Pueblo. Under the study required
by the amendment, the Secretary of Defense must study the assistance
available to communities in the vicinity of Department of Defense
facilities co-located with continuing chemical stockpile and chemical
demilitarization operations where the facility is subject to closure,
realignment or reutilization. My hope is that this study will continue
the efforts of the Army and the city of Pueblo to work together to find
the best possible solutions for reuse of the Pueblo Depot Activity.
Current plans call for new incineration plants to be built at each
chemical weapons storage site at a cost of billions of dollars to U.S.
taxpayers. In my view, it makes sense to study first the cost
effectiveness of the transportation of neutralized and unneutralized
chemical weapons to a few centrally located chemical weapons
destruction facilities. The amendment I offer today directs the
Secretary of Defense to conduct a study to assess the risk associated
with transportation of the unitary stockpile, both neutralized and
unneutralized, within the continental United States.
I especially would like to recognize the work of Mel Takaki and Chuck
Finley of the Pueblo Depot Activity
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Development Authority. They have worked hard for the community of
Pueblo during this realignment process.
Mr. President, the study proposed in this amendment offered by
Senator Campbell and myself will make an important contribution to the
resolution of a number of problems faced by communities in the vicinity
of Defense Department facilities co-located with continuing chemical
stockpile and chemical demilitarization operations.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I would like to thank my Colorado
colleague, Senator Brown, for proposing this amendment of which I am a
cosponsor.
The city of Pueblo faces a dual burden from the chemical weapons
stockpile at the Pueblo Depot. First, Pueblo's citizens must cope with
a controversial and complicated chemical demilitarization effort.
Second, as the depot was realigned in 1988, Pueblo must deal with
finding ways to profitably reuse excess facilities.
Unfortunately, despite years of effort by the depot's reuse
commission, the reuse process is still blocked. People like Mel Takaki,
Chuck Finley, and many others worked hard to find users who would be
willing to pay for space at the depot's buildings, and they have some
takers. They still cannot come to a satisfactory agreement with the
Army on leasing the depot's facilities--it seems mostly because of
uncertainty about the needs of the demilitarization process.
There are not many communities that face this type of situation.
There are only eight chemical weapons stockpile sties in the United
States. All this amendment does is require the Defense Secretary to let
us know that he understands the unique problems faced by Pueblo and
other communities in the vicinity of chemical weapons stockpile sites.
For those sites that, like Pueblo, also involve closed or realigned
military installations, the Secretary would also give citizens in those
communities some ideas on how to move forward with reusing those
facilities.
This is a simple amendment, and it should not require much work at
the Defense Department, but it will go a long way toward addressing
issues that concern citizens living near stockpile facilities. I hope
that the Senate and the conferees will accept this amendment.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the amendment would require the Department
of Defense to conduct a study on the risks of transporting the unitary
chemical stockpile within the United States, and assistance that would
be available to the communities surrounding the chemical weapons
stockpiles that will be closed when destruction of the stockpile is
completed.
I understand this amendment has been cleared.
Mr. EXON. It has been cleared on this side of the aisle, Mr.
President.
Mr. WARNER. I urge adoption of the amendment.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2441) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2442
(Purpose: To provide for the disposal of property and facilities at
Fort Holabird, MD, as a result of the closure of the installation under
the 1995 round of the base closure process)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Mikulski, I offer an
amendment and send it to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Ms. Mikulski, for
herself and Mr. Sarbanes, proposes an amendment numbered
2442.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 468, below line 24, add the following:
SEC. 2825. CONSOLIDATION OF DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY AND
FACILITIES AT FORT HOLABIRD, MARYLAND.
(a) Consolidation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of Defense shall dispose of the property
and facilities at Fort Holabird, Maryland, described in
subsection (b) in accordance with subparagraph (2)(e) of the
Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance
Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-421), treating the property described
in (b) as if the CEO of the state had submitted a timely
request to the Secretary of Defense under subparagraph
(2)(e)(1)(B)(ii) of the Base Closure Redevelopment and
Homeless Assistance Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-421).
(b) Covered Property and Facilities.--Subsection (a)
applies to the following property and facilities at Fort
Holabird, Maryland:
(1) Property and facilities that were approved for closure
or realignment under the 1988 base closure law that are not
disposed of as of the date of the enactment of this Act,
including buildings 305 and 306 and the parking lots and
other property associated with such buildings.
(2) Property and facilities that are approved for closure
or realignment under the 1990 base closure law in 1995.
(c) Use of Surveys and Other Evaluations of Property.--In
carrying out the disposal of the property and facilities
referred to in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall utilize
any surveys and other evaluations of such property and
facilities that are prepared by the Corps of Engineers before
the date of the enactment of this Act as part of the process
for the disposal of such property and facilities under the
1988 base closure law.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``1988 base closure law'' means title II of
the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and
Realignment Act (Public Law 100-526; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).
(2) The term ``1990 base closure law'' means the Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title
XXIX of Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note).
SEC. 2826. LAND CONVEYANCE, PROPERTY UNDERLYING CUMMINS
APARTMENT COMPLEX, FORT HOLABIRD, MARYLAND.
(a) Conveyance Authorized.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of the Army may convey to the
existing owner of the improvements thereon all right, title,
and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real
property underlying the Cummins Apartment Complex at Fort
Holabird, Maryland, consisting of approximately 6 acres and
any interest the U.S. may have in the improvements thereon.
(b) Consideration.--As consideration for the conveyance
under subsection (a), the owner of the improvements referred
to in that subsection shall provide compensation to the
United States in an amount equal to the fair market value (as
determined by the Secretary) of the property interest to be
conveyed.
(3) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal
description of the real property to be conveyed under
subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey that is
satisfactory to the Secretary.
(d) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may
require such additional terms and conditions in connection
with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary
considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United
States.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this amendment by Senator Mikulski first
would allow for all base closure affected property at Fort Holabird,
MD, to be disposed of in the 1994 base closure disposal process and,
second, would authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey, for fair
market value, 6 acres of real property at Fort Holabird to the owner of
the apartment complex that is situated on the real property.
I believe this is a noncontroversial amendment that has been cleared
on the other side.
Mr. WARNER. The Senator is correct.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 2442) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2443
(Purpose: To designate the NAUTICUS building in Norfolk, VA, as the
``National Maritime Center'')
Mr. WARNER. I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its
consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner] proposes an
amendment numbered 2443.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 403, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:
[[Page S 12541]]
SEC. 1095. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER.
(a) Designation of National Maritime Center.--The NAUTICUS
building, located at one Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Virginia,
shall be known and designated as the ``National Maritime
Center''.
(b) Reference to National Maritime Center.--Any reference
in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record
of the United States to the building referred to in
subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the
``National Maritime Center''.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the amendment designates a building in
Norfolk, VA, as the ``National Maritime Center.'' It is a name change.
Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support the designation of the
NAUTICUS building in Norfolk, VA, as the ``National Maritime Center.''
Designation as the ``National Maritime Center'' is indeed a special
honor and should only be bestowed upon a center of the highest caliber
in an area with a rich history of maritime excellence. I believe that
NAUTICUS, located in the city of Norfolk, VA, more than qualifies for
this honor and deserves to receive this special recognition. NAUTICUS
is a comprehensive maritime center that includes an interactive aegis
and ship design theater, exhibits, and presentations on a variety of
subjects including marine environmental issues, marine research, and
ocean exploration. Additionally, the Hampton Roads areas is where our
world trade began hundreds of years ago. The area is home to the
world's most powerful Navy, the world's largest natural harbor, the
country's largest and oldest shipyard, and a center of marine
engineering unequaled anywhere in the world.
A national maritime center in this region could aid immeasurably in
educating the public about maritime issues and the importance of the
maritime industry in our Nation's history. Indeed, in the era of our
All Volunteer Military, this center will help to maintain the ties
between our naval forces and the public through education and
understanding.
Designation as a ``National Maritime Center'' need not be exclusively
reserved to NAUTICUS but could also be granted to other institutions of
similar statute and function upon nomination and consideration by
Congress. Also, the designation carries with it no operational support
funds nor any positive prejudice for future support of operational
deficits by any Federal agency.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this matter has been cleared on this side.
This amendment as written would be under the Commerce Committee. But it
has been cleared by the Commerce Committee. We have no objection on
this side. I urge its adoption.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am thankful for the personal
consideration of my colleague, who serves on the Commerce Committee.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Virginia.
The amendment (No. 2443) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2444
(Purpose: To require a report on the disposal of certain property at
the former Ford Ord Military Complex, CA)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk in behalf of
Senator Boxer and ask for its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mrs. Boxer,
proposes an amendment numbered 2444.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 487, after line 24, add the following:
SEC. 2838. REPORT ON DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY, FORT ORD MILITARY
COMPLEX, CALIFORNIA.
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a
report describing the plans of the Secretary for the disposal
of a parcel of real property consisting of approximately 477
acres at the former Fort Ord Military Complex, California,
including the Black Horse Golf Course, the Bayonet Golf
Course, and a portion of the Hayes Housing Facility.
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, as passed by the House of Representatives,
the fiscal year 1996 Department of Defense authorization bill included
a provision authorizing the Secretary of Defense to sell at fair market
value to the city of Seaside, CA, two golf courses and neighboring
property at Fort Ord. It was my hope to offer an amendment adding a
similar provision during Senate consideration of the bill.
We had made significant progress toward agreement on such an
amendment. Unfortunately, several important issues still remain
unresolved. Because of the managers' strong desire to complete action
on the bill, I have agreed not to offer my original proposal at this
time. Instead, I have offered this amendment, which requires the
Secretary of the Defense to submit a report to the Congress describing
his plans for disposal of the property.
Final resolution of this issue now falls to the conference committee.
It is my hope that the conferees will seriously consider adopting the
House provision, or will modify it in a way that results in the prompt
conveyance of this property.
Mr. NUNN. I can assure the Senator from California that the conferees
will look very closely at the House provision. I understand the
importance of this issue to the people of Monterey County and thank the
Senator for her amendment.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this amendment that I have offered on behalf
of Senator Boxer is an amendment which requires the Secretary of
Defense to report to the Congress on the disposal plans of 477 acres of
real property located at Fort Ord, CA.
Mr. President, I believe this is a noncontroversial amendment also
that has been cleared on the other side of the aisle.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the Senator is correct.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment? If
not, the question is on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from
California.
The amendment (No. 2444) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2445
(Purpose: To continue until May 1, 1996, the application of certain
laws with respect to the ocean transportation of commercial items by
the Federal Government)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on behalf of the senior Senator from
Alaska, Senator Stevens, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for
its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Stevens,
proposes an amendment numbered 2445.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 305, beginning on line 1, strike all through line
10 and insert in lieu thereof the following:
SEC. 802. PROCUREMENT NOTICE POSTING THRESHOLDS AND
SUBCONTRACTS FOR OCEAN TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
(a) Procurement Notice Posting Thresholds.--Section
18(a)(1)(B) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act
(41 U.S.C. 416(a)(1)(B)) is amended--
(1) by striking out ``subsection (f)--'' and all that
follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting in
lieu thereof ``subsection (b); and''; and
(2) by inserting after ``property or services'' the
following: ``for a price expected to exceed $10,000, but not
to exceed $25,000,''.
(b) Subcontracts for Ocean Transportation Services.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, neither section
901(b) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 1241(b))
nor section 2631 of title 10, United States Code, shall be
included prior to May 1, 1996 on any list promulgated under
section 34(b) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act
(41 U.S.C. 430(b)).
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I have just been advised that Senator Breaux
has asked to be a cosponsor of amendment
[[Page S 12542]]
2445--as introduced and which was agreed to a few moments ago--by
Senator Stevens.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this amendment would delay the
implementation of regulations waiving the application of the Cargo
Preference Act to subcontracts for commercial items.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment?
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the amendment has been cleared on this side
of the aisle.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Alaska.
The amendment (No. 2445) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2446
(Purpose: To require that the fiscal year 1997 report on budget
submissions regarding reserve components include a listing of specific
amounts for specific purposes on the basis of an assumption of funding
of the reserve components in the same total amount as the funding
provided for fiscal year 1996)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, in behalf of Senator Robb, I send an
amendment to the desk and ask for its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Robb,
proposes an amendment numbered 2446.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 331, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
(3) If the total amount reported in accordance with
paragraph (2) is less than $1,080,000,000, an additional
separate listing described in paragraph (2) in a total amount
equal to $1,080,000,000.
Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I rise to offer an amendment to fix, in
part, a longstanding procedural contest between the executive and
legislative branches. Each year, the administration sends over a budget
request for the Department of Defense which includes funding for the
National Guard and Reserves. Typically this budget includes a robust
request for reserve personnel and O&M funding. But two accounts are
invariably unfunded, or underfunded. They are the procurement account,
which ensures our reserve forces have modern weaponry and equipment,
and military construction, which provides the buildings and other
infrastructure needed by the Reserves.
With one exception in the last 10 years, the administration's request
has failed to include any funding for National Guard and Reserve
weapons or equipment. In the last 5 years, Reserve construction has
been underfunded in the request, typically by several hundred million
dollars each year. The result is that the Congress must add the
necessary funding and this leads to several complications., First, the
Congress must add back funding that must be taken out of other
requested defense programs, or increase the total defense authorization
level above the request to accommodate the Reserves. Second, the
Congress must determine specifically what the Reserves need in terms of
equipment and construction, and how much these additions will cost. In
the last several years, the Congress has in fact not specified exactly
what equipment should be procured, but rather authorized a generic pot
of money for each of the Reserve components and left the decision on
how specifically to spend the money to the Department of Defense and
the Guard and Reserves. This begs the question as to how the Congress
came up with its reserve equipment dollar allocations.
This year, the Armed Services Committee decided to specify what
equipment to procure, rather than leaving it up to the Department of
Defense. Although this process involved extensive collaboration with
the Guard and Reserves and the Department of Defense, it makes little
sense that the Congress must initiate this process absent an
administration recommendation. Without initial Department of Defense
guidance, the Congress becomes vulnerable to catering to Member-
interest items. More fundamentally, it is imprudent for the Department
of Defense to ignore all Reserve equipment and many Reserve
construction requirements during its regular budget preparations. How
can our military be optimally structured if the Guard and Reserves are
treated as mere afterthoughts in the budgeting process?
Since the Congress cannot require the executive to submit a Reserve
budget recommendation at a set level, the bill before us has a useful
provision requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit a report,
concurrently with the fiscal year 1997 defense authorization request,
that details actions taken by the Department of Defense to enhance the
Guard and Reserves during the previous fiscal year. The provision also
requires the Secretary to submit a details listing on how the
department will spend its fiscal year 1997 Reserve equipment and
construction requests. Because the administration can still choose to
make a request of zero--or one that is far too low--this provision
still will not necessarily fix the problem.
The amendment I offer today will do much to alleviate this problem,
Mr. President. It requires the Secretary of Defense to include a
listing or report, in addition to the one already required in the bill,
that assumes a serious equipment and construction request level. In my
amendment, the fiscal year 1996 Armed Services Committee authorization
request level for Reserve equipment and construction of $1,080,000,000
is used, but any comparable sum will do the job. In other words, if the
fiscal year 1997 Reserve equipment and construction requests are lower
than $1,080,000,000, the Secretary of Defense must provide the Congress
with a report detailing how it specifically would allocate funding for
equipment and construction assuming that it would have this amount to
spend.
The amendment accomplishes several things. It gives the Congress a
foundation to work from in determining a rational topline for the
Reserves. The Congress could decide on a significantly lower or higher
amount, but at least it would have guidance from the Department of
Defense on the Department's Reserve priorities should the Department
again decide to deliberately underfund the Guard and Reserve. It forces
the Department of Defense to fully address Guard and Reserve funding
while Active Force budgets are under preparation. It reduces
temptations by Congress to distort Reserve accounts with Member-
interest items. Finally, it helps put the Reserves on equal footing
with the Active Forces, rather than giving them the leftovers from
budgeting for the active components.
Mr. President, it is my understanding that this amendment is
acceptable on both sides, and I urge its adoption.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this amendment would modify section 1007 to
require DOD to provide Congress with a prioritized list of
modernization and investment priorities, at least for large amounts,
amounts that will be funded by Congress this year. This will ensure
that the Congress gets DOD's best advice on priorities for reasonably
sized funding packages.
Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been agreed to by those
on the other side of the aisle.
Mr. WARNER. The Senator is correct.
Mr. EXON. I urge adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Virginia.
The amendment (No. 2446) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2447
(Purpose: Relating to interim leases of property approved for closure
or realignment)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of
Senators Pryor, Feinstein, and Boxer, and ask for its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
[[Page S 12543]]
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Pryor, for
himself, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mrs. Boxer, proposes an
amendment numbered 2447.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 468, after line 24, add the following:
SEC. 2825. INTERIM LEASES OF PROPERTY APPROVED FOR CLOSURE OR
REALIGNMENT.
Section 2667(f) of title 10, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(4)(A) Notwithstanding the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the scope of any
environmental impact analysis necessary to support an interim
lease of property under this subsection shall be limited to
the environmental consequences of activities authorized under
the proposed lease and the cumulative impacts of other past,
present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions during the
period of the proposed lease.
``(B) Interim leases entered into under this subsection
shall be deemed not to prejudice the final property disposal
decision, even if final property disposal may be delayed
until completion of the interim lease term. An interim lease
under this subsection shall not be entered into without prior
consultation with the redevelopment authority concerned.
``(C) The provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not
apply to an interim lease under this subsection if authorized
activities under the lease would--
``(i) significantly effect the quality of the human
environment; or
``(ii) irreversibly alter the environment in a way that
would preclude any reasonable disposal alternative of the
property concerned.''.
Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise to offer an amendment to help
eliminate a current obstacle to the quick redevelopment of closing
military bases.
My amendment will give the military service greater flexibility to
negotiate longer interim leases for the reuse of base property where
the military is preparing for its departure. It will do so in a
responsible way that does not eliminate vital environmental safeguards.
This amendment will hopefully solve many interim leasing problems
that are occurring at closing bases nationwise.
At Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, AR, Cotton Growers, Inc.,
approached the local redevelopment authority about storing cotton in an
old B-52 hanger until cotton prices improved. Upon learning from the
Air Force that they could receive only a 1 year lease with a 30 day
cancellation clause, Cotton Growers Inc. decided not to locate at
Eaker.
At Alameda naval base in Alameda, CA, AEG Transportation is seeking a
10-year lease to obtain use of base property to refurbish rail cars for
the San Francisco-based BART public transit company. The BART contract
is for 10 years, and AEG desires a 10 year commitment before spending
millions of dollars on capital improvements to Alameda property.
Unfortunately, the Department of the Navy is thus far unwilling to
enter into a lease agreement longer than 5 years. This stalemate could
result in the loss of an attractive tenant for Alameda.
The military services have informed my office that the inability to
offer longer interim leases is due primarily to their fear of a lawsuit
over requirements from the National Environmental Protection Act of
1969, the so-called NEPA. This amendment attempts to address this
problem without degrading the environment or fully exempting interim
leases from NEPA.
In recent years, Congress and the Clinton administration have made
substantial progress in removing the obstacles that have blocked past
efforts to redevelop bases. This amendment will help remove yet another
barrier.
It will give the military services greater flexibility to negotiate
with interested tenants. It also ensures that our effort to create jobs
and economic activity on base does not come at the expense of the
environment.
I thank the distinguished chairman and the ranking member for
accepting this amendment.
I also thank the Department of Defense, the Departments of Army,
Navy, and Air Force, the Council on Environmental Quality, the
Environmental Protection Agency, Senators Chafee, Baucus, Lautenberg,
and Boxer from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and
Senators Nunn and Thurmond from the Senate Armed Services Committee who
contributed greatly to the passage of this amendment.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this amendment provides the military
services greater flexibility to negotiate longer interim leases for the
reuse of property at a closing of a military installation. This
amendment allows for flexibility without eliminating important
environmental protections.
Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been agreed to on the
other side.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the Senator is correct.
Mr. EXON. I urge adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Arkansas.
The amendment (No. 2447) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2448
(Purpose: Relating to the operational support airlift aircraft fleet)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Grassley, I send an
amendment to the desk and ask for its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Grassley,
proposes an amendment numbered 2448.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 403, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:
SEC. 1095. OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRLIFT AIRCRAFT FLEET.
(a) Submittal of JCS Report on Aircraft.--Not later than
February 1, 1996, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
Congress the report on aircraft designated as Operational
Support Airlift Aircraft that is currently in preparation by
the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(b) Content of Report.--(1) The report shall contain
findings and recommendations regarding the following:
(A) Modernization and safety requirements for the
Operational Support Airlift Aircraft fleet.
(B) Standardization plans and requirements of that fleet.
(C) The disposition of aircraft considered excess to that
fleet in light of the requirements set forth under
subparagraph (A).
(D) The need for helicopter support in the National Capital
Region.
(E) The acceptable uses of helicopter support in the
National Capital Region.
(2) In preparing the report, the Joint Chiefs of Staff
shall take into account the recommendation of the Commission
on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces to reduce the size
of the Operational Support Airlift Aircraft fleet.
(c) Regulations.--(1) Upon completion of the report
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall prescribe
regulations, consistent with the findings and recommendations
set forth in the report, for the operation, maintenance,
disposition, and use of aircraft designated as Operational
Support Airlift Aircraft.
(2) The regulations shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, provide for, and encourage the use of,
commercial airlines in lieu of the use of aircraft designated
as Operational Support Airlift Aircraft.
(3) The regulations shall apply uniformly throughout the
Department of Defense.
(4) The regulations should not require exclusive use of the
aircraft designated as Operational Support Airlift Aircraft
for any particular class of government personnel.
(d) Reductions in Flying Hours.--(1)(a) The Secretary shall
ensure that the number of hours flown in fiscal year 1996 by
aircraft designated as Operational Support Airlift Aircraft
does not exceed the number equal to 85 percent of the number
of hours flown in fiscal year 1995 by such aircraft.
(2)(a) The Secretary should ensure that the number of hours
flown in fiscal year 1996 for helicopter support in the
National Capital Region does not exceed the number equal to
85 percent of the number of hours flown in fiscal year 1995
for such helicopter support.
(e) Restriction on Availability of Funds.--Of the funds
authorized to be appropriated under title III for the
operation and use of aircraft designated as Operational
Support Airlift Aircraft, not more than 50 percent of such
funds shall be available for that purpose until the submittal
of the report referred to in subsection (a).
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I would like to thank the chairman of
[[Page S 12544]]
the committee, Senator Thurmond, and the ranking minority member,
Senator Nunn, for their assistance and cooperation in developing this
compromise agreement on the operational support airlift [OSA] aircraft
issue.
This amendment deals with the 600 executive aircraft and VIP
helicopters operated by the Department of Defense [DOD]. These are
called OSA aircraft.
I think we have succeeded in working out a reasonable compromise on
the OSA issue.
When I first began discussing the issue, I was recommending a 50-
percent cut in the OSA fleet.
But from day 1, I never claimed to have the magic solution. The 50
percent figure was nothing more than a starting point.
I just wanted to see us take a significant first step down the road
toward downsizing the OSA fleet.
Mr. President, the idea of downsizing the OSA fleet was not dreamed
up by Chuck Grassley.
My thinking on this issue is based on a mountain of studies and
analyses--all prepared by the DOD.
All the studies point in one direction: cut the OSA fleet.
In February 1993, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen.
Colin Powell, recommended that the OSA fleet be cut.
In September 1994, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General
McPeak, recommended that the OSA fleet be cut.
Then in May 1995, the DOD Commission on Roles and Missions
recommended that the OSA fleet be cut.
Well, the Roles and Missions Commission was chaired by Mr. John P.
White.
Right after Mr. White made those recommendations, he became the
Deputy Secretary of Defense.
So cutting the OSA fleet is not Chuck Grassley's idea.
The idea of cutting the OSA fleet is coming directly from the top at
the Pentagon.
Chuck Grassley is just trying to do what these top DOD officials say
must be done. That's it.
Mr. President, this issue has been studied to death.
It's time to make some cuts.
This is where the rubber meets the road.
The only question is this: How do we do it?
How should the cuts be made?
The compromise agreement embodied in this amendment starts us down
the road toward downsizing the OSA fleet.
It gets us headed in the right direction.
It directs DOD to develop a plan to carry out the recommendations of
the Commission on Roles and Missions.
It directs DOD to identify excess OSA aircraft and to develop a plan
for disposing of those aircraft.
It directs DOD to prescribe regulations that would require the use of
commercial airlines for routine official travel.
And those regulations must not require the use of OSA aircraft by any
particular class of personnel.
The compromise agreement would curtail OSA flight operations by 15
percent in fiscal year 1996.
The reduction in operations would also apply to helicopter flights in
the National Capital region.
The amendment contains a device to encourage DOD to submit its plan
for downsizing the OSA fleet in a timely manner.
Fifty percent of all OSA funds in the bill are fenced until the plan
is submitted to Congress.
Again, Mr. President, I thank the chairman and ranking minority
member for their help in crafting this compromise agreement.
I would also like to thank a member of the committee staff, Mr. Steve
Madey, for his persistence and determination. His efforts were
instrumental in shaping the final agreement.
We can revisit the issue next year after we have had an opportunity
to assess how well the DOD plan is working.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this amendment would reduce the Flying
Hour Program for operational support aircraft and require a review of
regulations and a study. I understand it has been accepted on both
sides.
Mr. EXON. This represents the responsible role for the operation of
support aircraft and responds to the recommendations by management of
these aircraft by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Commission
on Rules and Missions of the armed services.
We strongly support the amendment and urge its adoption.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Frist). If there is no further debate, the
question is on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Iowa.
The amendment (No. 2448) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2449
(Purpose: To transfer funds for procurement of communications equipment
for Army echelons above corps)
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on behalf of the senior Senator from New
Mexico, [Mr. Domenici], and the Senator from Hawaii, [Mr. Inouye], I
send an amendment to the desk and ask for its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Warner], for Mr. Domenici,
for himself and Mr. Inouye, proposes an amendment numbered
2449.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 49, between lines 14 and 15, insert the following:
SEC. . ARMY ECHELON ABOVE CORPS COMMUNICATIONS.
Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section
201(3), $40,000,000 is hereby transferred to the
authorization of appropriations under section 101(5) for
procurement of communications equipment for Army echelons
above corps.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I understand that my amendment on the
Army's EAC communications system has been accepted on both sides. I
want to thank the Senators Thurmond, Warner, and Nunn for their
cooperation in this effort. My amendment will fund modernization of the
Army's vital command, control, and communication systems. It will allow
the Army to move more of its communications equipment, including
switches, multiplexer assemblies, message controllers, network
assemblies, and other equipment, into combat areas quickly during
combat and contingency operations.
This program has allowed the Army to downsize its combat
communications equipment to the point that it can now transport more
critical combat information systems into a fire zone in less time and
at significantly less cost than before.
For example, the benefits of this program save $1 million in air
transportation costs every time the Army move a single communications
battalion from Fort Gordon, GA to a major center in the Middle or Far
East. Consequently, if the Army moves a minimum of 25 communications
battalions this year during exercises, it will save $25 million in
operational costs.
Furthermore, this new equipment permits the Army combat personnel to
communicate more frequently, under severely adverse conditions, with
greater success than ever before. The new systems are faster, more
secure, vastly more dependable, and of significantly smaller size than
their predecessors. They also provide more interoperability than has
ever been possible.
The new downsized configurations of this equipment fit neatly into
the Army's latest heavy HMMWV. Sizeable numbers of these vehicles can
be transported into combat zones on C-141 and C-5 aircraft, providing
significantly more communications capability in world hot spots sooner
than was previously possible.
Maj. Gen. Edward Anderson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and
Planning for Force Development, strongly support this program.
Nevertheless, the Army has been limited in its budget submissions due
to modernization and weapons systems requests. I believe this amendment
addresses the critical communications needs of the Army, and I thank
the Senate Armed Services Committee for its support.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this amendment adds $40 million for the
[[Page S 12545]]
procurement of certain communications programs for the Army.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, this amendment would allow the Army to
continue its program to make theater-level communications units more
capable, lighter and more easily deployable in emergencies.
We think it is a very good amendment. We urge its adoption.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished colleague, and I
urge its adoption.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from New Mexico.
The amendment (No. 2449) was agreed to.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 2450
(Purpose: To authorize the conveyance of certain parcels of real
property at Fort Sheridan, IL)
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk in behalf of
Senator Simon, and I ask for its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nebraska [Mr. Exon], for Mr. Simon,
proposes an amendment numbered 2450.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
On page 487, below line 24, add the following new sections:
SEC. 2838. LAND CONVEYANCE, NAVY PROPERTY, FORT SHERIDAN,
ILLINOIS.
(a) Authority To Convey.--Subject to subsections (b) and
(l), the Secretary of the Navy may convey to any transferee
selected under subsection (i) all right, title, and interest
of the United States in and to a parcel of real property
(including any improvements thereon) at Fort Sheridan,
Illinois, consisting of approximately 182 acres and
comprising the Navy housing areas at Fort Sheridan.
(b) Requirement for Federal Screening of Property.--The
Secretary may not carry out the conveyance of property
authorized by subsection (a) unless the Secretary determines
that no department or agency of the Federal Government will
accept the transfer of the property.
(c) Consideration.--(1) As consideration for the conveyance
under subsection (a), the transferee selected under
subsection (i) shall--
(A) convey to the United States a parcel of real property
that meets the requirements of subsection (d);
(B) design for and construct on the property conveyed under
subparagraph (A) such housing facilities (including support
facilities and infrastructure) to replace the housing
facilities conveyed pursuant to the authority in subsection
(a) as the Secretary considers appropriate;
(C) pay the cost of relocating Navy personnel residing in
the housing facilities located on the real property conveyed
pursuant to the authority in subsection (a) to the housing
facilities constructed under subparagraph (B);
(D) provide for the education of dependents of such
personnel under subsection (e); and
(E) carry out such activities for the maintenance and
improvement of the facilities constructed under subparagraph
(B) as the Secretary and the transferee jointly determine
appropriate.
(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the fair market value
of the consideration provided by the transferee under
paragraph (1) is not less than the fair market value of the
property interest conveyed by the Secretary under subsection
(a).
(d) Requirements Relating to Property To Be Conveyed to
United States.--The property interest conveyed to the United
States under subsection (c)(1)(A) by the transferee selected
under subsection (i) shall--
(1) be located not more than 25 miles from the Great Lakes
Naval Training Center, Illinois;
(2) be located in a neighborhood or area having social and
economic conditions similar to the social and economic
conditions of the area in which Fort Sheridan is located; and
(3) be acceptable to the Secretary.
(e) Education of Dependents of Navy Personnel.--(2) In
providing for the education of dependents of Navy personnel
under subsection (c)(1)(D), the transferee selected under
subsection (i) shall ensure that such dependents may enroll
at the schools of one or more school districts in the
vicinity of the real property conveyed to the United States
under subsection (c)(1)(A) which schools and districts--
(A) meet such standards for schools and school districts as
the Secretary shall establish; and
(B) will continue to meet such standards after the
enrollment of such dependents regardless of the receipt by
such school districts of Federal impact aid.
(f) Interim Relocation of Navy Personnel.--Pending
completion of the construction of all the housing facilities
proposed to be constructed under subsection (c)(1)(B) by the
transferee selected under subsection (i), the Secretary may
relocate Navy personnel residing in housing facilities
located on the property to be conveyed pursuant to the
authority in subsection (a) to the housing facilities that
have been constructed by the transferee under such subsection
(c)(1)(B).
(g) Applicability of Certain Agreements.--The property
conveyed by the Secretary pursuant to the authority in
subsection (a) shall be subject to the Memorandum of
Understanding concerning the Transfer of Certain Properties
at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, dated August 8, 1991, between the
Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy.
(h) Determination of Fair Market Value.--The Secretary
shall determine the fair market value of the real property
interest to be conveyed under subsection (a) and of the
consideration to be provided under subsection (c)(1). Such
determination shall be final.
(i) Selection of Transferee.--(1) The Secretary shall use
competitive procedures for the selection of a transferee
under subsection (a).
(2) In evaluating the offers of prospective transferees,
the Secretary shall--
(A) consider the technical sufficiency of the offers and
the adequacy of the offers in meeting the requirements for
consideration set forth in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) consult with the communities and jurisdictions in the
vicinity of Fort Sheridan (including the City of Lake Forest,
the City of Highwood, and the City of Highland Park and the
County of Lake) in order to determine the most appropriate
use of the property to be conveyed.
(j) Descriptions of Property.--The exact acreage and legal
descriptions of the real property to be conveyed by the
Secretary under subsection (a) and the real property to be
conveyed under subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be determined by
surveys satisfactory to the Secretary. The cost of such
surveys shall be borne by the transferee selected under
subsection (i).
(k) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may
require such additional terms and conditions in connection
with the conveyances under this section as the Secretary
considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United
States.
SEC. 2839. LAND CONVEYANCE, ARMY RESERVE PROPERTY, FORT
SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.
(a) Authority To Convey.--Subject to subsection (b), the
Secretary of the Army may convey to any transferee selected
under subsection (g) all right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to a parcel of real property (including
improvements thereon) at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, consisting
of approximately 114 acres and comprising an Army Reserve
area.
(b) Requirement for Federal Screening of Property.--The
Secretary may not carry out the conveyance of property
authorized by subsection (a) unless the Secretary determines
that no department or agency of the Federal Government will
accept the transfer of the property.
(c) Consideration.--(1) As consideration for the conveyance
under subsection (a), the transferee selected under
subsection (g) shall--
(A) convey to the United States a parcel of real property
that meets the requirements of subsection (d);
(B) design for and construct on the property conveyed under
subparagraph (A) such facilities (including support
facilities and infrastructure) to replace the facilities
conveyed pursuant to the authority in subsection (a) as the
Secretary considers appropriate; and
(C) pay the cost of relocating Army personnel in the
facilities located on the real property conveyed pursuant to
the authority in subsection (a) to the facilities constructed
under subparagraph (B).
(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the fair market value
of the consideration provided by the transferee under
paragraph (1) is not less than the fair market value of the
real property conveyed by the Secretary under subsection (a).
(d) Requirements Relating to Property To Be Conveyed to
United States.--The real property conveyed to the United
States under subsection (c)(1)(A) by the transferee selected
under subsection (g) shall--
(1) be located not more than 25 miles from Fort Sheridan;
(2) be located in a neighborhood or area having social and
economic conditions similar to the social and economic
conditions of the area in which Fort Sheridan is located; and
(3) be acceptable to the Secretary.
(e) Interim Relocation of Army Personnel.--Pending
completion of the construction of all the facilities proposed
to be constructed under subsection (c)(1)(B) by the
transferee selected under subsection (g), the Secretary may
relocate Army personnel in the facilities located on the
property to be conveyed pursuant to the authority in
subsection (a) to the facilities that have been
[[Page S 12546]]
constructed by the transferee under such subsection (c)(1)(B).
(f) Determination of Fair Market Value.--The Secretary
shall determine the fair market value of the real property to
be conveyed under subsection (a) and of the consideration to
be provided under subsection (c)(1). Such determination shall
be final.
(g) Selection of Transferee.--(1) The Secretary shall use
competitive procedures for the selection of a transferee
under subsection (a).
(2) In evaluating the offers of prospective transferees,
the Secretary shall--
(A) consider the technical sufficiency of the offers and
the adequacy of the offers in meeting the requirements for
consideration set forth in subsection (c)(1); and
(B) consult with the communities and jurisdictions in the
vicinity of Fort Sheridan (including the City of Lake Forest,
the City of Highwood, and the City of Highland Park and the
County of Lake) in order to determine the most appropriate
use of the property to be conveyed.
(h) Descriptions of Property.--The exact acreage and legal
descriptions of the real property to be conveyed by the
Secretary under subsection (a) and the real property to be
conveyed under subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be determined by
surveys satisfactory to the Secretary. The cost of such
surveys shall be borne by the transferee selected under
subsection (g).
(i) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may
require such additional terms and conditions in connection
with the conveyances under this section as the Secretary
considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United
States.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Simon, I offer this
amendment which would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to convey
real property and military family housing at the former Fort Sheridan,
IL, to a competitive bidder in exchange for a parcel of real property
and a newly constructed Navy neighborhood of excellence; and, two,
authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey real property at former
Fort Sheridan, IL, to a competitive bidder in exchange for a parcel of
real property and newly constructed Army Reserve facilities. These
property changes are at fair market value.
Mr. President, I believe this amendment has been cleared on both
sides.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it has been cleared. I wish to thank my
distinguished colleague. This is an issue that has been before the
committee on which the Senator from Nebraska and I serve. We would note
that Senator Dixon tried to lay foundations for this many years ago. It
has been considered by the committee through the years, and I strongly
support the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
So the amendment (No. 2450) was agreed to.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
missing service personnel
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, before we conclude consideration of the
fiscal year 1996 Defense authorization bill, I would like to make a few
comments regarding section 551, which addresses the determination of
whereabouts and the status of missing persons. Section 551 is the
direct result of S. 256, the Missing Service Personnel Act of 1995,
which I introduced on January 20 of this year. I want to thank Senator
Coats, the Personnel Subcommittee chairman, for his efforts to include
as much of the original bill in the Defense authorization bill as was
possible. It wasn't easy. DOD had its objections, as did a number of
our colleagues.
The original intent of S. 256 was to reform the Department of
Defense's procedures for determining the status and location of missing
personnel of the Armed Forces. Legislation concerning those missing in
action has not changed in the past 50 years. Since the Vietnam war, the
Department of Defense and the United States Government have been
criticized for their handling of the POW/MIA issue. Some of that
criticism is justified. The Government's own actions--or inaction--has
provoked legitimate criticism. S. 256 was an attempt to correct these
problems and establish a fair and equitable procedure for determining
the exact status of missing personnel. At the same time, it was my hope
that we might restore some of the Department's credibility on this
issue and renew the trust between the public and the Federal
Government.
I realize that some who supported S. 256 are concerned that section
551 is not identical. I agree, it is not everything we had hoped to
achieve. However, I do believe that section 551 represents the best
language we could pass in the Senate. There are reforms we had hoped to
achieve but which are not reflected in the Defense authorization bill.
But our colleagues in the House have included this matter in their
version of the Defense authorization bill. In my view, some of the
House language better reflects our original bill. When the Senate goes
to conference, it is my hope that all of the essential provisions of
the original bill will be included in the conference report.
So, again, I would like to thank Senator Coats for his efforts.
Section 551 centralizes oversight and responsibility for accounting for
missing persons, it establishes new procedures for reviewing cases of
missing persons, and it protects the missing service member from being
declared dead solely based on the passage of time. I look forward to
working with my colleagues to ensure that the conference report
includes all of the necessary reforms outlined in S. 256.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the chairman of the Armed Services
Committee, Mr. Thurmond, again has asked that I urge Senators to come
forward with their amendments. We are making some steady progress this
morning. I believe we are about to receive instructions from the
majority leader that the Senate will stand in recess.
Mr. EXON. Mr. President, just before we recess, if I may make a brief
statement, I thank once again the chairman of the committee for his
cooperation.
I thank my friend from Virginia. For the last few minutes we have
worked together to pass a whole series of amendments that were not
controversial. I simply say that we are making remarkable progress, and
I understand that when we reconvene at 2:15, following the statement
the Senator from Virginia is about to make, we will be moving forward
and tentatively have unanimous consent on an agreement that is going to
collapse about an hour and a half of time which would otherwise be
required, followed by another amendment the Senator from Nebraska had
intended to offer if this amendment does not pass, which I understand
will now.
So I am overjoyed to announce to Senators that we are making
remarkable progress under the bipartisan cooperation of both sides. It
would appear to me that if we can continue this remarkable speed, we
could have a chance of passing both the defense authorization and
appropriations bills at a very fair and early hour this evening. I
thank my friend from Virginia and those on that side of the aisle for
their cooperation.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished friend and
colleague. It is always a pleasure to work with him as we have now
17\1/2\-plus years.
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