[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 212 (Saturday, December 30, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S19318-S19319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS FOR PAY AND ALLOWANCES AND QUARTERS ALLOWANCE 
                 FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES

  Mr. DOLE. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. 1514, introduced today by myself for 
Senators Stevens, Thurmond, Coats, and others which would authorize a 
2.4-percent increase in pay and allowances and a 5.2-percent increase 
for basic allowance for quarters for the members of the uniformed 
services.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
 Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the bill I have proposed will 
provide the increases adopted by Congress for military pay and 
allowances. This action is necessary today for one reason--the 
President vetoed the Defense authorization bill.
  H.R. 1530, the fiscal year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act, 
passed both Houses of Congress with bipartisan support. I regret the 
President chose to veto this legislation. Beyond addressing these vital 
requirements to support the men and women who serve in the Armed 
Forces, and their families, this bill authorized important initiatives 
to accelerate modernization of the Armed Forces, and enhance our 
defenses against theater and intercontental ballistic missiles. These 
priorities are fully funded in the 1996 Defense Appropriations Act, 
which became law on December 1.
  Mr. President, with 20,000 Americans on their way to Bosnia, and 
15,000 more deploying in support of the 1st Armored Division, this is 
not the time for the President to play politics with the pay and 
economic well-being of military families. With thousands more Americans 
deployed to the Persian Gulf, standing watch in Korea, and keeping the 
peace in Haiti, they should not have to worry about whether we will do 
our part to make sure they receive the pay and benefits they have 
earned through their service.
  Mr. President, this bill should not be controversial. The House and 
Senate each passed these pay and allowance increases in legislation 
earlier this year, and endorsed these funding levels in the 
appropriations bill. The pay raise for civilian Federal workers will 
take effect on January 1--that does not require further legislation. 
There is no rationale to deny this modest increase for the men and 
women of the Armed Forces, and I hope the Senate will pass this bill 
without objection.
  It had been my intention to offer an amendment today which would have 
authorized for all of 1996 the full military pay and allowance 
increase. At this time it is not possible to get unanimous agreement 
for this approach, therefore I reluctantly accept a time limitation as 
the way to ensure that the men and women of our Armed Forces will 
receive their pay and allowance increases in a timely manner.
  Just 2 weeks ago, the Senate voted with a large bipartisan majority 
to express its support for the military personnel ordered to Bosnia. 
Many of us disagree with the process that sent them there, but I 
believe all Members of the Senate strongly support those soldiers, 
sailors, marines, and Air Force personnel who are doing their duty. 
Even more than our expression of support for their mission, this bill 
gives us a chance today to take action, to enhance their economic well-
being and the welfare of their families.
  We must act on their legislation today, to ensure that they will 
receive the full increase in pay and allowances for the month of 
January. I appreciate the efforts of the majority leader, Senator Dole, 
to move this legislation and protect the pay and benefits of all 
military personnel. I hope that the President will join with the 
Congress and sign this bill, and permit the pay and benefits increase 
already approved by Congress to become law.
 Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, this bill will correct a problem 
created when President Clinton vetoed the 1996 Defense authorization 
bill. By so doing, he denied the full pay raise and the increase in the 
basic allowance for quarters provided in that bill. Military pay is 
again slipping further behind comparable civilian pay. This is 
happening at a time when our military personnel are increasingly being 
called upon to deploy in support of U.S. commitments around the world. 
Our troops deserve this raise and they should receive it without delay. 
At this very moment, and throughout this holiday season, our troops 
have been leaving their families in Germany and throughout the United 
States to fulfill a commitment made by the President to try to bring 
peace to Bosnia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia. These young 
men and women, and their families, deserve the best we can provide for 
them in every way. They should have a standard of living at least as 
high as they could expect in the civilian sector and they should have 
the very best in supplies and equipment. That is what our authorization 
bill was designed to provide for them. However, the President chose to 
veto that bill for reasons that are apparently more political than 
substantive. This was done as our soldiers were trying desperately to 
stem the flood of the Sava River just to get into Bosnia. A commander 
should always have the welfare of the troops paramount in his mind. A 
Commander in Chief should act similarly. Although he did not, this bill 
will help to restore some of what was lost in his veto.

[[Page S19319]]

  I appreciate the cooperation of Senators Dole and Stevens in the 
expedious consideration of this bill.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
considered read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (S. 1514) was considered to have been read the third time 
and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1514

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
       Sec.   . That notwithstanding the Executive order of the 
     President, or any other provision of law, funds appropriated 
     by Public Law 104-61 for purposes set forth in section 601 of 
     H.R. 1530, the Conference Report accompanying the National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, House Report 
     No. 104-406, 104th Congress, 1st Session, as passed by the 
     House of Representatives on December 15, 1995 and by the 
     Senate on December 19, 1995, may be obligated and expended 
     for such purposes in accordance with such section: Provided, 
     That authorities provided under this section shall expire on 
     April 2, 1996.

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