[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E868-E869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FLOYD D. SPENCE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4205) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2001 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     fiscal year 2001, and for other purposes:

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, the Navy resumed training 
on the Atlantic Fleet bombing range in Vieques after Federal Agents 
cleared the bombing range of protesters. Unfortunately, a very tense 
situation remains. Yet we in the legislature, instead of leaving in 
place the agreement reached by the President, the governor of Puerto 
Rico and the Secretaries of Defense and Navy, we tried to add fuel to 
the fire with a provision in H.R. 4205 that unilaterally undermined a 
deal where concessions were made on all sides.
  I am pleased with the passage of Mr. Skelton's amendment and 
celebrate our victory in striking out the deal breaking language in 
H.R. 4205 and reinstating our agreement with Pedro Rossello, Governor 
of Puerto Rico. Let us recall that the agreement reached last January 
is a deal where concessions were made by both sides--negotiators had 
worked in good faith to reconcile the vital need for training with the 
legitimate concerns of the people of Vieques. Mr. Skelton's amendment 
leaves in place the compromise agreement for the orderly transfer of 
land on the Western side of Vieques, land not utilized by the Navy, to 
Puerto Rico. I urge the continuation of the President's deal as H.R. 
4205 moves toward conference.
  One thing is evident, our actions influenced the Navy's ability to 
continue crucial training on Vieques. We simply would have done a 
disservice to our sailors and their readiness if our legislative 
actions somehow led to more unrest in Puerto Rico. Let us not forget 
that the Navy has not been the best of neighbors to the American 
citizens of Vieques. Since the early days of World War II, the people 
of Vieques have been exposed to bombing raids 180 days of each year. 
Unfortunately, a little over a year ago, a bomb fell 2 miles off 
target, killing Mr. David Sanes Rodriquez, a civilian employee by the 
Navy and severely wounding four others. This tragic accident redefined 
and emboldened virtually all of Puerto Rico to demand for the safety, 
the security, and the well-being of the 9,311 Puerto Rico Americans who 
reside in Vieques.
  Let me be clear on the point that the Skelton amendment is strongly 
supported by the Government of Puerto Rico. I have spoken with Governor 
Rossello. He told me that over 70 percent of the American citizens on 
Vieques live below the poverty level and that civilian residents 
reportedly suffer from a cancer rate 26 percent higher than that of 
Puerto Rico as a whole. Doctors also note high levels of birth defects, 
skin diseases, asthma and other respiratory diseases. Yet without this 
amendment the resources that these people need would have been 
jeopardized.

[[Page E869]]

  If you are concerned about the ability of the Navy and our sailors to 
be militarily ready, then you will support the continuation of the 
President's's deal in conference because it represents the quickest way 
for us to resume a full spread of training activities which can include 
live fire exercises.
  The bottom line is that we have already negotiated a deal that is 
supported by all sides in this debate. But without the Skelton 
Amendment we would have had no deal. And so whether you are coming at 
this debate from a military or Puerto Rican perspective you can be sure 
that supporting the President's deal is the right thing to do.

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