[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 20, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5436-S5443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001--Continued
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
Amendments Nos. 3477 through 3490, En Bloc
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, my distinguished colleague, Senator Levin,
and I are prepared to address a series of amendments which have been
agreed to on both sides on the authorization bill for the armed
services of the United States.
Consequently, I send a series of amendments to the desk which have
been cleared by myself and the ranking member. Therefore, I ask
unanimous consent that the Senate consider those amendments en bloc,
the amendments be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the
table, and that any statements relating to any of these amendments be
printed in the Record.
Mr. LEVIN. I have no objection.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendments (Nos. 3477 through 3490) were agreed to, en bloc, as
follows:
AMENDMENT NO. 3477
(Purpose: To set aside $20,000,000 for the Joint Technology Information
Center Initiative; and to offset that amount by reducing the amount
provided for cyber attack sensing and warning under the information
systems security program (account 0303140G) by $20,000,000)
On page 48, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:
SEC. 222. JOINT TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER INITIATIVE.
Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section
201(4)--
(1) $20,000,000 shall be available for the Joint Technology
Information Center Initiative; and
(2) the amount provided for cyber attack sensing and
warning under the information systems security program
(account 0303140G) is reduced by $20,000,000.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3478
(Purpose: To authorize the establishment of United States-Russian
Federation joint center for the exchange of data from early warning
systems and for notification of missile launches)
On page 462, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:
SEC. 1210. UNITED STATES-RUSSIAN FEDERATION JOINT DATA
EXCHANGE CENTER ON EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS AND
NOTIFICATION OF MISSILE LAUNCHES.
(a) Authority.--The Secretary of Defense is authorized to
establish, in conjunction with the Government of the Russian
Federation, a United States-Russian Federation joint center
for the exchange of data from early warning systems and for
notification of missile launches.
(b) Specific Actions.--The actions that the Secretary
jointly undertakes for the establishment of the center may
include the renovation of a mutually agreed upon facility to
be made available by the Russian Federation and the provision
of such equipment and supplies as may be necessary to
commence the operation of the center.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3479
(Purpose: To provide back pay for persons who, while serving as members
of the Navy or the Marine Corps during World War II, were unable to
accept approved promotions by reason of being interned as prisoners of
war)
On page 239, after line 22, insert the following:
SEC. 656. BACK PAY FOR MEMBERS OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
APPROVED FOR PROMOTION WHILE INTERNED AS
PRISONERS OF WAR DURING WORLD WAR II.
(a) Entitlement of Former Prisoners of War.--Upon receipt
of a claim made in accordance with this section, the
Secretary of the Navy shall pay back pay to a claimant who,
by reason of being interned as a prisoner of war while
serving as a member of the Navy or the Marine Corps during
World War II, was not available to accept a promotion for
which the claimant was approved.
(b) Proper Claimant for Deceased Former Member.--In the
case of a person described in subsection (a) who is deceased,
the back pay for that deceased person under this section
shall be paid to a member or members of the family of the
deceased person determined appropriate in the same manner as
is provided in section 6(c) of the War Claims Act of 1948 (50
U.S.C. App. 2005(c)).
(c) Amount of Back Pay.--The amount of back pay payable to
or for a person described in subsection (a) is the amount
equal to the excess of--
(1) the total amount of basic pay that would have been paid
to that person for service in the Navy or the Marine Corps if
the person had been promoted on the date on which the
promotion was approved, over
(2) the total amount of basic pay that was paid to or for
that person for such service on and after that date.
(d) Time Limitations.--(1) To be eligible for a payment
under this section, a claimant must file a claim for such
payment with the Secretary of Defense within two years after
the effective date of the regulations implementing this
section.
(2) Not later than 18 months after receiving a claim for
payment under this section, the Secretary shall determine the
eligibility of the claimant for payment of the claim. Subject
to subsection (f), if the Secretary determines that the
claimant is eligible for the payment, the Secretary shall
promptly pay the claim.
(e) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe
regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall
include procedures by which persons may submit claims for
payment under this section. Such regulations shall be
prescribed not later than six months after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(f) Limitation on Disbursement.--(1) Notwithstanding any
power of attorney, assignment of interest, contract, or other
agreement, the actual disbursement of a payment under this
section may be made only to each person who is eligible for
the payment under subsection (a) or (b) and only--
(A) upon the appearance of that person, in person, at any
designated disbursement office in the United States or its
territories; or
(B) at such other location or in such other manner as that
person may request in writing.
(2) In the case of a claim approved for payment but not
disbursed as a result of operation of paragraph (1), the
Secretary of Defense shall hold the funds in trust for the
person in an interest bearing account until such time as the
person makes an election under such paragraph.
(g) Attorney Fees.--Notwithstanding any contract, the
representative of a person may not receive, for services
rendered in connection with the claim of, or with respect to,
a person under this section, more than 10 percent of the
amount of a payment made under this section on that claim.
(h) Outreach.--The Secretary of the Navy shall take such
actions as are necessary to ensure that the benefits and
eligibility for benefits under this section are widely
publicized by means designed to provide actual notice of the
availability of the benefits in a timely manner to the
maximum number of eligible persons practicable.
(i) Definition.--In this section, the term ``World War II''
has the meaning given the term in section 101(8) of title 38,
United States Code.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3480
(Purpose: To provide for full implementation of certain student loan
repayment programs as incentives for Federal employee recruitment and
retention)
On page 415, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:
SEC. 1061. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) Student Loans.--Section 5379(a)(1)(B) of title 5,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in clause (i), by inserting ``(20 U.S.C. 1071 et
seq.)'' before the semicolon;
(2) in clause (ii), by striking ``part E of title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965'' and inserting ``part D or E of
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a
et seq., 1087aa et seq.)''; and
(3) in clause (iii), by striking ``part C of title VII of
Public Health Service Act or under part B of title VIII of
such Act'' and inserting ``part A of title VII of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) or under part E of
title VIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 297a et seq.)''.
(b) Personnel Covered.--
(1) Ineligible personnel.--Section 5379(a)(2) of title 5,
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(2) An employee shall be ineligible for benefits under
this section if the employee occupies a position that is
excepted from the competitive service because of its
confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-
advocating character.''.
(2) Personnel recruited or retained.--Section 5379(b)(1) of
title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking
``professional, technical, or administrative''.
(c) Regulations.--
(1) Proposed regulations.--Not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this
[[Page S5437]]
Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management
(referred to in this section as the ``Director'') shall issue
proposed regulations under section 5379(g) of title 5, United
States Code. The Director shall provide for a period of not
less than 60 days for public comment on the regulations.
(2) Final regulations.--Not later than 240 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue final
regulations described in paragraph (1).
(d) Annual Reports.--Section 5379 of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h)(1) Each head of an agency shall maintain, and
annually submit to the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management, information with respect to the agency on--
``(A) the number of Federal employees selected to receive
benefits under this section;
``(B) the job classifications for the recipients; and
``(C) the cost to the Federal Government of providing the
benefits.
``(2) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management
shall prepare, and annually submit to Congress, a report
containing the information submitted under paragraph (1), and
information identifying the agencies that have provided the
benefits described in paragraph (1).''.
____
amendment no. 3481
(Purpose: To make available $33,000,000 for the operation of current
Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) sites)
On page 58, between lines 7 and 8, insert the following:
SEC. 313. TETHERED AEROSTAT RADAR SYSTEM (TARS) SITES.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Failure to operate and standardize the current Tethered
Aerostat Radar System (TARS) sites along the Southwest border
of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico will result in a
degradation of the counterdrug capability of the United
States.
(2) Most of the illicit drugs consumed in the United States
enter the United States through the Southwest border, the
Gulf of Mexico, and Florida.
(3) The Tethered Aerostat Radar System is a critical
component of the counterdrug mission of the United States
relating to the detection and apprehension of drug
traffickers.
(4) Preservation of the current Tethered Aerostat Radar
System network compels drug traffickers to transport illicit
narcotics into the United States by more risky and hazardous
routes.
(b) Availability of Funds.--Of the amount authorized to be
appropriated by section 301(20) for Drug Interdiction and
Counter-drug Activities, Defense-wide, up to $33,000,000 may
be made available to Drug Enforcement Policy Support (DEP&S)
for purposes of maintaining operations of the 11 current
Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) sites and completing
the standardization of such sites located along the Southwest
border of the United States and in the States bordering the
Gulf of Mexico.
____
amendment no. 3482
(Purpose: To make available, with an offset, $7,000,000 for
procurement, Defense-Wide, for the procurement and installation of
integrated bridge systems for naval systems special warfare rigid
inflatable boats and high-speed assault craft for special operations
forces)
On page 32, after line 24, add the following:
SEC. 142. INTEGRATED BRIDGE SYSTEMS FOR NAVAL SYSTEMS SPECIAL
WARFARE RIGID INFLATABLE BOATS AND HIGH-SPEED
ASSAULT CRAFT.
(a) Increase in Authorization for Procurement, Defense-
Wide.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by section
104 for procurement, Defense-wide, is hereby increased by
$7,000,000.
(b) Availability of Amount.--Of the amount authorized to be
appropriated by section 104, as increased by subsection (a),
$7,000,000 shall be available for the procurement and
installation of integrated bridge systems for naval systems
special warfare rigid inflatable boats and high-speed assault
craft for special operations forces.
(c) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by
section 103(4), for other procurement for the Air Force, is
hereby reduced by $7,000,000.
____
amendment no. 3483
(Purpose: To authorize, with an offset, $5,000,000 for research,
development, test, and evaluation Defense-wide for Explosives
Demilitarization Technology (PE603104D) for research into ammunition
risk analysis capabilities)
On page 48, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:
SEC. 222. AMMUNITION RISK ANALYSIS CAPABILITIES.
(a) Availability of Amount.--Of the amount authorized to be
appropriated by section 201(4) for research, development,
test, and evaluation Defense-wide, the amount available for
Explosives Demilitarization Technology (PE603104D) is hereby
increased by $5,000,000, with the amount of such increase
available for research into ammunition risk analysis
capabilities.
(b) Offset.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by
section 201(4), the amount available for Computing Systems
and Communications Technology (PE602301E) is hereby decreased
by $5,000,000.
____
amendment no. 3484
(Purpose: To permit members of the National Guard to participate in
athletic competitions and to modify authorities relating to
participation of such members in small arms competition)
On page 200, following line 23, add the following:
SEC. 566. PREPARATION, PARTICIPATION, AND CONDUCT OF ATHLETIC
COMPETITIONS AND SMALL ARMS COMPETITIONS BY THE
NATIONAL GUARD AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL
GUARD.
(a) Preparation and Participation of Members Generally.--
Subsection (a) of section 504 of title 32, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (2);
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by inserting ``prepare for and'' before
``participate''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) prepare for and participate in qualifying athletic
competitions.''.
(b) Conduct of Competitions.--That section is further
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c)(1) Units of the National Guard may conduct small arms
competitions and athletic competitions in conjunction with
training required under this chapter if such activities would
meet the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1), (3), and
(4) of section 508(a) of this title if such activities were
services to be provided under that section.
``(2) Facilities and equipment of the National Guard,
including military property and vehicles described in section
508(c) of this title, may be used in connection with
activities under paragraph (1).''.
(c) Availability of Funds.--That section is further amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Subject to provisions of appropriations Acts, amounts
appropriated for the National Guard may be used in order to
cover the costs of activities under subsection (c) and of
expenses of members of the National Guard under paragraphs
(3) and (4) of subsection (a), including expenses of
attendance and participation fees, travel, per diem,
clothing, equipment, and related expenses.''.
(d) Qualifying Athletic Competitions Defined.--That section
is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(e) In this section, the term `qualifying athletic
competition' means a competition in athletic events that
require skills relevant to military duties or involve aspects
of physical fitness that are evaluated by the armed forces in
determining whether a member of the National Guard is fit for
military duty.''.
(e) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--(1) The section
heading of such section is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 504. National Guard schools; small arms competitions;
athletic competitions''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 of
that title is amended by striking the item relating to
section 504 and inserting the following new item:
``504. National Guard schools; small arms competitions; athletic
competitions.''.
____
amendment no. 3485
(Purpose: To amend title 5, United States Code to provide for
realignment of the Department of Defense workforce)
On page 436, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:
SEC. 1114. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR VOLUNTARY SEPARATIONS
IN REDUCTIONS IN FORCE.
Section 3502(f)(5) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``September 30, 2001'' and inserting
``September 30, 2005''.
SEC. 1115. EXTENSION, REVISION, AND EXPANSION OF AUTHORITIES
FOR USE OF VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAY
AND VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT.
(a) Extension of Authority.--Subsection (e) of section 5597
of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking
``September 30, 2003'' and inserting ``September 30, 2005''.
(b) Revision and Addition of Purposes for Department of
Defense VSIP.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended by
inserting after ``transfer of function,'' the following:
``restructuring of the workforce (to meet mission needs,
achieve one or more strength reductions, correct skill
imbalances, or reduce the number of high-grade, managerial,
or supervisory positions in accordance with the strategic
plan required under section 1118 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001),''.
(c) Eligibility.--Subsection (c) of such section is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``objective and
nonpersonal'' after ``similar''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``A determination of which employees are within the scope of
an offer of separation pay shall be made only on the basis of
consistent and well-documented application of the relevant
criteria.''.
(d) Installment Payments.--Subsection (d) of such section
is amended--
[[Page S5438]]
(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) shall be paid in a lump-sum or in installments;'';
(2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
(3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) if paid in installments, shall cease to be paid upon
the recipient's acceptance of employment by the Federal
Government, or commencement of work under a personal services
contract, as described in subsection (g)(1).''.
(e) Applicability of Repayment Requirement to Reemployment
Under Personal Services Contracts.--Subsection (g)(1) of such
section is amended by inserting after ``employment with the
Government of the United States'' the following: ``, or who
commences work for an agency of the United States through a
personal services contract with the United States,''.
SEC. 1116. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EMPLOYEE VOLUNTARY EARLY
RETIREMENT AUTHORITY.
(a) Civil Service Retirement System.--Section 8336 of title
5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``except in the case
of an employee described in subsection (o)(1),'' after
``(2)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(o)(1) An employee of the Department of Defense who,
before October 1, 2005, is separated from the service after
completing 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years of
age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an
immediate annuity under this subchapter if the employee is
eligible for the annuity under paragraph (2) or (3).
``(2)(A) An employee referred to in paragraph (1) is
eligible for an immediate annuity under this paragraph if the
employee--
``(i) is separated from the service involuntarily other
than for cause; and
``(ii) has not declined a reasonable offer of another
position in the Department of Defense for which the employee
is qualified, which is not lower than 2 grades (or pay
levels) below the employee's grade (or pay level), and which
is within the employee's commuting area.
``(B) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(i), a separation
for failure to accept a directed reassignment to a position
outside the commuting area of the employee concerned or to
accompany a position outside of such area pursuant to a
transfer of function may not be considered to be a removal
for cause.
``(3) An employee referred to in paragraph (1) is eligible
for an immediate annuity under this paragraph if the employee
satisfies all of the following conditions:
``(A) The employee is separated from the service
voluntarily during a period in which the organization within
the Department of Defense in which the employee is serving is
undergoing a major organizational adjustment.
``(B) The employee has been employed continuously by the
Department of Defense for more than 30 days before the date
on which the head of the employee's organization requests the
determinations required under subparagraph (A).
``(C) The employee is serving under an appointment that is
not limited by time.
``(D) The employee is not in receipt of a decision notice
of involuntary separation for misconduct or unacceptable
performance.
``(E) The employee is within the scope of an offer of
voluntary early retirement, as defined on the basis of one or
more of the following objective criteria:
``(i) One or more organizational units.
``(ii) One or more occupational groups, series, or levels.
``(iii) One or more geographical locations.
``(iv) Any other similar objective and nonpersonal criteria
that the Office of Personnel Management determines
appropriate.
``(4) Under regulations prescribed by the Office of
Personnel Management, the determinations of whether an
employee meets--
``(A) the requirements of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3)
shall be made by the Office, upon the request of the
Secretary of Defense; and
``(B) the requirements of subparagraph (E) of such
paragraph shall be made by the Secretary of Defense.
``(5) A determination of which employees are within the
scope of an offer of early retirement shall be made only on
the basis of consistent and well-documented application of
the relevant criteria.
``(6) In this subsection, the term `major organizational
adjustment' means any of the following:
``(A) A major reorganization.
``(B) A major reduction in force.
``(C) A major transfer of function.
``(D) A workforce restructuring--
``(i) to meet mission needs;
``(ii) to achieve one or more reductions in strength;
``(iii) to correct skill imbalances; or
``(iv) to reduce the number of high-grade, managerial,
supervisory, or similar positions.''.
(b) Federal Employees' Retirement System.--Section 8414 of
such title is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by inserting ``except in the
case of an employee described in subsection (d)(1),'' after
``(B)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d)(1) An employee of the Department of Defense who,
before October 1, 2005, is separated from the service after
completing 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years of
age and completing 20 years of service is entitled to an
immediate annuity under this subchapter if the employee is
eligible for the annuity under paragraph (2) or (3).
``(2)(A) An employee referred to in paragraph (1) is
eligible for an immediate annuity under this paragraph if the
employee--
``(i) is separated from the service involuntarily other
than for cause; and
``(ii) has not declined a reasonable offer of another
position in the Department of Defense for which the employee
is qualified, which is not lower than 2 grades (or pay
levels) below the employee's grade (or pay level), and which
is within the employee's commuting area.
``(B) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(i), a separation
for failure to accept a directed reassignment to a position
outside the commuting area of the employee concerned or to
accompany a position outside of such area pursuant to a
transfer of function may not be considered to be a removal
for cause.
``(3) An employee referred to in paragraph (1) is eligible
for an immediate annuity under this paragraph if the employee
satisfies all of the following conditions:
``(A) The employee is separated from the service
voluntarily during a period in which the organization within
the Department of Defense in which the employee is serving is
undergoing a major organizational adjustment.
``(B) The employee has been employed continuously by the
Department of Defense for more than 30 days before the date
on which the head of the employee's organization requests the
determinations required under subparagraph (A).
``(C) The employee is serving under an appointment that is
not limited by time.
``(D) The employee is not in receipt of a decision notice
of involuntary separation for misconduct or unacceptable
performance.
``(E) The employee is within the scope of an offer of
voluntary early retirement, as defined on the basis of one or
more of the following objective criteria:
``(i) One or more organizational units.
``(ii) One or more occupational groups, series, or levels.
``(iii) One or more geographical locations.
``(iv) Any other similar objective and nonpersonal criteria
that the Office of Personnel Management determines
appropriate.
``(4) Under regulations prescribed by the Office of
Personnel Management, the determinations of whether an
employee meets--
``(A) the requirements of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3)
shall be made by the Office upon the request of the Secretary
of Defense; and
``(B) the requirements of subparagraph (E) of such
paragraph shall be made by the Secretary of Defense.
``(5) A determination of which employees are within the
scope of an offer of early retirement shall be made only on
the basis of consistent and well-documented application of
the relevant criteria.
``(6) In this subsection, the term `major organizational
adjustment' means any of the following:
``(A) A major reorganization.
``(B) A major reduction in force.
``(C) A major transfer of function.
``(D) A workforce restructuring--
``(i) to meet mission needs;
``(ii) to achieve one or more reductions in strength;
``(iii) to correct skill imbalances; or
``(iv) to reduce the number of high-grade, managerial,
supervisory, or similar positions.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 8339(h) of such
title is amended by striking out ``or ( j)'' in the first
sentence and inserting ``( j), or (o)''.
(2) Section 8464(a)(1)(A)(i) of such title is amended by
striking out ``or (b)(1)(B)'' and ``, (b)(1)(B), or (d)''.
(d) Effective Date; Applicability.--The amendments made by
this section--
(1) shall take effect on October 1, 2000; and
(2) shall apply with respect to an approval for voluntary
early retirement made on or after that date.
SEC. 1117. RESTRICTIONS ON PAYMENTS FOR ACADEMIC TRAINING.
(a) Sources of Postsecondary Education.--Subsection (a) of
section 4107 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) any course of postsecondary education that is
administered or conducted by an institution not accredited by
a national or regional accrediting body (except in the case
of a course or institution for which standards for
accrediting do not exist or are determined by the head of the
employee's agency as being inappropriate), regardless of
whether the course is provided by means of classroom
instruction, electronic instruction, or otherwise.''.
(b) Waiver of Restriction on Degree Training.--Subsection
(b)(1) of such section is amended by striking ``if
necessary'' and all that follows through the end and
inserting ``if the training provides an opportunity for an
employee of the agency to obtain an academic degree pursuant
to a planned, systematic, and coordinated program of
professional development approved by the head of the
agency.''.
[[Page S5439]]
(c) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--The heading for
such section is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 4107. Restrictions''.
(3) The item relating to such section in the table of
sections at the beginning of chapter 41 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``4107. Restrictions.''.
SEC. 1118. STRATEGIC PLAN.
(a) Requirement for Plan.--Not later than six months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and before exercising
any of the authorities provided or extended by the amendments
made by sections 1115 through 1117, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
strategic plan for the exercise of such authorities. The plan
shall include an estimate of the number of Department of
Defense employees that would be affected by the uses of
authorities as described in the plan.
(b) Consistency With DoD Performance and Review Strategic
Plan.--The strategic plan submitted under subsection (a)
shall be consistent with the strategic plan of the Department
of Defense that is in effect under section 306 of title 5,
United States Code.
(c) Appropriate Committees.--For the purposes of this
section, the appropriate committees of Congress are as
follows:
(1) The Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(2) The Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Government Reform of the House of Representatives.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3486
(Purpose: To provide for a blue ribbon advisory panel to examine
Department of Defense policies on the privacy of individual medical
records)
On page 270, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:
SEC. 743. BLUE RIBBON ADVISORY PANEL ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
POLICIES REGARDING THE PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUAL
MEDICAL RECORDS.
(a) Establishment.--(1) There is hereby established an
advisory panel to be known as the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel
on Department of Defense Policies Regarding the Privacy of
Individual Medical Records (in this section referred to as
the ``Panel'').
(2)(A) The Panel shall be composed of 7 members appointed
by the President, of whom--
(i) at least one shall be a member of a consumer
organization;
(ii) at least one shall be a medical professional;
(iii) at least one shall have a background in medical
ethics; and
(iv) at least one shall be a member of the Armed Forces.
(B) The appointments of the members of the Panel shall be
made not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(3) No later than 30 days after the date on which all
members of the Panel have been appointed, the Panel shall
hold its first meeting.
(4) The Panel shall select a Chairman and Vice Chairman
from among its members.
(b) Duties.--(1) The Panel shall conduct a thorough study
of all matters relating to the policies and practices of the
Department of Defense regarding the privacy of individual
medical records.
(2) Not later than April 30, 2001, the Panel shall submit a
report to the President and Congress which shall contain a
detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the
Panel, together with its recommendations for such legislation
and administrative actions as it considers appropriate to
ensure the privacy of individual medical records.
(c) Powers.--(1) The Panel may hold such hearings, sit and
act at such times and places, take such testimony, and
receive such evidence as the Panel considers advisable to
carry out the purposes of this section.
(2) The Panel may secure directly from the Department of
Defense, and any other Federal department or agency, such
information as the Panel considers necessary to carry out the
provisions of this section. Upon request of the Chairman of
the Panel, the Secretary of Defense, or the head of such
department or agency, shall furnish such information to the
Panel.
(3) The Panel may use the United States mails in the same
manner and under the same conditions as other departments and
agencies of the Federal Government.
(4) The Panel may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or
donations of services or property.
(5) Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the
Panel without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(d) Termination.--The Panel shall terminate 30 days after
the date on which the Panel submits its report under
subsection (b)(2).
(e) Funding.--(1) Of the amounts authorized to be
appropriated by this Act, the Secretary shall make available
to the Panel such sums as the Panel may require for its
activities under this section.
(2) Any sums made available under paragraph (1) shall
remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until
expended.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3487
(Purpose: To expand the authority of the Secretary of Defense to exempt
geodetic products of the Department of Defense from public disclosure.)
On page 353, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following:
SEC. 914. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT GEODETIC PRODUCTS
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FROM PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE.
Section 455(b)(1)(C) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``or reveal military operational or
contingency plans'' and inserting ``, reveal military
operational or contingency plans, or reveal, jeopardize, or
compromise military or intelligence capabilities''.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3488
(Purpose: To make available, with an offset, an additional $2,100,000
for the conversion of the configuration of certain AGM-65 Maverick
missiles)
On page 31, after line 25, add the following:
SEC. 132. CONVERSION OF AGM-65 MAVERICK MISSILES.
(a) Increase in Amount.--The amount authorized to be
appropriated by section 103(3) for procurement of missiles
for the Air Force is hereby increased by $2,100,000.
(b) Availability of Amount.--(1) Of the amount authorized
to be appropriated by section 103(3), as increased by
subsection (a), $2,100,000 shall be available for In-Service
Missile Modifications for the purpose of the conversion of
Maverick missiles in the AGM-65B and AGM-65G configurations
to Maverick missiles in the AGM-65H and AGM-65K
configurations.
(2) The amount available under paragraph (1) for the
purpose specified in that paragraph is in addition to any
other amounts available under this Act for that purpose.
(c) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by
section 103(1) for procurement of aircraft for the Air Force
is hereby reduced by $2,100,000, with the amount of the
reduction applicable to amounts available under that section
for ALE-50 Code Decoys.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3489
(Purpose: To set aside for the procurement of rapid intravenous
infusion pumps $6,000,000 of the amount authorized to be appropriated
for the Army for other procurement; and to offset that addition by
reducing by $6,000,000 the amount authorized to be appropriated for the
Army for other procurement for the family of medium tactical vehicles.)
On page 25, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:
SEC. 113. RAPID INTRAVENOUS INFUSION PUMPS.
Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section
101(5)--
(1) $6,000,000 shall be available for the procurement of
rapid intravenous infusion pumps; and
(2) the amount provided for the family of medium tactical
vehicles is hereby reduced by $6,000,000.
____
AMENDMENT NO. 3490
(Purpose: To set aside funds for the Mounted Urban Combat Training
site, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and for overhaul of MK-45 5-inch guns)
On page 58, between lines 7 and 8, insert the following:
SEC. 313. MOUNTED URBAN COMBAT TRAINING SITE, FORT KNOX,
KENTUCKY.
Of the total amount authorized to be appropriated under
section 301(1) for training range upgrades, $4,000,000 is
available for the Mounted Urban Combat Training site, Fort
Knox, Kentucky.
SEC. 314. MK-45 OVERHAUL.
Of the total amount authorized to be appropriated under
section 301(1) for maintenance, $12,000,000 is available for
overhaul of MK-45 5-inch guns.
amendment no. 3485
Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, on June 6th, Senator DeWine and I
introduced legislation to help the Department of Defense move ahead
towards addressing their future workforce needs. Our bill, the
Department of Defense Civilian Workforce Realignment Act of 2000, gives
the Department of Defense the necessary flexibility to adequately
manage its civilian workforce and align its human capital to meet the
demands of the post-cold war environment.
The amendment that Senator DeWine and I are offering today adds the
modified language of our bill to this DOD authorization bill so that
the U.S. military can more adequately prepare for tomorrow's
challenges.
Mr. President, before I speak on the amendment itself, I would like
to discuss the human capital crisis that is confronting the Federal
Government. Since July of last year, the Oversight of Government
Management Subcommittee, which I chair, has held six hearings on
federal workforce issues. Some of the issues we have examined include
management reform initiatives, Federal employee training needs and the
effectiveness of employee incentive programs.
One point that I have emphasized at each of these hearings is that
the employees of the Federal Government
[[Page S5440]]
should be treated as its most valued resource. In reality, Mr.
President, Federal employees and human capital management have been
long overlooked.
In fact, this past March, Comptroller General David Walker testified
before the Oversight Subcommittee that the government's human capital
management systems could earn the GAO's ``high-risk'' designation in
January 2001. While there are several reasons why the Federal
Government's human capital management is in such disarray, there are
suggestions that an improper execution of government downsizing has
played a larger role than has been previously recognized.
Walker stated that ``(GAO's) reviews have found, for example, that a
lack of adequate strategic and workforce planning during the initial
rounds of downsizing by some agencies may have affected their ability
to achieve organizational missions. Some agencies reported that
downsizing in general led to such negative effects as a loss of
institutional memory and an increase in work backlogs. Although [GAO]
found that an agency's planning for downsizing improved as their
downsizing efforts continued, it is by no means clear that the current
workforce is adequately balanced to properly execute agencies' missions
today, nor that adequate plans are in place to ensure the appropriate
balance in the future.''
Furthermore, the Comptroller General testified that it appeared that
many Federal agencies had cut back on training as they were downsizing;
the very time they should have been expanding their training budgets
and activities to better ensure that their remaining employees were
able to effectively do their jobs.
While the problems associated with the downsizing of the last decade
are becoming more apparent, the United States is faced with an even
greater potential threat to the Government's human capital situation in
this decade--massive numbers of retirements of Federal employees. By
2004, 32 percent of the Federal workforce will be eligible for regular
retirement, and an additional 21 percent will be eligible for early
retirement. That's a potential loss of over 900,000 experienced
employees.
Mr. President, any other public- or private-sector manager who faced
the loss of more than half of his or her workforce would recognize that
immediate action was necessary to ensure the long-term viability of
their business or organization. And over the next few years, the United
States must seriously address this growing human capital crisis in the
Federal Government workforce. It will not be easy--years of downsizing
and hiring freezes have taken their toll, as will a pending retirement-
exodus for ``baby boomer'' Federal employees. Add to that the lure of a
strong private sector economy drawing more young workers away from
government service, and the Federal Government will only find it harder
to attract and retain the technology-savvy workforce that will be
necessary to run the government in the 21st Century.
To meet this challenge, Senator DeWine and I are offering this
amendment that will help one critical department of our Federal
Government--the Department of Defense--get a head start in addressing
their future workforce needs. As I stated earlier, this amendment gives
the Department of Defense the latitude it needs to manage its civilian
workforce as well as re-shape its human capital for the 21st century.
What the Defense Department is able to accomplish via this amendment
may serve as a model for use throughout the government.
During the last decade, the Defense Department underwent a massive
civilian workforce downsizing program that saw a cut of more than
280,000 positions. In addition, the Defense Department--like other
Federal departments--was subject to hiring restrictions. Taken
together, these two factors have inhibited the development of mid-level
career, civilian professionals within the DOD.
The extent of this problem is exhibited in the fact that right now,
the Department is seriously understaffed in certain key occupations,
such as computer experts and foreign language specialists. The lack of
such professionals has the potential to affect the Defense Department's
ability to respond effectively and rapidly to threats to our national
security.
Our amendment will assist the Department in shaping the ``skills
mix'' of the current workforce in order to address shortfalls brought
about by years of downsizing, and to meet the need for new skills in
emerging technological and professional areas. In testimony before the
Oversight Subcommittee, Comptroller General Walker recognized the need
for such actions, noting that, ``(I)n cutting back on the hiring of new
staff in order to reduce the number of their employees, agencies also
reduced the influx of new people with the new competencies needed to
sustain excellence.''
So what will workforce shaping mean to the Department of Defense? In
the United States Air Force, workforce shaping will allow the Air Force
research labs to meet changing requirements in their mission. For
example, at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, they need fewer
psychologists and more aerospace engineers; at Rome Air Force Base in
Rome, New York, they need computer scientists rather than operations
research analysts; and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Based in Dayton,
Ohio, they need more materials engineers rather than physicists.
Also, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, there is a need to move
from the mechanical/aeronautical engineering skills that their senior
engineers possess to skills that are more focused on emerging
technologies in electrical engineering, such as space operations,
lasers, optics, advanced materials and directed energy fields. Changing
the skills requirements at Wright-Patterson will help the Base meet
their needs for the next 10 to 15 years.
The U.S. Army Materiel Command determined that employees at two of
its locations--St. Louis, Missouri and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania--
possessed the wrong computer skills to meet the Army's new information
technology requirements. Switching from COBAL to a more commercially-
oriented computer language, the Army found that their employee's skills
did not match the new requirements, nor were their skills readily
transferable. Subsequently, this mission was contracted to a private
company. Almost 450 Federal jobs were eliminated with many of those
scheduled for involuntary separation by reduction in force.
If Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay (VSIP) had been available for
reshaping and realignment, the Army may have been able to save some of
these employees from involuntary separation by using VSIP to increase
voluntary separations. The use of VSIP also could have allowed for the
retention of Federal jobs since the Army could have provided separation
incentives to the COBAL-trained workers and hired new, commercially-
oriented technology workers in their place. Instead, the Army
contracted with a private company to meet the mission requirement in a
timely manner, and the existing workforce was involuntarily separated.
Even so, the most immediate problem facing the Defense Department is
the need to address its serious demographic challenges. The average
Defense employee is 45 years old and more than a third of the
Department's workforce is age 51 or older. In the Department of the Air
Force, for example, 45 percent of the workforce will be eligible for
either regular retirement or early retirement by 2005.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is an excellent example of the
demographic challenge facing many military installations across the
country. Wright-Patterson is the headquarters of the Air Force Material
Command, and employs 22,700 civilian federal workers. By 2005, 40
percent of the workforce will be age 55 or older. Another 19 percent
will be between 50 and 54 years of age. Thirty-three percent will be in
their forties. Only six percent will be age 35 to 39, and less than two
percent will be under the age of 34. According to these numbers, by
2005, 60 percent of Wright-Patterson's civilian employees will be
eligible for either early or regular retirement.
Although a mass exodus of all retirement-eligible employees is not
anticipated, there is a genuine concern that a significant portion of
the civilian workforce at Wright-Patterson and
[[Page S5441]]
elsewhere in the Department of Defense, including hundreds of key
leaders and employees with crucial expertise, could decide to retire,
leaving the remaining workforce without experienced leadership and
absent essential institutional knowledge.
This combination of factors poses a serious challenge to the long-
term effectiveness of the civilian component of the Defense Department,
and by implication, the national security of the United States.
Military base leaders, and indeed the entire Defense establishment,
need to be given the flexibility to hire new employees so they can
develop another generation of civilian leaders and employees who will
be able to provide critical support to our men and women in uniform.
That is the purpose of our amendment. It addresses the current skills
and age imbalance in the federal workforce before the increase in
retirements of senior public employees begins in the next five years.
If we wait for this ``retirement bubble'' to burst before we start to
hire new employees, then we will have fewer seasoned individuals left
in the federal workforce who can provide adequate training and
mentoring.
Our amendment will allow the Defense Department to conduct a smoother
transition by not waiting for these retirements before bringing new
employees into the Department over the next five years with the skills
the U.S. needs for the future. As they are hired, the new employees
will have the opportunity to work with and learn from their more
experienced colleagues, and invaluable institutional knowledge will be
passed along.
As I was drafting this proposal, I wanted to make sure that those who
would be most impacted by it--Department of Defense civilian
employees--would have an opportunity to comment on it. I contacted the
American Federation of Government Employees and asked them to provide
their opinion of this proposal. After thoroughly reviewing it, AFGE
informed me that they did have concerns that the Defense Department
might believe this bill authorized them to hire outside contractors to
perform work that is currently being done by government employees.
I want to state--emphatically--that this is not the purpose or intent
of this amendment. Let me repeat: it is not the intent of this
amendment, nor should any intent be construed, to allow the Defense
Department to circumvent their obligations to our civilian workforce.
The purpose of this amendment is to help the Department ``rightsize and
revitalize'' its civilian workforce, not reduce the number of federal
full-time equivalent employees. I encourage management officials at the
Department of Defense to work closely with the Department's union
representatives on the implementation of this measure.
In addition, this amendment allows the early retirement and
separation pay authorities to be exercised only for workforce
realignment, or for purposes specified in this amendment, or as they
exist in current law.
We are not seeking to establish a program to address problems of
individual employees' performance. Employee performance problems will
continue to be handled by managers, who must use the performance
management system under existing law--a system that gives affected
employees particular procedural and substantive rights.
Further, our amendment stipulates that the offer of early retirement
or separation pay may only be used under a consistent and well-
documented application of relevant, objective non-personal criteria.
Thus, under the amendment, as in existing law, an individual employee
may not be ``targeted'' for early retirement or separation pay for the
purpose of providing benefits to or affecting the removal of that
employee.
Mr. President, our amendment would also require that, no later than
six months after this bill becomes law, the Secretary of Defense shall
develop a strategic plan for the exercise of the authorities provided
by this amendment, and that these authorities cannot be exercised until
that strategic plan has been submitted to Congress. This plan shall be
consistent with the strategic plan developed by the Department pursuant
to the Government Performance and Results Act.
We further expect that the Department's annual Results Act
performance reports will include an assessment of the effectiveness and
usefulness of these authorities and how the exercise of these
authorities in helping the Department achieve its mission, meet its
performance goals, and fulfill its strategic plan. Senator DeWine and I
included this section because during the 1990s, many Federal agencies
downsized their workforces without first determining their human
resources requirements. The purpose of this section is to make sure
that the authorities provided by this act are not exercised
haphazardly, but in the context of the Department's strategic plan and
future requirements.
As a fiscal conservative, I believe that the monetary cost of this
amendment pales in comparison to the costs we will incur if we do not
begin to address our human capital issue immediately.
We cannot forget that within five years, hundreds of thousands of
federal employees will begin to retire. Most of these future retirees
have decades of expertise and vital institutional knowledge, and once
they are out of the workforce, so too is their ability to train a new
generation of federal workers.
It would be incredibly short-sighted if, in an attempt to save money,
we simply wait for these hundreds of thousands of defense employees to
retire before we even start to consider hiring their replacements. If
we do nothing, I believe we will be left in a position where the
civilian component of the Defense Department will be subject to an
``experience gap'' that will take years to overcome and which would be
measured not in dollars but in diminished national security.
We must give the Department of Defense the tools it needs to bring in
new federal employees, with the skills necessary to meet the challenges
of tomorrow. While this amendment does not address all of the human
capital needs of the Defense Department, it is an important first step
and will help ensure that the Department of Defense recruits and
retains a quality civilian workforce so that our armed forces may
remain the best in the world. It is extremely important to the future
vitality of the Department's civilian workforce and the national
security of the United States that we address the human capital crisis
while we have the opportunity.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise to discuss provisions (Section
906) in the FY 2001 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2549) aimed
at supporting efforts within the Department of Defense to develop a set
of operational concepts, sometimes referred to as ``Network Centric
Warfare,'' that seek to exploit the power of information and US
superiority in information technologies to maintain dominance and
improve interoperability on the battlefield. I am very pleased to have
been joined in the development of these provisions by my able
colleagues, Senators Roberts and Bingaman. This concept of operations
generates increased combat power by networking sensors, decision makers
and shooters to achieve shared situational awareness, increased speed
of command, higher tempo of synchronized operations, greater lethality,
increased survivability, and more efficient support operations. In the
words of Vice Admiral Arthur Cebrowski, the President of the Naval War
College, ``Network Centric Warfare is an embodiment of the emerging
theory of warfare for the Information Age.''
As we strive to transform our military to meet the challenges and
threats of the new century, it is clear that we must make better use of
our huge advantages in information technology, sensors, networks, and
computing to achieve battlefield dominance. Network Centric Warfare
exploits these advantages not only by identifying, developing, and
utilizing the best new networking and sensing technologies, but also by
adjusting our existing doctrine, tactics, training and even
acquisition, planning, and programming to reflect the network centric
concepts of operations. A truly networked force can be lighter, faster,
more precise, more Joint and more able to respond to contingencies
ranging from peacekeeping to major regional conflicts.
[[Page S5442]]
In Joint Vision 2020, the Joint Chiefs of Staff highlight the
critical role that information and information systems will play in
future operations, stating:
* * * the ongoing ``information revolution'' is creating
not only a quantitative, but a qualitative change in the
information environment that by 2020 will result in profound
changes in the conduct of military operations. In fact,
advances in information capabilities are proceeding so
rapidly that there is a risk of outstripping our ability to
capture ideas, formulate operational concepts, and develop
the capacity to assess results. While the goal of achieving
information superiority will not change, the nature, scope,
and ``rules'' of the quest are changing radically.
Information superiority provides the joint force a
competitive advantage only when it is effectively translated
into superior knowledge and decisions. The joint force must
be able to take advantage of superior information converted
to superior knowledge to achieve ``decision superiority''--
better decisions arrived at and implemented faster than an
opponent can react, or in a noncombat situation, at a tempo
that allows the force to shape the situation or react to
changes and accomplish its mission. Decision superiority does
not automatically result from information superiority.
Organizational and doctrinal adaptation, relevant training
and experience, and the proper command and control mechanisms
and tools are equally necessary.
The legislation in Section 906 of S. 2549 explores many of the facets
of this Joint vision of a networked force and operations.
It is clear that there have been chronic difficulties and
deficiencies in our recent military operations, including Kosovo,
associated with Service-centric boundaries and segmentation of
operational areas by Service, which have resulted in a number of
interoperability failures and inefficiencies. Reports have suggested
that we continue to have difficulty collecting, processing, and
disseminating critical information to our battlefields. These
shortfalls, for example, severely limited our ability to make full use
of the capabilities of our JSTARS aircraft or to effectively strike
mobile targets. Earlier in this session, the Armed Services Committee
received testimony concerning Kosovo operations from Lieutenant General
Michael Short, the Commander of Allied Air Forces in Southern Europe,
where he highlighted improvements made within the Air Force to move
targeting information from intelligence assets (for example, U-2s) to
some combat aircraft. But he also pointed out the need to expand these
efforts,
* * * we need to be able to do that across the fleet, to
move information to A-10s and F-16s and F/A-18s and F-14s,
everything we have got, * * * to rapidly respond to the
emerging situation.
It is also clear that these problems do not all stem from
technological deficiencies. In fact, many of the interoperability
difficulties that we see today result from force and organizational
structures, doctrine, and tactics that have not kept pace with
technological change. Admiral James Ellis, the Commander-in-Chief of
Allied Forces in Southern Europe, highlighted these problems for the
Committee, stating about the Kosovo operation,
There are clearly opportunities for us to, through
firewalls and the like, to pass data, * * * that we were not
able to during this effort that require attention as well, so
that at a staff level as well as at a planning and execution
level we have the ability to communicate as freely as we need
to in order to ensure that we've got the security and the
capability that the alliance is capable of delivering.
The networking of our military assets and the training of our
personnel and transformation of our forces to adapt to an information-
centric environment will be critical for future military operations.
Theater Missile Defense is an excellent example of the need for this
type of network centric approach. Given the global proliferation of
missile technology and weapons of mass destruction, we are moving
toward a robust missile defense capability to protect our warfighters
deployed overseas. The Theater Missile Defense mission depends on the
seamless linking of multiple Joint assets and on the timely passing of
critical information between sensors and shooters. Earlier this year,
Lieutenant General Ron Kadish testified that we have got ``some long
work ahead'' to make our various Theater Missile Defense efforts
interoperable. We must all work to ensure that we develop the space-
based and airborne sensing systems, interoperable networking and
communications systems, and Joint operations and organizations needed
to perform this vital mission.
After extensive discussions with a variety of Agency and Service
officials, I believe that although there are many innovative efforts
underway throughout the Department to develop network centric
technologies and systems, as well as to establish mechanisms to
integrate information systems, sensors, weapon systems and decision
makers, these efforts are too often underfunded, low-priority, and not
coordinated across Services. In many cases, they will unfortunately
continue the legacy of interoperability problems that we all know exist
today. To paraphrase one senior Air Force officer, we are not making
the necessary fundamental changes--we are still nibbling at the edges.
The legislation incorporated into the Defense bill calls for DoD to
provide three reports to Congress detailing efforts in moving towards
Network Centric forces and operations.
Section 906(b) calls for a report focusing on the broad development
and implementation of Network Centric Warfare concepts in the
Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff are asked to report on their current and planned
efforts to coordinate all DoD activities in Network Centric Warfare to
show how they are moving toward a truly Joint, networked force. The
report calls for the development of a set of metrics as discussed in
Section 906(b)(2)(C) to be used to monitor our progress towards a
Joint, network centric force and the attainment of fully integrated
Joint command and control capabilities, both in technology and
organizational structure. These metrics will then be used in more
detailed case studies described in Section 906(b)(2)(E)--focusing on
Service interoperability and fratricide reduction.
The legislation also requires the Department to report on how it is
moving towards Joint Requirements and Acquisition policies and
increasing Joint authority in this area to ensure that future forces
will be truly seamless, interoperable, and network-centric, as
described in Sections 906(b)(2) (F) through (I). Many view these Joint
activities as being critically necessary to achieving networked systems
and operations. Unless we move away from a system designed to protect
individual Service interests and procurement programs, we will always
be faced with solving interoperability problems between systems. For
example, strengthening the Joint oversight of the requirements for and
acquisition of all systems directly involved in Joint Task Forces
interoperability would provide a sounder method for acquiring these
systems. We need to move away from a Cold War based, platform-centric
acquisition system that is slow, cumbersome, and Service-centric. As
part of this review, we ask DoD to examine the speed at which it can
acquire new technologies and whether the personnel making key decisions
on information systems procurement are technically trained or at least
supported by the finest technical talent available. We also need to
ensure that Service acquisition systems are responsive to the
establishment of Joint interoperability standards in networking,
computing, and communications, as well as best commercial practices.
In the operations support area, DoD can follow the example of the
private sector--which has embraced network centric operations to
improve efficiency in an increasingly competitive environment.
Companies as different as IBM and WalMart are both moving to streamline
and unify their networks and to make their distribution, inventory
control and personnel management systems more modern and information-
centric. Successful firms are not only buying the newest technology,
they are also changing their operations and business plans to deal with
the new networked environments. Section 906(b)(2)(J) calls for the
Department to study private sector efforts in these areas and evaluate
their past successes and failures as they can inform future DoD
activities.
Section 906(c) describes the second report, which examines the use of
the Joint Experimentation Program in developing Network Centric Warfare
concepts. Network Centric Warfare is inherently Joint, and the
Commander in
[[Page S5443]]
Chief of Joint Forces Command is in the best position to develop new
operational concepts and test the new technologies that support it. The
report calls for a description of how the Joint Experimentation Program
and the results of its activities are to be used to develop new Joint
Requirements, Doctrine, and Acquisition programs to support network
centric operations. It also requires the development and description of
a plan to use the Joint Experimentation program to identify impediments
to the development of a joint information network, including the
linking of Service intranets, as well as redesigning force structures
to leverage new network centric operational concepts.
The final report, described in Section 906(d), focuses on the
coordination of Service and Agency Science and Technology investments
in the development of future Joint Network Centric Warfare
capabilities. In moving towards a more Joint, networked force we must
continue to ensure that we provide our nation's warfighters with the
best technologies. We must increase our investments in areas such as
sensors, networking protocols, human-machine interfaces, training, and
other technologies outlined in Section 906(d)(2)(A), especially in the
face of declining S&T budgets. The report requires the Undersecretary
of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics to explain how
S&T investments supporting network centric operations will be
coordinated across the Agencies and Services to eliminate redundancy
and better address critical warfighter, technology, and R&D needs. This
is more important than ever as we develop our next generation of weapon
systems--better coordination and establishment of common standards in
the technology development stages can only help to alleviate future
interoperability problems.
The Undersecretary's planning and evaluation of investments in S&T
for a network centric force must also address the role of the operator
in a network centric system. We must pay more attention to the training
of our combat and support personnel so that they can make the best use
of information technologies, as well as investing more in research on
learning and cognitive processes so that our training systems and
human-machine interfaces are optimized.
The investments recommended in the report should also accommodate the
incredible pace of change in information technologies that is currently
driven by the commercial sector. To address this, Section 906(d)(2)(B)
calls for an analysis of how commercially driven revolutions in
information technology are modifying the DoD's investment strategy and
incorporation of dual-use technologies.
I believe this legislation will help focus the Pentagon and Congress'
attention on the need to move our military into a more information
savvy and networked force. I hope that these three key reports set
forth the needed organizational, policy, and legislative changes
necessary to achieve this transformation for decision makers in the
military, Administration, and in Congress. I believe that our future
military operations must be network centric to preserve our
technological and operational superiority. I look forward to receiving
plans and proposals to help get us there efficiently and effectively.
Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, earlier today, I voted to table Senator
Murray's amendment to the FY2001 Department of Defense authorization
bill. This amendment, which was successfully tabled, would have allowed
for the performance of abortion services on our military bases. It is
clear to me, Mr. President, that this amendment would have violated the
spirit of the Hyde law, which prohibits Government-funded abortions.
Proponents of the amendment attempted to get around this prohibition
by requiring that women receiving abortions on military installations
pay for their own abortions. But, Mr. President, this simply does not
eliminate government involvement in the delivery of abortion services.
Military doctors would have to perform the abortions voluntarily, or
our Armed Forces would have to contract with private doctors to perform
the abortions.
Mr. President, we cannot turn our military bases into abortion
clinics. Clearly, the federal government is prohibited from the
provision of abortions, and should not be in the business of
facilitating any abortion services on our military bases. Our federal
government has no role to play in providing abortion services. It is
that simple.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if I may inquire, as I understand it,
today the Senate will not further consider the armed services bill; is
that correct?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
Mr. WARNER. I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
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