[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 128 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1789]]


   CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4205, FLOYD D. SPENCE NATIONAL DEFENSE 
                 AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2000

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Armed Services 
Committee, I rise in strong support of the National Defense 
Authorization Conference Report H.R. 4205.
  I would like to thank Mr. Spence, Mr. Skelton, Subcommittee Chairs, 
Ranking Members, and of course Committee Staff for all the hard work 
that they put into reconciling the Defense Authorization Bill.
  This year's Authorization Bill makes great strides toward improving 
Modernization, Quality of Life, and Military Readiness.
  First, Military Health Care is getting on the right track, but we 
still have a lot of work to do to improve service to active duty and 
retired service members.
  Second, Recruiting and Retention are showing signs of improvement, 
but will be a constant challenge during strong economies and changing 
demographics.
  Although this committee has made significant improvements in quality 
of life benefits, I'm concerned that the junior ranks do not understand 
what these improvements mean to them.
  According to a DoD survey of service members, basic pay is the number 
one reason to stay or leave the military.
  But do they understand the value of their benefits, beyond take home 
pay, when they make their decision to leave?
  I have introduced legislation, H.R. 4388, which provides service 
members information on their benefits, to including VA benefits, the 
value of those benefits, and how their benefits compare to civilian 
counterparts.
  Given this information, I hope more may understand the grass is not 
necessarily greener on the other side and opt to make a career out of 
military service.
  I thank the Committee for acknowledging the merits of this 
legislation by including reporting language in this bill requiring the 
Department of Defense to report on what the Department is doing in 
educating service members on the value of their benefits.
  Third, I would like to commend the Committee on their work in 
improving R&D accounts, specifically Science and Technology.
  R&D is the future of this Nation's defense. We should not shortchange 
our future to fund present day shortfalls. R&D is critical in 
maintaining the technological edge to combat the growing and changing 
threats to our Nation's security.
  Finally, I would like to commend the Committee for incorporating H.R. 
3396 in the Defense Authorization Bill and look at California as a 
potential production site for the Joint Strike Fighter.
  An independent study found that building the JSF at the Air Force 
Plant 42 in Palmdale, California could save upwards of $2 billion over 
the life of the project.
  These savings are based on state and local economic incentives, such 
as tax credits, and inherent capabilities, such as the existing 1.2 
million square foot B-2 production facility, highly trained aerospace 
work force, and close proximity to test facilities.
  If we are asking taxpayers to support the best manned, equipped, and 
trained fighting force in the world, we must ensure it's the most cost 
effective fighting force in the world.
  In closing, I commend all the Committee Chairs, Ranking Members and 
Staff for working with their Senate counterparts to produce a 
bipartisan bill that looks out for those who serve and preserve's our 
role as the World's premier fighting force.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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