[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4546, BOB STUMP NATIONAL DEFENSE 
                 AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 12, 2002

  Mr. JEFF MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise reluctantly today on 
the Conference Committee report for the Fiscal Year 2003 Defense 
Authorization.
  The House of Representatives sent to the Conference concurrent 
receipt provisions that were a solution to the problem of the nearly 15 
million veterans and their families in this Nation. Last night, after 
40 minutes of debate, the House adopted a version of the report that 
will aid merely 33,500 of our military retirees who suffer from a 
combat-related disability.
  While I appreciate Chairman Hunter's efforts to keep some language in 
the conference report, I am left to wonder: what have we done for the 
other 14,966,500 servicemen and women who have stood behind this great 
Nation?
  We had the support and votes of over 400 Members of this House and 
funding in this year's budget to solve this seemingly unsolvable 
problem. When are we going to put our money where our mouths are?
  Adding insult to injury, the concurrent receipt provisions are 
confusing and complicated. Deserving or not, approved or not, claimants 
will innundate the Department of Defense, causing further delays and 
postponements in an already backlogged system. We may very well end up 
losing more Federal dollars in a drawn-out claims process than will 
reach our retirees in payments due to these vague eligibility 
provisions.
  I have the greatest respect for Bob Stump, for whom this legislation 
is appropriately named. he has been a tireless advocate for America's 
Uniformed Services, and an invaluable mentor to me. And while this is a 
first step on the road to improved compensation for our veterans, I was 
unable to sign this conference report. We have just sent a message to 
the men and women that defend our freedoms that I cannot support. That 
message is this: 20 years or more of honorable military service is 
enough to warrant receipt of military retirement pay only if you are 
injured in combat.
  Mr. Speaker, we must pledge now to provide for the welfare of 
veterans who have contributed in every capacity to the defense of our 
Nation.
  The remainder of this legislation is a cumulative statement on how 
this Congress views its armed forces. Our vote sends a clear message to 
our men and women in uniform that we support your efforts and 
appreciate your sacrifice to defend this great Nation.
  Of the total $355.1 billion, $93.6 billion ($11.5 billion over fiscal 
year 2002) supports the budget request for 1.4 million active duty and 
864,558 guard and reserve personnel; it fully funds the pay raise of 
4.1 percent and adds $110 million over the budget for enhanced force 
structure for B-52 squadrons, and Guard and Reserve full time support 
personnel.
  The Navy, of particular interest to Northwest Florida, will receive 
$3.2 billion for 46 Navy F/A-18 E/F fighters, including an additional 
$120 million over the budget request for 2 additional aircraft. The 
appropriation will also provide $4.0 billion for 23 F-22 fighters and 
$3.5 billion for continued development of the multi-service Joint 
Strike Fighter.
  Defense health programs are funded at $14.8 billion with $7.7 billion 
going towards Tricare for Life, post-65 military retirement medical 
care.
  Additionally, I am happy to see $26 million for the Joint Primary 
Aircraft Training System or JPATS. JPATS brings Naval aviation training 
into the 21st century by providing student aviators with glass cockpits 
and ejection seats, a more realistic training, for a more realistic age 
of war fighting.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is progressive, reflective of Congress and 
goes a long way in supporting our men and women in uniform.

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