[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SMART SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say regarding the death of 
Mary McGrory that I just met here a year or so ago. She sized me up and 
said, you look good, but let us see what you are made of. Well, tonight 
let us go.
  Mr. Speaker, last week the House voted unanimously to allow military 
reservists and National Guardsmen to make penalty-free withdrawals from 
their retirement accounts when they are called up for an extended 
period of active duty. Penalty-free withdrawals from their very own 
retirement accounts.
  This bill seeks to help the one-third of Reservists who took a pay 
cut when called to duty in Iraq. Every Member of Congress supported 
this legislation because everyone supports the brave men and women who 
selflessly sacrifice their time, their energy, and increasingly their 
lives on behalf of this country. But we should not be proud of 
ourselves for unanimously passing this legislation. Instead of patting 
ourselves on the back for allowing our Reservists to raid their 
retirement accounts penalty free. We should be doing much more for 
those who defend this country during times of war.
  Last November this Congress passed outrageous legislation to fund the 
war effort to the tune of $87 billion. That is on top of the $78 
billion in supplemental funds that was appropriated in March 2003, yet 
reports show billions of those dollars are being misused, 
misappropriated and some even stolen in Iraq. On top of that, the 
Pentagon today is asking for $25 billion more in a 2005 supplemental 
package.
  There is something drastically wrong when big companies like 
Halliburton and Bechtel get rich off the war effort, while the only 
riches paid to the Reservists who left their jobs to serve in the 
United States military are those that they raid from their own piggy 
banks.
  There has to be a better way, and there is. One that emphasizes 
brains instead of brawn, one that is consistent with American values.
  I have introduced legislation to create a SMART Security platform for 
the 21st century. SMART stands for Sensible, Multilateral American 
Response to Terrorism. It treats war as an absolute last resort. It 
fights terrorism with stronger intelligence and multilateral 
partnerships. It controls the spread of weapons of mass destruction 
with a renewed commitment to nonproliferation, and it aggressively 
invests in the development of impoverished Nations with an emphasis on 
women's health and women's education.
  We need to shift our budget priorities to reflect the true needs of 
the American people. We must properly support the thousands of soldiers 
who sacrifice daily to serve and protect our Nation. SMART Security 
means equipping our troops with the tools essential to their survival, 
body armor capable of stopping bullets, armor for tanks that will help 
prevention the destruction of U.S. military conveys, and the necessary 
water equipment to keep the troops hydrated in the desert heat.
  None of these things were funded fully, even after Congress approved 
$155 billion in supplemental spending last year.
  SMART security means creating a permanent post-conflict unit that 
provides the first layer of reconstruction in countries that have been 
devastated by war and/or by oppressive dictators like Iraq and 
Afghanistan. And SMART would mean funding all Army peacekeeping units 
devoted to studying and preparing for future peacekeeping missions.
  The Bush doctrine has been tried, and it has failed. It is time for a 
new national security strategy. SMART Security defends America by 
relying on the very best of America. Our commitment to peace, our 
commitment to freedom, our compassion for the people of the world, and 
our capacity for multilateral leadership. SMART Security is tough, 
SMART Security is pragmatic, SMART Security is patriotic. SMART 
Security is smart, and it will keep America safe.

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