[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 127 (Friday, October 8, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8986-H8988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 6(a) OF RULE XIII WITH RESPECT TO
CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I
call up House Resolution 831 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 831
Resolved, That the requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII
for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee
on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House is
waived with respect to any resolution reported on the
legislative day of October 8, 2004, providing for
consideration or disposition of a conference report to
accompany the bill (H.R. 4200) to authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Forces, and for other purposes.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs.
Myrick) is recognized for 1 hour.
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), pending
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration
of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Mr. Speaker, last night the Committee on Rules met and passed this
resolution waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII requiring a two-thirds vote
to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Committee on
Rules against certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.
The waiver authorized by this resolution applies to any special rule
reported on the legislative day of Friday, October 8, 2004, providing
for the consideration or disposition of a conference report to
accompany the bill H.R. 4200, the Defense authorization conference
report for fiscal year 2005. I would advise my colleagues that adoption
of this resolution is made necessary because the work of the conferees
on the Defense authorization conference report has taken longer than
anticipated.
I believe it is imperative that the House considers the proposed
conference report on Defense authorization as soon as possible. The
last thing we would ever want would be for the necessary armor and
weaponry needed by our Armed Forces to be held up or delayed in any
way.
My friend from Texas has always been a strong supporter of our
military. I trust he, too, would prefer to rapidly approve the Defense
authorization conference report; and to that end, I urge my colleagues
to support this rule.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I have always been proud to support the
Defense authorization bill in the House, and this year is no exception.
The conference report on the Department of Defense Authorization Act
helps ensure the safety of our fighting men and women around the world.
It provides them with the tools they need to fight the war on terror,
and it provides much-needed benefits that will improve the quality of
life for them and their families.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support moving the conference agreement
forward because of its importance to our national security and to our
troops in the field.
While I will not oppose this martial law rule which will allow the
House to
[[Page H8987]]
consider the conference report before we adjourn for the elections, I
must take a moment to note there are Members on this side of the aisle
who are concerned about rushing to adopt the conference report before
Members who were not on the conference committee have an opportunity to
study its provisions. It has been the habit of the Republican
leadership during this Congress to effectively deny Members the right
to know what we are voting for or against.
I cannot oppose this martial law rule, but I think it is long past
time when the Republican leadership of this body stops depending on
party loyalty to pass bills and instead moves towards ensuring that
legislation is considered in a bipartisan manner. That is the best
thing for the country and, in the end, best for both political parties.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Strickland).
Mr. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for provisions in
the Department of Defense conference report which reform the Energy
Employees Occupation Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000.
First, I would like to thank my friend, the gentleman from Missouri
(Mr. Skelton), the ranking member of the committee, for his leadership.
I also would like to say a special thanks to Hugh Brady of the
Committee on Armed Services staff, Cindy Blackston of the Committee on
the Judiciary staff, and Peter Rutledge of the Committee on Education
and the Workforce staff.
In addition, I would like to commend the hard work of the gentleman
from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield), along with a bipartisan group of
Senators, including Senators Bunning, Bingaman, Kennedy, Voinovich,
DeWine, Clinton, Cantwell and others.
Despite opposition from the administration, Members in both Chambers
rolled up their sleeves and on a bipartisan basis did the hard work and
included an amendment in this conference report which makes significant
and greatly needed reforms to the Energy Employees Occupation Illness
Compensation Program.
{time} 1700
Now, in the year 2000, we passed landmark legislation establishing a
program to compensate our nuclear workers made sick while toiling in
the Nation's atomic weapons factories. For the first time, the Federal
Government acknowledged that it placed its cold war veterans in harm's
way.
Unfortunately, the Department of Energy has fallen down on the job to
run its part of the compensation program. With more than $90 million
appropriated to DOE for administering the compensation program, a mere
31 claims of over 25,000 have been paid in the last 4 years. That track
record is not acceptable.
The Department of Labor, on the other hand, has successfully
processed 95 percent of its more than 55,000 claims.
The amendment included in today's Defense conference report will
shift DOE's responsibilities to the Department of Labor, provide for a
Federal willing payer, establish guaranteed funding for payment of
claims, and create a Federal benefit structure for all of those workers
injured and made ill due to the exposure to hazardous materials and
toxic substances while working in our nuclear arsenal. We promised to
compensate these injured veterans, and now we are fulfilling that
promise.
Although I wish we could have passed such an amendment years ago, I
am very pleased that today we are doing the right thing and we are
honoring a national commitment to assist these veterans of the cold
war.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Woolsey).
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and to
speak on the Defense Authorization Conference Report because, Mr.
Speaker, when it comes to nuclear weapons, President Bush and the House
Republican leadership just do not get it. Instead of investing in
programs that will truly secure America, like nonproliferation
initiatives and vigorous inspection regimes whenever possible, these
Republicans spend America's money on more and bigger weapons.
This Defense Authorization bill authorizes billions of dollars for
nuclear weapons research and testing, and there has to be a better way
of doing things. We have to do it differently.
Investing in new nuclear weapons does not prevent America from being
attacked. In fact, it encourages nuclear proliferation, because such
investments incite our enemies and encourage other nations like Iran to
develop nuclear weapons of their very own.
Instead of engaging in a nuclear arms race for the 21st century, the
United States must engage in a smart security strategy for the 21st
century. Being smart about national security requires the United States
to set an example for young democracies, and we can set that example by
renouncing the first use of nuclear weapons and the development of new
nuclear weapons. We can also set that example by engaging in aggressive
diplomacy, a commitment to nuclear nonproliferation, strong regional
security arrangements, and inspection regimes.
If we truly want to keep our country safe for years to come, then we
must promote and pursue a smart security strategy for America's future.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Udall).
(Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, it would be better if we did not have to be considering
this special rule, but I will support it because I support the
conference report and hope it can be passed as soon as possible. There
are things in the conference report that I do not like, and there are
some things I hoped that would be included that have been left out, but
my concerns are outweighed by my strong approval of several provisions
that are included.
One is the renewal of the Energy Savings Performance Contracts
program. This is the best tool we have to encourage energy efficiency
in the Federal Government, but its authorization ended a year ago; and
since then, it has been in limbo. So this is a very important
provision.
The conference report also makes many improvements in the
compensation program for people injured while working in the nuclear
weapons program. My colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Strickland), was just discussing these important provisions. It is also
important for Colorado because we are the home of the Rocky Flats
Nuclear Waste complex, a former nuclear weapons site. And with the rest
of our delegation, I have been pressing to make sure that the people
who work there are properly treated. That is the purpose of this
compensation program. Right now, the program has serious problems; but
this conference report, as I have suggested, goes a long way towards
solving them.
The report consolidates the responsibility for handling claims in the
Labor Department, which can help untangle red tape for thousands of
claims; and it provides that the Federal Government, not the States,
will pay claims and provide medical benefits, something that is vital
because otherwise many people will not be paid, even though they have
valid claims. Further, it makes sure that people will be paid by making
payments an entitlement. These are all great steps forward and long
overdue.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman from California (Chairman
Hunter) and the gentleman from Missouri (Ranking Member Skelton) and
all of the other conferees, as well as the Committee on Armed Services
staff and the staff of the other committees involved. Their task was
not easy because the administration has not been particularly helpful,
but we can all be proud of this outcome. They deserve our thanks, Mr.
Speaker, and the conference report deserves our approval.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New
York (Mrs. Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time, and I congratulate him on his fine service in this body on the
Committee on Rules and in so many other areas.
[[Page H8988]]
I rise in support of this rule, but also to speak in strong support
of the National Defense Authorization Act which will be before this
body later on tonight. I am also pleased, and I thank the chairman and
ranking member, that an amendment that I offered to the House version
of this bill has been included in the conference report.
My amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to eliminate the
backlog in rape and sexual assault evidence collection kits, reduce the
processing time of those kits, and provide an adequate supply of the
kits at all domestic and overseas U.S. military installations and
military academies. The provisions in this legislation also direct the
Secretary to ensure that personnel are trained in the use of these
kits.
This marks the second time this week that the House has passed
legislation recognizing the importance of DNA evidence. It is better
than a fingerprint. DNA never forgets and can never be intimidated.
I am glad to see that the military will be addressing this issue, and
I hope that civilian victims and survivors of rape will soon get
similar justice with the passage of the comprehensive DNA legislation
that has been bottled up in the other body.
I would like particularly to thank the gentleman from California
(Chairman Hunter) and the gentleman from Missouri (Ranking Member
Skelton) for their leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support the
underlying bill.
I will say that my DNA collection bill grew out of the scandal,
really, in the military of rapes at military academies and in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The bipartisan Women's Conference and Caucus here in
Congress held hearings, meetings, and issued a report. As one of the
victims said, the best thing you can do is just convict the rapist. DNA
evidence will help us to protect the innocent and protect women from
rape in the future and place rapists behind bars.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The Chair would remind Members
to refrain from improper references to the Senate.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in
permitting me to speak on this rule and the underlying bill. I think
there is much that is desirable to be found in it. Certainly it is
important to meet the needs of our Armed Forces in this difficult time,
especially in Iraq.
However, the bill continues to spend too much money on the wrong
things. One of the most graphic examples is an 11 percent increase for
missile defense, over $10 billion, that is critically needed now in
areas of homeland security and defense activities.
There are also important elements for protecting our communities that
are underserved in this legislation. With almost $446 billion, we ought
to be able to have the Department of Defense clean up after itself.
What this bill does not address is literally a ticking time bomb.
I have come to the floor in the past talking about the millions of
acres around the country that are contaminated with military
contamination, unexploded ordnance, or UXO, the military waste and
unexploded bombs left over from former military sites. The estimates
range from 10 million to 40 million contaminated acres. I noted a
moment ago my colleague, the gentleman from Colorado, was here. They
are having subdivisions creeping out to the Lowry Air Force Base, a
former bombing range, where soon people will be living near areas where
we fear there are unexploded ordnance. I note the gentleman from Texas
is here. He is near an area in Arlington where there were people out
Rototilling their backyards in a new subdivision literally turning up
an unexploded bomb.
The Department of Defense estimates that identifying, assessing, and
cleaning up contamination from military munitions will cost in the area
of $8 billion to $35 billion, but most experts say it is going to cost
far more. But we are spending at a rate of only $106 million annually.
According to GAO, it will take 75 to 330 years to clean up these
unexploded ordnance on already closed sites, and it does not include
all the new contamination that we are creating.
Leaving this toxic legacy does no favor to the Department of Defense.
In the long run it is going to cost more to clean it up, because clean
it up we must. It is going to threaten the environment, and we have
seen situations like the Massachusetts military reservation that is
creating serious ground water pollution; it endangers our military and
their families.
I sincerely hope this is the last such piece of legislation that does
not appropriately address the problem of unexploded ordnance and
military contamination.
Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any additional requests for
time. I urge adoption of the rule, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I
move the previous question on the resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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