[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 10, 9/11 RECOMMENDATIONS 
                           IMPLEMENTATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 7, 2004

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the 
National Defense Authorization Act which provides almost $450 billion 
to support out troops. I want to start by thanking and congratulating 
the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Skelton who 
worked so hard for so long to make this legislation beneficial to our 
men and women of the Armed Forces. While I will vote for this 
legislation it is truly unfortunate that a more bipartisan approach was 
not taken in order to include numerous important Democratic provisions 
which would have further benefited our fighting men and women. I am 
also saddened that this Defense Authorization comes at a time of such 
great need for our Armed Forces because they have been pushed into a 
war that could have been avoided and has been so poorly managed from 
the start. It is truly unfortunate that the brave men and women of our 
Armed Forces are fighting around the world while the Department of 
Defense is in the current state it is in. The Administration must be 
accountable for the actions of the Armed Forces; the unfortunate events 
taking place in Iraq have caused our nation irreparable harm. I only 
pray that the provisions in this legislation that will help protect our 
fighting men and women in Iraq are not the only step we take to 
alleviate their burden.
  I am heartened by the fact that Democrats have worked so hard to put 
pieces of our ideas into this legislation. As I stated earlier, too 
many vital Democratic proposals that would have given our Armed Forces 
the equipment and support they need to successfully complete their 
dangerous missions, were denied based simply on partisanship. However, 
the few Democratic principles that were put into this legislation will 
greatly help our soldiers past and present and their families.
  Because of Democrats insistence this conference report provides 
additional funds for force protection measures, including additional 
body armor, countermeasures for improvised explosive devices, and 
armored Humvees. It also includes a Democratic proposal that would 
reimburse families who purchased body armor or other protective 
equipment for a loved one serving overseas. Sadly, before today many 
families had to take the safety of loved ones serving overseas into 
their own hands. Those kinds of practices make it seem as if we are 
running a civilian militia as opposed to the greatest Army in the 
history of mankind. According to a report commissioned by DOD, as much 
as 25 percent of U.S. combat deaths might have been prevented if there 
had been sufficient supplies of body armor and armored vehicles. These 
facts are astounding and yet truly saddening, yet another indication 
that this Administration sent our young men and women to fight in Iraq 
and never gave them the proper plan or the proper support.
  This conference report also provides long overdue retirement benefits 
for our service men and women that Democrats have been demanding for 
years. Because of Democratic pressure, Republicans finally included 
bipartisan provisions to end the Widow's Tax, and Democrats were 
successful in adding provisions that would immediately end the disabled 
veterans tax for the most severely disabled veterans. This conference 
report also ensures that every member of the Guard and National Reserve 
called up to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan can purchase TRICARE coverage 
for their families after they return home. Members would be eligible 
for one year of coverage for every 90 days of service after they have 
been called up. TRICARE, the military health program is an essential 
need for every member of the Armed Forces, especially those with 
families. It seems so intolerable to me that we would allow even one 
member of our Armed Forces to go without proper health coverage.
  This conference report also includes a 3.5 percent across-the-board 
pay raise for members of the Armed Forces. It permanently increases the 
rate for imminent danger pay from $150 to $225 per month and increases 
the family separation allowance from $100 to $250 per month. It also 
ensures that construction of new family housing for almost 50,000 
military families will proceed without delay. Again, it sickens me to 
think that we left these brave and proud military families out in 
the dark for even the shortest possible period. This conference report 
finally ensures that these families will receive some justice for the 
sacrifice they make everyday to keep our Nation protected.

  I must also add that it is truly unfortunate that this Defense 
Authorization continues this Administration's policy of having 
misplaced priorities. Instead of directing more money for proper 
planning in Iraq, or for greater protection equipment for our troops, 
or maybe for greater pay raises for our troops; this Administration has 
decided to budget $10.2 billion for missile defense next year--twice 
the request for any other weapons system. Missile defense systems are 
not new; in fact they have been discussed for decades. The truth is 
that missile defense systems have proven to be overly complex, 
unreliable, and often been little more than pipe dreams. Why in good 
conscience, in this time of budget constraints and increased need, 
would we allocate even more money for failed programs? There are more 
responsible ways to budget this money. Money from the Defense 
Authorization should go to our men and women in the Armed Forces who 
actually defend our nation instead of into programs that just waste 
needed funds. Also, once again Democrats have been able to restore some 
sanity to this issue. Because of their efforts the Pentagon's Office of 
Testing and Evaluation regains an oversight role and there will be some 
controls over this dubious program. OT&E is tasked with devising a 
realistic test regimen for the Ballistic Missile Defense system.
  While I will support this legislation because of the support and 
protection it provides to our men and women in the Armed Forces, I 
sincerely hope in the future that such significant legislation as this 
will involve the debate and full consideration of all necessary and 
relevant provisions from both sides of the aisle. The men and women of 
our Armed Forces and indeed the American people as a whole deserve as 
much. It is our duty in Congress to serve the interests of the people, 
it is the duty of the Armed Forces to protect and serve our national 
interests; one can only hope we can serve our mission as well as the 
members of the Armed Forces have served theirs.

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