[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14254-S14256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VITIATION OF VOTE--H.R. 1815
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the cloture vote on
the conference report on H.R. 1815 is vitiated.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am proud to bring the Conference Report
on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 before
the Senate for final passage. This has been a long and difficult
conference, but we have achieved our goal of providing the necessary
authorities and resources for our men and women in uniform to defend
the freedom of America.
I thank my colleague and partner for these 27 years we have served
together in the Senate, the senior Senator from Michigan, Carl Levin,
for his consistently constructive help and leadership in bringing this
important legislation to the floor.
An undertaking of this magnitude is ultimately a bipartisan,
bicameral effort. Consequently, there are many people deserving of
recognition. I want to thank all of our subcommittee chairs and ranking
members for their tireless efforts. I also want to thank Chairman
Duncan Hunter and Congressman Ike Skelton for their leadership and
teamwork in producing this conference agreement.
This conference agreement could not have been reached without our
dedicated, professional staff. I especially want to recognize the
unwavering leadership of the Committee Staff Director, Charlie Abell
and the Democratic Staff Director, Rick DeBobes, together with their
staff, in bringing this process to a successful conclusion.
As we consider this legislation, we remain a nation at war. This year
marks the fourth year in the global war on terrorism. On September 11,
2001, our Nation awakened to a terrorist attack. From this dark hour,
our Nation quickly emerged stronger and more united because our Armed
Forces, like the generations that preceded them, responded to the call
of duty in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and
elsewhere around the world in the cause of freedom.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, active
and Reserve components, and countless civilians continue to serve
valiantly around the world--from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Persian
Gulf, Europe, Africa, and Korea--to secure peace and freedom. All
Americans are proud of what our military has accomplished. Their
sacrifices and service have removed obstacles to freedom and democracy
in the regions of the Middle East and Asia.
We remain mindful that the defense of our homeland begins on distant
battlefields. To the extent that we can prevent or contain the threats
on these battlefields or potential battlefields, the less likely that
we will experience a threat here at home. The threats to our Nation and
the ongoing war on terrorism demand increased investment in our
national security.
As we begin this debate, I remain mindful that no military victory is
gained without significant sacrifice. I ask that we pause to remember
those who died in the defense of our freedom, and the many others who
were wounded. We honor their sacrifices and service. On behalf of a
grateful Nation, we salute you. They and their families deserve our
gratitude and unwavering support.
This year, the House and Senate conferees confronted especially
difficult challenges affecting our Nation's security. These issues
included U.S. policy on Iraq, detainee policy, and the Navy
shipbuilding budget. With respect to these issues, I believe that the
conferees reached a balanced agreement.
Overall, the conferees authorized funding of $441.5 billion in budget
authority for defense programs in fiscal year 2006, an increase of
$20.9 billion--or 3.1 percent in real terms--above the amount
authorized by the Congress for fiscal year 2005.
The conference report underscores some key defense priorities
critical to our national security, including authorities and resources
to win the global war on terrorism and support for the men and women of
the Armed Forces who are fighting so bravely in the global war on
terrorism. Specifically, the conferees added $586.4 million over the
President's budget request for combating terrorism. The conferees also
authorized $50.0 billion in emergency supplemental funding for fiscal
year 2006 for activities in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and the global war on terrorism.
The conferees further agreed to enhance congressional oversight of
ongoing military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global war on
terrorism, including uniform standards for interrogation operations,
while removing the burden of litigation from vital intelligence
activities. The conference report also includes a 3.1 percent pay raise
for all military personnel.
In addition, the conference report contains some provisions of which
I am very proud that emphasizes our commitment to homeland defense,
force protection, recruiting and retention of military personnel,
quality of life programs, and modernization and transformation efforts.
To enhance the ability of the Department of Defense to fulfill its
homeland defense responsibilities, the conferees agreed to: authorize
$115.2 million for homeland defense and counterterrorism, including
$19.8 million for specially trained and equipped teams to support civil
or military authorities in the event of a chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear or high-explosive
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attack or event; and enhance the Department's working relationship with
the Department of Homeland Security for purposes of leveraging dual-use
assets in conducting homeland defense and homeland security missions.
To rapidly deploy and acquire the full range of force protection
capabilities for deployed forces, the conferees agreed to authorize an
additional $610.0 million for up-armored high mobility multipurpose
wheeled vehicles and wheeled vehicle add-on ballistic protection to
provide force protection for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan;
designate an executive agent for a joint research and treatment effort
to treat combat blast injuries resulting from IEDs, rocket propelled
grenades, and other attacks; and facilitate the rapid deployment of new
technology and tactics and the rapid deployment of equipment to counter
the threat of improvised explosive devices.
To improve recruiting goals and retention of military personnel, the
conferees agreed to create new and better incentives to meet the
challenge of recruiting for the All Volunteer Force; and ensure the
retention of experienced personnel in the active-duty ranks, in the
Reserve, and in the National Guard.
To continue its commitment to quality health care for all
beneficiaries, the conferees agreed to enhance access to health care
coverage under TRICARE for every member of the Selected Reserve and
their families, with Government subsidies based on new categories of
eligibility.
To continue necessary modernization and transformation efforts, the
conferees agreed to authorize an increase of $159.5 million for Navy
Shipbuilding to accelerate the CVN-78 aircraft carrier, the LHA (R)
amphibious ship, and the second DD(X) destroyer of the class. Much more
must be done, however, to achieve stability in the Navy's shipbuilding
budget and to protect this fragile sector of our industrial base.
I have a list of some of the highlights of this conference report
that I ask unanimous consent to be printed in the Record following my
remarks.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1.)
Mr. WARNER. Each year since 1961, the House and Senate have reached a
conference agreement on, and the President has signed into law, a
National Defense Authorization Act. I now call upon my colleagues in
this chamber to fulfill our responsibility and pass the annual Defense
authorization bill, as has been the tradition of the Senate for each of
the past 45 years. This is the 27th year that I have had the privilege
of working on this important legislation.
I believe this conference report is a strong bipartisan bill that
serves the interests of the men and women of our Armed Forces and of
our Nation today. We must send a strong message of support to the men
and women in uniform serving on the distant outposts throughout the
world. I can think of no better way to honor their sacrifices and
service, and that of their families than with the passage of the
National Defense Authorization bill. This conference report provides
the authorities and resources to win the global war on terrorism, while
safeguarding Americans at home. It sustains the current readiness of
the Armed Forces and provides the resources to prepare them for the
future.
I yield the floor.
Exhibit 1
Appendix A: Key Military Personnel Provisions--Conference Agreement
NDAA 2006 (H.R. 1815)
Active End Strength:
Increases Army end strength by 10,000 to 512,400.
Increases USMC end strength by 1,000 to 179,000.
Pay Raise: Provides 3.1 percent pay raise. The raise is .5
percent above private sector raises and reduces the pay gap
to 4.6 percent from 13.5 percent in fiscal year 1999
culminating seven years of enhanced pay raises.
Hardship Duty Pay: Increases maximum monthly rate from $300
to $750.
Assignment Incentive Pay: Increases the maximum monthly
rate from $1,500 to $3,000.
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI): Requires the
Secretary of Defense to pay the premium for a minimum
coverage of $150,000 while members who participate in the SGU
program are assigned to the other OIF/OEF theater. Also
authorizes the Secretary to pay for a larger amount of
coverage.
Active Duty Recruiting and Retention Initiatives:
Enlistment bonus--Increases maximum from $20,000 to
$40,000.
Reenlistment bonus--Increases maximum active duty from
$60,000 to $90,000.
New recruiting incentive programs--Authorizes Army to
develop and implement programs following 45 days notice to
Congress.
Recruit referral bonus--Authorizes Army (active duty,
reserve, and National Guard) to pay $1,000 to service members
who refer recruit candidates for enlistment and those
candidates complete technical training.
Enlistment age--Increases the maximum from 35 years of age
to 42.
Service transfer bonus--Authorizes a new maximum bonus of
$2,500 for service members who transfer to armed services
requiring skills and experience.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)--Authorizes service secretaries
to enter agreement with new recruits to pay matching
contributions to the TSP and directs the Army to conduct a
pilot program on the attractiveness of matching TSP
contributions to new recruits.
Weight allowances for shipping household goods--Increases
allowances for noncommissioned officers in grades E-7 and
above.
Reserve Compensation and Benefits:
Income Replacement--Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to
pay involuntarily mobilized reserve members on a monthly
basis the amount necessary to replace the income differential
between their military compensation and the average monthly
income received by the member during the twelve months
preceding mobilization. Reserve members would be eligible for
the income replacement payment for any full month following
the date that the member completes 18 continuous months of
service on active duty or 24 months on active duty during
the previous 60 months, or for any month during a
mobilization that occurs within 6 months of the member's
last active duty tour. Payments would be limited to a
maximum of $3,000 each month.
Basic allowance for housing (BAH)--Eliminates an inequity
in BAH payments for reservists mobilized for less than 140
days by authorizing reservists to receive the same BAH as
active duty members when mobilized for periods greater than
30 days.
Critical skill retention bonus--Authorizes reservists to be
paid under the active duty program up to a maximum of
$100,000 over the course of a career.
Enlistment and affiliation bonus--Increases the maximum
amount from $15,000 to $20,000.
Reenlistment bonus--Extends the period during which bonuses
may be paid from 16 years of service to 20 years of service
with enlistments continuing till 24 years of service.
Survivor Benefits:
Death Gratuity--Extends an increase to $100,000 to all
military deaths--(not just combat-related deaths as
contemplated in the Tsunami Emergency Supplemental, 2005).
Makes payment of the $100,000 amount retroactive to include
all military deaths that occurred on or after October 7,
2001. Makes additional retroactive death gratuity payments of
$150,000 to survivors of all military deaths, not just
combat-related deaths, to compensate for the increase in
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage from $250,000
to $400,000 that became effective for all military members on
May 11, 2005.
Survivors in Family Housing--Extends the period that
survivors of members who die on active duty may remain in
family housing or received basic allowance for housing from
180 days to 365 days.
Survivors home of selection move--Extends the period of
time allowed for surviving family members of members who die
on active duty to select a permanent residence from one year
to three years.
Wounded Member Benefits:
Special pay during medical rehabilitation--Authorizes the
secretary concerned to pay $430 per month to a service member
with an injury or illness sustained in a combat operation or
zone designated by the Secretary of Defense. The pay would
terminate at the end of the first month which the member is
paid a benefit under the traumatic injury rider of the
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or is no longer
hospitalized in a military treatment facility or in a
facility under the auspices of the military health care
system.
Payment for meals while receiving medical care--Extends the
authority for members to not pay for meals received at
military treatment facilities while undergoing medical care,
including outpatient care, for an injury, illness, or disease
incurred while serving in support of OIF/OEF, or other combat
operation designated by the Secretary of Defense.
Family travel to visit wounded/injured members--Expands the
authority for payment of travel and transportation allowances
for family members to visit service members hospitalized in
the United States to include members who are not considered
seriously ill or injured, but who have incurred injuries in a
combat operation or combat zone designated by the Secretary
of Defense.
Retirees:
Concurrent receipt--Reduces from 10 years to just over 4
years the phased implementation of full concurrent receipt of
veterans disability compensation and military retired pay for
military retirees receiving veterans disability compensation
at the rate payable for 100 percent disability by reason of a
determination of individual unemployability.
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Would authorize such retirees to receive full concurrent
receipt of veterans disability compensation and military
retired pay on October 1, 2009.
Reserve Health Care:
Provides eligibility for TRICARE to all reservists and
their families who continue service in the Selected Reserve.
Estimated cost: 5-yr: $880M; 10-yr: $2.3B (Compared to
Taylor-Graham proposal: 5-yr: $3.8B; 10-yr: $12B). Three
eligibility categories:
Involuntarily mobilized reservists (as in current law): 1
year TRICARE eligibility for every 90 days of mobilized
service. DOD cost share: 72 percent.
Persons without employer provided health care, unemployed,
self-employed. DOD cost share: 50 percent.
Any person not meeting the above criteria. DOD cost share:
15 percent.
Uniform Code of Military Justice:
Strengthens the Uniform Code of Military Justice by
revising the offenses relating to rape, sexual assault, and
other sexual misconduct and setting interim maximum
punishments for the respective offenses.
Also establishes and defines stalking as a separate offense
under UCMJ.
Mr. WARNER. I thank our respective leaders, the majority leader and
the distinguished Senator from Nevada, and my good friend and partner,
our dear Senator Levin, and all members of the Armed Services
Committee, and particularly our staff that made this bill possible. It
has had a long journey. But we are here.
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