[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 168 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2863, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this conference 
report--and the breathtaking abuse of power it represents.
  The purpose of a Defense Appropriations bill is to fund the fighting 
forces of the United States and to provide our troops with the support 
and equipment they need. At no time is that obligation more solemn than 
when our soldiers are at risk in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
  That is why it is so inexcusable for this congressional leadership to 
put our troops in jeopardy by playing politics with this bill.
  Republicans and Democrats should unite behind a clean, bipartisan 
conference report that supports our soldiers and provides for a robust 
national defense. Instead, this legislation arrives on the floor packed 
with highly divisive, completely extraneous, last minute giveaways to 
special interests--giveaways the Republican leadership knows perfectly 
well could never survive the scrutiny of the ordinary legislative 
process.
  In that regard, I am particularly appalled by the inclusion of Arctic 
National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) drilling in this legislation. And I am 
not alone: Five high profile military officials--including retired 
General Anthony Zinni--recently implored Congress not to politicize 
military spending by embroiling it in the ANWR debate. Senator McCain 
called the ANWR insertion ``disgraceful'' and ``disgusting''.
  Mr. Speaker, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a spectacular 
arctic ecosystem, sustaining wildlife so diverse it is sometimes called 
the American Serengeti. Along with a sizable majority of Americans, I 
continue to believe we should not despoil this national treasure for 
what amounts to six months worth of gasoline ten years from now. 
Instead, we should move expeditiously to diversify the Nation's fuel 
mix away from our reliance on foreign oil and embrace the renewable 
energy and energy efficiency technologies of the 21st century.
  I agree with General Zinni and Senator McCain: It is the height of 
irresponsibility to be playing games with needed defense funds when our 
men and women in uniform are in harm's way--and I am hopeful the Senate 
will reject inclusion of this extremely controversial and unrelated 
environmental provision in this military spending bill.
  Moreover, I strongly object to the eleventh hour special interest 
liability protections added to this legislation. Once again, this kind 
of provision is not germane to the defense appropriations process. 
Furthermore, I am concerned it fails to provide adequate compensation 
to legitimately injured patients.
  Finally, the Defense Appropriations bill is no place to be making 
spending decisions that have nothing to do with defense. Yet this bill 
contains a 1% across-the-board spending cut affecting almost every 
appropriations bill we have passed this year.
  Mr. Speaker, earlier today I voted in favor of the defense 
authorization bill to provide the ongoing authority for ensuring our 
national defense. I am particularly pleased that the conferees on that 
bill saw fit to include Senator McCain's language on the humane 
treatment of prisoners held in American custody.
  But on this vote I will not reward the abuse of power dragging down 
this bill. Shame on this House for playing politics with our troops 
during wartime. I urge my colleagues to vote no so we can return 
quickly with a defense bill worthy of our military's service and 
sacrifice.

                          ____________________