[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 110 (Friday, September 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9248-S9249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise to speak on behalf of my amendment to

[[Page S9249]]

the fiscal year 2007 Defense appropriations bill, S.A. 4911 to H.R., 
5631, with Senator Reed to restore full funding for Predator unmanned 
aerial vehicles, UAVs, for the U.S. Special Operations Command, SOCOM. 
This amendment will allow SOCOM to receive its full complement of 
Predators by 2010 by adding $64.4 million to the fiscal year 2007 
Defense appropriations bill.
  Our brave troops and intelligence collectors must have the tools they 
need to find, fix and eliminate terrorists intended to do our Nation 
harm. The Predator, which comes in armed and unarmed modes and has 
advanced sensors and cameras, is one of the most important systems we 
have to monitor terrorist activity in hostile environments. The 
Predator also is a critical intelligence gathering platform in fighting 
insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan. According to Defense 
News, the Predator was central to the detection and killing of Abu 
Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq this past June.
  I have been pleased to fight for putting more Predators in the hands 
of our Special Operations Command ever since U.S. Special Operations 
Command Deputy Commander Eric Olson responded to my question about 
whether he had all the tools he needs to win the war on terror in an 
April 6, 2006, hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee's 
Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee. Admiral Olson said his 
command did not have enough Predators, and was not slated to have 
adequate numbers of Predators for several years. This is unacceptable, 
and I expressed my concern to Chairman Warner and Ranking Member Levin 
in an April 27, 2006, letter urging committee action on this 
shortcoming.
  I was equally pleased that the Senate Armed Services Committee 
adopted my amendment calling for full funding of the Predators for the 
Special Operations Command during mark-up of the fiscal year 2007 
Defense authorization bill.
  Unfortunately, defense appropriators cut back funding for Predators 
in its mark-up of the fiscal year 2007 Defense appropriations bill. My 
amendment restores full funding for a second squad of Predators for our 
Special Operations Forces' war-fighters and intelligence collectors by 
2010. Giving our military and our intelligence personnel the best 
tools, as quickly as possible, to win the war on terror is something we 
must do.

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