[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1749-E1750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF ``RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIZATION CIVILIAN MANAGEMENT 
                                 ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, today, Mr. Saxton and I are pleased to 
introduce the House companion bill to S. 3322, the Lugar-Biden bill, 
``Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act,'' that 
unanimously passed the Senate in May 2006.
  According to the Defense Science Board, since the end of the cold 
war, the U.S. has begun stabilization and reconstruction operation once 
every 18-24 months. This frequency of engagement reflects the reality 
that U.S. national security is more threaten by failing and ungoverned 
states than traditional threats. We only have to look to Afghanistan 
and southern Lebanon to see the far-reaching consequences of ungoverned 
territory.
  The complexities of failed states cannot be dealt with by military 
solution alone. Combating failed states requires a complex combination 
of political, diplomatic, development assistance and military actions, 
as well as the ability to respond quickly in the immediate aftermath of 
crisis. The military plays an extremely important role in stabilizing a 
country, but civilians play an equally important role and have 
comparative advantage in helping to develop civil society--judicial 
systems, law enforcement, health care, economic development, trade 
promotion and other essential sectors to stabilize a country.
  The Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act would 
lay the legislative framework for authorizing this integral civilian 
capacity. Specifically, the Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian 
Management Act would:
  Authorize the establishment of the State Department Office of the 
Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, S/CRS, and 
expenditures for a Crisis Response Fund for a Conflict Response Corps, 
and for educational, training, planning and operational capacity for S/
CRS.
  Authorize the establishment of a 250 person Civilian Response Corps 
with both Active-Duty and Reserve components. The corps, made up of 
both State Department and USAID employees, could be rapidly deployed 
with the military for both initial assessments and operational 
purposes. They would be the first civilian team on the ground in post-
conflict situations, well in advance of the establishment of an 
embassy.

[[Page E1750]]

  Seek to establish personnel exchange programs with other federal 
agencies designed to enhance stabilization and reconstruction capacity.
  Importantly, the bill promotes a stabilization and reconstruction 
curriculum and the utilization of already existing programs like the 
Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies at the Naval 
Postgraduate School.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important piece of legislation 
that would greatly assist in improving the capacity of our government 
to respond to some of the most important and pressing security threats 
of our time.

                          ____________________