[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E990-E991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5136) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
     other purposes:

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5136, the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011,'' which 
provides $726 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense 
and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.
  I thank Chairman Skelton for his masterful leadership in bringing 
this legislation to the floor.
  Mr. Chair, I support this bill for three reasons: (1) it restores and 
enhances the readiness of our troops, equipment, and defense 
infrastructure; (2) it takes care of our military personnel and their 
families; and (3) it authorizes the needed investments to keep our 
nation strong, safe, and respected in the world.
  Let me briefly highlight some of the key provisions. This 
legislation:


                     troop and equipment readiness

  Provides $1.2 billion for projects in Afghanistan to allow our 
commanders on the ground to immediately respond to military 
construction needs in theater.
  Authorizes $13.6 billion for the training of all active duty and 
reserve forces to increase readiness as troops experience greater dwell 
time following the Iraq drawdown.
  Authorizes $345 million to fully fund the first increment of 
construction funds to modernize DOD schools.
  Authorizes $9.7 billion to fully fund day-to-day maintenance 
requirements of DOD facilities.
  Provides a total of $7.2 billion for the National Guard and Reserve, 
including $700 million above the budget request.


                       HELP FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

  Provides a 1.9 percent military pay raise.
  Expands TRICARE health coverage to include adult dependent children 
up to age 26.
  Increases family separation allowance for troops who are deployed 
away from their families.
  Increases hostile fire and imminent danger pay for the first time 
since 2004.
  Expands college loan repayment benefits.
  Contains the most comprehensive provisions to address sexual assault 
in the military, including 28 recommendations of the Defense Task Force 
on Sexual Assault.
  Establishes a pilot program to help military spouses take advantage 
of their personal skill sets to identify and obtain desirable and 
portable careers.
  Authorizes an additional special one-time payment to seriously 
wounded servicemembers to pay for the relocation costs of their 
caregivers.


                          IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

  Bans permanent bases in Iraq and prohibits U.S. control of Iraqi oil.
  Requires report on responsible redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq, 
the development of military capabilities that are necessary for the 
Government of Iraq to stand on its own, and the status of nearly 1,000 
projects, programs, and activities that will need to be closed or 
transferred over a short period of time as a result of the drawdown.
  Bans permanent bases in Afghanistan.
  Requires reports to assess progress toward security and stability in 
Afghanistan and the conditions and criteria that would need to permit 
the transition of lead security responsibility to the Afghan 
government, and allow the redeployment of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.


                  HOMELAND SECURITY AND COUNTERRORISM

  Authorizes $87.8 million for the Combating Terrorism Technical 
Support office.
  Authorizes $2.6 billion for Homeland Defense and counterproliferation 
activities, including $1.6 billion for chemical biological defense.
  Provides $20 million for two cybersecurity new start programs.
  Provides $1.6 billion to support nations providing support in Iraq 
and Afghanistan in the fight against al Qaeda and the Pakistan Taliban.
  Extends DOD's Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund through FY11.


                        RICHARDSON AMENDMENT #1

  Mr. Chair, in my remaining time let me discuss an additional reason 
why I support this legislation. With the support of Chairman Skelton 
and his committee, this bill includes an amendment I offered which I 
will briefly describe.
  My amendment, Richardson Amendment #1, improves the bill by 
instructing the TRANSPORTATION COMMAND (TRANSCOM) to update and expand 
the PORT LOOK 2008 Strategic Seaports study. This study remains a 
crucial tool to ensure that our ports are ready to respond in the case 
of an emergency. My amendment would expand the scope of the report to 
include consideration of the infrastructure in the vicinity of 
strategic ports, including bridges, roads, and rail capacity, in 
addition to the facilities inside the port that are already covered.
  Mr. Chair, it bears repeating that in time of war, ``the role of the 
ports is to protect the forts.'' If the transportation systems and 
infrastructure in and around our strategic ports is deficient, the 
ability of these ports to fulfill their indispensable national security 
role will be compromised. That cannot be allowed to happen. My 
amendment will ensure that we have the information needed to make the 
investments needed to keep our strategy the best in the world.
  I thank the Rules Committee for making my amendment in order and 
Chairman Skelton for accepting it.


                        RICHARDSON AMENDMENT #2

  I also offered a second amendment, Richardson Amendment #2, to 
increase the effectiveness of the Northern Command (``NORTHCOM'') in 
fulfilling its critical mission of protecting the U.S. homeland in 
event of war and in providing support to local, state, and federal 
authorities in times of national emergency. Specifically, my amendment 
would have ensured that NORTHCOM (1) develops and has in place a 
leadership strategy that will strengthen and foster institutional and 
interpersonal relationships with state and local governments and (2) 
develops an instructional program to train key personnel how to lead 
effectively in the event of a disaster when they do not have command 
authority to dictate actions.
  The purpose for NORTHCOM is to bring the capabilities and the 
resources of the U.S. military to the assistance of the American people 
during a catastrophic disaster. NORTHCOM leaders will be much more 
effective in saving lives, protecting assets, and enhancing resilience 
after the disaster has occurred if they are trained in the techniques 
of effective engagement with civilian leadership. My amendment would 
have ensured that such training will be available. Although this 
amendment was not made in order by the Rules Committee, my present 
intention is to introduce this legislation as a separate bill when the 
House reconvenes next month.


                               CONCLUSION

  Madam Speaker, let me express my thanks to Chairwoman Slaughter of 
the Rules Committee for making the Richardson Amendment in order and to 
Chairman Skelton for accepting it. I also want to acknowledge the 
yeoman work of the Committee staffs and the excellent work of my 
Legislative Director, Gregory Berry, and Jeremy Marcus, my Senior 
Legislative Assistant.
  In conclusion, I support H.R. 5136 because it restores and enhances 
the readiness of our troops, equipment, and defense infrastructure. It 
takes care of our military personnel and their families. And it 
authorizes the needed investments to keep our Nation strong, safe, and 
respected in the world. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for 
the bill on final passage.

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