[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 173 (Wednesday, December 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8944-H8945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IKE SKELTON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011
Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 6523) to authorize appropriations for
fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense,
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal
year, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendments thereto, and
concur in the Senate amendments.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the Senate amendments is as follows:
Senate amendments:
Strike title XVII and corresponding table of contents on
page 18.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, reserving the right to object, I take
this moment to express great disappointment at the situation the House
now finds itself. It is very unfortunate that before us is an amended
version of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2011.
Last night, the other body struck title XVII of the version of the
bill that this House passed last Friday, December 17. Title XVII, Madam
Speaker, was the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, which the
House has passed on multiple occasions with strong bipartisan support.
Several Senators objected to its inclusion in the bill. They expressed
concerns over its budgetary impact, and indicated a willingness to work
toward identifying an acceptable way to authorize and pay the claims.
I regret the inability to resolve this matter at this time, and I am
very appreciative of the strong support from Chairman Skelton and
incoming chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Mr. McKeon of
California for their strong support of this provision. The unresolved
nature of Guam war claims has serious implications for the military
build-up on Guam. I appreciate the administration's strong support for
this provision. The administration recognizes the connection between
resolving this issue and successfully implementing the military build-
up on Guam.
We will continue our work to bring closure to this matter of justice
for the people of Guam, and to act on the legislative recommendations
of the Federal Guam War Claims Review Commission that reported to
Congress pursuant to Public Law 107-333. It was not for a lack of
effort from this body, and we will continue to build on the progress
we've made. The underlying bill is important for our national defense
and for our men and women in uniform and their families, and therefore
this body is left no other choice but than to concur with the Senate
amendments at this time.
Again, I want to thank everyone who has assisted me, both the leaders
and to the multiple staff members who have helped us through this
process.
Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I'll keep my remarks brief as this is the
third time that the House will debate and vote on the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. They say that the third time is
the charm. Let it be so this morning.
I return to the floor with this bill because the Senate found it
necessary to delete a portion of the House-passed bill in order to
achieve the consensus needed to move the bill to final passage. The
Senate amendment removes from the House bill Title 17, which dealt with
Guam War Claims. I am deeply disappointed in the Senate's decision to
remove this important legislation, which I strongly support and which
has been so ably advocated by the delegate from Guam. However, here we
are and we are out of time to engage with a back and forth with the
Senate. We must move this bill to the President's desk or watch it die.
That is why I ask for unanimous consent for the House to concur to the
Senate amendment to H.R. 6523.
Let me briefly repeat what I said the other day. This bill is must
pass legislation with many provisions that cannot become law any other
way. This bill stops an increase in health care fees from hitting the
families of military personnel; authorizes military families to extend
TRICARE coverage to their dependent children under age 26; and adopts
comprehensive legislation fighting sexual assault in the military. It
creates a counter-IED database and enhances the effort to develop new,
lightweight body armor. It gives DOD new
[[Page H8945]]
tools and authorities to reduce its energy demand while improving
military readiness. It bolsters our defense against cyber attacks. It
requires independent assessments of the National Nuclear Security
Administration modernization plan and of the annual budget request for
sustaining a strong deterrent. It aligns the Navy's long term
shipbuilding plan with the QDR. And, it includes significant
acquisition reform, the Improve Acquisition Act of 2010, which could
save as much as $135 billion over the next 5 years. That is just a
sampling of the good work done in this bill.
I ask the House to support the men and women of the armed forces by
passing this bill by unanimous consent, and ensure that the National
Defense Authorization Act finally becomes law.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, H.R. 6523 is a strong bill
that is intended to provide essential funding for our nation's troops,
including providing our brave men and women in uniform the tools they
need to succeed in our nation's missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my
concerns about the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6523, the Ike Skelton
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The Senate
amendment struck Title XVII of the underlying bill, once again, denying
the people of Guam the promise of closure and justice on the matter of
Guam War Claims.
The text of Title XVII was a compromise that eliminated payments to
descendents of survivors of the brutal occupation that were subjected
to personal injury. I support that compromise; in fact, I am an
original co-sponsor of H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty
Recognition Act. It is important that we bring closure to this long
standing injustice for the people of Guam. It is even more important
given that the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam will begin
in earnest over the coming year.
I have travelled to Guam on a number of occasions and have been so
impressed by the patriotism of the people led by Governor Felix Camacho
and First Lady Joann Camacho, and I recognize the importance of this
legislation to the Chamorro people. I look forward to working with
Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and Incoming Chairman Congressman Buck
McKeon, incoming Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to
address this matter in next year's defense authorization bill. It is
time to finally bring closure to this long standing matter for the
people of Guam which is so strategic for our nation's defense and where
America's day begins. I appreciate the tireless efforts of
Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo's service for the people of Guam.
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I withdraw my reservation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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