[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 72 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E863-E864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4310) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2013, and for 
     other purposes:


[[Page E864]]


  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 4310, the 
``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013,'' which 
provides $642 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense 
and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.
  Although the bill is not perfect and contains several provisions that 
I do not support, on balance I support the legislation because it (1) 
provides our troops the resources they need to protect and defend our 
country and themselves; (2) supports military families; (3) makes 
important investments to keep our homeland safe; and (4) incorporates 
three critical amendments I offered to strengthen the nation's 
strategic ports (of which the Port of Long Beach is perhaps the most 
critical), provide expanded protections for women service members, and 
enhances the effectiveness of the Northern Command (``NORTHCOM'') in 
protecting the homeland in event of war.
  I thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for their hard work 
in shepherding this bill to the floor on this bill and for their 
commitment to the men and women of the Armed Forces.
  Let me briefly highlight some of the key provisions that I support.
  I support the provisions in the bill providing all service members a 
pay raise of 1.7 percent, the level included in the President's 
request, and extends certain special pay and bonuses for active-duty 
and reserve personnel. The bill limits any annual increase in cost-
sharing rates under the TRICARE pharmacy program to the percentage 
increase in retiree pay, beginning October 1, 2013. I am also pleased 
that the bill extends access to family housing for six months for 
service members mustering out due to personnel reductions.
  Mr. Chair, combating domestic violence and deterring sexual offenses 
in both the civilian and military sectors is a national priority. That 
is why I am pleased that this bill includes provisions requiring 
secretaries of the military departments to establish special victim 
teams for investigation, prosecution and victim support in connection 
with child abuse, serious domestic violence or sexual offenses under 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The bill further requires that at 
least one team in each military department be in place within one year 
of enactment and that each secretary report within 270 days of 
enactment with a plan and timeline for the establishment of the 
remainder of the special victim teams that the secretary has determined 
are needed.
  Mr. Chair, this bill provides the resources needed to protect our 
troops in harm's way. It provides:
   $2.8 billion for measures to counter IED activities in Afghanistan;
  $3.2 billion for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in 
Afghanistan;
   An increase of $321 million in unrequested funds for modernization 
of M 1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, vehicles that help 
protect the lives of our troops; and
   $7.6 billion for operations and maintenance of the Special 
Operations Command, an amount that includes $2.5 billion in the 
Overseas Contingency Operations account.
  Another reason for supporting this bill is that it provides expanded 
opportunities for small businesses to participate in Defense Department 
contracts. For example, the bill includes several provisions designed 
to eliminate barriers that have prevented many small and medium-sized 
businesses from competing for Pentagon contracts. It also establishes 
new DOD goals for procurement contracts awarded to small businesses. 
There are also provisions to amend the Small Business Act to establish 
a government-wide goal for participation by small businesses at not 
less than 25 percent of all prime contracts for each fiscal year, and 
40 percent of all subcontract awards for each fiscal year.
  Mr. Chair, as I noted earlier in my remarks, an additional reason why 
I support this legislation is because it includes three amendments that 
I offered to improve the bill. I want to thank Rules Committee Chairman 
Dreier, Ranking Member Slaughter, Armed Services Committee Chairman 
McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for working with me to include these 
amendments.
  My first amendment, Richardson Amendment No. 82, requires the 
Department of Defense to post on all its websites information on sexual 
assault prevention and response resources.
  In light of technology, many people, particularly service personnel 
receive the majority of their information via the Internet.
  Further, online access to the needed information is particularly 
important because persons needing sexual assault resource information 
may be reluctant to seek information in a public setting without fear 
of losing privacy, or worse retaliation.
  My second amendment, Richardson Amendment No. 112, improves the bill 
by increasing the effectiveness of the Northern Command (``NORTHCOM'') 
in fulfilling its critical mission of protecting the U.S. homeland in 
event of war and to provide support to local, state, and federal 
authorities in times of national emergency. This amendment was included 
in last year's National Defense Authorization Act and I am pleased that 
it is included again this year also.
  The purpose for NORTHCOM's existence 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 a disaster has occurred if they are trained in the 
techniques of effective engagement with civilian leadership. My 
amendment ensures that such training will be available.
  I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Congressman Don Young 
of Alaska for working with me across the aisle and partnering with me 
on the amendment, Young/Richardson Amendment 141. This amendment calls 
for the expedited completion of the study of the Nation's strategic 
ports called for in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2012 Conference Report 112 329.
  As the representative of a district served by the largest port 
complex in the nation, I have long been a strong champion on protecting 
our nation's ports.
  My colleagues have heard me say often that ``in times of war, the 
role of the ports is to protect the forts.''
  This amendment also directs the Department of Defense to provide a 
copy of the report to the GAO for additional review of the extent to 
which the facilities and infrastructure serving strategic seaports meet 
the Department of Defense's requirements.
  The completion of this report is vital in the assessment of the 
structural integrity and deficiencies of the port facilities.
  It further examines infrastructure improvements that are needed 
directly or indirectly to meet national security and readiness 
requirements.
  In addition to assessing the impact on operational readiness, this 
report will identify potential funding sources to undertake needed 
improvements.


                               CONCLUSION

  Finally, let me note my strong support for the bipartisan Smith/Amash 
Amendment, which was accepted and included in the bill. This amendment 
amends detention provisions enacted last year in order to ensure that 
any individual detained on U.S. soil has the rights and liberties 
enshrined in the Constitution. The amendment would ensure that no 
person detained, captured, or arrested in the U.S. pursuant to the 
Authorization for the Use of Military Force could be indefinitely 
detained, held in military custody, or forced to face a military 
tribunal. As the Constitution states, it makes clear that any person 
apprehended in the United States would be guaranteed due process 
provided by a civilian court established under Article III of the 
Constitution. This commonsense, bipartisan amendment is supported by 27 
Retired Generals and Admirals and more than 25 leading organizations, 
including the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, United Church of 
Christ, United Methodist Church, Union for Reform Judaism, Physicians 
for Human Rights, and National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
  Finally, let me note my opposition to sections 536 and 537 of the 
bill relating to service members who are gay and lesbian. These 
provisions are unnecessary and unhelpful for the reasons discussed in 
the Statement of Administration Policy issued by the Obama 
Administration. I agree with the Administration's position and oppose 
the inclusion of these provisions. It is my hope that they will be 
removed before this bill reaches the President's desk.
  In conclusion, I believe the good things in this bill outweigh the 
bad and for that reason urge my colleagues to support and join me in 
voting for the bill on final passage.

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