[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 30, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013

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                               speech of

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    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:

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4310, the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. As a former 
Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and as the son of a 
World War II veteran, I firmly believe that Congress has a 
responsibility to ensure that the United States has the best trained 
and best equipped military in the world. However, I have a number of 
concerns about this legislation that cause me to be unable to support 
it.
  Last year during consideration of the Department of Defense 
Appropriations Act of 2012, I expressed my disappointment in the pace 
of troop withdrawals from Afghanistan initiated by President Obama. I 
supported an amendment to that bill that would have accelerated the 
withdrawal by reducing funding for combat operations while allowing for 
a reserve force of 25,000 troops to protect American personnel, carry 
out anti-terrorism operations, and assist with the training of 
Afghanistan's security forces.
  While a similar amendment was submitted to the National Defense 
Authorization Act we are considering today, the Republican majority 
unfortunately refused to make it in order and instead only allowed a 
vote on an amendment offered by my colleague Representative Lee. Her 
amendment would require the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from 
Afghanistan. While I support the intent of the amendment, I am 
concerned that it does not provide our President and military leaders 
with the ability to keep a small reserve force in Afghanistan to help 
build up the capacity of the Afghan military or carry out limited 
operations against terrorists plotting against the United States. I 
prefer the approach advocated by my colleague Rep. McGovern, which is 
why I am a cosponsor of legislation he has authored entitled the 
Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act. This bill would require the 
President to submit a plan to Congress for an accelerated transition of 
our military out of Afghanistan, and to report regularly on the 
implementation of that plan.
  During consideration of last year's National Defense Authorization 
Act, the Senate included provisions that could be construed as allowing 
for the indefinite detention of those apprehended on United States 
soil. The Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee Adam Smith and 
my colleague from Michigan Representative Justin Amash offered an 
amendment that would have clarified that any person captured in the 
United States must be extended the right to be charged and tried in a 
U.S. Court consistent with the Constitution. Unfortunately this 
amendment was defeated, and the bill now creates a dangerous, and I 
believe unconstitutional, precedent.
  Finally, the bill funds the Department of Defense at a level $8 
billion above the one set for defense spending in the Budget Control 
Act passed last year. If signed into law, this would necessitate 
dangerous cuts to non-defense spending if we are going to meet the 
deficit reduction targets agreed to by President Obama and the 
Republican Leadership in the House. The Republican Budget would offset 
these increases in defense spending by imposing harmful and draconian 
cuts on programs that help provide food assistance to needy children, 
health care to our seniors, and assistance to unemployed parents trying 
to get back to work.
  Everyone in this body supports keeping our Nation and our troops 
safe. Unfortunately, for the reasons outlined above, I cannot support 
this legislation. I remain hopeful that the Senate will produce a 
bipartisan bill that responsibly ends the war in Afghanistan as soon as 
safely possible, respects the Constitution, and ensures that our 
deficit reduction goals are met through balanced cuts that do not 
disproportionately impact the most vulnerable Americans.

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