[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2018-E2019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4310--THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT 
                          FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 31, 2012

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that I must rise 
in opposition to the Conference Report on H.R. 4310, the FY13 National 
Defense Authorization Act. America's men and women in uniform deserve, 
and Congress must pass, legislation that provides them with the 
resources they need to preserve our national security. Unfortunately, 
this bill does not reflect the range of 21st-Century threats the United 
States must prepare for, nor does it reflect the urgent fiscal crisis 
this Congress must address. What this massive $633 billion defense bill 
does reflect, however, are disastrously misplaced priorities.
  On May 10th of this year, House Republicans passed the Sequester 
Replacement Reconciliation Act (H.R. 5652), which exempts the Pentagon 
from $55 billion in automatic spending cuts agreed to in last year's 
Budget Control Act (P.L. 112-25). How did they propose to do it? By 
cutting over $310 billion from domestic programs. These were cuts to 
nutrition assistance programs for low-income seniors, people with 
disabilities, and working families; cuts that will deny more than 
200,000 low-income children their school lunches; cuts to the Meals on 
Wheels program critical to disabled seniors, and cuts to programs that 
protect vulnerable and abused children. These will have a real and 
severe impact on American families. Instead of asking the Pentagon to 
make tough choices and eliminate wasteful spending programs, House 
Republicans would rather balance the budget on the backs of our 
Nation's most vulnerable citizens.
  Here is just one example of Pentagon spending that House Republicans 
are protecting by cutting programs for low-income children, seniors, 
and working families: in this fiscal year, the Department of Defense 
plans to spend $389 million for its 150 military bands and more than 
5,000 full-time, professional military musicians. This is a prime 
example of excessive military spending that we simply do not need, and 
can no longer afford. Earlier this year, the House passed my bipartisan 
amendment to this bill limiting the amount the military spends annually 
on military bands to no more than $200 million--not an insignificant 
sum. I am very disappointed to see that this language was not included 
in the Conference Report. This smart cut would have continued to 
provided $200 million for military bands in fiscal year 2013, ensuring 
that America would maintain its strong tradition of military bands, 
while saving taxpayers $2 billion over the next decade.
  Lastly, the Conference Report does virtually nothing to correct the 
civil liberties abuses passed in last year's defense authorization 
bill. House and Senate Conferees stripped a bipartisan amendment 
offered by Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Lee (R-UT) which would 
have helped ensure that no one can be denied a fair trial and detained 
indefinitely when they are captured in the United States. I am appalled 
that this commonsense amendment to protect the most basic American 
civil liberties was not included in the legislation before us today.
  Mr. Speaker, there are several positive provisions of this bill that 
I support, including the continuance of DOD clean energy programs, 
lifting restrictions on servicewomen's access to reproductive health 
care, and addressing military sexual assault. It also takes steps that 
would help eliminate hazing in the military and prevents any increase 
in new TRICARE fees. Unfortunately, the underlying legislation contains 
too much wasteful spending and does not correct the egregious human 
abuses that were part of the fiscal year 2012 bill.
  One of our primary duties as Members of Congress is to provide the 
resources and policy guidance necessary to protect our Nation. We must 
make certain that every dollar in this bill contributes to our national 
defense. It is time for tough choices and smart cuts that save taxpayer 
dollars, even at the Pentagon. Wasteful and excessive Pentagon spending 
is no longer acceptable as low income families, seniors, and disabled 
Americans to go without the critical services.
  I urge my colleagues oppose this legislation.

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