[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 167 (Thursday, November 21, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8447-S8448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Unanimous Consent Request--S. 1774
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, as in
legislative session, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S.
1774, a bill to reauthorize the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 1
year, introduced earlier today; that the bill be read three times and
passed and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no
intervening action.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I say to
our colleagues, this is not a good day to move forward with this
legislation. We will be glad to give it serious attention. I know it is
the kind of thing we probably can clear at some point, but I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
The Senator from New York.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I appreciate the remarks of my friend
from Alabama, my gym mate and friend and colleague. I would say this.
This is simply a renewal of a bill that has passed the Senate
unanimously several times before. These days, technology has allowed us
to make undetectable a firearm--no metal. It can get right through a
metal detector.
I would like to improve on this bill but, because it expires by
December 9, right before we get back, I was hoping we could simply pass
the existing law that is on the books. I am afraid that will not
happen.
I understand why my colleague from Alabama objected. I hope as soon
as we come back we might get this body to pass it and maybe get the
House to pass it.
We are in a dangerous world. To allow terrorists, criminals, those
who are mentally infirm, to walk through metal detectors with guns that
are made of plastic and then use them at airports, sporting events, and
schools is a very bad thing. What makes us need to do this rather
quickly is that a few months ago someone in Texas published on a Web
site a way to make a plastic gun, buying a 3-D printer for less than
$1,000. There are over 200,000 copies, hits on that Web site. People
hit the Web site then, so we have to move quickly here. I hope we can
move as soon as we get back.
I do understand the objection of my colleague tonight, given
everything that has happened today, but we cannot wait. I hope nobody
will object to this bill. I have some worries that some might, but
let's hope not. This is serious stuff.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the
quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the National
Defense Authorization Act, an amendment I have filed, Amendment No.
2903, which supports the next generation long-range strike bomber. I
hope we do get on the Defense bill.
This amendment, like many of the amendments that have been filed to
this bill, is both germane and noncontroversial. As has been the past
practice with the Defense authorization bill, my amendment should be
included in a managers' package that could be passed by unanimous
consent. In the past, when the Senate has considered the National
Defense Authorization Act, we have had an average of around 11 recorded
votes. That is the historical average. This year so far we have had
two. For amendments included by voice vote or unanimous consent,
anywhere from 80 to 100 amendments tend to be the norm. In other words,
that is the number of amendments that we process, not have recorded
votes on, but amendments that
[[Page S8448]]
are offered to the bill and handled one way or another but end up
getting added to the legislation. This year we have not even been able
to have a managers' package, which would include many of these
noncontroversial amendments.
I support Senator Inhofe, who is the ranking Republican on the Armed
Services Committee and my Republican colleagues here in the Senate, in
the approach they have taken while this bill has been on the floor.
Considering this bill, there needs to be an open amendment process. We
are not talking, as I said, about the hundreds of amendments that have
been filed, but a reasonable number should be considered on the Senate
floor.
Everyone here is aware of the time constraints we are under, but that
is not an excuse for bypassing an open amendment process on this
important piece of legislation.
As the Senate debates the annual Defense authorization bill, our
military continues to face increasing budget constraints. These budget
constraints have forced our military to prioritize and develop ways to
increase efficiency and reduce spending. As we look ahead, the
Department of Defense must continue to focus on ways to best prepare
for the threats our country will face in the future.
On all fronts, these future threats will require an increasingly
mobile force that relies on speed and technology to reach conflict
points around the world. With regard to the Air Force, this means a
modernization of our current fleet. According to General Welsh, the
Chief of Staff for the Air Force, the next generation long-range bomber
is one of the top three procurement programs our Air Force must pursue
to modernize our fleet and to meet future challenges. The other two,
the F-35 joint strike fighter and the KC-46 aerial refueling tanker,
are currently underway.
The next generation bomber, which General Welsh has called a must-
have capability, will ensure our ability to operate effectively in
anti-access and area-denial environments. As potential adversaries
continue to modernize their anti-aircraft systems, our ability to
penetrate those systems must modernize as well.
The Department of Defense has already begun investing in the research
and development phase for the next generation bomber. In the meantime,
our current bomber fleets, B-2s, B-1s, and B-52s, continue to provide
robust deterrent in long-range strike capabilities. The upgrades which
are currently being made to these aircraft allow them to operate in the
modern environment. However, as this fleet continues to age into the
mid-2020s, the next generation bomber will need to come online.
My home State of South Dakota is home of the 28th Bomb Wing, which
commands two of three combat squadrons operating the B-1B strategic
bomber. The men and women of the 28th Bomb Wing have bravely defended
our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2011, the B-1 played a key role in Operation Odyssey Dawn,
launching from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, dropping
munitions in Libya, and returning home in one continuous flying
mission. This operation marked the first time the B-1 launched combat
sorties from the continental United States to strike targets overseas,
and it exemplifies the B-1's crucial flexibility and capability to
project conventional airpower on short notice anywhere in the world. Of
the three aircraft in our bomber fleet, the B-1B has the highest
payload, fastest maximum speed, and operates at the lowest cost per
flying hour. As I have said before, the B-1 is the workhorse of our
U.S. Air Force.
As the R&D continues for the next generation bomber, the Air Force
has already identified many essential capabilities to this aircraft.
According to the Air Force, the next generation bomber should be usable
across the spectrum of conflict from isolated strikes to prolonged
campaigns. It should provide the Commander in Chief the option to
strike a target at any point on the globe, and it must be able to
penetrate modern air defenses despite an adversary's anti-aircraft
systems. In terms of payload, it must be capable of carrying a wide mix
of standoff and direct attack munitions and have the option for either
nuclear or conventional capability.
As part of the strategy for development, the next generation bomber
should allow for the integration of mature technologies and existing
systems, taking into account the capabilities of other weapon systems
to reduce program complexity.
While developing the next generation bomber will not be easy, the Air
Force has learned several important lessons from its most recent
procurement efforts. The Department of Defense has already streamlined
requirements and oversight to ensure a timely decisionmaking process
for the next generation bomber.
This initiative has included efforts to reduce costs for the overall
program with a goal of preventing cost overruns which have plagued
previous acquisition programs.
The Department of Defense already knows the importance of this
program. As outlined in the 2015 to 2019 Program Objective Memorandum,
the Air Force intends to prioritize the development and acquisition of
the long-range strike bomber over the next several years. As the Air
Force continues to modernize, the long-range strike bomber remains a
must-have capability for future combat operations.
This amendment is very straightforward. I hope we get back on the
Defense authorization bill. I hope we have an open amendment process. I
hope that amendments such as this, which are germane and
noncontroversial, can be included in a managers' package of amendments
or at least considered on the floor by my colleagues in the Senate.
It is essential in light of the many challenges we face around the
globe today with the potential adversaries out there and the threats
that exist as we look out over the horizon that we make every
preparation and take every necessary step to ensure our country can
defend itself and our allies around the world. American interests and
American national security interests are always at stake, and it is
important for us to invest wisely in those types of weapon capabilities
that can ensure that the United States is prepared for whatever
contingency might develop around the world.
I hope we will get back on the Defense authorization bill, allow
amendments to be considered, as they have been in the past. Whenever we
have processed Defense bills in the past, we have had a process that
has allowed for consideration of many amendments. As said before, we
had 80 to 100 amendments in most cases and multiple rollcall votes--way
more than we had on this bill so far.
This is important to the men and women who wear the uniform of the
U.S. military. This should be a priority for us, and it should be a
priority for our country. I hope we can get the bill on the floor,
process amendments, pass it, and get it on the President's desk where
it can be signed into law.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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