[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 
                               YEAR 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL T. McCAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4435) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 4435, the 2015 
National Defense Authorization Act. I especially want to thank Chairman 
McKeon for working with my staff and I to include section 1072 in his 
Manager Amendment.
   As we draw down our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, military 
equipment used in theater can be used to enhance border security at 
home, and in the process, save taxpayer dollars.
   Section 1072 modifies current law, last updated in 1996 before the 
creation of the Department of Homeland Security, which guides the 
transfer of excess military equipment to provide preference for 
``border security activities.''
   This change puts border security, and the Department of Homeland 
Security, on equal footing with the Department of Justice and the 
Office of National Drug Control Policy so the Department's border 
security components can readily tap into excess military equipment on a 
preferential basis.
  In the past, United States Customs and Border Protection has missed 
out on thousands of articles of DoD excess gear because the equipment 
is distributed on a first-come first-serve basis, notwithstanding 
statutory preference in under current law.
   Section 1072 will bring the law up to date and will allow the 
operators on the ground protecting our border to more effectively 
complete their mission.
   Again, I want to thank Chairman McKeon and the staff of the Armed 
Services Committee for working with me to include this important 
provision in this year's NDAA.

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