[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1780-E1781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROTECTING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ACT OF 2014

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                               speech of

                          HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 4, 2014

  Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. Speaker, the National Defense Authorization Act 
provides critical authorities for our men and women in uniform. It 
provides for their pay, addresses issues of mental health and suicide, 
protects victims of sexual assault and ensures they are well equipped 
and trained to conduct the missions that the country asks of them. I am 
proud that my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee and in the 
House could come to bipartisan agreement on this legislation to ensure 
that our Armed Forces remain the best in the world. It is not perfect, 
but this year's NDAA is an example of how we can work together to keep 
the American people safe, save tax payer dollars and make sure our men 
and women in uniform get the support they deserve.
  However, I remain concerned about the provision included in the NDAA 
to provide for authorization through 2016 for the equipping and 
training of Syrian rebels.
  There still remain too many questions about the long term 
implications of arming and equipping rebel forces and how this action 
fits into our broader strategy of destroying ISIS. I believe, without a 
detailed discussion on what supporting the Syrian rebels entails, that 
this kind of authorization will lead to a much longer and costly level 
of engagement. Congress has failed to properly discuss and weigh the 
long

[[Page E1781]]

term consequences of this military action. As a Member of Congress, it 
is my responsibility to make sure we don't commit resources, the most 
precious of which are our men and women in uniform, with no 
comprehensive plan for our involvement. Congress needs to debate and 
develop a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) before 
authorizing one piece of that strategy that will inevitably lead to 
further involvement across multiple national borders.

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