Congressional Record, Volume 161 Issue 75 (Friday, May 15, 2015)

[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 75 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H3219-H3236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania). Pursuant to
House Resolution 260 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in
the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for the
further consideration of the bill, H.R. 1735.
Will the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack) kindly take the chair.

{time} 0912

In the Committee of the Whole

Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 1735) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016
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, with Mr. Womack (Acting Chair) in the
chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose on Thursday,
May 14, 2015, amendment No. 83 printed in House Report 114-112, offered
by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), had been disposed of.

Amendments En Bloc No. 6 Offered by Mr. Thornberry of Texas

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 260, I
offer amendments en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 6 consisting of amendment Nos. 90, 91, 96, 99,
101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, and 118
printed in House Report No. 114-112, offered by Mr. Thornberry of
Texas:

Amendment No. 90 Offered by Mr. Hill of Arkansas

Page 528, after line 2, insert the following:

SEC. 1092. BUSINESS CASE ANALYSIS OF DECISION TO MAINTAIN
C130J AIRCRAFT AT KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE,
MISSISSIPPI.

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall conduct a
business case analysis of the decision to maintain 10 C-130J
aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Such
analysis shall include consideration of--
(1) any efficiencies or cost savings that would be achieved
by transferring such aircraft to Little Rock Air Force Base,
Arkansas;
(2) any effects of such decision on the operation of the
air mobility command; and
(3) the short-term and long-term costs of maintaining such
aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base.

Amendment No. 91 Offered by Mr. Meehan of Pennsylvania

Page 528, after line 2, insert the following:

SEC. 1092. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CYBER RESILIENCY OF
NATIONAL GUARD NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) National Guard personnel need to have situational
awareness and reliable communications in the event of an
emergency, terrorist attack, or natural or man-made disaster;
(2) in the event of such an emergency, attack, or disaster,
the ability of the National Guard personnel to communicate
and coordinate response is vital;
(3) current communications and networking systems for the
National Guard, including commercial wireless solutions, such
as mobile wireless kinetic mesh and other systems that are
interoperable with the systems of civilian first responders,
should provide the necessary robustness, interoperability,
reliability, and resilience to extend needed situational
awareness and communications to all users and under all
operating conditions, including in degraded communications
environments where infrastructure is damaged, destroyed, or
under cyber attack or disruption; and
(4) the National Guard should be constantly seeking ways to
improve and expand its communications and networking
capabilities to provide for enhanced performance and
resilience in the face of cyber attacks or disruptions, as
well as other instances of degradation.

Amendment No. 96 Offered by Mr. Walberg of Michigan

At the end of subtitle B of title XII (page 550, after line
26), add the following:

SEC. 12XX. REPORT ON ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RECORDS OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF AFGHANISTAN TO AUDIT THE USE OF
FUNDS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN.

Not later than December 31, 2016, the Special Inspector
General for Afghanistan Reconstruction shall submit to
Congress a report on the extent to which the Office of the
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has
adequate access to financial records of the Government of
Afghanistan to audit the use of funds authorized to be
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for
fiscal year 2016 for assistance for Afghanistan.

Amendment No. 99 Offered by Mr. Poe of Texas

Page 559, after line 11, add the following:
(H) An assessment of United States' efforts to disrupt and
prevent foreign fighters traveling to Syria and Iraq and
disrupt and prevent foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq
traveling to the United States.

Amendment No. 101 Offered by Mr. Lamborn of Colorado

At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following
(and conform the table of contents accordingly):

SEC. 1234. LIMITATION ON MILITARY-TO-MILITARY EXCHANGES AND
CONTACTS WITH IRAN.

(a) Limitation.--The Secretary of Defense may not authorize
any military-to-military exchange or contact described in
subsection (b) to be conducted by the Armed Forces or
Department of Defense civilians with representatives of the
military or paramilitary forces (including the IRGC) of the
Islamic Republic of Iran until the Secretary certifies that
Iran--
(1) has ended its ballistic missile program;
(2) is no longer listed by the Secretary of State as a
state sponsor of terrorism; and
(3) has recognized the Israel as a Jewish state.
(b) Covered Exchanges and Contacts.--Subsection (a) applies
to any military-to-military exchange or contact that includes
inappropriate exposure to any of the following:
(1) Force projection operations.
(2) Nuclear operations.
(3) Advanced combined-arms and joint combat operations.
(4) Advanced logistical operations.
(5) Chemical and biological defense and other capabilities
related to weapons of mass destruction.
(6) Surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
(7) Joint warfighting experiments.
(8) Military space operations.
(9) Other advanced capabilities of the Armed Forces.
(10) Arms sales or military-related technology transfers.
(11) Release of classified or restricted information.
(12) Access to a Department of Defense laboratory or base.
(13) Military operations or exercises with allies and
partners.
(c) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to any
search-and-rescue or humanitarian operation or exercise.
(d) Annual Certification by Secretary.--The Secretary of
Defense shall, without delegation, submit to the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives, not later than
December 31 each year, a certification in writing as to
whether or not any military-to-military exchange or contact
during that calendar year was conducted in violation of
subsection (a).

Amendment No. 102 Offered by Mrs. Walorski of Indiana

At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following
(and conform the table of contents accordingly):

SEC. 1234. SECURITY GUARANTEES ASSOCIATED WITH IRAN'S NUCLEAR
WEAPONS PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Secretary of State, shall provide the
appropriate congressional committees a copy of any security
agreement or commitment provided by the United States to any
country in the Middle East, including the member countries of
the Gulf Cooperation Council, associated with Iran's nuclear
weapons program.
(b) Analysis.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of staff shall provide the Secretary of Defense with a
detailed analysis of the United States military force
structure and posture, as well as the estimated costs
associated with such force structure and posture, required to
meet any security agreement or commitment in the Middle East,
including member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Secretary shall provide such analysis, without change,
along with any additional views the Secretary may offer, when
the Secretary submits the materials required under subsection
(a).
(c) Limitation on Certain Expenditures.--The Secretary of
Defense may not obligate or expend any funds authorized to be
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the
Department of Defense for fiscal year 2016 for meeting any
security agreements or commitments described in this section
unless the Secretary certifies to the appropriate
congressional committees that the Secretary has provided a
copy of such agreement as required under subsection (a).
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee

[[Page H3220]]

on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate.

Amendment No. 103 Offered by Mr. Ellison of Minnesota

At the end of subtitle D of title XII (page 576, after line
2), add the following:

SEC. 12XX. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorizing the
use of force against Iran.

Amendment No. 104 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

At the end of subtitle F of title XII (page 604, after line
16), add the following:

SEC. 12XX. REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY
REGARDING FOREIGN DISCLOSURE OR TECHNOLOGY
RELEASE OF AEGIS ASHORE CAPABILITY TO ALLIES.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a
decision by the Government of Japan to purchase Aegis Ashore
for its self-defense, given that it already possesses sea-
based Aegis weapons system-equipped naval vessels, could
create a significant opportunity for promoting
interoperability and integration of air- and missile defense
capability with close allies, could provide for force
multiplication benefits, and could potentially alleviate
force posture requirements on multi-mission assets.
(b) Requirement to Submit Policy.--Not later than 30 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a copy of the Department of Defense policy
regarding foreign disclosure or technology release of Aegis
Ashore capability to allies, including Japan, that possess
sea-based Aegis weapons system-equipped naval vessels.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the congressional defense committees; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.

Amendment No. 105 Offered by Mr. Walker of North Carolina

At the end of subtitle F of title XII (page 604, after line
16), add the following:

SEC. 12XX. REQUIREMENT TO INVITE THE MILITARY FORCES OF
TAIWAN TO PARTICIPATE IN RIMPAC EXERCISES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall invite the
military forces of Taiwan to participate in any maritime
exercise known as the Rim of the Pacific Exercise if the
Secretary has invited the military forces of the People's
Republic of China to participate in such maritime exercise.
(b) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on the date
of the enactment of this Act and applies with respect to any
maritime exercise described in subsection (a) that begins on
or after such date of enactment.

Amendment No. 106 Offered by Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania

At the end of subtitle G of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 12XX. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT
THE ARMS TRADE TREATY.

(a) In General.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for
fiscal year 2016 for the Department of Defense may be
obligated or expended to fund a Secretariat or any other
international organization established to support the
implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, to sustain domestic
prosecutions based on any charge related to the Treaty, or to
implement the Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution
of ratification for the Treaty and implementing legislation
for the Treaty has been enacted into law.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to preclude the Department of Defense from
assisting foreign countries in bringing their laws,
regulations, and practices related to export control up to
United States standards.

Amendment No. 112 Offered by Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island

At the end of subtitle G of title XII (page 622, after line
22), add the following:

SEC. 12XX. ASSESSMENT OF THE MILITARY CAPABILITY OF THE
REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of State shall jointly submit to the appropriate
congressional committees an assessment of the military
capability of the Republic of Cyprus to defend against
threats to its national security, including threats posed by
hostile foreign governments and international terrorist
groups.
(b) Matters to Be Included.--The assessment required under
subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An analysis of the effect on the national security of
Cyprus of the United States policy to deny applications for
licenses and other approvals for the export of defense
articles and defense services to the armed forces of Cyprus.
(2) An analysis of the extent to which such United States
policy is consistent with overall United States security and
policy objectives in the region.
(3) An assessment of the potential impact of lifting such
United States policy.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the congressional defense committees; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.

Amendment No. 113 Offered by Mr. Crowley of New York

Page 622, after line 22, insert the following:

SEC. 1269. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE DEFENSE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF
INDIA.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States has an upgraded, strategic-plus
relationship with India based on regional cooperation, space
science cooperation, and defense cooperation.
(2) The defense relationship between the United States and
the Republic of India is strengthened by the common
commitment of both countries to democracy.
(3) The United States and the Republic of India share a
common and long-standing commitment to civilian control of
the military.
(4) The United States and the Republic of India have
increasingly worked together on defense cooperation across a
range of activities, exercises, initiatives, and research.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United States should--
(1) continue to expand defense cooperation with the
Republic of India;
(2) welcome the role of the Republic of India in providing
security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond;
(3) work cooperatively with the Republic of India on
matters relating to our common defense;
(4) vigorously support the implementation of the United
States-India Defense Framework Agreement; and
(3) support the India Defense Trade and Technology
Initiative.

Amendment No. 114 Offered by Mrs. Dingell of Michigan

At the end of subtitle G of title XII, add the following
(and conform the table of contents accordingly):

SEC. 1269. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON EVACUATION OF UNITED STATES
CITIZENS AND NATIONALS FROM YEMEN.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The ongoing conflict in Yemen, including airstrikes
conducted by Saudi Arabia and a no-fly zone imposed over
Yemen by Saudi Arabia, has made it difficult for Yemeni-
Americans to depart Yemen.
(2) United States citizen Jamal al-Labani of Hayward,
California, was killed in Yemen after the closure of the
United States Embassy while attempting to bring his pregnant
wife and 2-year-daughter back to the United States.
(3) Over 550 Yemeni-Americans have registered as being
unable to leave Yemen after the closure of the United States
Embassy in Yemen in February 2015.
(4) In 2006, the Department of Defense helped the
Department of State remove 15,000 Americans from Lebanon
during Hezbollah's war against Israel.
(5) Many other nations, including China, Ethiopia, India,
and Russia are evacuating or have evacuated their citizens
from Yemen.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the President should exercise all available authorities as
expeditiously as possible to evacuate United States citizens
and nationals from Yemen.

Amendment No. 115 Offered by Mr. Engel of New York

At the end of subtitle G of title XII (page 622, after line
22), add the following:

SEC. 12XX. REPORT ON IMPACT OF ANY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN
UNITED STATES TROOP LEVELS OR MATERIEL IN
EUROPE ON NATO'S ABILITY TO CREDIBLY ADDRESS
EXTERNAL THREATS TO ANY NATO MEMBER STATE.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) in order to demonstrate United States commitment to
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, especially
those NATO allies under pressure on the Eastern flank of the
Alliance, and to enhance the United States deterrent presence
and resolve to countering threats to NATO's collective
security, United States Armed Forces stationed and deployed
in Europe should be increased in number and combat power; and
(2) the ``current and foreseeable security environment'',
as referenced in paragraph 12 of Section IV on Political-
Military Matters of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations,
Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian
Federation (NATO-Russia Founding Act), has changed
significantly since the signing of such Act in 1997 and thus
such Act should not be read, interpreted, or implemented so
as to constrain or in any way limit additional permanent
stationing of substantial combat forces anywhere on the
territory of any NATO member State in furtherance of NATO's
core mission of collective defense and other missions.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--In order to ensure that the United States
contribution to NATO's core mission of collective defense
remains robust and ready to meet any future challenges, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on the impact of any
significant reduction in United States troop levels or
materiel in Europe on NATO's ability to credibly deter,
resist, and, if necessary, repel external threats to any NATO
member State.

[[Page H3221]]

(2) Deadline.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall be submitted not later than 30 days prior to the date
on which any significant reduction described in paragraph (1)
is scheduled to take place.
(3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified
annex if necessary to protect the national security interests
of the United States.
(4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

Amendment No. 116 Offered by Mr. Vela of Texas

At the end of subtitle G of title XII, add the following
(and conform the table of contents accordingly):

SEC. 1269. REPORT ON VIOLENCE AND CARTEL ACTIVITY IN MEXICO.

The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report on violence and cartel activity
in Mexico and the impact of such on United States national
security.

Amendment No. 117 Offered by Mr. Kilmer of Washington

Page 628, after line 8, insert the following:
``(3) If the Secretary furloughs any employee referred to
in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress, by
no later than 30 days before initiating the furlough, notice
of the furlough that includes a certification that, as a
result of the proposed furlough, none of the work performed
by any employee of the Department of Defense will be shifted
to any Department of Defense civilian employee, contractor,
or member of the Armed Forces.''.
Page 628, line 9, strike ``(3)'' and insert ``(4)''.

Amendment No. 118 Offered by Mr. Nolan of Minnesota

In section 1504, page 632, line 20, insert ``(a)
Authorization of Appropriations.--'' before ``Funds''.
At the end of section 1504, page 633, line 1, add the
following new subsection:
(b) Condition on Use of Funds for Iraq and Syria Train and
Equip Programs.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by
this section for the Syria and Iraq Train and Equip programs,
as specified in the funding table in section 4302, may not be
provided to any recipient that the Secretary of Defense has
reported, pursuant to a quarterly progress report submitted
pursuant to section 1209 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291;
128 Stat. 3541), as having misused provided training and
equipment.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 260, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
Larsen) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Mr. Chairman, this en bloc package consists of 17 total amendments.
Nine of them have been offered by Republicans, eight of them have been
offered by Democrats. They cover a variety of very important topics for
our national security, including cooperation with India, evacuation of
U.S. persons from Yemen, the impact of U.S. troop levels on NATO, and
violence in Mexico.
I believe these are important subjects and important additions to our
bill. I hope Members will support this en bloc package. And I hope that
all Members who make these contributions will support the final version
so that their contribution has a chance to become law.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

{time} 0915

Mr. WALBERG. I thank the chairman for the efforts put forth by
himself and the committee on necessary legislation that, indeed, should
pass.
Mr. Chairman, America has given 14 years, nearly $1 trillion, and
thousands of lives to help build a stable Afghanistan. While most of
our troops have come home, Congress has still obligated billions of
dollars to be spent on reconstruction efforts.
As we transfer oversight authority to Afghan officials, the Special
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has identified serious
deficiencies in our ability to ensure the proper use of these American
taxpayer dollars, as the Afghan Ministries currently lack the capacity
to effectively manage and account for U.S.-funded assistance.
My amendment would require SIGAR to certify it has sufficient access
to Afghan accounts to guarantee effective audits. We must ensure that
every dollar is spent effectively. I appreciate that this amendment has
been added en bloc, and I ask my colleagues to support this legislation
and this amendment.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I would ask Members to support this en bloc package,
and I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan) for
comments on en bloc No. 6.
Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Chairman and Members of the House, as Mr. Walberg just
pointed out, we have spent literally trillions of dollars in the Middle
East in what many would describe as wars of choice and nation building.
I want to applaud the committee for this underlying legislation to
ensure some accountability of how that money goes. All too often, the
moneys have made a mockery of our good intentions and ended up in the
wrong hands and, in many cases, used against us.
The underlying legislation requires the Defense Department now to
require them to give us a list of who money has been given to in Syria
and Iraq to fight ISIL, and my legislation says that, when they find
evidence that those funds have been misused by any one of those
parties, they can no longer be recipients of our funding and our
intentions in this regard.
Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of my amendment and the bloc as
well.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to my
colleague from Texas (Mr. Poe).
Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the chairman for yielding, and I want the
chairman to know that I support the amendment en bloc, and I support
the bill as well.
Mr. Chair, the number of foreign fighters traveling to Syria and Iraq
to join ISIS is increasing at an alarming, dramatic rate. The Director
of the National Counterterrorism Center said that more foreign fighters
have joined ISIS in the last 2 years than those who went to Afghanistan
or Iraq in the last 20 years. More than 180 of these fighters are from
the United States.
These killers are not just going to fight and die on the battlefields
of Iraq and Syria. Many return home to their home countries as trained,
battle-hardened Islamic radicals.
Before Moner Mohammad Abusalha became the first American to carry out
a suicide bomb in Syria, he had already been to Syria and back to the
United States as a trained suicide killer. The United States Government
didn't even know this.
We need a comprehensive strategy to reduce the flow of foreign
fighters from ISIS to the United States and foreign fighters going to
train with ISIS. This amendment requires such a strategy.
And that is just the way it is.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
Mrs. DINGELL. I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).
Mr. Chairman, Members of the House, I rise in support of my
amendment, No. 103, contained in this bloc, which expresses the sense
of Congress that the President should exercise all available authority
to evacuate U.S. citizens from Yemen as soon as possible.
My district is home to the highest concentration of Yemeni Americans
in the United States. Since hostilities began in Yemen, my office hears
daily from Yemeni Americans who are terrified, frustrated, desperate,
and have no idea how to exit the country. These are United States
citizens in Yemen, with nowhere to turn.
This week, NPR told the story of Rhonia Aladashi, a 16-year-old girl
from my hometown of Dearborn, Michigan. She had traveled to Yemen to
visit her father when the hostilities began, and she tried multiple
options to escape.
She tried to cross the border at Saudi Arabia and got turned back
into hostile areas because she did not have a man traveling with her.
Ultimately, she ended up on a private fishing boat, going with no food
or water on board.
My constituents and their families stuck in Yemen need hope, and they
need to know that American citizens are not being forgotten. We do not
in any way want to put American military in danger, but we need to tell
Americans there is hope.

[[Page H3222]]

I thank Mr. Larsen and Chairman Thornberry.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker).
Mr. WALKER. I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my gratitude for the hard work
and dedication put forth by Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith,
and their colleagues on the Armed Services Committee in drafting the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2016.
I would like to thank the Rules Committee, Chairman Sessions, and
Ranking Member Slaughter for their efforts in ensuring Members on both
sides of the aisle had an avenue to voice their opinion.
We recently finished 10 townhalls in 10 counties, and the number one
thing from our constituents is making sure that Washington is held
accountable. These efforts help restore our constituents' faith in this
body and the process of lawmaking.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
Mr. CROWLEY. I thank the gentleman from Washington, my good friend
Mr. Larsen, for yielding me this time.
Mr. Chairman, the effort to expand U.S.-India relations has always
been and continues to be a bipartisan effort, and I want to thank both
sides of the aisle in acceptance of the amendment that I put forward.
Over the past two decades, we have seen the relationship between the
United States and India flourish and blossom under both--I should say
starting with President Clinton's Presidency, followed by President
George Bush's Presidency, and we have seen how advanced it has become
under the Presidency of Barack Obama.
I had the opportunity to travel with the President earlier this year
to India, and the incredible reception that the President and the
delegation received was like no other experience I have ever had in
India, and this relationship continues to grow.
This is the first time we have had an opportunity to express the
support of the House and of the Congress of this burgeoning
relationship, especially as it pertains to mil-to-mil cooperation, and
I believe that this is the most critical relationship that we will have
this decade in the world.

India and the United States, we have shared values of civilian
control of the military. It is a very important aspect when you
consider the part of the world we are talking about. We share that same
value with India.
India's quest for securing peace not only within her region, but
around the world as well, is something that we share with her. India's
commitment to democracy and rule of law is something we also share with
India and, overall, using democracy and the quest for peace, trying to
bring stability throughout the world.
I also want to thank the Indian diaspora in helping with this effort.
This is truly, as I said earlier, I believe, the most important
alliance the United States will have this century.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).
Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I thank the chairman.
I rise in strong support of my amendment to renew a 1-year ban on the
Obama administration from using any Department of Defense funds to
implement the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. This amendment updates
and strengthens the language of my amendments that were entered into
law in previous NDAAs.
Why? Because this amendment--we must always uphold our fundamental
individual right to keep and to bear arms, which is enshrined in our
Constitution. We also must uphold the sovereignty of the United States
over our arms export control system, which is the gold standard of the
world.
Now, how do we do this?
First, the amendment explicitly forbids the use of DOD funds to
facilitate domestic prosecutions of individual Americans. This is a
real danger because the Obama administration has already engaged in
domestic prosecutions of individuals using treaties. This is totally
unacceptable.
Second, my amendment specifically bans the use of DOD funds for an
ATT secretariat, created for ``effectively implementing'' the ATT,
according to the treaty's supporters.
Appallingly and equally unacceptable, ATT backers seek to put the
U.S. on the hook to fund the activities of a treaty to which it is not
a party.
I thank the chairman and the ranking member for including this
amendment in the en bloc amendments. I urge my colleagues to stand with
me in support of the Second Amendment, our Nation's sovereignty, and
vote in support of this amendment to renew the annual ban on the
funding of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I
have left?
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has 5 minutes remaining.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor).
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank my colleague.
Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the Castor amendment, which is
an amendment in support of military families across the country. It
expresses the sense of Congress that, when it comes to housing military
members, the Pentagon should factor in the commuting times for base
personnel and the land available for on-base housing.
On-base housing is a critical readiness issue. Having our
servicemembers as close to their assignments as possible is vital. DOD
must ensure that the decisions relating to base housing take into
account relevant factors, and each base is different.
For example, at MacDill Air Force Base in my hometown in Tampa,
Florida, it is home to the 6th Air Mobility Wing, United States Special
Operations Command, and United States Central Command.
The recent expansion of on-base housing for military families has
been a great success. Pursuant to a public-private partnership that was
authorized in 2007, 572 homes have been constructed on the base. This
has been a godsend for the families at MacDill, and here is why: the
neighborhoods closest to the base are expensive and out of reach for
many military families, so servicemembers oftentimes buy homes about 30
miles away and then commute to the base.
This recent public-private partnership at MacDill has been a win-win
for the military and the families who serve. In fact, one top Pentagon
official who oversees installations noted that the MacDill Air Force
Base housing initiative was one of her favorites, forcewide, and was
exceptional.
Think about the difference it makes to that military family when they
can live close to where they work and where their children attend
school.
Now, until recently, the Air Force and the housing contractor were
discussing the next phase of on-base housing. MacDill has over 330
families on a waiting list. Unfortunately, despite the long waiting
list, the obvious demand, the Air Force has inexplicably terminated
discussions.
If this is happening in my community, it could be happening in yours,
and with scarce Federal dollars, we must continue to encourage fruitful
public-private partnerships and the best interests of our brave men and
women in the service.
I thank Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, and Mr. Larsen for
their support of the amendment, and I urge adoption.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I support the en bloc. I hope all
Members will, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Chair, I rise today to support the Crowley-Engel-
Holding-Bera-Royce amendment to the 2016 NDAA.
As Co-Chair of the House India Caucus, I am privileged to spend time
highlighting the robust and growing relationship between the United
States and India to my colleagues and to my constituents.
With the emerging challenges our two nations face in the Indo-Pacific
region, we must place an emphasis on increasing the collaboration
between our two defense departments and defense industries.
In January to move this collaboration forward, the United States and
India signed the

[[Page H3223]]

``Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean Region''
laying out our shared principles and views for security in the region.
Our two nations also agreed to renew--and upgrade--our ten year
defense framework well before its expiration date which truly shows our
commitment to working together.
The United States and India are on the same page and through the
diligent work of the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative along with
the Department of Defense's India Rapid Reaction Cell, defense
cooperation between our two nations is on the right trajectory.
But more can, should, and will be done to bring us closer together on
defense.
Mr. Chair, India has a vital role to play in the Indo-Pacific by
becoming a regional security provider and the United States should
continue to work lockstep with our counterparts in New Delhi to achieve
this.
And Mr. Chair, that is precisely what our amendment supports.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendments En Bloc No. 7 Offered by Mr. Thornberry of Texas

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 260, I
offer amendments en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 7 consisting of amendment Nos. 107, 108, 109,
110, 111, 119, 120, 121, 125, 126, and 127 printed in House Report No.
114-112, offered by Mr. Thornberry of Texas:

Amendment No. 107 Offered by Mr. Lamborn of Colorado

At the end of subtitle G of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 12XX. REPORT ON ACTIONS TO ENSURE QATAR IS PREVENTING
TERRORIST LEADERS AND FINANCIERS FROM OPERATING
IN ITS COUNTRY.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Qatar is an important partner in the region and has
played a significant role in fighting ISIS;
(2) Qatar has provided significant enablers to the United
States in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by hosting United
States forces;
(3) Qatar has unfortunately allowed the leaders of Hamas, a
United States-designated foreign terrorist organization, to
operate freely in its country;
(4) Qatar has also allowed United States-designated
terrorist financiers to operate in its country; and
(5) the United States should do everything in its power to
encourage Qatar to crack down on terrorist leaders and
financiers who are operating in its country.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress
a report on actions taken by the United States Government to
ensure that Qatar is preventing terrorist leaders and
financiers from operating in its country.

Amendment No. 108 Offered by Mr. Lamborn of Colorado

At the end of subtitle G of title XII, insert the
following:

SEC. 12XX. UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR JORDAN.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan remains a steadfast
partner and the armed forces of Jordan are among the United
States' strongest military partners.
(2) Jordan's civil and military leadership continue to
provide a positive example of professionalism and moderation.
(3) The Colorado National Guard's relationship with the
Jordanian military provides a significant benefit to both the
United States and Jordan.
(4) The armed forces of Jordan fought alongside United
States forces in Afghanistan and are currently flying combat
sorties as part of the counter-ISIL Coalition.
(5) Jordan continues to provide critical basing support for
Operation Inherent Resolve missions.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Jordan is one of our most important allies in the
region and the United States should support Jordan's military
efforts to the greatest extent possible, including by
providing military equipment and training; and
(2) the President should make every effort to ensure rapid
responses to any military requests for assistance from
Jordan.

Amendment No. 109 Offered by Mr. Royce of California

At the end of subtitle G of title XII (page 622, after line
22), add the following:

SEC. 12XX. REPORT ON UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO COMBAT BOKO
HARAM AND SUPPORT REGIONAL ALLIES AND OTHER
PARTNERS.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) combating Boko Haram is in the national security
interest of the United States;
(2) the United States should support regional partners,
including the African Union-authorized Multinational Joint
Task Force, through training and advice and the provision of
key enablers to strengthen operations against Boko Haram; and
(3) United States support for these regional efforts should
be integrated into a comprehensive strategy to support
security and stability in the region.
(b) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of State shall jointly submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on the following:
(A) An assessment of the threat of Boko Haram to United
States national security interests.
(B) A description of United States efforts to combat Boko
Haram, including the authorities to carry out such efforts
and the roles and missions of the Department of Defense and
Department of State.
(C) An assessment of the capabilities, shortfalls, and
progress made by United States-supported regional partners,
including the African Union-authorized Multinational Joint
Task Force, to combat Boko Haram.
(D) A description of military equipment, supplies,
training, and other defense articles and services, including
by type, quantity, and prioritization of such items, required
to combat Boko Haram effectively and the gaps within regional
allies to engage in the mission to combat Boko Haram.
(E) A description of military equipment, supplies,
training, and other defense articles and services, including
by type, quantity, and actual or estimated delivery date,
that the United States Government has provided, is providing,
and plans to provide to regional allies and other partners to
combat Boko Haram.
(2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified in form, but may contain a
classified annex.
(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the congressional defense committees; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.

Amendment No. 110 Offered by Mr. Schweikert of Arizona

At the end of subtitle G of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 12XX. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR
TUNISIA.

It is the sense of Congress that it is a national security
priority of the United States to support the Republic of
Tunisia and to cooperate with Tunisia by providing assistance
to combat the growing terrorist threat from the Islamic State
of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or other terrorist
organizations.

Amendment No. 111 Offered by Mr. Turner of Ohio

At the end of subtitle G of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 12XX. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FUTURE OF NATO AND
ENLARGEMENT INITIATIVES.

(a) Statement of Policy.--Congress declares that--
(1) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been
the cornerstone of transatlantic security cooperation and an
enduring instrument for promoting stability in Europe and
around the world for over 65 years;
(2) the incorporation of the Czech Republic, Poland,
Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, and Croatia has been essential
to the success of NATO in this modern era;
(3) these countries have over time added to and
strengthened the list of key European allies of the United
States;
(4) since joining NATO, these member states have remained
committed to the collective defense of the Alliance and have
demonstrated their will and ability to contribute to
transatlantic solidarity and assume increasingly more
responsibility for international peace and security;
(5) since joining the Alliance, these NATO members states
have contributed to numerous NATO-led peace, security, and
stability operations, including participation in the
International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) mission in
Afghanistan;
(6) these NATO member states have become reliable partners
and supporters of aspiring members and the United States
recognizes their continued efforts to aid in further
enlargement initiatives;
(7) at the 2014 Summit in Wales, NATO declared that ``The
Open Door Policy under Article 10 of the Washington Treaty is
one of the Alliance's great successes.''; and
(8) at the 2014 Summit in Wales, NATO declared that
``NATO's door will remain open to all European democracies
which share the values of our Alliance, which are willing and
able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of
membership, which are in a position to further the principles
of the Treaty, and whose inclusion will contribute to the
security of the North Atlantic area.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should--
(A) continue to work with aspirant countries to prepare
such countries for entry into NATO;
(B) seek NATO membership for Montenegro;
(C) continue supporting a Membership Action Plan (MAP) for
Georgia;

[[Page H3224]]

(D) encourage the leaders of Macedonia and Greece to find a
mutually agreeable solution to the name dispute between the
two countries;
(E) seek a Dayton II agreement to resolve the
constitutional issues of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
(F) work with the Republic of Kosovo to prepare the country
for entrance into the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program;
(G) take a leading role in working with NATO member states
to identify, through consensus, the current and future
security threats facing the Alliance; and
(H) take a leading role to work with NATO allies to ensure
the Alliance maintains the required capabilities, including
the gains in interoperability from combat in Afghanistan,
necessary to meet the security threats to the Alliance;
(2) NATO member states should review defense spending to
ensure sufficient funding is obligated to meet NATO
responsibilities; and
(3) the United States should remain committed to
maintaining a military presence in Europe as a means of
promoting allied interoperability and providing visible
assurance to NATO allies in the region.

Amendment No. 119 Offered by Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico

Page 700, after line 25, insert the following:

SEC. 1657. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
NUCLEAR ENTERPRISE REVIEWS.

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense
should submit to Congress a plan on how the Secretary plans
to implement the full recommendations of the two nuclear
enterprise reviews, conducted and then validated by the Air
Force, one of which was conducted by Assistant Secretary
Madelyn Creedon and Rear Admiral Peter Fanta and one of which
was conducted by General Walsh and Admiral Harvey. The plan
submitted under this section should include a timeline for
when each recommendation shall be implemented and how the
additional manpower recommendations shall be allocated.

Amendment No. 120 Offered by Mr. Quigley of Illinois

At the end of subtitle D of title XVI (page 700, after line
25), add the following new section:

SEC. 1657. REPORT ON THE NUMBER OF PLANNED NUCLEAR-ARMED
CRUISE MISSILES.

Not later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on
the justification of the number of planned nuclear-armed
cruise missiles, known as the Long Range Standoff Weapon, to
the U.S. arsenal. The report shall include--
(1) the rationale for procuring the expected number of
cruise missiles;
(2) how the number of planned missiles aligns with U.S.
nuclear employment strategy;
(3) an estimate of the annual and total cost for research,
development, test, and evaluation and procurement for the
total number of planned cruise missiles; and
(4) an estimate of the proportional annual cost of the
cruise missiles as compared to the annual cost of nuclear
triad and annual defense spending.

Amendment No. 121 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama

Page 715, line 25, strike ``terms,'' and all that follows
through ``2015'' on page 716, line 1, and insert ``terms and
conditions''.
Page 716, line 5, after ``2014'' insert ``, subject to an
amended agreement for coproduction for radar components''.
Page 718, line 18, insert after ``agreements'' the
following: ``that inform a production decision''.
Page 718, line 25, insert before the semicolon the
following: ``or in an amount that meets best efforts, as
mutually agreed by the United States and Israel''.
Page 720, after line 2, insert the following new
subsection:
(c) Waiver.--The Director may waive the requirements of
subsection (b) to carry out subparagraphs (A) or (B) of
subsection (a)(1) if the Under Secretary certifies to the
appropriate congressional committees that the Under Secretary
has sufficient data from the Government of Israel to
demonstrate the following:
(1) Such subparagraphs will be carried out solely for
funding procurement of long-lead components in accordance
with a production plan, including a funding profile detailing
Israeli contributions for production of either David's Sling
or Arrow 3.
(2) Such long-lead components have completed the research
and development technology development phase.
(3) The long-lead procurement will be conducted in a manner
that maximizes co-production in the United States without
incurring additional non-recurring engineering activity or
cost.

Amendment No. 125 Offered by Ms. Castor of Florida

Page 775, after line 19, insert the following:

SEC. 2804. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BASE HOUSING PROJECTS.

It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense
should take into consideration, when prioritizing base
housing projects, commuting times for base personnel and land
available for development on the base.

Amendment No. 126 Offered by Mr. Loebsack of Iowa

Add at the end of subtitle B of title XXVIII the following
new section:

SEC. 28__. ARSENAL INSTALLATION REUTILIZATION AUTHORITY.

(a) In General.--Section 2667 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (j) as
subsections (i), (j), and (k), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new
subsection:
``(h) Arsenal Installation Reutilization Authority.--(1) In
the case of a military manufacturing arsenal, the Secretary
concerned may authorize leases and contracts for a term of up
to 25 years, notwithstanding subsection (b)(1), if the
Secretary determines that a lease or contract of that
duration will promote the national defense or be in the
public interest for the purpose of--
``(A) helping to maintain the viability of the military
manufacturing arsenal and any military installations on which
it is located;
``(B) eliminating, or at least reducing, the cost of
Government ownership of the military manufacturing arsenal,
including the costs of operations and maintenance, the costs
of environmental remediation, and other costs; and
``(C) leveraging private investment at the military
manufacturing arsenal through long-term facility use
contracts, property management contracts, leases, or other
agreements that support and advance the preceding purposes.
``(2)(A) The Secretary concerned my delegate the authority
provided by this subsection to the commander of the military
manufacturing arsenal or, if part of a larger military
installation, the installation commander.
``(B) The delegated authority does not include the
authority to enter into a lease or contract under this
section to carry out any activity covered by section 4544(b)
of this title related to--
``(i) the sale of articles manufactured by a military
manufacturing arsenal;
``(ii) the sale of services performed by a military
manufacturing arsenal; or
``(iii) the performance of manufacturing work at the
military manufacturing arsenal.
``(3) In this subsection, the term `military manufacturing
arsenal' means a Government-owned, Government-operated
defense plant of the Department of the Defense that
manufactures weapons, weapon components, or both.''.
(b) Cross References.--(1) Section 2662(b)(3)(E) of title
10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2667(h)(2)''
and inserting ``2667(i)(2)''.
(2) Section 6981(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking
``2667(h)(2)'' and inserting ``2667(i)(2)''.

Amendment No. 127 Offered by Mr. Scalise of Louisiana

At the end of subtitle D of title XXVIII (page 795, after
line 2), add the following new section:

SEC. 2834. RELEASE OF PROPERTY INTERESTS RETAINED IN
CONNECTION WITH LAND CONVEYANCE, CAMP VILLERE,
LOUISIANA.

(a) Release of Retained Interests.--With respect to a
parcel of real property at Camp Villere, Louisiana,
consisting of approximately 48.04 acres and conveyed by quit-
claim deed for National Guard purposes by the United States
to the State of Louisiana pursuant to section 616 of the
Military Construction Authorization Act, 1975 (titles I
through VI of Public Law 93-553; 88 Stat. 1768), the
Secretary of the Army may release the terms and conditions
imposed by the United States under subsection (b) of such
section and the reversionary interest retained by the United
States under subsection (c) of such section. The release of
such terms and conditions and retained interests with respect
to any portion of that parcel shall not be construed to alter
the rights or interests retained by the United States with
respect to the remainder of the real property conveyed to the
State under such section.
(b) Condition of Release.--The release authorized by
subsection (a) of terms and conditions and retained interests
shall be subject to the condition that the State of
Louisiana--
(1) transfer the parcel of real property described in such
subsection from the Louisiana Military Department to the
Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority for the purpose of
permitting the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority to
use the parcel for any purposes allowed by State law; and
(2) make available to the Louisiana Military Department
real property to replace the transferred parcel that is
suitable for use for National Guard training and operational
support for emergency management and homeland defense
activities.
(c) Instrument of Release and Description of Property.--The
Secretary of the Army may execute and file in the appropriate
office a deed of release, amended deed, or other appropriate
instrument reflecting the release of terms and conditions and
retained interests under subsection (a). The exact acreage
and legal description of the property described in such
subsection shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to
the Secretary of the Army.
(d) Payment of Administrative Costs.--
(1) Payment required.--The Secretary of the Army may
require the State of Louisiana to cover costs to be incurred
by the Secretary, or to reimburse the Secretary for costs
incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the release of
retained interests under subsection (a), including survey
costs, costs related to environmental documentation, and

[[Page H3225]]

other administrative costs related to the conveyance. If
amounts paid to the Secretary in advance exceed the costs
actually incurred by the Secretary to carry out the
conveyance, the Secretary shall refund the excess amount to
the State.
(2) Treatment of amounts received.--Amounts received under
paragraph (1) as reimbursement for costs incurred by the
Secretary to carry out the release of retained interests
under subsection (a) shall be credited to the fund or account
that was used to cover the costs incurred by the Secretary in
carrying out the release of retained interests. Amounts so
credited shall be merged with amounts in such fund or account
and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject to
the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such fund
or account.
(e) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the
Army may require such additional terms and conditions in
connection with the release of retained interests under
subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to
protect the interests of the United States.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 260, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
Larsen) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Mr. Chairman this en bloc package consists of 11 amendments. They
touch such important subjects as the nuclear enterprise review, the
long-range standoff weapon, military manufacturing arsenals, and a
variety of other very important topics.
They are sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats. Four of these
amendments are sponsored by Democrats. I believe they deserve the
support of the whole House, but I also believe the full bill deserves
the support of the whole House so that these important amendments have
a chance to become law.
I hope all Members will support not only the package, but final
passage.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr.
Lamborn), the distinguished vice chair of the Subcommittee on Strategic
Forces.

{time} 0930

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment, No.
108, which is included in this en bloc package. My amendment adds a
sense of Congress provision regarding our support for the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is one of our most important allies in the
region, and I believe that the United States should support Jordan's
military efforts to the greatest extent possible.
The Jordanians are on the front lines in the fight against ISIS and
have suffered the consequences of the President's policy failures
regarding Syria. Jordan is under fire from those who wish to do it
harm, and we must stand by a country that has been a force for good in
the region.
In Colorado, we have a unique interest in this relationship, as the
Colorado National Guard is partnered with the Jordanian military
through the State Partnership Program. Colorado guardsmen are helping
train Jordanian servicemembers. This is just one of the ways that we
can help stand with our friends in Jordan.
I thank the chairman for including this amendment in the en bloc
package, and I urge its adoption.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I want to echo the comments of the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Thornberry) about en bloc No. 7 and its bipartisan nature. I would
encourage Members to support it.
With that, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Foster).
Mr. FOSTER. I would like to thank the ranking member for yielding and
the chairman and his staff for working with me on this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, the National Defense Authorization Act tasks the
Missile Defense Agency with developing a concept for a space-based
missile defense system. There is no doubt that missile defense--if
technologically feasible, militarily robust, and economically
justifiable--would be an important priority for our national security.
But as a scientist, I think that we need to do our homework before we
begin investing hundreds of billions of dollars into developing this
system, and that is why I am introducing this amendment to require a
preliminary cost estimate for this project.
A 2012 report by the National Academy of Sciences estimated that even
to provide limited coverage, hundreds of interceptors would be required
to stop an incoming ballistic missile. Because of the cost to launch,
maintain, operate, and replenish the interceptors, even a limited
system would cost a minimum of $200 billion.
We must do our due diligence before investing billions of taxpayer
dollars into any project. So I urge my colleagues to join me and vote
``yes'' on this amendment.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, at this point, I am pleased to yield 1
minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the distinguished
chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate Chairman Thornberry
and the Armed Services Committee for working collaboratively on this
important amendment.
In speaking on behalf of this Royce-Maloney amendment, I want to
recognize the leadership of Representative Carolyn B. Maloney of New
York, who has been dedicated in the fight against Boko Haram and
dedicated in terms of trying to raise awareness on this.
Many have seen on television the continued kidnappings of Boko Haram,
the pillaging of villages, the taking of women and children as
captives. I just want to tell you the story that we heard last year in
our committee from one young girl, a survivor from Chibok, that touched
the hearts of, I think, many people there that day.
She gave this brave narration of what happened when Boko Haram broke
in and, before her very eyes, killed her father and killed her 14-year-
old brother. She is one of the few from her village who survived.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield the gentleman an additional 1
minute.
Mr. ROYCE. I thank the chairman for yielding.
So I just want to say this: Nigeria and its neighbors--Chad, Niger,
Cameroon--have been making headway in the fight against Boko Haram.
They have cleared a number of northern Nigerian towns. Now we have an
opportunity with the African Union force--but it lacks equipment; it
lacks capacity--for a protracted fight there.
This amendment expresses support for robust security assistance,
training, equipment, the capacity building they need so that the
African troops that are fighting against Boko Haram can continue to
advance on the field.
The amendment also requires the Department of Defense and the State
Department to produce a report to make sure the Congress is fully aware
of the nature of the assistance being provided.
We need to support Nigeria and the African Union authorized force
with all appropriate means. It is the best chance we have to eliminate
Boko Haram, to eliminate this terror so that other young girls are not
snatched and their lives destroyed. The region's stability, by the way,
depends upon it.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank the ranking member for
yielding and for his strong leadership.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment I have
cosponsored with the gentleman from California, Representative Royce,
and I thank him for his outstanding leadership not only on this issue,
but on so many of them.
This particular amendment expresses U.S. support for the defeat of
the terrorist organization Boko Haram. Combating Boko Haram is in our
national interest and is certainly in the interest of security in the
region, and the United States should support the regional allies in
their operations against Boko Haram, which are making significant
progress in combating them.
We just marked the 1-year anniversary of the kidnapping of 270 young
schoolgirls from Nigeria. This horror raised the awareness of the world
to the terror of Boko Haram and what it has unleashed on Nigerians for
years.
The amendment clearly affirms that Boko Haram represents a threat not
just to our Nation, but to the world, and certainly to stability in the
region.

[[Page H3226]]

The amendment calls for United States support--which may be in the form
of equipment, training, technical support--for a coordinated military
response in Africa to combat Boko Haram.
Since its formation, the coalition has made significant gains against
this terrorist threat and has started to improve stability in the
region. Many of the young girls have escaped and have come here to
speak to us in Congress.
The amendment also calls for reports to Congress on the progress of
the mission and an accounting of U.S. support.
Combating Boko Haram is and should remain a national security
interest, and we must remain vigilant in fighting this enemy. I urge my
colleagues to support this important amendment.

Again, I thank Chairman Royce for his attention, strong leadership,
and for really saving lives in this region. He is securing stability in
the region and for America, too.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Mr. Chairman, I just want to show my appreciation for the work of
Chairman Royce and Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York on this issue
with Boko Haram.
I noticed in the headlines of this morning's paper, Boko Haram has a
new offensive against a military base in Nigeria.
The contribution they have made with this amendment to the bill is
very important so that the Nigerians and others in the region are
better able to fight these terrorists. And there is no other word for
them.
There are also provisions in this bill to help the Ukrainians fight
the aggression that they are undergoing, there are provisions in this
bill to help fight ISIS, which is all part of the reason I believe this
bill deserves the support of all Members.
I appreciate the contributions of both Members on this amendment.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi).
Mr. GARAMENDI. I thank the chairman for yielding.
Mr. Chairman, in the legislation today, there is a clause that would
cause us to think about what to do in the High Arctic. The Arctic Ocean
is melting. There will be a Northwest Passage. We are going to need a
new heavy icebreaker to provide the support for the Navy as well as for
commercial.
Yesterday during a hearing, we hit upon the notion of creating a
special fund similar to what exists for the strategic missile
submarines. We would like, therefore, to begin the discussion of a
national strategic high-latitude icebreaking fund. That discussion
could then merge into a way of funding about $1 billion for a new
icebreaker, absolutely essential for the U.S. Navy, absolutely
essential for the commerce in the Arctic Ocean as well as for providing
us with the ability to compete with Russia. I would like to propose
that that be discussed and part of the process as we move the NDAA
through the committees and the two Houses.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I would encourage folks to
vote for en bloc 7, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I encourage Members to do the same
thing, as well as on final passage.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendments En Bloc No. 8 Offered by Mr. Thornberry of Texas

Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 260, I
offer amendments en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 8 consisting of amendment Nos. 122, 123, 124,
128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 printed in House Report No.
114-112, offered by Mr. Thornberry of Texas:

Amendment No. 122 Offered by Mr. Foster of Illinois

Page 728, line 21, insert before the semicolon the
following: ``, including estimates of the appropriate
identifiable costs of each such potential program of
record''.

Amendment No. 123 Offered by Mr. Turner of Ohio

At the end of subtitle E of title XVI, add the following
new section:

SEC. 16__. DESIGNATION OF PREFERRED LOCATION OF ADDITIONAL
MISSILE DEFENSE SITE IN THE UNITED STATES.

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the
Secretary of Defense publishes the draft environmental impact
statements pursuant to section 227 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239;
126 Stat. 1678), the Director of the Missile Defense Agency,
in consultation with the Commander of the United States
Northern Command, shall designate the preferred location in
the United States for the potential future deployment of a
missile defense site.

Amendment No. 124 Offered by Mr. Quigley of Illinois

At the end of subtitle E of title XVI (page 732, after line
10), add the following new section:

SEC. 1678. REPORT RELATING TO THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
EXTENDING THE LIFE OF THE MINUTEMAN III
INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE.

Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to Congress a report
examining the costs associated with extending the life of the
Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile compared to
the costs associated with procuring a new ground based
strategic deterrent.

Amendment No. 128 Offered by Mr. Young of Alaska

At the end of subtitle D of title XXVIII, add the following
new section:

SEC. 28__. LAND CONVEYANCE, CAMPION AIR FORCE RADAR STATION,
GALENA, ALASKA.

(a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of the Interior
may convey, without consideration, to the Town of Galena,
Alaska (in this section referred to as the ``Town''), all
right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
public land, including improvements thereon, at the former
Campion Air Force Station, Alaska, as further described in
subsection (b), for the purpose of permitting the Town to use
the conveyed land for public purposes.
(b) Description of Property.--The property to be conveyed
under subsection (a) consists of approximately 1290 acres of
the approximately 1613 acres of public land withdrawn by the
Secretary of the Interior under Public Land Order 843 for use
by the Secretary of the Air Force as the former Campion Air
Force Station. The portions of the former Air Force Station
that are not authorized to be conveyed under subsection (a)
are those portions that are subject to environmental land use
restrictions or are currently undergoing environmental
remediation by the Secretary of the Air Force.
(c) Consultation.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
consult with the Secretary of the Air Force on the exact
acreage and legal description of the public land to be
conveyed under subsection (a) and conditions to be included
in the conveyance that are necessary to protect human health
and the environment.
(d) Payment of Costs of Conveyance.--
(1) Payment required.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
require the Town to cover costs (except costs for
environmental remediation of the property) to be incurred by
the Secretary of the Interior and by the Secretary of the Air
Force, or to reimburse the appropriate Secretary for such
costs incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the conveyance
under this section, including survey costs, costs for
environmental documentation, and any other administrative
costs related to the conveyance. If amounts are collected in
advance of the Secretary of Interior or Secretary of the Air
Force incurring the actual costs, and the amount collected
exceeds the costs actually incurred by the Secretary to carry
out the conveyance, the appropriate Secretary shall refund
the excess amount to the Town.
(2) Treatment of amounts received.--
(A) Secretary of the interior.--Amounts received by the
Secretary of the Interior as reimbursement under paragraph
(1) shall be credited, at the option of the Secretary, to the
appropriation, fund, or account from which the expenses were
paid, or to an appropriate appropriation, fund, or account
currently available to the Secretary for the purposes for
which the expenses were paid. Amounts so credited shall be
merged with funds in such appropriation, fund, or account and
shall be available for the same purposes and subject to the
same limitations as the funds with which merged.
(B) Secretary of the air force.--Amounts received by the
Secretary of the Air Force as reimbursement under paragraph
(1) shall be credited, at the option of the Secretary, to the
appropriation, fund, or account from which the expenses were
paid, or to an appropriate appropriation, fund, or account
currently available to the Secretary for the purposes for
which the expenses were paid. Amounts so credited shall be
merged with funds in such appropriation, fund, or account and
shall be available for the same purposes and subject to the
same limitations as the funds with which merged.
(e) Conveyance Agreement.--The conveyance of public land
under this section shall be accomplished using a quit claim
deed or

[[Page H3227]]

other legal instrument and upon terms and conditions mutually
satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, after
consulting with the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Town,
including such additional terms and conditions as the
Secretary of the Interior, after consulting with the
Secretary of the Air Force, considers appropriate to protect
the interests of the United States.

Amendment No. 129 Offered by Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California

At the end of subtitle B of title XXXI, add the following
new section:

SEC. 31__. LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAMS COVERED BY SELECTED
ACQUISITION REPORTS.

Section 4217 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C.
2537) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(d) Treatment of Certain Systems.--For purposes of this
section, an existing nuclear weapon system is deemed to be
undergoing life extension if the expected total cost of the
associated activities, including activities considered
alterations, will exceed $1,000,000,000.''.

Amendment No. 130 Offered by Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico

At the end of subtitle C of title XXXI, add the following
new section:

SEC. 31__. ESTABLISHMENT OF MICROLAB PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the
directors of national laboratories, may establish a microlab
pilot program under which the Secretary establishes a
microlab that is located in close proximity to a national
laboratory and that is accessible to the public for the
purposes of--
(1) enhancing collaboration with regional research groups,
such as institutions of higher education and industry groups;
and
(2) accelerating technology transfer from national
laboratories to the marketplace.
(3) promoting regional workforce development through
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
instruction and training.
(b) Criteria.--In determining the placement of a microlab
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider--
(1) the commitment of a national laboratory to establishing
a microlab;
(2) the existence of a joint research institute or a new
facility that--
(A) is not on the main site of a national laboratory;
(B) is in close proximity to a national laboratory; and
(C) has the capability to house a microlab;
(3) whether employees of a national laboratory and persons
from academia, industry, and government are available to be
assigned to the microlab; and
(4) cost-sharing or in-kind contributions from State and
local governments and private industry.
(c) Timing.--If the Secretary, in collaboration with the
directors of national laboratories, elects to establish a
microlab pilot program under this section, the Secretary, in
collaboration with the directors of national laboratories,
shall--
(1) not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, begin the process of determining the placement of
the microlab under subsection (a); and
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, implement the microlab pilot program under this
section.
(d) Initial Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of implementation of the microlab pilot program under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a report that provides an update on the
implementation of the microlab pilot program under subsection
(a).
(e) Progress Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of implementation of the microlab pilot program under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a report on the microlab pilot program under
subsection (a), including findings and recommendations of the
Secretary.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``microlab'' means a small laboratory
established by the Secretary under section 3.
(2) The term ``national laboratory'' means a national
security laboratory, as defined in section 3281 of the
National Nuclear Security Administration Act (50 U.S.C.
2471).
(3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.

Amendment No. 131 Offered by Mr. Hunter of California

At the end of title XXXV (page 885, after line 19) add the
following:

SEC. 35__. PAYMENT FOR MARITIME SECURITY FLEET VESSELS.

(a) Per-vessel Authorization.--Notwithstanding section
53106(a)(1)(C) of title 46, United States Code, and subject
to the availability of appropriations, there is authorized to
be paid to each contractor for an operating agreement (as
those terms are used in that section) for fiscal year 2016,
$3,500,000 for each vessel that is covered by the operating
agreement.
(b) Repeal of Other Authorization.--Section 53111(3) of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking
``2016,''.
(c) Funding.--
(1) Funding increase.--The amount authorized to be
appropriated pursuant to section 3501(5) for expenses to
maintain and preserve a United States-flag merchant marine to
serve the national security needs of the United States under
chapter 531 of title 46, United States Code, is hereby
increased by $24,000,000.
(2) Funding offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth
in the funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to
be appropriated in section 101, as specified in the
corresponding funding table in section 4101 for Shipbuilding
and Conversion, Navy, Auxiliaries, Craft and Prior Yr Program
Cost, Outfitting (Line 020) is hereby reduced by $24,000,000.

Amendment No. 132 Offered by Mr. Sessions of Texas

At the end of title XXXV (page 885, after line 19) add the
following:

SEC. __. MELVILLE HALL OF UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE
ACADEMY.

(a) Gift to the Merchant Marine Academy.--The Maritime
Administrator may accept a gift of money from the Foundation
under section 51315 of title 46, United States Code, for the
purpose of renovating Melville Hall on the campus of the
United States Merchant Marine Academy.
(b) Covered Gifts.--A gift described in this subsection is
a gift under subsection (a) that the Maritime Administrator
determines exceeds the sum of--
(1) the minimum amount that is sufficient to ensure the
renovation of Melville Hall in accordance with the capital
improvement plan of the United States Merchant Marine Academy
that was in effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) 25 percent of the amount described in paragraph (1).
(c) Operation Contracts.--Subject to subsection (d), in the
case that the Maritime Administrator accepts a gift of money
described in subsection (b), the Maritime Administrator may
enter into a contract with the Foundation for the operation
of Melville Hall to make available facilities for, among
other possible uses, official academy functions, third-party
catering functions, and industry events and conferences.
(d) Contract Terms.--The contract described in subsection
(c) shall be for such period and on such terms as the
Maritime Administrator considers appropriate, including a
provision, mutually agreeable to the Maritime Administrator
and the Foundation, that--
(1) requires the Foundation--
(A) at the expense solely of the Foundation through the
term of the contract to maintain Melville Hall in a condition
that is as good as or better than the condition Melville Hall
was in on the later of--
(i) the date that the renovation of Melville Hall was
completed; or
(ii) the date that the Foundation accepted Melville Hall
after it was tendered to the Foundation by the Maritime
Administrator; and
(B) to deposit all proceeds from the operation of Melville
Hall, after expenses necessary for the operation and
maintenance of Melville Hall, into the account of the
Regimental Affairs Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality or
successor entity, to be used solely for the morale and
welfare of the cadets of the United States Merchant Marine
Academy; and
(2) prohibits the use of Melville Hall as lodging or an
office by any person for more than 4 days in any calendar
year other than--
(A) by the United States; or
(B) for the administration and operation of Melville Hall.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Contract.--The term ``contract'' includes any
modification, extension, or renewal of the contract.
(2) Foundation.--In this section, the term ``Foundation''
means the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni
Association and Foundation, Inc.
(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed under section 3105 of title 41, United States Code,
as requiring the Maritime Administrator to award a contract
for the operation of Melville Hall to the Foundation.

Amendment No. 133 Offered by Mr. Carter of Texas

At the end of subtitle D of title V (page 179, after line
21), add the following new section:

SEC. 5__. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS BY WHICH MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES MAY CARRY A CONCEALED PERSONAL
FIREARM ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION.

(a) Process Required.--The Secretary of Defense, taking
into consideration the views of senior leadership of military
installations in the United States, shall establish a process
by which the commander of a military installation in the
United States may authorize a member of the Armed Forces who
is assigned to duty at the installation to carry a concealed
personal firearm on the installation if the commander
determines it to be necessary as a personal- or force-
protection measure.
(b) Relation to State and Local Law.--In establishing the
process under subsection (a)

[[Page H3228]]

for a military installation, the commander of the
installation shall consult with elected officials of the
State and local jurisdictions in which the installation is
located and take into consideration the law of the State and
such jurisdictions regarding carrying a concealed personal
firearm.
(c) Member Qualifications.--To be eligible to be authorized
to carry a concealed personal firearm on a military
installation pursuant to the process established under
subsection (a), a member of the Armed Forces--
(1) must complete any training and certification required
by any State in which the installation is located that would
permit the member to carry concealed in that State;
(2) must not be subject to disciplinary action under the
Uniform Code of Military Justice for any offense that could
result in incarceration or separation from the Armed Forces;
(3) must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm
because of conviction of a crime of domestic violence; and
(4) must meet such service-related qualification
requirements for the use of firearms, as established by the
Secretary of the military department concerned.
(d) State Defined.--In this section, the term ``State''
includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.

Amendment No. 134 Offered by Mr. LoBiondo of New Jersey

At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following new
section:

SEC. 10__. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PAID-FOR PATRIOTISM.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) while recruitment and advertising in support of the
Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, is
appropriate, the taxpayer should not have to pay any
organization to honor the service of members of the Armed
Forces;
(2) instead of being paid by the Department of Defense to
honor the service of members of the Armed Forces, these
organizations should be motivated by patriotism to honor the
service of members of the Armed Forces out of their own free
will; and
(3) any funds that the Department of Defense would have
used for purposes described in paragraph (1) should be
redirected toward post-traumatic stress disorder research and
treatment for members of the Armed Forces.

Amendment No. 135 Offered by Mr. Nunes of California

Page 754, line 10, insert ``United States'' before
``operational requirements''.
Page 754, line 10, after ``operational requirements,''
insert the following: ``not including the requirements of any
other organization or country,''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 260, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
Smith) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Mr. Chairman, this en bloc package consists of 11 amendments.
Generally, they are on the issues related to our strategic deterrence:
our nuclear weapons, our ICBMs, missile defense against those sorts of
weapons from other countries; in other words, they touch on very
important issues that are central to our country's security.
They have been sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, and I
hope Members of this House will support this en bloc package.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I, too, support this en bloc
package. I hope that the Members will vote for it.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers at this
point, so I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of
my time to once again say that I want to, first of all, thank the
chairman. I want to thank all of the members of the committee and the
staff for the hard work that they do and have done on this bill.
Every year, this is a very, very difficult process, starting with the
committee markup, which, this year, I think--we probably didn't set a
record. We set a record for my time in terms of one day going until
4:45 in the morning.
But I just want to take one brief moment to recognize the staff that
does just an unbelievable amount of work throughout this process. We
see the amendments both in committee and on the floor that survive that
process. The staff has to sift through literally hundreds more to try
to boil them down, to try to find compromises, to basically try to work
out whatever they can work out. I don't think there are too many
members of the staff on either side that have slept more than 2 or 3
hours a night here for the last few weeks. So I thank them for their
hard work, and I thank the committee members for their hard work as
well.
It is the largest committee in Congress. We have excellent members on
it. During the course of the debate and during the course of putting
together this bill, every one of those members contributed greatly to
the product.
As I have said before, there are a lot of good things in this bill.
The reform package that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) has
made of particular priority I think is a very good first step towards
trying to get more efficiency out of the military in a variety in
different places. And of course we fund a lot of very necessary
programs.
But we have one overarching problem that we have had since 2011,
starting with the fact that we couldn't pass the appropriations bills
for 2011. And most have forgotten this, but at the end of March of
2011, we were looking at a government shutdown. We had a marathon 4-
day, every amendment you can imagine on the appropriations bill, and,
actually, I think it did go past the moment when the government was
supposed to shut down before passing a CR, which pushed us then up
against the debt ceiling in 2011, which wasn't going to be raised. We
were facing a situation where chunks of the government would shut downs
in ways we couldn't even predict, and I want everyone to understand the
impact that this has on the Department of Defense.

{time} 0945

I vividly remember a dinner that I had in March of 2011 with then-
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Pete Chiarelli, and I was asking him
about how all of this budget uncertainty impacts the Department of
Defense. He said: Well, we have got several hundred programs, and every
day we try to figure out which ones we are allowed to fund, which ones
we are not allowed to fund, where we can get the money, what we can do,
and how we can move it around. They didn't know.
For the last 4 years plus, that is what the Department of Defense has
had to do. We have gone from CR to government shutdown to occasionally
getting a spending bill to living with sequestration and the budget
caps. The one thing that this bill doesn't do is it doesn't resolve
that issue. It goes to the overseas contingency operation fund while
leaving the budget caps in place.
As Secretary Carter has said, the overseas contingency operations
fund is no way to fund the military and does very, very little to
remove that uncertainty that I just described. So I want everyone to
understand when I talk about the fact that I am opposing this bill
because of its impact on the overall budget, that is also very much
about the Department of Defense.
The Department of Defense is left in that uncertainty and also stuck
with OCO funding, which is unpredictable, 1-year money that makes it
very difficult for them to plan. So this bill's reliance on the OCO
funding is a problem for the Department of Defense. Leaving those
budget caps in place is something that I am opposed to. So it is an
issue directly related to the Department of Defense.
Now, it is also related to the rest of the budget. We have caps that
impact the Department of Homeland Security, that impact the Department
of Justice, that impact those other areas that, by the way, are very
important. I have had some folks mention ISIL and our fight against
them. Those departments are incredibly important to that fight. They
are still under the budget caps, which are, I believe, jeopardizing our
national security. And then there are other issues, infrastructure
being the biggest one that those budget caps continue to hamper and
continue, I believe, to make our country less safe.
So the fact that this bill locks in place and keeps the budget caps,
relies on the overseas contingency operations fund, and, most
importantly, does not lift the budget cap for defense is the reason I
am opposing it and urging other Democrats and Republicans as well to
oppose it. It doesn't lift the budget caps. I believe that is harmful
to the Department of Defense. So this is a defense issue.
Mr. Chairman, I also point out for my conservative colleagues who are
so

[[Page H3229]]

concerned about keeping those budget caps that the OCO goes right
around them. I wouldn't think that a conservative who wants to keep
government spending under control would encourage the government
deciding that they can create free money. The OCO doesn't count against
the budget caps. So it is like the money isn't really being spent,
only, of course, the money is being spent. It is $38 billion that we
are just choosing not to count. It doesn't fix the problem.
Lastly, the President has promised to veto all of the appropriations
bills and the defense bill that are based on this flawed approach to
the budget. So what we are doing here is ultimately not going to be
successful until we come up with a better long-term solution to dealing
with the budget caps, and I will simply emphasize one more time that
has a profoundly negative effect on the Department of Defense, on our
obligation to, I believe, properly fund and properly support the men
and women who serve in our military. So, Mr. Chairman, while there is a
lot of good in this bill, the ongoing budget uncertainty that it
continues, I believe, is the fatal flaw in this bill. So I urge people
to vote ``no.''
I do appreciate all the work and the effort that went into it. I also
emphasize that this is but one step in the process. We have got a long
way to go, and I am completely confident by the time we get to the end
of it, we will have a National Defense Authorization Act. It will be
difficult. We have to work with the President, we have to work with the
Senate, and people have a lot of different opinions, but this is but
the first step in the process.
So, Mr. Chairman, I urge us to continue working to hopefully get a
better product that can get the support of the House, the Senate, and
the President and fulfill our duty to pass this bill and support our
troops.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Chairman, let me start with where the gentleman from Washington
left off, that this is one step in the process. That is kind of what I
have been saying all along. Earlier the gentleman said he is opposed to
this bill because it locks in this OCO approach. No, it doesn't lock
anything in. If there is a better way to deal with our budget issues in
the appropriation bills, then there is lots of time this year to do
that. But the question here for the House is: Will we vote against a
defense authorization bill--not an appropriation bill--but a defense
authorization bill and prevent it from moving a step ahead?
As a matter of fact, Mr. Chairman, I hope all Members had a chance to
read the editorial in this morning's Washington Post. Let me just read
the last sentence of it: ``Far better for him''--by which it means the
President--``and his party's leadership in Congress to help an adequate
defense budget keep moving through Congress rather than perpetuate a
fight all Americans, whether Republican or Democrat, may later
regret.''
That is what we are asking here today: keep this adequate defense
budget moving by voting for it.
Now, Mr. Chairman, that doesn't solve all the problems. The gentleman
is exactly right. There are all sorts of appropriation bills and other
things to come in this process. But to try to use this important bill
and the authorities it gives as political leverage to somehow make that
happen, I think, is not fair to the men and women who serve or to our
country's security.
Mr. Chairman, there are lots of things that affect the military that
this bill does not solve. I admit it. I don't try to solve all of them.
When you try to solve all the problems, you usually end up making a
mess. But that should not take away from the good that is in this bill.
So I want to just emphasize the good that is in this bill has come from
both sides of the aisle, and I am incredibly grateful for the
contributions the Democratic members of the committee made. Something
like 110 provisions in the underlying mark were requested by Democrats.
In the committee 96 amendments offered by Democrats were adopted into
the mark. We have had 57 amendments offered by Democrats made in order
under the rule.
We don't know how they are all going to come out yet, but the point
is, a substantial part of this measure has been written and contributed
to by Members on the Democratic side of the aisle, as well as Members
on the Republican side of the aisle. The truth is it is a better
product as a result, and the truth is that it is consistent with the
bipartisan tradition of this committee.
So, Mr. Chairman, I want to end, actually, where Mr. Smith started,
and that is to express appreciation to him for being a terrific partner
to work with in formulating this bill and dealing with very complex,
rapidly changing subjects as the world is swirling around us. As he
pointed out, we are the largest committee in Congress--63 members. But
each of those members on both sides of the aisle have made important
contributions to this bill.
I would, like him, also want to appreciate the staff. I think we are
unique in the Congress. We have an integrated staff where I can grab
someone on the Democratic side or a Democratic member can grab someone
who works on the Republican side. They are all integrated, working on
the same issues. I think that makes us stronger as a committee. So
there is an important bipartisan tradition of this committee, and it is
because national security is so important.
Let me go back to The Washington Post editorial and read the first
sentence: ``There isn't much bipartisan governance left in Washington,
but if anything still fits that description, it is probably the annual
defense authorization act.'' I am pleased about that. I think that is
what the American people want to hear because national security is so
important. So for the suggestion to come that we are going to put
national security on the back burner while we try to solve all the
budget problems of all the agencies and all the government, that is
discouraging.
Mr. Chairman, I hope that Members will not agree with that tactic,
that they will listen to the better angels of their nature as far as
supporting this bill because it is a bipartisan bill that is so
important for our troops and national security. I hope they will
support this en bloc amendment.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the Carter-Rigell-
McCaul-Gohmert Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of
Fiscal Year 2016 and in defense of our servicemembers' Second Amendment
rights.
Twice my home State of Texas has mourned the loss of our soldiers and
civilians after shootings at Fort Hood just north of my district. In
2009, Nidal Hassan walked into Fort Hood's Soldier Readiness Center,
shouted ``Allahu Akbar'', and opened fire, killing 13 and wounding 42
others in the most horrific terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.
Five years later, another shooter opened fire on the base, killing
four and wounding sixteen others. This is on top of other deadly
attacks on military installations, such as the Navy Yard shooting in
2013, and the 2009 shooting at a recruiting center in Little Rock,
Arkansas, where another Islamist radical killed one and wounded
another.
In each case, one has to wonder if something could have been done to
stop the shooting sooner and to prevent more lives from being lost. For
years, DOD has had a stringent policy which prevents well-trained
soldiers from carrying personal firearms on base in compliance with
state and local laws. The Carter-Rigell-McCaul-Gohmert Amendment will
responsibly adjust this policy and allow members of the Armed Forces to
carry a concealed personal firearm if their commander determines it to
be necessary as a personal or force protection measure.
This is especially important at a time when threats to our soldiers
and military bases is growing. In March, ISIS published a ``kill list''
of the names, photos and addresses of American soldiers. Since then,
the threat level at U.S. military bases increased to ``Force Protection
Bravo,'' in response to the increased threat of terrorism.
Mr. Chair, we must give our base commanders more discretion and our
soldiers more protection. Thousands of my constituents in Texas already
exercise this right responsibly. It is time for our servicemembers to
be allowed to do the same.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Announcement by the Acting Chair

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings
will now resume on those amendments

[[Page H3230]]

printed in House Report 114-112 on which further proceedings were
postponed, in the following order:
Amendment No. 23 by Mr. Rohrabacher of California.
Amendment No. 27 by Mr. Lamborn of Colorado.
Amendment No. 32 by Mr. Blumenauer of Oregon.
Amendment No. 38 by Mr. Lucas of Oklahoma.
Amendment No. 41 by Mr. Nadler of New York.
The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes the time for any electronic vote
after the first vote in this series.

Amendment No. 23 Offered by Mr. Rohrabacher

The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Rohrabacher) on which further proceedings were postponed and on
which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.

Recorded Vote

The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 413,
noes 1, answered ``present'' 2, not voting 16, as follows:

[Roll No. 233]

AYES--413

Abraham
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Amash
Amodei
Ashford
Babin
Barr
Barton
Beatty
Becerra
Benishek
Bera
Beyer
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (MI)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blum
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Bost
Boustany
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brat
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Calvert
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clawson (FL)
Clay
Clyburn
Coffman
Cohen
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comstock
Conaway
Connolly
Conyers
Cook
Cooper
Costa
Costello (PA)
Courtney
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Cummings
Curbelo (FL)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
Davis, Rodney
DeFazio
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Dold
Donovan
Duckworth
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Edwards
Ellison
Ellmers (NC)
Emmer (MN)
Engel
Eshoo
Esty
Farenthold
Farr
Fattah
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Frankel (FL)
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garrett
Gibbs
Gibson
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gowdy
Graham
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guinta
Guthrie
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hanna
Hardy
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings
Heck (NV)
Heck (WA)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Hice, Jody B.
Higgins
Hill
Himes
Hinojosa
Holding
Honda
Hoyer
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huffman
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Hurt (VA)
Israel
Issa
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Jenkins (KS)
Jenkins (WV)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jolly
Jones
Jordan
Joyce
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kirkpatrick
Kline
Knight
Kuster
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lawrence
Lee
Levin
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Loudermilk
Love
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lummis
Lynch
MacArthur
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marino
Massie
Matsui
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McCollum
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McNerney
McSally
Meadows
Meehan
Meeks
Meng
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Moore
Moulton
Mullin
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (PA)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neugebauer
Newhouse
Noem
Nolan
Norcross
Nugent
Nunes
O'Rourke
Olson
Palazzo
Pallone
Palmer
Pascrell
Paulsen
Pearce
Pelosi
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Pingree
Pittenger
Pitts
Pocan
Poe (TX)
Poliquin
Polis
Pompeo
Posey
Price (NC)
Price, Tom
Quigley
Rangel
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Rouzer
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Ruiz
Rush
Russell
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sanford
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Speier
Stefanik
Stewart
Stutzman
Swalwell (CA)
Takai
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Titus
Tonko
Torres
Trott
Tsongas
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Walters, Mimi
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Welch
Wenstrup
Westerman
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Yarmuth
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IA)
Young (IN)
Zeldin
Zinke

NOES--1

Ruppersberger

ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--2

Lofgren
McDermott

NOT VOTING--16

Barletta
Bass
Black
Capps
Cleaver
Doyle, Michael F.
Gosar
Long
Mulvaney
Payne
Perlmutter
Ribble
Scalise
Sinema
Stivers
Wilson (FL)

{time} 1019

Mesdames LAWRENCE, KIRKPATRICK, Messrs. TED LIEU of California,
AMASH, DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mses. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, SPEIER, and
Mr. KENNEDY changed their vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Stated for:
Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 233 I was unavoidably
detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Amendment No. 27 Offered by Mr. Lamborn

The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Colorado
(Mr. Lamborn) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.

Recorded Vote

The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This is a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 235,
noes 182, not voting 15, as follows:

[Roll No. 234]

AYES--235

Abraham
Aderholt
Allen
Amash
Amodei
Ashford
Babin
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bilirakis
Bishop (MI)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blum
Bost
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brat
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burgess
Byrne
Calvert
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Clawson (FL)
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comstock
Conaway
Cook
Costello (PA)
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Culberson
Curbelo (FL)
Davis, Rodney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Donovan
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers (NC)
Emmer (MN)
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gabbard
Garrett
Gibbs
Gibson
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Griffith
Grothman
Guinta
Guthrie
Hanna
Hardy
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Heck (NV)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Hice, Jody B.
Hill
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Hurt (VA)
Jenkins (KS)
Jenkins (WV)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jolly
Jordan
Joyce
Katko
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Knight
Labrador
Lamborn
Lance

[[Page H3231]]

Latta
LoBiondo
Loudermilk
Love
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
MacArthur
Marchant
Marino
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McNerney
McSally
Meadows
Meehan
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Mullin
Murphy (PA)
Neugebauer
Newhouse
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Olson
Palazzo
Palmer
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Peterson
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Poliquin
Pompeo
Posey
Price, Tom
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rokita
Rooney (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Rouzer
Royce
Russell
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanford
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Stefanik
Stewart
Stutzman
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Trott
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Walters, Mimi
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IA)
Young (IN)
Zeldin
Zinke

NOES--182

Adams
Aguilar
Beatty
Becerra
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady (PA)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Bustos
Butterfield
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Dingell
Doggett
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Esty
Farr
Fattah
Foster
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gallego
Garamendi
Graham
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hastings
Heck (WA)
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Honda
Hoyer
Huffman
Israel
Issa
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Kuster
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lawrence
Lee
Levin
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Massie
Matsui
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
Meeks
Meng
Moore
Moulton
Murphy (FL)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nolan
Norcross
O'Rourke
Pallone
Pascrell
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Pingree
Pocan
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rangel
Rice (NY)
Richmond
Rohrabacher
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takai
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tonko
Torres
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Yarmuth

NOT VOTING--15

Barletta
Bass
Black
Capps
Cleaver
Doyle, Michael F.
Gosar
LaMalfa
Long
Mulvaney
Payne
Ribble
Rush
Scalise
Stivers

Announcement by the Acting Chair

The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.

{time} 1023

Mr. DOLD changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.

Personal Explanation

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed votes on May 14th and
15th, 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall
vote 225, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 226, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 227,
``no'' on rollcall vote 228, ``no'' on rollcall vote 229, ``no'' on
rollcall vote 230, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 231, ``no'' on rollcall
vote 232, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 233, and ``no'' on rollcall vote
234.

Amendment No. 32 Offered by Mr. Blumenauer

The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oregon
(Mr. Blumenauer) on which further proceedings were postponed and on
which the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.

Recorded Vote

[Roll No. 235]

AYES--43

Amash
Becerra
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Capuano
Cardenas
Chu, Judy
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cohen
Conyers
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Doggett
Ellison
Farr
Fattah
Gutierrez
Hanna
Huelskamp
Huffman
Johnson, E. B.
Kind
Lee
Lewis
Lowey
Meng
Nadler
Napolitano
Nolan
Polis
Price, Tom
Quigley
Rush
Schakowsky
Schrader
Serrano
Speier
Velazquez
Visclosky
Welch

NOES--375

Abraham
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Amodei
Ashford
Babin
Barr
Barton
Beatty
Benishek
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (MI)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blum
Bost
Boustany
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brat
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Calvert
Carney
Carson (IN)
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Cicilline
Clawson (FL)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comstock
Conaway
Connolly
Cook
Cooper
Costa
Costello (PA)
Courtney
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Cummings
Curbelo (FL)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Rodney
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Dold
Donovan
Duckworth
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Edwards
Ellmers (NC)
Emmer (MN)
Engel
Eshoo
Esty
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Frankel (FL)
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garrett
Gibbs
Gibson
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gowdy
Graham
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guinta
Guthrie
Hahn
Hardy
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings
Heck (NV)
Heck (WA)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Hice, Jody B.
Higgins
Hill
Himes
Hinojosa
Holding
Honda
Hoyer
Hudson
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Hurt (VA)
Israel
Issa
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Jenkins (KS)
Jenkins (WV)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jolly
Jones
Jordan
Joyce
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kirkpatrick
Kline
Knight
Kuster
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lawrence
Levin
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Lofgren
Loudermilk
Love
Lowenthal
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lummis
Lynch
MacArthur
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marino
Massie
Matsui
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McNerney
McSally
Meadows
Meehan
Meeks
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Moore
Moulton
Mullin
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (PA)
Neal
Neugebauer
Newhouse
Noem
Norcross
Nugent
Nunes
O'Rourke
Olson
Palazzo
Pallone
Palmer
Pascrell
Paulsen
Pearce
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Pingree
Pittenger
Pitts
Pocan
Poe (TX)
Poliquin
Pompeo
Posey
Price (NC)
Rangel
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Rouzer
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Russell
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sanford
Sarbanes
Schiff
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Stefanik
Stewart
Stutzman

[[Page H3232]]

Swalwell (CA)
Takai
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Titus
Tonko
Torres
Trott
Tsongas
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Walters, Mimi
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Yarmuth
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IA)
Young (IN)
Zeldin
Zinke

NOT VOTING--14

Barletta
Bass
Bilirakis
Black
Capps
Doyle, Michael F.
Gosar
Long
Maloney, Carolyn
Mulvaney
Payne
Ribble
Scalise
Stivers

Announcement by the Acting Chair

The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.

{time} 1027

So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Stated against:
Mr. TOM PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 235 I mistakenly
voted ``yea.'' I intended to vote ``no.''

Amendment No. 38 Offered by Mr. Lucas

The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma
(Mr. Lucas) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.

Recorded Vote

[Roll No. 236]

AYES--229

Abraham
Aderholt
Allen
Amash
Amodei
Ashford
Babin
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (MI)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blum
Bost
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brat
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Buck
Bucshon
Burgess
Byrne
Calvert
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Clawson (FL)
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comstock
Conaway
Cook
Costello (PA)
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Culberson
Curbelo (FL)
Davis, Rodney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donovan
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers (NC)
Emmer (MN)
Farenthold
Fincher
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Garrett
Gibbs
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Griffith
Grothman
Guinta
Guthrie
Hardy
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Heck (NV)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Hice, Jody B.
Hill
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Hurt (VA)
Issa
Jenkins (KS)
Jenkins (WV)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jolly
Jordan
Joyce
Katko
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Knight
Labrador
Lamborn
Latta
Loudermilk
Love
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
MacArthur
Marchant
Marino
Massie
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McSally
Meadows
Meehan
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Mullin
Murphy (PA)
Neugebauer
Newhouse
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Olson
Palazzo
Palmer
Pearce
Perry
Peterson
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Poliquin
Pompeo
Posey
Price, Tom
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Rouzer
Royce
Russell
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanford
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (TX)
Stefanik
Stewart
Stutzman
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Trott
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Walters, Mimi
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IA)
Young (IN)
Zeldin
Zinke

NOES--190

Adams
Aguilar
Beatty
Becerra
Bera
Beyer
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady (PA)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Bustos
Butterfield
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Courtney
Crowley
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Dingell
Doggett
Dold
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Esty
Farr
Fattah
Fitzpatrick
Foster
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Gibson
Graham
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hanna
Hastings
Heck (WA)
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Honda
Hoyer
Huffman
Israel
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Kuster
Lance
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lawrence
Lee
Levin
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Matsui
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Moore
Moulton
Murphy (FL)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nolan
Norcross
O'Rourke
Pallone
Pascrell
Paulsen
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Pingree
Pocan
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rangel
Rice (NY)
Richmond
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takai
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tonko
Torres
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Yarmuth

NOT VOTING--13

Barletta
Bass
Black
Capps
Doyle, Michael F.
Gosar
LaMalfa
Long
Mulvaney
Payne
Ribble
Scalise
Stivers

Announcement by the Acting Chair

The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.

{time} 1030

Ms. JACKSON LEE and Mr. LARSEN of Washington changed their vote from
``aye'' to ``no.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Stated for:
Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 236 I was unavoidably
detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Amendment No. 41 Offered by Mr. Nadler

The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Nadler) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.

Recorded Vote

[Roll No. 237]

AYES--178

Adams
Aguilar
Amash
Ashford
Beatty
Becerra
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady (PA)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Bustos
Butterfield
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Cooper
Courtney
Crowley
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Dingell
Doggett
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Esty
Farr
Fattah
Foster
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Grayson
Green, Al

[[Page H3233]]

Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hastings
Heck (WA)
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Honda
Hoyer
Huffman
Israel
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
Kuster
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lawrence
Lee
Levin
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Massie
Matsui
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Moore
Moulton
Murphy (FL)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nolan
Norcross
O'Rourke
Pallone
Pascrell
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Pingree
Pocan
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rangel
Rice (NY)
Richmond
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takai
Takano
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tonko
Torres
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Yarmuth

NOES--242

Abraham
Aderholt
Allen
Amodei
Babin
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bilirakis
Bishop (MI)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blum
Bost
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brat
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burgess
Byrne
Calvert
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Clawson (FL)
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comstock
Conaway
Cook
Costa
Costello (PA)
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Culberson
Curbelo (FL)
Davis, Rodney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Donovan
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers (NC)
Emmer (MN)
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Garrett
Gibbs
Gibson
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gowdy
Graham
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green, Gene
Griffith
Grothman
Guinta
Guthrie
Hanna
Hardy
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Heck (NV)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Hice, Jody B.
Hill
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Hurt (VA)
Issa
Jenkins (KS)
Jenkins (WV)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jolly
Jordan
Joyce
Kaptur
Katko
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kirkpatrick
Kline
Knight
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Latta
LoBiondo
Loudermilk
Love
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
MacArthur
Marchant
Marino
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McSally
Meadows
Meehan
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Mullin
Murphy (PA)
Neugebauer
Newhouse
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Olson
Palazzo
Palmer
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Peterson
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Poliquin
Pompeo
Posey
Price, Tom
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Rouzer
Royce
Russell
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanford
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Stefanik
Stewart
Stutzman
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Trott
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Walters, Mimi
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IA)
Young (IN)
Zeldin
Zinke

NOT VOTING--12

Barletta
Bass
Black
Capps
Doyle, Michael F.
Gosar
Long
Mulvaney
Payne
Ribble
Scalise
Stivers

Announcement by the Acting Chair

The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.

{time} 1034

So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Collins of Georgia). The question is on the
amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended.
The amendment was agreed to.
The Acting CHAIR. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Womack) having assumed the chair, Mr. Collins of Georgia, Acting Chair
of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R.
1735) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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, and, pursuant to House Resolution 260, he reported the
bill back to the House with an amendment adopted in the Committee of
the Whole.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is
ordered.
Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the amendment
reported from the Committee of the Whole?
If not, the question is on the amendment in the nature of a
substitute, as amended.
The amendment was agreed to.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third
reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.

Motion to Recommit

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
Mr. GALLEGO. Yes, I am opposed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:

Mr. Gallego moves to recommit the bill H.R. 1735 to the
Committee on Armed Services with instructions to report the
same back to the House forthwith, with the following
amendment:
At the end of subtitle A of title VI, add the following new
section:

SEC. 6__. GUARANTEEING A PAY INCREASE FOR MEMBERS OF THE
UNIFORMED SERVICES AND NO LAPSE IN PAY CAUSED
BY A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

(a) Increase in Basic Pay.--As provided in section 1009 of
title 37, United States Code, and effective on January 1,
2016, the increase for fiscal year 2016 in the rates of
monthly basic pay authorized for members of the uniformed
services shall be 2.3 percent.
(b) Response to Lapse in Appropriations.--The Secretary of
Defense shall take all steps necessary to ensure that members
of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps continue to
receive compensation for their service in defense of the
United States despite any lapse in appropriations after
September 30, 2015.

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It
will not delay the bill, kill the bill, or send it back to committee.
If adopted, the bill will proceed immediately to final passage, as
amended.
As Members of Congress, we must always honor our promises to the men
and women who serve in our military. Unfortunately, I know firsthand
what happens when Washington fails our troops on the battlefield and
when we come home. I fought the Iraq war on the ground. I was shot at
and experienced IED attacks, but because Congress didn't follow through
on its promises, our vehicles didn't have the proper armor they needed.
This failure cost my friends their lives. Later, when I got home, my
friends and I suffered needlessly.
When my friends and I got home, we suffered needlessly because of a
veterans healthcare system that was shortchanged and mismanaged. These
failures of leadership are what encouraged me to run for office, to
ensure that my generation of leaders takes better care of our troops
than we were taken care of.
That is why I am offering this amendment. It is to make good on
Congress' promise to give our military men and women a raise. The
amendment will lock in a 2.3 percent increase for all of our soldiers,
sailors, airmen, and marines. Last year, one in four members of our
military had to rely on food pantries and other charities just to make
ends meet. That is a disgrace.
Mr. Speaker, our troops deserve a raise. My amendment does something
else that is just as important. It ensures that even if Congress shuts
down the Federal Government, all of our brave men and women in uniform
will still get paid. Why should our servicemen and -women miss their
paychecks just because we can't do our jobs?

[[Page H3234]]

Why am I offering this amendment now? Because Republicans don't
appear to have learned the lessons of the chaos and confusion they
caused by shutting down the government in 2013. Today, my Republican
friends are risking another government shutdown by resorting to budget
gimmicks, relying on war funding to pay for more routine operations and
maintenance. That is completely irresponsible.
My Republican friends are fond of comparing the Federal budget to a
family budget. Mr. Speaker, working families, military families can't
rely on a special slush fund to pay for their daily expenses, and
Congress should not either. We must protect our troops from the
consequences of this Republican leadership's refusal to confront the
realities of sequestration. That is why this amendment is so critical.
Yesterday, Speaker Boehner said voting against this bill would be
shameful and that we would be turning our back on our troops. As a
marine and a combat veteran, I can tell you that the Speaker is wrong.
There is no shame in voting against a bill that creates uncertainty for
our military and risks another dangerous government shutdown.
Mr. Speaker, the real shame would be to vote against the amendment
that gives our men and women the raise and certainty they deserve.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the motion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, let me start by saying I very much
appreciate the service of Mr. Gallego and all the veterans on both
sides of the aisle who have served our Nation. I appreciate all of the
contributions Mr. Gallego and all the other 62 members of the committee
have made into producing this National Defense Authorization Act. It
has been a bipartisan product in the tradition of this committee.
You know, if you think about it, for 53 straight years Congresses of
both parties have passed and Presidents of both parties have signed
into law a Defense Authorization Act, and that has been true through
Vietnam and the cold war and 9/11. It has been true through Watergate
and race riots, and economic recessions and bitter political feuds.

{time} 1045

And yet, through all those things, somehow the parties could come
together to do what was needed for our troops and for our country's
security. I think that that strong tradition of bipartisanship is
something that we should not walk away from lightly.
We have heard some discussion--complaints, really--on both sides of
the aisle about using OCO to get up to the President's level.
If you look at this chart, this is the President's budget, and this
is the congressional budget, which this bill is compliant with. There
is a little difference in where the light blue and the dark blue start
and stop. But the net effect, when you add it all together, is exactly
the same: $612 billion. That is what the President asked for. That is
what this bill provides. There is no difference between the two.
I agree that we ought to find a better way to have fiscal discipline
without the arbitrary caps and sequestration that are in the Budget
Control Act, but this bill can't do that. This bill is a defense
authorization bill. It is not a budget bill. It is not an immigration
bill. It is not even a defense appropriation bill. So if this bill
fails, how does that get us closer to fixing our budget problems?
The truth is we could all find an excuse to vote against every bill,
every day, for what is not in it, but that doesn't make a lot of sense.
What is important is what is in it. And what is in it is really
important for our troops and for our national security.
As much as I appreciate Congressman Gallego's service, I find it
ironic that he would offer an amendment that tries to make sure our
troops get paid, even in the event of a government shutdown; and yet,
by voting against this bill, the troops don't get paid. How does that
fit together?
Let me just mention two of the things that are in this bill for our
troops. One is a new retirement system for people who sign up for the
military. Right now, 83 percent of the people who serve come away with
no retirement. Under this bill, they can put some money aside, the
government will match it, and they can have a nest egg. If you vote
against that bill, that doesn't happen.
One of the complaints we have all heard so many times is that the
transition from Active Duty to the VA is problematic because you can't
stay on the same drugs. One of the things this bill does is say that
they have got to have a joint formulary so you stay on the same drugs
and you can take better care of the people as they transition. Doesn't
that make sense?
I hope all Members had a chance to read The Washington Post editorial
today. Let me just read the last sentence:

Far better for the President and his party's leadership in
Congress to help an adequate defense budget keep moving
through Congress rather than perpetuate a fight all
Americans, whether Republican or Democrat, may later regret.

I think that is the bottom line. This doesn't solve all the problems.
It doesn't try to solve all the problems. I know we have got more
debate, more discussion to come, but this is a step on what has been a
very bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, here is the bottom line. We are incredibly privileged to
have these jobs, to live in this country, but those privileges only
come because brave men and women are willing to volunteer to serve and
sacrifice for our country.
Now, we can never match their courage and dedication and sacrifice,
but surely to goodness we can do better than use them as pawns for some
sort of attempt to apply political pressure on issues that have nothing
to do with this bill. Surely we can do better than that. And the way to
do better than that is to vote against this motion and for final
passage.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is
ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the noes appeared to have it.

Recorded Vote

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 and clause 9 of rule
XX, this 5-minute vote on the motion to recommit will be followed 5-
minutes votes on passage of H.R. 1735, if ordered; and agreeing to the
Speaker's approval of the Journal, if ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 184,
noes 234, not voting 14, as follows:

[Roll No. 238]

AYES--184

Adams
Aguilar
Ashford
Beatty
Becerra
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady (PA)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Bustos
Butterfield
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Dingell
Doggett
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Esty
Farr
Fattah
Foster
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Graham
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hastings
Heck (WA)
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Honda
Huffman
Israel
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Kuster
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lawrence
Lee
Levin
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Matsui
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Moore
Moulton
Murphy (FL)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nolan
Norcross
O'Rourke
Pallone
Pascrell
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters
Peterson
Pingree
Pocan
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rangel
Rice (NY)
Richmond
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff

[[Page H3235]]

Schrader
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takai
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tonko
Torres
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Yarmuth

NOES--234

Abraham
Aderholt
Allen
Amash
Amodei
Babin
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bilirakis
Bishop (MI)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blum
Bost
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brat
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burgess
Byrne
Calvert
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Clawson (FL)
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comstock
Conaway
Cook
Costello (PA)
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Culberson
Curbelo (FL)
Davis, Rodney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Donovan
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers (NC)
Emmer (MN)
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Garrett
Gibbs
Gibson
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Griffith
Grothman
Guinta
Guthrie
Hanna
Hardy
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Heck (NV)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Hice, Jody B.
Hill
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Hurt (VA)
Issa
Jenkins (KS)
Jenkins (WV)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jolly
Jordan
Joyce
Katko
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Knight
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Latta
LoBiondo
Loudermilk
Love
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
MacArthur
Marchant
Marino
Massie
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McSally
Meadows
Meehan
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Mullin
Murphy (PA)
Neugebauer
Newhouse
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Olson
Palazzo
Palmer
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Poliquin
Pompeo
Posey
Price, Tom
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Royce
Russell
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanford
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Stefanik
Stewart
Stutzman
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Trott
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Walters, Mimi
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IA)
Young (IN)
Zeldin
Zinke

NOT VOTING--14

Barletta
Bass
Black
Capps
Doyle, Michael F.
Gosar
Hoyer
Long
Mulvaney
Payne
Ribble
Rouzer
Scalise
Stivers

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). There are 2 minutes
remaining.

{time} 1054

So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Stated against:
Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 238 I was unavoidably
detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.

Recorded Vote

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 269,
noes 151, not voting 12, as follows:

[Roll No. 239]

AYES--269

Abraham
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Amodei
Ashford
Babin
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bera
Bilirakis
Bishop (MI)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blum
Bost
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Brat
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Burgess
Bustos
Byrne
Calvert
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Chabot
Chaffetz
Clay
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comstock
Conaway
Cook
Cooper
Costa
Costello (PA)
Courtney
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Cuellar
Culberson
Curbelo (FL)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Rodney
Delaney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dold
Donovan
Duckworth
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Ellmers (NC)
Emmer (MN)
Esty
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gabbard
Garrett
Gibbs
Gibson
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gowdy
Graham
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Grothman
Guinta
Guthrie
Hanna
Hardy
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Heck (NV)
Heck (WA)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Hice, Jody B.
Hill
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Hurt (VA)
Issa
Jenkins (KS)
Jenkins (WV)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jolly
Jordan
Joyce
Katko
Kelly (PA)
Kilmer
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kirkpatrick
Kline
Knight
Kuster
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Loudermilk
Love
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lummis
MacArthur
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marino
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McSally
Meadows
Meehan
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Mullin
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (PA)
Neugebauer
Newhouse
Noem
Norcross
Nugent
Nunes
O'Rourke
Olson
Palazzo
Palmer
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Poliquin
Pompeo
Posey
Price, Tom
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Rouzer
Royce
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Russell
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Sinema
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Stefanik
Stewart
Stutzman
Takai
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Trott
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Veasey
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Walters, Mimi
Walz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (IA)
Young (IN)
Zeldin
Zinke

NOES--151

Adams
Amash
Beatty
Becerra
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady (PA)
Brown (FL)
Butterfield
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clawson (FL)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Crowley
Cummings
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
DeSaulnier
Deutch
Dingell
Doggett
Duncan (TN)
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Eshoo
Farr
Fattah
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gallego
Garamendi
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Griffith
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hastings
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Honda
Hoyer
Huffman
Israel
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kind
Labrador
Lawrence
Lee
Levin
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Maloney, Carolyn
Massie
Matsui
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Moore
Moulton
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nolan
Pallone
Pascrell
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Pingree
Pocan
Polis
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rangel
Richmond
Roybal-Allard
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sanford
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tonko
Torres
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Vargas
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wasserman Schultz
Waters, Maxine
Watson Coleman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Yarmuth

NOT VOTING--12

Barletta
Bass
Black
Capps
Doyle, Michael F.
Gosar
Long
Mulvaney
Payne
Ribble
Scalise
Stivers

{time} 1101

So the bill was passed.

[[Page H3236]]

The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 239 on H.R.
1735, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted
``yes.''

Personal Explanation

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to be present for the
following rollcall votes on May 14, 2015 and May 15, 2015 and would
like to reflect that I would have voted as follows: rollcall No. 228:
``yes,'' rollcall No. 229: ``no,'' rollcall No. 230: ``no,'' rollcall
No. 231: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 232: ``no,'' rollcall No. 233: ``yes,''
rollcall No. 234: ``no,'' rollcall No. 235: ``no,'' rollcall No. 236:
``no,'' rollcall No. 237: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 238: ``yes,'' rollcall
No. 239: ``no.''

____________________