[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 146 (Tuesday, October 6, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1735, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 2015

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Conference 
Report to Accompany H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2016.
  As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I 
take issue with the irresponsible manner in which this authorization 
approaches funding of our National Defense. This bill uses the Overseas 
Contingency Operations fund to avoid congressionally mandated budget 
caps for fiscal year 2016--an approach that fails to provide the 
appropriate budget and funding structure that enables the Department of 
Defense to operate in the most effective and efficient manner over both 
the short-term and long-term planning horizons. This is Congress' most 
important role. We need to do this right.
  In addition, this Conference Report prevents the responsible transfer 
of detainees from Guantanamo Bay and continues the existence of a 
detention facility which serves as propaganda for extremists and 
undermines our moral standing in the world. Many of the detainees who 
remain were cleared for transfer nearly six years ago by the Guantanamo 
Review Task Force--an interagency effort that included the Departments 
of Defense, Justice, State, and Homeland Security, as well as the 
Director of National Intelligence. The transfer restrictions interfere 
with the administration's executive role in responsibly closing this 
facility, wasting valuable resources, and making us less safe. This 
facility needs to be closed.
  H.R. 1735 fails to heed the expert advice and request of numerous 
senior leaders in the Department of Defense, Department of the Air 
Force, and Department of the Army, who all repeatedly testified 
regarding the problem of sustaining excess facilities. I understand 
that many of my colleagues are concerned about potentially losing a 
military base in their district; however, we should not force the 
Defense Department to hold onto excess infrastructure and assets that 
are of diminishing military value. The best way to address this problem 
is to authorize a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and ensure our 
military bases are operating in the smartest, most efficient and 
effective manner. This bill prevents that from happening.
  I recognize that passing the NDAA is described as a tradition, but 
tradition is an inadequate reason to support legislation that 
undermines the ability of our Defense leaders to properly manage the 
largest portion of our federal budget--the portion responsible for 
National Security--and effectively undermines the health and safety of 
the women and men who carry out that mission.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the 
Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1735--National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.

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