[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019

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                               speech of

                          HON. KYRSTEN SINEMA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2018

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5515) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 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:

  Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5515, the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. This bipartisan bill 
gives our troops a well-deserved pay raise and makes important 
investments in our national defense that will keep our country safe and 
strong.
  I thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their 
leadership on this important legislation, and for their support in 
including all four of my amendments, as part of the en bloc amendments, 
in this bipartisan bill.
  Terrorists like Islamic State present a clear threat to our country 
and to our allies. As ISIS loses territory in Iraq and Syria, its 
strategies to obtain funding and spread violence evolve. My first 
amendment ensures we develop strategies to counter ISIS financing as 
the terrorist group, its affiliates, and their sources of revenue 
change. It requires the Secretaries of Defense, State, and Treasury to 
provide a joint report to Congress on the current and future funding 
mechanisms of the Islamic State and its affiliates, and what the U.S. 
is doing to stop them. I thank Congressman Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania 
and Congressman Budd of North Carolina for working across the aisle 
with me on this commonsense solution. The safety and security of 
Arizona families continues to be my top priority.
  My second amendment is the latest in a series of actions I've taken 
to ensure Arizona has the resources it needs for wildfire season. My 
amendment formally acknowledges the dangers that wildfires pose to our 
security and requires the Department of Defense to consider how their 
assets--including air support--could complement the efforts of federal 
firefighting agencies in tackling the toughest, most dangerous fires. 
Arizonans know that when a wildfire is out of control, it's all hands 
on deck. My amendment directs government to do the same.
  We owe a great debt to the men and woman who serve in our military, 
and it is critical that we support their transitions from military to 
civilian life. My third amendment helps servicemembers transition 
successfully to civilian life by ensuring they receive quality 
financial literacy training prior to separation. When servicemembers go 
through the Transition Assistance Program, they learn about their 
earned benefits and ways to obtain jobs, healthcare, education, and 
housing. Financial literacy training will enable servicemembers to 
better utilize these benefits and the educational and career training 
available to them now and into the future. I thank Congressman 
Hollingsworth of Indiana for working with me to ensure our troops are 
prepared to succeed in civilian life and achieve the American Dream.
  My fourth amendment helps address a technological vulnerability for 
both the public and private sectors. Government-owned mobile devices, 
including those owned by the Department of Defense, are targets for 
data breaches and hacking. It is important that we develop technologies 
that secure these types of devices and protect our information. My 
amendment requires the Department of Defense to brief Congress on 
certain threats to mobile devices and what actions the Department will 
take to prevent mobile device data breaches and hacks. I thank my 
fellow Arizonans, Congressmen Biggs and Gallego for working with me to 
safeguard our national security.

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