[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6157, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2019

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                               speech of

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 26, 2018

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I will vote in support of the Conference 
Report for H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and 
Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act of 2019 and Continuing 
Appropriations Act of 2019.
  The legislation includes several provisions that I strongly support, 
including giving servicemen and women a well-deserved raise of 2.6 
percent. Those who serve in uniform have made extraordinary sacrifices 
for our country and have earned and deserve a pay raise. The 
legislation also prohibits the use of funds in Syria and Iraq in 
contravention of the War Powers Resolution. As a co-equal branch of the 
federal government, the president must come to Congress to seek 
authorization for the use of military force. It also includes funding 
for Ukraine and Eastern Europe security initiatives to counter Russia's 
heightened military provocations and annexation of Crimea.
  Despite these vital provisions, I have concerns with a number of 
provisions included in the Conference Report. This legislation 
authorizes more than $606.5 billion for the Department of Defense, 
including $67.8 billion to the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) 
fund, an account which is not counted in the budget and is not paid 
for. It adds to the deficit and is used as a slush fund by the 
Pentagon.
  Unlike every other federal agency, the Department of Defense (DOD) 
has yet to complete a financial audit; taxpayers deserve to know how 
the biggest bureaucracy in the federal government spends their money.
  Additionally, the bill prohibits the closing of Guantanamo Bay, which 
costs more than $100 million each year to house 41 prisoners and has 
been used as a top recruiting tool by terrorists. The bottom line is 
that the prison has been a black eye for the United States, has eroded 
relationships with our allies, undermined U.S. missions abroad, and put 
U.S. citizens and our troops at risk of retaliation

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