[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S7089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I support the fiscal year 2020 National 
Defense Authorization Act. The final, conferenced version of this bill 
reflects a compromise. As with any compromise, there are things I 
support and things I wish the final bill had included.
  Of great significance is the inclusion in this bill of a provision 
providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all Federal employees. 
There are Federal employees in every corner of this country, including 
in Vermont. We lead by example when we say that the Federal Government 
will support new parents, who will now be able to be home with their 
new child in those important first days. I hope that this example is 
one that can be replicated throughout our workforce.
  The fiscal year 2020 NDAA includes important wins for servicemembers, 
their families, and our national security as well. I am pleased that at 
long last we have successfully introduced a phase-out of the so-called 
Widows' Tax. This bill mandates gender integration for Marine Corps 
training, makes much needed progress in addressing the use and after 
effects of open-air burn pits, and demands new standards for 
microelectronics supply chains, so we know our technology is working 
for us.
  Closer to home, the bill authorizes $30 million to construct a new 
Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho. This is important to Vermont 
and to the Nation. This major construction project will allow the 
Vermont Army National Guard, one of the Nations' few mountain 
battalions, to better fulfill their mission of training soldiers from 
the Guard, Reserves, and Active Duty to accomplish their mission in 
cold, rugged terrain. Vermont is an ideal training ground because its 
mountains and climate are challenging, but still allow training 
throughout the year for all levels of expertise. That training is 
important to the Army because mountain skills require the ability to 
move from one place to another when major obstacles are in the way, 
something valuable anywhere the Army operates.
  The bill includes an important measure based on an amendment I filed 
as well to improve condolence payment authorities for civilians who are 
killed as a result of U.S. military operations. We have included funds 
for this purpose for years through the appropriations process, but very 
few payments have been made and record keeping has often been poor. The 
new provisions in this bill aim to improve the process and increase its 
use, so that when civilians are harmed in war, their families are not 
left economically destitute as well.
  I am disappointed that this bill does not include measures that were 
adopted by the House of Representatives to repeal authorizations for 
the use of force that were adopted nearly two decades ago. We simply 
must have a debate in Congress about our ongoing engagement around the 
world that relies on these AUMFs.
  I wish the final agreement had included a hazardous substance 
designation for the dangerous chemicals known by their abbreviations 
PFAS and PFOA, nor was a sufficient authorization included that would 
support the cleanup of these chemicals. The NDAA also includes 
authorization of the President's Space Force, which I believe increases 
bureaucracy at the expense of our real priorities.
  Nonetheless, I believe this is a good bill that supports our troops, 
and for that reason, I support its passage.

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