[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        NATIONAL PULSE MEMORIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2021

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (S. 1605).
  The annual defense authorization bill is important legislation that 
guides Department of Defense policy and provides a framework for our 
Armed Forces for the year ahead. The House and Senate have worked 
together to craft this bipartisan piece of legislation that makes some 
significant policy changes impacting our service members and their 
families.
  S. 1605 makes historic and sweeping changes to the Uniform Code of 
Military Justice to combat sexual assault in the military by removing 
immediate Commanders from the decision-making chain regarding the 
prosecution of crimes like rape and sexual assault. As the Chair of the 
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, our subcommittee has 
worked to ensure the Department has had the proper resources to combat 
sexual assault and violence in the military and to support victims. 
However, the pervasive nature of this societal problem has plagued our 
military for too long and it is time to make significant changes to the 
way these crimes are adjudicated. S. 1605 takes this first step, and I 
am proud of the bipartisan and bicameral work that has been done to 
begin to address this.
  S. 1605 supports our men and women in uniform and their families by 
authorizing a well-deserved 2.7 percent pay increase. It also contains 
several important provisions to promote inclusion and diversity within 
our Armed Forces including authorizing additional support for 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The composition of 
America's Armed Forces and its leadership must reflect the increasing 
diversity of our society and this legislation promotes diversity and 
inclusion within the Services.
  As our planet continues to face the devastating impacts of climate 
change, it is critical that the Department of Defense act. Combatting 
climate change isn't about engaging in social politics, it is a matter 
of national security. The Department has too many installations that 
are susceptible to extreme weather events, which leads to too many days 
when our troops cannot train. And, as the largest procurer of energy in 
the federal government, the Department must become more energy 
efficient. S. 1605 makes key investments and authorizes specific 
actions to address the threat climate change poses to our national 
security and bolster energy resiliency across the Department of 
Defense. Additionally, S. 1605 addresses the long-term impacts of PFAS/
PFOA contamination in our communities surrounding military 
installations. The legislation creates a Department Task Force on PFAS 
to spearhead DoD's response, as well as authorizes $517 million above 
the President's Budget Request for PFAS remediation projects.
  Additionally, this legislation includes Department of State 
Authorizations that bolsters our essential diplomatic authorities to 
emphasize the whole of government approach to our national security. 
This is critically important in the wake of the serious damage caused 
to the Department of State and our international diplomatic efforts by 
the Trump administration. I commend the Biden administration's efforts 
to refocus on diplomacy, on reengaging in our alliances, and on 
rebuilding the State Department.
  While I am supporting this legislation and many of the good 
provisions contained in it, this bill does have areas that I think 
could have been greatly improved. First, this legislation does not 
support the Biden administration's efforts to finally close the 
detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The detention facility has 
been a stain on our global reputation and a detriment to our national 
security for two decades. I included language in the Fiscal Year 2022 
Defense Appropriations Act that would allow for the closure of the 
facility, so I am deeply disappointed to see existing language on 
Guantanamo Bay maintained in S. 1605.
  Second, I am disappointed that the Congress continues to avoid our 
responsibility to sunset existing Authorizations of Use of Military 
Force (AUMF). The 2001 and 2002 AUMF's are out of date and have been 
stretched and reinterpreted by four separate administrations. It is 
long past time for Congress to have a comprehensive discussion on our 
Constitutional responsibility to authorize force. That includes having 
a frank discussion on how drones are utilized by the military and the 
Intelligence Community. If a new AUMF is necessary, then Congress needs 
to have the courage to have that debate in public and come to a 
decision.
  Last, while S. 1605 contains critically important policy provisions 
that support our future national security needs, I believe that 
Congress must be a good steward of taxpayer dollars. That is why I 
continue to be supportive of the topline funding number in President 
Biden's FY22 budget request for the Department of Defense and the 
number contained in the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriations Act 
produced by the House of Representatives. While drafting the defense 
appropriations act this past summer, the committee had serious 
conversations and made tough, but necessary, decisions regarding our 
national security budget. The defense appropriations bill that the 
House produced reflects a balanced approach in appropriately funding 
our national security while allowing for necessary increases in 
domestic priorities in support of the American people here at home. We 
also need to have an honest discussion about having a new round of Base 
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) in line with the Department of Defense's 
recommendations. A new BRAC round could save taxpayers billions of 
dollars that could be better spent elsewhere.
  While the authorizers have shared their ideas on how to fund the 
military in this legislation, it is the Appropriations Committee that 
will ultimately decide how to fund our Armed Forces. As the FY22 
appropriations process moves forward, I will continue to work with my 
colleagues to ensure that the Department of Defense is funded 
responsibly and that the interests of American people are protected.
  Madam Speaker, I urge a yes vote on this legislation.

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