[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E687-E688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2023

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union has under consideration the bill (H.R. 2670) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
     Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such 
     fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Chair, I rise today to highlight the extraordinary 
work done by the Readiness Subcommittee, with support from Chairman 
Waltz and bipartisan support through the Subcommittee, despite efforts 
to compromise the integrity of this bill.
  As the Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, it is my 
responsibility to provide congressional oversight of and support to the 
sustainment, logistics, infrastructure, and readiness of our military. 
I'd like to take a moment and thank my staff for their tireless work--
the Readiness Subcommittee staff and my personal staff, Robert Hurd, 
Iain Hart, and Taylor Brunstad. I am proud of the Readiness 
Subcommittee's contribution and efforts to support our military.
  I firmly believe in the mission of our military and support the men, 
women, and families that sacrifice so much. However, I cannot in good 
faith support a bill that undermines access to reproductive care; 
eliminates efforts to address systemic racism; and blocks medical care 
and support for transgender servicemembers and their dependents. We owe 
it to our servicemembers to protect their rights while they are 
sacrificing to protect our freedom.
  I do, however want to acknowledge the critical work we were able to 
accomplish in the original bill that passed through the House Armed 
Services Committee:
  Support Mare Island with a provision that authorizes the Secretary of 
Defense to conduct a study on dredging Mare Island Straight in front of 
finger piers 2 and 3 to a depth of 30 feet to restore the usability of 
the piers for commercial shipbuilding in the future.
  Conduct a study on the efforts required to recapitalize Mare Island 
Naval Shipyard to support domestic shipbuilding.

[[Page E688]]

  Provide new federal loans and loan guarantees for repairs and 
retrofits of U.S.-flag civilian vessels in domestic commercial 
shipyards, like Mare Island Dry Dock.
  Combat price gouging and close the loopholes giant defense 
contractors are utilizing to price gouge the Pentagon and American 
taxpayers.
  Authorize the FireGuard program, crucial to fighting wildfires in 
California and nationwide.
  Provide a report on the feasibility of using CH-47 helicopters for 
fighting wildfires.
  Continue to fight nuclear proliferation by requiring the development 
of an integrated master schedule for nuclear warhead development.
  Make improvements relating to civilian access to U.S. military 
installations. This helps workers, veterans, and others who need to get 
on base for their jobs, livelihood, or medical care in military 
communities like Travis Air Force Base in Solano County.
  Modernize the Military's List of Medically Disqualifying Conditions 
for military service to ensure enlistees are not needlessly 
disqualified from serving or continuing to serve in the military. The 
current list of medically disqualifying conditions was designed when 
female enlistees were far less common, therefore many female enlistees 
are unnecessarily disqualified from enlisting due to normal conditions 
of their gender. This would also allow for the review of conditions 
like ADD/ADHD, previous mental health treatment and support, and other 
conditions that frequently receive a waiver.
  Increase funding for environmental clean-up at former military 
installation sites to $50 million dollars.
  Require DOD to establish policy and process to identify and report 
encroachment related risks near military bases and installations, and 
to understand ways to mitigate associated risks.
  Authorize continued funding for bio-industrial manufacturing 
infrastructure. This would establish a network of facilities that would 
support defense needs and assist in scaling commercial capacity so that 
the U.S. can compete with China, create new jobs, and us on robust 
agricultural feedstock.
  Extend the deadline for the completion of the conveyance of a parcel 
of property at Sharpe Army Depot, Lathrop, California to 2026.
  Increase funding for research and development for energy efficient 
aircraft development.
  Continue to push the DOD on the sustainment and readiness of ships 
and aircraft via yearly reports from the GAO.
  Utilize the lessons learned in the response to COVID-19 through 
``Operation WARP SPEED'' to develop plans and operations for response 
to future pandemics or emergencies.
  Support the American maritime industry by requiring reports on the 
preference afforded by domestic ports to U.S. military, commercial 
vessels enrolled in the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) strategic 
sealift programs, and other U.S.-flagged vessels, if any.
  Demand responsible spending and furthering nuclear nonproliferation 
through studies on Plutonium Pit Aging.
  It is unconscionable that the bipartisan bill advanced out of the 
House Armed Services Committee is being subjected to amendments that 
detract from its original mission to support our service members and 
keep American families safe. Regardless of the final outcome of this 
year's NDAA, I am pleased to have worked in a bipartisan manner to 
advance legislation out of the House Armed Services Committee that 
addresses the critical issues facing our military families and furthers 
America's national security interests.

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