Congressional Record, Volume 169 Issue 157 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)

[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4567-H4620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024

General Leave

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to include extraneous material on H.R. 4365, and that I may include
tabular material on the same.

[[Page H4568]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. De La Cruz). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 723 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 4365.
The Chair appoints the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey) to preside
over the Committee of the Whole.

{time} 0906

In the Committee of the Whole

Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 4365) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, with Mr.
Carey in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the
first time.
General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective
designees.
The gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentlewoman from
Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 4365, the fiscal year
2024 Defense Appropriations bill, which is a result of months of
hearings, briefings, and engagements by all members of the
subcommittee.
To provide for our strong national defense, this bill recommends
$826.45 billion for the Department of Defense and the intelligence
community, which is $27.8 billion above the fiscal year 2023 enacted
level.
When I became chairman of the subcommittee, I made it clear to the
Department they would not receive any blank checks. Any requests that
lacked adequate justification, was early to when the funds were needed,
had unjustified cost growth, or did not directly support DOD's mission
would not be funded in the bill.
It is our constitutional obligation of Congress and this committee in
particular to ensure the proper and appropriate use of taxpayer funds.
At a time when the Department of Defense leadership is more focused on
cultural issues than its warfighting mission, this obligation is more
critical than ever.
I am proud to say that, due to the hard work of the members of the
subcommittee, the bill funds our defense needs in a fiscally
responsible manner.
Specifically, this bill cuts nearly $20 billion from the President's
misguided request and reinvests these funds into warfighting
capabilities and additional support for our servicemembers.
I also approached crafting this bill with a comprehensive strategy
focused on specific lines of effort: investing in America's military
superiority to deter the People's Republic of China; combating illicit
fentanyl and synthetic opioids which are killing over 100,000 Americans
every year; shaping a more efficient and effective workforce; creating
a culture of innovation; enhancing oversight of all programs to ensure
the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars; and taking care of
servicemembers and their families.
To counter China, this bill doubles funding for the International
Security Cooperation Programs for Taiwan, provides an additional $200
million to accelerate the delivery of the E-7, prohibits the
decommissioning of four ships to grow the fleet, adds aircraft like the
F-35 and the CH-53K, continues investments in next-generation
platforms, and supports recapitalization of the nuclear triad.
To enhance DOD's efforts to counter the flow of deadly drugs into the
country, the bill includes a historic investment of $1.1 billion in
drug interdiction and counterdrug activities account, including
increased funding for counternarcotics support, demand reduction, the
National Guard Counterdrug Program, and the National Guard Counterdrug
Schools. The bill also moves Mexico into the SOUTHCOM area of
responsibility, which will foster a more holistic approach to Latin-
American security issues.
To drive reforms to the Department's workforce, this bill cuts over
$1 billion from the budget request for the Department's civilian
workforce. This bill accomplishes this goal through attrition while
exempting employees engaged in shipyard, depot, healthcare, and sexual
assault and response duties.
I want to be clear. No one will be fired as a result of this
language. During our analysis of the budget request, the services and
agencies across DOD reported attrition rates as high as 14 percent.
This bill directs DOD to adopt smart business practices to become more
effective and efficient, which is desperately needed.
The bill also mandates a reassessment of DOD's manpower requirements,
a plan to adopt technology to improve its business processes and
provides $751 million for the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence
Office to further accelerate business modernization.
This multipronged approach is critical to create a physically
sustainable and efficient workforce and is informed by previous Defense
reform efforts.
Next, we are aware the Department must innovate faster to keep pace
with global threats. To do this, the bill includes over $1 billion to
the Defense Innovation Unit to get needed capability into the hands of
the warfighters. The bill focuses on near-term delivery of capability
and partnering with the private sector. We cannot continue to take
decades to produce new systems or, even worse, invest billions into
programs that must be eventually canceled due to nonperformance.
To bridge the valley of death, the bill includes $300 million to
expand the successful procurement pilot program, APFIT. Further, it
creates a new portfolio to rapidly field commercial technologies for
the warfighter through nontraditional entities within the Department.
To get the Department focused on its warfighting mission and away
from culture wars, the bill includes a number of new general provisions
to send a clear message to the Department. These include funding
prohibitions on teaching critical race theory, facilitating access to
abortions that attempt to ignore the long-standing Hyde amendment,
overreach by the Biden administration on climate change, and promoting
so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The fact that the committee has to address these issues reflects the
failure of the Department's leadership.
Finally, investments in weapons systems do not matter if we fail to
invest in our most important resource, our servicemembers. With changes
in this bill, junior enlisted servicemembers will receive an average
pay increase of 30 percent. This will have a significant impact on
recruitment, retention, and will improve the quality of life for our
servicemembers and their families. I was shocked to see that the Biden
administration opposed a pay increase in their Statement of
Administration Policy.
As an appropriator, it is our responsibility to ensure our military
has the resources necessary to deter conflict and, if we do get into a
fight, that we win and they lose. This bill makes it clear to any
adversary that challenging the United States military is not in their
best interest.
Before I close, I will comment on the number of amendments we have
received for this bill. I am supportive of this open, transparent, and
inclusive process. However, we have to be mindful not to rob our
readiness accounts to fund other priorities. I look forward to working
with all Members on this as we move forward in the process
Finally, I thank all the staff for the incredible work they do to vet
the budget request, work with the Members, put forward recommendations,
and assemble the final product.
As my ranking member and former chair, Ms. McCollum, knows, putting
together this bill is not an easy task, so I thank her and her staff
for their cooperation.
This is a strong bill for our servicemembers and their families.
I look forward to working with my friends on the other side of the
aisle, the Senate, and the administration to enact a bill as soon as
possible. Not doing so is a disservice to the men and

[[Page H4569]]

women of the United States Armed Forces.
I strongly urge support of this bill.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 2024.
As chair of the subcommittee last Congress, I understand fully the
difficult process required to put this bill together. That is why I
thank the minority staff here with me today, Jennifer Chartrand, Jason
Gray, Farouk Ophaso, Ben Peterson, and Mike Clark in my personal
office, and Johnnie Kaberle and the fabulous minority staff that gets
to work with the great majority staff, who work so hard for all of us.
I wish the bill before us was more focused on our job as
appropriators, on training and equipping our troops and ensuring that
our servicemembers and their families have their needs met at home.
That is why it is disappointing to see the majority use the
appropriations process and the Defense bill to push an extreme social
policy agenda.
The riders included in this bill divide. They do not unite. Here are
just a few examples.
The bill prohibits the Department of Defense's policy to ensure that
servicemembers and their families have access to leave and travel
allowances for basic reproductive healthcare. The Department's policy
is legal under Federal law. The Department of Justice has concluded
that fact: ``The Department of Defense may lawfully expend funds to pay
for servicemembers and their dependents to travel to obtain abortions
that DOD cannot itself perform due to statutory requirements.''
Why is it important that the DOD itself cannot perform due to
statutory requirements? Well, first, to be clear, I do not support the
Hyde amendment, but let me address it and what this prohibition does
even to services legal under the Hyde amendment. It prohibits the DOD
from using funds or facilities to perform an abortion except in the
cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger.
That is not in keeping with the spirit of the Hyde amendment.
What does that mean to the nearly 20 percent of our force who are
women? They do not get to choose where they serve. Eighty thousand of
those women are stationed in States that restrict reproductive
healthcare. If you serve in those States and are pregnant because of
rape or are on a base that does not offer obstetrics and gynecology
services, then you must travel. You must travel out of State for
healthcare that you are entitled to.
This bill interprets the Hyde amendment in a way that was never
intended. Many servicewomen and dependents will lose access to the
exceptions of the Hyde amendment if they are not allowed to travel to
seek the healthcare that they need.
This language, in fact, is a de facto national abortion ban, and I
believe using our servicemembers to do that is shameful. Young women
will refuse to serve. Women will exit the force because of this.
Husbands and fathers will not want to serve in States where their
families will be negatively impacted.
That is why I offered an amendment in the Committee on Rules to
strike this provision, but the majority chose not to make it in order.
I wish they had. I wish we all would have had the courage to bring this
to the floor and allow a debate that our servicemembers deserve.
The majority has also cut programs for diversity, equity, and
inclusion, which will discourage recruitment from all across America.
The private sector is embracing programs like this to keep a happy,
healthy, forceful workforce.
There is language in here that bans critical race theory, but it goes
far beyond that, Mr. Chair. In fact, the bill seeks to define what can
and cannot be taught in our military academies on whether or not
certain topics cause discomfort. This language reads like a ban on
teaching American history.
Sometimes facts are uncomfortable. As a former social studies
teacher, I want you to know, Mr. Chair, I find this outrageous.
How can our military academies tell the history of the Civil War
without teaching about slavery? That is uncomfortable.
How can they discuss the story and history of desegregation in the
military without talking about the Jim Crow laws that our Black
servicemembers had to struggle with when they returned home from war?
That is uncomfortable.
We should be celebrating that the DOD is about to be led by two
distinguished Black Americans for the first time in history, Secretary
of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General C.Q.
Brown, who is incoming to this position. Their service shows us how
building a diverse workforce can take us into a proud future.
There are provisions in this bill that are offensive to gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender Americans, and that will impact who serves.
The ban on gender-affirming care will drive transgender servicemembers
out of the military.
Why, Mr. Chair, do we have an IRS provision on the tax treatment of
individuals who hold the belief that marriage is a union between one
man and one woman in this bill? It is not germane. Words matter.
Divisive riders will hurt the military, undermine readiness, and make
our national security weaker. They must come out of this legislation if
we are to gain bipartisan support for this to become law.
Now, turning to the numbers, the majority has funded this bill at
$826.4 billion, very close to the President's budget, but I am
concerned about cuts in two areas.
First, the majority has made a $714 million cut to military climate
programs and banned the assessment of climate impacts on the
Department. We know that climate change is a national security threat,
and it drives conflict. Ask our Indo-Pacific Commander. He will tell
you that climate change impacts how United States forces operate.
Our military installations also face threats from climate change
right here at home. Look at the $10 billion in damage from severe
weather events on installations, like Tyndall Air Force Base, Offutt
Air Force Base in Nebraska, and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. This
spring alone, a typhoon seriously damaged Anderson Air Force Base in
Guam to the tune of $4 billion, and that is just the Air Force cost.

When we cut climate programs, we pay for it on the back end.
I also oppose the $1.1 billion in cuts to civilian personnel in this
bill. Ten years ago, Congress directed DOD to cut civilian personnel by
$10 billion over 5 years. We achieved no substantial savings. We
shifted the workforce from civilian employees to expensive contractors.
Mr. Chair, I have a long history of bipartisan cooperation, and I am
proud of that. I am confident that Chair Calvert and I can find a way
to get agreement in conference so that we can move the Defense spending
levels forward, but I have to say again how disappointed I am that the
majority has included these extreme social policy riders. They will
undermine the force of today, discourage building the force of
tomorrow, and leave us weaker as a nation.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill at this time, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, let's be clear about what critical race
theory is. It is a divisive, leftwing intellectual construct that
advances the notion that racism is systematic in our country's
institutions. It advocates for race-based solutions and rejects equal
opportunity in favor of equal outcomes.
My friends on the other side like to deride the prohibition in our
bill for funding activities that promote, in part, condoning an
individual feeling discomfort, guilt, or anguish. They claim that the
bill will prohibit teaching uncomfortable historical truths, but they
always omit the last part of that statement, which is ``on account of
that individual's race or sex.''
Do my friends on the other side really want to fund activities that
debase individuals because of their race or sex? I don't think so. I
reject it, and this bill rejects it.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the

[[Page H4570]]

ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans
Affairs, and Related Agencies, which is so important to the defense of
our Nation.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose this bill because
it is incomprehensible to me that the majority would actually spend as
much time--really, any time--on culture war riders and focusing on
their extremist priorities as opposed to protecting the national
security interests of our Nation.
Here we are, once again, considering a bill that has no chance of
becoming law as we hurdle recklessly toward a costly government
shutdown that will be damaging most importantly to the morale of our
troops, which this bill purports to actually want to protect, and to
the defense of our Nation.
Worse, this historically bipartisan national security bill has been
hijacked by radical rightwing extremists. Instead of confronting grave
national security threats like climate change, this bill is riddled
with bigoted attacks on Americans who bravely serve our Nation. It
needlessly politicizes the military and undermines the freedoms of
those who risk their lives to protect ours.
My colleagues across the aisle were tasked with crafting a Defense
bill that supports all of our servicemembers, not just those who are
White, straight, and conservative, and they failed miserably on that
mission.
I won't stand idly by as culture warriors try to undermine the
service of LGBTQ+ individuals who bravely fought and continue to fight
for our country every day.
To top it off, listen to this: The report that goes along with this
bill puts the word ``extremism'' in quotes. Republicans can't even
admit that this is a real concept or threat.
I plead with my Republican colleagues to put forward a Defense bill
that focuses on the real needs of the members of our military, focuses
on the actual national security interests of our country, and stops
feeding the extremism that is actually emanating from their own party.
I beg them to stop using this critical bill, one that we literally
count on to keep every American family safe, as a disruptive wedge for
partisan, discriminatory policies.
Keep America strong. Don't divide it.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice), a member of the Committee on Appropriations.
Mrs. BICE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of this year's Defense
appropriations bill, and I thank Chairwoman Granger and Chairman
Calvert for their hard work in crafting this important bill.
Today, our Nation faces serious threats from our adversaries--in
particular, the People's Republic of China. This legislation focuses on
delivering the resources needed to counter these threats and to support
our servicemembers and their families.
The bill includes one of the largest pay increases for our troops in
years, particularly for our junior enlisted, as well as needed
investments in next-generation fighter aircraft, submarines, and
modernized tactical vehicles.
I am also pleased that the bill focuses on combating the illicit flow
of opioids and fentanyl into the country, which is killing countless
Americans on a daily basis.
The legislation takes needed steps to ensure that the DOD is focused
on its core mission of being the most lethal and effective fighting
force on the planet, not on advancing a woke agenda.
Lastly, I am pleased that the bill includes important Defense
priorities in the State of Oklahoma, including funding to accelerate
the E-7, which will be based at Tinker Air Force Base.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Jacobs), who is on the Committee on Foreign
Affairs as well as a very important member of the Committee on Armed
Services.

As many military leaders have told us, diplomacy, defense, and
development go together. The more we don't spend in those venues, the
more bullets we have to buy.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in a unique position to oppose
this bill, especially section 8146.
I am proud to represent San Diego, the largest military community in
the country. I am also proud to serve as one of the youngest Members of
this body and the youngest woman on the House Committee on Armed
Services.
I am in a unique position to understand the importance of access to
reproductive healthcare, including abortion and fertility care for our
servicemembers and their dependents, because, as a young woman,
reproductive care is my healthcare. That is the case for the 1.62
million women of reproductive age in the military health system, too,
not to mention our LGBTQ+ servicemembers, who already have difficulty
accessing necessary care. This care is essential to our health, well-
being, freedom, economic security, and empowerment, and for our
national security, too.
That is why I am thankful for DOD's policy that covers the travel and
transportation costs for abortion and fertility care, a policy that is
consistent with the law. This is so important now that nearly half of
all servicewomen are stationed in States with abortion restrictions
because our servicemembers have little say in where they are stationed.
They can't freely take days off work, and many can't afford to travel
thousands of miles and pay out of pocket to receive the care they need
and deserve.
DOD's policy took important steps to address those barriers and make
our military more accessible and inclusive. That is why I will proudly
fight for our servicemembers, who have fought so much for all of us
here today. The least we can do is ensure they have their necessary
healthcare.
For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to
recommit this bill back to committee.
If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an
important amendment to this bill. My amendment would strike section
8146.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of my amendment.
Ms. Jacobs moves to recommit the bill H.R. 4365 to the
Committee on Appropriations with the following amendment:
Strike section 8146.

Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting
for the motion to recommit.
Before I yield, I will also mention that while I am opposed to this
bill in general, I am very proud of a bipartisan amendment that we were
able to get into the en bloc that would set aside $5 million in
additional funding to recruit and retain direct-care staff in CDCs.
I have heard time and again that staffing shortages are the main
driver of our military childcare crisis. In my community that has
sacrificed and served so much for us, recently, more than 4,000
military children were waiting for childcare spots at San Diego's
military childcare centers. This amendment will help military families
access the care they need so they can focus on the mission instead of
wondering where their kids are placed or taken care of.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Mike Garcia), a member of the Committee on
Appropriations and a champion for our members in the military.
Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Calvert
for this historic bill, and I rise today in support of this very
conservative DOD appropriations package.
I remind the American people that the purpose of the military is
twofold. The first is to deter a war if diplomacy fails, to augment
diplomacy in that deterrence. The second is, if by the exhaustion of
all means we have to go to war, to actually give the American people
the tools to win the war and keep our security. That is it, to deter a
war and win a war.
This bill does exactly that. It trims the fat and removes the excess
programs, the woke CRT programs, within the current policies under this
administration. It also critically funds our Nation's most essential
programs, like the F-35, the Columbia-class submarine, the B-21 Raider,
which I am proud is made in my beautiful district, California's 27th
Congressional District.
It removes Mexico from a command that is kind of an orphan right now
by itself. During this open-border policy, we are now removing Mexico
and putting it back into SOUTHCOM so that the combatant commanders can
treat Mexico as the threat that it is to our

[[Page H4571]]

southern border and the influx of immigrants.
That is very important, but with all those things as important as
they are--the weapons systems, the change of Mexico to SOUTHCOM--the
single biggest thing that we are taking care of, the single biggest
asset within our military that we are taking care of, is our troops.
I stood at this podium about 6 months ago and said I would not
support a Defense Department spending bill or an NDAA that did not
adequately address the pay issues, especially that our junior enlisted
have right now. About a third of junior enlisted live below the poverty
line. About a third of our enlisted qualify for food stamps right now.
I am very proud that our Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on
Defense was able to reconcile and address this adequately. The starting
pay of a junior enlisted E1 was $22,000 a year.
The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentleman from California.
Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California. The starting salary of an E1 in the
military right now is $22,000 a year. That is the equivalent of $11 an
hour.
This bill takes that to $31,200, gives them parity with their
civilian counterparts, and addresses the record-high civilian pay gap
of our junior enlisted.
Mr. Chair, I urge support of the DOD appropriations package and a
``yes'' vote on the bill.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, everyone is welcome to serve in an All-
Volunteer Army. We need everyone to feel that they are welcome to serve
in our All-Volunteer Army, and that sometimes means doing a little
extra outreach.
I had to do that with my military academies to let all the students
know that this was a great opportunity for them to get a great
education and serve our country.
It was outreach. It was inclusion. It reached out to diversity. It
has made our military academies stronger for that.
The bottom line for me is, if you are willing to take the oath of
office, if you are willing to put your life on the line for our
country, and you can get through boot camp and want to serve our
country, you are welcome to serve.
Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case),
who is a fabulous member of the Subcommittee on Defense and invaluable
in helping us understand our challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this measure, and I must
say to my friend and the chair of the subcommittee and to my majority
colleagues that it is deeply frustrating and deeply regretful to have
to stand in opposition to a bill that, in so many ways, is a very good
bill.
My colleague Mr. Garcia reflected in his comments just now on many
provisions of the bill with which I can agree. This bill does great
things for the Indo-Pacific. It is eyes wide open to the threat of
China. It funds the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. It provides for
strengthening our relationships with allies and partners. It helps our
servicemembers.
There is so much good in this bill, so what is so frustrating is to
see it infected with the same kind of partisan provisions and divisive
issues that, for a long time, have not been a part of the Subcommittee
on Defense. This has been a refuge of sorts from the culture wars, from
the division that we have seen elsewhere. It now no longer is, and this
is the consequence.
The consequence is division in the Department of Defense and in our
relations with and review of the Department of Defense, which should
not be infected by these areas for a Department that is, again, very
realistic about the threats we face.
My colleagues have talked about a lot of these issues already that
create fatal flaws in this bill, but I am going to focus on one, and
that is climate change. Oh, no. Let's not say those words, ``climate
change.'' Somehow, we are all supposed to react to this as if it is
some kind of thing that we can put up on the shelf.

The Department of Defense does not ignore climate change. The
Department of Defense has had its eyes wide open for decades now on the
risks of climate change.
We can go back, for example, to January 2019, which is one of its
most recent reports. This is a report from the DOD, ``Report on Effects
of a Changing Climate to the Department of Defense.'' Is that a better
way to say it?
I quote from the executive summary: ``The effects of a changing
climate are a national security issue with potential impacts to the
Department of Defense missions, operational plans, and installations.
Our 2018 National Defense Strategy prioritizes long-term strategic
competition with great power competitors. . . . To achieve these goals,
DOD must be able to adapt current and future operations to address the
impacts of a variety of threats and conditions, including those from
weather and natural events. To that end, DOD factors in the effects of
the environment into its mission planning and execution to build
resilience.''
That is pretty realistic on the part of the DOD. This is followed up
by very definite reports, including the ``Department of Defense Climate
Adaptation Plan'' from September 1, 2021; the ``Climate Adaptation Plan
2022 Progress Report''; and the ``Climate Risk Analysis,'' October
2021.
DOD is not ignoring this issue however you want to label it, nor can
it. Shall we ignore the rise in sea level at Pearl Harbor, where we are
investing billions and billions of dollars? Shall we ignore the
consequences to Guam from hurricanes? Of course, we need to do this.
Let's get away from this approach of defunding climate risk analysis
in the DOD.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, to my friend, we fund resilience in this
bill. What we don't fund is electrifying Bradleys and tanks, which
makes no sense.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close as we have no further
speakers.
I say again how sad I am to be disappointed to see these divisive
riders in the bill. They are all to gratify the extreme right of a few
people in the Republican Party.
I also don't make a habit of complimenting the Senate, but we should
take note that their appropriators are operating in a bipartisan
fashion. Their Defense bill was passed out of committee 27-1 because it
had no divisive language, and it made cooperation possible.
Go back and watch our markup of this Defense bill, and you just have
to ask yourself: Are we doing our job as appropriators? We are not
discussing our increasingly broken military healthcare system, which I
have heard from military family and servicemembers, both here at home
and when I have traveled abroad on bases; the lack of support for
mental health; the lack of access, even here in the United States, to
immediate healthcare concerns for themselves and their family members.
As I pointed out, we are solely now facing lack of obstetrics and
gynecology on our military bases right here in the United States,
making necessary the travel that the Department of Defense put in for
women servicemembers and women family members to get their full
healthcare needs.
We could be talking about the merits of supporting Ukraine and how
the democracies are coming together to show Communism and terrorism
that we stand united in our goals and principles; or we could be
talking about how to jump-start shipbuilding to compete with what China
is already doing in the Indo-Pacific, but we spent our markup arguing
about extreme social policies that have no place in this bill.
Now we are running out of time with the shutdown fast approaching.
Our servicemembers and their families have made a tremendous,
considerable sacrifice to serve our Nation. The least we can do is give
them a government that stays open and pays them on time.
Now, I know Chairwoman Granger and Chairman Calvert and I believe
that we can get this job done, but the majority must show that it can
govern in a bipartisan fashion and work with us to get these bills
done. That is what we have done plenty of times and what I am hopeful
we will do in the future. For right now, I have to ask my colleagues to
oppose this bill, and let's get the appropriations process back on a
bipartisan track.

[[Page H4572]]

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments, and
I know that eventually we will work out our differences, but, yes, I
admit, this bill prohibits funding for drag queen story hour for kids
and drag queens in recruitment. I had to choose between building ships
or those kinds of decisions. I chose the ships.
With that, this debate going forward, I want to talk about the
readiness of our military operations, building the necessary equipment
to make sure that our men and women win any war that we may have to
involve ourselves in. Hopefully none.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to this Defense
Appropriations Bill. This bill is historically an opportunity to come
together on a bipartisan basis to make investments that further
American leadership around the world. protect our national security.
support American workers and servicemembers. and promote global
democracy. I come from a defense state. I have always been proud that
this bill creates jobs in Connecticut and boosts my district's long-
term economy.
I have supported this critical legislation in the past. But l cannot
support this bill, which harms our military readiness by undermining
morale and failing to support our servicemembers with its divisive
policy riders. Neither the Army. Navy nor the Air Force have been
unable to meet their recruiting goals, and this bill will do nothing to
rectify this situation--it will only make it harder to recruit and
retain service members.
At a time when the Department of Defense is struggling to meet
readiness goals, this bill cuts $1.1 billion in salaries for civilian
positions. Research, development, acquisition, and oversight efforts
will all suffer from these drastic cuts. The work still needs to get
done so the Department will have to hire contractors--which are more
expensive and less bang for the buck.
And nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars cut from climate-
related programs and a ban on the effort to reduce carbon pollution
will tie our hands in the face of the national security risk that will
define this century.
House Republicans are using annual funding bills as vehicles to
further their goal of making abortion illegal nationally and spreading
hate and discrimination. Republicans have once again discarded the
majority of the American people's views and injected their own beliefs
into the deeply personal health decisions of women and families. This
bill bans funding for expenses incurred for the reproductive health
care needs of servicemembers and their families.
When women consider serving in our nation's military, they should not
have to weigh whether or not politicians in Washington, D.C. think they
should have access to reproductive care. They should not worry that an
unplanned pregnancy could disrupt their ability to serve or derail the
plans they are making for their family. We should trust the American
people to make these decisions for themselves--and we should especially
trust those who have made the decision to selflessly serve in America's
armed forces.
By using this legislation to attack LGBTQ+ servicemembers, ban
funding for diversity efforts, and stand between American service
personnel and their doctors, the majority is exchanging America's
military readiness for cheap political points in the face of escalating
conflicts abroad. The bill gives broad license to discriminate and
protects disseminators of misinformation while limiting the free speech
of those who express ideas the majority opposes.
This bill is dangerous, and this bill leaves women and minority
servicemembers behind. Diversity of background and culture is and has
long been the preeminent strength of our Nation's military. And it will
continue to be. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R.
4365--the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024.
This offensive attempt at an appropriations bill is being used by
Republicans to sneak partisan and damaging policies under our noses.
H.R. 4365, which should be earnestly attempting to best support the
Department of Defense, however, does not reflect the input of nearly
half the Members of this body and is strongly opposed by the ranking
members who sit on the very committee this bill originated from.
In order to further promote a culture war, the members who oversaw
this bill are going to put many Americans at risk.
First, they are targeting the many brave servicewomen currently
employed by the Department of Defense by directly going against the
Secretary of Defense's promises for them to have access to reproductive
healthcare regardless of their station.
Women currently make up 1 in 5 members of our military.
Denying them their previously promised ability to check their
reproductive health is not only dangerous, but also grossly
irresponsible.
The loss of these rights also increases the risk for low retention
amongst female servicemembers who need these benefits this bill would
strip away.
Second, the bill targets the LGBTQ+ community, who are increasingly
victimized by Republican agendas around the country.
Regardless of your beliefs, it is important to treat everyone with
respect and equality, which this bill does not do.
This bill would prohibit hormone therapy or surgical treatment for
gender affirming care, directly affecting those who experience gender
dysphoria.
Individuals who feel they do not belong in their own body is a
serious issue and has led to 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary young
people attempting suicide in the past year.
Our priority as the legislative body of this country is to protect
the wellbeing of ALL citizens, regardless of personal beliefs and
ideologies.
The language in this legislation would further embolden those who
wish to commit harm and violence against a minority group already
facing so much hardship, both socially and legally.
This is unacceptable.
The lives and wellbeing of those who live across the country should
not be put at risk simply to push a regressive agenda that does not
promote the diversity of our nation but rather seeks to suppress it.
This brings me to my third point, which is the underhanded way
Republicans sought to eliminate ``Critical Race Theory'' or ``CRT''.
Let me be clear: Republicans have a warped understanding of what this
term means, and they are using it as a means to remove any diversity in
education.
Critical Race Theory is a collegiate field of study that examines the
complex ways in which race fits into the structures of our society; it
is not an attack on white people for their history, just as it does not
victimize Black people based on ours.
Based on an incorrect definition, Republican leaders at all levels of
government have worked to eliminate all diverse viewpoints providing a
complete framework of the history of this country, and instead wash
over the negative to present a false narrative.
At the same time, legislation aimed at elementary schools against
Critical Race Theory--which again, is only offered at the collegiate
level--deprives diverse students of hearing their voice reflected
accurately in the history of this multicultural nation.
Another issue with this Defense Appropriations bill is the cut of
$714 million to adapt military equipment to be more climate friendly.
Climate change is a crisis that requires global attention and
efforts.
The refusal to even allow for updating our military alternative
source of energy is regressive and promoted under a false message.
It was not Biden who indicated that he wanted an ``all electric''
fleet of tanks as is commonly stated, but rather the United States
Army.
This part of the bill stands directly in the way of innovation as
well as keeping us from doing our part in the world to strive towards a
net zero future.
In 2020 alone, the United States military was responsible for 51
million tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere; more than
most countries.
But now, when the U.S. Army decides for themselves that they want to
scale back on their emissions, certain members in Congress want to
limit their choice.
One bright spot of this bill--though it is short-lived--is the
Jackson Lee Amendment [No. 90/No. 233] to H.R. 4365 that was made in
order by the committee.
The Jackson Lee Amendment [No. 90/No. 233] to H.R. 4365 seeks to
allocate $10 million to fund triple negative breast cancer research.
This issue is extremely important, especially for the brave men and
women in the military, who are up to 20-40 percent more likely to
develop breast cancer.
I must offer my appreciation to both the military and the Biden
administration for making research into breast cancer a priority, but
there is still work to be done.
This amendment would allow for more research so we can one day
hopefully learn a way to reduce the number of military personnel
affected by breast cancer.
Several initiatives I have designed in the past have aided active-
duty servicemen and women along with veterans, such as enforcing
accurate reporting of maternity mortality rates among the Armed Forces,
addressing physical and mental health concerns, and securing
authorization for Triple Negative Breast Cancer as well as Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I am very proud of the work that I and Congress have done to address
the health concerns of active duty and veteran servicemen

[[Page H4573]]

and women, but there are still improvements to be made.
The men and women who are on the front lines or have already
completed their valiant service to this country have many pressing
issues and challenges they already must face; breast cancer should not
be one of them.
While this amendment is important, the negatives of this defense
appropriations bill vastly outweigh this positive amendment--which is
why H.R. 4365 must be voted down.
Access to abortion and fertility care is essential to a person's
freedom, including for service members, to make decisions about their
health and well-being, and having control over their economic security.
Anti-abortion policymakers want to take away service members' ability
to make personal decisions about their health and safety.
We must defend their freedom to control their own bodies, lives, and
futures.
These attacks on the Department of Defense's policies make it crystal
clear: anti-abortion lawmakers will take any action to ensure people
cannot access abortion care.
Anti-abortion lawmakers are pushing an extreme agenda to take away
service members' freedom and autonomy, all while trying to claim they
support those who serve.
Our service members fight and sacrifice for our freedoms.
Now, as lawmakers, we should be working to ensure to protect their
freedoms--not trying to take their rights away.
Access to reproductive health care, including abortion and fertility
care, is critical to safety and well-being.
As policymakers, we must ensure that all service members can access
abortion care without barriers.
We aren't truly free unless we can control our own bodies, lives, and
futures.
Our laws and policies should protect our rights, not try to control
and dehumanize us.
The numbers are clear in the devastating impact this measure would
have on those serving America.
The Military Health System serves approximately 1.62 million women of
reproductive age (15-45), including service members, retirees, and
their dependents.
As of 2021, there were 116,970 U.S. Armed Forces personnel stationed
in Texas, the third most of any state in the Nation.
With Texas being the home to 59 military bases, active military
personnel make up 422 out of every 100,000 people among Texas
residents--the 16th highest share concentration among the 50 states.
There are currently 2,369,990 Military Health System beneficiaries
living in one of the 14 states where abortion is either wholly or
almost fully restricted or unavailable--with the state of Texas sadly
being one of those states.
The percentage of active-duty service women who have no or severely
restricted access to abortion care has increased to 46 percent.
This means that roughly half of all women currently serving in
America's active-duty military have restricted access to the full suite
of reproductive health care.
As of 2021, there were more than 708,000 Department of Defense
civilians in the continental United States, over 250,000 of whom are
women.
Roughly 275,000 Department of Defense civilians live in states with a
full ban or extreme restrictions on access to abortion, and of those
civilians, over 81,000 are women.
Similar to their active-duty counterparts, nearly 43 percent of
civilian women employed by Department of Defense will have no access to
abortion or will have their access severely curtailed in their home
states.
An estimated several thousand transgender men who may require
abortion care also serve on active duty in the Armed Forces and in the
reserve components, in addition to nonbinary members and those who
identify with a different gender.
We cannot continue to deny our service members their most basic and
fundamental healthcare needs.
It must stop now, and it must stop with the voting down of this
severely harmful and outrageous bill.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Weber of Texas). All time for general debate
has expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the 5-minute rule. The bill shall be considered as read.

H.R. 4365

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2024, for military functions
administered by the Department of Defense and for other
purposes, namely:

TITLE I

MILITARY PERSONNEL

Military Personnel, Army

For pay, allowances, individual clothing, subsistence,
interest on deposits, gratuities, permanent change of station
travel (including all expenses thereof for organizational
movements), and expenses of temporary duty travel between
permanent duty stations, for members of the Army on active
duty (except members of reserve components provided for
elsewhere), cadets, and aviation cadets; for members of the
Reserve Officers' Training Corps; and for payments pursuant
to section 156 of Public Law 97-377, as amended (42 U.S.C.
402 note), and to the Department of Defense Military
Retirement Fund, $50,230,906,000.

Military Personnel, Navy

For pay, allowances, individual clothing, subsistence,
interest on deposits, gratuities, permanent change of station
travel (including all expenses thereof for organizational
movements), and expenses of temporary duty travel between
permanent duty stations, for members of the Navy on active
duty (except members of the Reserve provided for elsewhere),
midshipmen, and aviation cadets; for members of the Reserve
Officers' Training Corps; and for payments pursuant to
section 156 of Public Law 97-377, as amended (42 U.S.C. 402
note), and to the Department of Defense Military Retirement
Fund, $37,615,388,000.

Military Personnel, Marine Corps

For pay, allowances, individual clothing, subsistence,
interest on deposits, gratuities, permanent change of station
travel (including all expenses thereof for organizational
movements), and expenses of temporary duty travel between
permanent duty stations, for members of the Marine Corps on
active duty (except members of the Reserve provided for
elsewhere); and for payments pursuant to section 156 of
Public Law 97-377, as amended (42 U.S.C. 402 note), and to
the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund,
$15,556,629,000.

Military Personnel, Air Force

For pay, allowances, individual clothing, subsistence,
interest on deposits, gratuities, permanent change of station
travel (including all expenses thereof for organizational
movements), and expenses of temporary duty travel between
permanent duty stations, for members of the Air Force on
active duty (except members of reserve components provided
for elsewhere), cadets, and aviation cadets; for members of
the Reserve Officers' Training Corps; and for payments
pursuant to section 156 of Public Law 97-377, as amended (42
U.S.C. 402 note), and to the Department of Defense Military
Retirement Fund, $36,512,530,000.

Military Personnel, Space Force

For pay, allowances, individual clothing, subsistence,
interest on deposits, gratuities, permanent change of station
travel (including all expenses thereof for organizational
movements), and expenses of temporary duty travel between
permanent duty stations, for members of the Space Force on
active duty and cadets; for members of the Reserve Officers'
Training Corps; and for payments pursuant to section 156 of
Public Law 97-377, as amended (42 U.S.C. 402 note), and to
the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund,
$1,239,573,000.

Reserve Personnel, Army

For pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, gratuities,
travel, and related expenses for personnel of the Army
Reserve on active duty under sections 10211, 10302, and 7038
of title 10, United States Code, or while serving on active
duty under section 12301(d) of title 10, United States Code,
in connection with performing duty specified in section
12310(a) of title 10, United States Code, or while undergoing
reserve training, or while performing drills or equivalent
duty or other duty, and expenses authorized by section 16131
of title 10, United States Code; and for payments to the
Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund,
$5,367,436,000.

Reserve Personnel, Navy

For pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, gratuities,
travel, and related expenses for personnel of the Navy
Reserve on active duty under section 10211 of title 10,
United States Code, or while serving on active duty under
section 12301(d) of title 10, United States Code, in
connection with performing duty specified in section 12310(a)
of title 10, United States Code, or while undergoing reserve
training, or while performing drills or equivalent duty, and
expenses authorized by section 16131 of title 10, United
States Code; and for payments to the Department of Defense
Military Retirement Fund, $2,486,718,000.

Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps

For pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, gratuities,
travel, and related expenses for personnel of the Marine
Corps Reserve on active duty under section 10211 of title 10,
United States Code, or while serving on active duty under
section 12301(d) of title 10, United States Code, in
connection with performing duty specified in section 12310(a)
of title 10, United States Code, or while undergoing reserve
training, or while performing drills or equivalent duty, and
for members of the Marine Corps platoon leaders class, and
expenses authorized by section 16131 of title 10, United
States Code; and for payments to the Department of Defense
Military Retirement Fund, $898,928,000.

Reserve Personnel, Air Force

For pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, gratuities,
travel, and related expenses for personnel of the Air Force
Reserve on active duty under sections 10211, 10305, and 9038
of

[[Page H4574]]

title 10, United States Code, or while serving on active duty
under section 12301(d) of title 10, United States Code, in
connection with performing duty specified in section 12310(a)
of title 10, United States Code, or while undergoing reserve
training, or while performing drills or equivalent duty or
other duty, and expenses authorized by section 16131 of title
10, United States Code; and for payments to the Department of
Defense Military Retirement Fund, $2,459,466,000.

National Guard Personnel, Army

For pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, gratuities,
travel, and related expenses for personnel of the Army
National Guard while on duty under sections 10211, 10302, or
12402 of title 10 or section 708 of title 32, United States
Code, or while serving on duty under section 12301(d) of
title 10 or section 502(f) of title 32, United States Code,
in connection with performing duty specified in section
12310(a) of title 10, United States Code, or while undergoing
training, or while performing drills or equivalent duty or
other duty, and expenses authorized by section 16131 of title
10, United States Code; and for payments to the Department of
Defense Military Retirement Fund, $9,766,369,000.

National Guard Personnel, Air Force

For pay, allowances, clothing, subsistence, gratuities,
travel, and related expenses for personnel of the Air
National Guard on duty under sections 10211, 10305, or 12402
of title 10 or section 708 of title 32, United States Code,
or while serving on duty under section 12301(d) of title 10
or section 502(f) of title 32, United States Code, in
connection with performing duty specified in section 12310(a)
of title 10, United States Code, or while undergoing
training, or while performing drills or equivalent duty or
other duty, and expenses authorized by section 16131 of title
10, United States Code; and for payments to the Department of
Defense Military Retirement Fund, $5,234,625,000.

TITLE II

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Operation and Maintenance, Army

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance of the Army, as authorized by law,
$60,525,399,000: Provided, That not to exceed $12,478,000
may be used for emergencies and extraordinary expenses, to be
expended upon the approval or authority of the Secretary of
the Army, and payments may be made upon the Secretary's
certificate of necessity for confidential military purposes.

Operation and Maintenance, Navy

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance of the Navy and the Marine Corps,
as authorized by law, $73,547,305,000: Provided, That not to
exceed $15,055,000 may be used for emergencies and
extraordinary expenses, to be expended upon the approval or
authority of the Secretary of the Navy, and payments may be
made upon the Secretary's certificate of necessity for
confidential military purposes.

Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance of the Marine Corps, as authorized
by law, $10,909,609,000.

Operation and Maintenance, Air Force

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance of the Air Force, as authorized by
law, $63,460,822,000: Provided, That not to exceed
$7,699,000 may be used for emergencies and extraordinary
expenses, to be expended upon the approval or authority of
the Secretary of the Air Force, and payments may be made upon
the Secretary's certificate of necessity for confidential
military purposes.

Operation and Maintenance, Space Force

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance of the Space Force, as authorized
by law, $4,890,886,000.

Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide

(including transfer of funds)

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance of activities and agencies of the
Department of Defense (other than the military departments),
as authorized by law, $52,453,715,000: Provided, That not
more than $2,981,000 may be used for the Combatant Commander
Initiative Fund authorized under section 166a of title 10,
United States Code: Provided further, That not to exceed
$36,000,000 may be used for emergencies and extraordinary
expenses, to be expended upon the approval or authority of
the Secretary of Defense, and payments may be made upon the
Secretary's certificate of necessity for confidential
military purposes: Provided further, That of the funds
provided under this heading, not less than $55,000,000 shall
be made available for the Procurement Technical Assistance
Cooperative Agreement Program, of which not less than
$5,000,000 shall be available for centers defined in 10
U.S.C. 2411(1)(D): Provided further, That none of the funds
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be
used to plan or implement the consolidation of a budget or
appropriations liaison office of the Office of the Secretary
of Defense, the office of the Secretary of a military
department, or the service headquarters of one of the Armed
Forces into a legislative affairs or legislative liaison
office: Provided further, That $25,968,000 to remain
available until expended, is available only for expenses
relating to certain classified activities, and may be
transferred as necessary by the Secretary of Defense to
operation and maintenance appropriations or research,
development, test and evaluation appropriations, to be merged
with and to be available for the same time period as the
appropriations to which transferred: Provided further, That
any ceiling on the investment item unit cost of items that
may be purchased with operation and maintenance funds shall
not apply to the funds described in the preceding proviso:
Provided further, That of the funds provided under this
heading, $2,304,649,000, of which $1,343,580,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2025, shall be available to
provide support and assistance to foreign security forces or
other groups or individuals to conduct, support or facilitate
counterterrorism, crisis response, or other Department of
Defense security cooperation programs: Provided further,
That the Secretary of Defense shall provide quarterly reports
to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate on the use and status of funds
made available in this paragraph: Provided further, That the
transfer authority provided under this heading is in addition
to any other transfer authority provided elsewhere in this
Act.

Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund

For the ``Counter-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Train and
Equip Fund'', $397,950,000, to remain available until
September 30, 2025: Provided, That such funds shall be
available to the Secretary of Defense in coordination with
the Secretary of State, to provide assistance, including
training; equipment; logistics support, supplies, and
services; stipends; infrastructure repair and renovation;
construction for facility fortification and humane treatment;
and sustainment, to foreign security forces, irregular
forces, groups, or individuals participating, or preparing to
participate in activities to counter the Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria, and their affiliated or associated groups:
Provided further, That amounts made available under this
heading shall be available to provide assistance only for
activities in a country designated by the Secretary of
Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, as
having a security mission to counter the Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria, and following written notification to the
congressional defense committees of such designation:
Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall ensure
that prior to providing assistance to elements of any forces
or individuals, such elements or individuals are
appropriately vetted, including at a minimum, assessing such
elements for associations with terrorist groups or groups
associated with the Government of Iran; and receiving
commitments from such elements to promote respect for human
rights and the rule of law: Provided further, That the
Secretary of Defense shall, not fewer than 15 days prior to
obligating from this appropriation account, notify the
congressional defense committees in writing of the details of
any such obligation: Provided further, That the Secretary of
Defense may accept and retain contributions, including
assistance in-kind, from foreign governments, including the
Government of Iraq and other entities, to carry out
assistance authorized under this heading: Provided further,
That contributions of funds for the purposes provided herein
from any foreign government or other entity may be credited
to this Fund, to remain available until expended, and used
for such purposes: Provided further, That the Secretary of
Defense shall prioritize such contributions when providing
any assistance for construction for facility fortification:
Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense may waive a
provision of law relating to the acquisition of items and
support services or sections 40 and 40A of the Arms Export
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2780 and 2785) if the Secretary
determines that such provision of law would prohibit,
restrict, delay or otherwise limit the provision of such
assistance and a notice of and justification for such waiver
is submitted to the congressional defense committees, the
Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the
Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives: Provided further,
That the United States may accept equipment procured using
funds provided under this heading that was transferred to
security forces, irregular forces, or groups participating,
or preparing to participate in activities to counter the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and returned by such forces
or groups to the United States, and such equipment may be
treated as stocks of the Department of Defense upon written
notification to the congressional defense committees:
Provided further, That equipment procured using funds
provided under this heading and not yet transferred to
security forces, irregular forces, or groups participating,
or preparing to participate in activities to counter the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria may be treated as stocks of
the Department of Defense when determined by the Secretary to
no longer be required for transfer to such forces or groups
and upon written notification to the congressional defense
committees: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense
shall provide quarterly reports to the congressional defense
committees on the use of funds provided under this heading,
including, but not limited to, the number of individuals
trained, the nature and scope of support and sustainment
provided to each group or individual, the area of operations
for each group, and the contributions of other countries,
groups, or individuals: Provided further, That of the funds
provided under this heading for stipends for foreign security
forces, irregular forces, groups,

[[Page H4575]]

or individuals participating, or preparing to participate in
activities to counter ISIS in Syria, fifty percent shall not
be available for obligation or expenditure until the
Secretary of Defense reports to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
that measures are in place to ensure accountability of such
funds.

Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance, including training, organization,
and administration, of the Army Reserve; repair of facilities
and equipment; hire of passenger motor vehicles; travel and
transportation; care of the dead; recruiting; procurement of
services, supplies, and equipment; and communications,
$3,559,248,000.

Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance, including training, organization,
and administration, of the Navy Reserve; repair of facilities
and equipment; hire of passenger motor vehicles; travel and
transportation; care of the dead; recruiting; procurement of
services, supplies, and equipment; and communications,
$1,366,710,000.

Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance, including training, organization,
and administration, of the Marine Corps Reserve; repair of
facilities and equipment; hire of passenger motor vehicles;
travel and transportation; care of the dead; recruiting;
procurement of services, supplies, and equipment; and
communications, $323,395,000.

Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
operation and maintenance, including training, organization,
and administration, of the Air Force Reserve; repair of
facilities and equipment; hire of passenger motor vehicles;
travel and transportation; care of the dead; recruiting;
procurement of services, supplies, and equipment; and
communications, $4,056,196,000.

Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard

For expenses of training, organizing, and administering the
Army National Guard, including medical and hospital treatment
and related expenses in non-Federal hospitals; maintenance,
operation, and repairs to structures and facilities; hire of
passenger motor vehicles; personnel services in the National
Guard Bureau; travel expenses (other than mileage), as
authorized by law for Army personnel on active duty, for Army
National Guard division, regimental, and battalion commanders
while inspecting units in compliance with National Guard
Bureau regulations when specifically authorized by the Chief,
National Guard Bureau; supplying and equipping the Army
National Guard as authorized by law; and expenses of repair,
modification, maintenance, and issue of supplies and
equipment (including aircraft), $8,612,404,000.

Operation and Maintenance, Air National Guard

For expenses of training, organizing, and administering the
Air National Guard, including medical and hospital treatment
and related expenses in non-Federal hospitals; maintenance,
operation, and repairs to structures and facilities;
transportation of things, hire of passenger motor vehicles;
supplying and equipping the Air National Guard, as authorized
by law; expenses for repair, modification, maintenance, and
issue of supplies and equipment, including those furnished
from stocks under the control of agencies of the Department
of Defense; travel expenses (other than mileage) on the same
basis as authorized by law for Air National Guard personnel
on active Federal duty, for Air National Guard commanders
while inspecting units in compliance with National Guard
Bureau regulations when specifically authorized by the Chief,
National Guard Bureau, $7,250,745,000.

United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

For salaries and expenses necessary for the United States
Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, $16,620,000, of which
not to exceed $10,000 may be used for official representation
purposes.

Environmental Restoration, Army

(including transfer of funds)

For the Department of the Army, $198,760,000, to remain
available until transferred: Provided, That the Secretary of
the Army shall, upon determining that such funds are required
for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris of
the Department of the Army, or for similar purposes, transfer
the funds made available by this appropriation to other
appropriations made available to the Department of the Army,
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes
and for the same time period as the appropriations to which
transferred: Provided further, That upon a determination
that all or part of the funds transferred from this
appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided
herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this
appropriation: Provided further, That the transfer authority
provided under this heading is in addition to any other
transfer authority provided elsewhere in this Act.

Environmental Restoration, Navy

(including transfer of funds)

For the Department of the Navy, $345,240,000, to remain
available until transferred: Provided, That the Secretary of
the Navy shall, upon determining that such funds are required
for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris of
the Department of the Navy, or for similar purposes, transfer
the funds made available by this appropriation to other
appropriations made available to the Department of the Navy,
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes
and for the same time period as the appropriations to which
transferred: Provided further, That upon a determination
that all or part of the funds transferred from this
appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided
herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this
appropriation: Provided further, That the transfer authority
provided under this heading is in addition to any other
transfer authority provided elsewhere in this Act.

Environmental Restoration, Air Force

(including transfer of funds)

For the Department of the Air Force, $359,744,000, to
remain available until transferred: Provided, That the
Secretary of the Air Force shall, upon determining that such
funds are required for environmental restoration, reduction
and recycling of hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings
and debris of the Department of the Air Force, or for similar
purposes, transfer the funds made available by this
appropriation to other appropriations made available to the
Department of the Air Force, to be merged with and to be
available for the same purposes and for the same time period
as the appropriations to which transferred: Provided
further, That upon a determination that all or part of the
funds transferred from this appropriation are not necessary
for the purposes provided herein, such amounts may be
transferred back to this appropriation: Provided further,
That the transfer authority provided under this heading is in
addition to any other transfer authority provided elsewhere
in this Act.

Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide

(including transfer of funds)

For the Department of Defense, $8,965,000, to remain
available until transferred: Provided, That the Secretary of
Defense shall, upon determining that such funds are required
for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris of
the Department of Defense, or for similar purposes, transfer
the funds made available by this appropriation to other
appropriations made available to the Department of Defense,
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes
and for the same time period as the appropriations to which
transferred: Provided further, That upon a determination
that all or part of the funds transferred from this
appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided
herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this
appropriation: Provided further, That the transfer authority
provided under this heading is in addition to any other
transfer authority provided elsewhere in this Act.

Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites

(including transfer of funds)

For the Department of the Army, $232,806,000, to remain
available until transferred: Provided, That the Secretary of
the Army shall, upon determining that such funds are required
for environmental restoration, reduction and recycling of
hazardous waste, removal of unsafe buildings and debris at
sites formerly used by the Department of Defense, transfer
the funds made available by this appropriation to other
appropriations made available to the Department of the Army,
to be merged with and to be available for the same purposes
and for the same time period as the appropriations to which
transferred: Provided further, That upon a determination
that all or part of the funds transferred from this
appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided
herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this
appropriation: Provided further, That the transfer authority
provided under this heading is in addition to any other
transfer authority provided elsewhere in this Act.

Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid

For expenses relating to the Overseas Humanitarian,
Disaster, and Civic Aid programs of the Department of Defense
(consisting of the programs provided under sections 401, 402,
404, 407, 2557, and 2561 of title 10, United States Code),
$142,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025.

Cooperative Threat Reduction Account

For assistance, including assistance provided by contract
or by grants, under programs and activities of the Department
of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program authorized
under the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction
Act, $350,999,000, to remain available until September 30,
2026.

Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account

For the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce
Development Account, $54,977,000:

[[Page H4576]]

Provided, That no other amounts may be otherwise credited or
transferred to the Account, or deposited into the Account, in
fiscal year 2024 pursuant to section 1705(d) of title 10,
United States Code.

TITLE III

PROCUREMENT

Aircraft Procurement, Army

For construction, procurement, production, modification,
and modernization of aircraft, equipment, including ordnance,
ground handling equipment, spare parts, and accessories
therefor; specialized equipment and training devices;
expansion of public and private plants, including the land
necessary therefor, for the foregoing purposes, and such
lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
and procurement and installation of equipment, appliances,
and machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant
and Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway; and
other expenses necessary for the foregoing purposes,
$3,030,767,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Missile Procurement, Army

For construction, procurement, production, modification,
and modernization of missiles, equipment, including ordnance,
ground handling equipment, spare parts, and accessories
therefor; specialized equipment and training devices;
expansion of public and private plants, including the land
necessary therefor, for the foregoing purposes, and such
lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
and procurement and installation of equipment, appliances,
and machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant
and Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway; and
other expenses necessary for the foregoing purposes,
$4,483,806,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army

For construction, procurement, production, and modification
of weapons and tracked combat vehicles, equipment, including
ordnance, spare parts, and accessories therefor; specialized
equipment and training devices; expansion of public and
private plants, including the land necessary therefor, for
the foregoing purposes, and such lands and interests therein,
may be acquired, and construction prosecuted thereon prior to
approval of title; and procurement and installation of
equipment, appliances, and machine tools in public and
private plants; reserve plant and Government and contractor-
owned equipment layaway; and other expenses necessary for the
foregoing purposes, $3,943,584,000, to remain available for
obligation until September 30, 2026.

Procurement of Ammunition, Army

For construction, procurement, production, and modification
of ammunition, and accessories therefor; specialized
equipment and training devices; expansion of public and
private plants, including ammunition facilities, authorized
by section 2854 of title 10, United States Code, and the land
necessary therefor, for the foregoing purposes, and such
lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
and procurement and installation of equipment, appliances,
and machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant
and Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway; and
other expenses necessary for the foregoing purposes,
$2,971,928,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Other Procurement, Army

For construction, procurement, production, and modification
of vehicles, including tactical, support, and non-tracked
combat vehicles; the purchase of passenger motor vehicles for
replacement only; communications and electronic equipment;
other support equipment; spare parts, ordnance, and
accessories therefor; specialized equipment and training
devices; expansion of public and private plants, including
the land necessary therefor, for the foregoing purposes, and
such lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
and procurement and installation of equipment, appliances,
and machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant
and Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway; and
other expenses necessary for the foregoing purposes,
$8,679,516,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Aircraft Procurement, Navy

For construction, procurement, production, modification,
and modernization of aircraft, equipment, including ordnance,
spare parts, and accessories therefor; specialized equipment;
expansion of public and private plants, including the land
necessary therefor, and such lands and interests therein, may
be acquired, and construction prosecuted thereon prior to
approval of title; and procurement and installation of
equipment, appliances, and machine tools in public and
private plants; reserve plant and Government and contractor-
owned equipment layaway, $17,450,040,000, to remain available
for obligation until September 30, 2026.

Weapons Procurement, Navy

For construction, procurement, production, modification,
and modernization of missiles, torpedoes, other weapons, and
related support equipment including spare parts, and
accessories therefor; expansion of public and private plants,
including the land necessary therefor, and such lands and
interests therein, may be acquired, and construction
prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title; and
procurement and installation of equipment, appliances, and
machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant and
Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway,
$5,826,997,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps

For construction, procurement, production, and modification
of ammunition, and accessories therefor; specialized
equipment and training devices; expansion of public and
private plants, including ammunition facilities, authorized
by section 2854 of title 10, United States Code, and the land
necessary therefor, for the foregoing purposes, and such
lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
and procurement and installation of equipment, appliances,
and machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant
and Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway; and
other expenses necessary for the foregoing purposes,
$1,238,558,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy

For expenses necessary for the construction, acquisition,
or conversion of vessels as authorized by law, including
armor and armament thereof, plant equipment, appliances, and
machine tools and installation thereof in public and private
plants; reserve plant and Government and contractor-owned
equipment layaway; procurement of critical, long lead time
components and designs for vessels to be constructed or
converted in the future; and expansion of public and private
plants, including land necessary therefor, and such lands and
interests therein, may be acquired, and construction
prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title, as follows:
Columbia Class Submarine, $2,443,598,000;
Columbia Class Submarine (AP), $3,390,734,000;
Carrier Replacement Program (CVN-80), $1,104,421,000;
Carrier Replacement Program (CVN-81), $800,492,000;
Virginia Class Submarine, $7,129,965,000;
Virginia Class Submarine (AP), $3,215,539,000;
CVN Refueling Overhauls (AP), $802,988,000;
DDG-1000 Program, $318,655,000;
DDG-51 Destroyer, $4,199,179,000;
DDG-51 Destroyer (AP), $284,035,000;
FFG-Frigate, $2,133,861,000;
LHA Replacement, $1,830,149,000;
AS Submarine Tender, $1,544,595,000;
TAO Fleet Oiler, $815,420,000;
LCU 1700, $62,532,000;
Ship to Shore Connector, $400,000,000;
Service Craft, $85,115,000;
LCAC SLEP, $15,286,000;
Auxiliary Vessels, $142,008,000;
For outfitting, post delivery, conversions, and first
destination transportation, $539,681,000; and
Completion of Prior Year Shipbuilding Programs,
$1,648,559,000.
In all: $32,906,812,000, to remain available for obligation
until September 30, 2028: Provided, That additional
obligations may be incurred after September 30, 2028, for
engineering services, tests, evaluations, and other such
budgeted work that must be performed in the final stage of
ship construction: Provided further, That none of the funds
provided under this heading for the construction or
conversion of any naval vessel to be constructed in shipyards
in the United States shall be expended in foreign facilities
for the construction of major components of such vessel:
Provided further, That none of the funds provided under this
heading shall be used for the construction of any naval
vessel in foreign shipyards: Provided further, That funds
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act for
Columbia Class Submarine (AP) may be available for the
purposes authorized by subsections (f), (g), (h) or (i) of
section 2218a of title 10, United States Code, only in
accordance with the provisions of the applicable subsection.

Other Procurement, Navy

For procurement, production, and modernization of support
equipment and materials not otherwise provided for, Navy
ordnance (except ordnance for new aircraft, new ships, and
ships authorized for conversion); the purchase of passenger
motor vehicles for replacement only; expansion of public and
private plants, including the land necessary therefor, and
such lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
and procurement and installation of equipment, appliances,
and machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant
and Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway,
$13,675,677,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026: Provided, That such funds are also
available for the maintenance, repair, and modernization of
ships under a pilot program established for such purposes.

Procurement, Marine Corps

For expenses necessary for the procurement, manufacture,
and modification of missiles, armament, military equipment,
spare parts, and accessories therefor; plant equipment,
appliances, and machine tools, and installation thereof in
public and private plants; reserve plant and Government and
contractor-owned equipment layaway; vehicles for the Marine
Corps, including the purchase of passenger motor vehicles for
replacement only; and expansion of public and private plants,
including land necessary

[[Page H4577]]

therefor, and such lands and interests therein, may be
acquired, and construction prosecuted thereon prior to
approval of title, $3,775,224,000, to remain available for
obligation until September 30, 2026.

Aircraft Procurement, Air Force

For construction, procurement, and modification of aircraft
and equipment, including armor and armament, specialized
ground handling equipment, and training devices, spare parts,
and accessories therefor; specialized equipment; expansion of
public and private plants, Government-owned equipment and
installation thereof in such plants, erection of structures,
and acquisition of land, for the foregoing purposes, and such
lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
reserve plant and Government and contractor-owned equipment
layaway; and other expenses necessary for the foregoing
purposes including rents and transportation of things,
$20,196,409,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Missile Procurement, Air Force

For construction, procurement, and modification of
missiles, rockets, and related equipment, including spare
parts and accessories therefor; ground handling equipment,
and training devices; expansion of public and private plants,
Government-owned equipment and installation thereof in such
plants, erection of structures, and acquisition of land, for
the foregoing purposes, and such lands and interests therein,
may be acquired, and construction prosecuted thereon prior to
approval of title; reserve plant and Government and
contractor-owned equipment layaway; and other expenses
necessary for the foregoing purposes including rents and
transportation of things, $4,401,753,000, to remain available
for obligation until September 30, 2026.

Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force

For construction, procurement, production, and modification
of ammunition, and accessories therefor; specialized
equipment and training devices; expansion of public and
private plants, including ammunition facilities, authorized
by section 2854 of title 10, United States Code, and the land
necessary therefor, for the foregoing purposes, and such
lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon prior to approval of title;
and procurement and installation of equipment, appliances,
and machine tools in public and private plants; reserve plant
and Government and contractor-owned equipment layaway; and
other expenses necessary for the foregoing purposes,
$642,448,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026.

Other Procurement, Air Force

For procurement and modification of equipment (including
ground guidance and electronic control equipment, and ground
electronic and communication equipment), and supplies,
materials, and spare parts therefor, not otherwise provided
for; the purchase of passenger motor vehicles for replacement
only; lease of passenger motor vehicles; and expansion of
public and private plants, Government-owned equipment and
installation thereof in such plants, erection of structures,
and acquisition of land, for the foregoing purposes, and such
lands and interests therein, may be acquired, and
construction prosecuted thereon, prior to approval of title;
reserve plant and Government and contractor-owned equipment
layaway, $29,819,938,000, to remain available for obligation
until September 30, 2026.

Procurement, Space Force

For construction, procurement, and modification of
spacecraft, rockets, and related equipment, including spare
parts and accessories therefor; ground handling equipment,
and training devices; expansion of public and private plants,
Government-owned equipment and installation thereof in such
plants, erection of structures, and acquisition of land, for
the foregoing purposes, and such lands and interests therein,
may be acquired, and construction prosecuted thereon prior to
approval of title; reserve plant and Government and
contractor-owned equipment layaway; and other expenses
necessary for the foregoing purposes including rents and
transportation of things, $4,109,201,000, to remain available
for obligation until September 30, 2026.

Procurement, Defense-Wide

For expenses of activities and agencies of the Department
of Defense (other than the military departments) necessary
for procurement, production, and modification of equipment,
supplies, materials, and spare parts therefor, not otherwise
provided for; the purchase of passenger motor vehicles for
replacement only; expansion of public and private plants,
equipment, and installation thereof in such plants, erection
of structures, and acquisition of land for the foregoing
purposes, and such lands and interests therein, may be
acquired, and construction prosecuted thereon prior to
approval of title; reserve plant and Government and
contractor-owned equipment layaway, $6,289,820,000, to remain
available for obligation until September 30, 2026.

Defense Production Act Purchases

For activities by the Department of Defense pursuant to
sections 108, 301, 302, and 303 of the Defense Production Act
of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4518, 4531, 4532, and 4533), $618,605,000,
to remain available for obligation until September 30, 2026,
which shall be obligated and expended by the Secretary of
Defense as if delegated the necessary authorities conferred
by the Defense Production Act of 1950.

National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account

For procurement of rotary-wing aircraft; combat, tactical
and support vehicles; other weapons; and other procurement
items for the reserve components of the Armed Forces,
$1,000,000,000, to remain available for obligation until
September 30, 2026: Provided, That the Chiefs of National
Guard and Reserve components shall, not later than 30 days
after enactment of this Act, individually submit to the
congressional defense committees the modernization priority
assessment for their respective National Guard or Reserve
component: Provided further, That none of the funds made
available by this paragraph may be used to procure manned
fixed wing aircraft, or procure or modify missiles,
munitions, or ammunition.

TITLE IV

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy

For expenses necessary for basic and applied scientific
research, development, test and evaluation, including
maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and operation of
facilities and equipment, $27,690,777,000, to remain
available for obligation until September 30, 2025: Provided,
That funds appropriated in this paragraph which are available
for the V-22 may be used to meet unique operational
requirements of the Special Operations Forces.

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Space Force

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide

For expenses of activities and agencies of the Department
of Defense (other than the military departments), necessary
for basic and applied scientific research, development, test
and evaluation; advanced research projects as may be
designated and determined by the Secretary of Defense,
pursuant to law; maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and
operation of facilities and equipment, $36,782,566,000, to
remain available for obligation until September 30, 2025.

Operational Test and Evaluation, Defense

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
independent activities of the Director, Operational Test and
Evaluation, in the direction and supervision of operational
test and evaluation, including initial operational test and
evaluation which is conducted prior to, and in support of,
production decisions; joint operational testing and
evaluation; and administrative expenses in connection
therewith, $285,444,000, to remain available for obligation
until September 30, 2025.

TITLE V

REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS

Defense Working Capital Funds

For the Defense Working Capital Funds, $1,666,779,000.

National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund

For the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund,
$7,629,000, for activities pursuant to the Strategic and
Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.).

TITLE VI

OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS

Defense Health Program

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, for medical and
health care programs of the Department of Defense as
authorized by law, $39,365,472,000; of which $36,826,743,000
shall be for operation and maintenance, of which not to
exceed one percent shall remain available for obligation
until September 30, 2025, and of which up to $19,762,352,000
may be available for contracts entered into under the TRICARE
program; of which $381,881,000, to remain available for
obligation until September 30, 2026, shall be for
procurement; and of which $2,156,848,000, to remain available
for obligation until September 30, 2025, shall be for
research, development, test and evaluation: Provided, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the amount
made available under this heading for research, development,
test and evaluation, not less than $12,000,000 shall be
available for HIV prevention educational activities
undertaken in

[[Page H4578]]

connection with United States military training, exercises,
and humanitarian assistance activities conducted primarily in
African nations: Provided further, That of the funds
provided under this heading for research, development, test
and evaluation, not less than $1,154,000,000 shall be made
available to the Defense Health Agency to carry out the
congressionally directed medical research programs: Provided
further, That the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
congressional defense committees quarterly reports on the
current status of the electronic health record program:
Provided further, That the Comptroller General of the United
States shall perform quarterly performance reviews of the
electronic health record program.

Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Defense

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the
destruction of the United States stockpile of lethal chemical
agents and munitions in accordance with the provisions of
section 1412 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act,
1986 (50 U.S.C. 1521), and for the destruction of other
chemical warfare materials that are not in the chemical
weapon stockpile, $1,091,844,000, of which $89,284,000 shall
be for operation and maintenance, of which no less than
$57,875,000 shall be for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency
Preparedness Program, consisting of $23,676,000 for
activities on military installations and $34,199,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2025, to assist State
and local governments; and $1,002,560,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2025, shall be for research,
development, test and evaluation, of which $1,000,467,000
shall only be for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives
program.

Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense

(including transfer of funds)

For drug interdiction and counter-drug activities of the
Department of Defense, for transfer to appropriations
available to the Department of Defense for military personnel
of the reserve components serving under the provisions of
title 10 and title 32, United States Code; for operation and
maintenance; for procurement; and for research, development,
test and evaluation, $1,162,161,000, of which $693,848,000
shall be for counter-narcotics support; $138,313,000 shall be
for the drug demand reduction program; $300,000,000 shall be
for the National Guard counter-drug program; and $30,000,000
shall be for the National Guard counter-drug schools program:
Provided, That the funds appropriated under this heading
shall be available for obligation for the same time period
and for the same purpose as the appropriation to which
transferred: Provided further, That upon a determination
that all or part of the funds transferred from this
appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided
herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this
appropriation: Provided further, That the transfer authority
provided under this heading is in addition to any other
transfer authority contained elsewhere in this Act: Provided
further, That funds appropriated under this heading may be
used to support a new start program or project only after
written prior notification to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Senate.

Office of the Inspector General

For expenses and activities of the Office of the Inspector
General in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector
General Act of 1978, as amended, $506,629,000, of which
$502,131,000 shall be for operation and maintenance, of which
not to exceed $700,000 is available for emergencies and
extraordinary expenses to be expended upon the approval or
authority of the Inspector General, and payments may be made
upon the Inspector General's certificate of necessity for
confidential military purposes; of which $1,098,000, to
remain available for obligation until September 30, 2026,
shall be for procurement; and of which $3,400,000, to remain
available until September 30, 2025, shall be for research,
development, test and evaluation.

TITLE VII

RELATED AGENCIES

Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund

For payment to the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement
and Disability System Fund, to maintain the proper funding
level for continuing the operation of the Central
Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System,
$514,000,000.

Intelligence Community Management Account

For necessary expenses of the Intelligence Community
Management Account, $608,820,000.

TITLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 8001. No part of any appropriation contained in this
Act shall be used for publicity or propaganda purposes not
authorized by the Congress.
Sec. 8002. During the current fiscal year, provisions of
law prohibiting the payment of compensation to, or employment
of, any person not a citizen of the United States shall not
apply to personnel of the Department of Defense: Provided,
That salary increases granted to direct and indirect hire
foreign national employees of the Department of Defense
funded by this Act shall not be at a rate in excess of the
percentage increase authorized by law for civilian employees
of the Department of Defense whose pay is computed under the
provisions of section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, or
at a rate in excess of the percentage increase provided by
the appropriate host nation to its own employees, whichever
is higher: Provided further, That this section shall not
apply to Department of Defense foreign service national
employees serving at United States diplomatic missions whose
pay is set by the Department of State under the Foreign
Service Act of 1980: Provided further, That the limitations
of this provision shall not apply to foreign national
employees of the Department of Defense in the Republic of
Turkey.
Sec. 8003. No part of any appropriation contained in this
Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current
fiscal year, unless expressly so provided herein.
Sec. 8004. No more than 20 percent of the appropriations
in this Act which are limited for obligation during the
current fiscal year shall be obligated during the last 2
months of the fiscal year: Provided, That this section shall
not apply to obligations for support of active duty training
of reserve components or summer camp training of the Reserve
Officers' Training Corps.

(transfer of funds)

Sec. 8005. Upon determination by the Secretary of Defense
that such action is necessary in the national interest, the
Secretary may, with the approval of the Office of Management
and Budget, transfer not to exceed $6,000,000,000 of working
capital funds of the Department of Defense or funds made
available in this Act to the Department of Defense for
military functions (except military construction) between
such appropriations or funds or any subdivision thereof, to
be merged with and to be available for the same purposes, and
for the same time period, as the appropriation or fund to
which transferred: Provided, That such authority to transfer
may not be used unless for higher priority items, based on
unforeseen military requirements, than those for which
originally appropriated and in no case where the item for
which funds are requested has been denied by the Congress:
Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall notify
the Congress promptly of all transfers made pursuant to this
authority or any other authority in this Act: Provided
further, That no part of the funds in this Act shall be
available to prepare or present a request to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Senate for reprogramming of funds, unless for higher priority
items, based on unforeseen military requirements, than those
for which originally appropriated and in no case where the
item for which reprogramming is requested has been denied by
the Congress: Provided further, That a request for multiple
reprogrammings of funds using authority provided in this
section shall be made prior to June 30, 2024: Provided
further, That transfers among military personnel
appropriations shall not be taken into account for purposes
of the limitation on the amount of funds that may be
transferred under this section.
Sec. 8006. (a) With regard to the list of specific
programs, projects, and activities (and the dollar amounts
and adjustments to budget activities corresponding to such
programs, projects, and activities) contained in the tables
titled Explanation of Project Level Adjustments in the
explanatory statement regarding this Act and the tables
contained in the classified annex accompanying this Act, the
obligation and expenditure of amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available in this Act for those programs,
projects, and activities are hereby required by law to be
carried out in the manner provided by such tables to the same
extent as if the tables were included in the text of this
Act.
(b) Amounts specified in the referenced tables described in
subsection (a) shall not be treated as subdivisions of
appropriations for purposes of section 8005 of this Act:
Provided, That section 8005 shall apply when transfers of the
amounts described in subsection (a) occur between
appropriation accounts.
Sec. 8007. (a) Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Department of Defense shall submit
a report to the congressional defense committees to establish
the baseline for application of reprogramming and transfer
authorities for fiscal year 2024: Provided, That the report
shall include--
(1) a table for each appropriation with a separate column
to display the President's budget request, adjustments made
by Congress, adjustments due to enacted rescissions, if
appropriate, and the fiscal year enacted level;
(2) a delineation in the table for each appropriation both
by budget activity and program, project, and activity as
detailed in the Budget Appendix; and
(3) an identification of items of special congressional
interest.
(b) Notwithstanding section 8005 of this Act, none of the
funds provided in this Act shall be available for
reprogramming or transfer until the report identified in
subsection (a) is submitted to the congressional defense
committees, unless the Secretary of Defense certifies in
writing to the congressional defense committees that such
reprogramming or transfer is necessary as an emergency
requirement: Provided, That this subsection shall not apply
to transfers from the following appropriations accounts:
(1) ``Environmental Restoration, Army'';

[[Page H4579]]

(2) ``Environmental Restoration, Navy'';
(3) ``Environmental Restoration, Air Force'';
(4) ``Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide'';
(5) ``Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense
Sites''; and
(6) ``Drug Interdiction and Counter-drug Activities,
Defense''.

(transfer of funds)

Sec. 8008. During the current fiscal year, cash balances
in working capital funds of the Department of Defense
established pursuant to section 2208 of title 10, United
States Code, may be maintained in only such amounts as are
necessary at any time for cash disbursements to be made from
such funds: Provided, That transfers may be made between
such funds: Provided further, That transfers may be made
between working capital funds and the ``Foreign Currency
Fluctuations, Defense'' appropriation and the ``Operation and
Maintenance'' appropriation accounts in such amounts as may
be determined by the Secretary of Defense, with the approval
of the Office of Management and Budget, except that such
transfers may not be made unless the Secretary of Defense has
notified the Congress of the proposed transfer: Provided
further, That except in amounts equal to the amounts
appropriated to working capital funds in this Act, no
obligations may be made against a working capital fund to
procure or increase the value of war reserve material
inventory, unless the Secretary of Defense has notified the
Congress prior to any such obligation.
Sec. 8009. Funds appropriated by this Act may not be used
to initiate a special access program without prior
notification 30 calendar days in advance to the congressional
defense committees.
Sec. 8010. None of the funds provided in this Act shall be
available to initiate: (1) a multiyear contract that employs
economic order quantity procurement in excess of $20,000,000
in any one year of the contract or that includes an unfunded
contingent liability in excess of $20,000,000; or (2) a
contract for advance procurement leading to a multiyear
contract that employs economic order quantity procurement in
excess of $20,000,000 in any one year, unless the
congressional defense committees have been notified at least
30 days in advance of the proposed contract award: Provided,
That no part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall
be available to initiate a multiyear contract for which the
economic order quantity advance procurement is not funded at
least to the limits of the Government's liability: Provided
further, That no part of any appropriation contained in this
Act shall be available to initiate multiyear procurement
contracts for any systems or component thereof if the value
of the multiyear contract would exceed $500,000,000 unless
specifically provided in this Act: Provided further, That no
multiyear procurement contract can be terminated without 30-
day prior notification to the congressional defense
committees: Provided further, That the execution of
multiyear authority shall require the use of a present value
analysis to determine lowest cost compared to an annual
procurement: Provided further, That none of the funds
provided in this Act may be used for a multiyear contract
executed after the date of the enactment of this Act unless
in the case of any such contract--
(1) the Secretary of Defense has submitted to Congress a
budget request for full funding of units to be procured
through the contract and, in the case of a contract for
procurement of aircraft, that includes, for any aircraft unit
to be procured through the contract for which procurement
funds are requested in that budget request for production
beyond advance procurement activities in the fiscal year
covered by the budget, full funding of procurement of such
unit in that fiscal year;
(2) cancellation provisions in the contract do not include
consideration of recurring manufacturing costs of the
contractor associated with the production of unfunded units
to be delivered under the contract;
(3) the contract provides that payments to the contractor
under the contract shall not be made in advance of incurred
costs on funded units; and
(4) the contract does not provide for a price adjustment
based on a failure to award a follow-on contract.
Funds appropriated in title III of this Act may be used for
multiyear procurement contracts for Naval Strike Missile,
Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, PATRIOT Advanced
Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement, Long Range Anti-
Ship Missile, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, and USS
Virginia Class (SSN-774).
Sec. 8011. Within the funds appropriated for the operation
and maintenance of the Armed Forces, funds are hereby
appropriated pursuant to section 401 of title 10, United
States Code, for humanitarian and civic assistance costs
under chapter 20 of title 10, United States Code: Provided,
That such funds may also be obligated for humanitarian and
civic assistance costs incidental to authorized operations
and pursuant to authority granted in section 401 of title 10,
United States Code, and these obligations shall be reported
as required by section 401(d) of title 10, United States
Code: Provided further, That funds available for operation
and maintenance shall be available for providing humanitarian
and similar assistance by using Civic Action Teams in the
Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands and freely
associated states of Micronesia, pursuant to the Compact of
Free Association as authorized by Public Law 99-239:
Provided further, That upon a determination by the Secretary
of the Army that such action is beneficial for graduate
medical education programs conducted at Army medical
facilities located in Hawaii, the Secretary of the Army may
authorize the provision of medical services at such
facilities and transportation to such facilities, on a
nonreimbursable basis, for civilian patients from American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau,
and Guam.
Sec. 8012. None of the funds made available by this Act
shall be used in any way, directly or indirectly, to
influence congressional action on any legislation or
appropriation matters pending before the Congress.
Sec. 8013. None of the funds available in this Act to the
Department of Defense, other than appropriations made for
necessary or routine refurbishments, upgrades, or maintenance
activities, shall be used to reduce or to prepare to reduce
the number of deployed and non-deployed strategic delivery
vehicles and launchers below the levels set forth in the
report submitted to Congress in accordance with section 1042
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2012.

(transfer of funds)

Sec. 8014. (a) Funds appropriated in title III of this Act
for the Department of Defense Pilot Mentor-Protege Program
may be transferred to any other appropriation contained in
this Act solely for the purpose of implementing a Mentor-
Protege Program developmental assistance agreement pursuant
to section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note),
as amended, under the authority of this provision or any
other transfer authority contained in this Act.
(b) The Secretary of Defense shall include with the budget
justification documents in support of the budget for fiscal
year 2025 (as submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105
of title 31, United States Code) a description of each
transfer under this section that occurred during the last
fiscal year before the fiscal year in which such budget is
submitted.
Sec. 8015. None of the funds in this Act may be available
for the purchase by the Department of Defense (and its
departments and agencies) of welded shipboard anchor and
mooring chain unless the anchor and mooring chain are
manufactured in the United States from components which are
substantially manufactured in the United States: Provided,
That for the purpose of this section, the term
``manufactured'' shall include cutting, heat treating,
quality control, testing of chain and welding (including the
forging and shot blasting process): Provided further, That
for the purpose of this section substantially all of the
components of anchor and mooring chain shall be considered to
be produced or manufactured in the United States if the
aggregate cost of the components produced or manufactured in
the United States exceeds the aggregate cost of the
components produced or manufactured outside the United
States: Provided further, That when adequate domestic
supplies are not available to meet Department of Defense
requirements on a timely basis, the Secretary of the Service
responsible for the procurement may waive this restriction on
a case-by-case basis by certifying in writing to the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate that such an acquisition must be made in order
to acquire capability for national security purposes.
Sec. 8016. None of the funds appropriated by this Act
shall be used for the support of any nonappropriated funds
activity of the Department of Defense that procures malt
beverages and wine with nonappropriated funds for resale
(including such alcoholic beverages sold by the drink) on a
military installation located in the United States unless
such malt beverages and wine are procured within that State,
or in the case of the District of Columbia, within the
District of Columbia, in which the military installation is
located: Provided, That, in a case in which the military
installation is located in more than one State, purchases may
be made in any State in which the installation is located:
Provided further, That such local procurement requirements
for malt beverages and wine shall apply to all alcoholic
beverages only for military installations in States which are
not contiguous with another State: Provided further, That
alcoholic beverages other than wine and malt beverages, in
contiguous States and the District of Columbia shall be
procured from the most competitive source, price and other
factors considered.
Sec. 8017. None of the funds available to the Department
of Defense may be used to demilitarize or dispose of M-1
Carbines, M-1 Garand rifles, M-14 rifles, .22 caliber rifles,
.30 caliber rifles, or M-1911 pistols, or to demilitarize or
destroy small arms ammunition or ammunition components that
are not otherwise prohibited from commercial sale under
Federal law, unless the small arms ammunition or ammunition
components are certified by the Secretary of the Army or
designee as unserviceable or unsafe for further use.
Sec. 8018. No more than $500,000 of the funds appropriated
or made available in this Act shall be used during a single
fiscal year

[[Page H4580]]

for any single relocation of an organization, unit, activity
or function of the Department of Defense into or within the
National Capital Region: Provided, That the Secretary of
Defense may waive this restriction on a case-by-case basis by
certifying in writing to the congressional defense committees
that such a relocation is required in the best interest of
the Government.
Sec. 8019. In addition to the funds provided elsewhere in
this Act, $25,000,000 is appropriated only for incentive
payments authorized by section 504 of the Indian Financing
Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1544): Provided, That a prime
contractor or a subcontractor at any tier that makes a
subcontract award to any subcontractor or supplier as defined
in section 1544 of title 25, United States Code, or a small
business owned and controlled by an individual or individuals
defined under section 4221(9) of title 25, United States
Code, shall be considered a contractor for the purposes of
being allowed additional compensation under section 504 of
the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1544) whenever
the prime contract or subcontract amount is over $500,000 and
involves the expenditure of funds appropriated by an Act
making appropriations for the Department of Defense with
respect to any fiscal year: Provided further, That
notwithstanding section 1906 of title 41, United States Code,
this section shall be applicable to any Department of Defense
acquisition of supplies or services, including any contract
and any subcontract at any tier for acquisition of commercial
items produced or manufactured, in whole or in part, by any
subcontractor or supplier defined in section 1544 of title
25, United States Code, or a small business owned and
controlled by an individual or individuals defined under
section 4221(9) of title 25, United States Code.
Sec. 8020. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Secretary of the Air Force may convey at no cost to the
Air Force, without consideration, to Indian tribes located in
the States of Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Montana, Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington relocatable
military housing units located at Grand Forks Air Force Base,
Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mountain Home Air Force Base,
Ellsworth Air Force Base, and Minot Air Force Base that are
excess to the needs of the Air Force.
(b) The Secretary of the Air Force shall convey, at no cost
to the Air Force, military housing units under subsection (a)
in accordance with the request for such units that are
submitted to the Secretary by the Operation Walking Shield
Program on behalf of Indian tribes located in the States of
Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Oregon,
Minnesota, and Washington. Any such conveyance shall be
subject to the condition that the housing units shall be
removed within a reasonable period of time, as determined by
the Secretary.
(c) The Operation Walking Shield Program shall resolve any
conflicts among requests of Indian tribes for housing units
under subsection (a) before submitting requests to the
Secretary of the Air Force under subsection (b).
(d) In this section, the term ``Indian tribe'' means any
recognized Indian tribe included on the current list
published by the Secretary of the Interior under section 104
of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe Act of 1994 (Public
Law 103-454; 108 Stat. 4792; 25 U.S.C. 5131).
Sec. 8021. Of the funds appropriated to the Department of
Defense under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance,
Defense-Wide'', not less than $20,000,000 shall be made
available only for the mitigation of environmental impacts,
including training and technical assistance to tribes,
related administrative support, the gathering of information,
documenting of environmental damage, and developing a system
for prioritization of mitigation and cost to complete
estimates for mitigation, on Indian lands resulting from
Department of Defense activities.
Sec. 8022. Funds appropriated by this Act for the Defense
Media Activity shall not be used for any national or
international political or psychological activities.
Sec. 8023. (a) Of the funds made available in this Act, not
less than $68,100,000 shall be available for the Civil Air
Patrol Corporation, of which--
(1) $55,100,000 shall be available from ``Operation and
Maintenance, Air Force'' to support Civil Air Patrol
Corporation operation and maintenance, readiness, counter-
drug activities, and drug demand reduction activities
involving youth programs;
(2) $11,000,000 shall be available from ``Aircraft
Procurement, Air Force''; and
(3) $2,000,000 shall be available from ``Other Procurement,
Air Force'' for vehicle procurement.
(b) The Secretary of the Air Force should waive
reimbursement for any funds used by the Civil Air Patrol for
counter-drug activities in support of Federal, State, and
local government agencies.
Sec. 8024. (a) None of the funds appropriated in this Act
are available to establish a new Department of Defense
(department) federally funded research and development center
(FFRDC), either as a new entity, or as a separate entity
administrated by an organization managing another FFRDC, or
as a nonprofit membership corporation consisting of a
consortium of other FFRDCs and other nonprofit entities.
(b) No member of a Board of Directors, Trustees, Overseers,
Advisory Group, Special Issues Panel, Visiting Committee, or
any similar entity of a defense FFRDC, and no paid consultant
to any defense FFRDC, except when acting in a technical
advisory capacity, may be compensated for his or her services
as a member of such entity, or as a paid consultant by more
than one FFRDC in a fiscal year: Provided, That a member of
any such entity referred to previously in this subsection
shall be allowed travel expenses and per diem as authorized
under the Federal Joint Travel Regulations, when engaged in
the performance of membership duties.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the
funds available to the Department from any source during the
current fiscal year may be used by a defense FFRDC, through a
fee or other payment mechanism, for construction of new
buildings not located on a military installation, for payment
of cost sharing for projects funded by Government grants, for
absorption of contract overruns, or for certain charitable
contributions, not to include employee participation in
community service and/or development.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the
funds available to the department during fiscal year 2024,
not more than $2,885,000,000 may be funded for professional
technical staff-related costs of the defense FFRDCs:
Provided, That within such funds, not more than $456,803,000
shall be available for the defense studies and analysis
FFRDCs: Provided further, That this subsection shall not
apply to staff years funded in the National Intelligence
Program and the Military Intelligence Program: Provided
further, That the Secretary of Defense shall, with the
submission of the department's fiscal year 2025 budget
request, submit a report presenting the specific amounts of
staff years of technical effort to be allocated for each
defense FFRDC by program during that fiscal year and the
associated budget estimates, by appropriation account and
program: Provided further, That this subsection shall not
apply to appropriations for the National Intelligence Program
and Military Intelligence Program.
Sec. 8025. For the purposes of this Act, the term
``congressional defense committees'' means the Armed Services
Committee of the House of Representatives, the Armed Services
Committee of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Defense of the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the
Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives.
Sec. 8026. For the purposes of this Act, the term
``congressional intelligence committees'' means the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate, the Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the
Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate.
Sec. 8027. During the current fiscal year, the Department
of Defense may acquire the modification, depot maintenance
and repair of aircraft, vehicles and vessels as well as the
production of components and other Defense-related articles,
through competition between Department of Defense depot
maintenance activities and private firms: Provided, That the
Senior Acquisition Executive of the military department or
Defense Agency concerned, with power of delegation, shall
certify that successful bids include comparable estimates of
all direct and indirect costs for both public and private
bids: Provided further, That Office of Management and Budget
Circular A-76 shall not apply to competitions conducted under
this section.
Sec. 8028. (a) None of the funds appropriated in this Act
may be expended by an entity of the Department of Defense
unless the entity, in expending the funds, complies with the
Buy American Act. For purposes of this subsection, the term
``Buy American Act'' means chapter 83 of title 41, United
States Code.
(b) If the Secretary of Defense determines that a person
has been convicted of intentionally affixing a label bearing
a ``Made in America'' inscription to any product sold in or
shipped to the United States that is not made in America, the
Secretary shall determine, in accordance with section 4658 of
title 10, United States Code, whether the person should be
debarred from contracting with the Department of Defense.
(c) In the case of any equipment or products purchased with
appropriations provided under this Act, it is the sense of
the Congress that any entity of the Department of Defense, in
expending the appropriation, purchase only American-made
equipment and products, provided that American-made equipment
and products are cost-competitive, quality competitive, and
available in a timely fashion.
Sec. 8029. None of the funds appropriated or made
available in this Act shall be used to procure carbon, alloy,
or armor steel plate for use in any Government-owned facility
or property under the control of the Department of Defense
which were not melted and rolled in the United States or
Canada: Provided, That these procurement restrictions shall
apply to any and all Federal Supply Class 9515, American
Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) or American Iron and
Steel Institute (AISI) specifications of carbon, alloy or
armor steel plate: Provided further, That the Secretary of
the military department responsible for the procurement may
waive this restriction on a case-by-case basis by certifying
in writing to the Committees on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives and the Senate that adequate domestic
supplies are not available to meet

[[Page H4581]]

Department of Defense requirements on a timely basis and that
such an acquisition must be made in order to acquire
capability for national security purposes: Provided further,
That these restrictions shall not apply to contracts which
are in being as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
Sec. 8030. (a)(1) If the Secretary of Defense, after
consultation with the United States Trade Representative,
determines that a foreign country which is party to an
agreement described in paragraph (2) has violated the terms
of the agreement by discriminating against certain types of
products produced in the United States that are covered by
the agreement, the Secretary of Defense shall rescind the
Secretary's blanket waiver of the Buy American Act with
respect to such types of products produced in that foreign
country.
(2) An agreement referred to in paragraph (1) is any
reciprocal defense procurement memorandum of understanding,
between the United States and a foreign country pursuant to
which the Secretary of Defense has prospectively waived the
Buy American Act for certain products in that country.
(b) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Congress a
report on the amount of Department of Defense purchases from
foreign entities in fiscal year 2024. Such report shall
separately indicate the dollar value of items for which the
Buy American Act was waived pursuant to any agreement
described in subsection (a)(2), the Trade Agreements Act of
1979 (19 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.), or any international agreement
to which the United States is a party.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term ``Buy American
Act'' means chapter 83 of title 41, United States Code.
Sec. 8031. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may
be used for the procurement of ball and roller bearings other
than those produced by a domestic source and of domestic
origin: Provided, That the Secretary of the military
department responsible for such procurement may waive this
restriction on a case-by-case basis by certifying in writing
to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, that adequate domestic
supplies are not available to meet Department of Defense
requirements on a timely basis and that such an acquisition
must be made in order to acquire capability for national
security purposes: Provided further, That this restriction
shall not apply to the purchase of ``commercial products'',
as defined by section 103 of title 41, United States Code,
except that the restriction shall apply to ball or roller
bearings purchased as end items.
Sec. 8032. None of the funds in this Act may be used to
purchase any supercomputer which is not manufactured in the
United States, unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to
the congressional defense committees that such an acquisition
must be made in order to acquire capability for national
security purposes that is not available from United States
manufacturers.
Sec. 8033. (a) The Secretary of Defense may, on a case-by-
case basis, waive with respect to a foreign country each
limitation on the procurement of defense items from foreign
sources provided in law if the Secretary determines that the
application of the limitation with respect to that country
would invalidate cooperative programs entered into between
the Department of Defense and the foreign country, or would
invalidate reciprocal trade agreements for the procurement of
defense items entered into under section 4851 of title 10,
United States Code, and the country does not discriminate
against the same or similar defense items produced in the
United States for that country.
(b) Subsection (a) applies with respect to--
(1) contracts and subcontracts entered into on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) options for the procurement of items that are exercised
after such date under contracts that are entered into before
such date if the option prices are adjusted for any reason
other than the application of a waiver granted under
subsection (a).
(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to a limitation regarding
construction of public vessels, ball and roller bearings,
food, and clothing or textile materials as defined by section
XI (chapters 50-65) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States and products classified under headings 4010,
4202, 4203, 6401 through 6406, 6505, 7019, 7218 through 7229,
7304.41 through 7304.49, 7306.40, 7502 through 7508, 8105,
8108, 8109, 8211, 8215, and 9404.
Sec. 8034. None of the funds made available in this Act,
or any subsequent Act making appropriations for the
Department of Defense, may be used for the purchase or
manufacture of a flag of the United States unless such flags
are treated as covered items under section 4862(b) of title
10, United States Code.
Sec. 8035. During the current fiscal year, amounts
contained in the Department of Defense Overseas Military
Facility Investment Recovery Account shall be available until
expended for the payments specified by section 2687a(b)(2) of
title 10, United States Code.
Sec. 8036. During the current fiscal year, appropriations
which are available to the Department of Defense for
operation and maintenance may be used to purchase items
having an investment item unit cost of not more than
$350,000: Provided, That upon determination by the Secretary
of Defense that such action is necessary to meet the
operational requirements of a Commander of a Combatant
Command engaged in a named contingency operation overseas,
such funds may be used to purchase items having an investment
item unit cost of not more than $500,000.
Sec. 8037. Up to $11,000,000 of the funds appropriated
under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'' may be
made available for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative
Program for the purpose of enabling the United States Indo-
Pacific Command to execute Theater Security Cooperation
activities such as humanitarian assistance, and payment of
incremental and personnel costs of training and exercising
with foreign security forces: Provided, That funds made
available for this purpose may be used, notwithstanding any
other funding authorities for humanitarian assistance,
security assistance or combined exercise expenses: Provided
further, That funds may not be obligated to provide
assistance to any foreign country that is otherwise
prohibited from receiving such type of assistance under any
other provision of law.
Sec. 8038. The Secretary of Defense shall issue
regulations to prohibit the sale of any tobacco or tobacco-
related products in military resale outlets in the United
States, its territories and possessions at a price below the
most competitive price in the local community: Provided,
That such regulations shall direct that the prices of tobacco
or tobacco-related products in overseas military retail
outlets shall be within the range of prices established for
military retail system stores located in the United States.
Sec. 8039. (a) During the current fiscal year, none of the
appropriations or funds available to the Department of
Defense Working Capital Funds shall be used for the purchase
of an investment item for the purpose of acquiring a new
inventory item for sale or anticipated sale during the
current fiscal year or a subsequent fiscal year to customers
of the Department of Defense Working Capital Funds if such an
item would not have been chargeable to the Department of
Defense Business Operations Fund during fiscal year 1994 and
if the purchase of such an investment item would be
chargeable during the current fiscal year to appropriations
made to the Department of Defense for procurement.
(b) The fiscal year 2025 budget request for the Department
of Defense as well as all justification material and other
documentation supporting the fiscal year 2025 Department of
Defense budget shall be prepared and submitted to the
Congress on the basis that any equipment which was classified
as an end item and funded in a procurement appropriation
contained in this Act shall be budgeted for in a proposed
fiscal year 2025 procurement appropriation and not in the
supply management business area or any other area or category
of the Department of Defense Working Capital Funds.
Sec. 8040. None of the funds appropriated by this Act for
programs of the Central Intelligence Agency shall remain
available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year,
except for funds appropriated for the Reserve for
Contingencies, which shall remain available until September
30, 2025: Provided, That funds appropriated, transferred, or
otherwise credited to the Central Intelligence Agency Central
Services Working Capital Fund during this or any prior or
subsequent fiscal year shall remain available until expended:
Provided further, That any funds appropriated or transferred
to the Central Intelligence Agency for advanced research and
development acquisition, for agent operations, and for covert
action programs authorized by the President under section 503
of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3093) shall
remain available until September 30, 2025: Provided further,
That any funds appropriated or transferred to the Central
Intelligence Agency for the construction, improvement, or
alteration of facilities, including leased facilities, to be
used primarily by personnel of the intelligence community,
shall remain available until September 30, 2026.
Sec. 8041. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and
(c), none of the funds made available by this Act may be
used--
(1) to establish a field operating agency; or
(2) to pay the basic pay of a member of the Armed Forces or
civilian employee of the department who is transferred or
reassigned from a headquarters activity if the member or
employee's place of duty remains at the location of that
headquarters.
(b) The Secretary of Defense or Secretary of a military
department may waive the limitations in subsection (a), on a
case-by-case basis, if the Secretary determines, and
certifies to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate that the granting of the
waiver will reduce the personnel requirements or the
financial requirements of the department.
(c) This section does not apply to--
(1) field operating agencies funded within the National
Intelligence Program;
(2) an Army field operating agency established to
eliminate, mitigate, or counter the effects of improvised
explosive devices, and, as determined by the Secretary of the
Army, other similar threats;
(3) an Army field operating agency established to improve
the effectiveness and efficiencies of biometric activities
and to integrate common biometric technologies throughout the
Department of Defense; or
(4) an Air Force field operating agency established to
administer the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Program and
Mortuary Operations for the Department of Defense and
authorized Federal entities.
Sec. 8042. (a) None of the funds appropriated by this Act
shall be available to convert to contractor performance an
activity

[[Page H4582]]

or function of the Department of Defense that, on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act, is performed by
Department of Defense civilian employees unless--
(1) the conversion is based on the result of a public-
private competition that includes a most efficient and cost
effective organization plan developed by such activity or
function;
(2) the Competitive Sourcing Official determines that, over
all performance periods stated in the solicitation of offers
for performance of the activity or function, the cost of
performance of the activity or function by a contractor would
be less costly to the Department of Defense by an amount that
equals or exceeds the lesser of--
(A) 10 percent of the most efficient organization's
personnel-related costs for performance of that activity or
function by Federal employees; or
(B) $10,000,000; and
(3) the contractor does not receive an advantage for a
proposal that would reduce costs for the Department of
Defense by--
(A) not making an employer-sponsored health insurance plan
available to the workers who are to be employed in the
performance of that activity or function under the contract;
or
(B) offering to such workers an employer-sponsored health
benefits plan that requires the employer to contribute less
towards the premium or subscription share than the amount
that is paid by the Department of Defense for health benefits
for civilian employees under chapter 89 of title 5, United
States Code.
(b)(1) The Department of Defense, without regard to
subsection (a) of this section or subsection (a), (b), or (c)
of section 2461 of title 10, United States Code, and
notwithstanding any administrative regulation, requirement,
or policy to the contrary shall have full authority to enter
into a contract for the performance of any commercial or
industrial type function of the Department of Defense that--
(A) is included on the procurement list established
pursuant to section 2 of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (section
8503 of title 41, United States Code);
(B) is planned to be converted to performance by a
qualified nonprofit agency for the blind or by a qualified
nonprofit agency for other severely handicapped individuals
in accordance with that Act; or
(C) is planned to be converted to performance by a
qualified firm under at least 51 percent ownership by an
Indian tribe, as defined in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
450b(e)), or a Native Hawaiian Organization, as defined in
section 8(a)(15) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
637(a)(15)).
(2) This section shall not apply to depot contracts or
contracts for depot maintenance as provided in sections 2469
and 2474 of title 10, United States Code.
(c) The conversion of any activity or function of the
Department of Defense under the authority provided by this
section shall be credited toward any competitive or
outsourcing goal, target, or measurement that may be
established by statute, regulation, or policy and is deemed
to be awarded under the authority of, and in compliance with,
subsection (h) of section 2304 of title 10, United States
Code, for the competition or outsourcing of commercial
activities.

(rescissions)

Sec. 8043. Of the funds appropriated in Department of
Defense Appropriations Acts, the following funds are hereby
rescinded from the following accounts and programs in the
specified amounts: Provided, That no amounts may be
rescinded from amounts that were designated by the Congress
as an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent
resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985:
``Missile Procurement, Army'', 2022/2024, $9,093,000;
``Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles,
Army'', 2022/2024, $1,900,000;
``Other Procurement, Army'', 2022/2024, $44,681,000;
``Aircraft Procurement, Navy'', 2022/2024, $1,428,000;
``Weapons Procurement, Navy'', 2022/2024, $13,058,000;
``Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps'', 2022/
2024, $1,012,000;
``Other Procurement, Navy'', 2022/2024, $2,975,000;
``Cooperative Threat Reduction Account'', 2022/2024,
$75,000,000;
``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', 2023/2024,
$75,000,000;
``Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund'', 2023/2024,
$50,000,000;
``Other Procurement, Army'', 2023/2025, $4,066,000;
``Aircraft Procurement, Navy'', 2023/2025, $10,033,000;
``Weapons Procurement, Navy'', 2023/2025, $53,139,000;
``Other Procurement, Navy'', 2023/2025, $1,550,000;
``Procurement, Marine Corps'', 2023/2025, $155,304,000;
``Other Procurement, Air Force'', 2023/2025, $45,000,000;
``Procurement, Defense-Wide'', 2023/2025, $32,148,000;
``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force'',
2023/2024, $29,300,000;
``Army Working Capital Fund'', XXXX/XXXX, $100,000,000; and
``Navy Working Capital Fund'', XXXX/XXXX, $100,000,000.
Sec. 8044. None of the funds available in this Act may be
used to reduce the authorized positions for military
technicians (dual status) of the Army National Guard, Air
National Guard, Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve for the
purpose of applying any administratively imposed civilian
personnel ceiling, freeze, or reduction on military
technicians (dual status), unless such reductions are a
direct result of a reduction in military force structure.
Sec. 8045. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available in this Act may be obligated or expended for
assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
unless specifically appropriated for that purpose: Provided,
That this restriction shall not apply to any activities
incidental to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency mission
to recover and identify the remains of United States Armed
Forces personnel from the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea.
Sec. 8046. Funds appropriated in this Act for operation
and maintenance of the Military Departments, Combatant
Commands and Defense Agencies shall be available for
reimbursement of pay, allowances and other expenses which
would otherwise be incurred against appropriations for the
National Guard and Reserve when members of the National Guard
and Reserve provide intelligence or counterintelligence
support to Combatant Commands, Defense Agencies and Joint
Intelligence Activities, including the activities and
programs included within the National Intelligence Program
and the Military Intelligence Program: Provided, That
nothing in this section authorizes deviation from established
Reserve and National Guard personnel and training procedures.
Sec. 8047. (a) None of the funds available to the
Department of Defense for any fiscal year for drug
interdiction or counter-drug activities may be transferred to
any other department or agency of the United States except as
specifically provided in an appropriations law.
(b) None of the funds available to the Central Intelligence
Agency for any fiscal year for drug interdiction or counter-
drug activities may be transferred to any other department or
agency of the United States except as specifically provided
in an appropriations law.
Sec. 8048. In addition to the amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available elsewhere in this Act, $49,000,000
is hereby appropriated to the Department of Defense:
Provided, That upon the determination of the Secretary of
Defense that it shall serve the national interest, the
Secretary shall make grants in the amounts specified as
follows: $24,000,000 to the United Service Organizations and
$25,000,000 to the Red Cross: Provided further, That none of
the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this
section may be used to encourage, guide, or otherwise assist
in migration towards the United States southwest border.
Sec. 8049. Notwithstanding any other provision in this
Act, the Small Business Innovation Research program and the
Small Business Technology Transfer program set-asides shall
be taken proportionally from all programs, projects, or
activities to the extent they contribute to the extramural
budget. The Secretary of each military department, the
Director of each Defense Agency, and the head of each other
relevant component of the Department of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees, concurrent with
submission of the budget justification documents to Congress
pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a
report with a detailed accounting of the Small Business
Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology
Transfer program set-asides taken from programs, projects, or
activities within such department, agency, or component
during the most recently completed fiscal year.
Sec. 8050. None of the funds available to the Department
of Defense under this Act shall be obligated or expended to
pay a contractor under a contract with the Department of
Defense for costs of any amount paid by the contractor to an
employee when--
(1) such costs are for a bonus or otherwise in excess of
the normal salary paid by the contractor to the employee; and
(2) such bonus is part of restructuring costs associated
with a business combination.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8051. During the current fiscal year, no more than
$30,000,000 of appropriations made in this Act under the
heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' may be
transferred to appropriations available for the pay of
military personnel, to be merged with, and to be available
for the same time period as the appropriations to which
transferred, to be used in support of such personnel in
connection with support and services for eligible
organizations and activities outside the Department of
Defense pursuant to section 2012 of title 10, United States
Code.
Sec. 8052. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Chief of the National Guard Bureau may permit the use of
equipment of the National Guard Distance Learning Project by
any person or entity on a space-available, reimbursable
basis. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall establish
the amount of reimbursement for such use on a case-by-case
basis.
(b) Amounts collected under subsection (a) shall be
credited to funds available for the National Guard Distance
Learning Project

[[Page H4583]]

and be available to defray the costs associated with the use
of equipment of the project under that subsection. Such funds
shall be available for such purposes without fiscal year
limitation.
Sec. 8053. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this or prior Acts may be obligated or
expended to retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage or
on backup aircraft inventory status any C-40 aircraft.
(b) The limitation under subsection (a) shall not apply to
an individual C-40 aircraft that the Secretary of the Air
Force determines, on a case-by-case basis, to be no longer
mission capable due to a Class A mishap.
(c) If the Secretary determines under subsection (b) that
an aircraft is no longer mission capable, the Secretary shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a
certification in writing that the status of such aircraft is
due to a Class A mishap and not due to lack of maintenance,
repairs, or other reasons.
(d) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the necessary
steps taken by the Department of Defense to meet the travel
requirements for official or representational duties of
members of Congress and the Cabinet in fiscal years 2024 and
2025.
Sec. 8054. (a) None of the funds appropriated in title IV
of this Act may be used to procure end-items for delivery to
military forces for operational training, operational use, or
inventory requirements: Provided, That this restriction does
not apply to end-items used in development, prototyping in
accordance with an approved test strategy, and test
activities preceding and leading to acceptance for
operational use.
(b) If the number of end-items budgeted with funds
appropriated in title IV of this Act exceeds the number
required in an approved test strategy, the Under Secretary of
Defense (Research and Engineering) and the Under Secretary of
Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment), in coordination with
the responsible Service Acquisition Executive, shall certify
in writing to the congressional defense committees that there
is a bonafide need for the additional end-items at the time
of submittal to Congress of the budget of the President for
fiscal year 2025 pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United
States Code: Provided, That this restriction does not apply
to programs funded within the National Intelligence Program.
(c) The Secretary of Defense shall, at the time of the
submittal to Congress of the budget of the President for
fiscal year 2025 pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United
States Code, submit to the congressional defense committees a
report detailing the use of funds requested in research,
development, test and evaluation accounts for end-items used
in development, prototyping and test activities preceding and
leading to acceptance for operational use: Provided, That
the report shall set forth, for each end item covered by the
preceding proviso, a detailed list of the statutory
authorities under which amounts in the accounts described in
that proviso were used for such item: Provided further, That
the Secretary of Defense shall, at the time of the submittal
to Congress of the budget of the President for fiscal year
2025 pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States
Code, submit to the congressional defense committees a
certification that funds requested for fiscal year 2025 in
research, development, test and evaluation accounts are in
compliance with this section: Provided further, That the
Secretary of Defense may waive this restriction on a case-by-
case basis by certifying in writing to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
that it is in the national security interest to do so.
Sec. 8055. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this or other Department of Defense
Appropriations Acts may be obligated or expended for the
purpose of performing repairs or maintenance to military
family housing units of the Department of Defense, including
areas in such military family housing units that may be used
for the purpose of conducting official Department of Defense
business.
Sec. 8056. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
funds appropriated in this Act under the heading ``Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide'' for any new
start defense innovation acceleration or rapid prototyping
program demonstration project with a value of more than
$5,000,000 may only be obligated 15 days after a report,
including a description of the project, the planned
acquisition and transition strategy and its estimated annual
and total cost, has been provided in writing to the
congressional defense committees: Provided, That the
Secretary of Defense may waive this restriction on a case-by-
case basis by certifying to the congressional defense
committees that it is in the national interest to do so.
Sec. 8057. The Secretary of Defense shall continue to
provide a classified quarterly report to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Senate, Subcommittees on Defense on certain matters as
directed in the classified annex accompanying this Act.
Sec. 8058. Notwithstanding section 12310(b) of title 10,
United States Code, a servicemember who is a member of the
National Guard serving on full-time National Guard duty under
section 502(f) of title 32, United States Code, may perform
duties in support of the ground-based elements of the
National Ballistic Missile Defense System.
Sec. 8059. None of the funds provided in this Act may be
used to transfer to any nongovernmental entity ammunition
held by the Department of Defense that has a center-fire
cartridge and a United States military nomenclature
designation of ``armor penetrator'', ``armor piercing (AP)'',
``armor piercing incendiary (API)'', or ``armor-piercing
incendiary tracer (API-T)'', except to an entity performing
demilitarization services for the Department of Defense under
a contract that requires the entity to demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the Department of Defense that armor piercing
projectiles are either: (1) rendered incapable of reuse by
the demilitarization process; or (2) used to manufacture
ammunition pursuant to a contract with the Department of
Defense or the manufacture of ammunition for export pursuant
to a License for Permanent Export of Unclassified Military
Articles issued by the Department of State.
Sec. 8060. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Chief of the National Guard Bureau, or their designee, may
waive payment of all or part of the consideration that
otherwise would be required under section 2667 of title 10,
United States Code, in the case of a lease of personal
property for a period not in excess of 1 year to any
organization specified in section 508(d) of title 32, United
States Code, or any other youth, social, or fraternal
nonprofit organization as may be approved by the Chief of the
National Guard Bureau, or their designee, on a case-by-case
basis.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8061. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Army'', $175,943,968
shall remain available until expended: Provided, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of
Defense is authorized to transfer such funds to other
activities of the Federal Government: Provided further, That
the Secretary of Defense is authorized to enter into and
carry out contracts for the acquisition of real property,
construction, personal services, and operations related to
projects carrying out the purposes of this section: Provided
further, That contracts entered into under the authority of
this section may provide for such indemnification as the
Secretary determines to be necessary: Provided further, That
projects authorized by this section shall comply with
applicable Federal, State, and local law to the maximum
extent consistent with the national security, as determined
by the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 8062. (a) None of the funds appropriated in this or
any other Act may be used to take any action to modify--
(1) the appropriations account structure for the National
Intelligence Program budget, including through the creation
of a new appropriation or new appropriation account;
(2) how the National Intelligence Program budget request is
presented in the unclassified P-1, R-1, and O-1 documents
supporting the Department of Defense budget request;
(3) the process by which the National Intelligence Program
appropriations are apportioned to the executing agencies; or
(4) the process by which the National Intelligence Program
appropriations are allotted, obligated and disbursed.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to
prohibit the merger of programs or changes to the National
Intelligence Program budget at or below the Expenditure
Center level, provided such change is otherwise in accordance
with paragraphs (1)-(3) of subsection (a).
(c) The Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary
of Defense may jointly, only for the purposes of achieving
auditable financial statements and improving fiscal
reporting, study and develop detailed proposals for
alternative financial management processes. Such study shall
include a comprehensive counterintelligence risk assessment
to ensure that none of the alternative processes will
adversely affect counterintelligence.
(d) Upon development of the detailed proposals defined
under subsection (c), the Director of National Intelligence
and the Secretary of Defense shall--
(1) provide the proposed alternatives to all affected
agencies;
(2) receive certification from all affected agencies
attesting that the proposed alternatives will help achieve
auditability, improve fiscal reporting, and will not
adversely affect counterintelligence; and
(3) not later than 30 days after receiving all necessary
certifications under paragraph (2), present the proposed
alternatives and certifications to the congressional defense
and intelligence committees.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8063. During the current fiscal year, not to exceed
$11,000,000 from each of the appropriations made in title II
of this Act for ``Operation and Maintenance, Army'',
``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'', and ``Operation and
Maintenance, Air Force'' may be transferred by the military
department concerned to its central fund established for
Fisher Houses and Suites pursuant to section 2493(d) of title
10, United States Code.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8064. In addition to amounts provided elsewhere in
this Act, $5,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the Department
of Defense, to remain available for obligation until
expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision
of law, that upon the determination of the Secretary of
Defense that it

[[Page H4584]]

shall serve the national interest, these funds shall be
available only for a grant to the Fisher House Foundation,
Inc., only for the construction and furnishing of additional
Fisher Houses to meet the needs of military family members
when confronted with the illness or hospitalization of an
eligible military beneficiary.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8065. Of the amounts appropriated for ``Operation and
Maintenance, Navy'', up to $1,000,000 shall be available for
transfer to the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service
Development Trust Fund established under section 116 of the
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and
Development Act (2 U.S.C. 1105).
Sec. 8066. None of the funds available to the Department
of Defense may be obligated to modify command and control
relationships to give Fleet Forces Command operational and
administrative control of United States Navy forces assigned
to the Pacific fleet: Provided, That the command and control
relationships which existed on October 1, 2004, shall remain
in force until a written modification has been proposed to
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate: Provided further, That the
proposed modification may be implemented 30 days after the
notification unless an objection is received from either the
House or Senate Appropriations Committees: Provided further,
That any proposed modification shall not preclude the ability
of the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command to
meet operational requirements.
Sec. 8067. Any notice that is required to be submitted to
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate under section 3601 of title
10, United States Code, as added by section 804(a) of the
James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2023, after the date of the enactment of this Act shall
be submitted pursuant to that requirement concurrently to the
Subcommittees on Defense of the Committees on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8068. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the headings ``Procurement, Defense-Wide'' and ``Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide'',
$500,000,000 shall be for the Israeli Cooperative Programs:
Provided, That of this amount, $80,000,000 shall be for the
Secretary of Defense to provide to the Government of Israel
for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system to
counter short-range rocket threats, subject to the U.S.-
Israel Iron Dome Procurement Agreement, as amended;
$127,000,000 shall be for the Short Range Ballistic Missile
Defense (SRBMD) program, including cruise missile defense
research and development under the SRBMD program; $40,000,000
shall be for co-production activities of SRBMD systems in the
United States and in Israel to meet Israel's defense
requirements consistent with each nation's laws, regulations,
and procedures, subject to the U.S.-Israeli co-production
agreement for SRBMD, as amended; $80,000,000 shall be for an
upper-tier component to the Israeli Missile Defense
Architecture, of which $80,000,000 shall be for co-production
activities of Arrow 3 Upper Tier systems in the United States
and in Israel to meet Israel's defense requirements
consistent with each nation's laws, regulations, and
procedures, subject to the U.S.-Israeli co-production
agreement for Arrow 3 Upper Tier, as amended; and
$173,000,000 shall be for the Arrow System Improvement
Program including development of a long range, ground and
airborne, detection suite: Provided further, That the
transfer authority provided under this provision is in
addition to any other transfer authority contained in this
Act.
Sec. 8069. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy'',
$1,648,559,000 shall be available until September 30, 2024,
to fund prior year shipbuilding cost increases for the
following programs:
(1) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2013/2024: Carrier Replacement Program, $624,600,000;
(2) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2015/2024: Virginia Class Submarine Program,
$43,419,000;
(3) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2016/2024: Virginia Class Submarine Program,
$100,115,000;
(4) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2016/2024: DDG-51 Destroyer, $104,090,000;
(5) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2017/2024: Virginia Class Submarine Program,
$24,646,000;
(6) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2017/2024: DDG-51 Destroyer, $121,827,000;
(7) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2017/2024: LPD-17, $16,520,000;
(8) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2018/2024: Ship to Shore Connector Program,
$43,600,000;
(9) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2019/2024: Littoral Combat Ship, $23,000,000;
(10) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2019/2024: TAO Fleet Oiler, $27,060,000;
(11) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2020/2024: CVN Refueling Overhauls, $42,422,000;
(12) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2020/2024: TAO Fleet Oiler, $93,250,000;
(13) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2020/2024: Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Program,
$1,150,000;
(14) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2021/2024: Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Program,
$21,809,000;
(15) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2022/2024: TAO Fleet Oiler, $2,585,000;
(16) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2022/2024: Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Program,
$3,300,000; and
(17) Under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'', 2022/2024: T-AGOS Surtass Ships Program,
$355,166,000.
Sec. 8070. Funds appropriated by this Act for intelligence
and intelligence-related activities are deemed to be
specifically authorized by the Congress for purposes of
section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50
U.S.C. 3094(a)(1)) until the enactment of the Intelligence
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
Sec. 8071. None of the funds provided in this Act shall be
available for obligation or expenditure through a
reprogramming of funds that creates or initiates a new
program, project, or activity unless such program, project,
or activity must be undertaken immediately in the interest of
national security and only after written prior notification
to the congressional defense committees.
Sec. 8072. None of the funds in this Act may be used for
research, development, test, evaluation, procurement or
deployment of nuclear armed interceptors of a missile defense
system.
Sec. 8073. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be obligated or expended for the purpose of
decommissioning any Littoral Combat Ship, the USS Germantown,
or the USS Tortuga.
Sec. 8074. For purposes of section 1553(b) of title 31,
United States Code, any subdivision of appropriations made in
this Act under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'' shall be considered to be for the same purpose as any
subdivision under the heading ``Shipbuilding and Conversion,
Navy'' appropriations in any prior fiscal year, and the 1
percent limitation shall apply to the total amount of the
appropriation.
Sec. 8075. None of the funds appropriated or made
available in this Act shall be used to reduce or disestablish
the operation of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of
the Air Force Reserve, if such action would reduce the WC-130
Weather Reconnaissance mission below the levels funded in
this Act: Provided, That the Air Force shall allow the 53rd
Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to perform other missions in
support of national defense requirements during the non-
hurricane season.
Sec. 8076. (a) None of the funds appropriated by this Act
may be used to transfer research and development,
acquisition, or other program authority relating to current
tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (TUAVs) from the Army.
(b) The Army shall retain responsibility for and
operational control of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) in order to support the Secretary of Defense in
matters relating to the employment of unmanned aerial
vehicles.
Sec. 8077. None of the funds provided in this Act shall be
available for integration of foreign intelligence information
unless the information has been lawfully collected and
processed during the conduct of authorized foreign
intelligence activities: Provided, That information
pertaining to United States persons shall only be handled in
accordance with protections provided in the Fourth Amendment
of the United States Constitution as implemented through
Executive Order No. 12333.
Sec. 8078. None of the funds appropriated by this Act for
programs of the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence shall remain available for obligation beyond the
current fiscal year, except for funds appropriated for
research and technology, which shall remain available until
September 30, 2025, and except for funds appropriated for the
purchase of real property, which shall remain available until
September 30, 2026.
Sec. 8079. (a) Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence
shall submit a report to the congressional intelligence
committees to establish the baseline for application of
reprogramming and transfer authorities for fiscal year 2024:
Provided, That the report shall include--
(1) a table for each appropriation with a separate column
to display the President's budget request, adjustments made
by Congress, adjustments due to enacted rescissions, if
appropriate, and the fiscal year enacted level;
(2) a delineation in the table for each appropriation by
Expenditure Center and project; and
(3) an identification of items of special congressional
interest.
(b) None of the funds provided for the National
Intelligence Program in this Act shall be available for
reprogramming or transfer until the report identified in
subsection (a) is submitted to the congressional intelligence
committees, unless the Director of National Intelligence
certifies in writing to the congressional intelligence
committees that such reprogramming or transfer is necessary
as an emergency requirement.
Sec. 8080. (a) None of the funds provided for the National
Intelligence Program in this or any prior appropriations Act
shall be available for obligation or expenditure through a

[[Page H4585]]

reprogramming or transfer of funds in accordance with section
102A(d) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3024(d)) that--
(1) creates a new start effort;
(2) terminates a program with appropriated funding of
$10,000,000 or more;
(3) transfers funding into or out of the National
Intelligence Program; or
(4) transfers funding between appropriations, unless the
congressional intelligence committees are notified 30 days in
advance of such reprogramming of funds; this notification
period may be reduced for urgent national security
requirements.
(b) None of the funds provided for the National
Intelligence Program in this or any prior appropriations Act
shall be available for obligation or expenditure through a
reprogramming or transfer of funds in accordance with section
102A(d) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3024(d)) that results in a cumulative increase or decrease of
the levels specified in the classified annex accompanying the
Act unless the congressional intelligence committees are
notified 30 days in advance of such reprogramming of funds;
this notification period may be reduced for urgent national
security requirements.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8081. Upon a determination by the Director of
National Intelligence that such action is necessary and in
the national interest, the Director may, with the approval of
the Office of Management and Budget, transfer not to exceed
$1,500,000,000 of the funds made available in this Act for
the National Intelligence Program: Provided, That such
authority to transfer may not be used unless for higher
priority items, based on unforeseen intelligence
requirements, than those for which originally appropriated
and in no case where the item for which funds are requested
has been denied by the Congress: Provided further, That a
request for multiple reprogrammings of funds using authority
provided in this section shall be made prior to June 30,
2024.
Sec. 8082. Any transfer of amounts appropriated to the
Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development
Account in or for fiscal year 2024 to a military department
or Defense Agency pursuant to section 1705(e)(1) of title 10,
United States Code, shall be covered by and subject to
section 8005 of this Act.
Sec. 8083. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be expended for any Federal
contract for an amount in excess of $1,000,000, unless the
contractor agrees not to--
(1) enter into any agreement with any of its employees or
independent contractors that requires, as a condition of
employment, that the employee or independent contractor agree
to resolve through arbitration any claim under title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or any tort related to or
arising out of sexual assault or harassment, including
assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional
distress, false imprisonment, or negligent hiring,
supervision, or retention; or
(2) take any action to enforce any provision of an existing
agreement with an employee or independent contractor that
mandates that the employee or independent contractor resolve
through arbitration any claim under title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 or any tort related to or arising out of
sexual assault or harassment, including assault and battery,
intentional infliction of emotional distress, false
imprisonment, or negligent hiring, supervision, or retention.
(b) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be expended for any Federal
contract unless the contractor certifies that it requires
each covered subcontractor to agree not to enter into, and
not to take any action to enforce any provision of, any
agreement as described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subsection (a), with respect to any employee or independent
contractor performing work related to such subcontract. For
purposes of this subsection, a ``covered subcontractor'' is
an entity that has a subcontract in excess of $1,000,000 on a
contract subject to subsection (a).
(c) The prohibitions in this section do not apply with
respect to a contractor's or subcontractor's agreements with
employees or independent contractors that may not be enforced
in a court of the United States.
(d) The Secretary of Defense may waive the application of
subsection (a) or (b) to a particular contractor or
subcontractor for the purposes of a particular contract or
subcontract if the Secretary or the Deputy Secretary
personally determines that the waiver is necessary to avoid
harm to national security interests of the United States, and
that the term of the contract or subcontract is not longer
than necessary to avoid such harm. The determination shall
set forth with specificity the grounds for the waiver and for
the contract or subcontract term selected, and shall state
any alternatives considered in lieu of a waiver and the
reasons each such alternative would not avoid harm to
national security interests of the United States. The
Secretary of Defense shall transmit to Congress, and
simultaneously make public, any determination under this
subsection not less than 15 business days before the contract
or subcontract addressed in the determination may be awarded.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8084. From within the funds appropriated for
operation and maintenance for the Defense Health Program in
this Act, up to $172,000,000, shall be available for transfer
to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund in accordance
with the provisions of section 1704 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Public Law 111-84:
Provided, That for purposes of section 1704(b), the facility
operations funded are operations of the integrated Captain
James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, consisting of the
North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Navy
Ambulatory Care Center, and supporting facilities designated
as a combined Federal medical facility as described by
section 706 of Public Law 110-417: Provided further, That
additional funds may be transferred from funds appropriated
for operation and maintenance for the Defense Health Program
to the Joint Department of Defense-Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written
notification by the Secretary of Defense to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Senate.
Sec. 8085. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used by the Department of
Defense or a component thereof in contravention of the
provisions of section 130h of title 10, United States Code.
Sec. 8086. Appropriations available to the Department of
Defense may be used for the purchase of heavy and light
armored vehicles for the physical security of personnel or
for force protection purposes up to a limit of $450,000 per
vehicle, notwithstanding price or other limitations
applicable to the purchase of passenger carrying vehicles.

(including transfer of funds)

Sec. 8087. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act for
``Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy'', $142,008,000, to
remain available for obligation until September 30, 2028, may
be used for the purchase of two used sealift vessels for the
National Defense Reserve Fleet, established under section 11
of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 (46 U.S.C. 57100):
Provided, That such amounts are available for reimbursements
to the Ready Reserve Force, Maritime Administration account
of the United States Department of Transportation for
programs, projects, activities, and expenses related to the
National Defense Reserve Fleet: Provided further, That
notwithstanding section 2218 of title 10, United States Code,
none of these funds shall be transferred to the National
Defense Sealift Fund for execution.
Sec. 8088. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in
this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on
the public Web site of that agency any report required to be
submitted by the Congress in this or any other Act, upon the
determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve
the national interest.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
(1) the public posting of the report compromises national
security; or
(2) the report contains proprietary information.
(c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so
only after such report has been made available to the
requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less
than 45 days.
Sec. 8089. The Secretary of Defense shall post grant
awards on a public website in a searchable format.
Sec. 8090. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used by the National Security Agency to--
(1) conduct an acquisition pursuant to section 702 of the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 for the purpose
of targeting a United States person; or
(2) acquire, monitor, or store the contents (as such term
is defined in section 2510(8) of title 18, United States
Code) of any electronic communication of a United States
person from a provider of electronic communication services
to the public pursuant to section 501 of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.
Sec. 8091. None of the funds made available in this or any
other Act may be used to pay the salary of any officer or
employee of any agency funded by this Act who approves or
implements the transfer of administrative responsibilities or
budgetary resources of any program, project, or activity
financed by this Act to the jurisdiction of another Federal
agency not financed by this Act without the express
authorization of Congress: Provided, That this limitation
shall not apply to transfers of funds expressly provided for
in Defense Appropriations Acts, or provisions of Acts
providing supplemental appropriations for the Department of
Defense.
Sec. 8092. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act for
``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'', $667,508,000, to remain
available until expended, may be used for any purposes
related to the National Defense Reserve Fleet established
under section 11 of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946 (46
U.S.C. 57100): Provided, That such amounts are available for
reimbursements to the Ready Reserve Force, Maritime
Administration account of the United States Department of
Transportation for programs, projects, activities, and
expenses related to the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Sec. 8093. (a) None of the funds provided in this Act for
the TAO Fleet Oiler program shall be used to award a new
contract that provides for the acquisition of the following
components unless those components are

[[Page H4586]]

manufactured in the United States: Auxiliary equipment
(including pumps) for shipboard services; propulsion
equipment (including engines, reduction gears, and
propellers); shipboard cranes; spreaders for shipboard
cranes; and anchor chains, specifically for the seventh and
subsequent ships of the fleet.
(b) None of the funds provided in this Act for the FFG(X)
Frigate program shall be used to award a new contract that
provides for the acquisition of the following components
unless those components are manufactured in the United
States: Air circuit breakers; gyrocompasses; electronic
navigation chart systems; steering controls; pumps;
propulsion and machinery control systems; totally enclosed
lifeboats; auxiliary equipment pumps; shipboard cranes;
auxiliary chill water systems; and propulsion propellers:
Provided, That the Secretary of the Navy shall incorporate
United States manufactured propulsion engines and propulsion
reduction gears into the FFG(X) Frigate program beginning not
later than with the eleventh ship of the program.
Sec. 8094. None of the funds provided in this Act for
requirements development, performance specification
development, concept design and development, ship
configuration development, systems engineering, naval
architecture, marine engineering, operations research
analysis, industry studies, preliminary design, development
of the Detailed Design and Construction Request for Proposals
solicitation package, or related activities for the T-ARC(X)
Cable Laying and Repair Ship or the T-AGOS(X) Oceanographic
Surveillance Ship may be used to award a new contract for
such activities unless these contracts include specifications
that all auxiliary equipment, including pumps and propulsion
shafts, are manufactured in the United States.
Sec. 8095. No amounts credited or otherwise made available
in this or any other Act to the Department of Defense
Acquisition Workforce Development Account may be transferred
to:
(1) the Rapid Prototyping Fund established under section
804(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2016 (10 U.S.C. 2302 note); or
(2) credited to a military-department specific fund
established under section 804(d)(2) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (as amended by section
897 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2017).
Sec. 8096. From funds made available in title II of this
Act, the Secretary of Defense may purchase for use by
military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense
in the United States Central Command area of responsibility:
(1) passenger motor vehicles up to a limit of $75,000 per
vehicle; and (2) heavy and light armored vehicles for the
physical security of personnel or for force protection
purposes up to a limit of $450,000 per vehicle,
notwithstanding price or other limitations applicable to the
purchase of passenger carrying vehicles.
Sec. 8097. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used for Government Travel Charge Card expenses by
military or civilian personnel of the Department of Defense
for gaming, or for entertainment that includes topless or
nude entertainers or participants, as prohibited by
Department of Defense FMR, Volume 9, Chapter 3 and Department
of Defense Instruction 1015.10 (enclosure 3, 14a and 14b).
Sec. 8098. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used to maintain or establish a computer network
unless such network is designed to block access to
pornography websites.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law
enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal
investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities, or
for any activity necessary for the national defense,
including intelligence activities.
Sec. 8099. None of the funds provided for, or otherwise
made available, in this or any other Act, may be obligated or
expended by the Secretary of Defense to provide motorized
vehicles, aviation platforms, munitions other than small arms
and munitions appropriate for customary ceremonial honors,
operational military units, or operational military platforms
if the Secretary determines that providing such units,
platforms, or equipment would undermine the readiness of such
units, platforms, or equipment.
Sec. 8100. (a) None of the funds made available by this or
any other Act may be used to enter into a contract,
memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with,
make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to any
corporation that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that
has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative
remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not
being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with
the authority responsible for collecting such tax liability,
provided that the applicable Federal agency is aware of the
unpaid Federal tax liability.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply if the applicable
Federal agency has considered suspension or debarment of the
corporation described in such subsection and has made a
determination that such suspension or debarment is not
necessary to protect the interests of the Federal Government.
Sec. 8101. Amounts appropriated under title IV of this
Act, as detailed in budget activity eight of the
``Explanation of Project Level Adjustments'' tables in the
explanatory statement regarding this Act, may be used for
expenses for the agile research, development, test and
evaluation, procurement, production, modification, and
operation and maintenance, only for the following Software
and Digital Technology Pilot programs--
(1) Defensive CYBER (PE 0608041A);
(2) Risk Management Information (PE 0608013N);
(3) Maritime Tactical Command and Control (PE 0608231N);
(4) Space Command and Control (PE 1208248SF);
(5) Global Command and Control System (PE 0303150K);
(6) Acquisition Visibility (PE 0608648D8Z); and
(7) Defense Innovation Unit Fielding (RDTE,DW Line 281).
Sec. 8102. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to transfer the
National Reconnaissance Office to the Space Force: Provided,
That nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or
prohibit cooperation, collaboration, and coordination between
the National Reconnaissance Office and the Space Force or any
other elements of the Department of Defense.
Sec. 8103. None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used in contravention of the following laws enacted or
regulations promulgated to implement the United Nations
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (done at New York on
December 10, 1984):
(1) Section 2340A of title 18, United States Code.
(2) Section 2242 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and
Restructuring Act of 1998 (division G of Public Law 105-277;
112 Stat. 2681-822; 8 U.S.C. 1231 note) and regulations
prescribed thereto, including regulations under part 208 of
title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, and part 95 of title
22, Code of Federal Regulations.
(3) Sections 1002 and 1003 of the Department of Defense,
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes
in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006
(Public Law 109-148).
Sec. 8104. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', for
the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, $300,000,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2025, shall be for the
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative: Provided, That such
funds shall be available to the Secretary of Defense, with
the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to provide
assistance, including training; equipment; lethal assistance;
logistics support, supplies and services; salaries and
stipends; sustainment; and intelligence support to the
military and national security forces of Ukraine, and to
other forces or groups recognized by and under the authority
of the Government of Ukraine, including governmental entities
within Ukraine, engaged in resisting Russian aggression
against Ukraine, for replacement of any weapons or articles
provided to the Government of Ukraine from the inventory of
the United States, and to recover or dispose of equipment
procured using funds made available in this section in this
or prior Acts: Provided further, That the Secretary of
Defense shall, not less than 15 days prior to obligating
funds made available in this section, notify the
congressional defense committees in writing of the details of
any such obligation: Provided further, That the Secretary of
Defense shall, not more than 60 days after such notification
is made, inform such committees if such funds have not been
obligated and the reasons therefor: Provided further, That
the Secretary of Defense shall consult with such committees
in advance of the provision of support provided to other
forces or groups recognized by and under the authority of the
Government of Ukraine: Provided further, That the United
States may accept equipment procured using funds made
available in this section in this or prior Acts transferred
to the security forces of Ukraine and returned by such forces
to the United States: Provided further, That equipment
procured using funds made available in this section in this
or prior Acts, and not yet transferred to the military or
national security forces of Ukraine or to other assisted
entities, or returned by such forces or other assisted
entities to the United States, may be treated as stocks of
the Department of Defense upon written notification to the
congressional defense committees: Provided further, That any
notification of funds made available in this section in this
or prior Acts shall specify whether such funds support
ongoing or new programs, the duration and expected cost over
the life of each program, a timeline for the delivery of
defense articles and defense services, and any equipment that
requires enhanced end-use monitoring: Provided further, That
the Secretary of Defense shall provide quarterly reports to
the congressional defense committees on the use and status of
funds made available in this section.
Sec. 8105. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to provide arms, training, or other assistance to
the Azov Battalion.
Sec. 8106. During the current fiscal year, the Department
of Defense is authorized to incur obligations of not to
exceed $350,000,000 for purposes specified in section
2350j(c) of title 10, United States Code, in anticipation of
receipt of contributions, only from the Government of Kuwait,
under that section: Provided, That, such contributions
shall,

[[Page H4587]]

upon receipt, be credited to the appropriations or fund which
incurred such obligations.
Sec. 8107. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', for
the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, $1,343,580,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2025, shall be available
for International Security Cooperation Programs and other
programs to provide support and assistance to foreign
security forces or other groups or individuals to conduct,
support or facilitate counterterrorism, crisis response, or
building partner capacity programs: Provided, That the
Secretary of Defense shall, not less than 15 days prior to
obligating funds made available in this section, notify the
congressional defense committees in writing of the details of
any planned obligation: Provided further, That the Secretary
of Defense shall provide quarterly reports to the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Senate on the use and status of funds made available in this
section.
Sec. 8108. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', for
the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, $410,000,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2025, shall be available
to reimburse Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Oman under
section 1226 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2016 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note), for enhanced border
security, of which not less than $150,000,000 shall be for
Jordan: Provided, That the Secretary of Defense shall, not
less than 15 days prior to obligating funds made available in
this section, notify the congressional defense committees in
writing of the details of any planned obligation and the
nature of the expenses incurred: Provided further, That the
Secretary of Defense shall provide quarterly reports to the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate on the use and status of funds made available
in this section.
Sec. 8109. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution (50
U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).
Sec. 8110. None of the funds made available by this Act
for excess defense articles, assistance under section 333 of
title 10, United States Code, or peacekeeping operations for
the countries designated annually to be in violation of the
standards of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008
(Public Law 110-457; 22 U.S.C. 2370c-1) may be used to
support any military training or operation that includes
child soldiers, as defined by the Child Soldiers Prevention
Act of 2008, unless such assistance is otherwise permitted
under section 404 of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of
2008.
Sec. 8111. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be made available for any member of the Taliban.
Sec. 8112. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
transfer of funds, appropriated or otherwise made available
by this Act, for support to friendly foreign countries in
connection with the conduct of operations in which the United
States is not participating, pursuant to section 331(d) of
title 10, United States Code, shall be made in accordance
with section 8005 of this Act.
Sec. 8113. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this or any other Act may be used by the
Secretary of Defense, or any other official or officer of the
Department of Defense, to enter into a contract, memorandum
of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, or make a
grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to
Rosoboronexport or any subsidiary of Rosoboronexport.
(b) The Secretary of Defense may waive the limitation in
subsection (a) if the Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence,
determines that it is in the vital national security interest
of the United States to do so, and certifies in writing to
the congressional defense committees that--
(1) Rosoboronexport has ceased the transfer of lethal
military equipment to, and the maintenance of existing lethal
military equipment for, the Government of the Syrian Arab
Republic;
(2) the armed forces of the Russian Federation have
withdrawn from Ukraine; and
(3) agents of the Russian Federation have ceased taking
active measures to destabilize the control of the Government
of Ukraine over eastern Ukraine.
(c) The Inspector General of the Department of Defense
shall conduct a review of any action involving
Rosoboronexport with respect to a waiver issued by the
Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection (b), and not
later than 90 days after the date on which such a waiver is
issued by the Secretary of Defense, the Inspector General
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report
containing the results of the review conducted with respect
to such waiver.
Sec. 8114. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', for
the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, $15,000,000, to
remain available until September 30, 2025, shall be for
payments to reimburse key cooperating nations for logistical,
military, and other support, including access, provided to
United States military and stability operations to counter
the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria: Provided, That such
reimbursement payments may be made in such amounts as the
Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary
of State, and in consultation with the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget, may determine, based on
documentation determined by the Secretary of Defense to
adequately account for the support provided, and such
determination is final and conclusive upon the accounting
officers of the United States, and 15 days following written
notification to the appropriate congressional committees:
Provided further, That these funds may be used for the
purpose of providing specialized training and procuring
supplies and specialized equipment and providing such
supplies and loaning such equipment on a non-reimbursable
basis to coalition forces supporting United States military
and stability operations to counter the Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria, and 15 days following written notification to the
appropriate congressional committees: Provided further, That
the Secretary of Defense shall provide quarterly reports to
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate on the use and status of funds
made available in this section.
Sec. 8115. The Secretary of Defense shall notify the
congressional defense committees in writing not more than 30
days after the receipt of any contribution of funds received
from the government of a foreign country for any purpose
relating to the stationing or operations of the United States
Armed Forces: Provided, That such notification shall include
the amount of the contribution; the purpose for which such
contribution was made; and the authority under which such
contribution was accepted by the Secretary of Defense:
Provided further, That not fewer than 15 days prior to
obligating such funds, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees in writing a
notification of the planned use of such contributions,
including whether such contributions would support existing
or new stationing or operations of the United States Armed
Forces.
Sec. 8116. (a) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, in
coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments
and the Chiefs of the Armed Forces, shall submit to the
congressional defense committees, not later than 30 days
after the last day of each quarter of the fiscal year, a
report on the use of operation and maintenance funds for
activities or exercises in excess of $5,000,000 that have
been designated by the Secretary of Defense as unplanned
activities for fiscal year 2024.
(b) Each report required by subsection (a) shall also
include--
(1) the title, date, and location, of each activity and
exercise covered by the report;
(2) an identification of the military department and units
that participated in each such activity or exercise
(including an estimate of the number of participants);
(3) the total cost of the activity or exercise, by budget
line item (with a breakdown by cost element such as
transportation); and
(4) a short explanation of the objective of the activity or
exercise.
(c) The report required by subsection (a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.
Sec. 8117. Not later than 15 days after the date on which
any foreign base that involves the stationing or operations
of the United States Armed Forces, including a temporary
base, permanent base, or base owned and operated by a foreign
country, is opened or closed, the Secretary of Defense shall
notify the congressional defense committees in writing of the
opening or closing of such base: Provided, That such
notification shall also include information on any personnel
changes, costs, and savings associated with the opening or
closing of such base.
Sec. 8118. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used with respect to Iraq in contravention of the War
Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.), including for the
introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities
in Iraq, into situations in Iraq where imminent involvement
in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, or
into Iraqi territory, airspace, or waters while equipped for
combat, in contravention of the congressional consultation
and reporting requirements of sections 3 and 4 of such
Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1542 and 1543).
Sec. 8119. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used with respect to Syria in contravention of the War
Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.), including for the
introduction of United States armed or military forces into
hostilities in Syria, into situations in Syria where imminent
involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the
circumstances, or into Syrian territory, airspace, or waters
while equipped for combat, in contravention of the
congressional consultation and reporting requirements of
sections 3 and 4 of that law (50 U.S.C. 1542 and 1543).
Sec. 8120. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this or any other Act shall be obligated or
expended by the United States Government for a purpose as
follows:
(1) To establish any military installation or base for the
purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United
States Armed Forces in Iraq.
(2) To exercise United States control over any oil resource
of Iraq or Syria.
Sec. 8121. None of the funds made available by this Act
under the heading ``Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund'', and
under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide''
for Department of Defense security cooperation grant
programs, may be used to

[[Page H4588]]

procure or transfer man-portable air defense systems.
Sec. 8122. Up to $500,000,000 of funds appropriated by
this Act for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in
``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' may be used to
provide assistance to the Government of Jordan to support the
armed forces of Jordan and to enhance security along its
borders.
Sec. 8123. Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, United States Southern Command shall
assume combatant command responsibility for activities
related to Mexico.
Sec. 8124. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available in this or any other Act may be used to
transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release to or
within the United States, its territories, or possessions
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who--
(1) is not a United States citizen or a member of the Armed
Forces of the United States; and
(2) is or was held on or after June 24, 2009, at United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by the Department
of Defense.
Sec. 8125. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available in this Act may be used to transfer any
individual detained at United States Naval Station Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, to the custody or control of the individual's
country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other
foreign entity except in accordance with section 1034 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
(Public Law 114-92) and section 1035 of the John S. McCain
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
(Public Law 115-232).
Sec. 8126. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available in this or any other Act may be used to
construct, acquire, or modify any facility in the United
States, its territories, or possessions to house any
individual described in subsection (c) for the purposes of
detention or imprisonment in the custody or under the
effective control of the Department of Defense.
(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to
any modification of facilities at United States Naval
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
(c) An individual described in this subsection is any
individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who--
(1) is not a citizen of the United States or a member of
the Armed Forces of the United States; and
(2) is--
(A) in the custody or under the effective control of the
Department of Defense; or
(B) otherwise under detention at United States Naval
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Sec. 8127. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to carry out the closure or realignment of the
United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Sec. 8128. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Act, to reflect savings due to favorable foreign exchange
rates, the total amount appropriated in this Act is hereby
reduced by $950,000,000.
Sec. 8129. In carrying out the program described in the
memorandum on the subject of ``Policy for Assisted
Reproductive Services for the Benefit of Seriously or
Severely Ill/Injured (Category II or III) Active Duty Service
Members'' issued by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Health Affairs on April 3, 2012, and the guidance issued to
implement such memorandum, the Secretary of Defense shall
apply such policy and guidance, except that--
(1) the limitation on periods regarding embryo
cryopreservation and storage set forth in part III(G) and in
part IV(H) of such memorandum shall not apply; and
(2) the term ``assisted reproductive technology'' shall
include embryo cryopreservation and storage without
limitation on the duration of such cryopreservation and
storage.
Sec. 8130. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be made used to support,
directly or indirectly, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or
any laboratory owned or controlled by the governments of the
People's Republic of China, the Republic of Cuba, the Islamic
Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
the Russian Federation, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
under the Maduro regime, or any other country determined by
the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State, to be a foreign adversary.
Sec. 8131. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to fund any work to be performed by EcoHealth
Alliance, Inc. in China on research supported by the
government of China unless the Secretary of Defense
determines that a waiver to such prohibition is in the
national security interests of the United States and, not
later than 14 days after granting such a waiver, submits to
the congressional defense committees a detailed justification
for the waiver, including--
(1) an identification of the Department of Defense entity
obligating or expending the funds;
(2) an identification of the amount of such funds;
(3) an identification of the intended purpose of such
funds;
(4) an identification of the recipient or prospective
recipient of such funds (including any third-party entity
recipient, as applicable);
(5) an explanation for how the waiver is in the national
security interests of the United States; and
(6) any other information the Secretary determines
appropriate.
Sec. 8132. The Secretary of the Navy shall continue to
provide pay and allowances to Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis,
United States Navy, until such time as the Secretary of the
Navy makes a determination with respect to the separation of
Lieutenant Alkonis from the Navy.
Sec. 8133. The Secretary of Defense may obligate funds
made available in this Act for procurement or for research,
development, test and evaluation for the F-35 Joint Strike
Fighter to modify up to six F-35 aircraft, including up to
two F-35 aircraft of each variant, to a test configuration:
Provided, That the Secretary of Defense shall, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of the Air Force and the
Secretary of the Navy, notify the congressional defense
committees not fewer than 30 days prior to obligating funds
under this section: Provided further, That any transfer of
funds pursuant to the authority provided in this section
shall be made in accordance with section 8005 of this Act.
Sec. 8134. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this or any other Act may be obligated to
integrate an alternative engine on any F-35 aircraft.
Sec. 8135. Funds appropriated in title III of this Act may
be used to enter into a contract or contracts for the
procurement of airframes and engines for the CH-53K heavy
lift helicopter program.
Sec. 8136. (a) Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Defense shall allocate amounts made available
from the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce
Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Defense Fund for fiscal
year 2024 pursuant to the transfer authority in section
102(b)(1) of the CHIPS Act of 2022 (division A of Public Law
117-167), to the account specified, in the amounts specified,
and for the projects and activities specified, in the table
titled ``Department of Defense Allocation of Funds: CHIPS and
Science Act Fiscal Year 2024'' in the report accompanying
this Act.
(b) Neither the President nor his designee may allocate any
amounts that are made available for any fiscal year under
section 102(b)(2) of the CHIPS Act of 2022 if there is in
effect an Act making or continuing appropriations for part of
a fiscal year for the Department of Defense: Provided, That
in any fiscal year, the matter preceding this proviso shall
not apply to the allocation, apportionment, or allotment of
amounts for continuing administration of programs allocated
using funds transferred from the CHIPS for America Defense
Fund, which may be allocated pursuant to the transfer
authority in section 102(b)(1) of the CHIPS Act of 2022 only
in amounts that are no more than the allocation for such
purposes in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The Secretary of Defense may reallocate funds allocated
by subsection (a) of this section, subject to the terms and
conditions contained in the provisos in section 8005 of this
Act: Provided, That amounts may be reallocated pursuant to
this subsection only for those requirements necessary to
carry out section 9903(b) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
(Public Law 116-283).
(d) Concurrent with the annual budget submission of the
President for fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives and the Senate proposed allocations by
account and by program, project, or activity, with detailed
justifications, for amounts made available under section
102(b)(2) of the CHIPS Act of 2022 for fiscal year 2025.
(e) The Department of Defense shall provide the Committees
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate
quarterly reports on the status of balances of projects and
activities funded by the CHIPS for America Defense Fund for
amounts allocated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section,
including all uncommitted, committed, and unobligated funds.
Sec. 8137. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under
the heading ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation,
Defense-Wide'' for the Office of Strategic Capital,
$99,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028,
shall be available for the cost of loans and loan guarantees:
Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying
such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Sec. 8138. In addition to the amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available by this Act, $800,000,000 is hereby
appropriated to the Department of Defense to assist with
increasing pay for certain enlisted grades: Provided, That
the Secretary of Defense shall change the following cells in
the military monthly basic pay table that was effective as of
January 1, 2023 to the following: E-1 with greater than four
months in service to $2,600.60, E-2 to $2,799.20, E-3 with
less than three years of service to $2,900.90, E-3 with three
years of service to $2,950.60, E-3 with four years of service
to $3,000.60, E-3 with six or more years of service to
$3,050.60, E-4 with less than two years of service to
$3,010.50, E-4 with two years of service to $3,060.60, E-4
with three years of service to $3,100.10, E-4 with four years
of service to $3,150.80, E-4 with six years of service to
$3,210.30, E-4 with eight or more years of service to
$3,260.30, E-5 with less than two years of service to
$3,100.30, E-5 with two years of service to $3,150.20, E-5
with three years of service to $3,200.20, E-5 with four years
of service to

[[Page H4589]]

$3,250.20, E-6 with less than two years of service to $3,210:
Provided further, That the 5.2 percent increase in pay in the
fiscal year 2024 budget request for all grades is in addition
to the changes identified in this section.
Sec. 8139. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to release information
described in paragraph C4.2.2.5.2 of DoD 5400.11-R regarding
a current or former member of the Armed Forces to any non-
Federal entity or person without the consent of such member
or former member or, if the member or former member is
deceased, the consent of the next of kin of such member or
former member or a legally authorized representative of the
estate of such member or former member, unless such
information is requested under section 552 of title 5
(commonly referred to as the ``Freedom of Information Act'')
and such information is not exempt from disclosure under such
section: Provided, That if such information is requested
under such section, the releasing authority shall notify the
member or former member who is the subject of the request or,
if the member or former member is deceased, the next of kin
of such member or former member, or a legally authorized
representative of the estate of such member or former member,
prior to the release of such information: Provided further,
That this section shall not apply to a request for such
information from a State or local law enforcement agency.
Sec. 8140. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be obligated or expended for
acquisition, construction, installation, or leasing of
temporary or permanent public works, military installations,
facilities, and real property, or otherwise update,
modernize, or repair current public works, military
installations, and facilities, including leased structures,
for United States Space Command until such time as the
Secretary of the Air Force formally selects and publicly
announces the permanent location of the United States Space
Command Headquarters in alignment to the United States Air
Force Selection Process for the Permanent Location of the
United States Space Command Headquarters, as validated by the
United States Government Accountability Office Report to
Congress concerning United States Space Command (GAO-22-
106055) and United States Department of Defense Inspector
General Report titled ``Evaluation of the Air Force Selection
Process for the Permanent Location of the United States Space
Command Headquarters'' (DODIG-2022-096).
Sec. 8141. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to carry out sections
554(a) and 913 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283).
Sec. 8142. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to implement,
administer, apply, enforce, or carry out the Diversity,
Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategic Plan of the
Department of Defense, or Executive Order 13985 of January
20, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 7009, relating to advancing racial
equity and support for under-served communities through the
Federal Government), Executive Order 14035 of June 25, 2021
(86 Fed. Reg. 34593, relating to diversity, equity,
inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal workforce),
Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg.
10825, relating to further advancing racial equity and
support for underserved communities through the Federal
government), or shall be used to execute activities that
promote or perpetuate divisive concepts related to race or
sex, such as the concepts that one race or sex is inherently
superior to another, or that an individual's moral character
or worth is determined by their race or sex.
Sec. 8143. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used for surgical procedures or hormone therapies for
the purposes of gender affirming care.
Sec. 8144. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to promote, host,
facilitate, or support events on United States military
installations or as part of military recruiting programs that
violate the Department of Defense Joint Ethics Regulation or
bring discredit upon the military, such as a drag queen story
hour for children or the use of drag queens as military
recruiters.
Sec. 8145. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used or transferred to
another Federal agency, board, or commission to recruit,
hire, or promote any person who has been convicted of a
Federal or State child pornography charge, has been convicted
of any other Federal or State sexual assault charge, or has
been formally disciplined for using Federal resources to
access, use, or sell child pornography.
Sec. 8146. None of the funds appropriated by or made
available in this Act shall be used to implement, administer,
or otherwise carry out the Department of Defense memorandum
dated October 20, 2022, or any successor to such memorandum,
or to propose, promulgate, or implement any substantially
similar rule or policy.
Sec. 8147. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to finalize,
promulgate, or implement the rule proposed by the Department
of Defense titled ``Federal Acquisition Regulation:
Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related
Financial Risk'' (87 Fed. Reg. 68312; November 14, 2022), or
to propose, promulgate, or implement any substantially
similar rule or policy.
Sec. 8148. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to carry out any
program, project, or activity that promotes or advances
Critical Race Theory, any concept associated with Critical
Race Theory, or that teaches or trains any idea or concept
that condones an individual being discriminated against or
receiving adverse or beneficial treatment based on race or
sex, that condones an individual feeling discomfort, guilt,
anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on
account of that individual's race or sex, as well as any idea
or concept that regards one race as inherently superior to
another race, the United States or its institutions as being
systemically racist or sexist, an individual as being
inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive by virtue of that
individual's race or sex, an individual's moral character as
being necessarily determined by race or sex, an individual as
bearing responsibility for actions committed in the past by
other members of the same race or sex, or meritocracy being
racist, sexist, or having been created by a particular race
to oppress another race.
Sec. 8149. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available in this Act may be used to--
(1) classify or facilitate the classification of any
communications by a United States person as mis-, dis-, or
mal-information; or
(2) partner with or fund nonprofit or other organizations
that pressure or recommend private companies to censor lawful
and constitutionally protected speech of United States
persons, including recommending the censoring or removal of
content on social media platforms.
Sec. 8150. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used to grant, renew, or
maintain a security clearance for any individual listed as a
signatory in the statement titled ``Public Statement on the
Hunter Biden Emails'' dated October 19, 2020.
Sec. 8151. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 7 of
title 1, United States Code, section 1738C of title 28,
United States Code, or any other provision of law, none of
the funds provided by this Act, or previous appropriations
Acts, shall be used in whole or in part to take any
discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially,
on the basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance
with a sincerely held religious belief, or moral conviction,
that marriage is, or should be recognized as, a union of one
man and one woman.
(b) Discriminatory Action Defined.--As used in subsection
(a), a discriminatory action means any action taken by the
Federal Government to--
(1) alter in any way the Federal tax treatment of, or cause
any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny,
delay, or revoke an exemption from taxation under section
501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of, any person
referred to in subsection (a);
(2) disallow a deduction for Federal tax purposes of any
charitable contribution made to or by such person;
(3) withhold, reduce the amount or funding for, exclude,
terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any Federal
grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement,
guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification,
accreditation, employment, or other similar position or
status from or to such person;
(4) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny, any entitlement or benefit under a
Federal benefit program, including admission to, equal
treatment in, or eligibility for a degree from an educational
program, from or to such person; or
(5) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make
unavailable or deny access or an entitlement to Federal
property, facilities, educational institutions, speech fora
(including traditional, limited, and nonpublic fora), or
charitable fundraising campaigns from or to such person.
(c) Accreditation; Licensure; Certification.--The Federal
Government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified
for purposes of Federal law any person that would be
accredited, licensed, or certified, respectively, for such
purposes but for a determination against such person wholly
or partially on the basis that the person speaks, or acts, in
accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral
conviction described in subsection (a).
Sec. 8152. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available by this Act may be used by the Secretary of
Defense or the Service Secretaries to fly or display a flag
over or within a facility of the Department of Defense other
than the flag of the United States; the flag of a State,
Territory, or District of Columbia; the flag of the
Department of Defense; the flag of a Military Service; the
flag of Flag or General Officers; the flag of Presidentially-
appointed, Senate-confirmed civilians; the flag of Senior
Executive Service (SES) and Military Department-specific SES;
the POW/MIA flag; the flags of other countries with which the
United States is an ally or partner, or for official protocol
purposes; the flags of organizations in which the United
States is a member, such as the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization; or ceremonial, command, unit, or branch flags
or guidons.
Sec. 8153. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both the

[[Page H4590]]

House of Representatives and Senate a report on excessive
contractor payments that exceed the Truthful Cost and Pricing
Act (10 U.S.C. chapter 271 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 35)
threshold and with respect to which none of the exceptions to
certified cost or pricing data requirements applies.
(b) The report required by subsection (a) shall also
include the following:
(1) The amounts collected, adjusted, or offset from
contractors as a result of providing defective cost and
pricing data.
(2) The mechanisms used to identify violations of the
Truthful Cost and Pricing Act (10 U.S.C. chapter 271 and 41
U.S.C. chapter 35).
(3) Disciplinary actions taken by the Department of Defense
when violations of the Truthful Cost and Pricing Act (10
U.S.C. chapter 271 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 35) are identified,
regardless of whether included in the System for Award
Management.
(4) Any referrals made to the Department of Justice where
appropriate.

spending reduction account

Sec. 8154. $0.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 2024''.

The Acting CHAIR. All points of order against provisions in the bill
are waived.
No amendment to the bill shall be in order except those printed in
part A of House Report 118-216, amendments en bloc described in section
3 of House Resolution 723, and pro forma amendments described in
section 13 of that resolution.
Each amendment printed in the report shall be considered only in the
order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated
in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the
time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent, may be withdrawn by the proponent at any
time before action thereon, shall not be subject to amendment except as
provided by section 13 of House Resolution 723, and shall not be
subject to a demand for division of the question.
It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on
Appropriations or her designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting
of amendments printed in the report not earlier disposed of. Amendments
en bloc shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member
of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees, shall not be
subject to amendment, except as provided by section 13 of House
Resolution 723, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of
the question.
During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chair and the
ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their
respective designees may offer up to ten pro forma amendments each at
any point for the purpose of debate.

Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Mr. Calvert of California

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 723, I offer an
amendment en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 1, consisting of amendments Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46,
47, 49, 51, and 65, printed in part A of House Report No. 118-216
offered by Mr. Calvert of California:

Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. James of Michigan

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $15,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $15,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Buchanan of Florida

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $3,000,000) (increased by $3,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Buchanan of Florida

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Carbajal of California

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $2,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 5 Offered by Ms. Jacobs of California

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 9, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 9, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 10, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 7 OFFERED BY MR. McCORMICK OF GEORGIA

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $7,750,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,750,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 8 OFFERED BY MS. STEVENS OF MICHIGAN

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 9 OFFERED BY MR. WILSON OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Page 9, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 10 OFFERED BY MS. CARAVEO OF COLORADO

Page 9, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000)''.
Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 11 OFFERED BY MR. DAVIS OF NORTH CAROLINA

Page 9, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $8,606,779)''.
Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $8,606,779)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 12 OFFERED BY MR. FALLON OF TEXAS

Page 9, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $55,000,000)''.
Page 27, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $55,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 13 OFFERED BY MR. DUNN OF FLORIDA

Page 10, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 14 OFFERED BY MR. TONY GONZALES OF TEXAS

Page 10, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $7,200,000) (increased by $7,200,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 15 OFFERED BY MR. JOYCE OF OHIO

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $4,000,000) (increased by $4,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 16 OFFERED BY MR. CROW OF COLORADO

Page 10, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 17 OFFERED BY MR. EZELL OF MISSISSIPPI

Page 10, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $8,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $8,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 18 OFFERED BY MR. KELLY OF MISSISSIPPI

Page 10, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 24, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

amendment no. 19 offered by mr. lamborn of colorado

Page 10, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,500,000)''.
Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,500,000)''.

amendment no. 20 offered by mr. bacon of nebraska

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 21 offered by mr. bacon of nebraska

Page 10, line 19, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 22 offered by mr. banks of indiana

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 36, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 23 offered by mrs. boebert of colorado

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)''.

amendment no. 24 offered by mrs. boebert of colorado

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 28, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 25 OFFERED BY MRS. BOEBERT OF COLORADO

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,000,000)''.

[[Page H4591]]

Page 44, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)''.
Page 44, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 26 OFFERED BY MRS. BOEBERT OF COLORADO

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,000,000)''.
Page 44, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)''.
Page 44, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 27 OFFERED BY MR. CONNOLLY OF VIRGINIA

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 28 OFFERED BY MR. CROW OF COLORADO

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,500,000)''.
Page 39, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,500,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 30 OFFERED BY MR. FITZGERALD OF WISCONSIN

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $4,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $4,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 31 OFFERED BY MR. FITZPATRICK OF PENNSYLVANIA

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 32 OFFERED BY MR. GARAMENDI OF CALIFORNIA

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,000,000) (increased by $3,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 33 OFFERED BY MR. GARBARINO OF NEW YORK

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 35 OFFERED BY MS. HOULAHAN OF PENNSYLVANIA

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1 after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 36 OFFERED BY MR. ISSA OF CALIFORNIA

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 37 OFFERED BY MR. JAMES OF MICHIGAN

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 38 OFFERED BY MR. JAMES OF MICHIGAN

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $122,600,000)''.
Page 33, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $122,600,000)''.

Amendment No. 39 Offered by Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $15,000,000)''.
Page 27, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $15,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 40 Offered by Ms. Kamlager-Dove of California

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $7,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 41 Offered by Mr. Keating of Massachusetts

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 42 Offered by Mr. Kelly of Mississippi

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 46 Offered by Mrs. Luna of Florida

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 47 Offered by Mr. Luttrell of Texas

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $15,000,000)''.
Page 24, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $15,000,000)''.

Amendment NO. 49 Offered by Mr. Luttrell of Texas

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 43 Offered by Mrs. McClain of Michigan

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $7,500,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,500,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 65 OFFERED BY MS. SHERRILL OF NEW JERSEY

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms.
McCollum) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, these are noncontroversial amendments
supported by both sides.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment. It contains a
series of bipartisan amendments in support of Member priorities on both
sides. We have no objections, and we encourage the adoption of this
amendment, and I wish this in the spirit in which this bill had
originally been written.
If the gentleman from California has no other comments, I am ready to
yield back.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendments En Bloc No. 2 Offered by Mr. Calvert of California

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 723, I offer
amendment en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
En bloc No. 2, consisting of amendment Nos. 43, 44, 45, 50, 52, 53,
54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,
83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105,
106, 107, 108, and 109, printed in part A of House Report 118-216,
offered by Mr. Calvert of California:

Amendment No. 43 Offered by Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $12,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $12,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Lieu of California

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $7,500,000)''.
Page 39, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 45 Offered by Mr. Lieu of California

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 50 Offered by Mr. Lynch of Massachusetts

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(decreased by $4,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount insert
``(increased by $4,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 52 Offered by Mrs. McClain of Michigan

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mrs. McClain of Michigan

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $25,000,000)''.
Page 27, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $25,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 54 Offered by Mr. McCORMICK of Georgia

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $4,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $4,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 55 Offered by Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 56 Offered by Mr. MILLS of Florida

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 58 Offered by Mr. NORCROSS of New Jersey

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 59 Offered by Mr. PERRY of Pennsylvania

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 60 OFFERED MR. RASKIN OF MARYLAND

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

[[Page H4592]]

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 61 Offered by Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $4,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $4,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 62 Offered by Mr. SESSIONS of Texas

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 63 Offered by Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 64 OFFERED BY MS. SHERRILL OF NEW JERSEY

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,500,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 75 Offered by Mr. SORENSEN of Illinois

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 76 Offered by Mr. STRONG of Alabama

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,500,000)''.
Page 36, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 77 Offered by Mr. STRONG of Alabama

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 78 Offered by Mrs. TRAHAN of Massachusetts

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 79 Offered by Mrs. TRAHAN of Massachusetts

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $6,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $6,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 80 Offered by Mr. TURNER of Ohio

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,500,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 81 Offered by Ms. Wasserman Schultz of Florida

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 82 Offered by Mr. Wilson of South Carolina

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $16,500,000)''.
Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $16,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 83 Offered by Mr. Wilson of South Carolina

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $6,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $6,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 84 Offered by Mr. Lamborn of Colorado

Page 19, line 3, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $2,500,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 85 Offered by Mr. Vasquez of New Mexico

Page 21, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)(reduced by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 87 Offered by Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 88 Offered by Ms. TENNEY of New York

Page 33, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $150,000,000)(increased by $150,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 90 Offered by Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas

Page 36, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $10,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 91 Offered by Mr. DUNN of Florida

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $7,000,000) (increased by $7,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 92 Offered by Mrs. FISCHBACH of Minnesota

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $8,400,000)(increased by $8,400,000)''.

Amendment No. 93 Offered by Mr. GUEST of Mississippi

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $3,000,000)(increased by $3,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 94 Offered by Mr. HERN of Oklahoma

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 95 OFFERED BY MR. HUDSON OF NORTH CAROLINA

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 96 OFFERED BY MRS. LESKO OF ARIZONA

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 97 OFFERED BY MR. McGOVERN OF MASSACHUSETTS

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $11,000,000) (increased by $11,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 99 OFFERED BY MRS. MILLER OF WEST VIRGINIA

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $7,000,000) (increased by $7,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 101 OFFERED BY MR. MOLINARO OF NEW YORK

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 103 OFFERED BY MR. MOYLAN OF GUAM

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $20,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $20,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $20,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $20,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $100,000,000)''.
Page 40, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $20,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 105 Offered by Mr. WILSON of South Carolina

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 106 Offered by Mr. EZELL of Mississippi

Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $4,000,000)''.
Page 41, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $4,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 107 Offered by Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida

On page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increase by $10,000,000)(decrease by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 108 Offered by Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIn of Florida

Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $6,500,000)''.
Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(decreased by $6,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 109 Offered by Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $7,000,000)(increased by $7,000,000)''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms.
McCollum) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, these are noncontroversial amendments
supported by both sides.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, our country has no greater responsibility
than to protect and defend this Nation and its Constitution from all
enemies, foreign and domestic, and I thank Ranking Member McCollum for
yielding me time to speak as a member of the Subcommittee on Defense
Appropriations.
I am deeply disappointed, I have to say, overall by the bill that the
majority has forced to the Floor today. America and our allies are
grappling with an increasingly dynamic and dangerous world. Global
challenges include real enemies, as well as the unpredictability of
nature and climate change, and we now see artificial intelligence
threatening to further destabilize the world that we rely on for
liberty and prosperity.
Russia is waging a war of aggression against a neighboring democratic
state, while China is outpacing our

[[Page H4593]]

military development and has positioned itself as a significant
geopolitical competitor on many levels.
It is our responsibility and that of the annual Defense
Appropriations legislation to ensure we are prepared to surmount these
threats. However, the majority's legislation is distracted and consumed
by division instead of policies that would ensure the safety of our
Nation's most important Defense asset, our brave men and women in
uniform.
In another year, I could be proud of important provisions, including
support for research, testing and manufacturing of space technologies
that would define how our future wars might be fought, many of which,
by the way, are being developed in my home State of Ohio.
Instead, this legislation focuses on divisive policies never seen in
a Defense Appropriations bill, like banning diversity and inclusion
programs in this diverse Nation, targeting women and LGBTQ and
servicemembers, and preventing the Department of Defense from
addressing the very real dangers of disinformation campaigns and
extremist rhetoric in our military.
Enacting these proposals would have disastrous consequences for the
morale and readiness of our Armed Forces, worsening the unprecedented
recruitment shortfalls they already face. While the legislation
maintains funding for many key security commitments to our crucial
allies by fully funding key regional security initiatives, it fails to
innovate or provide expansion of funding necessary to meet the moment,
which is newly defined by the largest war for liberty since World War
II, being fought as we speak in the Nation of Ukraine. I could say so
much on this.
The Ukrainian people and their east European neighbors----
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. KAPTUR. Might I ask for an additional 10 seconds.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. CALVERT. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam (Mr.
Moylan).
Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak up for the people of Guam, who
are facing immediate danger from the Chinese and North Korean missiles.
China's DF-26 missiles has been dubbed the Guam Killer.
Also, North Korea repeatedly threatens my island, and our American
defense systems cannot simultaneously track or shoot down missiles from
two directions at once.
Let's also be mindful of the fact that servicemembers from across the
Nation serve on Guam and face similar peril.
I urge my colleagues to support my amendment with the safety of your
constituents in mind. Please vote to protect the people of Guam and
vote in favor of my amendment to truly fund Guam missile defense.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of
Representative Wilson of South Carolina and my bipartisan amendment
supporting efforts to modernize personal equipment for female
servicemembers and small-statured servicemembers.
Twenty percent of our servicemembers are women serving our Nation. It
is alarming, Mr. Chair, that, according to a new Army report, nearly
half of female servicemembers in the Army Special Operations Command
have trouble accessing and acquiring equipment that is the right size
for them.
Imagine one of these warriors are in the battlefield, they are facing
an enemy combatant, and their ill-fitting body armor prevents them from
proper use of their rifle. That puts them at severe risk for harm and
prevents them from executing their duty.
There is no excuse for not giving these patriots the equipment and
tools to allow them to do their job safely and effectively. Our
military women, they leave their families, they train hard, and are
willing to risk their lives to defend our freedom. We need to do a
better job to stand up for theirs.
I urge my colleagues to join me and my friend Representative Wilson
of South Carolina in a bipartisan amendment to make sure that all our
servicemembers have the equipment that they need to keep them safe and
do their job effectively.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Chair, this amendment provides $11 million within
Army Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation, Line 44, for the
Autonomous Vehicle Mobility project to modernize combat vehicles for
multi-domain operations.
The development of next generation combat vehicles for multi-domain
battle operations is one of the Army's six modernization priorities.
These military vehicles are meant to increase the firepower, speed, and
survivability of land forces, allowing them to maneuver into superior
positions on the battlefield and to pair with robotic vehicles. The has
been actively conducting basic and applied R&D of autonomous ground
vehicles, but additional resources are needed to successfully
transition novel technologies into functioning prototypes.
This amendment provides funding to establish the nation's first
national-level laboratory facility of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities
Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center. The facility will be
dedicated to autonomous mobility, maneuverability, and energy
efficiency with an emphasis on complex terrains and adversarial
environments. It will serve as a research hub and amplify collaboration
between the U.S. military, universities, industry partners, and NATO
nations. The results of such collaboration will enable our troops to
have an unparalleled edge on the battlefield and in tactical
situations.
I urge my colleagues to support this modest investment and to vote in
favor of En Bloc No. 2.
Mr. SORENSEN. Mr. Chair, the annual Defense Appropriations bill is
one of the best tools we have to strengthen our national security and
foster innovation.
This year's bill includes a well-deserved 5.2 percent pay raise for
our troops and $12.5 million dollars to support the Rock Island Arsenal
and manufacturing jobs in my district.
Workers in Central and Northwestern Illinois take great pride in
supplying our military with new equipment that helps service members
safely defend and protect our nation.
That is why I'm proud to introduce my amendment to fund novel
technology that can 3D print high-strength, lightweight carbon fiber
composite parts into state-of-the-art wings for Unmanned Air Vehicles.
This new technology will produce wings roughly 10 times faster than
traditional technologies on the market, allowing for the fabrication of
a wing in a single day and assisting the military in meeting the demand
for Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
At the same time, this funding will create good-paying jobs for the
families in my neighborhood.
I urge Congress to pass my amendment and get this project off the
ground for our taxpayers and for our national defense.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

Amendments En Bloc No. 3 Offered by Mr. Calvert of California

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 723, I offer an
amendment en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
En bloc No. 3, consisting of amendment Nos. 86, 89, 98, 100, 102,
104, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122,
123, 124, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 138,
139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, and 159, printed in
part A of House report No. 118-216, offered by Mr. Calvert of
California:

Amendment No. 86 Offered by Ms. Titus of Nevada

Page 27, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $750,000)''.
Page 36, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $750,000)''.

Amendment No. 89 Offered by Mr. LaHood of Illinois

Page 35, line 2, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $4,300,000) (increased by $4,300,000)''.

Amendment No. 98 Offered by Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $8,400,000)(increased by $8,400,000)''.

Amendment No. 100 Offered by Mr. Mills of Florida

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)(reduced by $3,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 102 Offered by Mr. Morelle of New York

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,600,000) (increased by $5,600,000)''.

[[Page H4594]]

Amendment No. 104 Offered by Ms. Scanlon of Pennsylvania

Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $15,000,000)(increased by $15,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 110 Offered by Mr. LALOTA of New York

Page 38, line 16, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,500,000)(increased by $5,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 111 Offered by Mr. PETERS of California

Page 38, line 16, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $8,000,000)(increased by $8,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 112 Offered by Mr. PETERS of California

Page 38, line 16, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $8,500,000)(increased by $8,500,000)''.

Amendment No. 113 Offered by Mr. SELF of Texas

Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 41, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 114 Offered by Mr. SMITH of New Jersey

Page 38, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $4,000,000)''.
Page 41, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $4,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 115 Offered by Mr. BILIRAKIS of Florida

On page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $4,500,000) (increased by $4,500,000)''.

amendment no. 116 offered by mr. carey of ohio

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,000,000) (reduced by $7,000,000)''.

amendment no. 117 offered by mr. joyce of ohio

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $3,000,000)(increased by $3,000,000)''.

amendment no. 118 offered by mr. lamborn of colorado

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 40, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 119 OFFERED BY MS. LETLOW OF LOUISIANA

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 120 Offered by Ms. Pettersen of Colorado

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 41, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 121 Offered by Ms. Sewell of Alabama

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(decrease by $10,000,000)''.
Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increase by $10,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 122 Offered by Mr. Soto of Florida

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $5,000,000)(increased by $5,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 123 Offered by Ms. Tenney of New York

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $44,000,000)(increased by $44,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 124 Offered by Mr. Wenstrup of Ohio

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $3,000,000)(increased by $3,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 126 Offered by Mr. Huizenga of Michigan

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 127 offered by mr. buchanan of florida

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

amendment no. 128 offered by mr. carey of ohio

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $20,000,000)(increased by $20,000,000)''.

amendment no. 129 offered by mr. davis of north carolina

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $8,000,000)(increased by $8,000,000)''.

amendment no. 130 offered by mr. deluzio of pennsylvania

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.

amendment no. 131 offered by mr. ellzey of texas

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)(reduced by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 132 offered by mrs. houchin of indiana

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $6,500,000) (increased by $6,500,000)''.

amendment no. 133 offered by mr. hudson of north carolina

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)(increased by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 134 offered by mrs. kiggans of virginia

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.

amendment no. 135 offered by mr. mills of florida

Page 39, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 136 offered by mr. wenstrup of ohio

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $7,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,000,000)''.

amendment no. 138 offered by mrs. kiggans of virginia

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.

amendment no. 139 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $4,000,000) (reduced by $4,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 140 Offered by Mr. ROUZER of North Carolina

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,800,000) (reduced by $7,800,000)''.
Page 42, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $7,800,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $7,800,000)''.

Amendment No. 141 Offered by Mr. COHEN of Tennessee

Page 42, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $200,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $200,000)''.

Amendment No. 142 Offered by Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.

Amendment No. 143 Offered by Mr. FINSTAD of Minnesota

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)(reduced by $3,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $3,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 144 OFFERED BY MR. BERGMAN OF MICHIGAN

Page 42, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $842,000) (increased by $842,000)''.

amendment no. 145 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

Page 42, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $9,000,000) (reduced by $9,000,000)''.

amendment no. 146 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

Page 44, line 12, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 44, line 13, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 45, line 10, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 45, line 11, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 147 offered by mr. williams of new york

Page 39, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by
$5,000,000)''.

AMENDMENT NO. 148 OFFERED BY MR. ALFORD OF MISSOURI

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 38, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

amendment no. 159 offered by mr. fry of south carolina

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used to eliminate a unit of the Senior Reserve Officers'
Training Corps at an institution of higher education.

{time} 1000

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, these are noncontroversial amendments
supported by both sides.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), in support of this en bloc, which I also
support.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her
courtesies.

[[Page H4595]]

However, I am particularly concerned as we move forward. This bill
directly impacts the men and women who have unselfishly put on the
uniform.
I am grateful to the chair and ranking member for working together,
but let me be very clear, we have an overall defense bill that is
enormously challenging for the American people.
First, it is important for them to know that the members of the
United States military, women in particular--1 in 5 members of the
military are women--will be blocked from reproductive services that are
necessary. Those women, in particular, that live in the State of Texas
will be blocked from achieving the reproductive health that they need.
The LGBTQ+ community is also negatively impacted by healthcare.
Mr. Chairman, this has nothing to do with military preparedness and
should not be involved. In addition, the general has offered a
commitment to electric vehicles, but yet this bill cuts $714 million.
Mr. Chair, I rise today to say I do not want a government shutdown,
but I would like us to do the right thing. Democrats don't want a
government shutdown. We are obviously fighting against those who are
getting direction from the former President who says to shut it down.
I am very grateful that my amendment dealing with triple negative
breast cancer is in this legislation. This is very important to me. It
seeks to allocate $10 million to fund triple negative breast cancer
research. This issue is extremely important, especially for the brave
men and women in the military who are 20 to 40 percent more likely to
develop breast cancer.
Mr. Chair, I offer my appreciation to both the military and the Biden
administration for making research into breast cancer a priority. This
amendment would allow for more research so that we can one day,
hopefully, learn a way to reduce this most devastating aspect of breast
cancer. This has a more deadlier impact--that is why it is called
triple negative breast cancer--that targets women.
Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, the Jackson
Lee amendment, and a complete defense bill that responds to the needs
of the United States military.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the
Jackson Lee Amendment [#90/#233] to H.R. 4365--the Department of
Defense Appropriations Act, 2024.
I want to thank my colleagues on the Rules Committee for making this
amendment in order.
The Jackson Lee Amendment [#90/#233] is a simple and straightforward
amendment in an unfortunate and distracting appropriations bill.
Namely, the Jackson Lee Amendment [#90/#233] seeks to allocate $10
million to fund triple negative breast cancer research.
This issue is extremely important, especially for the brave men and
women in the military, who are up to 20-40 percent more likely to
develop breast cancer.
I must offer my appreciation to both the military and the Biden
administration for making research into breast cancer a priority, but
there is still work to be done.
The Jackson Lee Amendment [#90/#233] would allow for more research so
we can one day hopefully learn a way to reduce the number of military
personnel affected by breast cancer.
Several initiatives I have designed in the past have aided active-
duty servicemen and women along with veterans, such as enforcing
accurate reporting of maternity mortality rates among the Armed Forces,
addressing physical and mental health concerns, and securing
authorization for Triple Negative Breast Cancer as well as Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I am very proud of the work that I and Congress have done to address
the health concerns of active duty and veteran servicemen and women,
but there are still improvements to be made.
The men and women who are on the front lines or have already
completed their valiant service to this country have many pressing
issues and challenges they already must face; breast cancer should not
be one of them.
Our service members fight and sacrifice for our freedoms.
Now, as lawmakers, we should be working to ensure to protect their
lives and freedoms--not trying to take their rights away.
While the negatives of this defense appropriations bill
disappointedly outweigh my positive amendment, I urge my colleagues to
vote in favor of the Jackson Lee Amendment [#90/#233]--notwithstanding
my strong opposition and encouragement to vote down the underlying
bill.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Wisconsin, a retired Navy SEAL.
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Mr. Chair, I rise today with deep, deep reservations
about the provisions in this bill funding the Ukraine Security
Assistance Initiative, a program that has been in place since 2016.
Today, the United States has given $113 billion in security and
humanitarian aid to Ukraine for their war against Russia. I acknowledge
the fact that is an illegal war and Vladimir Putin should be punished.
However, I am not happy with the level of visibility that we have given
to this funding.
The United States Government must be in charge of our foreign policy.
The United States Government must be in charge of our defense policies,
and we should not be handing these over to the Ukrainian Government.
We are funding Ukrainians, we are paying their salaries for their
troops and giving them stipends when we are potentially looking forward
to shutting down our government due to Democratic intransigence, which
means we will not be funding our own troops. This is simply
unacceptable.
Before any new money is dispensed to Ukraine, we need a strategic
exit plan from the Biden administration with quantifiable metrics.
Still, I will not allow D.C.'s dysfunction to undermine our national
security and hurt our military families and will support the underlying
bill, again, with great reservations.
We must fund our military and we must pay our troops.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I just want to be clear, in this bill we
pay for our troops and our military to equip and do training, but in
this bill there is no funding for salaries for Ukrainian troops.
Mr. Chair, I thank the chair for working in such a bipartisan fashion
for these en bloc amendments, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Chair, this amendment offered by Congressman Brian
Fitzpatrick and myself provides a modest $8.4 million within Army
Research, Development, Evaluation and Testing, Line 59, Night Vision
System Advanced Development, for the Micro-LED Soldier Systems Display
Prototype.
The funds provided by this amendment will support the design,
development, and delivery of the U.S. Army's next generation full-color
LED micro-display prototype, which will be specifically tailored for
dismounted soldier applications such as the Integrated Visual
Augmentation System Heads Up Display and the Next Generation Squad
Weapon Sight Optic.
The next generation of LED displays promise brightness levels that
significantly exceed the Pentagon's most stringent requirements for
both monochrome and full-color displays. The funds provided in this
amendment will support the design, development, and delivery of a
technology readiness Level 7 full-color LED micro-display prototype. In
addition, this project will enhance the soldier's target detection
capability and eye safety. Clearly, Mr. Chair, this is a win-win that
provides desperately needed solutions and safeguards the health and
security of our soldiers.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to vote in favor
of En Bloc No. 3.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Chair, I want to commend the managers of the House
Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bill for
including my amendment No. 122 in En Bloc 3, to provide a $5 million
increase within the Air Force RDT&E account, to the Air Force Research
Lab (AFRL) trusted microchip manufacturing prototype program in the en
bloc package.
Microelectronics support nearly all DoD activities, enabling
capabilities such as the global positioning system, radar, command and
control, and communication. Ensuring secure access to leading-edge
microelectronics, however, is a challenge. The pandemic exposed the
challenges associated with the global supply chain, the changing global
semiconductor industry, and the sophistication of U.S. adversaries. who
might target military electronic components.
The AFRL is working on a new modelling and simulation research
program to advance next generation semiconductor design and
manufacturing, called a secure digital twin. Funding for the zero-trust
environment for semiconductor technology will help provide the
capabilities to deliver solutions to protect against malicious function
insertion, fraudulent products, theft of intellectual property, and
reliability failures within DoD semiconductors.
I believe Congress should continue to provide the resources necessary
to update our domestic microelectronics security framework. I am proud
of the work being undertaken in

[[Page H4596]]

my district's semiconductor technology district, known as NeoCity, to
support domestic semiconductor manufacturing technology development as
we work to address this critical supply chain. I look forward to
continuing to work with my colleagues to support this goal.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 29 will
not be offered.

Amendment No. 34 Offered by Ms. Houlahan

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 34
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $50,000,000)''.
Page 36, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $50,000,000)''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chairman, defense-centric, small businesses, and
the industrial base face unique challenges in creating new advanced
production lines, scaling, expanding manufacturing capacity, and in
competing and leading to issues with how to best support our
warfighters with key advanced defense capabilities.
For many of these U.S. businesses, translating investments into
marketable products and services remains a challenge. As job creation
engines, start-ups are vital to the American economy, but they often
lack the resources to bring good ideas to market or to establish a
contract with the Department of Department.
That is why I introduced my bipartisan bill, H.R. 3147, which
establishes a defense industrial base advanced capabilities pilot
program, to help small businesses bridge that gap between creating
innovative ideas to help our servicemembers, and the time that it takes
to get to full production capacity.
This bill builds on the success of SBIR and STTR programs to further
increase private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from
federally funded R&D.
I was very proud to see this bill included in this year's NDAA in
Section 853 of the House-passed bill and in Section 831 of the Senate-
passed bill, and now we just need to fund it.
Due to its targeted support to small businesses, it is no surprise
that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has made this effort a top
legislative priority, and I am very proud to have had their support
over the years to make this much-needed change.
What does this amendment do?
This amendment would direct $50 million in O&M defense-wide to the
Defense Production Act purchases account to fund the Advanced Defense
Capabilities Pilot Program. Funding in fiscal year 2024 would
accelerate the scaling, production, manufacturing, and acquisition of
defense-centric advanced capabilities to bolster DIB resilience and
modernize and increase our competition advantage versus China and other
adversaries.
The public-private partnership pilot funding would increase support
and investments for domestic small, advanced defense-focused
businesses, and stimulate key defense-centric industrial base markets,
create new production lines, decrease defense-centric manufacturing
supply chain vulnerabilities, provide advisory and scaling support, and
unlock private equity capital for advanced warfighting capability
aligned with the National Defense Strategy.
Due to this targeted support to small businesses, it is really no
surprise that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has made this effort a top
legislative priority, and I am very proud to have their support.
As a former engineer and entrepreneur, I know how urgent this
legislation is, and we have to support our talented entrepreneurs in
translating their innovative ideas into marketable products and cutting
edge technologies and to make sure that many endeavors don't fail
because they lack access to capital.
Mr. Chair, I very much appreciate your support for this amendment,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Van Orden). The gentleman from California is
recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. The
bill has a constrained top line. I cannot support directing $50 million
to a pilot program.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman
from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the ranking member, in support of my
amendment.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania
for bringing this forward. I wholeheartedly support her amendment, and
I hope that it will be adopted in the bill.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania will be postponed.

Amendment No. 48 Offered by Mr. Luttrell

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 48
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. LUTTRELL. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount insert the
following: ``(reduced by $15,000,000) (increased by
$15,000,000)''.
Page 42, line 14, after the dollar amount insert the
following: ``(reduced by $15,000,000) (increased by
$15,000,000)''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Luttrell) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. LUTTRELL. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R.
4365, which would provide $15 million in funding for a plant-based or
psychedelic clinical trial authorized in the House version of the
fiscal year 2024 NDAA.
Mr. Chairman, I can personally attest to the benefits in treating
post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and chronic traumatic
encephalopathy through the use of psychedelic substances. There is a
stigma that exists within this body that I believe stems from a lack of
education and experience around the clinical use of plant-based or
psychedelic medications.
I understand that when many of my colleagues hear the word
psychedelics they think of mushrooms and so on. This isn't what we are
talking about today. Unfortunately, the stigma has led to the slow or
no adoption of medical procedures that may have saved countless lives
of our servicemembers, veterans, and first responders.
Mr. Chairman, it is our duty to explore all options when the lives of
our Nation's most precious resources, our sons and daughters, mothers
and fathers, brothers and sisters are at stake.
Mr. Chair, I urge the adoption of my amendment, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Texas.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Texas for sharing
his journey, and I am glad he is doing well.
I don't oppose the study of many of these drugs, but I am going to
lay out why, in this particular instance, I am going to oppose this.
On this floor we have had many a debate about whether or not medical

[[Page H4597]]

marijuana should be used for post-traumatic stress for veterans and
whether we should do research and all kinds of things, things I have
supported. Time and time again we haven't done that, in part because it
is a schedule I class drug.
The Department is concerned about a study involving Active-Duty
servicemembers. They acknowledge, and I am glad that they do, that the
benefits are being pursued by veterans. The implementation for Active-
Duty servicemembers would be much more challenging at this time because
it involves questions around clearances, legal hurdles, and the
logistics that would just appear to hamper the success of a pilot
program or study with Active-Duty servicemembers.
As I said, schedule I--I gave the example of marijuana--under the
Controlled Substances Act means that they have a high potential for
abuse and there is no currently accepted medical treatment in the
United States for this right now. There is a lack of accepted safety
and there is no medical supervision in a way we can move forward.
For this reason, the Defense Health Agency does not believe it could
be implemented. I support working with the Department of Veterans
Affairs to look at anything we can do to help welcome our servicemen
and servicewomen home and to find the help that they need.
Currently, with the way that this amendment is written, I reluctantly
cannot support the gentleman's amendment. I look forward to working
with the gentleman in the future on this.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LUTTRELL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman and I appreciate
that as a veteran.
I hold degrees in psychology and applied cognizant neuroscience. I
have spent the better part of a decade studying our servicemembers,
Active-Duty members, veterans, and first responders in the space of
cognitive disability and decline.
We lose 22-plus a day in the veterans' space. We lose members in the
active-service space as well, daily. I have traveled the country
studying the aggressive nature of treatments in spaces like our
cognitive decline, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and
other modalities.
The numbers that we are seeing are not decreasing, they are
increasing. As we transition out of these wars that we fought for so
many years, we have to do something more aggressive.
I say clinical studies and clinical trials inside the DOD because it
is applicable and it is appropriate. We have some of the most brilliant
researchers on the planet that can study this and move this effectively
so we can treat the men and women that serve our country.
These medications have short-term--no long-term residual side
effects--short-term, if anything. The effects are groundbreaking. We
are at a preface. I hate the fact that the word psychedelic scares
everybody. I hate that word myself. When I try to think of a creative
term to title this, it always cycles back to the word psychedelics, and
that is unfortunate, it is. We have to look past that.
I have never done a drug in my entire life. As a matter of fact, I
would tell no one to do this because the aggressiveness of it is so
life-changing, but it is effective. That is why I continue to push
forward, and I think it is time and its effectiveness needs to be
implemented now.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell).
The amendment was agreed to.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 57 will
not be offered.
The Chair understands that amendment Nos. 66 through 74 will not be
offered.

Amendment No. 125 Offered by Ms. Norton

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 125
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 39, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and a Member opposed each
will control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would allocate $10 million for
research, development, test, and evaluation for the Space Force, with
the intent that the funds be used for the Space Force Rocket Systems
Launch Program. This funding would continue the ongoing single-stage-
to-orbit propulsion research that we have funded over the past 3 years
and ensure that the commercial space access provider supply chain is as
large as possible.
Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in reluctant opposition to this
amendment. The amendment proposes to develop a single-stage-to-orbit
rocket. The idea of a single-stage-to-orbit rocket is appealing, but
the laws of physics are stubborn.
In the early 2000s, I was the chair of the Space and Aeronautics
Committee at the time, and NASA and industry spent more than a billion
dollars on such a concept and concluded that it wasn't practical or
feasible.
I am not aware of any facts that changed that conclusion. I urge my
colleagues to vote against this amendment, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from the
District of Columbia will be postponed.

Amendment No. 137 Offered by Mr. Crenshaw

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 137
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 42, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert the
following: ``(reduced by $200,000) (increased by $200,000)''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Crenshaw, I rise today to offer amendment No. 137, which takes
the simple yet important step of directing the Defense Health Agency to
report to Congress on options for allowing Active-Duty servicemembers
to participate in VA psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials.
I repeat, these clinical trials are already happening in partnership
with the VA, and there is no reason that we should not be looking at
the benefits of this research for our men and women that are already
currently serving our country actively.
Mr. Chair, I want to be really clear about why I am supporting this
small step to research psychedelic-assisted therapy for Active-Duty
servicemembers. This is not about legalization. This is not about
recreational use. It is about honoring our promise to our military
families and confronting the high incidence of suicide in the military
and veteran community.
There is a reason for the high rate of suicide--it is the trauma of
serving. There are more than 20 veterans who kill themselves every day
and 27 percent of post-9/11 veterans are diagnosed with PTSD.

[[Page H4598]]

We have a crisis, and the idea that we wouldn't research potential
breakthrough treatments is unacceptable. The status quo is inadequate
and it won't stop servicemembers and veterans from committing suicide.
I believe this research will.
I have good reason for believing that, so let's look at the data. The
most recent phase III clinical trials with MDMA found that 86 percent
of the study participants had reduced PTSD symptoms and 71 percent
didn't even qualify as having PTSD anymore.
Most people hear the word psychedelics and think of Woodstock. This
is not the 1960s LSD trip that many people might be imagining. Some
groups are actively lobbying Congress--no, this is not the work of the
devil.
It is not the work of the devil when this treatment is actually
saving families and keeping families together. This therapy is
supervised by medical practitioners, and it occurs with repeat
treatments in a very controlled setting. Oftentimes, it is a one- or
two-time treatment and follow-up results reveal that the positive
effects continue for years, even after just one treatment.
These clinical trials are already changing the lives of people I
know. I have so many close friends of mine who can say that they are
alive today because of this treatment. Their marriages have survived
because of this treatment. The idea that we wouldn't even research it--
that we would keep this out of the hands of people who need it is
appalling, frankly.
We should be listening to these stories. They have come up on Capitol
Hill multiple times. For the Members we say: We need to learn more. We
don't know enough. Well, why would you get in the way of more research?
You haven't come and listened to these veterans and these
servicemembers when they have come up and told their stories. They have
come up many, many times. We shouldn't make them come up here and spill
their guts anymore. We should listen to them and we should act on it.
Mr. Chair, I unapologetically support this research. We shouldn't
think twice about it. We owe this to our servicemembers and we owe it
to their families. This is a really small but a positive step in the
right direction.
I think the VA and the Department of Defense need to coordinate on
this research into this psychedelic-assisted therapy, and that is all
this amendment does. I encourage my colleagues to support it, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw).
The amendment was agreed to.

AMENDMENT NO. 149 OFFERED BY MR. BIGGS

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 149
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 10, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $300,000,000)''.
Page 118, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $300,000,000)''.
Page 146, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $300,000,000)''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of my amendment that
cuts $300 million in funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance
Initiative. I encourage all of my colleagues to support that.
The fiscal year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill authorizes a total
$826.45 billion in new discretionary spending. This figure is $28.71
billion or 3.6 percent more than the fiscal year 2023 enacted level.
Currently, the United States has committed over $113 billion in
military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to protect Ukraine's
border, but we can't fund our own border to protect our citizens from
the fentanyl pouring across our southern border that is killing over
290 Americans daily, and the trafficking that the Mexican cartels are
engaging in.
Mr. Chair, I find myself asking this question: How is it that we are
willing to send over $100 billion to Ukraine, and in this bill an
additional $300 million, but we can't spend the money or find the
ability and will to secure our own border?
With no end in sight, we cannot continue to blank-check fund a war
when this administration said that we are going to stay there as long
as it takes and spend as much as it takes. We don't really know why we
are there, but we have morphed into a regime-change objective.
I would ask: What does that regime change look like? How are you
going to get there? What is going to be the extent of our
participation?
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, Ukraine is a democracy. It is a democracy
fighting for its life every single day, and the world is watching. The
brave men and women of Ukraine are fighting to protect their democracy.
Vladimir Putin violated international law with his illegal invasion
of Ukraine. Putin and his thugs are committing war crimes on a mass
scale in Ukraine, including the senseless murder of civilians, even
while they are in the hospital.
He continues to violate international laws by deliberately targeting
marketplaces, supermarkets, daycares, and apartment buildings. Putin
has also broken other international laws by permitting--encouraging,
not just permitting--encouraging the abduction of Ukrainian children to
be taken from their families and their parents.
Democracies need to stand together, and that is what they have been
doing. It is the responsibility of the United States, the strongest
democracy, and all nations that respect democratically elected
governments to support Ukraine's fight against this unlawful Russian
aggression.
That is exactly why we have seen such a global response to these
atrocities. Our allies, our partners, our fellow democracies are also
supporting Ukraine in this fight by providing tanks donated by allies
and partners; air defense artillery rounds donated by allies and
partners; fighter aircraft donated 100 percent by allies and partners;
mid- to long-range air defense systems 75 percent donated by allies and
partners; counter unmanned aerial systems 69 percent donated by allies
and partners; 155-millimeter artillery systems 64 percent donated by
allies and partners; Armor, personnel carriers, infantry fighting
vehicles 63 percent donated by allies and partners; Stinger missiles 52
percent donated by allies and partners; Javelin command launch units 52
percent donated by allies and partners; Javelin missiles 46 percent
donated by allies and partners.
America is not providing support alone. The democracies are together
on this.
I would point out for a fact that when Ukraine decided to become a
democracy, to engage in the free world, they gave up their nuclear
weapons. They gave them up. What they are just asking for us right now
is to support a fellow democracy.

{time} 1030

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to strongly oppose this amendment.
Support Ukrainians in their struggle to defend their homeland.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, it is interesting to hear that. I appreciate
those comments. Explain to me, then, how this administration and our
allies have lost contact and cannot provide a full accounting of all of
the money we have sent and all the materiel we have sent.
Here is an example of that: When we talk about insufficient oversight
of funding going towards Ukraine, the Pentagon has overestimated the
value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by $6.2 billion over the
past 2 years. They have overestimated it.
How have central African nations reported that U.S. materiel has been
found in the hands of warlords in their areas, in their own countries,
rebellious warlords fighting them with U.S. materiel?

[[Page H4599]]

How is it that we have gone from supplying surplus to supplying our
own inventory, where our own stocks are going to take in some instances
7 to 10 years to rebuild, to put our own Nation in jeopardy?
The democratic peace theory was debunked 20 years ago, and that is
the argument I heard today; basically, the democratic peace theory.
That was utterly debunked.
This administration has also provided no explanation on what the
objective is, what does it look like. The objective is to stay as long
as it takes. What does that mean? Another 20-, 30-year war that we are
participating in funding? Not only as long as it takes, but as much as
it takes.
We are $33 trillion in debt. Our structural deficit this year is
going to be more than $2 trillion. It will be that next year. Our
interest cost is $700 billion. Everything we are sending to Ukraine, we
are borrowing. It is our children and grandchildren who are effectively
paying for this.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I have some disagreement with some of the, I
want to say, opinions put forward by the gentleman.
We do have oversight at our embassy on where equipment is going. The
chair and I have been in classified briefings asking these very tough
questions together because, you are right, we want accountability.
As we saw, when the President of Ukraine didn't think he was getting
the accountability he deserved from his military leaders and people in
his government, he very publicly removed them and said: No, this is not
acceptable to me. The oversight is taking place, and our allies are
also doing oversight.
As I pointed out earlier, this is an invasion that was brought on for
no other reason than a land grab. Putin is trying to put Russia back in
an image that he wants to see it in the future.
Who is watching him do this and who is watching who stands up to him?
Well, Russia is watching as to what we do, and we know China is with
all the chatter we are now hearing about Taiwan.
What does that mean? That means that democracies have to stand
together to support another democracy.
As I mentioned earlier today, I was previously a social studies
teacher. Take out a map and take a look at the emerging democracies in
the area who feel under threat from Russia. Take a look at our allies
that have suffered through World War II with aggression from Germany.
The democracies, Germany included, have learned from that lesson: We
cannot be silent. We have to be there for each other.
Mr. Chair, I will also point out that the money that is being put
forward, again, is for equipment and training, and we are doing that
with NATO. We are doing that together. As I said, I feel very
passionately about supporting Ukraine.
Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Crane), a great American.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my colleague's amendment.
As my colleague pointed out, we can't afford it. The gentlewoman just
said that all the money that we are sending over there is for training
and equipment. That is not true.
``60 Minutes'' just discovered the U.S. is financing more than
weapons in Ukraine. The government is buying seeds and fertilizer for
farmers, paying the salaries of 57,000 first responders, and
subsidizing small business.
Again, like my colleague said, we are $33 trillion in debt. It is no
wonder we are $33 trillion in debt. This is getting out of hand, and we
need to stop it.
Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, in closing, our national interests are best
rooted in solving our national debt crisis, which has been determined
by many national security leaders as being our number one security
threat. I urge Congress to adopt this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will
be postponed.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, as the designee of the gentlewoman from Texas
(Ms. Granger), I move to strike the last word.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
First, I want to address some confusion surrounding this funding.
This is not the same funding that is included in the supplementals for
Ukraine. This funding is not sent directly to Ukraine. Rather, it pays
for training and procurement of U.S. equipment.
Congress has funded this initiative in every single year since it was
authorized in 2016 during both Democrat and Republican administrations.
In July, the House voted to authorize this funding at the same level.
After the invasion of Crimea by Russia, we decided to fund this
training for the Ukrainian military.
Not only would this amendment strike the funding, it would also
strike the important conditions on funding. We have sent a very clear
message to the Department, no blank checks. That is why this bill
contains many new oversight provisions, including notification
requirements before funds are spent, a GAO report review of the Defense
Department's execution of Presidential drawdown authority, a reporting
requirement on increasing burden sharing for Ukraine, and a requirement
that the inspector general review the Department's end-use monitoring
program. This bill also includes funding for a special inspector
general for Ukraine, if authorized by the final NDAA.
The funding included in this bill is not supplemental funding. It is
not a blank check. It has broad support. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I
yield back the balance of my time.

Amendment No. 150 Offered by Mr. Griffith

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 150
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Page 132, beginning line 18, strike ``in China on research
supported by the government of China''.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Griffith) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, Section 8131 of this bill states: None of
the funds made available by this Act may be used to fund any work to be
performed by EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. in China on research supported by
the Government of China unless the Secretary of Defense determines that
a waiver is in the best interests of the country.
My amendment simply strikes out ``in China on research supported by
the Government of China.''
EcoHealth Alliance was the agency or the private company that got a
grant from the NIH to do research on coronavirus, and they are the ones
that gave the money as a subcontractor to the Wuhan Institute of
Virology. This was not research being done on behalf of China. It was
being done on behalf of us.
The problem is, EcoHealth Alliance didn't fulfill their contract.
They were supposed to get regular reports from Wuhan. They did not
follow up on that. As a result, we are missing nearly a year of data
prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 that the American taxpayers paid to
have. Instead of just saying EcoHealth can't do things in China that
are supported by the Chinese Government, my amendment makes it clear,
we are not going to fund EcoHealth Alliance at this point in time.
To make matters worse--you think, how can it be worse?--as a part of
our oversight, the Energy and Commerce Committee in February asked 41
questions trying to get information from EcoHealth Alliance. As of this
date, we have answers to only seven of those

[[Page H4600]]

questions, and they are the most general answers, like when did you get
your contract with the NIH. It is not the tough information that we
need to do proper oversight to make sure that we never have a situation
again where a virus occurs where we are doing research, and we can't
answer the questions of the American taxpayers as to whether or not it
came out of a lab that we were funding and that we weren't getting the
reports from. That is all it does.
It says, no, EcoHealth for right now, at least during this fiscal
year, isn't going to receive money through the DOD.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment to
have a discussion with the gentleman.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, we have had this provision in the bill for
the last 2 years to prohibit funding for the work performed by
EcoHealth Alliance for research within China. As the gentleman is very
aware of, because he is very knowledgeable of this, it is a global
nonprofit organization that works to protect wildlife and public health
from the emergence of disease.
This is enacted in law, and we have worked in a bipartisan manner on
the committee on this.
The gentleman's amendment, if I understand it correctly, now seeks to
establish a full prohibition on funding to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc., in
this bill.
I thank the gentleman for the fact that his amendment preserves the
waiver option for the Secretary of Defense to make a determination that
working with EcoHealth Alliance remains a national security interest.
As we move forward, I would like to better understand any ramifications
as we move to this broader exemption that the gentleman wants to do as
we go to committee to make sure that it lives up to what I heard him
say on the floor, to my understanding, with the waiver.
I work a lot on the ICC, the International Conservation Caucus, so I
want to make sure that the wildlife work that we are doing is protected
as well as the research.
I thank the gentleman for bringing this forward, but I have a few
more questions, and we will work on it during conference.
Mr. Chair, I would also just reflect on something that the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Crane) said in our last debate, where he implied
fertilizer and other materials were being supported by the United
States Government. That is correct, but that is in the State Department
bill. What I said about what we were supporting and not doing in this
bill, I was factual with, and I just wanted the gentleman from Arizona
to understand that what he was talking about, I wasn't confused, it is
in the State and Foreign Operations bill.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, here is the bottom line: We have
EcoHealth that breaches their contract. While they may be working on
some wildlife things--and having once been a pole holder on a mission
with a team of British scientists to study bats in northern Burma, I am
all for studying wildlife, but we have to make sure that those people
who get American taxpayer dollars are living up to their contract,
living up to their obligations to give us the information so that if
something happens, we can make appropriate decisions.
Whether you believe it was a lab leak or whether you believe it came
out of bats, we needed the information that we paid for, to try to make
a better decision. They haven't followed through. As of this date, they
haven't given us the information that we need for oversight. Hopefully,
it will come forward, but until we establish that EcoHealth Alliance
understands that if they are going to use taxpayer dollars to do
research, we need to get the information we contracted to get, I think
that we should not be granting them awards.
I did leave the waiver in, that was very important to me because if
it is in the national security interest, I wanted to make sure we
weren't taking that power away from the Secretary, but I don't think at
this moment in history, we should be funding EcoHealth Alliance with
any taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 151 Offered by Ms. Plaskett

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 151
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

Strike section 8149.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) and a Member opposed each will
control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for 5
minutes.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chair, this amendment would strike Section 8149
from the bill, removing language banning the Department of Defense from
classifying or facilitating the classification of any communications by
a United States person as misinformation, disinformation, or
malinformation, and banning the Department of Defense from partnering
with nonpartisan, nonprofit, outside experts to identify these threats.
As we know, misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation are
three of the most important and far-reaching weapons of America's
adversaries in Beijing, Tehran, and particularly the Kremlin.
According to the State Department, Russia has operationalized the
concept of perpetual adversarial competition in the information
environment by encouraging the development of a disinformation and
propaganda ecosystem. This ecosystem then creates and spreads false
narratives to strategically advance the Kremlin's policy goals. There
is no subject off limits to this firehose of falsehoods. Everything
from human rights and environmental policy to assassinations and
civilian-killing bombing campaigns are fair targets in Russia's malign
playbook.
Only truth disarms these disinformation weapons, and the House of
Representatives must support our government to ensure that foreign
adversaries do not use the American people to disseminate lies with the
goal of destroying our democracy without identifying them as
misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation.
Here are some truths: The Federal Government of the United States of
America and the Department of Defense that we are working here to fund
today are unequivocally responsible for the protection of American
citizens from all enemies, all threats foreign or domestic. All threats
mean all threats, whether the threat is kinetic, economic, infectious,
in cyberspace or on Main Street. It is our job to provide the defense
of the Nation and its people.
We must continue to come together to seek and promote the truth, and
I urge my colleagues to approve this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this
amendment. Under the guise of fighting misinformation, our government
agencies have become increasingly weaponized against America's right to
free speech.
In the last month, a panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled
the Biden administration and the FBI likely violated the First
Amendment by pressuring social media firms to suppress or remove posts.
The bill addresses the case of over 50 former intelligence officials
misusing their clearances and status to interfere in our Presidential
election by signing the bogus Hunter Biden letter.
The gentlewoman's amendment would facilitate this continued war on
the First Amendment. I strongly urge a ``no'' vote and yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chair, we all believe in the importance of the
First

[[Page H4601]]

Amendment. We all believe in the American people's ability and their
right to be able to speak out. What we also need to be aware of is the
use of misinformation, disinformation by our foreign adversaries, and
for the ability of our government to label that as such. It is not to
stop people from saying it. It is the ability for us to tell what are
lies and what is truth.
I am the ranking member on the Select Subcommittee on the
Weaponization of the Federal Government, and what the American people
have seen thus far from that committee is the weaponization of Congress
to be able to put forward conspiracy theories and lies to support power
and quest for conquest over the American people.
Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the amendment by
the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett). We know that
these countries are seeking to influence our way of life, to find ways
to divide us and ultimately make us weaker. We know that China and
Russia are very active in this. They are even working to seek to
influence our elections and disrupt our democracy.
This amendment is necessary to ensure that we have the tools
necessary to fight against these nefarious actions. I support this
amendment, and I hope my colleagues will do the same.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chair, I have nothing further, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from the Virgin
Islands will be postponed.

Amendment No. 152 Offered by Mrs. Boebert

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 152
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. The salary of Shawn Skelly, Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Readiness, shall be reduced to $1.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that
utilizes the Holman rule to reduce the salary of Shawn Skelly,
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness. That salary shall be
reduced to $1.
As the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Mr. Skelly is the principal
adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense
for Personnel and Readiness on all matters related to the readiness of
our Armed Forces.
In that capacity, he is supposed to develop policies and plans,
provide advice, and make recommendations for total force readiness
programs, reporting, and assessments of readiness to execute the
national defense strategy.
Like many of Biden's bureaucrats, Mr. Skelly is failing at his job
and the basic responsibilities. On his watch, the Army missed their
recruiting goal by 15,000 soldiers last year, and all other branches
were forced to dig deep into their pools of delayed entry applicants to
meet their recruitment goals.
On top of that, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are all
expected to fall short of their recruitment goals this year.
Mr. Skelly has also been with the Biden administration since the
beginning and was appointed to the transition team--some irony there--
in November of 2020.
As the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, Mr. Skelly
played an instrumental role in the disastrous and shameful withdrawal
from Afghanistan that killed 13 of America's finest, 13 American heroes
in that embarrassing surrender to the Taliban.
As DOD's highest ranking trans official, this delusional man,
thinking he is a woman, embodies and espouses the wokeism that is
causing significant harm to our military readiness and troop morale.
The military shouldn't be focused on this woke agenda and combating
climate change. With Mr. Skelly at the helm of readiness, these
misguided policy pursuits will continue to be at the forefront of DOD's
priorities.
I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to restore the focus of
our Department of Defense to defend our Nation. Mr. Chair, I reserve
the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in the strongest opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, people deserve to be treated with dignity
and respect when being addressed.
Assistant Secretary Skelly has served in her role admirably, as she
has done as her time as a naval officer. Assistant Secretary Skelly has
been a naval fighter for over 20 years. I am a little upset because the
lack of respect that has been shown to Secretary Skelly by the last
speaker is surprising for me on this House floor, which we hold in such
high esteem.
She has been a naval flight officer for 20 years, including time
spent in the Pacific. While we are all aware of how important this
region is right now, there is absolutely no basis for this amendment.
The colleague who offers this amendment provides no real substantive
reason why Assistant Secretary Skelly should have her salary reduced.
There is only one reason why Assistant Secretary Skelly is being
targeted, because she is simply a woman. I have fought long and hard
with many women before me and with our allies for pay equity. We still
have a long way to go, but I am never going to vote to reduce a woman's
salary. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I guess delusion runs deep in the Democratic
Party. I would go on the record to say that science is a friend in this
case and, sure, if you want to call Mr. Skelly a ``her,'' his
chromosomes are still X-Y, and we trust the science over here rather
than delusion and playing dress-up and imaginary games with our
military readiness.
Our military needs to be lethal and able to defend our national
security, not pander to the woke extremist left and make up fairy
tales.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, when it comes to service to our country,
there are a couple of things we ask from people: To take a loyalty
oath, and they do that; to pass basic training and to be up and fit for
the job that they are called upon to do, and they do that. Secretary
Skelly qualifies in all those areas.
As far as the conversation that my colleague is having, I am not
going to engage in hateful rhetoric, Mr. Chair. Instead, I will focus
on the admirable service that our transgender, gay, bisexual members do
in an all-volunteer Army. They volunteer to put their lives on the
line. They deserve the dignity and respect this House can give them.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I just want the Record to reflect that there
is nothing hateful about truth. Again, I urge my colleagues to support
my amendment to restore the focus of our Department of Defense to
defend our Nation. I look forward to this Holman rule being utilized to
reduce the salary of Secretary Shawn Skelly, the Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Readiness, to $1.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I am just baffled here that we can pick and
choose what is science and what is not science, what is human rights
and dignity and respect and what is not human rights and dignity and
respect. I look forward to having a discussion on climate change based
on science

[[Page H4602]]

with the gentlewoman from Colorado at some point in time.
Mr. Chair, I thank all our servicemen and -women for their service,
and their families, who serve alongside them. I yield back the balance
of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado
will be postponed.

{time} 1100

Amendment No. 153 Offered by Mrs. Boebert

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 153
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. The salary of Norvel Dillard, Director of
Diversity and Inclusion Management at the Office for
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Department of
Defense, shall be reduced to $1.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of my amendment, which will
reduce the salary of Norvel Dillard, director of Diversity and
Inclusion Management at the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
of the Department of Defense, to $1.
Norvel ``Rock'' Dillard is a part of Joe Biden and Lloyd Austin's
attempt to woken and weaken our military. He works in an office that
should not exist doing a job that also should not exist.
Our military is not a social experiment, and we definitely should not
be treating it like one or spending taxpayer dollars to do so.
Woke ideology undermines military readiness. It undermines
cohesiveness by emphasizing differences based on race, ethnicity, and
sex.
It undermines leadership authority by introducing questions about
whether promotion is based on merit or quota requirements. It leads to
military personnel serving in specialty areas for which they are not
qualified or ready. It takes time and resources away from training
activities and weapons development to contribute to readiness.
Unelected bureaucrats at the DOD need to be held responsible for
their failed leadership, which has distracted from DOD's mission and
jeopardized the United States military's ability to defend our country.
From the botched Afghanistan withdrawal that left 13 American
soldiers dead to the implementation of a woke agenda that has weakened
our military and caused recruitment to suffer, bureaucrats like Norvel
Dillard have continued to put a leftist agenda ahead of our national
security.
The Federal Government's obsession with diversity, equity, and
inclusion needs to come to an end, especially at DOD, where our brave
servicemembers volunteer to put themselves in harm's way to fight for
freedom. They don't care about the skin color of their brothers and
sisters in uniform. They care about completing the mission and going
home to their families. Our Defense Department should have the same
mindset.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to restore
the focus of our Department of Defense to defend our Nation.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, Dr. Dillard has dedicated his life to
service to the United States. Commissioned in the United States Army in
1981, he served for 26 years and retired as a colonel after numerous
command and staff positions. I thank him for his service.
In his current position as director of diversity and inclusion, he
provides oversight and guidance to individuals working across the
Department of Defense on these issues, and he has the experience to
know where improvements can be made.
The goals of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion promote
the Department of Defense culture of dignity and respect that values
diversity and inclusion and readiness imperatives.
As the Department executes the Secretary of Defense's direction to
``take care of our people,'' it is about supporting both the
servicemember and their family, regardless of who they are. It is about
having their backs while they put their lives on the line in the
defense of this country.
The chairman and others in this room are fond of Ronald Reagan, so I
offer a quote: ``Government's first duty is to protect the people, not
to run their lives.''
Rather than trying to run the lives of each servicemember into the
ground, let us concentrate on what should be the focus of this bill--
ensuring that our military servicemembers have the tools they need to
defend our Nation and to come home safely.
Need I remind everyone in the room that we are in the middle of a
recruitment crisis? The chair and I have heard why we are in the middle
of a recruitment crisis. Many companies and private businesses are in
the middle of a recruitment crisis. What are they doing? They are
opening up positions for diversity and inclusion to make sure people
know that they are welcome in their companies.
We want to make sure that people are welcomed in the Department of
Defense. We must find ways to attract young people to choose to serve
this country, to know that their service will be honored.
If they feel that serving in different branches of the Department
will open them up to ridicule, disrespect, or worse, why would they
volunteer to serve and put their lives on the line?
Mr. Dillard is trying to ensure that all feel welcome. He should not
be vilified for that. He should be applauded.
Let's stop the attacks on building a diverse force that represents
all of America.
Mr. Chair, I remember as a young high school student--I am not afraid
to admit my age with my gray hair--in 1972, all the discussions about
women in the military academy. That was a radical idea. You know what
the military had to do. They had to go out and recruit, and they had to
show that they wanted the diversity. They wanted the respect.
I am proud I do that with my military academies, where I have Hmong,
African Americans, and people from different sexual orientations apply
to serve our country. They put their lives on the line. It is duty
first for them.
Let's stop the attacks on building a diverse force.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle
agree that there is a recruitment crisis. Why is that? I think it is
because our brave men and women who put their lives on the line to
serve our Nation dutifully, with honor, don't see a true Commander in
Chief in office. They don't see true leadership that they can be proud
to serve alongside, to serve under.

I don't believe that our brave men and women see that they will be
taken care of when they put their lives in harm's way to defend our
Nation, to defend our allies throughout the world.
Let me ask my colleagues a broad question: This Office of Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion, did that save our 13 servicemembers in
Afghanistan, or did it distract from the actual mission?
I heard from my colleagues, Mr. Chair, on the other side of the aisle
that this was a way to ridicule and disrespect. I think it is
ridiculing to promote someone who does not have the qualifications
needed for a position just because of how they identify, their race.
This is what is ridiculing. This is what is disrespectful.

[[Page H4603]]

This woke agenda, this DEI, this movement that the left has created,
I see it as a way to erase women. I heard my colleague on the other
side of the aisle talk about, in the 1970s, there was a recruitment
effort to bring more women to our military, and if that were the case
today, if that were the mission today, to offer a more diverse military
and recruit more women, well, my colleagues on the other side of the
aisle would simply put men in a dress and put them in heels. Heck, I
got some red lipstick you could borrow.
That is not the answer. The answer is readiness. The answer is that
we are all equal under the law, and you do not promote someone simply
because of these qualifications.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota has 1\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, some of the remarks that my colleague made,
I am not even going to bother to respond to because I don't think they
are appropriate for this august Chamber which we are in.
The military only takes people who are qualified to serve. Then after
they have done their service for our country, they should still be
respected. This is a very sad conversation that we are having, and I go
back to the fact about diversity.
I will use the example of the Hmong in my community who fought along
with our soldiers in Vietnam and protected and rescued many of our
pilots. They came here, and they didn't have a written language. They
came here, and they didn't know about military academies. They wanted
to honor and serve our country, but they weren't quite sure how to go
about it.
What did we do? We created opportunities for diversity and inclusion,
and it is amazing when you put a hand out to somebody and say: We want
you to be part of this great Nation. You are willing to put your life
on the line, and we thank you for that.
The chair and I know why we have a recruitment problem. I understand
why we have a recruitment problem. I serve on the committee, and I am
doing everything I can to address it, and part of that is this office.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado
will be postponed.

Amendment No. 154 Offered by Mr. Clyde

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 154
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. ___. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to administer, implement, or enforce--
(1) the proposed action outlined in the Notice published by
the Department of Army to the Federal Register on August 4,
2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 51786); or
(2) recommendations of the Naming Commission regarding any
monument in Arlington National Cemetery.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, my amendment to the FY24 Defense appropriations
bill would simply prohibit the Department of Defense from using funds
to administer, implement, or enforce the proposed action by the
Department of the Army regarding the removal of the Reconciliation
Monument at Arlington National Cemetery.
Following 4 brutal years of the American Civil War, our Nation's
great leaders, President Abraham Lincoln and future President Union
General Ulysses S. Grant, took great measures to ensure that our Nation
reconciled and unified after the conflict that turned fellow countryman
against fellow countryman. These unifying actions included pardons for
Confederate leaders that waged war as well as the restoration of
confiscated property.
What these great American leaders understood is that a nation divided
against itself cannot stand.
Then, in 1898, following the Spanish-American War, where Union and
Confederate veterans fought side by side under one flag, the American
flag, President McKinley declared in the heart of the South, in
Atlanta, Georgia, the capital of my home State, that the U.S.
Government would commit to sharing the burden of honoring and properly
burying the Confederate dead, stating: ``Sectional feeling no longer
holds back the love we feel for each other. The old flag waves over us
in peace with new glories.''
In 1900, Congress authorized Confederate remains to be buried at
Arlington National Cemetery. In 1906, President McKinley allowed for
the construction of a new monument honoring our country's new shared
reconciliation from its troubled divisions.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, unveiled this new
memorial to national unity, which was designed by a Jewish-American
sculptor. The memorial is topped with a woman crowned by an olive
wreath to symbolize peace.
Beginning with the unveiling of the statue and now every year since,
it is the tradition of the President of the United States to send a
wreath to the memorial, honoring the dead buried in a circle around the
monument. This tradition, which shows tremendous national unity, has
been carried on regardless of party or politics of the sitting
President.
In fact, even President Obama understood the Reconciliation Monument
in the context for which it stood, which was unity, not division, when
he continued the Presidential tradition of sending a wreath to the
monument.
Despite the bipartisan support for this monument, the renaming
commission established by the fiscal year 2021 National Defense
Authorization Act overstepped its legislative authority and recommended
that the Department of the Army remove the memorial from Arlington
National Cemetery. The renaming commission's authority given to them by
Congress empowers them to recommend the removal of ``names, symbols,
displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the
Confederate States of America.''
Yet, as described previously, the Reconciliation Monument does not
honor nor commemorate the Confederacy. It commemorates reconciliation
and national unity.
Furthermore, the renaming commission's authority explicitly prohibits
the desecration of gravesites. There are hundreds of gravestones
encircling the monument, and I do not know how in the world these
graves will remain untouched if the Department of the Army proceeds
with its proposal to remove the monument.
Former Virginia Democrat Senator Jim Webb, a decorated Marine Corps
officer who served multiple combat tours in Vietnam and later became
the Secretary of the Navy, recently published an op-ed in The Wall
Street Journal concerning the Reconciliation Monument at Arlington
Cemetery.
Senator Webb describes his own journey of reconciliation following
his combat tours in Vietnam. He explains how he hosted a delegation of
Vietnamese officials in Washington to encourage them to be peaceful
toward former South Vietnamese veterans, who were labeled as traitors
after the war and had been treated as such.
Senator Webb described how to make his point to the delegation. He
brought them to the Reconciliation Monument in Arlington and pointed
across the Potomac toward the Lincoln Memorial to show that old wounds
can be healed. Senator Webb concludes with this: If the monument is
taken apart and removed, ``it would send a different message, one of a
deteriorating society willing to erase the generosity of its past, in
favor of bitterness and misunderstanding.''
Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to take a
stand

[[Page H4604]]

against such a divisive and history-erasing action and support my
amendment to defund the effort to remove the Reconciliation Monument
from the Arlington National Cemetery.
My amendment prevents this tyrannical encroachment by legislative
authority, ignorance of congressional intent, and disregard of national
unity.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, in 2021, Congress passed the NDAA, creating
a naming commission with the intent of renaming military installations
and relocating memorials that celebrate the Confederate attempt to rip
apart the United States for the sake of maintaining slavery.
The NDAA was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact,
the NDAA had so much bipartisan support that it defeated President
Trump's veto by a vote of 322-87.
The few remaining Confederate monuments at minor installations that
have already not been renamed or removed will happen soon.
As required by Congress and implemented by the Secretary of Defense,
Arlington National Cemetery is required to remove a Confederate
memorial and has initiated the process for careful removal and
relocation of the memorial located in section 16 of the cemetery.

Therefore, this amendment not only attempts to defy the overwhelming
bipartisan support and will of Congress, but it is likely too late to
even make a difference. Congress decided in a unified fashion that it
was time to move on from the regretful error of the Civil War and human
rights atrocities. This amendment will do nothing to stop that.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this
amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, it would be an absolute disgrace if this
Reconciliation Monument to our Nation's national unity is removed from
Arlington National Cemetery and the graves that encircle it are
desecrated.
Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support my amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will
be postponed.

Amendment No. 155 Offered by Mr. Clyde

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 155
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be
used to implement or enforce section 370 of Public Law 116-
283 (10 U.S.C. 113 note).

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, my amendment prevents any funds in this year's
Defense appropriations bill from being spent on section 370 of the
fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, providing a
commonsense solution to block unnecessary and frivolous efforts to
rename military bases across the country.
As a Navy combat veteran, an area of great concern for me is the
inessential renaming of military bases and facilities as this issue is
not a matter of national security nor an improvement of our military's
combat readiness.
The Department of Defense's focus should remain on bolstering our
defense capabilities and ensuring that we maintain the most lethal
fighting force in the world. Instead, the Department of Defense is
continuing to pursue plans to rename military bases, two of which, Fort
Benning and Fort Gordon, are in my home State of Georgia.
The Department of Defense's renaming efforts are expected to cost
taxpayers over $62 million and would have a detrimental economic impact
in the surrounding communities.
Take Fort Gordon, for example, where local small business owners who
take great pride in our Nation's military have named their
establishments or attractions after the local Army base. If the name of
the base is changed, then local entrepreneurs will be forced to rename
and rebrand businesses, replacing merchandise and creating completely
new marketing strategies, which is not cheap. In fact, in many cases,
you may see that rebranding of businesses actually will cause the
businesses to fail.
In rural communities like those in Georgia, this economic burden
would be catastrophic, and I know communities across the country will
be confronted with the same issues if we allow the Department of
Defense to continue this reckless plan.
I was disappointed that earlier this year, when I offered a similar
amendment to the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act,
these amendments were not even considered or debated on the House
floor. However, we have a second opportunity right now as we look to
fund the Department of Defense.
We must carefully examine how taxpayer dollars are being used to fund
the Department of Defense and its policies, and I adamantly believe
that Americans' hard-earned tax dollars should not be wasted on
renaming military bases but should be focused on making our military
the most lethal in the world.
Due to President Biden's failed leadership and Big Government
socialist agenda, our Nation is facing an ongoing economic crisis.
Excessive Washington spending has not only ballooned our national debt,
which just surpassed $33 trillion last week, but has also inflated the
prices of basic goods and services for our constituents, while running
an annual deficit of almost $2 trillion.
It is simply unacceptable to spend millions of dollars of borrowed
money to rename military bases and facilities only to undoubtedly
burden hardworking Americans and small business owners already
struggling in Joe Biden's disastrous economy.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support
my commonsense amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, 2 years ago, we passed the NDAA, which
established a bipartisan commission, including both civilians and
military, to rename installations that were associated with the
Confederate States of America. This amendment attempts to stop the
implementation of the commission's recommendations.
I am pleased to see that the administration has already started the
renaming process, officially renaming seven installations with two more
to go by the end of October. I will provide some context for these
renamings.
Fort Benning in Georgia was named after a Confederate general who
strongly supported slavery and was a leader in the secession movement.
Now that fort has been renamed Fort Moore after Army Lieutenant General
Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Compton Moore.
General Moore commanded the first large-scale battle of the Vietnam
war, and Julia Compton Moore was instrumental in setting up survivor
support networks and casualty notification teams.
Then there is Fort Bragg in North Carolina. That was named after a
former slave owner and one of the most hated generals in history. In
fact, he was hated by his own Army, and some of the Confederate
soldiers tried to end his life. He is also known to be a military
failure. That base has now been renamed Fort Liberty.
Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, which was named after a failed
Confederate general, will be renamed Fort Walker after

[[Page H4605]]

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the first woman surgeon in the Civil War and
the only woman awarded the Medal of Honor.
Renaming these installations helps us remember that they deserve to
be remembered in a way that celebrates the true patriots of this Nation
who supported this country and who have contributed to its advancement.
Why would we continue to honor and celebrate traitors to this very
Nation? They were also involved in horrific crimes.
In my home State of Minnesota, we have been renaming several
buildings and schools and other areas that were named at one time
honoring who we thought were a great territorial Governor and State
officials, but as history was finally taught in its entirety, we found
out they committed atrocities. They were part of the genocide against
Tribal nations.
My State, my community, decided they should not be honored, and I
believe that is also true in the case of these military installations.
Congress and the administration set up an appropriate and fair process
to review and rename them.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, renaming does nothing to make our military more
combat-ready. In fact, it is a waste of taxpayer funds. Our military
defense funding should be used to make our troops the most lethal in
the entire world, the most feared in the entire world. It should be
spent on training, not renaming, which does absolutely nothing but
divert resources from the critical mission of our military.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, when we name something, whether it is a post
office, whether it is a road named by a local government, we do so to
honor something that is significant. We do that to show we are proud of
this person. We are proud of their actions. What we are doing with the
renaming in these commissions is saying: Let's reflect back. Why was
this named this way? Are we proud of people who led the secession
against this country? Should we look toward the new patriots, the
people who have served in the past and the people who are currently
serving to give them the honor, the privilege, of showing forward their
courage and actions as we strive to be a more perfect Union?
Mr. Chair, I continue to oppose this amendment. I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will
be postponed.

Amendment No. 156 Offered by Mr. Connolly

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 156
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used in violation of section
129a of title 10, United States Code.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment regarding
the Department of Defense workforce, which is particularly important as
we face a shutdown.
However, first, I need to address two of the biggest workforce
challenges facing the military, both wholly manufactured by my friends
on the other side of the aisle.
First and foremost, to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle,
do not shut down the Federal Government. Step up to the plate and
govern on a bipartisan basis. I know it is hard, but the country needs
you to set aside impeachment inquiries, ideological crusades, and
infighting to do your job.
Second, Senator Tommy Tuberville's holds on more than 300 military
promotions are a direct threat to our national security and undermine
the leadership of our military.
For the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, three
of the five military services were operating without Senate-confirmed
leaders. General and flag officers are being required to perform double
duty in acting roles. Military families are having their lives put on
hold.
How are we going to retain talented officers if their careers face a
graveyard in the U.S. Senate, buried under the desk of one Senator who
cannot name the three branches of government?
Senator Tuberville's holds, which would require more than 700 hours
of floor time in the Senate to overcome individually, are an outrageous
assault on our Nation's military at the altar of a far-right culture
war.

{time} 1130

I call on my colleagues to join me in condemning this reckless
behavior. But I digress.
My amendment would prevent Congressional Republicans from further
compounding their attacks on the Department's workforce. The amendment
would prevent any cuts to the Department of Defense civilian workforce
that undermine our military and national security.
Please follow along closely.
Defense appropriations bills routinely include language that says:
None of the funds appropriated by this act may be used to reduce the
civilian workforce programmed full-time equivalent levels absent the
appropriate analysis of the impacts of those reductions.
This language has received broad bipartisan support. It was included
in the 2023 omnibus. It is in the current FY24 Department of Defense
Appropriations bill in the Senate, and it was adopted as part of other
past fiscal year Department of Defense appropriations bills in this
body and in the other.
This language is derived from section 129(a) of Title 10, General
Policy For Total Force Management, which states, ``The Secretary may
not reduce the civilian workforce programmed full-time equivalent
levels unless the Secretary conducts an appropriate analysis of the
impacts of such reductions on workload, military force structure,
lethality, readiness, operational effectiveness, stress on the military
force, and fully burdened costs.''
My amendment would restore that important language and legacy by
prohibiting dangerous civilian workforce cuts that do not prioritize
those enumerated priorities. It is helpful to understand the broader
context to appreciate why this is essential.
The underlying bill cuts the civilian workforce by $1.1 billion. The
Committee Report for the bill refers vaguely to robotic process
automation and artificial intelligence as ways to reduce the civilian
workforce. That is a low bar for due diligence.
Forgive me, but I prefer the previous standard Congress reiterated
and endorsed, which was to remind the Department that any such
reduction in the civilian workforce must first prioritize the
lethality, readiness, and operational effectiveness of the military.
My amendment would restore that consideration and that language.
Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter from the American
Federation of Government Employees in support of my amendment.

American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO,

Washington, DC, September 21, 2023.
Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of the American
Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), which
represents over 750,000 federal and District of Columbia
employees, including 250,000 Defense Department civilian
employees, I write to provide AFGE's views on several
amendments that were made in order by the House Rules
Committee with respect to H.R. 4365, the Department of
Defense Appropriations Act, 2024, that the House is expected
to consider today.
Specifically, AFGE strongly urges you to oppose amendment
168 that will be offered by

[[Page H4606]]

Rep. Hageman (R-AZ), amendment 167 that will be offered by
Rep. Greene (R-GA), amendments 155 and 156 that will be
offered by Rep. Boebert (R-CO), amendment 161: that will be
offered by Rep. Fallon (R-TX), amendment 178 that will be
offered by Rep. Roy (R-TX), amendment 172 that will be
offered by Rep. Norman (R-SC), and amendments 176 and 184
that will be offered by Rep. Rosendale (R-MT) during floor
consideration of H.R. 4365, the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 2024.
Hageman amendment 168 would arbitrarily and without
justification prohibit regular telework and remote work for
Defense Department civilian employees and contractors.
Longstanding policy has, with considerable success, directed
DoD agency managers and personnel to collaboratively develop
and implement telework policies that address the specific
needs of agencies and further their missions. Importantly,
the workplace flexibility that telework enables has improved
DoD's capacity to maintain continuous operations in the event
of a natural or national security crisis. It has also helped
DoD agencies recruit and retain talent, be more productive,
and reduce traffic congestion and emissions. Not
insignificantly, remote work and telework are particularly
important for military spouses who are frequently deployed to
remote places with few job opportunities but can otherwise
contribute to the federal civilian workforce.
Greene amendment 167, Boebert amendments 155 and 156,
Fallon amendment 161, and Roy amendment 178 would invoke the
so-called Holman Rule to either reduce to $1.00 the annual
salaries of various DoD officials. These cynical amendments,
if enacted, would do great damage to the Department's ability
to maintain readiness and recruit and retain personnel who
reflect the diversity of America.
Rosendale amendments 176 and 184 would strip the Defense
Department of its authority to set policy as it pertains to
the prevention of COVID-19. These amendments are singularly
irresponsible and reckless. Enactment would risk the health
of tens of thousands of DoD military personnel and civilian
employees in the event of a future COVID-19 outbreak--all to
make a cynical political point. Senior Defense Department
officers and medical personnel are in a much better position
than Congress to determine appropriate measures to protect
the health of military personnel and civilian employees.
Norman amendment 172 would, if enacted, reverse important
strides the Defense Department--one of the least diverse
agencies in the federal government--has made in recent years
to recruit and retain the best and the brightest personnel
from all corners of America.
AFGE recommends that you support amendment 159 that will be
offered by Rep. Connolly (D-VA). This amendment would restore
important language included in previous Defense
Appropriations Acts prohibiting the Defense Department from
reducing its civilian workforce absent the appropriate
analysis of the effects of these reductions on workload,
military force structure, lethality, readiness, operational
effectiveness, stress on the military force, and fully
burdened costs. By omitting the provision that Rep.
Connolly's amendment proposes to restore, H.R. 4365, if
enacted, could lead to reckless cuts in the civilian
workforce that the armed services depend on to protect and
defend our nation.
Please vote against these amendments should recorded votes
be requested. For questions or more information please
contact Julie Tippens or Keith Abouchar.
Sincerely,
Julie N. Tippens,
Director, Legislative Department.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The
amendment is unnecessary.
Section 129(a) has long been codified in Title 10. However, I am
compelled to point out that the section in question directs the
Secretary of Defense to achieve a cost-efficient personnel mix.
The administration has failed in this regard and continues to grow
the Department civilian workforce to a fiscally unsustainable level.
The bill before us directs the Secretary of Defense to address the
issue by noting the unsustainable cost of civilian personnel within the
Department over $101 billion in fiscal year 2022 alone.
Reducing the civilian workforce request by $1.1 billion, which is
less than 1 percent of the total request, and achievable through
attrition, to fund a historic 30-percent pay raise for our junior
enlisted--a 30-percent pay raise which they richly deserve--and
directing the Secretary to reassess manpower requirements against core
missions and adopt technology to create a cost-efficient workforce, is
essentially directing the Secretary to abide by section 129(a).
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Virginia has 1 minute remaining.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the
distinguished gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment. This amendment
advocates for civilian personnel in the Department.
As I pointed out earlier in my opening remarks, we tried this once
before and we did not see substantial savings. People who work in the
civilian part of our Department of Defense do an admirable job. They
work very hard for all of us, and they are loyal to us.
They are loyal to the Department of Defense. They are not loyal to a
contractor or at the whim of a contractor if they decide they want to
change a pay scale or to do something different, or raise the price of
the contract and hold us hostage.
When it comes to the Secretary to determine what is necessary for
staffing, I am going to leave it to the Secretary at this time, and I
encourage my colleagues to support the amendment of the gentleman from
Virginia.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia
will be postponed.

Amendment No. 157 Offered by Mr. Crane

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 157
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), add the
following:
Sec. _. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to deploy United States Armed Forces to Ukraine.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Arizona (Mr. Crane) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer my amendment to the
Department of Defense appropriations bill, which would prohibit
American troops from being sent to fight on the ground in Ukraine.
The United States ought to be encouraging peace talks between Russia
and Ukraine, not giving into calls for deadly escalation that could
turn nuclear.
It is well past time for the United States to disentangle itself from
this misguided war effort and start promoting a peaceful resolution to
the conflict.
To date, we have shipped more than 100 billion American tax dollars
to Ukraine, a country not known for its strict commitment to
anticorruption measures.
Sending money is bad enough. Our men and women being sent to die over
this conflict is unthinkable.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment to
prevent American lives from being sacrificed.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, let me be crystal clear. The United States
does not currently plan to deploy forces to Ukraine in the ongoing
defense against the Russian invasion. The United States does not
currently plan to deploy forces.
There is no current or future year funding for the deployment of U.S.
Armed Forces to Ukraine in this bill or any other bill that I am aware
of. Therefore, this amendment would not impact any current or planned
support to Ukraine. However, this amendment

[[Page H4607]]

would impede the ability of the Department to provide security aid to
American personnel in the region. I am not talking about in Ukraine,
just in the region, it would impede it.
For example, this prohibition would block the Department from
providing security forces to assist congressional or executive
delegation travel to Ukraine. I don't think that was the gentleman's
intention, but that is what this amendment does.
Additionally, it would hinder the Department's ability to provide
emergency security assistance to American personnel in the U.S. Embassy
if there was ever a threat or a need for an evacuation.
This amendment would not change how the U.S. is aiding Ukraine in
their war against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, it would change the
way we protect Americans abroad.
We put our elected and civil service in danger by doing that, so I
strongly oppose this amendment. I don't think this was the gentleman's
intention, but I have to oppose this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the gentleman's
amendment. I don't support the deployment of U.S. troops into Ukraine.
The Ukrainians are doing an able job against Russian aggression.
They degraded the third-largest standing army in the world and taken
out 50 percent of the Russian conventional capability. They are doing
fine on their own. They don't need U.S. troops.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' on the gentleman's amendment.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I understand what the distinguished chair of
the Defense Subcommittee just said. He doesn't support U.S. troops in
Ukraine. That would be a vote we would have to take here in Congress,
but this amendment does so much more than that, and that is why I was
clear that I don't think it was the gentleman's intention.
This amendment would impede the ability of the Department to provide
security and aid to American personnel in the region. It would block
the Department from providing security forces to even assist
congressional or executive delegation travel to Ukraine: the military
escorts that go with us.
Additionally, it would hinder the Department's ability to provide
emergency security assistance to American personnel at the U.S. Embassy
in Ukraine if there was ever a threat or a need for an urgent
evacuation.
I understand clearly the gentleman's intentions. This amendment does
more than that. I would possibly ask the gentleman to consider
withdrawing the amendment at this time and remove the things that I am
concerned about in it, and then I would be happy to look at supporting
not having U.S. forces go to Ukraine without Congress having a
discussion.
Mr. Chair, unfortunately, this amendment does so much more than what
the gentleman's, I believe, true and honest intentions are.
Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Gaetz).
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, the American people need to observe what is
happening on this floor. My colleague from Arizona is simply saying
that in the $886 billion we are sending across the river to the
Pentagon, we at least don't want that to fund U.S. troops, boots on the
ground, in Ukraine, and there seems to be no guardrail that some in
this body would not accept so as to stop our country from inadvertently
stumbling into world war III.
Mr. Chair, I have amendments coming to stop security assistance, but
this is the humblest of amendments seemingly to comport with what this
body in a bipartisan way has expressed.
We do not want American servicemembers dying in Ukraine. That risks
escalation and that risks accident. It always starts with just a few
security advisers. That is how we got entangled in the Syrian civil
war. We ought to be disentangling ourselves from Ukraine and embracing
the good amendment from my colleague from Arizona.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, once again, I want to be crystal clear.
This amendment does so much more than what the gentleman from Florida
refers to, and the gentleman from Arizona who offered it.
When we have Members who are doing oversight, this would prohibit the
military escorts that go on codels with us or with the executive branch
from taking us on those missions. I don't think that was the
gentleman's intention, and that is why I am asking for the amendment to
be withdrawn and written in a way that truly reflects what both my
colleagues just spoke to.
I think you will get a lot more support on that than saying that we
couldn't even bring troops in if we needed to do something at our
embassy to evacuate State personnel. The Marines on post wouldn't be
enough to do it by themselves.
Mr. Chair, I ask the gentleman to reconsider the way this amendment
is written so that we can have bipartisan support.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CRANE. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Ms. Foxx). The question is on the amendment offered
by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Crane).
The amendment was agreed to.

Vacating Demand for Recorded Vote on Amendment Offered by Ms. Norton

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the
request for a recorded vote on amendment No. 125 offered by the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) to the end that
the amendment stands disposed of by the earlier voice vote thereon.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the request for a recorded vote
is withdrawn. Accordingly, the amendment is not adopted.
There was no objection.

Amendment No. 158 Offered by Mr. Fallon

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 158
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. FALLON. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. The salary of Kelisa Wing, within the Department
of Defense, shall be reduced to $1.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 732, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Fallon) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. FALLON. Madam Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to reduce
the salary of Ms. Kelisa Wing to $1.
Until recently, Ms. Wing was with the Department of Defense Education
Activity, better known as DoDEA. She was the chief diversity, equity,
and inclusion officer. As a self-proclaimed woke administrator, she
used her authority to promote racist, divisive, and quite frankly,
hateful ideology.
In a tweet from September 23, 2020, Ms. Wing said: ``I'm so exhausted
at these White folx in these PD [professional development] sessions.
This lady actually had the CAUdacity to say that Black people can be
racist too . . . I had to stop the session and give Karen the business.
. . . ''
If you replace the word ``White'' with any other race or minority
group, we would have people from both sides of the aisle clamoring for
her immediate removal.
Instead, she continued to serve unfettered for an unbelievable 3
additional years. Moreover, the mission of DoDEA is to provide a high-
quality education to the children of servicemembers. This is a position
of great trust.
Ms. Wing broke the trust of the American people, our servicemembers,
and their children. We should be focused on providing these young minds
with a world-class education, not indoctrinating them with divisive,
radical, and again, hateful ideology.
Madam Chair, let me take a moment right now to speak directly to the
children of DoDEA, and quite frankly, the children across this country,
to remind them of a few things.

[[Page H4608]]

What you are isn't important. Who you are is everything. Pigmentation
is immaterial. It is what is in your heart and what is on your mind
that matters.
Further, to be American, it is not an ethnicity, it is an ideal. You
want to live your dreams in this country? Work smart, work hard, stay
focused, persevere, delay gratification, and constantly improve. In
2023 America, you might just get there, because the secret to your
future is hidden in your daily routine. It is not, and nor does it have
anything to do with what you are.
Thankfully, I believe Ms. Wing saw the writing on the wall and
recently resigned from her position within DoDEA. It is my earnest hope
that this amendment sends a message to the American people that racism
will not be tolerated.
Madam Chair, I served in the military 30 years ago, and the idea was
you would advance on merit and merit alone. It was a meritocracy. We
didn't have any tolerance for any kind of isms. I wish we could get
back to that and not be promoting Democratic generals or Republican
generals, but rather American generals.
In the very building where we work and stand today, the Statue of
Freedom, right underneath it are three words: E pluribus unum. Out of
many one.
That is a focus that DoDEA should be promoting instead of this awful
and, quite frankly, toxic poison.
Madam Chair, I withdraw my amendment, and I urge support for the
underlying bill.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The amendment is withdrawn.

Amendment No. 160 Offered by Mr. Gaetz

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 160
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be made available to provide
security assistance to Ukraine.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 732, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Gaetz) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, this Congress has authorized $115 billion to
Ukraine. My amendment would ensure that this Defense appropriations
bill sends no more.
Madam Chair, $115 billion is an astonishing amount of money,
especially when you consider that our Nation sits atop a $33 trillion
debt and we are facing $2 trillion in annual deficits. It is not as if
the $115 billion has brought this conflict any closer to an end. In
fact, the massacres and the killings and the death continue.
The next statement is so obvious I can't believe I have to say it out
loud.
It does not make the United States of America stronger to borrow
money from China to give it to Ukraine.
I hear a lot of the war hawks in this Congress stand up and say,
well, we have to send a message to China by fighting for however long
it takes at whatever cost in Ukraine. The message we are sending to
China is that they are engaged in a leverage buyout of Russia and
increasingly of our own country.
We have problems here in America with our own borders. Americans are
watching as foreign flags are being erected in the middle of the Rio
Grande River while our Nation is being invaded by tens of thousands of
people every month. Yet, we go spend all this money on the border of
another country.
I do not fear broken Russian tanks rolling through Europe. I fear
Russia's nuclear weapons and the risk that we could be sleepwalking
into a nuclear conflict that could end life as we know it on the
planet, all for what? To live out some neoconservative dream in
Ukraine? Give me a break.
Right now, a lot of this funding that we have sent for Ukraine has
been inflationary. Fuel and food, these are the markets that have been
affected globally because of this crisis and because of the money we
are spending to extend the conflict.
At the beginning of this Congress, Speaker McCarthy said there is not
going to be a blank check to Ukraine, but when we bring witnesses
before us to ask them whether or not we are complying with our own laws
regarding end-use monitoring of materiel, they cannot say we are even
following our own laws.
Enough is enough. I am putting my countrymen first. I don't think we
should send another nickel to Ukraine.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, here again is an attempt to cut off any
support for Ukraine as they fight to defend their country from an
illegal Russian invasion.
As I said earlier, once again, Putin is attempting to rewrite the map
of Europe through the use of force. He is doing so in violation of
international law. He is deliberately targeting civilians, as I
mentioned: hospitals, daycare centers, apartment buildings.
While he is doing that, yes, he is destroying the economy and the
livelihood of Ukrainians in the process.
Putin and his thugs are committing war crimes on a mass scale. The
United States and the other democratic nations of the world must
continue to oppose him. If we do not, then he or another authoritarian
leader will try something like this again, yes, either in Ukraine or
elsewhere in the world.
Earlier, I laid out that America is not alone in the support of
Ukraine. Our allies and our partners are donating tanks, air defense
systems, artillery, vehicles, rockets, and infantry fighting vehicles.
This list goes on and on.
Let's not abandon our fellow democracies.
Let's not abandon the EU and our NATO allies now.
Let's not abandon Ukraine.
Faced with daunting odds against Russian forces, they have taken up a
mantle to defend themselves, defend their values, and our shared
democratic principles. They deserve our continued support.
Madam Chair, I understand my colleague has a different view than I
do, but I thank him for a respectful engagement in this discussion, and
I urge my colleagues at this time to oppose this amendment.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, indeed, this is a respectful policy dispute
that we have over this matter, and I am grateful that we are taking up
the Defense appropriations bill as a single subject bill to work
through these things, and let the votes fall where they may, but it
seems the full sum of the argument against my amendment is: Putin bad,
which I concede.
As a matter of fact, Vladimir Putin has sanctioned me personally, so
I don't have to be sold on that argument. He is a bad guy.
The question is whether after $115 billion, it is the $300 million in
this bill that is going to really kick the door in. There has been no
argument that that is the case, because of course that would not
comport with logic and reason. When my colleagues say we cannot abandon
the EU, that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to my fellow Americans
who often feel like they are the ones who have been abandoned as we
send $115 billion to Ukraine and ignore what is going on on our own
border.
Madam Chair, we also ignore what is going on with a lot of our first
responders.
In our country, there are police and firemen who do not know if their
pension fund will be strong enough to support their benefits throughout
their life. We do very little on that front, but we have underwritten
the full pension of every civil servant and government employee in
Ukraine.
Abandon them? I just don't think we should bankroll them, and that is
why I would encourage the adoption of my amendment.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H4609]]

Mr. WOMACK. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word as the
designee of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger).
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Arkansas is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. WOMACK. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment which
prohibits security assistance for Ukraine.
The bill contains funding and conditions for the Ukraine Security
Assistance Initiative, which is different from the funding that has
been included in supplementals for Ukraine. This funding is not sent
directly to Ukraine; rather, it pays for training and procurement of
U.S. equipment.
Congress has funded this initiative every single year since it was
authorized in 2016 during both Democrat and Republican administrations.
Just last month, the House voted to authorize this funding at the same
level.
Madam Chair, this assistance and the partnership between Ukraine and
the California National Guard is what enabled the Ukrainians to beat
back the Russian invasion and greatly diminish Russia's conventional
military forces.
I have been very clear to the Department: No blank checks. That was
why this bill contains many new oversight provisions and funding for a
special inspector general for Ukraine, if authorized in the final NDAA.
The gentleman has often noted that funds used in support of Ukraine
should go to securing our southern border. I argue that we should
secure the border and partner with Ukraine to degrade Russia while
never taking our eye off China.
We do not yet know how the war will play out, but I do know that
voting for this amendment will send the wrong message at the wrong
time.
Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida has 1 minute remaining.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, the argument my colleague made is, well, we
have always sent this $300 million. That may be true, but we used to
send that $300 million when we weren't sending $100 billion in
supplementals on top of that, so I don't think that argument really
holds water.
When my colleague says: Well, we can do both. We can secure Ukraine's
border and we can secure our border; my argument would be: Can we at
least secure our own border first? How about that? How about
prioritizing our own people first before we start going and engaging in
misadventures throughout Europe.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

{time} 1200

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota has 3 minutes
remaining.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas who
struck the last word and also spoke on behalf of the chair of the full
Appropriations Committee.
I had the pleasure of being with Mr. Womack in Poland where we did
oversight of the very money that we are talking about right now. I have
been in other theaters where we were supporting other troops, and what
we saw was the enthusiasm, the commitment, and the dedication from the
Ukrainians who were under our supervision getting ready to receive
training, and it was outstanding. It was like nothing else I have ever
seen before.
We do need to do our due diligence. That is one of the reasons why I
opposed an earlier amendment which would have actually restricted the
military from escorting us on those types of codels into the future.
In my years in Congress, I have worked on many international foreign
affairs issues. When I was in Germany just before the Ukrainian
invasion took place, I have never in my life seen the democracies so
united to work together because they know of the threat of what is
happening. They want to make sure--and we want to make sure--that we
continue to give the Ukrainians the support they deserve.
I have a friend who is returning home from just visiting, and her
cousin is going back after taking some R&R after being wounded. The
stories that she is sharing and the stories that I have heard from
other people in Ukraine is everybody is participating; 60-year-olds are
driving the tanks because they can't be out there on the frontlines.
They are doing that, and they are able to do that because of the
support and the equipment and the training that we have given them, not
only to fight against Russia, but to also maintain the equipment they
have.
I thank the gentleman for striking the last word and speaking to
this, and we need to do our due diligence to make sure that the
oversight is done right.
I do not support Mr. Gaetz's amendment as offered today, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, the United States of America is not the
world's piggy bank, and we are not the world's policeman.
I applaud all of the enthusiasm in Ukraine. I am rooting for them,
but enthusiasm in this country is waning to continue to support all of
that effort abroad.
We want to secure our border. We want to see enthusiasm with our
Border Patrol. We do not support continued inflationary, escalatory,
dangerous spending in this war on Ukraine.
Madam Chair, I appreciate the House's indulgence for considering my
amendment. I would encourage its adoption, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for this respectful
debate, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gaetz).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.

Amendment No. 161 Offered by Mr. Gaetz

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 161
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to transfer cluster munitions.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Gaetz) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, this is an amendment to prohibit the transfer
of cluster munitions pursuant to this legislation.
Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Jacobs),
a member of the Armed Services Committee, someone who has led this
Congress to try to stop the transfer of cluster munitions.
Ms. JACOBS. Madam Chair, I thank Congressman Gaetz for his
partnership on this important issue.
Many of us have this idea of American exceptionalism--that America is
set apart from the rest of the world.
Well, that is certainly true when it comes to cluster munitions and
not in the way that we want.
America is an outlier. We are one of the few countries that hasn't
become party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and that is a
grave mistake.
These weapons maim and kill indiscriminately. In 2021, the Landmine
and Cluster Munitions Monitor found that over 97 percent of casualties
from cluster bomb remnants were civilians; and two-thirds of those were
children.
That is because these bomblets are small, colorful, and interesting
shapes, so to children they look like toys. So when kids find these
unexploded bomblets stuck in trees or in the water or simply on the
ground and try to pick them up and play with them, they can lose a limb
or their life in the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, there is no amount of guardrails or promised
precautions for cluster munitions that are enough.

[[Page H4610]]

These weapons are unpredictable, and the human cost is far too high to
justify.
Now, let's be clear. This isn't about one country. This is not about
Ukraine. This is about protecting civilian lives and ensuring our
national security all over the world because sending these weapons
anywhere makes us complicit in unavoidable civilian harm and creates
blowback that undermines our national security.
Our partners and allies look to us and expect us to do the right
thing to protect the marginalized, defend human rights, and strengthen
democracy. This reputation is what allows us to build and maintain
international coalitions that further our goals.
If other countries don't look up to us and don't expect us to do the
right thing, we will be alone on the world stage.
I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to avoid all of
these horrific consequences and support our bipartisan amendment to
ensure that no funds can be used to transfer cluster munitions.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
Artillery has been a critical part of Ukrainians' fight for survival.
Cluster munitions fill a needed gap right now until the U.S. production
and inventory of 155 ammunition can catch up.
The Russians have been using cluster munitions for 1\1/2\ years--from
day one. We should not limit Ukrainians' ability to fight the Russians.
I also note that there must be a commitment for all parties involved
to clean up any remnants after this war ends.
This amendment goes beyond prohibiting the transfer of cluster
munitions to Ukraine and would tie our hands in future conflicts.
It is not hard to imagine, unfortunately, a situation where we might
need to transfer these munitions to our allies and partners, for
example, during a conflict on the Korean Peninsula or over Taiwan.
Finally, the amendment may prevent the Department from transferring
used munitions among the military services, limiting the flexibility to
support our war fighters. Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, I would observe that we cannot have a goal of
creating parity with the Ukrainian military and the Russian military.
If that is the case, why not send nuclear weapons?
These cluster bombs are indiscriminate. They have killed tens of
thousands of people. You just heard my colleague say that when this is
all done we will be right back here on the floor appropriating money to
demine the cluster munitions that we are now sending, which seems
ludicrous to me.
Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms.
McCollum), the distinguished ranking member, for her thoughts on the
matter.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment.
The decision by the Biden administration to transfer cluster
munitions to the Ukraine, in my opinion, was unnecessary and a sad
mistake.
Congress has been clear in prohibiting the transfer of any cluster
munitions with a dud rate greater than 1 percent.
The legacy of U.S. cluster munitions into the battlefield in Ukraine
undermines our moral authority and places the U.S. in a position that
directly contradicts 23 of our NATO allies who have joined the
Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The legacy of cluster bombs is misery, death, and an expensive
cleanup after generations of use, and I have been in Laos, and I have
worked with other countries to clean up this legacy.
As has been pointed out, the U.S. pays tens of millions of dollars
annually to remove cluster munitions from Laos and the Vietnam area.
These remnants of war continue to kill and maim civilians as we are
here today.
As a strong supporter of the Biden administration's policy in
Ukraine, I must state in the strongest possible terms my absolute
opposition to the U.S. transferring cluster munitions. These weapons
should be eliminated from the stockpiles.

Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has the only time remaining.
Mr. GAETZ. Madam Chair, I appreciate the bipartisan support for this
amendment. I thank Mr. Massie of Kentucky and Mr. McGovern of
Massachusetts on the Rules Committee for having made this amendment in
order.
I look forward to us working together to ensure that we have humane
policies when it comes to our munitions.
Just to respond to the argument that there is somehow a Taiwan nexus
here, I have studied the war games and the plans around Taiwan pretty
extensively, and I have seen no scenario in which we believe that the
appropriate utilization of munitions in Taiwan is going to require
cluster munitions. It is largely going to be torpedoes, sea mining.
We are still demining the cluster munitions in Laos. We can make a
wiser choice now and one certainly that doesn't put any of our allies
in jeopardy.
Madam Chair, I encourage adoption of this bipartisan amendment, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gaetz).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.
The Chair understands that amendment No. 162 will not be offered.
The Chair understands that amendment No. 163 will not be offered.

Amendment No. 164 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 164
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. The salary of Lloyd James Austin III, the
Secretary of Defense, shall be reduced to $1.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from Georgia (Ms. Greene) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Chair, today I will introduce an
amendment that uses the Holman rule to slash the Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin's salary to no more than $1, and $1 is too much money.
Let's talk about the job description of the Secretary of Defense.
That role oversees the Defense Department and acts as the principal
defense policymaker and adviser to the President of the United States.
The Department of Defense's mission statement states: ``With our
military tracing its roots back to pre-Revolutionary times, the
Department has grown and evolved with our Nation. Our mission is to
provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our Nation's
security.''
Secretary Austin has not fulfilled his job duties. As matter of fact,
he is destroying our military.
During Secretary Austin's tenure, military recruitment has reached
crisis levels of low recruitment. The numbers show that the Army
expects to fall 15,000 recruits short of its annual recruiting goal
this year. The Navy is expecting to be short 10,000 recruits. The Air
Force is down another 3,000.
This cannot stand, especially with our government funding and fueling
a war in Ukraine that is leading us undoubtedly to world war III.
Secretary Lloyd Austin failed America with his withdrawal from
Afghanistan, making American forces leave in retreat and feeling like a
failure.
Secretary Austin also forced more than 8,000 troops to be kicked out
of

[[Page H4611]]

the military for refusing the COVID vaccine.
My amendment is a strong amendment, and many Americans agree. We do
not want the United States military led by failure causing us to be
weak. We need to pass my amendment.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, we have seen several of these amendments.
I think, Madam Chair, you know how disappointed I am that these types
of amendments have been proposed by the majority, but especially this
one.
Secretary Austin has dedicated his life to service in the United
States. For 41 years, he served in the United States Army, which began
as an appointment to West Point and rose to the rank of four-star
general. He served as the 33rd vice chief of the staff of the Army and
completed his career as the head of Central Command.
Secretary Austin was awarded the Silver Star for his leadership in
the Army's 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
He didn't have to return to service for the Nation after giving 41
years of his life, but when called by President Biden, he served again.
You may disagree with the administration's policies as well as we
have done over our careers with different administrations, but
Secretary Austin has done nothing to merit this amendment.
Upon taking the job of Secretary of Defense, Secretary Austin has
outlined his priorities for himself and the Department:
First, defend the Nation, which included prioritizing China as a
pacing threat and address advanced and persistent threats.
Second, take care of our people, this includes growing our talent,
building our resilience and our readiness and ensuring accountable
leadership.
Third, and finally, succeed through teamwork. Focus on working with
allies and partners and building unity within the Department.
Each one of these principles should be policies and qualities that we
support in our Secretary of Defense, no matter what administration he
or she serves in.
Secretary Austin has worked tirelessly to ensure that our allies and
partners remain united.
Secretary Austin has personally pulled together the ministers of
defense from all over NATO to mount an unprecedented coordination of
equipment, training, and tools that the Ukrainians need to fight
Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion.
Upon taking office, our relationship with the Philippines was at an
all-time low. Secretary Austin reaffirmed our Visiting Forces
Agreement, which led to the creation of a rotational access to nine
total locations, strengthening our defense in the critical Indo-Pacific
area.
He has made historic breakthroughs through our cooperation with
Japan, leading to Japan updating their national strategy documents,
which increases security burden sharing in the region with a key ally.
He has worked to cement the principles of a trilateral security pact
between Australia, the U.K., and the United States, and that helps us
with our U.S. military position in the Pacific.
He has introduced programs that will help our military personnel, for
example. As pointed out, recruitment is at an all-time low, but it is
not because of anything Secretary Austin did.
Here is what he is doing to keep retention and attract military
personnel: introducing universal pre-K, which will cut daycare costs
for our military men and women; instituting increases in basic
allowance for housing for Active-Duty servicemembers in 28 military
housing areas that have experienced an average cost of more than 20
percent spike in rental housing costs; expanding military spouse
employment opportunities, strengthening support to our families; and
cutting the cost of food at commissaries.
Each one of these efforts help retain our servicemen and -women in
service to our Nation.
There, of course, is more work to do, and there always is, but
Secretary Austin is making the effort, and there is no need for us to
make such a personal drastic attack by eliminating his pay.
For these reasons, I ask you and my fellow colleagues to vote ``no''
on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), who has also proudly served in the United
States military.
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Madam Chair, I have multiple combat tours as a Navy
SEAL, including two to Afghanistan, and that is why I rise today in
support of the amendment to use the Holman rule to reduce Secretary
Austin's salary to $1.
To paraphrase a famous British officer's evaluation: Secretary Austin
consistently sets low standards and then fails to meet them.
Secretary Austin remains in charge of the Pentagon, despite the fact
that he has been responsible for the greatest degradation of the United
States military since the Vietnam war and the highest Active Duty and
veteran suicide rate in our history.
He is directly responsible for abandoning thousands of American
citizen and our allies to terrorists in Afghanistan and the subsequent
deaths of 13 of our brave men and women in uniform during that fiasco.
I support applying the Holman rule to reduce his salary to $1 simply
because we cannot reduce it to zero.
Secretary Austin could save further controversy and redeem his honor
by resigning immediately and publicly apologizing to all of the Gold
Star families he is directly responsible for creating at the bombing of
Abbey Gate.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I will be brief. The loss of our veterans
to suicide is tragic. Coming from a family with many who have served,
and in going to military reunions, I know how serious this issue is. To
put this on Secretary Austin, to me, is just wrong, and it is
disrespectful. I have had these conversations with him personally about
this.
I remind Members that the Trump administration started the immediate,
quick, fast-paced withdrawal out of Afghanistan. When President Biden
came into office, he knew we were at a critical juncture to try to get
people out safely. He was able to negotiate a small extension, but that
was it.
It is a shared responsibility for what happened in Afghanistan.
Maybe the administration could have planned it better, but the Biden
administration's hand was forced by what the Trump administration had
put into action.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Chair, there is no excuse. You can't
blame President Trump for the failure in Afghanistan. That failure lies
on Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, the President of the United
States, and his administration.
President Trump would have never led our troops to failure in
Afghanistan. He would have never abandoned $7 billion worth of military
equipment. President Trump would have never left the Afghan people in
complete ruin to be controlled by a terrorist government, the Taliban.
That is a complete excuse. Democrats need to stop blaming President
Trump and his administration for Joe Biden's failures.
I urge the House to adopt my amendment, Madam Chair, to take
Secretary Lloyd Austin's salary using the Holman rule, which is a rule
that allows us to fire failures that are serving our government and
serving our country.
Lloyd Austin is not serving the United States military.
Lloyd Austin is leading the United States into failure.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 165 Offered by Ms. Hageman

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 165
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

[[Page H4612]]

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used to pay for the costs of
teleworking or remote working for any employee or contractor
of the Department of Defense on a regular and recurring base.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wyoming.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I rise today in favor of my amendment No.
165 to H.R. 4365.
My amendment prohibits the use of funds to pay regular remote and
telework for the civilian and contractor workforce of the Department of
Defense.
Madam Chair, at the very beginning of this Congress, our majority
brought the voice of the American people to this Chamber saying that
enough was enough, that it was time for the Federal workforce to return
to work.
To this end, we passed the SHOW UP Act because our constituents were
sick and tired of the lack of service from the Federal Government.
While progress has been made to some extent, there are still legacy
and recent telework and remote work agreements that keep Federal
workers who are supposed to be delivering for the American people out
of the office. This includes the Department of Defense workforce, which
is allowed to work from home in varying capacities.
In 2019, the Office of the Director of National Security found that
across the entire Federal Government 4.2 million employees were
eligible to access classified information. The Defense Department is
responsible for 3.8 million of these clearances. Of these clearances
for employees of the DOD, 20 percent are civilian workforce and 26
percent are contractors.
The DOD works largely in a classified setting. Its responsibilities
are to safeguard this Nation. How this mission can be fulfilled when
the employees are sitting at home is beyond me.
Madam Chair, it is time for the Federal workforce, including those
who work for the DOD, to return to work so the American people can
receive a full and fair return on the services that they fund through
their tax dollars.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Hawaii is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASE. Madam Chair, I am reading the text of this amendment, and
it says here none of the funds appropriated may be used for the
purposes of teleworking or remote working for any employee or any
contractor of the Department of Defense on a regular and recurring
basis.
That seems pretty excessive to me.
Now, I would agree with my colleague from Wyoming that certainly
telework presents opportunities in some cases for abuse just as regular
work does, but we are living in a new world. We are living in a post-
COVID world.
There is a place in our workforce for regular work, which is not so
regular anymore, and there is a place in our world for telework.
I can certainly envision legitimate purposes for an employee or a
contractor of the Department of Defense to engage in telework; for
example, particularly, a valuable contractor who does, in fact, choose
to work at home and that contractor's services are desired by the
Department of Defense.
Why should we limit the Department of Defense in its ability to
utilize telework if and as appropriate? By the way, it may be not only
about the efficiency of the work, but it may be more cost effective. It
may be more cost effective for that work to be engaged in from the
telework perspective. We have the technology to do that.
There are a lot of ways that we can provide for work. We are
obviously in a significant recruiting and retention challenge for the
Department of Defense, and if the Department of Defense wants to engage
in telework or offer that as an alternative to satisfy its own needs, I
see no reason to provide an excessive amendment that essentially rules
out an entire option that is available really to the rest of our
society.
Madam Chair, for those reasons, I must oppose this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California
(Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment.
Regular telework was a necessary evil to sustain DOD operations
during the COVID lockdown, but that time is over.
Main Street small business went back to work in person years ago, and
big business is steadily ending full telework policies.
Leaders across the country have found that full-time telework drives
more meetings, reduces productivity, and hinders the development of new
employees.
Further, DOD personnel must also access and work on highly classified
national security issues.
Madam Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

{time} 1230

Mr. CASE. Madam Chair, to my friend and colleague, Mr. Calvert, Main
Street small business is engaging in telework today. It is finding the
opportunities to utilize telework where appropriate. Main Street
government is engaging in telework where appropriate.
I completely agree with the concerns for telework in a national
security environment. Presumably, if one was exercising flexibility
from a responsible perspective, one would not engage in telework,
especially in the national security area.
Obviously, we have a great part of our Federal Government that does
not engage in national security directly. Why shouldn't the Department
of Defense have this particular flexibility?
Again, the excessiveness of the amendment and the no exceptions at
all nature of the amendment, I think, advise against it.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I believe that my colleague on the other
side misunderstands the amendment or the scope of it. The amendment
does not prevent DOD employees from working from home if needed, such
as for health or emergency situations. In fact, the Defense Civilian
Personnel Advisory Service is responsible for policy oversight of the
DOD telework and remote work programs. These programs are administered
in accordance with DOD Instruction 1035.01.
This amendment specifically prevents only telework and remote work on
a regular, recurring basis. The other categories that accommodate
health issues, emergency situations, and more would be left untouched,
providing the necessary flexibility.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Madam Chair, to my colleague, I am simply reading the
language of the amendment, ``on a regular and recurring basis.'' There
may well be suitable reasons why telework would be advisable on a
regular and recurring basis which is not health related and not very
specifically narrow as she has pointed out.
We have belabored this point long enough. I am prepared to close, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, this should be a no-brainer that our
Federal workers and our employees should actually go to work. In fact,
it is actually bipartisan. President Biden called on his Cabinet
members to aggressively execute plans for Federal employees to work
more in their offices.
The President and I do not see eye to eye on very much--in fact, very
little. In this instance, putting workers back in the office is common
sense.
This amendment would not defund telework and remote work for
servicemen and -women. This amendment specifically prevents funds for
DOD employees, civilians, and contractors.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Madam Chair, suitable oversight of telework by the DOD is
appropriate. It is something that we should engage in. To foreclose it
under all circumstances, I believe, is unwise.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. HAGEMAN. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H4613]]

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 166 Offered by Ms. Jayapal

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 166
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Ms. JAYAPAL. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used to carry out section 222a
or 222b of title 10, United States Code.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentlewoman
from Washington (Ms. Jayapal) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.
Ms. JAYAPAL. Madam Chair, my bipartisan amendment would prevent
funding from this bill to be used to carry out the Defense Department's
``unfunded priorities list.'' This list that the DOD is required to
send to Congress is simply a wish list of things that individual
commanders and generals would like to fund and by definition have been
determined nonessential to our national security.
This practice does not serve the national security interests of the
United States, and it was not mandatory until the passage of the fiscal
2017 NDAA. Mandating these wish lists only serves special interests in
the defense contractor industry eager to grow their profits by selling
expensive equipment that was not important enough to make it into the
Pentagon's own budget. This is corruption and a waste of taxpayer
dollars.
This practice has long been criticized by DOD officials and lawmakers
of both parties. Bush-appointed Defense Secretary Robert Gates all but
banned the list, strongly discouraging his generals from submitting
wish lists to Congress during his tenure. Senator John McCain, chair of
the Senate Armed Services Committee, publicly stated his skepticism of
the practice.
In fact, in response to a letter that I sent to the Department of
Defense on this practice, Under Secretary of Defense Michael McCord
said on behalf of Defense Secretary Austin: ``Therefore, the Department
supports your proposal to repeal the requirement in 10 U.S.C. 222a''--
that is, to send Congress an unfunded priorities list.
These wish lists are packed with billions of dollars of excessive
line items, this year totaling more than $17 billion on top of the $842
billion requested by the White House. The Space Force alone requested
half a billion in unfunded priorities, almost all classified.
Meanwhile, we cannot verify that the money that we authorize for DOD is
even spent responsibly because the Department of Defense has never
passed a budget audit.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues, especially those across the aisle
who are interested in fiscal conservatism, to vote ``yes'' on this
bipartisan and commonsense amendment.
I thank my Republican colleagues, Congressman McClintock and
Congressman Davidson, as well as members of my own party, Congressman
Garamendi and Congressman Moulton, who understand that this is wrong
and have worked in concert with me to rein in this wasteful spending
that has no benefit to our national security.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
Unfunded priorities lists are a critical tool to provide Congress
with unfiltered information on what the military services and combatant
commanders need. Access to this information is so important that the FY
2017 National Defense Authorization Act established a statutory
requirement.
Unfunded priorities lists give our military services and combatant
commanders a direct channel to Congress, which allows Congress to make
more informed decisions.
I would just say, for instance, USINDOPACOM obviously has challenges
dealing with China, and unfortunately, we are constrained by our budget
in getting the resources there that they would like to have. If, in
fact, resources become available, we would like to take care of those
combatant commanders to deal with the threats that they have.
Madam Chair, I urge opposition to this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Ms. JAYAPAL. Madam Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the top Democrat on the
Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Washington has 2\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my colleague's
amendment. We all support funding for our national security, but should
any department, agency, or entity really get an opportunity to request
additional funding outside of the President's and administration's
request?
The service chiefs appear before the committee each year to discuss
how their budget needs are included in the National Defense Strategy.
Most of the combatant commanders testify before committees also.
Congress is able to assess, with strength and oversight, what we
believe the needs are for our country and its national security.
With the levers that we have in place, I support my colleague's
amendment, and I urge others to support it.
Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia).
Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Chair, I understand that we are living in
uncertain times. We are witnessing an unjustifiable war of aggression
in Ukraine and a global democratic backslide. Congress can respond to
national security needs as they arise. We don't have to spend billions
of dollars on what-ifs.
These risks are already built into the Pentagon's budget request. If
military leaders want more funding for their wish lists, there is
nothing in this amendment that will prevent the DOD from supplying an
unfunded priorities list to Congress, but this process should be
optional just as it was 7 years ago.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.
Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the letter from Under
Secretary of Defense Michael McCord that I quoted from earlier.

Under Secretary of Defense,

Washington, DC, March 20, 2023.
Hon. Pramila Jayapal,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Jayapal: I am responding on behalf of
Secretary Austin to your letter of January 31, 2023,
regarding the submission of unfunded priorities lists (UPLs)
to Congress.
The Department appreciates your sustained commitment to our
service members, their families, and our entire work force.
We are grateful for your leadership, and we share your
commitment to maximizing the impact of every dollar Congress
appropriates.
The practice of senior military leaders providing to
Congress a list of unfunded priorities was initiated by
Congress, first as a request and, since 2017, as a statutory
requirement. This process was created by Congress and we
agree the Congress should reconsider the merits of this
approach. Every Department of Defense (DoD) budget supervised
and submitted by Secretary Austin is built to implement his
National Defense Strategy and represents the Department's
highest priorities. The current statutory practice of having
multiple individual senior leaders submit priorities for
additional funding absent the benefit of weighing costs and
benefits across the Department is not an effective way to
illuminate our top joint priorities.
Although Secretary Austin follows a similar practice to
that of former Secretary Gates by requiring that these lists
are submitted for his review, that process alone does not
effectively address the underlying issue of requiring
individual leaders to submit proposals with no necessary
connection to the Secretary's global priorities. Therefore,
the Department supports your proposal to repeal the
requirement in 10 U.S.C. 222a.
In contrast to the UPL requirement, in November 2022, after
the Congress had already decided to increase the Department's
budget, and in response to multiple Congressional inquiries
as to how higher than expected inflation was impacting the
Department, DoD

[[Page H4614]]

provided the congressional defense committees, as drafting
assistance for conference, our best assessment of the highest
priorities for additional funding, with a focus on addressing
unbudgeted inflation. This document was in lieu of, not in
addition to, any unfunded priority list submitted under 10
U.S.C. 222a.
That list included upward adjustments for various fact-of-
life increases including service member's Basic Allowances
for Housing and Subsistence rates, health care costs,
additional costs to complete military construction projects,
and fuel price impacts. The list also included other critical
emergent requirements such as the Civilian Harm Mitigation
and Response Action Plan you noted, as well as additional
funds to increase capacity to enable the Defense Industrial
Base to accelerate the replacement of defense articles being
drawn down and provided to Ukraine.
I hope that this information is helpful and look forward to
working with you in the 118th Congress. A similar letter is
being sent to the other signatories of your letter.
Michael McCord

Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Chair, I close out by saying that we know that the
Department of Defense is necessarily a hierarchical institution where
the top leaders identify the most important priorities across a very
vast swath of departments within the Department of Defense, and they
are the ones who we confirm, frankly, to be in charge of that
appropriations request and budget.
What is happening now with this unfunded priorities list--and we have
had testimony on this in the Budget Committee and other committees--is
that these lists are just coming from people who simply do not have any
authority to determine the importance.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Griffith). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Washington
will be postponed.

Vacating Demand for Recorded Vote on Amendment Offered by Mr. Clyde

Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent that the request for
a recorded vote on amendment No. 154 be withdrawn to the end that the
amendment stands disposed of by the earlier voice vote thereon.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the request for a recorded vote
is withdrawn. Accordingly, the amendment is agreed to.
There was no objection.

Amendment No. 167 Offered by Mr. D'Esposito

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 167
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk as the
designee of Ms. Malliotakis.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. ___. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to provide assistance to the Department of Homeland
Security to house persons on a military installation located
in the United States.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. D'Esposito) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Chair, today is September 27, 2023, and because
of the dereliction of duty of Secretary Mayorkas and the Biden
administration, this Nation is under siege. We have record numbers of
migrants coming into this country, estimated at 10,000 a day that we
know of and an unknown amount of got-aways.
In places like New York City, where people like Mayor Eric Adams and
Governor Kathy Hochul have celebrated sanctuary cities, we now see, in
fact, that they had no plans to be a sanctuary. They just wanted to
pander.
In places like New York City, we have migrants who are coming into
the United States of America through our points of entry. They are
coming to the United States of America for a better way of life. They
are leaving their homes, their families, risking their lives to cross
this border. Instead of being given that sanctuary, they are in old
hotels and empty warehouses at airports.
This amendment today will ensure that no funds made available by this
act may be used by the Department of Defense to provide assistance to
the Department of Homeland Security to house migrants or illegal
immigrants or illegal aliens on military installations located in the
United States of America.
Back in May, Governor Hochul sent a letter to President Biden, and
cc'd members of the New York delegation, asking that he allow military
installations to be utilized for housing migrants.
Just recently, we have seen that there is a deal in place for
migrants to not only be housed but buildings to be erected at Floyd
Bennett Field, a military installation in Brooklyn, New York. Not only
is it a military installation, but like many others throughout this
country, Floyd Bennett Field plays host to my brothers and sisters from
the New York City Police Department, housing our aviation team, our
scuba team, special operations, and more.
This simply says no funds will be utilized, given to the Department
of Homeland Security, to house migrants and illegal aliens on military
installations.
Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment. The Biden
administration is failing our country and undermining our security with
the unmitigated crisis along our southern border.
This policy-driven crisis affects more than just the four States that
share a border with Mexico, mine included. Today, every city in America
is dealing with the influx of illegal migrants because the Biden
administration has failed to secure the border and is unwilling to
enforce the Nation's immigration laws.
The administration's refusal to act has created a looming crisis at
our Nation's military installations, which should not be used to house
migrants. They are not designed or equipped for refugee camps.
Housing illegal immigrants on military installations negatively
impacts our security and readiness. I understand that New York
Democrats have created over 200 migrant camps in the gentleman's area,
and I stand with them on the need for real solutions to the border
crisis.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Hawaii is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, I just heard my friend and chair of the
subcommittee say something that I completely agree with, which is we
need real solutions to immigration and the border crisis, and that is
true. This takes a piecemeal approach that is unnecessarily broad and
unnecessary in general.
To our knowledge, there is no current or planned use of active
military bases to support DHS' need for temporary or long-term
detention of migrants crossing the southern border. Certainly, if the
claims by my colleague from New York are correct, that is worthy of
debate.
However, the amendment goes much further than that particular point.
It says that the military cannot provide any assistance to the
Department of Homeland Security to house persons on a military
installation. Therefore, we have to ask the question: Is that too broad
in an amendment?
Let's take a look at a couple of examples or at least one example in
particular. It would apply in that case to governmentwide efforts like
Operation Allies Welcome, which was the evacuation of Afghan refugees
after the collapse of the government in Afghanistan in 2021. The DHS at
the time worked with the Departments of Defense and

[[Page H4615]]

State to use military installations to temporarily house Afghan
refugees fleeing imminent danger and persecution. This was a critical
tool to save lives.
There are, I am sure, other situations that we can envision in which
we would want to access our military installations for very tailored
purposes, with congressional oversight, that are under the control of
the Department of Homeland Security.
If we want to have a debate over immigration, let's have it. If we
want to recognize that we have a real problem, I am the first to
recognize that, as well. The amendment certainly takes a very broad
approach to a problem that I think we can all agree is definitely a
problem and rules out many other situations that, in all honesty, we
would want the discretion for the DOD. It is much better for Congress
to retain that discretion to the DOD where necessary for national
security purposes with congressional oversight and with very tailored
congressional restrictions.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Chair, I am glad to see that we are all looking
for solutions to the failed policies of Joe Biden.
What we are focused on today is the fact that military installations,
our national parks, like Floyd Bennett Field, where military operations
actually take place, are critical to defense. They are not equipped to
house migrants. That is what we are focused on today, that there are no
plans in place and that these plans, the ones that they are rushing to,
are not the ones that we support.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, first of all, I think we are trying to confirm
whether or not Floyd Bennett Field is, in fact, a military installation
within the definition of the gentleman's amendment.
That point aside, again, I would say that if we are trying to solve
the particular issue that my colleague and friend from New York is
trying to solve, let's try to solve that one. Let's not do so with a
blunt instrument that takes away discretion across the board for
legitimate uses of military installations under congressional
oversight, such as the Afghan refugee situation.
We can talk about this on the floor. Yes, it is completely necessary
to discuss and debate this, but let's not overplay this so that the DOD
never has the flexibility to have any military installation used for
legitimate purposes that we would all agree with.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 168 Offered by Mr. Norman

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 168
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used for any office of diversity, equity, or inclusion.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I cannot believe I am up here having this
debate, particularly at this critical time for our military--$1.4
billion in 2022 for money spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A woke military is a weak military. The military's sole purpose is to
provide for the defense of our great Nation. Our military's focus
should be the protection of the American people and our freedoms, not
liberal feelings.
Therefore, my amendment would eliminate any offices of diversity,
equity, and inclusion in the Armed Forces and the Department of
Defense.
Woke ideology undermines our readiness in a variety of ways. It
undermines cohesiveness by emphasizing differences based on race,
ethnicity, and sex.
We recently had 160 retired flag officers write a letter to Speaker
McCarthy and House Armed Services Committee Chair Rogers about the
dangers of DEI and the opposition to it in the military.
The officers wrote: ``We respectfully request that Congress, pursuant
to its constitutional powers `to raise and support Armies' and `to
provide and maintain a Navy,' take legislative action to remove all
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from the Department of
Defense.''
Another one: ``Our military must be laser focused on one mission:
readiness, undiminished by the culture war engulfing our country.''
DEI is dividing, not unifying, our military and society.
Another one: ``We have fought for our Nation and are sounding the
alarm that DEI poses a grave danger to our military warfighting ethos
and is degrading warfighting readiness. Social engineering, commonly
called wokeism, has no place in our military.''
Finally: These indoctrination programs differentiate servicemembers
along racial and gender lines, which runs completely counter to the
military imperative to build cohesiveness based on common loyalties,
training, and standards.
What is more, the Army missed its recruitment target by 25 percent in
2022 at this critical time in the history of this great Republic. This
is a Bud Light level of failure.
Mr. Chair, I urge that this amendment be adopted in light of an
administration that has completely left our Nation vulnerable.
President Biden told a group of overseas Air Force airmen that the
Joint Chiefs of Staff had determined that the greatest threat facing
America was global warming, a claim that the Joint Chiefs had to walk
back.
He didn't mention Russia. He didn't mention China. He didn't mention
the threat of the debt that has engulfed this country. He mentioned
global warming.
As I mentioned, the DOD spent $1.4 billion on their equity action
plan. That is money we don't have, and it just adds to the national
debt.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Hawaii is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, we have confirmed, to the prior amendment, that
Floyd Bennett Field in New York is not a military installation.
Do we not value diversity in our military? That is the question in
this amendment.
Does it matter that we have a diverse military? Does it matter or
not?
Do we not value equity in our military? Does it matter?
Do we not value inclusion? Do we want a military that represents our
society or just a slice of it? That is the question.
If you say that you value a diverse, equal, and inclusive military,
if you say that that is of value to you, it doesn't happen
automatically. It takes effort.
That is why our military leaders over a long period of time now have
valued the investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion. They
understand that a military that reflects the society that we live in
values our military and accelerates, enhances, and improves the overall
service that it provides. They understand that that military in that
situation will be supported by the American people.
They understand that it will be respected around the world where many
other militaries of our partners and allies around the world do value
diversity, equity, and inclusion. They don't have these debates in
their parliaments and congresses. They don't face these attacks on the
attempt to value these attributes within our military.

{time} 1300

We need to back those up, and yes, that does take an investment.
Where you think that those efforts are wrong, where you think they have
gone too far, where you think that they are somehow affecting military
service, then go ahead and oversee those efforts.
Your solution is to cut the funding from all of them because you
don't

[[Page H4616]]

value these attributes in our military. You think that valuing these
attributes leads to a weak military. I heard you say that. I don't
agree with that. That is fundamentally not a position that we agree
with.
From our perspective, again, to take a blunt instrument and wipe out
an entire department that values efforts that will improve military
service, and, by the way, improve military recruitment, I hope the
author of the amendment agrees that military recruitment is a major
challenge for our military.
Yet, let's just say to whole parts of our society, sorry, we don't
value you at all because we are not going to take care of trying to
provide for diversity, equality, and inclusion. That is the wrong
approach.
Fundamentally, this is a difference in policy. It is a difference in
goal. Apparently, it is a difference in assessment of what makes our
military strong and will continue to make it strong.
For those reasons, I have to strongly oppose this amendment. I
reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the
Chair.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, this is just more liberal gibberish. $1.4
billion? Sir, you tell these young people behind me, you tell them
instead of building ships, instead of building airplanes, instead of
protecting cybersecurity, you are going to really pay for transgender
operations. Hogwash.
You try to make that case to anybody in this room, and they would
laugh--well, it is so serious, they wouldn't laugh.
Let me tell you some other things that I am sick and tired of--
feelings. Talk to the military Gold Star mothers who have lost their
children. Tell them what you just said on this House floor.
An Admiral told midshipmen at the Naval Academy that they need to
read ``How to Be an Antiracist,'' a book that teaches the only remedy
to pass discrimination.
Another one. Military recruitment videos in recent years have touted
the military's inclusivity to LGBT members. They use a rainbow flag.
Enough is enough. Americans are tired of this. Why do you think there
is a shortage of people entering the military who have to put up with
this kind of thinking?
For this reason, we shouldn't even be wasting our time debating this
thing, but it is what it is. Thanks to the Biden administration and
their anti-military and anti-readiness, it is a time in America that we
are in severe danger economically and security-wise.
I reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the
chair.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, obviously we have a difference of opinion here.
I would also submit that the leadership of our military have a
difference of opinion with the perspectives expressed by the author of
this amendment.
Again, they understand the values of pursuing a diverse, equitable,
equal, and inclusive military. They understand the challenges of a
military that is not representative of the American people. They
understand the need to provide for that investment.
Again, we can oversee this particular effort. We can question
particular representations of that policy. To take a blunt instrument
to this entire effort and defund it and say that it has no value at
all, that is what is objectionable in this amendment.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 169 Offered by Mr. Norman

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 169
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. 8155. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used, with regards to a member of the Armed Forces
with a minor dependent child enrolled in an EFMP--
(1) to provide gender transition procedures, including
surgery or medication, to such child through such EFMP;
(2) to provide a referral for a procedure described in
paragraph (1) to such child through such EFMP; or
(3) to approve a change of duty station for such member
through such EFMP for the purpose of providing such child
with access to procedures described in paragraph (1).
(b) In this section, the term ``EFMP'' means a program
under section 1781c(e) of title 10, United States Code.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, again, like the other amendment I have, I
cannot believe we are sitting here debating this.
What my amendment does is prohibits provisions of gender transition
procedures, including surgery or medication, through the Exceptional
Family Member Program.
Let me tell you what the Exceptional Family Member Program is. It
provides resources to military families with special needs.
This program is designed for military spouses, children, and other
dependent family members who require ongoing medical educational
services such as individuals with autism, asthma, chronic respiratory
illnesses, Down syndrome, and many others.
The military has tried to politicize this matter, and my amendment
ensures that we reserve the valuable programs and the dollars for these
programs, which would go toward the intent of what it was put in for in
the first place, which is to help families with special needs and
prevent the further dissolution and misguided dollars spent on
something like gender transition procedures.
My amendment also prohibits the change of duty station simply for the
purpose of providing a child with easier access to these procedures.
I urge adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Hawaii is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, again, we have an amendment that would want us,
apparently, to occupy some other state of reality as opposed to the
world as we have it today.
In that world, we do have transgender individuals who need help,
children whose parents are looking for the right courses of conduct for
them.
This measure would say that those parents do not have the right to
make those decisions in consultation with their doctors and with their
children.
Further, what this amendment says is that those parents need not
apply to join our military because they will not be welcomed there with
the decisions that they need to make for their families.
This amendment that cuts gender-affirming care options for
servicemembers' children will drive individuals out of the military,
prevent recruitment to start with, and is, frankly, needlessly cruel.
These decisions should be reserved for parents and their children.
I hear all the time from the other side of the aisle talk about
parents' rights--all the time. Parents should have the right to make
these decisions.
Is there an exception for military families? Parents get to make
these decisions, but by the way, if you are a member of our military,
you don't get to make these decisions.
This is a very personal decision for parents to make with their
families, with their children, and with their doctors.
It is probably, in all honesty, unconstitutional as courts believe
healthcare bans like this violate the equal protection clause of the
Constitution, but let's just leave that aside and talk about the
policy.
Is the policy wise to say to servicemembers and their families that
they cannot access care that is provided to them in a non-servicemember
world?
I think that is the wrong policy, so I oppose this amendment and
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, let me tell you the dollar amount spent for
the past 5 years--$15 million. That is $15 million for surgery for a
man who can't

[[Page H4617]]

decide whether he is a man, or a girl who can't decide whether she is a
girl. Imagine that.
You tell those families that have children with Down syndrome, you
tell those families that have severely autistic children you are going
to spend it for changing genders?
I don't mind somebody questioning their gender but pay for it
yourself when you have to have it, not on the backs of our brave
military families.
In the past 5 years, $15 million was spent to treat 1,892 transgender
troops. Well, isn't that something? You want somebody who is trying to
decide if they are a man or a woman on the firing line?
Is that really a question to decide in the military? There was $11.5
million spent on psychotherapy and $3.1 million for surgeries.
The price tag for individuals getting this surgery and treatments
after have ranged from $8,000 to $100,000. Related healthcare coverage
is only going up.
My point is, I think, to make this argument, particularly with
dollars that could be spent helping meaningful children who have
disabilities should be made. To spend this money that we don't have
just really spits in the face of our military families.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chair, first of all, we can certainly debate the
efficient use of our funds for expenses and the cost, but I strongly
suspect that my colleague's objections in this amendment do not relate
to cost but to a judgment about what should and shouldn't be provided
to our military families.
Now, we can have this debate about transgender care for our military
servicemembers, and the debate will look something like this one, but
this particular amendment would ban any care for minor children.
What this amendment would do is to say to our military
servicemembers, you cannot have the full range of recognized medical
options for your children that are available in a nonmilitary setting.
That is what this amendment would do. This is about children. It is
about parents making decisions for their children.
This is a situation where that decision should be left to the
servicemember parents who have a choice as to whether they serve in the
military or not, have a choice as to whether to join the military or
not, or stay in the military.
We should provide them the same basic rights and options as are
available in the private sector. Otherwise, aside from not being fair
to them, in my estimation, we also will not have a strong military
because they will choose not to join or to stay in.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina has 1\1/2\
minutes remaining.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I will just say that it is this kind of
thinking that has the military in a demoralized state.
It is this kind of thinking, this kind of rationalization of our
hard-earned tax money that has the military recruitment numbers way
down.
It is this kind of woke thinking that is penalizing families that
want to serve this country, families who have children with these
disabilities who need the care that they would deprive them of because
they want to fund somebody who doesn't know what gender they are.
It is this kind of thinking that America is sick and tired of. Ask
any military family, and they will tell you the same thing.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 170 Offered by Mr. Ogles

The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania). It is now in order to
consider amendment No. 170 printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be made available to remove a
Chinese military company from the list required by section
1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2021.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, the section 1260H list maintained by the
Department of Defense was created by the fiscal year 2021 National
Defense Authorization Act and intended to identify any Chinese military
companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States.
Section 1260H is a part of a largely bipartisan, years-long effort to
name and shame CCP companies operating in our Nation.
While the Biden administration has made important additions to this
list, including military companies such as ChemChina and China State
Construction Engineering, the administration has still fallen short of
a full commitment to countering the malign influences of the CCP.
Earlier this year, we saw Secretaries Yellen, Blinken, and Raimondo
take trips to China as part of a diplomatic overture.
Many of my colleagues would undoubtedly agree that the CCP could care
less about diplomacy and that these trips have very little, if any,
bearing on how China chooses to behave on the international stage.
One could argue that these trips only serve to demonstrate the limits
and the lack of American resolve to confront the PRC's obviously
petulant behavior.
For instance, it is a daily occurrence to see the PRC infringe on
Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone. The PRC regularly makes
threats to wage war against Taiwan.
They manipulate international organizations to do their bidding. They
entrap developing countries into contracts that make them de facto
vassal states. They construct dual-use ports across the world, and it
goes on and on and on, Mr. Chairman.
In the face of the CCP's belligerent escalatory actions, the gut
reaction of the American administration ought not to be for the
Secretary of the Treasury to fly to China and consume psychedelic
mushrooms. Yet, that is what we saw from Janet Yellen.
Before Secretary Raimondo's visit to China, the Department of
Commerce, acting through the Bureau of Industry and Security,
unilaterally removed 27 CCP entities from the bureau's so-called
unverified list.
Our Department of Commerce literally chose to make a concession to an
aggressive state in order to get the CCP to meet with our Secretary of
Commerce.
It is clear that this President's judgment cannot be trusted. This
administration's assessment of China has only emboldened our Nation's
foremost enemy. Appeasement has long failed as a strategy, and it
continues to fail today.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASE. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of my amendment. I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 171 Offered by Mr. Ogles

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 171
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be made available to NewsGuard Technologies Inc.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.

[[Page H4618]]

Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, it would appear that many in the Democratic
Party have taken it upon themselves to offer their talents and
considerable abilities to help determine which information is reliable
and which isn't. Thanks, but no thanks.
Mr. Chairman, in September 2021, the Department of Defense offered
NewsGuard, a self-proclaimed fact-checker, a $750,000 grant to
effectively censor conservative viewpoints and opinions.
Want proof of NewsGuard's censorship efforts? I am more than happy to
provide undisputed facts.
NewsGuard has given extremely subjective and clearly biased ratings
to several conservative news outlets, including The Federalist, a 12\1/
2\ percent accuracy and credibility score; Newsmax, 15 percent; The
Epoch Times, a 17\1/2\ percent score; and OAN, 17\1/2\ percent.
I am sure these conservative news outlets have lost out on crucial ad
revenue from these ratings. It is censorship.
It is fundamentally pathetic that this administration thinks they can
sideline conservative viewpoints and demonize conservative platforms
without the American people finding out about this.
All this is happening while Politico, NPR, and The New York Times
have previously received a perfect 100 percent; CBS, 95 percent.
Mr. Chairman, we are supposed to have an open and free press. There
should be no censorship. This is the United States of America. The fact
that we are funding an organization that is censoring viewpoints and
news is untenable.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. NewsGuard does a service that provides tools to counter
misinformation, and it has been around since 2018.
It uses tools to catalog and track all of the top false narratives
spreading online, which is effective in countering hostile
misinformation targeting Democratic governments like our own.
There is no doubt that China, Russia, Iran, and other bad actors are
trying to influence our country through its
mis-, dis-, and mal-information.
We need every tool available to determine what is real and what is
not when it comes to what is being reported by the press.
The amendment does nothing but weaken our ability to do that, so I
oppose this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, it should be noted that Newsmax TV is more
than just online. CBS isn't just online. The New York Times isn't just
online.
These are news outlets with multiple platforms, so it is not about
censoring online. It is about censorship.
The irony here is abundant, especially when considering that these
leftist news outlets parroted the lie promoted by 51 intelligence
officials and our disaster of a Secretary of State that the Hunter
Biden laptop story was a production of Russian disinformation.
Only in America could a guy who helped steal an election and
undermine our democracy be promoted to oversee our Nation's policy on
Ukraine, but that is the story of Antony Blinken in a nutshell.
The Hunter Biden laptop debacle was literally the biggest story of
the 2021 election, and a story, if taken seriously, that might have
resulted in a different outcome.
Instead, our government is subsidizing a self-identified fact-checker
who completely whiffed on the biggest story of a Presidential cycle.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, just a few facts about NewsGuard.
Journalists are employed by NewsGuard. They have technology people that
score websites based on their reliability and general trustworthiness.
It is not censored. People still have the freedom to read and to
believe whatever they choose to, but this analysis is designed to be
transparent.
It also includes the name of the staffer who analyzed the
information. If somebody has a dispute with it, they know exactly who
made the score system happen.
Let me just tell you a couple of things, Mr. Chair, about what they
do. They look at the frequency of publication that has inaccurate
information, the extent of sourcing and original reporting on
information, and the degree of demarcation between news and opinion
journalists.
Mr. Chair, I attended both public and private grade schools and
colleges, and I remember the good Sister saying, you are entitled to
your own opinion, it should be said so respectfully, but you are not
entitled to your own facts.
One of the things that they try to do is ferret out what is hard news
and what is somebody's opinion. We are entitled to read people's
opinions.
When opinions somehow get woven in and they become fact, it becomes
very confusing for people. What NewsGuard tries to do is kind of help
separate that out; the accuracy of headlines, including those that are
click-bait headlines and the degree of disclosure of the website's
owner.
If you are reading something and you want to know who owns it, is it
owned by your next-door neighbor? Is it owned by an American company?
Is it owned by a Chinese company? Is it owned by a foreign national? It
discloses all those kinds of things.
I am the daughter of a librarian. I am not about censorship, but I am
about people being able to sort out in this day and age what is
opinion, what is fact, and who is writing what, so we know what their
bias is.
That is why I strongly oppose this amendment and believe that
NewsGuard is a service that provides some tools to counter
misinformation, and they have been around since 2018.

I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, while I appreciate my colleague's
perspective, it should be noted that when conservative versus other
news sources are compared with similar metrics that the more liberal-
leaning news outlets are ranked 27 points higher.
This has a direct impact on revenue streams. To say that they are
somehow unbiased literally defies the facts that I have laid out before
you and that you have conservative news sites on the bottom end of the
spectrum, whereas the more mainstream, liberal-leaning news sites are
at the top.
Mr. Chairman, it should also be noted that NewsGuard is known to be
reliant on and working with the WHO, the World Health Organization,
which is known for disinformation and lying and is unduly influenced by
the CCP.
This is a grant that should not be authorized, it should not be
continued, and they should not be relied upon.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I would love to see the source for NewsGuard
working directly with the World Health Organization.
They might report things from the World Health Organization, but that
is different than working directly with them because that implies
something else.
I am going to close this up just saying there are many people, when
they are sorting through something, that just want to know that there
is a fact-checker.
I am sorry if the gentleman, Mr. Chair, feels that somehow or
another, some of the papers or the websites or the news programs he
wants to watch don't have as high a rating from NewsGuard. He is still
free to watch and do that.
For people who just want to make sure that things are fact-checked,
they want to know who owns the site, who is operating the site, where
they are getting their sources and cites from, that is what NewsGuard's
function is.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.

Amendment No. 172 Offered by Mr. Rosendale

The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 172
printed in part A of House Report 118-216.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:

At the end of the bill (before the short title) insert the
following:
Sec. 8155. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used to require a member

[[Page H4619]]

of the Armed Forces or a civilian employee of the Department
of Defense to receive a vaccination against COVID-19.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 723, the gentleman
from Montana (Mr. Rosendale) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Montana.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, my amendment No. 172 would prohibit funds
made available by this act to require a member of the Armed Forces or a
civilian employee of the Department of Defense to receive a COVID-19
vaccine.
The fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act rescinded
Secretary Austin's memorandum requiring that members of the Armed
Forces be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Unfortunately, the NDAA did not prohibit future mandates. The last
mandate resulted in over 8,400 troops being kicked out of the military
for refusing this experimental vaccine, and we lost about 60,000
reservists. Countless individuals also decided not to enlist because of
this mandate.
While our military is failing dramatically to meet recruiting goals,
it is outrageous that the Department of Defense would condition
employment on receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
For example, in 2022, the Army sought 60,000 recruits but only
enlisted 45,000. For 2023, the Army is aiming to recruit 65,000 new
members but is only expected to recruit between 50- and 55,000 Active-
Duty members.
Additionally, young, healthy males are the least at risk of getting a
severe case of COVID-19 while they are the most likely group to have an
adverse reaction from the vaccine, making the mandate not just
counterproductive but potentially dangerous.

{time} 1350

The Biden administration is already urging all Americans to get a
booster shot, despite no human-outcome data on the new shot. Congress
must preemptively stop all COVID-19 vaccine requirements before these
unelected bureaucrats try to take more control of our lives.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCOLLUM. The Department took bold and effective action to
confront the COVID-19 pandemic, protect our personnel across the force,
and ensure that the U.S. military can fight and win wherever they are
needed.
In fact, the Department of Defense lost 96 servicemembers to COVID.
There were 96 servicemembers that died from COVID. More than 2 million
servicemembers have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
All the servicemembers in the Department of Defense are required to
comply with applicable medical readiness requirements. One such
requirement is when you go to boot camp--and a lot of us have seen the
movies and know people who have served--all servicemembers must
receive, if they have not already, inoculations and immunizations. They
usually are the same ones that we have had as children. They just want
to make sure they are up-to-date because you have to get your tetanus
redone and things like that that are required.
These vaccinations also include measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus,
diphtheria, pertussis, and chicken pox. In some cases, service
personnel are required to take certain medications if they are deployed
to an area, for example, to prevent malaria or maybe yellow fever. That
is to make sure that they are safe.
Applicants for military service and servicemembers may seek an
exemption--that has always been available to them and it continues to
be available to them. They can seek an exemption for vaccine
requirements based on qualifying medical or religious--so they can ask
for that, and they are often granted it.
Members of Congress should not be directing or deciding what vaccines
or medications are needed for our military personnel.
Madam Chair, I would ask my colleagues to take a second and for you
to come along with me. Just imagine you are on a submarine. My father-
in-law served on a submarine in World War II, and he would tell me how
close those quarters are. I have been on a submarine, so I know how
close they are. There is no place for total privacy and germs are all
over.
Just think what would happen if there was a COVID-19 outbreak, how
that could possibly affect national security. All of our service
personnel are in close quarters with one another. We must try to
protect them from any disease that could inhibit their ability to
execute that mission.
At this point there are no COVID vaccine requirements. There aren't
for any members of the total force. There aren't any requirements
pending for this right now. The Department of Defense says, no, you
don't have to get this one, there are other ones you have to get.
Madam Chair, since there are no COVID-19 vaccine requirements
pending, I don't know why we are debating this amendment. For this
reason, I would ask my colleagues to vote against this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Chair, I am glad we are talking about the
effectiveness and the readiness of our military. Again, 60,000
reservists left the military because of a mandate. Fortunately, we did
learn something from it and it was removed from the NDAA, and Austin
went along with it.
These are the mandatory vaccinations that all servicemembers are
required to receive before initial entry in basic training: adenovirus,
hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella,
meningococcal, poliovirus, tetanus-diphtheria, and varicella.
However, the main difference is that these other vaccines are much
different and more effective than the COVID-19 vaccine. Take measles,
for example. One estimate found that the measles vaccine is 85 times
more effective than the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy),
my dear friend.
Mr. ROY. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of this amendment
because it is extremely important. The reason there isn't a mandate at
the Department of Defense right now is because we demanded that it end.
That is the truth. We forced it through on that ridiculous omnibus
spending bill last December.
Here is the reality. We have a doctor here in the building right now
speaking to a group of members from Johns Hopkins University talking
about the extent to which the current iteration of the COVID vaccine
has been tested on 10 lab rats. It hasn't gone through any human trials
that are necessary.
When my father had polio and the vaccine came after, it was a decade
of testing and trials. We have stuck this vaccine out because of panic.
We have undermined the health and well-being of our soldiers, airmen,
and marines. We should stop it. We should prohibit it in the future,
and we should make backpay available to our former members of the
military that were kicked out.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, at some point I would like the gentleman
from Montana to show me his statistics. We might have had 60,000 people
who chose not to re-up. To attribute it all to COVID, I would like to
see that information. I am sure Chair Calvert would like to see that
information because that would be important to see. That is a statistic
I would like to see where it came from.
Madam Chair, I will state again that the COVID-19 vaccine currently
isn't required, but to ban it in such a blanket way in which we are
doing, takes away some of the ability for the Department. You volunteer
to be on a submarine. It takes away some of the flexibility that the
Department or commander or someone in the height of a pandemic--should
it come again--they should have every tool in their toolbox. Right now
there is no current reason for it.

Madam Chair, I am like you, talking to friends and neighbors. Some
are deciding to get it, some are deciding not to get it, just like
people do with the flu shot. There are certain times that the
Department of Defense says you need to take these certain medications.
The gentleman from Montana listed off a lot of them. We have had
them.

[[Page H4620]]

Our kids have had them. Our servicemembers have them. COVID-19 isn't on
a list right now of anything that is being required. This seems to me
to be superfluous and kind of creates more friction and anxiousness
about how we talk about medicine that is being provided. This is
medicine that should be optional.
Is this an option that would be available if a servicemember going in
said, hey, I want to get the COVID vaccine? I want to have it, and I
would like the Department of Defense to provide it to me.
I really think we should leave it up to the medical professionals at
the Department of Defense to say what is necessary. Right now they are
saying this isn't a mandated vaccine.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Chair, we don't have a single problem with this
being an option. If any servicemembers want to go and get an
experimental vaccination plugged into their arm, they are welcome to do
so.
What we are saying is that the dollars that are going to be issued to
the Department of Defense should not include any mandate for this
experimental vaccination.
In August of 2022, The Washington Post reported that 58 percent of
the deaths related to COVID-19 were among vaccinated or boosted
persons. This raises serious questions about even the effectiveness of
this vaccine.
I would also like to state that the COVID-19 vaccine requirements
also continue to ignore natural immunity. As renowned Dr. Marty Makary
testified in the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic this
year, ``Over the past 3 years, over 200 studies have shown that natural
immunity is at least as effective than vaccinated immunity. A recent
Lancet review . . . natural immunity is at least as effective as
vaccinated immunity, and probably better.''
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mrs. Houchin). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rosendale).
The amendment was agreed to.

____________________