[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6947-H6961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2670, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2024

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2670) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 
and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
December 6, 2023, at Book II, page H6213.)


                        Parliamentary Inquiries

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I would ask if now is the appropriate time 
to make points of parliamentary inquiry and motions related to the 
properness of H.R. 2670, the conference report, being before this 
House?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may state an inquiry at this 
time, if he has one about the pending measure.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire as to whether or not when 
originally filed, H.R. 2670 complied with the requirements of the rules 
of the House to have a single purpose stated, and if so, what was that 
single purpose?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will not provide an advisory 
opinion. The Chair would advise the gentleman that consistent with 
prior clarifications by the Chair, including on December 19, 2007, a 
motion to suspend the rules waives all points of order that would have 
otherwise applied to this measure.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, that is why we tried to do it before the 
motion was made. I am questioning how can a Member exercise his rights 
under the rules to raise objections when the rule clearly says it must 
be done before the commencement of debate. Now we are told that once a 
measure has been called up and the motion has been made, we can't make 
the inquiries or challenge the properness of the conference report.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama has made a motion 
to suspend the rules. The effect of such motion is that all points of 
order are waived.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. That is if the resolution passes. I am trying to 
establish whether or not this is even properly before the body.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The motion to suspend the rules was properly 
offered.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, is the Chair confirming that there was, in 
fact, a single purpose declaration made at the time of the filing of 
the bill, because otherwise it is not properly before the House at all.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is confirming that the gentleman 
has offered a motion to suspend the rules to adopt a conference report, 
and that is what is pending right now.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, is the Chair indicating that the mere 
motion to suspend the rules, therefore, suspends the rules until such 
time as that motion is defeated?

[[Page H6948]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is correct.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Chair if that also applies 
to any germaneness that might apply that would otherwise be in 
violation of the conference reports stated in rule XXII.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. As the Chair just stated, that applies to 
any and all points of order.
  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, with respect to the discussion about who is 
controlling the time, I would rise in true opposition to claim time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) 
opposed to the conference report?
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, no, I am not.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) and 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield one half of my time to 
the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith), and ask that the gentleman 
be allowed to control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material on the conference report to accompany H.R. 
2670 and that I may include tabular material on the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alabama?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  December 14, 2023, on page H6948, in the second column, the 
following appeared: Mr. ROGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. ROGERS of 
Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  I rise in strong support of FY24 National Defense Authorization Act.
  The NDAA is one of the most consequential bills Congress considers. 
Passage of this bill each year sends an important signal to the men and 
women defending our freedom that Congress can function and will 
prioritize their needs above all else.
  Enacting the NDAA has never been more valid than today. America and 
our allies face unprecedented and rapidly evolving threats from China, 
Russia, Iran, North Korea, and terrorist organizations throughout the 
world.
  These threats are real. We all just witnessed terrorist acts on their 
threats against one of our closest allies in the Middle East, and we 
all pray for Israel as it counters the most vile attack on Jewish 
people since the Holocaust.
  To stay ahead of these threats, DOD came to Congress this year, as 
they do every year, to request critical new authorities as a part of 
the National Defense Authorization Act.
  We took those requests seriously. We held dozens of hearings to 
examine them, then we worked to improve them and add our own priorities 
through the committee and floor processes.
  We followed regular order and had a conference committee for the 
first time in 2 years. We fought the Senate for weeks over each other's 
priorities, and we came to a compromise. That is what is before us 
today.
  I will be the first to admit, I am disappointed we didn't get all the 
priorities we wanted, but the Senate is pretty disappointed they didn't 
get the priorities they wanted either. It takes compromise to move 
legislation in a divided government, and this bill is a good 
compromise. It is laser-focused on deterring our adversaries, 
especially China.
  The conference report includes critical new authorities to ensure our 
warfighters have what they need to deter our adversaries and to prevail 
in future battles. It goes a long way toward ending woke policies being 
forced on our servicemembers by leftwing bureaucrats.
  It includes provisions that ban critical race theory and require 
promotion based on merit. It includes several provisions that require 
accountability from the administration, like a Special Inspector 
General for Ukraine aid and a deadline for the DOD to finally pass an 
audit.
  It improves the security of Israel by extending weapons transfers and 
expanding joint military training.
  Finally, the conference report carries important new quality-of-life 
improvements for our servicemembers and their military families, 
including the largest pay raise in over 20 years.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is a compromise, but it is a good compromise. 
It puts the need of our servicemembers and our national security before 
all else.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. Speaker, below is a table representing $37.6 billion in savings 
over the Future Years Defense Program included in the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On December 14, 2023, page H6948, in the third column, the 
following appeared: Madam Speaker, below is a table representing 
$37.6 billion in savings over the Future Years Defense Program 
included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2024.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. Speaker, 
below is a table representing $37.6 billion in savings over the 
Future Years Defense Program included in the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 



                            SAVINGS TABLE, FY 2024 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
                                            (In Thousands of Dollars)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    TOTAL FYDP
   SERVICE/COMPONENT                     DESCRIPTION OF SAVINGS/PLATFORM DIVESTED                     SAVINGS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              AIR FORCE  F-15EX, Other support costs unjustified growth                                   26,730
              AIR FORCE  KC-46A MDAP, Commodities activation excess to need                               41,000
              AIR FORCE  Combat Rescue Helicopter, Obsolesence ahead of need                              22,784
              AIR FORCE  F-16, Comms suite upgrade kits previously funded                                  5,705
              AIR FORCE  F-16, Comms suite upgrade installation delays                                     5,454
              AIR FORCE  F-22A, Sensor enhancement delays                                                434,997
              AIR FORCE  F-15 EPAW, SEPM unjustified growth                                               15,681
              AIR FORCE  Other Production Charges, T-7A depot activation ahead of need                    33,609
              AIR FORCE  Cartridges, Small cal/ground munitions - (A143) 7.62MM ball linked unit             500
                          cost adjustment
              AIR FORCE  General Purpose Bombs, Previously funded items                                   14,855
              AIR FORCE  Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), Unjustified request                           12,824
              AIR FORCE  Joint Direct Attack Munition, PSC other government costs unjustified              3,877
                          growth
              AIR FORCE  Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Utility unjustified unit cost growth                6,059
              AIR FORCE  Fuels Support Equipment (FSE), Fuel storage bladder unjustified unit              3,239
                          cost growth
              AIR FORCE  General Information Technology, Insufficient justification                       25,000
              AIR FORCE  Afnet, Insufficient justification                                                 2,293
              AIR FORCE  F-35, Flyaway unit cost growth                                                  103,740
              AIR FORCE  Other Production Charges, Excess to need                                        229,400
              AIR FORCE  KC-46A Mdap, Cost overestimation: Other government costs                          6,571
              AIR FORCE  B-2A, Excess to need: IFF transponder                                             3,600
              AIR FORCE  B-52, Cost overestimation: Tactical data links program support                    3,199

[[Page H6949]]

 
              AIR FORCE  F-16, SLEP costs previously funded                                               25,440
              AIR FORCE  Combat Training Ranges, Unit cost growth: P6CTS                                   3,050
              AIR FORCE  Fuels Support Equipment (FSE), All Terrain Berm Storage System schedule           7,215
                          discrepancies
              AIR FORCE  HC/MC-130 Recap RDT&E, Program decrease                                          20,000
              AIR FORCE  F-35 C2D2, Program decrease                                                       1,993
              AIR FORCE  HC/MC-130 Recap RDT&E, Excess to need                                             5,000
              AIR FORCE  Hypersonics Prototyping, Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW)              150,340
              AIR FORCE  B-52 Squadrons, Scheduling delays                                                20,639
              AIR FORCE  VC-25B, Excess to Need                                                           57,000
              AIR FORCE  Advanced Weapons Technology, Excessive cost growth                               10,000
              AIR FORCE  Modular Advanced Missile, Program decrease                                      105,238
              AIR FORCE  Advanced Pilot Training, Program delay                                            2,272
              AIR FORCE  Future AF Integrated Technology Demos, Program reduction                         42,200
              AIR FORCE  Advanced Aerospace Sensors, Multi-Spectrum Sensing Demonstration excess           2,200
                          to need
              AIR FORCE  Advanced Technology and Sensors, Imaging and Targeting Support excess             2,470
                          growth
              AIR FORCE  Operational Energy and Installation Resilience, Excess growth                    10,402
              AIR FORCE  Stand In Attack Weapon, Aircraft integration delays                              13,000
              AIR FORCE  Airborne Sigint Enterprise, Underexecution                                        2,202
              AIR FORCE  C-5 Airlift Squadrons (IF), SIL early to need                                     1,216
              AIR FORCE  KC-135S, Comm 2 early to need                                                     1,583
              AIR FORCE  Air Force Studies and Analysis Agency, Modeling and Simulation                    3,000
                          Development excess growth
              AIR FORCE  Classified Programs, Classified adjustment                                      212,081
              AIR FORCE  Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), EMO excess to need                 69,716
              AIR FORCE  Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), Test and evaluation                12,657
                          excess to need
              AIR FORCE  Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), Management services                15,919
                          overestimation
              AIR FORCE  HH-60W, Support costs excess to need                                                892
              AIR FORCE  KC-46A Tanker Squadrons, Direct mission support excess to need                    7,168
              AIR FORCE  KC-46A Tanker Squadrons, Aircrew training system previously funded                9,864
              AIR FORCE  KC-46A Tanker Squadrons, Test and evaluation previously funded                   20,175
              AIR FORCE  Specialized Undergraduate Flight Training, T-6 avionics replacement               1,182
                          program delay
              AIR FORCE  High Frequency Radio Systems, Program support costs unjustified request           5,000
              AIR FORCE  ISR Modernization & Automation Dvmt (IMAD), Unjustified growth                    5,110
              AIR FORCE  Contractor Logistics Support and System Support, Underexecution                  40,000
              AIR FORCE  Flying Hour Program, Underexecution                                             115,000
              AIR FORCE  Base Support, Underexecution                                                    115,000
              AIR FORCE  Flight Training, Underexecution                                                  12,241
              AIR FORCE  Other Servicewide Activities, Underexecution                                     45,000
              AIR FORCE  Primary Combat Forces, Unjustified growth                                        30,000
              AIR FORCE  Contractor Logistics Support and System Support, Unjustified growth              18,000
              AIR FORCE  US Centcom, Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq reduction                         6,000
              AIR FORCE  Undistributed, Unobligated balances                                             200,000
              AIR FORCE  Undistributed, Unobligated balances                                              28,000
              AIR FORCE  Undistributed, Unobligated balances                                              21,900
              AIR FORCE  Primary Combat Forces, Unjustified growth                                        30,000
              AIR FORCE  Combat Enhancement Forces, Unjustified growth                                    36,000
              AIR FORCE  Global C3I and Early Warning, Unjustified request                                18,400
              AIR FORCE  Other Combat Ops Spt Programs, Unjustified growth                                13,000
              AIR FORCE  Administration, Program decrease - contract support                                 500
              AIR FORCE  Air Operations Training (OJT, Maintain Skills), Unjustified growth               19,000
              AIR FORCE  Aircraft Operations, Unjustified growth                                          20,000
              AIR FORCE  Air Force end strength underexecution                                           564,000
              AIR FORCE  Air National Guard AGR end strength underexecution                               33,000
              AIR FORCE  A-10 aircraft divestment                                                      4,494,727
              AIR FORCE  B-1B aircraft divestment                                                        406,851
              AIR FORCE  C-130H aircraft divestment                                                      692,418
              AIR FORCE  E-3/AWACS aircraft divestment                                                   764,689
              AIR FORCE  E-8 JSTARS aircraft divestment                                                1,464,417
              AIR FORCE  EC-130H aircraft divestment                                                     496,521
              AIR FORCE  EC-130J aircraft divestment                                                     186,030
              AIR FORCE  F-15 C/D aircraft divestment                                                  3,699,838
              AIR FORCE  F-15E aircraft divestment                                                     1,723,000
              AIR FORCE  F-16 C/D aircraft divestment                                                  1,239,576
              AIR FORCE  HH-60G aircraft divestment                                                    1,462,747
              AIR FORCE  KC-10 aircraft divestment                                                     2,054,206
              AIR FORCE  KC-135 R/T aircraft divestment                                                1,533,002

[[Page H6950]]

 
              AIR FORCE  T-1A aircraft divestment                                                        631,948
              AIR FORCE  Classified Programs, Program justification review                                14,737
                   ARMY  Aircraft Survivability Equipment, B-Kit unit cost adjustment                      5,230
                   ARMY  Precision Strike Missile (PRSM), Unjustified growth: Software                     6,250
                          maintenance
                   ARMY  Bradley Program (Mod), Unjustified growth: modification 7 installation            6,204
                   ARMY  Signal Modernization Program, Program decrease                                   10,400
                   ARMY  COTS Communications Equipment, Program decrease                                   7,100
                   ARMY  Armored Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), Program decrease                            2,500
                   ARMY  M-SHORAD - Procurement, Excess fielding growth                                   10,500
                   ARMY  Handheld Manpack Small Form Fit (HMS), Excess to need                             5,043
                   ARMY  Joint Battle Command - Platform (JBC-P), Unjustified Cost Growth -                5,224
                          Fielding and Systems Engineering
                   ARMY  IAMD Battle Command System, Excess Interim Contractor Support                    17,100
                   ARMY  Ground Soldier System, Excess to need                                            12,867
                   ARMY  Mobile Protected Firepower, Excessive growth - systems technical                  8,000
                          support
                   ARMY  Stryker Upgrade, Excessive growth - fleet modifications                           4,600
                   ARMY  CTG, 25mm, All Types, Excess to need                                              7,257
                   ARMY  Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Family and Vehicl, Unit cost increases               2,095
                   ARMY  Tactical Network Technology Mod In Svc, SATCOM obsolescence previously           12,003
                          funded
                   ARMY  Counter Small Unmanned Aerial System (C-SUAS), Execution delays                  60,000
                   ARMY  Night Vision Devices, Restore acquisition accountability: Government              3,284
                          program management costs
                   ARMY  Emerging Technology Initiatives, Program decrease                                51,440
                   ARMY  Lethality Advanced Technology, Program decrease                                   2,827
                   ARMY  Aviation - Adv Dev, FARA - Excess to need                                        13,356
                   ARMY  Soldier Systems - Advanced Development, Slow expenditure rate - Advance             523
                          Development
                   ARMY  Soldier Systems - Advanced Development, Excessive growth - Program                1,333
                          management
                   ARMY  Maneuver - Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD), Delayed expenditure -              7,245
                          Contract Award Delay
                   ARMY  Medium Tactical Vehicles, Incomplete development goals                           25,000
                   ARMY  Light Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, Incomplete development goals                    43,893
                   ARMY  Night Vision Systems - Eng Dev, Slow expenditure - Joint Effects                  5,028
                          Targetting System (JETS)
                   ARMY  Manned Ground Vehicle, OMFV slow expenditure                                    120,900
                   ARMY  Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Engineering and Manufacturing                 1,100
                          Development Ph, Slow expenditure
                   ARMY  Improved Turbine Engine Program, Excessive Growth - Government Planning           1,721
                   ARMY  Improved Turbine Engine Program, Slow expenditure rate                            8,464
                   ARMY  Combat Vehicle Improvement Programs, Slow expenditure - Stryker Combat           10,445
                          Vehicle Improvement Program
                   ARMY  155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer Improvements, Slow expenditure - Extended           6,200
                          Range Cannon Artillery
                   ARMY  155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer Improvements, Excess growth - ERCA range            5,900
                          prototype build
                   ARMY  Environmental Quality Technology - Dem/Val, Program decrease                      2,500
                   ARMY  Suite and Survivability Enhancement Systems - Emd, Maintain program               1,200
                          management level of effort
                   ARMY  Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) (6.5), Unjustified growth                    3,923
                   ARMY  Maneuver Units, Unjustified growth                                              100,000
                   ARMY  Force Readiness Operations Support, Unjustified growth                           54,000
                   ARMY  Servicewide Communications, Insufficient justification                           25,000
                   ARMY  Echelons Above Brigade, Unjustified growth                                        7,000
                   ARMY  Theater Level Assets, Unjustified growth                                          2,000
                   ARMY  Aviation Assets, Unjustified growth                                              11,000
                   ARMY  Force Readiness Operations Support, Unjustified growth                            5,000
                   ARMY  Aviation Assets, Unjustified growth                                              40,000
                   ARMY  Base Operations Support, Unjustified growth                                      27,669
                   ARMY  Specialized Skill Training, Unjustified growth                                   15,000
                   ARMY  Central Supply Activities, Unjustified growth                                    25,000
                   ARMY  Manpower Management, Unjustified growth                                           3,000
                   ARMY  Other Service Support, Unjustified growth                                         5,000
                   ARMY  Echelons Above Brigade, Underexecution                                           14,000
                   ARMY  Theater Level Assets, Underexecution                                             10,000
                   ARMY  Land Forces Operations Support, Underexecution                                   14,000
                   ARMY  Base Operations Support, Unjustified growth                                       2,000
                   ARMY  Army, Underexecution of strength                                                787,901
                   ARMY  UH-60A aircraft divestment                                                        3,400
                   ARMY  UH-60L aircraft divestment                                                       15,300
                   CBDP  Chemical and Biological Defense Program - Advanced Development, Program          35,419
                          decrease
                   CBDP  Chemical and Biological Defense Program - Dem/Val, Excess growth                 24,847
                   CBDP  Chemical and Biological Defense Program - EMD, Execution risk                    20,597
                  CYBER  Robust Infrastructure and Access, Unjustified growth                             34,647
                  DARPA  Sensor Technology, Program decrease                                               5,250
                  DARPA  Advanced Aerospace Systems, Program decrease                                     10,000

[[Page H6951]]

 
                  DARPA  Biomedical Technology, Program decrease                                          10,000
                  DARPA  Tactical Technology, Program decrease                                            20,000
                  DARPA  Advanced Electronics Technologies, Reduce carryover: Next generation             10,000
                          microelectronics manufacturing
                  DARPA  Space Programs and Technology, Excess growth                                     12,500
                   DCMA  Defense Contract Management Agency, Unobligated balances                          3,000
                   DCSA  Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Unjustified growth              35,000
           DEFENSE-WIDE  Other Items <$5M, Program decrease                                                2,500
           DEFENSE-WIDE  Undistributed, Historical unobligated balances                                   15,000
           DEFENSE-WIDE  Savings from Foreign currency fluctuations                                      785,200
           DEFENSE-WIDE  Classified Programs, Classified adjustment                                       70,968
                    DHA  Consolidated Health Support, Historical underexecution                            6,018
                    DHA  Base Operations/Communications, Historical underexecution                         2,500
                    DHA  In-House Care, Baseline adjustment                                               93,989
                    DHA  Private Sector Care, Unjustified growth                                          25,151
                   DHRA  Defense Human Resources Activity, Underexecution                                 45,000
                   DISA  Defense Information Systems Agency, Program decrease                             25,000
                   DISA  Defense Information Systems Agency, Unobligated balances                          9,900
                   DLSA  Defense Legal Services Agency, Historical unobligated balances                    2,000
                  DODEA  Department and Defense Education Activity, Historical unobligated                 7,000
                          balances
                 DOE EM  Waste Treatment Immobilization Plant Commissioning                               36,000
                 DOE EM  Program support - Defense Environmental Cleanup                                  20,956
                 DOE EM  Defense Uranium Enrichment D&D                                                2,228,000
               DOE NNSA  Weapon technology and manufacturing maturation, Program decrease                 20,000
               DOE NNSA  Community Capacity Building Program, Insufficient justificationl;               356,184
                          Academic Programs and Community Support, Underexecution
               DOE NNSA  Maintenance and Repair of Facilities                                             18,000
               DOE NNSA  Infrastructure and Safety                                                        12,000
               DOE NNSA  International nuclear security                                                   48,535
               DOE NNSA  Nonproliferation and Arms Control                                               100,000
               DOE NNSA  Proliferation detection                                                          50,000
               DOE NNSA  NNSA Bioassurance Program                                                       180,144
               DOE NNSA  Federal Salaries and Expenses, Progam direction                                  20,000
     DOE NUCLEAR ENERGY  Nuclear Energy                                                                   17,733
                   DSCA  Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Program decrease - Border Security         120,000
                   DTRA  Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Program decrease                                10,000
                    JCS  Joint Chiefs of Staff, Unobligated balances                                       3,600
                    JCS  Joint Chiefs of Staff - JTEEP, Unjustified growth                                 3,000
                    MDA  AEGIS BMD, Program decrease                                                       4,000
                    MDA  BMD Enabling Programs, Poor justification                                           807
                    MDA  AEGIS BMD Test, Excess growth                                                     5,049
     MILITARY PERSONNEL  Unobligated balances                                                             89,645
                   NAVY  Common Ground Equipment, Program decrease                                         5,000
                   NAVY  LCS In-Service Modernization, Excessive cost growth                              17,030
                   NAVY  Shipboard IW Exploit, Excessive cost growth                                      16,925
                   NAVY  Afloat ATC Equipment, Excessive cost growth                                       2,118
                   NAVY  In-Service Radars and Sensors, Insufficient justification                        15,000
                   NAVY  LCS MCM Mission Modules, Excess to need                                          14,291
                   NAVY  FFG-Frigate, Insufficient justification                                          10,000
                   NAVY  AS Submarine Tender, Late contract award                                      1,485,234
                   NAVY  MQ-25, Scheduling delays                                                        199,000
                   NAVY  MQ-25 Ap, Scheduling delays                                                      12,600
                   NAVY  Joint Strike Fighter CV, Flyaway unit cost growth                                28,500
                   NAVY  JSF STOVL, Flyaway unit cost growth                                              42,666
                   NAVY  Special Support Equipment, Flyaway unit cost growth                              19,328
                   NAVY  F-18 Series, F/A-18 C/D/E/F and EA-18G training equipment previously              5,812
                          funded
                   NAVY  C-130 Series, Technical insertion (OSIP 019-14) Block 7 GFE unjustified           4,027
                          growth
                   NAVY  MQ-4 Series, OSIP (003-23) previously funded                                      3,788
                   NAVY  Conventional Prompt Strike, Early to need                                        85,358
                   NAVY  Sidewinder, AUR Block II unit cost increase                                       2,859
                   NAVY  Small Diameter Bomb Ii, AUR unit cost growth                                      1,366
                   NAVY  Tomahawk Mods, Contract award delays                                             32,489
                   NAVY  CVN Refueling Overhauls Ap, Excess growth                                        14,658
                   NAVY  Outfitting, Outfitting early to need                                             17,684
                   NAVY  LPD Class Support Equipment, HWISW obsolescence installation cost                 6,616
                          growth
                   NAVY  Marine Group 5 Uas, Ancillary Equipment carryover                                 3,500
                   NAVY  Next Generation Jammer (NGJ), Contract savings                                    2,520

[[Page H6952]]

 
                   NAVY  Surface Combatant HM&E, DDG 51 ship control system cost growth                    5,341
                   NAVY  Marine Corps Communications Systems, Marine Electromagnetic Warfare               7,200
                          Ground Family of Systems
                   NAVY  Marine Corps Communications Systems, Tactical Communication                       1,700
                          Modernization
                   NAVY  Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) Increment II, Next Generation Jammer - Low          50,932
                          Band
                   NAVY  F-35 C2D2, TR-3/B4 Unplanned cost growth                                         35,503
                   NAVY  F-35 C2D2, TR-3/B4 Unplanned cost growth                                         31,568
                   NAVY  CHALK CORAL, Program decrease                                                   165,000
                   NAVY  Marine Corps Ground Combat/Support System, Slow expenditure                       9,593
                   NAVY  Link Plumeria, Project 2937: Unjustified requirements                            50,000
                   NAVY  Marine Corps Air Defense Weapons Systems, Slow expenditure                       10,500
                   NAVY  Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), Slow expenditure                         8,600
                   NAVY  Unmanned Aerial System, ILS support previously funded                             3,172
                   NAVY  Frigate Development, Live fire test and evaluation early to need                  2,800
                   NAVY  Small and Medium Unmanned Undersea Vehicles, Medusa unexecutable                 16,515
                          contract award date
                   NAVY  Advanced Undersea Prototyping, Program delays                                    21,725
                   NAVY  Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicles (MUSVs), Program de!ays                         11,552
                   NAVY  Unmanned Surface Vehicle Enabling Capabilities, Prior year                        4,281
                          underexecution
                   NAVY  Other Helo Development, Project 3406 insufficient justification                  17,595
                   NAVY  Electronic Warfare Development, Prior year underexecution                         3,034
                   NAVY  Surface Combatant Combat System Engineering, Software SW factory                  9,750
                          insufficient justification
                   NAVY  Surface Combatant Combat System Engineering, Aegis capabillty package             5,500
                          2024 delays
                   NAVY  Standard Missile Improvements, Prior year underexecution                         29,376
                   NAVY  Lightweight Torpedo Development, Project 3418 testing ahead of need               8,500
                   NAVY  DDG-1000, Prior year underexecution                                               8,334
                   NAVY  F/A-18 Squadrons, Next generation naval mission planning system                  12,000
                          Insufficient justification
                   NAVY  USMC Ground Combat/Supporting Arms Systems - Eng Dev, OPF-M termination          20,181
                   NAVY  SSN(X), Unjustified growth-shipbuilder studies                                   18,000
                   NAVY  SSN(X), Unjustified growth-NSWC studies                                          13,804
                   NAVY  SSN(X), Unjustified growth-management and support costs                           7,950
                   NAVY  Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA), Test excess to need due to EDM delays           20,403
                   NAVY  Administration, Program decrease                                                 12,000
                   NAVY  Mission and Other Ship Operations, Underexecution                                10,000
                   NAVY  Weapons Maintenance, Underexecution                                              25,000
                   NAVY  Enterprise Information, Insufficient justification                               18,000
                   NAVY  Undistributed, Unobligated balances                                               4,200
                   NAVY  Combat Support Forces, Unjustified growth                                        20,000
                   NAVY  Base Operating Support, Unjustified growth                                       20,200
                   NAVY  Specialized Skill Training, Unjustified growth                                    5,000
                   NAVY  Navy Reserve, Projected underexecution                                           10,000
                   NAVY  Navy end strength underexecution                                                600,000
                   NAVY  Terminate COBRA Block II Development                                            290,000
                   NAVY  Disestablishment of Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 2                    87,400
                   NAVY  Continuous Process Improvement/Underexecution Reviews                           166,000
                   NAVY  AV-8B aircraft divestment                                                        64,800
                   NAVY  C-2A aircraft divestment                                                         29,400
                   NAVY  CH-53E aircraft divestment                                                       36,700
                   NAVY  E-2C aircraft divestment                                                         16,300
                   NAVY  F/A-18C aircraft divestment                                                     126,400
                   NAVY  F/A-18D aircraft divestment                                                      33,800
                   NAVY  F/A-18E aircraft divestment                                                      60,000
                   NAVY  F/A-18F aircraft divestment                                                      10,500
                   NAVY  MH-53E aircraft divestment                                                        3,500
                   NAVY  MH-60R aircraft divestment                                                        2,700
                   NAVY  MH-60S aircraft divestment                                                        1,900
                   NAVY  P-3C aircraft divestment                                                          2,100
                   NAVY  RQ-21A aircraft divestment                                                        5,900
                   NAVY  TH-57B aircraft divestment                                                        7,300
                   NAVY  TH-57C aircraft divestment                                                       15,300
                   NAVY  UH-1Y aircraft divestment                                                         6,900
                   NAVY  VH-3D aircraft divestment                                                         1,200
                   NAVY  VH-60N aircraft divestment                                                          800
                   NAVY  CG 69 - USS Vicksburg decommissioning                                           524,300
                   NAVY  LCS 6 - USS Jackson decommissioning                                             300,323
                   NAVY  LCS 8 - USS Montgomery decommissioning                                          306,429
              NAVY/USMC  General Purpose Bombs, O2181 laser guided bombs contract award delay              4,626

[[Page H6953]]

 
              NAVY/USMC  Airborne Rockets, All Types, MK 66 rocket motor unit cost growth                  5,195
              NAVY/USMC  Practice Bombs, 01050 BLU-109 contract award delay                                6,156
              NAVY/USMC  Infantry Weapons Ammunition, AB39, CTG. 7.62 millimeter MK 316 mod                  602
                          contract award delay
              NAVY/USMC  5 Inch/54 Gun Ammunition, Insufficient justification                              5,030
              NAVY/USMC  Infantry Weapons Ammunition, Excess to need: Cartridge, caliber 50 4                157
                          API M8/1 API-T M20 linked
              NAVY/USMC  Infantry Weapons Ammunition, Excess to need: Cartridge, Caliber 50                1,226
                          Linked MK322 Mod 1/Ball (1000m cap)
                    OSD  Environmental Security Technical Certification Program, Program                  30,600
                          decrease
                    OSD  Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) - Dem/Val               32,900
                          Activities, Insufficient justification
                    OSD  Trusted & Assured Microelectronics, Program decrease                             21,000
                    OSD  Information Systems Security Program, Program decrease                            6,000
                    OSD  Operational Energy Capability Improvement, Prior year underexecution              5,635
                    OSD  Trusted & Assured Microelectronics, Unjustified growth                           63,299
                    OSD  Net Centricity, Prior year underexecution                                         1,312
                    OSD  Advanced Innovative Technologies, Classified adjustment                          28,600
                    OSD  Office of the Secretary and Defense, Program decrease                            91,443
            SPACE FORCE  Special Space Activities, Space Force realignment of funds                      497,000
            SPACE FORCE  GPSIII Follow On, Request for Equitable Adjustment                               49,300
            SPACE FORCE  GPS III Space Segment, Unjustified growth SV 03-10 production                    18,100
            SPACE FORCE  Space Force It, Data Analytics, Digital Solutions, Program decrease              10,000
            SPACE FORCE  Global Positioning System III - Operational Control Segment, Excess to           45,400
                          need
            SPACE FORCE  Space Science and Technology Research and Development, Prior year                21,980
                          carryover
            SPACE FORCE  Space Technology Development and Prototyping, Inadequate justification -         25,000
                           other activities
            SPACE FORCE  Space Systems Prototype Transitions (SSPT), Underexecution                        9,473
            SPACE FORCE  Protected Tactical Service (PTS), Unjustified request - management                4,300
                          services
            SPACE FORCE  Weather System Follow-On, Unjustified increase - management services              1,600
            SPACE FORCE  Wideband Global Satcom (Space), Underexecution                                    2,200
            SPACE FORCE  Next-Gen OPIR - Ground, Underexecution                                           23,100
            SPACE FORCE  Next Generation OPIR, Underexecution                                              5,000
            SPACE FORCE  Next-Gen OPIR - Geo, Unjustified increase - management services                   4,265
            SPACE FORCE  Next-Gen OPIR - Polar, Unjustified increase - management services                 3,265
            SPACE FORCE  Narrowband Satellite Communications, Inadequate justification -                   9,450
                          management services
            SPACE FORCE  Satellite Control Network (Space), Underexecution                                 2,100
            SPACE FORCE  Undistributed, Unobligated balances                                              19,000
            SPACE FORCE  Space Operations, Unjustified growth                                              2,500
            SPACE FORCE  Education & Training, Unjustified growth                                          5,000
            SPACE FORCE  Contractor Logistics and System Support, Unjustified growth                       2,000
            SPACE FORCE  Global C3I & Early Warning, Unjustified growth                                   25,000
                    TJS  COCOM Exercise Engagement and Training Transformation (CE2T2) - Non-              6,300
                          MHA, No JLVC acquisition strategy
                   USMC  Amphibious Combat Vehicle Family and Vehicles, Unjustified growth -               3,500
                          Program Management
                   USMC  Common Aviation Command and Control System, Unjustified fielding growth           2,474
                   USMC  Items Under $5 Million (Comm & Elec), SBNVG unit cost growth                      4,879
                   USMC  Marine Corps Enterprise Network (Mcen), Network transport excess growth          14,565
                   USMC  Unmanned Air Systems (Intel), Unit cost growth                                    3,364
                   USMC  Command Post Systems, Unit cost growth                                            1,958
                   USMC  Radio Systems, Unexecutable growth                                               39,732
                   USMC  Undistributed, Unobligated balances                                              32,000
                   USMC  Undistributed, Unobligated balances                                               1,000
                   USMC  Field Logistics, Unjustified growth                                              25,000
                   USMC  Base Operating Support, Unjustified growth                                       42,750
                   USMC  Operational Forces, Unjustified growth                                           14,000
                   USMC  USMC Reserve, Underexecution of strength                                         24,315
                USSOCOM  Rotary Wing Upgrades and Sustainment, Underexecution                              5,000
                USSOCOM  Joint Service Provider, Insufficient justification                               10,000
                USSOCOM  Non-Standard Aviation, Theater Basing Initiatives excess to need                  4,000
                USSOCOM  Special Operations Command Theater Forces, Program decrease                       8,726
                USSOCOM  Special Operations Command Maintenance, Program decrease                         24,300
                USSOCOM  Special Operations Command Management/Operational Headquarters, Program           2,606
                          decrease
                USSOCOM  Special Operations Command Intelligence, Program decrease                         6,000
                USSOCOM  Special Operations Command Operational Support, Program decrease                 18,992
                USSOCOM  Special Operations Command Maintenance, MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle              4,000
                          unjustified increase
                USSOCOM  EC-130J aircraft divestment                                                       2,500
                USSOCOM  MC-12W aircraft divestment                                                       29,700
                USSOCOM  A/MH-6M aircraft divestment                                                       3,900
                    WHS  Washington Headquarters Services, Program decrease                               10,000
                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page H6954]]

 
     TOTAL FYDP SAVINGS  .......................................................................         643,455
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, I concur with the Chairman's conclusions. We worked this 
process as bipartisan and as open as any process in Congress. We had 
the markup in committee, we had the floor vote, and we had a bunch of 
amendments. The Senate did the same. We went to a conference committee, 
and we had a very robust discussion.
  We had disagreements. There are a lot of things in this bill that I 
do not like, but we have bipartisan control here. We have the Senate 
controlled by the Democrats, the White House controlled by the 
Democrats--they have to sign the bill--and the House controlled by the 
Republicans. So we worked a good compromise.
  Mr. Speaker, what this bill does is it supports our troops in their 
efforts to defend this country and to meet our national security needs. 
It has a robust pay increase, it has increases in basic housing 
allowance, and a number of other provisions to support our troops and 
their families.
  Critically, it solidifies our alliances with our European allies, 
with our allies in Asia and with Israel and our allies in the Middle 
East, to meet the threats that we face.
  You cannot oppose this bill and claim that you support the national 
security of this country because this bill represents that bipartisan 
compromise that we worked for to get a good bill, to meet our national 
security needs, and again, I would emphasis, to support our troops and 
to support their families.
  Nothing is more important to the national security of this country 
than the people who we ask to defend it. This bill protects them.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member in the body to support it, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the National Defense 
Authorization Act, and I say that respectfully to both sides who 
negotiated the bill, but I think the points that have been made here 
make my point.
  The fact of the matter is what is being stated is that it is 
impossible to oppose the National Defense Authorization Act because we 
put a pay raise in it, or because we put something in there that is 
seemingly so important that we have to ignore the critical destruction 
of our civil liberties by adding FISA extensions right on the top of 
it, without doing the reforms necessary to protect the American people.
  We do this every year. Then we are told: Oh, congratulations. We just 
had a conference committee.
  No, we didn't. Five people didn't even sign the conference report.
  What happened was a deal was cut by leadership, by the four corners, 
to shove down a predetermined bill into the conference, and said: Take 
it.
  Five people didn't sign it. They sent that conference report back to 
us, and they said: Take it, pass this before Christmas or you are going 
to leave our men and women in uniform stranded.
  That is what occurred. That is what is actually happening.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Gaetz).

                              {time}  0930

  Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I rise in opposition to this 
NDAA because there is a great deal of good in it, but only in 
Washington must we bring a bill to the floor so that we are able to 
militarily confront China while at the same time embracing the policies 
that make the United States more like China.
  There is no desire on the part of our great Armed Services chairman, 
and even the Democrats we worked with, to have an extension of spying 
authorities put in this bill when we have already seen those 
authorities just totally abused, 278,000 violations of the existing 
law, as the FBI has queried information regarding Americans.
  When the Obama-appointed inspector general was reviewing whether or 
not the administration was complying with existing law, they found out 
we were breaking the law 38 times an hour.
  To extend the authorities for spying that were being violated so that 
people at the FBI could do queries on their neighbors, their coworkers, 
their ex-lovers, that does not belong in the National Defense 
Authorization Act. Maybe we would be able to stomach some short-term 
extension if the underlying bill looked a little more like the product 
we sent out of the House of Representatives.
  With this NDAA conference report, you almost feel like a parent who 
has sent a child off to summer camp and they have come back a monster. 
That is what we have done. This bill came back in far worse shape.
  We had concern over these social justice warriors that were making 
salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars at DOD, so we put a 
cap on that at three times what a private or airman would make. We 
claim that that's still in the bill, but the Senate was able to erode 
that and say so long as that social justice warrior is assigned any 
other responsibility, they are able to blow through that cap and waste 
taxpayer money on something else that doesn't enhance our lethality or 
capability or survivability.
  We have legislation to eliminate the chief diversity officer at DOD 
because that was the fountainhead of so many of these woke, bad ideas, 
and yet the House receded on that position.
  Many of our colleagues were concerned that when you look at our 
military bases or installations, they were flying flags that weren't 
the American flag. They were flying the LGBTQ flag, the Black Lives 
Matter flag, whatever that flag is with all of those pink and black 
triangles in it. That desire that we had to fly the American flag and 
the flags of our service branches was also surrendered by the House of 
Representatives to the Senate.
  We wanted a parents bill of rights in DOD schools so that you 
wouldn't get the strange material that goes into radical gender 
ideology or race ideology. That was abandoned by the House of 
Representatives.
  So we also expressed a great deal of concern over the censorship that 
the DOD was funding through a lot of its alliances. We put in our bill 
a prohibition on marketing through those networks that have engaged in 
broad-scale censorship. Unfortunately, that was replaced with a report. 
Instead of stopping the money flowing to censorship through the DOD, we 
have just asked to be informed about it as it is happening, even though 
we already know it is happening. That is why we have conducted these 
investigations.
  This bill is insufficient to deal with the structural challenges that 
we have at the Department of Defense where they have veered 
substantially left. There is good in the bill, but it does not deserve 
an affirmative vote with this just absolutely unnecessary and uncalled-
for extension of spying authorities that we already know have been 
abused.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, before I yield to my friends 
and colleagues from the committee, I will respond to a charge that was 
made earlier that only five members refused to sign the conference 
report. There were 35 core conferees. Thirty core conferees did sign 
the conference report.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Lamborn), my friend and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
Strategic Forces.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this year's NDAA, 
and I thank the chairman for his leadership.
  I am honored to serve as the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Strategic

[[Page H6955]]

Forces. I am pleased that 53 provisions I led in this year's NDAA 
received broad bipartisan support.
  Through this bill, conservatives have achieved major wins that 
counter harmful Biden administration plans to treat our military like a 
social experiment. However, we must continue to make necessary 
investments in our strategic forces. We must prepare to simultaneously 
address two-peer aggressors, as well as deter the growing threats from 
Iran and North Korea. This bill does that.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill to ensure our 
men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend our 
Nation.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Just briefly on the 702 issue. Section 702 needs to be reformed. 
There is no question about that. Nobody I know of, however, says that 
it should completely go away. If we don't do it on this bill, it 
completely goes away on January 1, which is a huge national security 
threat to this country, universally agreed.
  Now, I agree with the gentleman that we should debate that policy, 
but it is fascinating because on Tuesday we were set up to debate that 
policy. We had a couple different choices there, and the very people 
now who are screaming that we can't extend this without reform blocked 
the rule that would have allowed us to reform 702. It really doesn't 
make any sense.
  What this bill does is it gives us time to do the reforms that need 
to be done without jeopardizing national security.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut 
(Mr. Himes), the ranking member of the House Intel Committee who knows 
this issue very, very well.

  Mr. HIMES. Madam Speaker, I just reemphasize what the ranking member 
said. We had a robust conversation about 702 this week, and there 
should be more robust conversation. What is completely intolerable is 
the notion that the authority should be allowed to expire.
  As ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, by God, let's reform 
it, but do not let it expire. If it expires, Americans and allies will 
die.
  I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024 
and congratulate the chairman and ranking member of the Armed Services 
Committee for their constructive work on this legislation which 
advances our national security. The partnership between the Armed 
Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee is as strong as it 
has been during my time in Congress, and I believe that this 
contributes to enhanced oversight of the agencies charged with 
protecting national security.
  Among the many provisions of the NDAA, I want to particularly 
highlight the Intelligence Authorization Act, which is incorporated as 
Division G of the NDAA. Under the leadership of Chairman Turner, the 
Intelligence Committee has worked collaboratively and effectively to 
advance the IAA. The conference agreement we have reached with the 
Senate advances our national security while supporting the brave men 
and women in the intelligence community.
  The FY24 IAA includes numerous provisions, the vast majority of which 
were developed on a bipartisan basis. To highlight just a few, the IAA 
includes a number of proposals I developed jointly with Chairman Turner 
intended to accelerate the IC's adoption of cutting-edge technology, 
particularly artificial intelligence.
  Our ability to leverage emerging technologies to the IC's mission 
will determine our ability to stay ahead of our adversaries in a world 
of great power competition.
  The legislation also includes sweeping reforms to how the CIA handles 
allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment. These reforms came 
out of a bipartisan investigation in which we found that too many CIA 
officers have experienced sexual misconduct and the agency's protocols 
for dealing with these incidents were often frustrating and not 
centered on victims. Our legislation would streamline those processes 
so victims know where to turn and what to expect.
  Madam Speaker, there is no question we face dangerous and complex 
challenges around the world. The IC's unique capabilities are what will 
continue to give us the edge over our adversaries and keep Americans 
safe. I urge support of the NDAA and with the IAA, which is included.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to clear up one misconception, that somehow there was a block 
of us who were denying the ability to have a rule on the floor with 
respect to FISA 702.
  The fact is, the question was, was there going to be a rule for 
something called queen of the hill, in which two bills would have been 
put forward with no amendments, none. There would have been no debate 
on the House floor. There would have been no ability to amend it here 
on the floor.
  As usual, it would have been the people who say they are the only 
ones who know the information needed to make the decisions for the 
American people to do it in a committee, behind closed doors, often in 
the SCIF, without half of us knowing any of the information, and then 
bring it to the floor and say take it or leave it. That was what was 
going to occur.
  We said we shouldn't do it that way, that what we should do is bring 
a bill to the floor that would reform FISA, allow us to offer 
amendments, have a debate on the warrant requirements, have a debate on 
who it applies to, and decide whether or not we are going to actually 
protect the civil liberties of the American people.
  Instead, no, no, what we are going to do is pile on an extension of 
FISA on the back of our defense authorization; that is, on the back of 
our men and women in uniform. We are going to allow it to be extended 
and the procedures extended until April of 2025. That is what your 
people's House is going to do.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Montana 
(Mr. Rosendale).
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, in July, the House Republicans passed 
the most conservative NDAA in history that ended Biden's taxpayer-
funded abortion travel fund, stopped taxpayer-funded gender transition 
surgeries, and prevented American citizens from being indefinitely 
detained without charge or trial. I was proud to vote for that 
legislation.
  I understood that this bill would change in the Senate and knew that 
compromise was inevitable.
  However, I cannot support a bill written by the D.C. uniparty that 
removes all of the reforms and watch as leadership once again suspends 
the rules we fought to restore, preventing Members from even amending 
this flawed legislation.
  Even worse, this legislation includes a clean extension of FISA 
section 702, which has allowed the FBI to spy on U.S. citizens more 
than 278,000 times without a warrant. The FBI, under President Biden, 
has been weaponized against the American people, and major reform is 
needed.
  FISA should not be combined with our national defense, and it is 
unacceptable that leadership is bypassing regular order to jam Members 
by forcing them to vote on two unrelated bills with one vote. Make no 
mistake about this, folks: This one vote will allow the United States 
Government to spy on you and the United States military to lock you up 
in Guantanamo Bay without representation.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), one of the 
most senior members of the Armed Services Committee and a real leader 
on national defense issues.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Chairman  
 Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith for the diligent work for 
this bipartisan NDAA, which I support.

  The axis of evil, war criminal Putin, the regime in Tehran, the 
Chinese Communist Party, dictators with rule of gun invading 
democracies with rule of law makes the passage of this bipartisan 
legislation more important than ever.
  I am grateful to have provisions included such as authorization for 
operations for critical missions at Savannah River Site, including 
plutonium pit production and the Tritium Finishing Facility; the U.S.-
Israel Future of Warfare Act, which provides for collaboration on 
defense and technology

[[Page H6956]]

for border security; the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, which is 
protecting American companies from demands for bribes by corrupt 
foreign officials. This is the most significant anticorruption law 
since the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, 
which promotes peace through strength.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would note that even if section 702 lapses at the end of December, 
the intelligence community will remain able to conduct 702 collection 
and queries until April 11, 2024. By the way, that is even setting 
aside Article I authority, which the President of the United States can 
go exercise under the current FISC certification.
  Number two, if the NDAA is passed with a FISA extension, as I said 
before, to April 19, 2024, it will enable the Biden administration to 
seek another yearlong certification which would kick it until April of 
2025.
  Both of those points have been independently corroborated by CRS 
attorneys as recently as August of this year and by Trump 
administration attorneys under similar circumstances as reported in The 
New York Times in 2017, an article that laid that out.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
  Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, we all know it is Christmas and you can 
sure tell because here we go with the ornaments. We have got a 
Christmas tree headed out, and we have got to put some ornaments on it. 
That is what is happening right now.
  Of course, we are going to violate our rules. You saw it here just a 
few moment ago. This violates the single-subject rule because Americans 
are literally sick of their Representatives coming home and saying to 
them: Well, I didn't want to vote for that, but this was on it, and we 
had to get this so I had to vote for that. That is how this town works. 
That is how you end up $34 trillion in debt, and that is how you spy on 
278,000 Americans under the Federal Government's authority.
  It violates the germaneness rule. People say what does that matter? 
Why does it matter if it is germane? Madam Speaker, the House passed a 
bill, a pretty good bill, thanks to the chairman, a pretty good bill. 
The Senate passed a bill. I don't think it was pretty good, but they 
passed a bill. Either way, you know what wasn't in either of those 
bills? The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act used to spy on 
Americans. That wasn't in the bill, but at the last minute it was 
airdropped into this bill.

                              {time}  0945

  In this House, we put in the rules that we need to know the single 
purpose of a bill. When we asked, ``What is the single purpose of this 
bill?'' this House said, ``We are not even going to tell the American 
people. We are not going to tell them that.'' They are not going to 
tell the American people that because they want to couple these two 
things together and pass a terrible National Defense Authorization Act.
  They are going to say the troops are not being paid when they are 
being paid. They are going to allow the Federal Government, under the 
guise of law, to spy on every American citizen.
  It is unconscionable and unacceptable. My colleagues should vote 
``no.''
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), my friend and colleague and the 
chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.
  Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, war is on our doorstep. With the Russian 
invasion of Ukraine, Iran's proxy conflict with Israel, North Korea's 
long-range ballistic missile development, and China's belligerence in 
the South China Sea, an axis of evil is rising again.
  These nations seek to challenge the security of the world that has 
provided our Nation's prosperity since World War II. We are answering 
the call with this year's NDAA. We drafted this bill to address the 
growing national security threats while taking care of our 
servicemembers.
  The bill increases the top line of defense to keep pace with our 
national security challenges.
  It provides a 5.2 percent servicemember pay increase, the largest 
increase in 20 years. This bill provides a path for COVID vaccine 
servicemembers to be reinstated.
  The bill curbs a reckless administration's diversity, equity, and 
inclusion appetite that detracts from warfighting.
  The bill provides needed force structure focus by retaining critical 
aircraft and ships, preparing us to deter conflict before 2030.
  Madam Speaker, this is the right bill at the right time. We need it 
urgently to deter catastrophic conflict.
  Madam Speaker, I recognize Ranking Member Norcross. He is a great 
teammate. I thank the chairman and urge all Members to support this.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much 
time is remaining for the various Members.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Bice). The gentleman from Washington 
has 5\1/2\ minutes remaining. The gentleman from Alabama has 4 minutes 
remaining. The gentleman from Texas has 9\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1\1/2\ 
minutes.
  Madam Speaker, I want to focus on this notion that this is how this 
town works and how terrible that is. I really don't understand where 
people get the idea that the way the world works is that you get 
absolutely everything you want and nobody else gets anything. That 
isn't how this town works. This is how life works in your family, your 
community, and in your neighborhood--everywhere.
  I know these Members know this because we just had the vote on Israel 
not long ago. I would ask: What does the IRS have to do with defending 
Israel? Somehow, these Members decided that they had to put the IRS 
cuts in with Israel. They all voted for it and were happy as clams.
  If you don't like the deal, fine, vote ``no.'' That's cool.
  The idea that you say that this is just the worst process in the 
world, apparently you don't like democracy because that is what 
democracy is. You compromise and work with people. You do it all the 
time.
  Argue against the substance of the bill, but please stop tearing down 
this institution and tearing down this democracy. We have to try to get 
along with people we don't agree with.
  Madam Speaker, to quote ``Game of Thrones'': ``We make peace with our 
enemies, not our friends.'' You have to find a way to get along with 
people who you disagree with. The chairman of the committee did an 
outstanding job of doing that in this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I urge everybody to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The question is: Who gets to decide? That is the question. Who gets 
to make these grand pronouncements of who is going to compromise? It 
sure as hell wasn't any of us. That wasn't the deal.
  What was tried to be done with FISA was to bring two bills to the 
floor unamendable and decided by only small groups of people. That is 
what was occurring.
  With respect to this, it was decided by leadership, both sides, to 
take and jam the FISA extension on the back of our men and women in 
uniform and bring that to the floor in violation of our rules for 
single subject, and then they say take it or leave it. That was what 
was done. That was the compromise.
  If you poke the bear in this town, they don't like to be poked 
because it changes the way this town works, heaven forbid. It has been 
going so well and so beautifully that we are $34 trillion in debt, and 
we have rampant spying on the American people that is occurring.
  In 2020 and early 2021, the FBI conducted 278,000 improper searches 
of Americans, according to the 2022 FISC report. We are supposed to 
trust the FBI to fix that.
  In June 2022, an FBI analyst conducted four queries of section 702 
information using the last names of a United States Senator and a State 
senator based on information that a foreign intelligence service was 
targeting those individuals.
  We have rampant abuses going on, and this body is just going to 
extend

[[Page H6957]]

the very mechanism of those abuses on the back of the National Defense 
Authorization Act. They say: Have a nice day. Merry Christmas. Go 
home and have your turkey. Go home and be with your families.

  That is what is actually occurring.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Gaetz).
  Mr. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, in the last round of debate, House 
Republicans were criticized for providing a pay-for for our plan to 
support Israel out of the IRS. The theory is that it is just totally 
unrelated, but a pay-for for the things we are doing, that is always 
related. It is only in Washington, certainly not in many of our State 
capitals, where you can have an ambition to go fund something and then 
not identify the offset that would naturally allow you to engage in 
that.
  The only real substantive debate I have heard in favor of this bill 
is that it does good pay increases for our servicemembers. Undeniably, 
that has universal agreement within this body.
  I think about the 8,600 servicemembers who were forced to separate 
from our military because of an ill-conceived, now withdrawn, vaccine 
requirement. We were told over and over again that there would be 
backpay, reparations, and restoration of rank for those people who were 
improperly told that they could not express their patriotism through 
military service because they didn't want to take an experimental 
vaccine. That is totally absent in this legislation.
  In communities like mine that are military heavy, the 5 percent pay 
increase will be very welcome. Every one of our military families knows 
someone who now is not able to have their job and who has seen impacts 
on their spouses, their marriages, and their children because of this 
mandate. We ought to have really taken care of those great folks. We 
did not in this bill.
  I am all about compromise. To me, compromise ought to reflect the 
work of the House and the Senate and then linking up those matters.
  Neither the House nor the Senate version of this bill dealt with 
extending spying authorities, as my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Perry) said. That was something that was added in. That is the process 
objection. The objection is not that we are unable to compromise on 
that which we present different views on. It is when a totally new 
issue just parachutes in and drops on what would otherwise be 
legislation we want to agree to.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, my friend from Florida (Mr. 
Gaetz), who is a member of the Armed Service Committee, knows very well 
there are hundreds of provisions in this bill that are good for our 
servicemembers, in addition to the 5.2 percent pay raise, which is the 
biggest in 20 years.
  With regard to the individuals who had to leave the service because 
of COVID, this bill provides a pathway for them to get back into the 
service without a rank punishment.
  There is much in this bill that he knows is good. To characterize it 
as only having the pay raise as the reason to vote for it is 
disappointing.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Gallagher), a real leader on the Armed Services Committee. He is the 
chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation 
Subcommittee.
  Mr. GALLAGHER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bill.
  As we look across the world, deterrence is collapsing, and we in this 
body need to do everything possible to restore it.
  As chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation 
Subcommittee, I am proud of many of the provisions that we got into the 
bill that will spark innovation across the Pentagon, strengthen 
offensive and defensive cybersecurity, and ensure our warfighters are 
equipped with the cutting-edge technology that they need today.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for working with the select 
committee on the CCP to include a lot of our recommendations, from 
enhanced cyber cooperation with and prioritization of aid to Taiwan to 
detailed analyses of China's defense spending.
  At the end of this process, the chairman and the ranking member can 
proudly say that we will have done our work on the Armed Services 
Committee. We have authorized what we needed to authorize. That is a 
testament to their leadership and the spirit of the bipartisanship they 
have set.
  However, we also need to appropriate money to the Defense Department. 
We have not done that. We are having a debate about a supplemental, 
which begs the question: What are we supplementing?
  If we don't appropriate, we will lose $37 billion.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I would point out that the 
money from the IRS was not a pay-for. It actually increased the 
deficit. Under the rules of the House, the people who decide how to 
score those things scored it as adding money to it.
  It wasn't a pay-for. It was going after the IRS to appease people so 
they could vote for the larger package.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong), an outstanding freshman who is on 
the Armed Services Committee.
  Mr. STRONG. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 2024 National 
Defense Authorization Act.
  Madam Speaker, I commend Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for 
their leadership, and I thank both sides of the aisle for their 
vigorous debate while working together to create a bill that is focused 
on the defense and security of our Nation.
  The NDAA passed through the House Armed Services Committee by a vote 
of 59-1. This shows that Republicans and Democrats can work together to 
solve our Nation's problems. This committee put national security first 
and set an example on how to bring a bipartisan bill to the United 
States House floor.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the fiscal year 2024 
NDAA on behalf of our Nation and the American warfighter.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, may I inquire again as to how 
much time is remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Washington has 3\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from Texas has 5 minutes remaining. 
The gentleman from Alabama has 2 minutes remaining.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross), the ranking member on the 
Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.
  Mr. NORCROSS. Madam Speaker, Congress has a really proud tradition of 
passing our annual NDAA. Passing this bill is as important as ever. The 
NDAA is the result of hard work on both sides to support our military 
and provide our warfighters with the tools and the resources they need.
  This bill includes my enhanced Buy American legislation to support 
American jobs by ensuring the reliability, stability, and security of 
our defense industrial base, strengthening relationships with our 
trusted allies. A strong military begins with a U.S. defense industrial 
base built with domestic components by an American workforce.
  The fiscal year 2024 NDAA is a testament to compromise. I am grateful 
to the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, Mr. 
Wittman, and the professional staff for what they have done to get this 
across the finish line for the American people.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, we are here because it is right before Christmas and 
everybody says we must pass this. Okay, we should pass the National 
Defense Authorization Act.
  We should deal with FISA, but it shouldn't be an extension of FISA 
that continues the same procedures that have been abused. It extends 
those procedures through April 2025. That is what we are going to do.
  The fact of the matter is, there was an NSA analyst's backdoor search 
for the communication of two individuals the analyst had met on an 
online dating service. There was an NSA analyst's backdoor search for 
the communications of a prospective tenant of a rental property they 
owned.

[[Page H6958]]

  


                              {time}  1000

  A backdoor search was conducted for the names and dates of birth of 
individuals who were registered competitors at an athletic event, a 
backdoor search for 1,600 Americans who had flown through an airport 
during a particular date range and were either traveling to or 
returning from a foreign country, all according to a report from the 
Privacy and Civil Rights Oversight Board.
  The FISA Court issued opinions in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022 decrying 
FBI agents' persistent and widespread violation of such safeguards.
  Now, I do believe we have bipartisan reforms. We just passed a good 
bill out of the Judiciary Committee. I believe it was a good bill that 
was passed out of the Intelligence Committee. I prefer the Judiciary 
Committee bill. I think we should be debating those. I think we should 
have one bill on the floor, and I think we should amend them.
  We have 18 days remaining in the calendar year before FISA allegedly 
expires, which I already detailed. CRS attorneys and other outside 
experts are detailing how they will continue to be able to collect data 
under 702. Nevertheless, we could get it done by December 31 if we 
actually did our job.
  Instead, what we are going to do is kick the can down the road, and 
we are going to empower the court to be able to set the procedures in 
place for another 16 months because that is what we do. We are the 
House of kicking the can down the road. That is what we do every year. 
We are doing it right now, and we are doing it today.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, as I listen to this debate, I 
am reminded of how blessed we are with incredible staff on both the 
majority and minority side who have spent months preparing this piece 
of legislation. I think it is important for all of us to take a pause 
and thank them for all of the hard work they have done in preparing 
this bill, and, particularly, the overtime they have put in in the last 
few weeks.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Gimenez), who is an outstanding freshman member of the House Armed 
Services Committee.
  Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Chair, the United States is facing a host of 
pressing issues, from Communist China's increased aggression in the 
Indo-Pacific to attacks by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists against our 
dear friend, Israel. This NDAA ensures our military is ready and able 
to meet these challenges head-on.
  In south Florida and across the Nation, living and housing costs are 
a priority for our men and women in uniform. This NDAA secures a 5.2 
percent increase in pay to our servicemembers which is the largest in 
20 years, it authorizes $394 million more than the President's budget 
request for new family housing and barracks, and it increases 
eligibility for cost-of-living allowances.
  While this NDAA may not be perfect, it fully funds our military, 
enhances capabilities and readiness, and supports our brave 
servicemembers.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, as I understand it, I could 
go second to last, but I am prepared to close at this point, as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Washington is correct.
  Mr. ROY. I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
  Madam Speaker, another point that I think merits observation is that, 
as we speak, with the 18 days remaining, the Senate, rather than 
working on ensuring that we get a better NDAA--but, more importantly in 
this context because that process is kind of played out--rather than 
figuring out how we are going to deal with FISA and reform it to make 
sure Americans' civil liberties are protected, we have the Senate in 
negotiations with the White House on figuring out what crumbs can be 
given for border security to be attached to Ukraine funding while 
Zelenskyy is paraded around Washington trying to demand more money for 
Ukraine when our border is wide-open.
  So the Senate has plenty of time to hold themselves here in 
negotiation with the White House so we can beg for crumbs for the 
protection of our sovereignty and security of the people of Texas and 
the people of this country, but we don't have time to figure out how to 
fix FISA. It is pretty extraordinary. It is pretty extraordinary.
  In the meantime, in this very bill is $600 million authorized for 
Ukraine. Now, I am actually not personally all that troubled by those 
provisions. We supported them in the authorization bill in July, but I 
would note, importantly, to my colleagues on this side of the aisle, a 
majority of Republicans opposed an amendment for the continuation of 
that funding to Ukraine in a September vote on the floor.
  A majority of Republicans opposed that funding, and, yet, we are 
authorizing it here on the back of a number of provisions that we don't 
support and on the back of FISA being piled on the top of that Defense 
authorization bill. For the life of me, I do not understand why this is 
how Republicans think we should end the year heading out for Christmas.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, we have come to the floor today on a bill 
that all of us want to see passed. Every single one of us wants to pass 
a National Defense Authorization Act. Every single one of us wants to 
ensure that our men and women in uniform are paid appropriately, have 
the tools they need to carry out their job, have the care they need 
when they get home, and that we do our job. Every single one of us 
wants to make sure that we do that.
  Nevertheless, we are doing a terrible disservice to the people of 
this country by piling on an extension of a FISA regime that was 
abused--notably and clearly abused--against American citizens without 
reforming that piece of legislation by kicking the can down the road 
and by extending it not just through April but through April of 2025.

  A vote for this bill is not just a bill for pay raises and support 
for our men and women in uniform. A vote for this bill is a 
perpetuation of the woke policies undermining our military, breaking 
down morale, driving down recruiting, and now undermining the civil 
liberties of the American people by not reforming FISA.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  I think the most revealing thing said by the gentleman from Texas 
was: A majority of Republicans. A majority of Republicans supported 
something, so how possibly could we not do it?
  That really reflects their opposition. They would like the majority 
of Republicans to control this bill.
  Now, to the credit of the chairman and others, they recognize that 
bipartisan compromise is what we have to get to. They believe that what 
they want they get regardless of how anybody else votes. That is not 
the way the process works.
  We have worked a very good bill and got a very good outcome here. We 
haven't even mentioned things like the AUKUS agreement, a crucial 
agreement in deterring China and strengthening our allies. There are a 
whole lot of things in this bill that are going to have a very positive 
outcome on national security.
  Also, I do want to point out that this is important for the House to 
be involved. If we insist upon the notion that everybody has to agree, 
then we become irrelevant. This is the House expressing oversight of 
the executive branch, and, yes, it is on the Defense bill, but it is 
also in the Intel bill, and it is in the Foreign Affairs bill. If we 
aren't able to do that, then the executive branch becomes more 
powerful, and we disappear.
  Now, in the appropriations process we tried that. The House couldn't 
pass roughly one-half of the appropriations bills because everybody 
insisted on having it exactly their way, and, again, we have rendered 
ourselves irrelevant.
  Please vote for this bill. It is a reflection of a bipartisan and 
bicameral effort of the legislative branch to assert its authority and 
its obligation to exercise oversight.
  Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I echo Mr. Rogers' comments. Our staff is beyond

[[Page H6959]]

fantastic. I have not had as much time in this debate to thank them as 
I would like. They have done a great job. The floor staff and the 
parliamentary staff pulled it all together.
  On a note of personal privilege, I specifically thank Connor Stubbs, 
my legislative director, for his outstanding work. He has the bad taste 
to be leaving my office tomorrow and going on to bigger and better 
things. He has done an outstanding job and is really reflective of the 
entire staff that I have, and that Mr. Rogers has, HASC and SASC. These 
are tremendous people who work more hours than anybody could possibly 
calculate to make this happen. So I thank them very much for their hard 
work.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, please, vote for this bill. It is enormously 
important that we do so, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  I want to close by reminding my colleagues who are considering voting 
against this conference report of what it actually does and what they 
would be on record opposing.
  The fiscal year 2024 NDAA requires military promotions to be based on 
merit and performance, bans the teaching of critical race theory in our 
military, requires border wall materials to be turned over to our 
Southwest border States, cuts and caps the pay of Pentagon DEI 
bureaucracy, defends Israel with additional weapons transfers and 
military training, prohibits the closure of Guantanamo Bay and transfer 
of terrorists to U.S. prisons, bans the contracting with Chinese 
companies, protects our military bases, defense research, and supply 
chains from Chinese espionage, trains and equips Taiwan, provides a 
path back to service for those discharged over the COVID-19 vaccine, 
creates a new monthly pay bonus, improves housing and expands benefits 
for junior enlisted servicemembers and their families, and, finally, 
the NDAA provides for the largest pay raise in over 20 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to keep those things in mind when 
they vote today.
  I thank Chairman Reed and Ranking Members Smith and Wicker. It has 
been great to work with them in this process. I also thank our House 
and Senate staff. They are just top-notch.
  I thank the leadership on both sides, as well as the tremendous 
professionals of the Office of Legislative Counsel, the Congressional 
Budget Office, the House Parliamentarian, and the House Clerk for all 
their help.
  Finally, I thank the brave men and women in uniform for their willing 
service and sacrifice around the world to keep us free and safe.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote in favor of the conference 
report, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA).
  I did not vote for the Republican majority's version of the NDAA that 
passed the House in July. That bill was loaded with extreme and 
partisan social policy riders that had no place in legislation that 
supports our national security and the service members who defend it. 
That is why I'm encouraged by the bipartisan negotiations that produced 
a much more balanced compromise bill. While there are still some 
provisions I do not agree with, nearly all the worst policy ideas from 
the Republican majority have been removed. Excluded from the agreement 
are the harmful provisions that would deny reproductive health care 
access to our service members and their families and attack the rights 
of LGBTQ+ service members.
  I do disagree with some remaining provisions that I believe will 
continue discourage building a diverse military, and ones that would 
inhibit the Administration's ability to improve military resilience and 
readiness in the face of ongoing climate change challenges. For 
example, this legislation maintains a provision banning Critical Race 
Theory in our military education system. The definition is narrower 
than originally proposed, but I remain concerned with how Critical Race 
Theory is defined and that this provision could be used to limit how 
certain eras of American history are taught. This NDAA also institutes 
a salary cap and hiring freeze on the Defense Department's Diversity 
Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, pursuant to completion of a 
department audit. I think this is unnecessary and should have been 
removed.
  As Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I am 
intimately familiar with the range threats to our nation and to our 
partners and allies around the world. That is why I will continue to 
fight against the same outrageous and extreme social policy provisions 
included by Republicans in this year's Defense Appropriations Act that 
would result in deterring the American public from raising their hand 
to serve.
  This legislation temporarily extends the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act (FISA) 702 authorization. I am supportive of reforms 
to Section 702 to ensure that the civil liberties of American citizens 
are protected, and Congress must consider the merits of bills on FISA 
reform that are moving through the House and the Senate right now. 
However, the national security risks associated with allowing this 
authorization to lapse entirely in a manner of weeks with no 
replacement are too grave. It is important that we allow more time for 
Congress to understand the sensitive details surrounding this program, 
continue constructive debate, and find a compromise solution that finds 
a prudent balance that respects individual liberty and protects 
national security.
  I am strongly supportive of this NDAA's ironclad commitment to our 
allies and partners at a time when geopolitical events increasingly 
test America's resolve and unity. This legislation includes robust 
resourcing toward the European and Pacific Deterrence Initiatives, an 
extension of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and a 
provision that places limits on the President's ability to withdraw the 
U,S. from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization pursuant to 
Congressional approval. These are all important parts of maintaining 
America's security commitments to our fellow democracies in Europe and 
in Asia. Of particular significance to our Pacific deterrence efforts, 
this legislation elevates our commitment to AUKUS, our tri-lateral 
Pacific partnership with Australia and the U.K. Provisions that empower 
our Defense and State Departments to streamline resource and 
information sharing between these critical allies and measures that 
strengthen our collective defense industrial capacity all embrace the 
recognition that we are stronger together in these endeavors than 
alone.
  Also notable is how this bill takes care of our service members and 
their families. This NDAA continues our commitment to invest in our 
most important resource in our nation's defense arsenal--our people. 
The compromise supports the administration's proposed 5.2% pay raise 
for service members, strengthens the civilian workforce, and supports 
military spouses and families with additional authorized investments in 
housing, childcare, career opportunities, health care, and other 
quality of life needs.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not perfect and there are provisions 
in it that I disagree with. But no compromise is perfect. This 
legislation is significantly improved from the Republican bill that 
passed this body in July, which would have been a disaster for our 
national security and our troops if it had been enacted.
  I will support the conference agreement.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, this NDAA conference report contains 
several important provisions that I support. These include the 
authorization of $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance 
Initiative, $300 million for construction of new military childcare 
centers, excluding the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the Basic 
Needs Allowance (BNA), and providing a 5.2 percent pay raise for 
servicemembers. The conference agreement also strikes many of the most 
problematic provisions from the House-passed NDAA, including provisions 
preventing female servicemembers from accessing reproductive care, 
preventing gender-affirming care for transgender servicemembers, and 
multiple provisions that would worsen our climate crisis. I'm relieved 
these harmful provisions will not become law.
  I also strongly support a provision of the bill that is especially 
important to my Congressional District: the authorization of $40 
million for the Fort Hunter Liggett Network Enterprise Center. Fort 
Hunter Liggett is the U.S. Army Reserve's largest training 
installation, but many of its facilities, including the Network 
Enterprise Center, are badly in need of repair or replacement. This 
funding will allow for the construction of a new Network Enterprise 
Center to enable the installation to continue to meet its mission.
  However, the NDAA conference report regrettably also contains a very 
controversial extension of current warrantless surveillance authorities 
by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Airdropped into the NDAA 
conference report is a seemingly-innocuous `short-term' reauthorization 
of Section 702 of FISA until April 19, 2024. However, this `short-term' 
reauthorization masks a de facto 16-month extension for surveillance 
programs that law enforcement and intelligence agencies admit bypass 
the Fourth Amendment. This extension greenlights continued use of 
Section 702 despite its well-documented history of abuse and allows the 
government's unchecked access to Americans' personal data without a 
warrant. I absolutely cannot vote to

[[Page H6960]]

extend FISA's Section 702, even temporarily, and therefore will cast a 
NAY vote on the NDAA conference report.
  Instead of embracing the surveillance status quo, Congress needs to 
reform Section 702 to protect Americans' civil liberties. Congressional 
leadership must bring the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless 
Surveillance Act to the floor for a vote. The Judiciary Committee 
recently passed this pivotal surveillance reform bill, by an 
overwhelming bipartisan vote, that is largely inspired by the 
bicameral, bipartisan Government Surveillance Reform Act that I 
introduced with Rep. Warren Davidson.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this year's NDAA.
  I am pleased that we were able to work in a bipartisan fashion to 
finalize the Senate's State Department Authorization bill for inclusion 
in this year's NDAA. In late 2021, during my chairmanship of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, we shepherded--through the House, into a 
conferenced NDAA, and ultimately onto the President's desk--the first 
comprehensive State Department Authorization bill to become law in 
nearly 20 years. The passage of this year's bill will make three in a 
row.
  The bill includes many important provisions--including to: stand up a 
fellowship program in honor of our late colleague John Lewis and a 
transatlantic leadership institute; authorize support and economic 
diplomacy to public diplomacy and beyond.
  The NDAA also includes important provisions related to the 
implementation of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership. By 
leveraging the shared capabilities of the U.S., Australia, and the 
U.K., the United States and its allies can shape a free and open Indo-
Pacific for years to come.
  The Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee painstakingly and carefully negotiated the AUKUS compromise 
text included in this NDAA. The compromise text includes support for 
the families of Americans wrongfully detained around the globe, and 
ensures that State Department personnel have the flexibilities and 
authorities they need to succeed in their work--from cyber helps 
advance this critical agreement and includes both Pillar 1 legislation 
to support the transfer of Virginia-class submarines to Australia, and 
shared financial and training efforts. It also includes bipartisan 
legislation supporting Pillar 2 of AUKUS, which provides a sound way 
forward for ensuring cutting-edge defense technology cooperation can 
advance while maintaining critical safeguards and regulations.
  This year's NDAA was not perfect. I am disappointed outbound 
investment regulations were not included, and I support moving the 
McCaul-Meeks bipartisan bill to the floor immediately to address this 
crucial issue.
  Nonetheless, the NDAA is once again the product of a serious 
bipartisan work accomplished during conference, so I support the 
legislation and urge all my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today in favor 
of the Conference Report on the Fiscal Year 24 NDAA. This conference 
report is the result of bipartisan efforts to strengthen our national 
defense while supporting our military members, families, and 
communities. I would like to thank Senator Reed, Senator Wicker, 
Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership 
throughout the entire process to produce this bipartisan bill.
  I would also like to thank Chairman Waltz of the Readiness 
Subcommittee for his partnership, Jeanine Womble the readiness PSM, my 
MLA Rob Hurd, and my Defense Fellow Taylor Brunstad. I am proud of the 
work we have done to protect the Readiness of our Armed forces. This 
bill continues our work, along with our Senate colleagues, to support 
military families by providing more childcare centers, protect basic 
healthcare rights for women service member, support energy resiliency 
on our bases, increase base pay to retain and recruit top talent, and 
demand DoD accountability and transparency on spending to prevent 
wasteful use of taxpayer dollars.
  It is of vital importance to me to support our servicemembers and 
their families at bases like Travis Air force Base and ensure they have 
the housing, training, equipment, and quality of life they need and 
deserve. I am proud to continue my work to serve the men and women in 
my district, and to serve the brave men and women volunteering to 
protect our freedom. While this bill is a strong bipartisan effort to 
support the military, there is still more to be done and I look forward 
to building on these efforts in the years ahead.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2670, 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
  Congress has the solemn duty to ensure that those who wear the 
uniform of the United States--and those civilians who provide 
logistical and operational support--have the equipment, training, and 
resources needed to carry out and complete their mission.
  And we must never forget that a grateful nation has a sacred 
obligation, in the words of President Lincoln, ``to care for him who 
has borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member 
Smith, and the committee staff for their diligent work that resulted in 
this bipartisan, bicameral report, which includes my legislation, the 
Foreign Extortion Prevention Act.
  I was pleased to work with Senator Whitehouse to help negotiate the 
inclusion of this legislation, which will be the most significant 
international criminal anti-corruption legislation since 1977.
  The Foreign Extortion Prevention Act will finally enable U.S. law 
enforcement to indict foreign kleptocrats for extorting U.S. businesses 
and Americans.
  The harms caused by foreign bribe demands are innumerable and include 
foreign officials who demand bribes and extort individuals in 
furtherance of trafficking of children and drugs into and out of the 
United States.
  These crimes largely go unpunished.
  With the passage of FEPA (through the NDAA), however, those who 
violate the provisions of FEPA could face a criminal fine of up to 
$250,000 and a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
  As reported by Transparency International U.S. in May 2023, a recent 
survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 
found that foreign officials who demand or receive bribes are only 
criminally punished by their home governments some 20 percent of the 
time.
  As many of you are aware, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) 
prohibits U.S. companies from bribing foreign officials.
  But it does not protect U.S. companies from predatory foreign 
officials who solicit bribes--and then partner with the Chinese state-
owned enterprises (SOEs) that are more than willing and able to pay 
them.
  China does not appear to have ever enforced its own version of the 
FCPA, despite the Communist Party's continued crackdowns on companies 
it perceives to be corrupt or disloyal.
  FEPA, by making it a crime for a foreign official to demand a bribe 
from a U.S. company, would therefore not only help to level the playing 
field for U.S. companies--but it will also deter and hold accountable 
corrupt officials who, by betraying their oaths for Beijing's bribes, 
become complicit in the Communist Party's global campaign to subvert 
rule of law and upend the security order.
  By joining with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and other 
democratic allies who have already enacted similar legislation to 
protect their own businesses, the United States can set an alternative 
example to China's use of corruption as a tool of foreign policy--one 
that, in promoting honest competition and rule of law, will ultimately 
benefit our national security.
  In order to restore competitiveness, the United States must double-
down on the rule of law.
  The kleptocrats that extort U.S. companies also cheat their own 
people out of economic development and prosperity.
  The United States must stand with these victims of kleptocracy.
  This means combating the demand side of bribery--we must make 
kleptocrats think twice before they demand a bribe.
  Already, the U.S. Department of Justice is attempting to deter the 
demand side of bribery with the tools that it has.
  However, without a specific authority to prosecute foreign extortion, 
we are leaving the DOJ without the key tool that it needs to achieve 
this goal.
  It is long overdue that we expand our foreign bribery laws to capture 
the malfeasance of foreign kleptocrats--in this age of globalization, 
we can wait no longer.
  Please join me in passing the FY2024 National Defense Authorization 
act, which includes my legislation, the Foreign Extortion Prevention 
Act, which protects rule-abiding companies, and stands up for the 
victims of kleptocracy around the world.
  It is time that we expand our foreign bribery laws to capture the 
malfeasance of foreign kleptocrats--in this age of globalization, we 
can wait no longer.
  This legislation will protect rule-abiding companies and stand up for 
the victims of kleptocracy around the world.
  So, I look forward to the NDAA being signed by the President of the 
United States and becoming law.

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