[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 100 (Thursday, June 13, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3990-H4036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SERVICEMEMBER QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENT AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union for the further consideration of the bill,
H.R. 8070.
Will the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Flood) kindly take the chair.
{time} 1225
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 8070) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025
for military activities of the Department of Defense, 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, with Mr. Flood (Acting Chair) in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose on Wednesday,
June 12, 2024, amendment No. 36, printed in Part B of House Report 118-
551, offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) had been
disposed of.
Amendment No. 37 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 37
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 12_. PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE.
None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
for assistance to Ukraine.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentlewoman
from Georgia (Ms. Greene) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, my amendment would say that none of
the funds available in the NDAA may be used for assistance to Ukraine.
I think this is an important amendment because I strongly support the
NDAA. This is a great military funding bill that has many things
involved in it that our military needs. It even contains a much-needed
pay raise for our troops, and that is something I greatly believe in
right now while many of our military members are suffering under this
inflation caused by the Biden administration.
I think it is extremely important for Members of Congress to be able
to vote separately for funding of foreign wars, and I do not believe
that funding for Ukraine should be a part of the NDAA.
The mission statement on the Department of Defense's website says
that its purpose and mission are to deter war and to ensure our
Nation's security.
Funding a war in Ukraine does not deter war. It funds it. Funding a
war in Ukraine does not ensure our Nation's security, it actually puts
us at risk for possible further military engagement with another
nuclear-armed nation, and that is Russia.
Americans do not support this and neither does the majority of the
majority here in Congress, which has voted against funding the war in
Ukraine.
To date, Congress has appropriated $174.2 billion in emergency
supplemental funding. That is a lot of Americans' hard-earned tax
dollars going to support security for another country's border while
our border is being invaded every single day.
Not only is our border being invaded every single day by millions and
millions of people from over 160 countries, there is also a war
declared on our own country with human trafficking and drugs that are
killing Americans every day. On average, there are 300 Americans dying
from fentanyl overdoses every day. I believe that should be our focus
in the United States Congress.
It is also a war in Ukraine that is not defending democracy.
Zelenskyy has canceled elections. He is now a dictator. Zelenskyy
canceled free speech. Zelenskyy canceled freedom of religion, and
Zelenskyy canceled free press. That is not defending democracy. That is
actually attacking democracy.
Americans do not support sending their hard-earned tax dollars to
Ukraine. They support paying our military and funding our military, but
not funding a war in a foreign country.
{time} 1230
Over half of Americans think the United States has already spent too
much money in Ukraine, and over 60 percent of Republicans do not
support sending additional money to Ukraine. Even one in four Democrats
don't support it anymore, according to recent polling.
However, most importantly, the corruption in Ukraine is something
that cannot be ignored. There has been report after report after report
of money missing. The Pentagon cannot track over $1 billion, and there
have been reports of much corruption. That involves our hard-earned tax
dollars.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in
opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the committee.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, my colleague from Georgia will be
pleased to learn that there is nothing in this year's NDAA that
authorizes assistance to Ukraine. That money is provided through the
supplemental appropriations bills.
The problem with this amendment is it would cut off funds to maintain
the deployment of marines to secure our Embassy in Kyiv. It would also
cut off the DOD's ability to conduct and use monitoring of weapons
systems the U.S. already has provided to Ukraine. We don't want them to
fall into bad hands. We need to ensure those weapons stay in our hands.
I urge Members to oppose this amendment.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan).
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chairman, last week we saw that the allied effort
to repeal the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an extension of the battle
for freedom in Europe that unfolded on the beaches of Normandy 80 years
ago.
This was really crystallized when an American World War II veteran,
Melvin Hurwitz, embraced President Zelenskyy and said: ``You are the
savior of the people. You bring tears to my eyes. You are our hero.''
As Speaker Johnson himself has said, just like Hitler continued
marching when he was not repelled, Vladimir Putin will continue to
march through Europe if not repelled. That is one thing the Speaker and
I agree on.
Any efforts to undermine our support of our allies in Ukraine should
be opposed.
Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, according to the bill text in the
NDAA, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the DSCA, is the account
of the NDAA that funds Ukraine. The Ukraine Security Assistance
Initiative, USAI, which annually appropriates $300 million in Ukraine,
would receive the standard $300 million authorization again this year,
so the funding is in there. That USAI funding is part of the DSCA line
item. DSCA is receiving $2.389 billion in this NDAA, of which the $300
million for Ukraine is a part, so the money is definitely in there. It
has not been taken out.
I will also inform Congress and the American people that a Ukrainian
group called Texty recently published a list of Ukrainian enemies that
includes almost 400 Americans, including Republican lawmakers. I am on
that list, as are Conservative influencers, media groups, and antiwar
activists.
The group receives money from the U.S. State Department through a
program called TechCamp. While that is not part of the NDAA, our money
is going to fund NGOs in Ukraine that have declared U.S. lawmakers and
Americans enemies. That is extremely dangerous. None of our hard-earned
tax dollars should be funding any sort of group that thinks that we are
the enemies while we are funding them.
[[Page H3991]]
We also have no idea how many Ukrainians have been killed in this
war. We asked for that number and have not heard. I urge Congress to
pass my amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), a member of the House Armed Services
Committee.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chair, continuing to support the
courageous people of Ukraine is not only the morally right thing to do,
but it is also best for American families.
War criminal Putin's invasion is a prelude to a conflict which is
death to Ukraine, death to Israel, and death to America. We are in a
conflict we didn't choose, with dictators and rule of gun opposing
democracies with rule of law. The war began with war criminal Putin
invading Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and Iranian puppets invading
Israel on October 7, 2023.
We should always remember--and I was grateful to be at Normandy last
week--that it was President Ronald Reagan in 1984 who stated: `` . . .
isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to
tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent.'' We know that
Putin has claimed that he wants to restore the Soviet Union. He already
has invaded Georgia. He has invaded Moldova. He has Russian troops in
Armenia. He has threatened Estonia and Poland. We know that he will not
stop. We must be successful in Ukraine.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the time
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has 2\3/4\ minutes remaining.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I rise with the strongest possible
opposition to this amendment prohibiting assistance to Ukraine. This
represents the most extreme and shortsighted position of some of the
Members of the House of Representatives, particularly Republicans, with
respect to global security. Too many have tried to stop or strip
funding from Ukraine whenever they literally have the chance to, and
here is yet another example.
This amendment, like others that were considered and failed last year
and this year, is misguided and against the will of the American
people. Thus, it is against the will of the legislative body. Indeed,
in April we overwhelmingly voted to support Ukraine, 311-112-1, not
even close, which further proves the very unseriousness and waste of
time of this amendment.
What some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle fail to
recognize and to appreciate is that not only does the American public
support Ukraine, but that supporting Ukraine actually, indeed, helps
the American public by avoiding further instability in Europe just
miles from NATO. It, indeed, deters war. This amendment would
irreversibly hurt our posture on the world stage. I urge Members to
oppose it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, many of my colleagues across the aisle are
not content with delaying necessary aid to Ukraine for months at the
cost of countless innocent lives, but are once again playing right into
Putin's hands and attempting to block all American assistance to
Ukraine.
The rest of the world, literally all of our allies, understand that a
Ukrainian victory is necessary to prevent further Russian aggression,
deter an invasion of Taiwan, and preserve the global democratic order.
Republican national security leaders, including the chairs of the Armed
Services, Intelligence, and Defense Appropriations Committees
understand that this funding is critical to our own defense industrial
base. However, instead of working to strengthen our national security,
we are once again having an argument that my colleague across the aisle
has lost over and over and over again.
My colleague is comfortable handing over Ukraine and the rest of
Europe to Putin. The rest of this House, the rest of Congress, and the
rest of the world reject it. Enough. I urge my colleagues to oppose
this amendment.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of
my time just to say we need to support Ukraine. Ukraine was brutally
invaded by Putin. The only way to make this war stop is to make Ukraine
strong enough so that Putin realizes he cannot succeed. Please defeat
this amendment and continue to support Ukraine. Mr. Chair, I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. GREENE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Georgia
will be postponed.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 38 will
not be offered.
The Chair understands that amendment No. 39 will not be offered.
Amendment No. 40 Offered by Mr. Gaetz
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 40
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 549, after line 15, insert the following new section:
SEC. 10_. PROHIBITION ON SALE OR TRANSFER OF CLUSTER
MUNITIONS OR MUNITIONS TECHNOLOGY.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act
or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the
Department of Defense may be made available to furnish
cluster munitions, to facilitate any export license for
cluster munitions, or to otherwise sell or transfer any
cluster munitions or cluster munitions technology.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Gaetz) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chair, this amendment creates a prohibition on the
transfer of cluster munitions.
I thank my co-lead on this measure, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, and
many of the Members who have been fighting to get rid of cluster
munitions as part of modern warfare, including Representatives Titus,
Omar, and McGovern. I would simply observe, if there is an amendment
that is supported by Omar to Gaetz with Jacobs and McGovern and Titus
in it, it must be a great idea and we ought to probably adopt it.
According to The New York Times, since World War II, cluster
munitions have killed an estimated 86,500 civilians. Additionally,
Human Rights Watch and the U.N. have reported that cluster munitions in
Ukraine have killed or wounded 890 people in 2022, 95 percent of whom
were civilians. If Congress continues to flood the battlefield in
Ukraine with indiscriminate killing instruments like cluster munitions,
the blood of everyone impacted, including children harmed, will indeed
be on our hands.
We should halt the transfer of cluster munitions to any country. We
stand rarely isolated in the modern world by still sending these
things. I mean, we are still demining cluster munitions in Laos, for
goodness sake. I hate the notion that American taxpayers are going to
have to pay for cluster munitions, a bunch of civilians are going to
die, and then years from now, we will be back here paying to demine the
very cluster munitions we sent out.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Massachusetts is recognized for
5 minutes.
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Chair, I begin by yielding 30 seconds to the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the committee and
my friend.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for yielding.
This amendment would have serious consequences to our allies and
partners in the Indo-Pacific as they face down China and North Korea.
Former INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Harris highlighted that cluster
munitions are essential in a potential conflict with North Korea. I
would
[[Page H3992]]
point out China and Russia have not banned cluster munitions. We also
should not wait until the fighting starts to transfer these weapons.
Deterrence depends on getting real and effective weapons like cluster
munitions in place before a potential fight. I urge a ``no'' vote on
this amendment.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chair, I simply observe that North Koreans have
nuclear weapons. If we are relying on cluster munitions as the
deterrent, it seems to be pretty nonsensical.
I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Jacobs), the co-lead on this measure.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment with
Congressman Gaetz to prohibit the transfer of cluster munitions.
Most U.S. allies, including almost every NATO member, have joined the
Convention on Cluster Munitions, but not the United States. That is a
grave mistake because these weapons maim and kill civilians
indiscriminately and can be lethal indefinitely.
It is reported that up to 40 percent of these weapons don't explode
on impact. If they don't explode, they become literal ticking time
bombs, scattering tiny bomblets that are more like landmines. Even if
the dud rate is far lower than 40 percent, the risk to civilians, to
children, to our moral authority is too great.
In 2021, the Landmine and Cluster Munitions Monitor found that over
97 percent of casualties from cluster bomb remnants were civilians, and
two-thirds of those were children. That is because these deadly weapons
don't look dangerous. In fact, they look interesting to kids. They look
like toys. When kids find these weapons in trees, in water, or on the
ground, they often try to pick them up and can end up losing a limb or
their life.
No amount of guardrails for cluster munitions is enough. No amount of
so-called tactical advantage is enough. It isn't enough to say the
other side is doing it, so we might as well, too. It is not worth it
when civilian lives are at stake. It is not worth it when our
reputation is at stake.
Our commitment to our core democratic values, like protecting
civilians, abiding by international humanitarian law, and upholding
human rights is the foundation of our reputation on the world stage,
and it is what allows us to build and maintain international coalitions
to make the world a better place and advance our national security
goals. That is why we need to ban the transfer of these weapons. I urge
my colleagues to support this amendment.
{time} 1245
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Chairman, I point out that we all care about
Ukrainian kids, but do you know who cares about Ukrainian kids the
most? Ukrainians.
Ukrainians care about Ukrainian kids. They are the ones asking for
these munitions to use on their own territory. They understand the
consequences. They understand the dud rates. They understand the
danger.
Most of all, they understand the danger of losing this war to Russia,
of having their kids kidnapped, taken away, or killed.
That is why the Ukrainians want these munitions, and that is why we
are giving them to them.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I would object to the proposition that the
House of Representatives has to outsource our thinking on the cluster
munitions question to Ukraine. When did we substitute their judgment
for ours?
I think that this notion that they are essential to warfighting is
belied by the actual casualty numbers. If you believe that 95 percent
of the people killed were children, not enemy combatants, which is what
The New York Times is telling us, then I think that adoption of the
amendment is appropriate.
We should not be in a race to the bottom for the weapons systems that
are the least discriminate and most harmful to people who are not
engaged in warfare.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), my friend.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment.
Prohibiting the transfer of cluster munitions, specifically in the
context of Ukraine, would have disastrous impacts on the Ukrainian
ability to push back war criminal Putin's barbaric invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is currently using every weapon in its arsenal, including
cluster munitions, to murder civilians and hit civilian infrastructure.
I have seen firsthand in Bucha, Ukraine, where families were forced
from their homes, their hands tied behind their backs, and then the
Putin troops shot members of the family in the head and buried them in
the yard. We must fight back.
Additionally, in the Indo-Pacific, it has been reported by Admiral
Harry Harris that this is a deterrent to the dictatorship of Kim Jong-
un of North Korea, and we know that is the largest artillery complex in
the world facing the people of Seoul, Korea.
We are in a conflict we did not choose with dictators with rule of
gun invading democracies with rule of law, threatening civilians, and
it has always been clear that Ukraine is the first invasion of this
current conflict.
With further promises by Putin to restore the Soviet Union by
invading Georgia and Moldova, threatening Armenia, Estonia, and Poland,
we know that we must support Ukraine. It is existential for Ukraine,
and it is existential for the United States.
We can see that today, as Putin has sent nuclear warships to Cuba, 90
miles away from our border. We must stand together with the people of
Ukraine and provide them the best equipment to stop the war criminal
Putin.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I sure hope we don't have to rely on cluster
munitions to deter submarines off the coast of Florida. Not being a
munitions expert, I would suggest that probably wouldn't be too
effective because I think the submarines are in the water.
Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to close. May I inquire as to how much
time is remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Florida has 45 seconds
remaining.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chairman, I have great appreciation for the bipartisan
consensus around this. I really miss when the Democratic Party was the
anti-war party. Now, we are going to see probably on this vote a
majority of Democrats vote for cluster munitions that are killing
civilians, that will cost taxpayer money, and that are not even the
best deterrent. There are just defense contractors that make them and a
country that wants them, so we are willing to accommodate that death.
I hope this debate illuminates the foolishness of the United States
exporting cluster munitions and that we will have a more responsible
consciousness moving forward.
Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Massachusetts has 2\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Chairman, we support this bill. We are opposed to
this amendment because we want this war to end. We want to bring this
war to a conclusion. The Ukrainians need these munitions to fight for
their freedom.
No one wants to be in this position of having to argue in favor of
cluster munitions, but this is the reality on the ground for Ukraine
today. It is also the reality on the ground that the Russians are using
far more cluster munitions with far higher dud rates.
Don't think for a second that Ukraine doesn't understand they are
going to have cluster munitions on the ground that need to be cleaned
up. They are mostly going to be Russian munitions.
The longer this war goes on, the longer it takes to push Russia back
in this criminal war started by war criminal Vladimir Putin, the more
unexploded cluster munitions from Russia are going to be on the ground.
We have to stand by Ukraine so that Putin doesn't continue this war
not only to take over Ukraine but to take over Europe. We have to stand
by Ukraine to prevent American boys and girls from going to fight. That
is why we are in the position we are in today.
[[Page H3993]]
Let's defeat this amendment, and let's end this war.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Gaetz-Jacobs
amendment to prohibit the transfer of cluster munitions.
Given their impact on civilians during and after a conflict and the
dangers they pose to children and vulnerable populations, it is a
matter of principle to limit or prohibit the transfer, export, sale,
and production of these weapons.
Since 2001, U.S. policy, law or both have prohibited the sales,
exports and transfers of cluster munitions that have a failure rate
exceeding 1 percent.
Regrettably, the Pentagon insists that the U.S. should have the
ability to use millions of stockpiled cluster munitions that have
estimated failure rates of 5 to 20 percent. This was supposed to end in
2018, but it didn't.
I believe strongly that the United States should be an international
leader in ending the terrible toll on civilians caused by the high
failure rate of these weapons, including those we are currently
providing to Ukraine for its defense against Russian aggression.
There will always be those who will argue against such changes in
military policy and practice, who will say this can't be done.
If those voices had their way, we would still be using mustard gas
and chemical weapons.
Even during this time of great conflict, we can make sure that U.S.
cluster munitions have less than a 1 percent failure rate. In fact, it
would be better for Ukraine and its people if we did.
Until the Pentagon assures us those are the only weapons being
transferred, Congress must act and prohibit any further transfers of
this devastating weapon.
I urge my colleagues to support the Gaetz-Jacobs amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gaetz).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 41 Offered by Mr. Grothman
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 41
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Banks), and I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end of title XI of division A the following:
SEC. 11__. LIMITATION ON ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, AND INCLUSION POSITIONS; HIRING FREEZE.
(a) In General.--Beginning on January 1, 2025, the
Secretary of Defense may not--
(1) establish any new positions within the Department of
Defense with responsibility for matters relating to
diversity, equity, and inclusion; or
(2) fill any vacancies in positions in the Department with
responsibility for such matters.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to prevent the Secretary from reducing the number
of positions relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion or
from eliminating specific positions relating to diversity,
equity, and inclusion.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
This amendment would prevent the Secretary of Defense from creating
any new DEI positions or filling any vacant DEI positions within the
Department of Defense. Over the last few years, the DEI bureaucracy
across the Department of Defense has infiltrated every unit, command,
and school.
Even as much of the country recognizes that the ideology of DEI is
opposed to a society based on merit, the Department of Defense has dug
in its heels. From transgender Pride patches on military uniforms to
DEI steering committees at DODEA schools and a record $162 million
dedicated to DEI activities in the President's FY25 budget, these
activities continue to indoctrinate and divide.
Elevating immutable characteristics like race and color over all
other factors is blatantly discriminatory. It harms public confidence
in our military and makes us a less lethal fighting force.
For our national security, we must uphold the ideals of our country
and put merit, hard work, dedication, and service above all. To do
this, we must eliminate the DEI apparatus.
Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Virginia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion works to
ensure the Department of Defense and our Armed Forces reflect the face
of the Nation that they defend, which they have not always done.
The office promotes a DOD culture of dignity and respect that values
diversity and inclusion as a readiness imperative because the character
of warfare is changing.
With the rapidly evolving threat landscape and in unprecedented times
of facing unique challenges from global pandemics to the escalating
climate crisis, the DOD and our Armed Forces need diverse perspectives,
experience, and skill sets to remain a global leader to deter war and
keep our Nation safe.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Washington (Mr. Smith), the ranking member of the Armed Services
Committee.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, this is an incredibly
important issue in the bill this year. We have several amendments that
go after diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military, and it could
not be more misguided.
We need a diverse military. We need to recruit from all across the
country, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, and gender. We
need to make sure that we are taking advantage of the talent of all in
America. Sadly, we haven't really historically done that. We still have
a major challenge.
Just to give one example, when you look at the promotions within the
military, the statistics have come out, and this is from 2023, not 20
years ago: Every single ethnicity gender is promoted at a lower rate
than White men.
Now, is it the case that White men are just naturally better at this
than anybody else? Absolutely not. Why do we have this disproportionate
level of promotion? I don't know for sure, but I think it is worth it
to have somebody at the Pentagon trying to answer that question. If you
are a Black person, if you are a woman, if you are a Hispanic person,
if you are a gay or trans person and you are looking at this and
saying, should I sign up for the military, one central question you are
going to have is: Am I going to get a fair shot?
Historically, all of those groups that I just mentioned have not
gotten a fair shot. I challenge anybody on the floor to dispute that
fundamental fact. Let's have at least some people at the Pentagon who
are trying to make sure that they do and that we are able to recruit a
diverse population and bring them in.
Two final points on this.
One, there is such a thing as bad diversity, equity, and inclusion. I
have seen it. I have witnessed it. I have seen efforts that throw out
actual standards in favor of a rather narrow-minded racial agenda. That
is wrong and shouldn't happen. That is not what is happening in the
United States military. If the folks on the other side of the aisle
wanted to go after that, I would be happy to work with them, but that
is not what they are doing. They are eliminating all diversity, equity,
and inclusion in the military, an enormous mistake that will cost us an
enormous amount of talent.
The second point is the only way this makes any sense is if you buy
into this argument that we are past all of that, that racism doesn't
happen anymore, that it is just not out there, and that it is not
something we need to worry about.
I may need an additional 30 seconds, but I want to read you something
from
[[Page H3994]]
David French, who is a conservative columnist who adopted a 2-year-old
Ethiopian.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentleman from Washington.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, he is a conservative, but he
happened to adopt a 2-year-old Ethiopian. He is not a fan of Trump, so
people started turning on him in his own church and his own community.
He said: ``The racism was grotesque. One church member asked my wife
why we couldn't adopt from Norway rather than Ethiopia.'' Shout-out to
the former President for that one.
``A teacher at the school asked my son if we had purchased his sister
for a `loaf of bread.' We later learned that there were coaches and
teachers who used racial slurs to describe the few Black students at
the school. There were terrible incidents of peer racism, including a
student telling my daughter that slavery was good''----
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the
gentleman from Washington.
Mr. SMITH of Washington.--``slavery was good for Black people because
it taught them how to live in America. Another told her that she
couldn't come to our house to play because `my dad said Black people
are dangerous.' ''
Let's deal with this rationally and intelligently, not just throw
everything out. Please preserve diversity and inclusion in our military
and oppose this amendment.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I find it amazing that
people feel your viewpoint in life is based on where your ancestors
came from 100 years ago or 200 years ago.
This amendment ensures the Department of Defense can uphold our
Nation's values that no matter your race, color, sex, political
beliefs, or ethnicity, you may excel.
This amendment sends not just a message to the Department that this
form of racism is intolerable, but it also stops the excessive growth
of an industry within the DOD that has wasted resources and which has
no benefits for our national security.
Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, diversity recognizes that a wide variety of
opinions and people that reflect the diversity of the country that our
Armed Forces defend is important.
Equity ensures that 400 years of the impact of slavery and Jim Crow,
that didn't go away with a magic wand when laws changed, are addressed.
Inclusion ensures that everyone in our Armed Forces is treated with
the dignity and respect that they deserve, given the sacrifice they are
making.
These efforts to undermine DEI in our Armed Forces are
counterproductive, dangerous, and will not help with readiness,
preparedness, recruitment, or retention.
That is why this amendment, as well as the next series of amendments
that we will debate, should and must be defeated.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin
will be postponed.
{time} 1300
Amendment No. 42 Offered by Mr. Norman
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Ferguson). It is now in order to consider
amendment No. 42 printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title V, add the following:
SEC. 5__. ELIMINATION OF OFFICES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND
INCLUSION AND PERSONNEL OF SUCH OFFICES.
Every office of the Armed Forces and of the Department of
Defense established to promote diversity, equity, and
inclusion is eliminated and the employment of all personnel
of each such office is terminated.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, the numbers of those willing to serve in the
military are now down over 30 percent. The military's sole purpose is
to provide for the defense of our great Nation. Our military's focus
should be the protection of the American people and our freedoms, not
liberals' feelings.
Therefore, my amendment would eliminate any offices of DEI,
diversity, equity, and inclusion, in the Armed Forces and in the DOD.
We should focus on diversity of ideas and opinions, not races and
genders.
DEI programs tend to be ineffective and cost the taxpayers more
money, and it has been a very real detriment to the recruitment of our
military.
In short order, a woke military is a weak military. Woke ideology
undermines military readiness in various ways. It undermines the
cohesiveness by emphasizing differences based on race, ethnicity, and
sex. It undermines leadership authority by introducing questions about
whether a promotion is based on merit or quota requirements. It leads
to military personnel serving in specialties and areas for which they
are not qualified nor are they ready. It takes time and resources away
from training activities and weapons development that contribute to
readiness.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Virginia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Alabama (Ms. Sewell), a member of the Armed Services Committee.
Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Chair, as a proud member of the House Armed Services
Committee, I take seriously my responsibility to ensure that our
servicemembers get the support they need to keep our Nation safe. Once
again, Republicans are pushing poison pill amendments into our
bipartisan Defense bill focusing more on culture wars and division than
on our national security.
This radical amendment would eliminate diversity, equity, and
inclusion offices at the Department of Defense and all personnel in
those offices.
I shouldn't have to remind my Republican colleagues that diversity is
our strength as a Nation. Inclusion is proven to be beneficial for
military effectiveness, military readiness, and ultimately, our
national security, yet my colleagues continue to fight our military
leadership as they work to strengthen our Armed Forces.
In the midst of our military recruitment shortfalls, Republicans are
focused on the wrong thing. They are busy telling our servicemembers
and potential recruits that Congress does not value their background or
lived experiences than recruiting the best and brightest to defend our
country. This is not only harmful, but it is also hurtful. It is
hurtful that our military recruitment, preparedness, and cohesiveness
is at jeopardy and at stake. Our national security and our national
defense deserves better.
Again this year, I am disappointed that we are considering amendments
that poison legislation which would otherwise be bipartisan. I urge my
colleagues to oppose this amendment, and let's get back to the business
of being truly bipartisan when it comes to our National Defense
Authorization Act.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I agree with my friend across the aisle. We
shouldn't even be dealing with this, to be honest with you. The fact
that money is going to fund this--you don't go to politicians to find
out what is wrong with your car. You go to the mechanic. I am in the
real estate business. We build houses. If I have trouble with a house,
I go to my carpenters.
I would remind my friends on the other side of the aisle that last
year 160 retired flag officers wrote a letter to
[[Page H3995]]
the Armed Services Committee Chairman Rogers about the dangers of DEI
and their opposition to it in the military. Mr. Chair, 160 retired flag
officers--and I am sure it would be far more than this if you talked to
the people that are serving--have pointed out why this is so
detrimental.
The officers wrote this:
We respectfully request that Congress take legislative
action to remove all diversity, equity, and inclusion
programs from the DOD.
Secondly, our military must be laser focused on one
mission: readiness, undiminished by culture wars engulfing
our country.
Thirdly, the domestic cultural threat has an innocuous name
of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but in reality, DEI is
dividing, it is not uniting our military service, nor our
society.
DEI principles are derived from critical race theory which
is rooted in cultural Marxism where people are grouped into
identity classes, typically by race, labeled as oppressed or
oppressors and victims and pitted against each other.
Under the guise of DEI, some people are selected for
career-enhancing opportunities and advancement based on
preferences given to identity groups based on race, gender,
ethnic background, sexual orientation, et cetera.
It is unbelievable we are even talking about this or funding it. Mr.
Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I do talk to people in the
military all the time, and our military is doing just fine.
Now, there will always be people who are opposed to greater
inclusion. We have seen this throughout the military in a wide variety
of areas. Way back when, it was opposition to Black people serving in
the military. Then there was a lot of opposition to gay people serving
in the military. Every single time you had some people in the military
saying this is going to destroy us, unit cohesion will fall apart, we
can't possibly treat people fairly and function, they have all been
proven wrong every single time.
The people I talk to in the military say things are going just fine,
that they are, in fact, being more inclusive, and the military is as
strong as it has ever been.
It is completely wrong for a rightwing political agenda to denigrate
our military to try to make the point that there is some kind of
excessive wokeism going on. That is not what the overwhelming majority
of people in the military are telling me and others.
What they are saying is that inclusion does matter. People need to be
treated fairly. The idea that if the military goes like this and says
that we don't see color, we don't see gender, we don't see any of this,
that it will all just go away and everything will be fine is absurd.
Reasonable diversity, equity, and inclusion works. That is what the
military is doing. Please let them continue to do it.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I would just add that I think if you took a
really diverse group and got opinions on the military, if it were doing
so well, why are they 30 percent down in recruitment? Why are people
not coming into it?
Less than a month after the appointment by President Biden of
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, he directed commanding officers and
supervisors at all levels to schedule a day to discuss extremism.
What do you think our foreign adversaries are doing upon hearing
this? They are laughing their heads off.
I would just say that we need to support this amendment. Get DEI out
of the military. Let's focus on building ships, focus on building
airplanes, focus on building missions, not DEI and extremism that my
friends on the other side of the aisle want to try to continue to
highlight.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, to respond to the issue of why
recruitment is down, there are actually three reasons why recruitment
is down.
Number one is the pandemic, when they were restricted in their
ability to recruit for a year and a half.
Number two is because we have very low unemployment. Recruitment is
always down when we have low unemployment.
Number three is because the rightwing has decided to demonize the
military as some sort of woke place that no one should serve in.
Yes, some people do listen to that message. I have spoken to Members
and others who are pushing that message who say, well, it is not really
a problem. They say, well, it is out there. It is out there because you
all are putting it out there and creating this level of division that
doesn't need to be created.
Recruitment can be just fine with diversity. In fact, it would be
better.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, can I inquire as to how much time I have
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina has 45 seconds
remaining.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I would just add, I don't know how long my
friends on the other side of the aisle are going to keep mentioning the
pandemic, COVID, but it is over with, and the shortage still exists.
The fact that, again, we are funding this, devoting a day to discuss
it, we ought to be having a day devoted to how to fight and arm our
brave men and women who are serving in the military.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, the strength of our military is the people,
and the people bring with them the sum of their life experiences and
perspectives and what they know.
In my family, I had several uncles born between 1918 and 1938 who
served during World War II in the Navy in a segregated unit where they
were not allowed to fight. They were only allowed to cook because of
the color of their skin. The stories that they told their children
about the indignity they suffered from their fellow servicemembers and
superior officers, do you think any of their children wanted to serve
in the military? There are countless stories like that.
As we see people who lived under Jim Crow dying off and those stories
are not being told, people don't understand that a legacy of 300 years
of slavery and Jim Crow did not go away with the wave of a magic wand.
When people show up and see people from different backgrounds,
different colors, different religions for the first time in the
military, which still does happen, they bring their life experiences
and what they know and sometimes have trouble understanding and
respecting the different life experiences of other people.
DEI programs are designed to help bridge that gap to help increase
recruitment by making the descendants of people who were discriminated
against when they served in the military actually want to join. It
makes sure that everyone who does join is treated with the dignity and
respect they deserve as people who are putting their lives on the line
for every American.
This amendment should be defeated. Mr. Chair, I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from South
Carolina will be postponed.
Amendment No. 43 Offered by Mr. Higgins of Louisiana
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 43
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
In subtitle A of title IX, add at the end the following:
SEC. 9__. ELIMINATION OF THE CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) Repeal of Position.--Section 147 of title 10, United
States Code, is repealed.
[[Page H3996]]
(b) Conforming Repeal.--Section 913 of the William M. (Mac)
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2021 (Public Law 116-283; 8 U.S.C. 147 note) is repealed.
(c) Prohibition on Establishment of Similar Positions.--No
Federal funds may be obligated or expended to establish a
position within the Department of Defense that is the same as
or substantially similar to--
(1) the position of Chief Diversity Officer, as described
in section 147 of title 10, United States Code, as such
section was in effect before the date of the enactment of
this Act; or
(2) the position of Senior Advisor for Diversity and
Inclusion, as described in section 913(b) of the William M.
(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283; 10 U.S.C. 147 note), as
such section was in effect before the date of the enactment
of this Act.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
{time} 1315
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, in a hearing earlier this year
before the Oversight Committee, we had a young American, a squared-away
young man, a former Army Ranger, who spoke on what it truly means to
become a soldier. He told us: ``Training in the United States Army is
meant to melt away the effects of civilian life and to forge Americans
into soldiers.''
I concur with that young man, Mr. Chair. Our military was never
intended to be and should not be a platform to advance social agendas.
Our Nation's military prowess not only keeps our homeland safe but a
strong American military projects strength worldwide, deterring
conflicts and pushing back against human suffering across the world.
While we remain the strongest fighting force in the world--this is
true--we are waning, and the distractions that we experience within our
own ranks must be addressed.
My amendment would eliminate the position of chief diversity officer
of the Department of Defense or any substantially similar position. I
appreciate that my colleagues, Jeff Duncan, Claudia Tenney, and Jim
Baird, are cosponsoring my amendment.
The adoption of this provision will be a strong step in advancing a
military that focuses on lethality and elevates excellence and
performance, the values that made our Armed Forces great and
indomitable worldwide.
This strength in that position worldwide, Mr. Chair, is indeed
threatened by this cultural agenda, perhaps driven by good intentions,
let me say, reflective of our journey as a nation as we have learned
and evolved and grown into a better, stronger nation with regards to
diversity, equity, and inclusion. No doubt, my colleagues' intentions
to force that agenda within the parameters of our Department of Defense
were well-intentioned, but it is injuring our military.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting Chair. The gentlewoman from Virginia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, once again, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
are not designed to force a social agenda down anybody's throat. What
they are designed to do is to recognize that people aren't perfect,
that the people who make up our military bring with them the sum total
of their life experiences and what they know, and that from the
beginning of our military, the right to serve was limited to a very few
people.
Our Army turns 249 years old this week. My ancestors weren't allowed
to join. A year after, when the Declaration of Independence was written
and said that all men were created equal, they didn't include the men
in my family, and they certainly didn't include me.
When the Constitution was written, creating a government by, of, and
for we the people, it didn't include me. My ancestors were three-fifths
of a person, yet many tried to fight anyway. Many who were allowed in
foreign wars and wars on this soil, when they came home, faced violence
and discrimination because of the color of their skin.
Those stories were told in my family, but they weren't taught in
history books. When I became a State legislator in Virginia, I
recognized that there were a lot of people to whom those stories
weren't told, and therefore, they may not understand why something they
say or something they do or a policy they put in place perpetuates the
impact of 400 years of slavery and Jim Crow.
DEI is designed to recognize that now our military is open to more
than just the limited few people who could join 249 years ago and that
maybe we need to make sure that everybody who serves together respects
one another and can be cohesive. That is what it is designed to do.
Mr. Chair, this amendment should be defeated, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, in 1988, I joined the Army. I
went through boot camp and AIT in 1989 as Private Higgins, an enlisted
man. Going through the military police academy in 1989 was quite
grueling, and we lost a lot of people. We excluded many young soldiers,
men and women. We excluded them because they couldn't perform.
The United States military requires exclusion based on performance.
That is all we ever cared about.
We never had problems with recruiting in the United States Army. We
missed by 40 percent last year. Do you know why, Mr. Chair? It is
because families like mine that historically have served are not
advising our young men and women to join the military now because of
this insanity they have to go through and because it is weakness that
has become embedded and woven within our DOD and forced upon our young
soldiers.
You are injuring and you are setting your sons and daughters up for
slaughter because war is brutal, and nobody in uniform cares about the
gender or the sexual orientation or the skin color of the soldier next
to them. All we care about is that they can perform.
This is the brotherhood that we forge. It requires discrimination. We
discriminate against those young Americans who cannot make it. If they
can't make the cut to earn a slot in our unit, then we exclude them
from our unit. They go do something else in life. That is fine, but
they can't be in the military.
So, good Lord, please support my amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chairman, it is actually not true that people were
only excluded in the military because of performance. I have already
recounted some of that history, and if the gentleman thinks it is just
history, then I invite him to speak to some of the men and women of
color and the women in general who are serving now and ask them about
some of the discrimination they continue to face.
Mr. Chair, you have already heard today some of the reasons why
recruitment is down, and I do talk to some of the servicemembers whom I
represent, including in my family. Part of it is pay, part of it is the
inability to afford childcare and housing, and part of it is a question
about whether they are respected as individuals.
I am not going to focus just on our fighting men and women. The
Department of Defense is one of the largest employers in the country,
and having a diverse workforce that is not out in battle is also
important so that they can work together to keep our Armed Forces
ready.
When our servicemembers go overseas, they are going to meet and see
people from different backgrounds and work with people of different
backgrounds, colors, races, and religions, and they probably need some
help in bridging those divides. That is part of what DEI does.
In an effort to say that we are just going to pretend racism doesn't
exist, sexism doesn't exist, homophobia doesn't exist, Islamophobia
doesn't exist, and that anti-Semitism doesn't exist, and that we are
going to ignore it and maybe it will go away, it won't.
We are going to ignore the fact that a disproportionate number of
officers are one sex and one race. That is not based on merit. That is
not based on performance. This amendment should be defeated.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).
[[Page H3997]]
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Louisiana
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Clyde
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 44
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. RELOCATION OF RECONCILIATION MEMORIAL TO ORIGINAL
LOCATION IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
The Secretary of the Army shall relocate the Reconciliation
Memorial, also known as the Reconciliation Monument, to its
original location in Arlington National Cemetery. The
Reconciliation Memorial shall not be given any designation or
name other than ``Reconciliation Memorial'' or
``Reconciliation Monument'' upon its relocation to Arlington
National Cemetery.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment
which relocates the reconciliation monument, sometimes referred to as
the Reconciliation Memorial, back to its original location in Arlington
National Cemetery. I am very grateful for the support of Chairman
Rogers on this amendment.
Under the direction of President Biden, the Reconciliation Memorial
was removed on December 18, 2023. This monument in Arlington was a
powerful symbol of the healing and unification of our Nation after the
deep divisions of the Civil War.
American leaders like President Abraham Lincoln and Union General
Ulysses Grant knew that a divided nation could not stand, and they
tirelessly worked on promoting reconciliation.
In 1898, following the end of the Mexican-American War, President
McKinley undertook a process to create greater national unity. In 1906,
President McKinley authorized the construction of the Reconciliation
Memorial. Unveiled in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson, this monument,
designed by a Jewish-American sculptor, features a woman crowned with
an olive wreath symbolizing peace.
For over a century, Presidents of both parties have understood the
purpose of this memorial of reconciliation and have honored it by
sending wreaths to the monument. This tradition showing national unity
and respect has been carried on regardless of the party or politics of
the sitting President. Even President Obama understood the
reconciliation monument in the context of what it stands for, unity not
division, when he continued the Presidential tradition of sending a
wreath to the monument. In doing so, Presidents have continued to
emphasize the message of this monument, reconciliation and unity, not
division.
Former Democrat Senator Jim Webb, a highly decorated Marine Corps
officer and former Secretary of the Navy, has strongly supported the
preservation of the Reconciliation Memorial because the monument is one
of the most potent symbols of healing in our Nation and across the
globe.
Democratic Senator Webb has said that the statue's removal would
signify the desire of ``a deteriorating society willing to erase the
generosity of its past, in favor of bitterness and misunderstanding
conjured up by those who do not understand the history they seem bent
on destroying.''
Now, I would like to share a little of this monument's history.
When this monument was originally dedicated back in 1914, Reverend
Dr. McKim pronounced these words within his invocation:
And as the blue and the gray mingle their dust on this
consecrated hill, may the men of the North and the men of the
South join hands and hearts in the labors and sacrifices
which must be undertaken in the years to come for the honor,
the happiness, and the glory of our country.
Grant also, O Lord, that this monument may stand as a
perpetual memorial of the reconciliation between the people
of the States once arrayed against each other in deadly
conflict.
Men who once met in wrath on the field of battle meet here
today as friends and brothers in the great enterprises of
peace.
Henceforth, we pray and labor for the good and the glory of
our reunited country. We have beat our swords into
ploughshares, and our spears into pruning hooks. Ours it
shall be to strive in fraternal emulation with our northern
brothers, in all undertakings for the common weal.
{time} 1330
Meaning the common prosperity.
President Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, had these words to say at the
ceremony: ``I assure you that I am profoundly aware of the solemn
significance of the thing that has now taken place.'' Meaning the
dedication of the Reconciliation monument.
It was suggested by a President of the United States, who
had himself been a distinguished officer of the Union Army.
It was authorized by an act of Congress of the United States.
The corner-stone of the monument was laid by a President of
the United States elevated to his position by the votes of
the party which had chiefly prided itself upon sustaining the
war for the Union, and who, while Secretary of War, had
himself given authority to erect it. And, now, it has fallen
to my lot to accept in the name of the great government,
which I am privileged for the time to represent, this emblem
of a reunited people.
Again, I say: `` . . . this emblem of a reunited people.''
Last year, I led a similar amendment, which passed the House floor by
voice with no opposition prior to the removal of the monument. I ask
that all Members support the adoption of my amendment to return the
Reconciliation Memorial to the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
In doing so, we can maintain a critical piece of our national unity and
fill the empty spot that now exists in Arlington.
Let us unite against the destruction of our history. Let us fight for
the principles of healing and unity, which is exactly what this
memorial was created to accomplish.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Virginia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Beyer).
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in firm opposition to this
retrograde, revanchist amendment. Today is not the 1920s. It is not the
1950s. It is so disheartening to see a lost-cause amendment come before
the House in the year 2024.
Mr. Clyde has proposed today that we return a monument to treason to
our national cemetery without any accompanying context or education.
The monument in question is a basic ode to the Confederacy, to
romanticize the lost cause. More troubling than that is that it also
glorifies slavery. It is not an emblem of a reconciled people.
An enslaved woman is depicted as a mammy. She is holding the infant
child of a White officer, and an enslaved man is following his owner to
war. It is very difficult to see how the humiliating portrayal of a
slave woman and a slave man represents reconciliation.
The Arlington National Cemetery, on Congress' orders, not President
Biden's orders, removed this monument on December 22, 2023. This
amendment is four, if not four score, years too late. The NDAA for 2021
required that Arlington National Cemetery remove the Confederate States
of America monument.
I think it is important to remember why we removed the memorial in
the first place, because treason in defense of slavery is no virtue.
This is a monument to a cause that killed hundreds of thousands of
American servicemen in a doomed attempt to tear this country asunder to
preserve the practice of keeping our fellow humans in bondage. The
cause of the Confederacy is no more honorable today than when Lee
surrendered at Appomattox. Let it lose today as it did then: With a
whimper.
The monument has been handled responsibly and respectfully according
to
[[Page H3998]]
the National Historic Preservation Act. This would also be a horrible
waste of taxpayer money, and in no way does it support our national
defense. It would only make the families and visitors to the Arlington
National Cemetery, including our current servicemembers, rightfully
uncomfortable or hurt by the association of the monument.
This NDAA should be focused on supporting the servicemembers
currently dedicating their lives to this country, not those who came
closest to destroying it. I urge Members to vote ``no'' if they believe
they represent the United States of America, not the Confederate States
of America, and if they oppose glorifying slavery and treason.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Chair, in closing, I rise to oppose this
amendment, as well. After the Civil War ended, Robert E. Lee himself
argued against the erection of monuments to the Confederacy. I invite
Members to read what he said about proposed monuments in Gettysburg,
proposed monuments to Stonewall Jackson. He said they would more likely
retard the reunion and bonding and reconciliation of the North and
South than help it.
Many of these monuments, including this one, weren't put up right
after the Civil War. They were put up after Reconstruction ended.
During Reconstruction, formerly enslaved people, for the first time,
began to gain social, political, and economic power.
When Reconstruction ended and the old Confederate power structure
came back in the South, three things happened. Through the use of voter
suppression, racial terror, and propaganda, efforts were made to say to
Black Americans, who finally started to gain in the promise of our
founding documents: Stay in your place.
The lost-cause narrative was a part of that. Many of these monuments
were a part of that. They were put up in response to Reconstruction, in
response to the gains of the civil rights movement, and we are in that
backlash, frankly, right now.
When this monument was placed, the gentleman said it was for
reconciliation, but for who? Not for the Black Americans who saw that
monument then, and even today, and see the images of a mammy and a
loyal slave following his master into battle. They know what that
means. It conjures up the stereotypes that were used to help build the
lie of White supremacy, and the stereotypes that were used to help
convince Black people to stay in their place.
That is part of why the commission said this monument should come
down and why this amendment should be defeated.
The Acting CHAIR (Ms. Hageman). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 45 Offered by Mr. Williams of Texas
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 45
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING FOR COVERED ENTITIES AND
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER ENTITIES THAT
ENGAGE IN COVERED BEHAVIOR.
(a) In General.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for
fiscal year 2025 may be used to contract with or grant awards
to--
(1) a covered entity; or
(2) a nonprofit organization or other entity that engages
in covered behavior.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) NewsGuard Technologies, Inc. (doing business as
``NewsGuard''); or
(B) Disinformation Index, Inc., Disinformation Index, Ltd.,
or Global Disinformation Index gUG (collectively doing
business as ``Global Disinformation Index'').
(2) The term ``covered behavior'' means operations,
activities, or products, the function of which is to
demonetize or rate the credibility of a domestic entity
(including news and information outlets) based on lawful
speech of such domestic entity under the stated function of
``fact-checking'' misinformation, disinformation, or
malinformation.
(3) The term ``nonprofit organization'' means an
organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and that is exempt from
taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Williams) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of
amendment No. 45.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of America. Their contribution to
the success and security of the country cannot be overstated. Simply
put, they are the driving force behind America's dominance in the
world.
The men and women who start small businesses take calculating risks
to compete in the marketplace. It is one that is supposed to allow the
best products and services to rise to the top, through spirited
competition free from government influence.
At least this is how it is supposed to be here in America. That is
why it is appalling that an investigation led by the Committee on Small
Business uncovered that the Federal Government is actively silencing
entrepreneurs and driving them out of business simply because they
exercise their right to free speech.
Under the guise of misinformation and disinformation, the Biden
administration is funding third-party entities, such as NewsGuard, to
label entrepreneurs' free speech as dangerous and prevent them from
doing business online.
In a country that was founded on the free flow of ideas, it is
unconscionable that the government would seek to interfere with an
individual's ability to make a living over the internet because of
their beliefs.
NewsGuard and similar companies receive funds from the Department of
Defense, the State Department's Global Engagement Center, and other
Federal agencies to actively suppress and demonetize small businesses
by labeling certain speech as untrustworthy, using partisan tactics and
skewed determinations of fact.
This has resulted in massive revenue losses and businesses having to
completely change their operations, including downsizing. Worst of all,
these efforts have been paid for by American taxpayer dollars. Make no
mistake: This is a direct effort by the government to skirt the
Constitution and force a single viewpoint on America.
Some will have you believe that government-forced censorship and
demonetization of small businesses who spread supposed misinformation
is the only way to protect America. The reality is that those same
people simply label speech they dislike as misinformation. That is why
one of America's founding principles is that more information, not the
suppression of it, brings out the truth.
My amendment is just the first step in cutting off the head of the
snake that threatens the God-given rights afforded all Americans. This
amendment would prevent any Federal funds from going to any
organization that looks to demonetize businesses based on lawful
speech. Too often, we have seen the self-proclaimed fact checkers get
it wrong, and these determinations should not be deciding which
businesses survive online.
That is why this amendment is so critical to an open marketplace
where small businesses can compete. The government should never seek to
demonetize or censor American businesses, whether directly or
indirectly, as it has done through NewsGuard and similar entities.
No small business owner should ever fear that their government will
actively fund efforts to threaten their livelihoods and put them out of
business. Unfortunately, if we continue exporting what is considered
truth to outside organizations, this will not be the case.
I urge all of my colleagues on both sides to support this amendment
so
[[Page H3999]]
that we can preserve free speech, free enterprise, and put an end to
this attack on small business.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. For what purpose does the gentleman from Washington
seek recognition?
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Washington is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Deluzio).
Mr. DELUZIO. Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding
time.
Madam Chair, I am opposed to this amendment. Put simply, I think it
does some pretty bad things, among them making it impossible for the
Department of Defense to contract with any organization that might try
to identify propaganda from our adversaries.
For instance, if a nonprofit wants to say and identify something as
Communist Chinese propaganda, under this amendment, the Department of
Defense cannot work with that organization in identifying something as
propaganda from our adversary.
I cannot imagine that is the purpose of this amendment, yet that is
exactly what the legislative text does. It goes on to apply, beyond the
organizations the gentleman from Texas recognized or acknowledged, to
include any entity, any nonprofit that does any of these categories
listed in the amendment.
It includes fact-checking, rating the credibility of that entity.
Again, not banning it, not silencing it, but identifying it. The mere
fact of an adversary of ours having propaganda in this country and an
organization identifying that propaganda, this amendment would bar the
Pentagon from working with it.
Now, if my colleagues on the other side want to offer a soft on
Communist China amendment, have at it. We are not going to support it.
I cannot imagine that is the purpose of this amendment, yet that is
exactly what it does.
Madam Chair, I urge a more narrow redrafting of this amendment. As it
is drafted, it makes it very difficult even to do something as simple
as identifying propaganda from our adversaries. This is foolish. It is
not drafted appropriately, and my colleagues on the other side of the
aisle ought to withdraw it.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Chair, may I inquire as to the time
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has 1\3/4\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Mrs. Luna).
Mrs. LUNA. Madam Chair, I support this amendment. The Department of
Defense should not be giving money to propaganda machines. In fact, the
only money that should be going from the Department of Defense anywhere
is to lethality, not organizations ticked off that a conservative from
Ohio might be calling out different branches for their focus on DEI or
CRT or a movement that is basically alienating conservatives and
pushing conservatives outside of its ranks.
I think there are a lot of Members who speak on these bills who are
not servicemembers or have no experience with the Department of
Defense. Honestly, we in this governing body are not going to allow a
wokification of the Department of Defense.
Frankly, with the near-peer threat that we have in the future, I
think that it is increasingly important that we focus again on
lethality and not woke nonsense. It has no business in the NDAA.
{time} 1345
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Chair, I yield myself 2 minutes.
Madam Chair, what is at dispute here is fact-checking. It is not true
that businesses or anyone in America can say whatever they want. Facts
do matter.
I mean, if the U.S. Government is doing business with a company that
says that their product will let you live to 200 years and cure cancer,
they don't have the freedom to do that. I would hope that someone with
the administration would check that and say that is not somebody we
want to do business with.
This amendment basically is saying facts do not matter and basically
saying that they don't exist, that everyone says what they want to say,
and we just go along with it. That is completely wrong. You should do
fact-checking.
Now, I completely agree with the gentleman that facts are not as
black and white as a lot of times people say they are. We should have
robust disputes about what actually happened, what the information is
out there.
This amendment does not allow for that. This amendment says anything
goes. Any effort whatsoever to check the accuracy of what is being said
and done by people we are doing business with is going to be strictly
prohibited.
I understand where this is coming from. A lot of this is coming from
disputes conservatives have, but you can't just say whatever you want
to say. The people who tried to overturn the 2020 election are learning
that. We have heard about the attack on this Capitol on January 6. We
have heard people say that it didn't happen or that it was antifa, an
inside job, the government.
All of these things are wrong. It is not: You say this; I say that.
Wrong. Facts do exist, even if some of them turn out to be wrong. This
amendment says: No, we are giving up. We are not even trying to figure
out what is true. Anything goes. Have fun with it.
I don't think that is a good idea in general, but it is a
particularly bad idea in our national security environment that we are
in right now because Russia and China love that approach. They
regularly feed the disinformation battles in the U.S. on both the right
and left.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Chair, I yield myself an additional 30
seconds.
They find stories that agitated people on the right or agitated
people on the left, and they amplified them. We are seeing this all
over the place with the Ukraine war as Russia has spread story after
story that is picked up by people here.
It is in our national security interests to check those facts and not
spread propaganda damaging to this country. Dispute it. Sometimes they
get it wrong. Let's have that debate, but please let's not pass this
amendment that basically says there are no facts, that whatever you say
is true just because you said it.
That is not correct. Please defeat this amendment.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Madam Chair, here is the bottom line: We can have all this dialogue,
but it is not DOD's job to police speech.
This amendment will prevent the government from funding organizations
that tip the scales against certain businesses from succeeding online.
Competition is what makes this country great. A business should try
to gain market share by having the best product, lower prices, or
better service than other businesses, and I personally deal with that
every single day.
When the government gives money to third parties to decide which
entities are allowed to take part in this exercise, it is simply un-
American.
Madam Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
Madam Chair, what this amendment says, as the gentleman just said, is
that it is not the government's job to figure out what is true. That is
a shocking statement.
What would be accurate is the government needs to be careful when
they are trying to figure out what is true. I don't disagree with that.
If they mess that up or get something wrong, let's talk about it, but
please, let's not have the United States Congress say that the
government should have no interest whatsoever in what is true or what
is not true. You all just go have fun, say whatever you want to say,
and we
[[Page H4000]]
will keep giving you money for whatever.
Let's try to get an accurate picture of what is going on. As
difficult and challenging as that can be at times, the alternative of
saying that facts don't exist and truth doesn't exist, so say whatever
you want, is not an alternative we should embrace.
Please defeat this amendment.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 46 Offered by Mr. Steube
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 46
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. STEUBE. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following new
section:
SEC. 5__. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR CERTAIN
MATERIALS IN SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY.
(a) Prohibition on Pornography and Radical Gender
Ideology.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by
this Act or otherwise mad available for fiscal year 2025 or
any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense
Education Activity may be obligated or expended to purchase,
maintain, or display in a school library or classroom--
(1) any material that contains, depicts, or otherwise
includes pornographic content; or
(2) any material that espouses, advocates, or promotes
radical gender ideology.
(b) Deadline for Removal.--The Director of the Department
of Defense Education Activity shall ensure that any material
described in subsection (a) that this is in a library or
classroom of a school operated by the Activity is removed not
later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``pornographic content'' means any virtual-
reality technology, video, image, drawing, sound,
instruction, reading material, writing material, presented
via any medium in a classroom, school library, on school
grounds, or as part of a school-sponsored or school-
affiliated event that depicts, describes, or presents, in
whole or in part--
(A) nudity, sex organs, or sexual acts;
(B) obscenity;
(C) indecent material (as defined by the Secretary of
Defense taking into consideration applicable Federal
regulations); or
(D) lewd or sexual acts in a manner intended to cause
sexual arousal.
(2) The term ``radical gender ideology'' means any concept,
teaching, instruction, or curriculum that--
(A) states or suggests biological sex is a social
construct;
(B) states or suggests biological sex is fluid,
interchangeable, or exists beyond the binary of male and
female;
(C) states or suggests that an individual can be trapped in
the wrong body or have a different identity than that of
their biological sex;
(D) encourages, promotes, or advocates the use of personal
pronouns unaligned with an individual's biological sex; or
(E) encourages, promotes, or advocates hormone replacement,
puberty blockers, or gender reassignment surgery as a safe,
necessary, or optional treatment for an individual.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Steube) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. STEUBE. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment that would
restrict radical gender ideology and pornographic content from entering
the libraries and classrooms of schools operated by the Department of
Defense.
These morally corrupting materials have no place in an educational
setting and could seriously harm the educational and psychological
development of school children belonging to our servicemembers.
Oftentimes, DOD schools are the only option that servicemembers have
to educate their children, and we must ensure they have the resources
to prepare them for success in their future careers and society.
Yet, radical leftists desire to use schools as a tool to indoctrinate
our children as soon as they enter kindergarten. I wish they were all
just theoretical, but there exists a litany of examples of
inappropriate and pornographic material that is available in DOD
schools.
Much of the material is far too graphic for me to read verbatim here
on the House floor, but one example includes the book ``Gender Queer,''
which includes explicit imagery of explicit acts.
In some DOD middle schools, young children are able to access a book
called ``Middle School's a Drag,'' which is a story about a 12-year-old
boy who starts a talent agency for child drag queen performers.
In elementary school libraries, students can read many books about
radical gender ideology, like ``When Aidan Became a Brother,'' which
tells the story of a girl who believes she is a transgender boy.
This material has no place in our schools, and Congress has the power
to put a stop to it in DOD schools. The DOD school system serves over
66,000 children across the world, and we owe it to our servicemembers
to provide their children with a topnotch education. That education
should include lessons about reading, writing, and arithmetic, not
explicit pornography and radical transgender propaganda.
Madam Chair, I encourage my colleagues to join me in protecting the
children entrusted to DOD schools by our men and women in uniform.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Hawaii is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Chair, as the mother of two teenage boys in public schools, I
understand and can appreciate the need for age-appropriate content to
ensure our schools remain nurturing environments for our kids, but the
kinds of content that make it into these curricula and classrooms are
decisions best left to professional educators working together with
parents to determine what is best for our students.
As a mom, it is important that our children see themselves and the
situations they face in the books they read and the curriculum they are
taught. This amendment is yet another attempt to broadly ban entire
categories of books, forcing educators to second-guess and censor
themselves.
Engaging with novel and challenging topics is essential to how kids
grow as students and individuals. They need to be able to confront
ideas and topics that may not always be comfortable to them.
This amendment is simply terrible policy in terms of providing our
kids with the education they need to succeed in a complex and rapidly
evolving world.
Ultimately, at its core, this is a discriminatory and offensive
amendment in its targeting of our LGBTQ+ people. It separates the
military children attending DODEA schools, some of which identify as
LGBTQ+ themselves, from their peers in other school systems in the
United States, isolating them and depriving their education of
perspectives critical to their own self-identification, growth, and
development.
This amendment makes it harder for DODEA teachers and counselors to
support students with the materials they need if they question their
gender identities or sexual orientation. This is an unwelcome intrusion
on the trust between students and their teachers and counselors, who
can play important roles for military children often moving from place
to place at formative times in their lives, eliminating the ability for
educators to provide resources and guides to help our military youth
with complicated decisions and feelings that they have. This is
absolutely unacceptable.
I have had conversations with young people back home who shared
serious concerns about the impact of censorship of LGBTQ+ content in
their schools and the mental health of themselves and their peers. This
amendment would further that sense of isolation and lead to increased
rates of depression and, tragically, as we have seen, suicidal
ideation.
[[Page H4001]]
This amendment also sends a deeply hurtful and wrong message to
LGBTQ+ servicemembers, some of whom may have children attending DODEA
schools, about what this Congress and our government think about them
and their loved ones. This amendment dishonors their service and
commitment to our country.
We know that the people most hurt by book bans are ultimately
students and kids, and this amendment undermines the quality of
education and experience that military children receive at our DODEA
schools.
It is reckless, discriminatory, and an attack on our LGBTQ+ students
and servicemembers. As a mom, I think that all of our children deserve
to feel supported, included, and seen in our educational system.
Madam Chair, for these reasons, I strongly urge my colleagues to
oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STEUBE. Madam Chair, these decisions are not best left to
educators. In my opinion, it is best left to the parents to decide how
they want to teach their kids.
Our schools should be about teaching for the success of our children
in mathematics and arithmetic and writing, not in gender ideology and
pornography. What is unwelcome intrusion is teaching our kids
pornography and transgender ideology.
Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Jacobs).
Ms. JACOBS. Madam Chair, as Americans, we pride ourselves on freedom,
freedom to receive information and ideas from anyone and anywhere, to
think freely, to speak freely, but this amendment is nothing more than
censorship and a violation of our First Amendment rights, all in an
effort to erase the existence of transgender and intersex people.
This amendment would reinforce the negativity, hostility,
discrimination, and misunderstanding that many transgender and intersex
youth already experience. In 2021, 68 percent of all LGBTQ+ students
surveyed by GLSEN reported feeling unsafe in their school environment
due to their perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or
expression. More than three-quarters of LGBTQ+ students report
experiencing in-person verbal harassment based on their sexual
orientation, gender expression, or gender at some point in the past
year.
Here is the fact: Attempts to erase transgender and intersex people
from schools will exacerbate these challenges and increase their
isolation, but it won't erase the existence of transgender and intersex
people, much to some of my colleagues' dismay.
Parents across the country want their children to learn in safe and
affirming environments, but this amendment is an answer to a problem we
don't have. It would set a dangerous precedent that politicians can
censor a range of school content based on a politician's political
ideologies.
It is so broad that it would ban schools from teaching about a range
of animals, including, for instance, clownfish, which can change their
sex. So, no more ``Finding Nemo'' in DODEA schools, I guess.
Schools should be focused on creating environments that support all
students, including transgender and intersex students, not censoring
content.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.
Mr. STEUBE. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. TOKUDA. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time I have
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Hawaii has 15 seconds
remaining. The gentleman from Florida has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining.
{time} 1400
Mr. STEUBE. I just think that the purpose, especially having been a
military servicemember and been on bases that have schools for our
children, one of which was actually in Hawaii when I served at
Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, the purpose of our DOD institutions and
the education that our kids are getting there should not involve gender
ideology, transgender propaganda, and radical sexualized ideology that
just, quite frankly, shouldn't be taught to elementary school kids or
middle school kids.
Middle school children have access to some of these things that are
very explicit pornography in these types of books. My belief is that
our education system should be focused on teaching our children the
types of things to make them successful as students, not sexual
content.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
Smith).
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, the problem with this is that
many think that a radical gender ideology is that trans and gay people
exist. We heard a Member on the floor earlier today on the Republican
side of the aisle say trans people don't exist. So that is not a
radical ideology. This would ban that. We have seen this happen. You
are not allowed to acknowledge that gay or transgender people exist.
That is deeply damaging. It is not a radical ideology and it shouldn't
be banned.
Mr. Chair, I urge defeat of this amendment.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Ogles). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Steube).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 47 Offered by Mrs. Luna
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 47
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. PROHIBITION ON PROMOTION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY
AND ASSOCIATED RACE-BASED THEORIES.
(a) Protection From Critical Race Theory Indoctrination.--
No employee of the Department of Defense or member of the
Armed Forces acting in their official capacity may promote,
endorse, or advocate for critical race theory or associated
race-based theories described in subsection (b) or may compel
or train any member of the Armed Forces or employee of the
Department of Defense to believe or profess belief in such
theories.
(b) Associated Race-based Theories Described.--In this
section, the term ``associated race-based theories'' includes
the following principles:
(1) That any race, ethnicity, color, or national origin is
inherently superior or inferior to any other race, ethnicity,
color, or national origin.
(2) That the United States is a fundamentally racist
country.
(3) That the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution
of the United States, or the Federalist Papers are
fundamentally racist documents.
(4) That an individual's moral character or worth is
determined by the individual's race, ethnicity, color, or
national origin.
(5) That an individual, by virtue of the individual's race,
is inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or
unconsciously.
(6) That an individual, by virtue of race, bears collective
guilt and is inherently responsible for actions committed in
the past by other members of the individual's race,
ethnicity, color, or national origin.
(7) That an individual, by virtue of the individual's race,
should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment
to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion.
(8) That an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, or
any other form of psychological distress on account of the
individual's race, color, or national origin.
(9) That virtues such as merit, excellence, hard work,
fairness, neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindness
are racist or in any way discriminatory, or were created by
members of a particular race, color, or national origin to
oppress members of another race, color, or national origin.
(10) That to be ``antiracist'' requires explicitly or
implicitly promoting racial discrimination to advance
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentlewoman
from Florida (Mrs. Luna) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
[[Page H4002]]
Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, my amendment would prohibit CRT training for
employees of the Department of Defense or members of the Air Force.
The primary focus of our military should be mission readiness and
lethality. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues on the other side of
the aisle have continued to push for diversity, equity, and inclusion
to the deficit of our servicemen and -women.
Divisive ideologies like CRT have no place in our military. Our
servicemembers should be learning the critical and often lifesaving
skills that help them and their fellow servicemembers stay alive when
they are deployed rather than having training hours diverted to forced
CRT and race-based training.
As a veteran, I know firsthand that our servicemembers are not
concerned about CRT training or DEI in the military. In fact, our
servicemembers care about the skills and qualifications that prepare
them for war.
When servicemembers are wounded, they do not care about how diverse
their medics are; they care that the medics responding to them in their
time of need are qualified and trained with the skills to keep them
alive.
It is beyond time we stop prioritizing CRT and other divisive
ideologies that are weakening our military and putting our Nation's
security at risk.
We will gut CRT from our Nation's military with this NDAA. We are one
Nation, one people, and this majority body believes in unity over
division and merit over identity.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, there is actually quite a bit in
this amendment that I do agree with. I think ideologies that are
explicitly racist are problematic, and I certainly have seen that done.
There are examples of the teaching of critical race theory and
promotion of critical race theory that I personally disagree with, but
there are two reasons to oppose this amendment.
Number one, that is not happening in the United States military. We
had a great debate earlier about why recruitment is down. Part of it is
because of the fundamental dishonesty that the rightwing is saying
about the military in terms of what is going on.
They are not promoting critical race theory. It is a theory they do
talk about, just like they talked about communism and fascism and a
whole wide variety of other things that they don't agree with. To
suggest, as this amendment does, that our military is promoting any of
this ideology is completely wrong.
The second problem I have with this amendment is thatt it does sort
of push in the other direction, to want to sort of suggest, as we have
seen in Florida and other States, that racism isn't really a thing.
There was a famous example where it was said: What we ought to be
teaching people is that, in fact, slavery had its upside. So there are
problems with taking that approach.
In particular, there is something in here about whether or not the
Declaration of Independence is a racist document. That is a debate, I
think, certainly we should have, but a document that basically
enshrines--actually, it is the Declaration of Independence. I guess the
Constitution is in there, too--enshrines the fact that if you are a
Black person, you cannot vote and you count as three-fifths of a
person. I think it would kind of be interesting to debate whether or
not that was racist because I think it kind of was. To ignore the
history of our country, both good or bad, is a mistake.
This amendment pushes us toward ignoring any of the history that is
racist, that has promoted white supremacy, which has promoted slavery
and Jim Crow. To say that the people being educated in our military
schools should ignore that history, I think, is a great weakness.
The military does not promote CRT. They should have a robust
discussion about various ideologies and also the history of racism in
this country. Ignoring it will do a disservice to the men and women who
serve in the military and to the country.
Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, to say that the military isn't actively doing
this is misleading.
In fact, I personally have seen training that our servicemembers,
including my husband, have had to go through.
To put it in perspective, my husband, before he got out of the
military, was made to write down the top five people he associated
with, writing down their race, sexual orientation, and gender. If those
people were not diverse enough, he was then racist.
Well, I have news for my colleagues across the aisle. When you have
men and women deploying around the country, serving with Black and
Brown people, because that is apparently what we are going to talk
about in regards to color around the world, and you are telling them
that they are racist, even though they have laid down their lives for
these people, I think that just shows how out of touch this governing
body is.
To say that our military is not being forced to do that is
misleading. They absolutely are. When I talk to men and women, both
enlisted and at the officer level, I can tell you that they are more
concerned about what is happening in the Pacific and what is happening
in Russia than the infighting and the constant name-calling and also
the wokification of our military.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Tokuda).
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, once again, it appears my colleagues fail to
understand what critical race theory is.
Critical race theory helps us understand the past, while DEI, as they
have often been against, helps us chart the path forward to acknowledge
and rectify the systemic racism that still shapes the present. Let's
not conflate or confuse the two.
Let me reiterate: Critical race theory is simply an academic and
legal framework to recognize that systemic racism is part of our
Nation's history. Yes, that is hard to hear, but sadly that is
absolutely the fact and the case.
Systemic racism continues, quite frankly, to affect our society and
individuals in it to this very day. These are hard truths for my
colleagues that cannot bear to hear it.
However, there is no other way to explain the compromise enshrined
for almost 80 years in our Constitution that count slaves as three-
fifths of a person to determine matters like the number of seats
allotted to States for this very body, the House of Representatives.
There is no other way to explain the Chinese Exclusion Act or the
Asian Exclusion Act, which banned immigration of Asian people to this
country for decades. Nor is there any other way to justify the grave
historical injustices of Executive Order 9066 that interned over
100,000 Japanese Americans during the Second World War, including my
great-grandfather, who was locked up against his will in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, while my grandfather, his son, served in the military
intelligence service for a country who saw and treated him and his
loved ones as the enemy.
Systemic racism is a part of the history of our military, the
Department of Defense, and this country. There is no other way to
explain the fact that, even though they served bravely in the
Revolutionary War, Black men were formally excluded from military
service after the war until the Civil War.
Meanwhile, Filipino veterans of World War II waited for over four
decades for the citizenship and benefits promised to them for their
service under our flag and are still waiting to this day.
If my Republican colleagues believe we can compete with our
adversaries across the globe by avoiding these truths, they are sadly
mistaken.
While our adversaries will seek to whitewash and erase histories like
that of the Ukrainians, the Tibetans, and the Uyghurs, we must do
better. We should be better because this speaks to who we are as a
Nation.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Bentz). The time of the gentlewoman has
expired.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds
to the gentlewoman from Hawaii.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, having our servicemembers learn about systemic
racism and think critically about the role it continues to play in our
society may make some of them uncomfortable, but it is not going to
make them
[[Page H4003]]
hate America. It will, however, help them understand why inequities
persist in our country, including in the ranks of our military.
I hope it will remind them how far we have come and how much further
we must go toward a more equitable future, one in which they,
regardless of their background, can achieve their fullest potential.
We need to understand critical race theory for what it is, an
opportunity for us to confront our past and work toward a better
future.
Mr. Chair, for that reason, I urge my colleagues to oppose this
amendment.
Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.
The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Mills).
Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I will start out by saying that I really admire
and love my colleague from Hawaii. We have had many conversations
together on the strengthening of our military, especially when it comes
to Schofield Barracks and the rest, and the same is true with the
ranking member, my colleague, Adam Smith.
I will say, however, for the record, I served in the United States
military. As an Army combat veteran, I proudly served with people from
Hawaii, people from Puerto Rico, and people from the Virgin Islands. I
have seen the diversity which exists, and I think that the utilization
of DEI and CRT is what has led to the creation of the recruitment
deficit of 41,000 that we see today.
Our military is not supposed to be prioritizing the ideas of critical
race theory or diversity, equity, inclusion. It should be about
increased lethality, readiness, and being properly equipped. This is
how we defeat our enemies. It is not through the ideas of trying to
create division, and it is not through the ideas of pronoun training,
where I can guarantee you that we cannot pronoun all of our enemies,
but the he/him, they/them, and she/her is not going to make us a
stronger military.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support Mrs. Anna Paulina Luna's
amendment, and I ask that we understand that we are here to strengthen
our military, not to divide it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I think we have concluded our
remarks as well. For all the reasons stated, I urge opposition, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Luna).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida
will be postponed.
{time} 1415
Amendment No. 48 Offered by Ms. Boebert
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 48
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title XVII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 17__. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING FOR THE COUNTERING
EXTREMIST ACTIVITY WORKING GROUP.
No Federal funds are authorized to be appropriated or
otherwise made available for the Countering Extremist
Activity Working Group or to implement any recommendations of
such group.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentlewoman
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of my amendment, which would
prohibit Federal funding for the Countering Extremist Activity Working
Group or implement any recommendations from the group.
In 2021, Democrats and the Biden regime unjustly used January 6 to
prop up this woke working group to provide cover for unjustly targeting
members of our military. The so-called Countering Extremist Activity
Working Group has been weaponized and implemented to almost exclusively
target Republicans, Conservatives, and Libertarians serving in the
military. Yet, by its own metrics, it has been a massive waste of money
and time.
The Defense Department continues to spend large amounts of time and
money to combat extremism, yet its own analysis of the situation shows
that it is entirely unnecessary. In fact, fewer than 100 servicemembers
have been subject to discipline due to engagement in extremist
activities. That is only 0.005 percent of the approximately 2.1 million
Active and Reserve personnel. Clearly, extremism is not the problem
that my colleagues on the left and media outlets made it out to be.
The United States military is tasked with one mission: maintaining
mission critical readiness to protect the American homeland. Sowing our
Armed Forces with divisive rhetoric designed to pit races and genders
against one another is not only morally wrong, it poses a very real
threat to our national security.
Under the Biden regime, DEI instruction and management has reached
new heights that threaten to weaken the bond between America's Armed
Forces and its civilian leadership and undermine our military
effectiveness and readiness.
All of our men and women in uniform deserve to have the best tools
needed to carry out their mission to support and defend the
Constitution of the United States. Unfortunately, liberal ideology
undermines this mission. In order to stand up to China, Russia, and
terrorists, our military needs to project strength, not cultural
wokeness. My amendment does exactly that.
I urge the adoption of this amendment, Mr. Chair, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Hawaii is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. To
be clear, January 6 was an attack on America, our democracy, and this
institution, which we have all taken an oath to serve. This shouldn't
be controversial. Servicemembers who swear an oath to the Constitution
should not try to overthrow the United States Government.
Yet, the latest report from the Department of Defense inspector
general found that 78 servicemembers were alleged to have advocated for
the overthrow of the government in the past year alone. That is likely
an undercount given reported challenges in gathering and compiling data
across the military departments.
Clearly, extremism in the military remains a persistent and serious
issue, one that we should not take lightly, again, given the January 6
insurrection in which we know some servicemembers and veterans
participated. This fact alone should be deeply concerning to every
single one of us in this Chamber.
Instead of taking this problem seriously, this amendment prohibits
the Department of Defense from implementing recommendations designed to
counter extremist activity in our military. This undermines unit
cohesion, the readiness of our forces, and ultimately public trust in
our military.
My colleagues allege that the Department's efforts to counter
extremist activities unfairly targets conservatives. There is nothing
in the Countering Extremist Activity Working Group's final report to
substantiate that allegation because violent extremism, regardless of
its political or partisan leaning, is a danger to all of us and to this
democracy.
There can be no denial that far-right extremism is surging across the
country at a much higher level than that of leftwing extremism. A
recent study showed that violent extremist acts in the United States
were far more likely to be associated with far-right ideologies like
white supremacy than with any far-left alternative. In fact, the level
of violence perpetrated by
[[Page H4004]]
rightwing extremists in this country is on par with, if not higher
than, that of Islamist extremists.
In our country, where servicemembers have access to critical national
security information and assets, individuals motivated by extremist
ideologies can pose an outsize threat to our national security when
they move beyond fair and legal expression of contentious issues and
into subversive or even violent actions.
Tackling extremism in our military is not about promoting wokeness,
which my colleagues continue to be obsessed about. It is about
protecting our people and our country. That, sadly, also means
preventing domestic terrorism and addressing the serious and persistent
threat to our homeland. It is also about restoring public confidence
and trust in one of the most important institutions in our history and
society.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this dangerous amendment,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I just want to reiterate quickly that this is
fewer than 100 servicemembers who have been targeted here, and that is
only 0.005 percent of the approximately 2.1 million Active and Reserve
personnel serving. Ultimately, wokeness weakens our military.
Violent leftwing extremists stormed the field yesterday at the
Congressional Baseball Game. In 2020 they burned down our cities. They
say that we are obsessed with wokeness. They are obsessed with January
6, which their Speaker admitted that she did not have our facility
properly secured.
Mr. Chair, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Mills).
Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I just point out once again, as a United States
Army combat veteran, I served with people from different races, creeds,
and genders. None of that mattered; we all bled green. When we went to
Iraq and Afghanistan, when we were sitting in Kosovo, not once did we
talk about who did you vote for, what religion do you follow, what
gender do you identify as. We were a cohesive unit that believed in
service.
I think that the DEI, which was actually passed in last year's NDAA
in the House, should actually show that we are ready to close this
because it has caused division, not inclusion. When you talk about the
41,000 deficit that we are seeing today, I think that we were a much
stronger military with greater recruitment efforts when we were
prioritizing the ideas of coming together, fighting a common enemy,
training as one.
This is what matters to our United States military when we strengthen
ourselves; not the idea of trying to identify ourselves as being
something different, but as being one. That is the military that I
served in. That is the military I believe in. We need to stop allowing
our military to only think about serving political agendas and get back
to what they are supposed to do, which is serving our country.
I have seen nothing but division through DEI. One of those examples
that we talk about is that we want to try to make sure everyone has a
right to their own opinions. The reality is that Tyler Bowyer had a
Turning Point event where military members were actually refused
attendance because of being conservatives.
We need to be a stronger military. I support this amendment. I ask my
colleagues to do the same.
Ms. BOEBERT. I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
First of all, let's be clear here. As we previously heard, we are not
talking about DEI, which, once again, this is an obsession of the far
right in this particular body. I will agree with you, though, in the
same context of that conversation, I think we are in agreement. This is
about how we should serve as one united Nation. How do we serve as a
United States of America as a whole?
The bottom line is, when we take a look at the kind of extremist
activity that is happening within our military that was found by the
Countering Extremist Activity Working Group, this is not bringing our
country together. This is not allowing us to stand under one common
flag.
A 2020 Military Times poll found that more than half of minority
servicemembers, servicemembers of color, say they have personally
witnessed examples of white nationalism or ideologically driven racism
within the ranks.
As we can recall, in June 2020, a servicemember of the 173rd Airborne
Brigade with white supremacist leanings led classified troop movements
to facilitate an attack on his own unit while deployed to Turkiye.
Let's be clear here. The recommendations of the Countering Extremist
Activity Working Group are not controversial, and they include:
Enhancing insider threat analysis and response, developing
comprehensive training and education for departmental leadership,
providing notice to personnel on prohibited activities, and improving
internal information sharing and coordination.
I think we can all agree in this body, no matter what side of the
aisle you sit on, this is good for us if we are truly trying to stand
up to China, to Russia, and to North Korea. How do we make ourselves
truly a United States Department of Defense, not one that is currently
divided by internal risks, internal extremism that, sadly, we are
seeing too often in the field and in our ranks.
Mr. Chair, I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to vote against
this amendment and to make sure that we can, in fact, be a strong
united presence standing against our adversaries across the globe. I
yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 49 Offered by Mr. Mills
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 49
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. ELIMINATION OF DISCRETION OF MILITARY CHAIN OF
COMMAND AND SENIOR CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP WITH
RESPECT TO DISPLAY OF FLAGS.
Section 1052(d)(1)(N) of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 2661
note) is amended by striking subparagraph (N).
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Mills) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, tomorrow is Flag Day. The Second Continental
Congress of June 14, 1777, adopted the flag of the United States some
247 years ago. This was in the midst of our struggle to become a free
and independent Nation and to become a constitutional Republic. Now,
that flag changed over time as new States were added and the country
expanded, but our dedication must be unyielding. They saw fit to honor
the flag then, and we must honor the flag now and forever.
We start each legislative day here with the Pledge of Allegiance.
That flag that sits behind you right now is a symbol of this great
country. We don't make that pledge to a party. We pledge allegiance to
the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which
it stands. It is a simple but solemn part of the day, and it is done to
remind us that we are one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
Those stars and those stripes mean a lot to me, Mr. Speaker. It is a
flag that I saluted as a soldier and a combat veteran, and a flag that
I have seen many times draped over the coffins of those I had served
with. I hope we never lose sight of the importance of it.
What my amendment does is simple, Mr. Speaker. It honors our flag. We
can do this again by asserting the legislative powers, as they did in
1777. Currently, no flag other than the approved flag should be
displayed in any workplace, common area place, or public
[[Page H4005]]
area at the Department of Defense, which we decided in fiscal year 2024
in the NDAA. Approved flags include the American flag, the State flags,
military service flags, and even our POW/MIA flag, as well as others,
for 13 types in total.
There is, however, a provision that concerns me that allows ``a flag
approved at the discretion of a military chain of command or civilian
leadership, as appropriate,'' and this is what my amendment would
strike. It would strike the ability from it being a legislative
priority that we are abdicating over and bring it back as it was
supposed to under Article I. This is about Congress determining the
flags that can be displayed at military installations, and we have
already agreed to 13 of them. If a Member of Congress or the Department
of Defense wants to add to that list, then come and make the argument
and the debate here on the floor and have a vote.
Don't just give our Article I powers away to the executive branch. It
is our responsibility as a legislative body in this country to make
these determinations in this Chamber. I also want to be clear that
under current law, a building or an area that primarily serves as a
place of residence is exempt, and servicemembers can do as they choose,
not denying them their rights that they fight for. There are also
exemptions for museum exhibits, license plates, gravesites, memorials,
educational displays, and more that were decided here by Congress.
I am here today, Mr. Chair, to say: Honor our flag and protect our
legislative powers. I hope all my colleagues will join me in doing so.
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1430
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise to claim the time in
opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Fulcher). The gentleman is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself 2 minutes.
Mr. Chair, the maker of this amendment is correct. This is an issue
that we have litigated before the House already. I forget how many
years ago it was now, but controversy arose over different flags being
flown at different military institutions.
We attempted to resolve that issue, and we did resolve that issue. We
resolved the issue by saying there would be these approved flags.
The other piece of it is that if the local leadership agrees, they
may fly a flag as well because there are a whole lot of flags out there
in the world, and we didn't want to contemplate absolutely all of them.
If somebody is a Dallas Cowboys fan and wants to fly a Dallas Cowboys
flag somewhere, the commander or civilian leadership can rightly decide
whether or not it is appropriate within that unit.
I am with him on the initial part about how much he loves the U.S.
flag. I love the U.S. flag, as well. Let's be clear: This amendment has
absolutely nothing to do with the U.S. flag. The U.S. flag can be
flown, as it well should be, and we appreciate it. This is about
commanders and civilian leadership at local military installations
being able to decide whether or not they want to fly other flags. That
was part of the compromise that we agreed to. There is no necessity for
banning this.
If you rise to be the person who is in charge of a military
installation, I am going to trust you to be able to make this decision.
It is not something that Congress needs to insert itself into. We don't
need to decide on whether every single flag should go up or go down. We
litigated this issue. We resolved it in the NDAA. We do not need to
reopen it.
Mr. Chair, I urge opposition to this amendment, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I have great respect for my colleague, Mr.
Smith, and I have served proudly with him on the Armed Services
Committee. I remind him that it is our responsibility. As our Founding
Fathers established in 1777, it is Congress under Article I that has
the rights and authorities to be able to designate which flags are
flown over military installations.
We are not talking about outside of their barracks. We are not
talking about what they fly outside of their own rooms or even the
buildings that they occupy. We are talking about the military
installation as a whole.
The one thing that Congress has gotten very good at is abdicating our
responsibilities the same way that we abdicate Article I, Section 8,
Clauses 11 through 13 of our war powers authority within the actual
AUMF, Authorization for Use of Military Force. I ask my colleagues to
explain why.
In 1777, we deemed this as a congressional authority, but we now say
that any command--and there are good commands; there are bad commands--
has the right to overrule what has actually been done here in the body.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues, once again, to explain why we
continue to abdicate our roles and responsibilities within this Chamber
only to complain about them further later.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I would say Congress has decided.
We decided on 13 flags, and we decided to trust the military
installation commanders to make other decisions. We did decide. We have
done this two or three times. They want us to decide something
different. That is not violating anything. That is just going at what
they think Congress ought to decide to do.
We have exercised the law and the right that was laid out. We
exercised it in the way we did. We approved it in this body, the
Senate, and the conference report. It does not need to be reopened.
Mr. Chair, I urge us to defeat this amendment, and I yield 1 minute
to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan).
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I find it really interesting that in a
Congress that took 15 votes and several days to elect a Speaker and
then 3 weeks to elect another Speaker, and every must-pass bill has
been bogged down with culture war amendments or partisan infighting
that has taken us to the brink, that in a Congress that has passed very
little legislation compared to other Congresses, we now want Congress
to micromanage a local military base.
For example, if Fort Gregg-Adams in Prince George, for example, has a
festival and they want to fly a flag related to that festival, they
have to come to Congress to ask for a bill to be passed and signed by
the President of the United States. That is ridiculous. That is utterly
ridiculous.
That is why, in a wide variety of bills passed by Congress, we
delegate some of that minutiae to the people on the ground who know, in
that given situation, they can exercise their judgment.
Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I remind the gentlewoman that the purpose of
Congress is not to try to pass as many bills as you can possibly pass.
Actually, it was the opposite of that. It was actually trying to make
it very difficult.
The reason that we are so big on wanting to try to gauge the metrics
by how many bills we pass is because we don't even enforce the existing
laws that we have on the books, and we think that is somehow a metric
of success.
The reality is that we are not supposed to be involved in day-to-day
lives, which is why, in 1777, they made it very clear: Here are the
authorized flags we can fly.
I can tell you that if there were a tremendous amount of MAGA flags
flying over military installations, you would hear an absolute outcry
by the left that would come in and tell you that these are not
authorized and approved flags, so how dare they do this, it is
a complete atrocity, and J6 is a result of this.
The funny thing is that it is only a great argument when it is to
their own benefit, but the reality is this: Why can't it be simple? The
simplest thing is that our military installations and our military
servicemembers, myself as an actual armed services member--not sure
that my colleagues have actually served in the Army--we wore an
American flag on our uniform. Why? Because that is what our American
country represented, that flag.
Mr. Chair, I ask that my colleagues support this and that we get back
to supporting and honoring our flag.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my
time. It is ironic, the gentleman arguing about how Congress doesn't
need to pass a bunch of laws while he is urging us to pass another one.
He is the one
[[Page H4006]]
who is actually proposing and having us pass something else that would
place a restriction after we have already dealt with that.
This is not an issue that needs to be revisited. We worked it out. We
have a bunch of approved flags for everybody. We allow the local
commanders to make local decisions.
Congress certainly should exercise our authority of oversight over
the Department of Defense, and there are a wide variety of different
areas where we need to do this. Micromanaging what flag is flown at
every single installation in the United States of America and beyond is
not a place I think we need to insert ourselves.
Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment and urge the body to do so. I
yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 50 Offered by Mr. Waltz
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 50
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. WALTZ. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle J of title V, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 5__. EXPANSIONS OF INCREASED FITNESS STANDARDS FOR ARMY
CLOSE COMBAT FORCE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL
SPECIALTIES.
Section 577 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 7013 note) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``Not later than 18 months after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall
implement increased minimum fitness standards as part of the
Army Combat Fitness Test'' and inserting ``Not later than 14
months after the date of the enactment of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary
of the Army shall implement sex-neutral fitness standards
that are enhanced in each test category''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(21) 25C assigned to infantry, calvary, and engineer line
companies or troops in brigade combat teams and infantry
battalions.
``(22) 68W assigned to infantry, calvary, and engineer line
companies or troops in brigade combat teams and infantry
battalions.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``Not later than 365
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of the Army'' and inserting ``Not later than 13
months after the date of the enactment of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, the Secretary
of the Army shall''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Waltz) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. WALTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment to
require the United States Army to establish gender-neutral fitness
standards for its combat fitness test.
Last year's defense bill contained my provision that required the
Army to create gender-neutral fitness standards for combat military
occupational specialties. While I am pleased that the conference
adopted increased fitness standards for combat arms in the FY24 NDAA,
it removed the provisions requiring these standards to be gender-
neutral. This amendment would restore the House's previous language.
To be clear, Mr. Chairman, I fully support all Americans, regardless
of race, religion, or gender, to serve in any capacity in our uniformed
services. We need them, and in the middle of this recruiting crisis, we
need all of them. This amendment and conversation are about standards
and establishing the standards we need to be successful in combat.
I can tell you firsthand that our enemies' bullets do not
discriminate between Black, White, or Brown. They don't discriminate
between men and women. We are all in the foxhole together, so we need
to establish what those standards are to be successful. If you hit them
and achieve them, then you are in that combat unit. If you don't, there
are other ways to serve.
I like to talk about the first female to successfully graduate from
the U.S. Army Ranger School. Her name is Kristen Geist. She had to
achieve the standards that it takes to be a Ranger and went on to
command her infantry platoon, but she now has a lower physical standard
than the men she is charged to lead.
I think that does her a disservice. I think that does the women who
achieve these incredibly difficult elite units within our military a
disservice. Frankly, it lowers the readiness of the units that they are
joining.
In her op-ed, she said: ``First, reverting to gender-based scoring
could drastically reduce the performance and effectiveness of combat
arms units,'' particularly as more women join these units, with the
opening of combat arms.
She also goes on to say: ``Reverting to gender-based scoring and
reducing the minimum standard for combat arms will also hurt the women
in those branches. Under a gender-based system, women in combat arms
have to fight every day to dispel the notion that their presence
inherently weakens these previously all-male units.'' These are her
words.
``Lower female standards also reinforce the belief that women cannot
perform the same job as men, therefore making it difficult for women to
earn the trust and confidence of their teammates.''
Mr. Chairman, you are going to hear that we don't have data, that we
don't know. We have 20 years of combat in the Middle East. We know what
it takes to move a 200-pound soldier to that helicopter, to move that
medevac up to the top of the building, to move that artillery round.
None of those things discriminate based on what gender you are--none of
them. Certainly, our enemies don't.
At the end of the day, the standard it takes to be successful in
infantry should be different than to be a cyber warrior, a supply
officer, or a pilot. Let's make the standards according to the job and
not according to anything else, and that is what this amendment would
do.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to this
amendment. It is just the latest in a long series of attempts by my
colleagues on the other side of the aisle to drum women out of combat
roles in which they are currently serving.
It is dressed up as protecting women, as a step aimed at preserving
military readiness, but make no mistake, it is about a deeply held
belief that women shouldn't fight.
When I served in the Navy, I was part of the first class of women
eligible for most combat roles, and I know firsthand what women bring
to the table in combat roles.
This fight is to ensure that women can serve in combat roles. It is
one that I have already fought and has impacted my entire career in the
Navy. It has also impacted the careers of our first female commanding
officer of an aircraft carrier, our first woman Chief of Naval
Operations, our first female superintendent of the Naval Academy.
Make no mistake, I had to pass numerous physical tests during my time
in the Navy. Some, such as the physical readiness test, were simply
basic measures of fitness based on my age and gender. Some, such as the
helicopter dunker, the platform dive, and SERE/POW training school,
were gender- and age-neutral and based on the ability I needed to have
to serve in a certain role--namely, a Navy helicopter pilot who flew
over water, often at night.
The military determined this, not Congress. Congress should not be
telling the military what standards they should be implementing for
physical fitness standards. The services have long had the ability to
make these decisions based on their expert knowledge on what is
actually needed for servicemembers.
Congress should not intervene, especially when it could lead to the
prevention of qualified women in combat
[[Page H4007]]
roles and especially not as a cheap political ploy to score points in a
culture war.
By all means, we don't need to take my word for it. Let's see what
the Army has to say. It is redundant. Per Secretary Wormuth, the Army
already has sex-neutral fitness standards that apply to every single
combat arms military occupational specialty.
It is duplicative. Per Secretary Warmoth, the Army is already
pursuing increased standards to close combat force MOSes to comply with
last year's bill.
It is counterproductive. Under this amendment, the Army would lack
empirically defensible data to set the standards. Instead, per
Secretary Warmoth, the Army would be forced to rely on this amendment's
conclusion that sex-neutral minimum standards are scientifically
justifiable without the science.
{time} 1445
Mr. Chair, once again, this body is considering amendments that serve
one goal: cheap shots at women as part of a MAGA culture war.
Our military readiness is an incredibly important thing that should
be treated with careful deliberation. It should not be subject to the
whims of a single Member of this House who has willfully disregarded
the input of experts from the Army and of the House Armed Services
Committee which rejected this very amendment.
I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.
Mr. WALTZ. Mr. Chair, I found that, frankly, incredibly insulting and
somewhat disappointing coming from a colleague and a fellow veteran.
At the end of the day, those who are fighting for women to serve in
all combat roles--which I will state again, despite the aspersions or
projecting of motives here--cannot then say, well, they should have a
lower standard in combat. Combat doesn't present a lower standard. It
is one: life or death. When you are in a foxhole with fellow Americans,
that is all that matters.
Number two, I think to equate an experience as a helicopter pilot
with what this amendment actually addresses--which are combat roles in
the Army, not in the Navy, not in the Air Force, not with support
roles, not with other specialties that, again, all Americans are
welcome and should be welcome to serve in--either we haven't read the
amendment or we have our own motives in place. It is hard to tell.
At the end of the day, what we are seeing in Ukraine, what we are
seeing in Gaza, and what we have seen in our experience in the Middle
East is that combat on the ground in urban environments is brutally up
close, dangerous, lethal, and at the end of the day regardless of race,
religion, gender or anything else, you need to be able to hit the
standards and training to be successful in a combat environment.
Again, I would support my colleagues setting aside their political, I
guess, biases and support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I will point out, as I am sure
the gentleman recognizes, there are helicopter pilots in the Army and
there are helicopter pilots who are in combat, so it is perfectly
appropriate to have a helicopter pilot talk about what it is like to
serve in a combat role, and I think the gentleman would agree with me
on that.
There is one other aspect of this amendment that has always troubled
me. We talk about combat MOSes, but the actual substance of the
amendment would set a gender-neutral standard to be in the Army,
period, and that is what is concerning because there are a lot of
different jobs within the Army. There is combat, which you described,
absolutely. We also need intel officers, we need linguistic experts,
and we need a whole lot of people who will have a different set of
qualifications.
What the Army was concerned about with this last year, how we came to
a compromise--which you have decided you didn't like, apparently, even
though you guys are in the majority, and we passed this last year--was
that they were concerned that if you required this you would be booting
a ton of women out of the military now who aren't in combat roles. The
breadth of this amendment is what concerns me.
In addition, like I said, last year we did this, and the Army is
tasked with coming back to us with new fitness standards for the broad
Army and also for the very specific combat MOSes to make sure that they
meet the standards, that the gentleman is quite correct must be there,
for certain jobs, but it depends on the job.
It also is something that is not said on this floor, and I love the
fact that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would have you
believe that the military has always been this completely unbiased,
unbigoted place, and no one has anything to worry about. We are just
going to treat everybody perfectly equally, and everything will be
fine.
I confess, I have not served in the military, and maybe someone who
has served in the military will say, oh, no, we have never done that. I
would think you were being dishonest if you said that because bias and
bigotry have been a problem. It has been a particular problem for women
serving in the military, as any woman, Republican or Democrat, who has
served in the military in the last 40 years can tell you. Efforts to
make sure that women know that they will be included and given a fair
shot are important. This amendment undermines that.
Mr. Chair, I urge opposition, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 51 Offered by Mr. Ogles
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 51
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title V, add the following:
SEC. 5__. PROHIBITION OF REQUIREMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE TO WEAR A MASK TO STOP THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19.
The Secretary of Defense may not require an individual to
wear a mask while on a military installation in the United
States to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, my amendment prohibits the Secretary of Defense
from requiring individuals to wear masks to prevent the spread of
COVID-19 on any military installation in the United States. I was proud
to introduce a similar amendment last year, and I am happy to do so
again.
Policies involving mandatory mask implementation are not about
science or safety but control.
Tom Jefferson, not to be confused with Thomas Jefferson, a leading
epidemiologist who coauthored what The New York Times Opinion section
called: ``The most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of scientific
studies conducted on the efficacy of masks for reducing the spread of
respiratory illness, including COVID-19'' found that there was no
evidence that masks made a difference.
It found that wearing a mask in public places probably makes little
or no difference in the number of infections, and Dr. Fauci has
recently admitted as much.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I will be brief. I don't
fundamentally disagree with the idea that we learned a lot about the
relative effectiveness of masks. I am not a huge fan of them myself.
The main reason they tend not to be effective is people don't wear them
or they don't wear them correctly.
I think what we have learned is that there are some circumstances in
which masks could conceivably be helpful.
[[Page H4008]]
I don't like the way the scientists in this country presented the
mask information to the American public. I think they undermined a lot
of credibility in the way they did it by not explaining it in an honest
way, and I think they were wrong in a number of different areas.
This amendment says there is never any time ever when a mask mandate
makes sense, and that is just further than even I am willing to go. I
don't know when that time is going to be. I have not done an exhaustive
study of the science. I have read a few New Yorker articles in other
places that raised some of the concerns.
To have an amendment that says under no circumstances can our medical
professionals within the military conclude that this is a good idea
goes too far.
I oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for his words.
Again, to my colleague's point, this really is about following the
science and the lessons we have learned that this information, the
requirement, the mandatory implementation of mask wearing, which was
not presented honestly to the American people, has created distrust
within the very institutions that we should trust when such said things
happen.
That being said, I think this is important to lay the groundwork and
the framework that you can't just mandate masks because you feel that
you have to do something.
Fauci has acknowledged that he was winging it, that the 6-foot margin
was made up. We now know the efficacy of masks didn't work, and, yes,
obviously not wearing a mask could or could not have an impact.
The efficacy studies were on the masks themselves, on N95 masks. This
isn't about not wearing a mask; this is about the fact that N95 masks
did not work against COVID. We should not have a mandatory mask
allowance for our military because of control.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I actually don't have any more
arguments on this point other than what I have said.
Mr. Chair, I urge opposition, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, again, I will just emphasize this amendment is
based off of what we now know about COVID. We know the masks didn't
work. There is no need for the Secretary of Defense to urge or mandate
our military to wear masks on military installations.
This is about freedom.
This is about liberty.
This is about science.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 52 Offered by Mr. Rosendale
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 52
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
In subtitle A of title VII, add at the end the following:
SEC. 714. PROHIBITION ON COVERAGE OF CERTAIN GENDER
TRANSITION PROCEDURES AND RELATED SERVICES
UNDER TRICARE PROGRAM.
Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after section 1076f the following new section (and
conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter accordingly):
``Sec. 1076g. TRICARE program: prohibition on coverage and
furnishment of certain gender transition surgeries and
related services
``(a) Prohibition.--The medical care to which individuals
are entitled to under this chapter does not include the
services described in subsection (b) and the Secretary of
Defense may not furnish any such service.
``(b) Services Described.--The services described in this
subsection are the following:
``(1) Gender transition surgeries furnished for the purpose
of the gender alteration of an individual who identifies as
transgender.
``(2) Hormone treatments furnished for the purpose of the
gender alteration of an individual who identifies as
transgender.''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Montana (Mr. Rosendale) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Montana.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, President Joe Biden has tried to turn our
United States military into a dangerous leftwing social experiment.
At the Malmstrom Air Force Base in my district there has been an
inappropriate drag show and explicit library books on display for
children.
The Department of Defense is paying for travel expenses and is
offering up to 21 days of leave for soldiers and their dependents to
get abortions.
This does nothing to help our troops continue to be the most
effective fighting force on Earth and is nothing but a distraction and
a waste of valuable taxpayer dollars.
My amendment No. 52 would prohibit TRICARE from covering gender
reassignment surgeries and hormone treatment for individuals who
identify as transgender.
The government has no business funding these procedures on the
taxpayers' dime, and, quite frankly, if you don't know if you are a man
or a woman, you shouldn't have your hand on the button that launches
missiles.
The Department of Defense still spent millions of dollars on these
surgeries, and they do nothing to help our servicemembers. The follow-
up medications and counseling are even more costly.
The question that must be asked is whether having people who identify
as trans in the military makes our military a more effective, lethal
fighting force. The answer is a clear and resounding no.
A report commissioned by General Mattis found that servicemembers
with claims of gender dysphoria are eight times more likely to attempt
suicide than other servicemembers. It also found that these individuals
are nine times more likely to have negative mental health episodes than
other servicemembers.
As former Lieutenant General Thomas Spoehr aptly put it: ``If those
with gender dysphoria are at a much higher risk of suicide, crippling
anxiety, or other mental breakdowns than their peers, those serving
next to them will be reluctant to rely on them. Permitting them to
serve also violates the principle of not placing individuals at greater
risk of injury in harm's way.''
Allowing this radical trans agenda to infiltrate our military will
put our servicemembers in harm's way and will make our country more
vulnerable than it has ever been in modern history.
My commonsense amendment would save the taxpayers millions of dollars
and help protect our servicemembers and our country.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Jacobs).
Ms. JACOBS of California. Mr. Chair, gender-affirming care is safe,
effective, and medically necessary. It is supported by every major
medical association in the United States representing more than 1.3
million U.S. doctors.
That is why I find it incredibly concerning that many of my
colleagues across the aisle choose to demonize the transgender
community, but I don't think they have ever met someone who is trans.
Many of them seek to restrict, deny, and disparage gender-affirming
care but have never met anyone who has actually received it.
Forgive me if I am not convinced by their naive talking points when
this is something I know about personally.
{time} 1500
Earlier this year, my trans brother, Dylan, received gender-affirming
surgery after consultations with his doctor. He will tell you, Mr.
Chair, that it was life-changing, and that is the case for so many in
the trans community. He will tell you, Mr. Chair, contrary to my
colleague's remarks, that he knows who he is. His body just doesn't
match that.
Prohibiting gender-affirming care for our servicemembers not only
compromises our national security, but it also hinders our recruitment
and retention efforts.
[[Page H4009]]
Trans people are about twice as likely as all adults in the U.S. to
serve in the Armed Forces. Why would we want to alienate this
patriotic, selfless community from serving?
When servicemembers get the medical care they need, then they can
focus on their mission without distraction. However, by denying
servicemembers this medically necessary care, this amendment will hurt
our military readiness and likely lead to servicemembers leaving the
military. Our efforts to recruit would be severely weakened.
This amendment isn't only bigoted, it is shortsighted and would hurt
our national security.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to listen to someone who actually
knows something about the trans community and gender-affirming care and
oppose this amendment.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, this is not rhetoric. These are simply the
facts.
Again, a report commissioned by General Mattis found that
servicemembers with claims of gender dysphoria are eight times more
likely to attempt suicide than other servicemembers.
Mr. Chair, $8 million roughly was spent on transgender care,
including about $5.8 million on psychotherapy, demonstrating that the
vast majority of the investment associated with these gender surgeries
is for psychotherapy thereafter.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan.)
Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, have you ever wondered why transgender
individuals are more likely to have mental health issues or commit
suicide or attempt to commit suicide?
It is not just our servicemembers. It is also their dependents.
Maybe the reason is the harassment and demonization that they have
faced for generations from the far right.
Maybe it is for the same reason a student whom I represented who
identified as transgender wanted to commit suicide because on a daily
basis in their school they received texts and threats from friends who
said: ``You should kill yourself'' solely because they identified as
transgender.
Maybe it is because the vitriol that we have heard in committee and
on this floor against the transgender community tells them: You are not
valuable as a human being.
That is why this amendment is so cruel.
What this amendment does is to say that in the same body, from the
same party who has made arguments about individual freedom and decried
what they see as people trying to impose their views on other people,
this is an amendment that says that they are going to impose their
views on what transgender people should or should not do when making
their own healthcare decisions.
In doing so, it is so broadly written that it leaves it up to I don't
know who to decide what the purpose of the hormone treatment that
someone who identifies as transgender is because not every
transgendered woman gets surgery. A woman who identifies as a man may
not get surgery and continue to have ovaries, and when she reaches
menopause, she may need hormonal therapy.
Now some bureaucrat is going to have to sit and say: What is the
purpose of this? Is this part of your effort now to be surgically or
hormonally transitioned?
This amendment is ridiculous and cruel, and it should be defeated.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, the pressures of war are extreme, and if
you are so troubled during peacetime that you don't know if you are a
man or a woman, then I can't imagine what the pressures of war would do
to you.
There were about 160 transgender surgeries that have taken place in
the military, and they included 23,000 psychotherapy visits.
Again, Mr. Chair, if you don't understand if you are a man or a
woman, then you should not have your hand on the button that is
launching missiles.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chairman, I am ready to close, as well.
Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Montana has 1\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, again, it is very simple.
First of all, the taxpayers should not be bound by paying the
expenses that are associated with these transgender surgeries for the
military.
The next thing is, and this is the larger question: Should these
people who are so confused they don't understand whether they are a man
or a woman even be allowed into the military?
This is putting lives at risk, this is putting their colleagues at
risk, and this has been something that has been hurting the recruitment
efforts for the military that we have seen be down since the Biden
administration has taken over.
Quite frankly, taxpayers should not be bound by these obligations,
and the people who are serving in the military shouldn't be exposed to
this additional risk.
Mr. Chair, I request that my colleagues please support this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Chair, two quick points: The United States Congress shouldn't be
making medical decisions, and that is what this amendment is. It is
telling the military what medical services they should provide. That, I
think, is a huge mistake regardless of the context.
Second, trans people have served in the military for a long time,
even before it was officially allowed, and, certainly, now they are
continuing to serve with the same honor and dignity as everybody else
who has served. To imply otherwise is completely wrong.
Various people throughout the military need healthcare. We spend
money on a lot of different healthcare provisions. There is a favorite
stat about how much money the United States spends on Viagra for people
who serve in the military. There are different purposes.
This amendment is wrong for two reasons: One, it is bigoted and
discriminatory against trans people who serve and serve in the military
very effectively.
Number two, it has Congress making medical decisions that should be
left up to medical professionals and their patients.
Mr. Chair, I urge opposition to this amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rosendale).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Montana will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mr. Norman
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 53
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title V, insert the
following:
SEC. 5__. PROHIBITIONS ON PROVISION OF GENDER TRANSITION
SERVICES THROUGH AN EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER
PROGRAM OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--No gender transition procedures,
including surgery or medication, may be provided to a minor
dependent child through an EFMP.
(b) Referrals.--No referral for procedures described in
subsection (a) may be provided to a minor dependent child
through an EFMP.
(c) Reassignment.--No change of duty station may be
approved through an EFMP for the purpose of providing a minor
dependent child with access to procedures described in
subsection (a).
(d) EFMP Defined.--In this section, the term ``EFMP''
means the program referred to as the Exceptional Family
Member Program under section 1781c(d)(4)(I) of title 10,
United States Code.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
[[Page H4010]]
from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chairman, my amendment prohibits the provision of
gender transition procedures, including surgery or medication, through
an Exceptional Family Member Program.
I think I have heard it all, when my good friend on the other side
mentioned that the medical profession was for the surgery. That is like
saying the owners of a gas station or a petroleum company are for
gasoline production. It is a given.
Everything has got a price tag up here, and when I hear Viagra, I
hope and pray that Viagra is not included in what the other side is
wanting to do. That is not the place for that, particularly now.
The Exceptional Family Member Program provides resources to military
families with special needs. This program is designed for military
spouses, children, or other dependent family members who require
ongoing medical or educational services such as individuals with
asthma, autism, chronic respiratory illness, intellectual disabilities,
and much more.
The military has tried to politicize this valuable program in order
to get transgender procedures passed. For example, the Air Force
suggested using the Exceptional Family Member Program for families who
want to help their child transition.
I would just say the other side is taking--and I will list some of
the other things that are included in this that already exist that they
are paying for--money away from the things I will mention, and I think
that is unheard of.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume before I yield to Ms. Jacobs.
I will say, just on the comment about doctors being like gas station
owners, of course, a doctor is going to want to operate whenever you
show up, that is not the way the medical profession works.
I have been through a number of operations myself. I don't always
agree with decisions the doctors make, but I will stand up for the
medical profession and say they are not selling a product to the point
where the more of it they sell the happier they are. They are not just
going to operate on anyone who walks in.
It is the purpose of a medical doctor to make a medical determination
about what the proper treatment is, not to sell as much of it as is
humanly possible.
I stand by what I said earlier: Congress should not be telling
doctors what medical decisions they should make.
Mr. Chair, if you have got a doctor out there who is passing out
treatment like he is at a gas station, then please report him, and
let's make sure that that license is taken away.
Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Jacobs).
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I think we can all agree we want our military
dependents to be safe and healthy. In fact, that is a crucial part of
our national security. If our servicemembers are worried about their
families, then they are not going to be focused on the mission that we
need them to do.
That is why military dependents should have access to gender-
affirming care, which is safe, essential, medically necessary care that
promotes the health and well-being of transgender people.
Now, I highly doubt my colleagues who support this amendment know
someone who has personally received gender-affirming care, let alone
talked to them about their experience and about what it was like with
the doctor and about how hard or easy it was to receive that care. I
have.
Earlier this year, my transgender brother had gender-affirming care
surgery. He will tell you it has been life-changing, and it has
improved his relationship with his body, his life, and his society. He
will also tell you, Mr. Chair, it wasn't easy to get.
That confidence and happiness that my brother has is what I want for
everyone, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community who are, too often,
misunderstood, judged, discriminated against, and have to hear the
hateful things coming from my colleagues on the other side of the
aisle.
However, by denying servicemembers the ability to provide medically
necessary care for their children, this amendment will lead
servicemembers to leave the military, and it will weaken efforts to
recruit other people with trans family members to join the military.
We have already seen this happen where servicemembers have had to
dramatically alter their career or leave the service altogether in
order to support their trans dependents.
The bottom line is this: The Federal Government should not get in the
middle of medical decisions, period.
This amendment will be unconstitutional and will likely lead to
costly litigation. We have already seen similar laws struck down in the
courts for violating the equal protection clause, by denying
transgender adolescents the same care that is provided to cisgender
adolescents, and the bans would violate the fundamental due process
rights of parents to provide best practice medical care for their
children.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I will just add to some comments made about
medical doctors.
The medical doctors are making money on this. Gas stations make
money. The free enterprise system does that, and for them to be in
favor of it, they are doing the surgery, and they are getting paid for
it.
The military is meant to defend this country, and it has gotten away
from that. That is what the American people are so sick of.
In another amendment, I brought up the fact that 168 generals and
people active in the military are saying that that is why the
recruitment is down 30 percent. It is for just what the other side is
trying to oppose.
On my particular amendment, you have to realize this program was
meant to help families with special needs.
Now, Mr. Chair, if you don't know whether you are a man or a woman,
that is fine, go figure it out, and you pay for it, not the government
from money we don't have.
Mr. Chair, let me just name you some of the things that are included
now but by providing transgender surgery that will take away from these
programs.
I guarantee you, Mr. Chair, you can ask and do a poll of everyone in
the balcony: Do you want to do away with funds for life-threatening
conditions or chronic conditions for transgender surgery?
Do you want to take away asthma and respiratory-related diagnoses for
transgender surgery?
Do you want to delay intellectual development by taking the dollars
away for that for transgender surgery?
Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorders, do you want to take that away?
How about chronic conditions that require adaptive equipment and
assistive technology or environmental or architectural considerations?
That is everything that is included.
What the other side wants to do is take money for somebody who
doesn't know whether they are a man or a woman. It didn't make sense
then, and it doesn't make sense now.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1515
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I want to follow that last
train of logic.
Basically, if a trans person receives medical care, it is, by
definition, taking medical care away from somebody else. I guess, if a
cancer patient is receiving medical care, that is taking it away from
somebody else.
That is simply not true. That is not the choice here. If you need
healthcare, you should get healthcare. There will be a robust debate
within the medical community about what is appropriate, certainly, but,
in this case, we are talking about trans children of people who are
serving in the military being denied healthcare that they need.
I don't feel that we should be denying healthcare to children whose
medical professionals say they need it, and it is
[[Page H4011]]
not a choice of taking it away from somebody else. It is not the way
our healthcare system works.
What this amendment would do is clearly take healthcare away from
families and spouses of servicemembers that a medical doctor has
determined that they need.
I come back to this argument that somehow our military is being
destroyed by wokeness. This is completely and totally untrue. Number
one, as we stand here today on the floor, we have the best military in
the world. They are serving ably all across the world. It is incredibly
talented and incredibly effective. I am offended that the other side of
the aisle seems to want to continue to denigrate our military because
of a rightwing agenda to wage a culture war.
That is not what is going on in the United States military.
Recruitment is a problem primarily because of how good the economy is.
Again, for a period of time, they weren't able to recruit because of
COVID. Recruitment is also a problem, in small part due to the
rightwing bashing on the military 24-7.
Are there some people in the military who long for the days when gay
people and trans people and women and even people of color weren't in a
position to compete with them? I am quite certain that there are. I am
also quite certain that it is a relatively small number.
All we are trying to do is make sure that we have equal access in the
military.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina has 1\1/4\
minutes remaining.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, in closing, what my colleagues are trying to
do goes against what the intent for this program was, and I am offended
that the gentleman wants to take dollars away from that cancer patient.
If my colleague is telling me the cancer patient goes behind somebody
who doesn't know whether they are a man or a woman, the gentleman and I
just have a basic world view difference.
The price tag for individual gender-affirming surgical procedures and
other medical treatments can range from $8,000 to $100,000. I am
offended that the gentleman wants to take that from somebody who has a
disability.
Mr. Chairman, the fact that we are having to debate this is amazing,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from South
Carolina will be postponed.
Amendment No. 54 Offered by Mr. Brecheen
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 54
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Mr. BRECHEEN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title XVII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 17__ LIMITATION ON FUNDING ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY
PERSONS IN DRAG.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act
may be obligated or expended for a drag show, drag queen
story hour, or similar event.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman
from Oklahoma (Mr. Brecheen) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
Mr. BRECHEEN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would prohibit drag shows
and drag queen story hours at U.S. military bases and installations.
This measure is essential to ensure that our military remains focused
on its core mission.
President Biden and his Department of Defense have hosted multiple
drag show events as the left continues to push a sexual agenda on
servicemembers, showing total disregard for our troops who signed up to
protect this country, not to be subjected to far-left policies.
This agenda doesn't stop at our men and women in uniform. The Biden
administration is also targeting young children in an effort to spread
its views, its sexual agenda.
In 2022, a military base in Virginia hosted a kid-friendly diversity,
equity, and inclusion summer festival--and I use air quotes, kid-
friendly--featuring ``Harpy Daniels--the Navy Drag Queen,'' where
children were encouraged to attend. That same summer, another base
scheduled a drag queen story hour for children.
Our country depends on a lethal military capable of rising to any
occasion, just as the Allied forces did 80 years ago when they stormed
the beaches of Normandy. They exemplified patriotism and courage.
It seems the Biden administration and its DOD is more focused on
promoting drag queens, waving the rainbow flag in a cultural war,
preparing them for the cultural battle versus preparing a real fighting
force advancing the red, white, and blue on a real battlefield.
This is nothing short of an insult to our troops. It is a mockery to
history and those who died fighting for this country. What would
General Eisenhower and General MacArthur say? I believe they would
encourage a return to thousands of years of history of societal norms,
not the current sexual fad that is in tandem with our armed services
not being able to meet their recruitment goals, being down 30 percent
during the Biden administration.
Young men who make up the bulk of our fighting forces are inspired by
GI Joe. They are not inspired by: Be a Barbie girl in a Barbie world.
Although the DOD indicated it would stop hosting drag queen events
last year, this informal decision lacks the force of law and was only
made after significant public backlash. We have every reason to believe
the DOD would resume these events tomorrow if they felt they could get
away with it. We should codify this and not give them that option.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition
to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the LGBTQ
families, gay people who serve in our country, and, frankly, anyone who
just likes to have fun, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.
Now, we know there are a lot of threats to the health and well-being
of our servicemembers: poisoned water on military bases, toxic mold in
military housing, PTSD and suicide. I am stunned to see that a top
Republican idea to protect our troops is actually to ban drag shows.
Mr. Chairman, my Republican colleagues want us to believe that gays
are trying to murder us. They want to believe that drag is harmful or
immoral or wrong. This is completely ridiculous.
I hate to break it to my Republican colleagues, but LGBTQ people have
fought and died for this country since the American Revolution, even if
they were forced to hide their true selves.
We can document and celebrate drag shows on military bases, and they
have been celebrated since the 1800s and through both world wars. The
USO and Red Cross hosted drag shows during World War II. The army that
defeated Hitler and saved the world included drag queens. Ronald Reagan
starred in a movie called ``This is the Army,'' a movie about World War
II that featured four drag performances. He is not the only Republican
President who knew that drag can be fun and sometimes silly.
Mr. Chairman, drag is art, drag is culture, and drag is a form of
comedy. Drag is not a crime, and it is not pornography.
Now, real obscenity is when one of our colleagues, the gentlewoman
from Georgia (Ms. Greene), shows literal photos of revenge porn in our
Oversight Committee. If we want to end porn in government facilities,
let's ban that.
We know that inclusion in our military is good for our country. We
want to welcome anyone who wants to serve,
[[Page H4012]]
and I would invite my Republican colleagues to join me at a drag show
in the future. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle will see
that drag is not a threat to anyone, and I am convinced that some of
the majority would really enjoy it.
It is my deep concern that this amendment is legitimatizing an
extremist narrative that drag performances are now harmful or
threatening. Drag is art.
Mr. Chairman, this amendment should sashay away. I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. BRECHEEN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment simply codifies what the
DOD stated last year that, ``holding these type of events in federally
funded facilities is not suitable use of DOD resources.''
I remind my colleagues that the language in this amendment passed in
last year's NDAA, which almost all Republicans and some Democrats voted
for, Americans' tax dollars should not be paying for or be used to prop
up paying for men to dress up as women in sexualized performances.
I take exception to the comment that this is something that was
occurring during the Greatest Generation. What may be referenced is
something totally different than something now that is designed
to sexualize this culture.
Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time.
Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chairman, I remind my colleagues
that art should be celebrated in this country. There are all forms of
art. Whether it is going to a live theater performance, whether they
are seeing something in a gallery, whether they are enjoying a
sculpture, whether they are seeing a live music performance, or whether
they are seeing a drag show, it is all a form of art. It is also an
American art form that has been around our country for hundreds of
years and has been on military bases since the USO was performing these
similar types of shows.
Mr. Chairman, this amendment is a culture-war stunt that does nothing
to make our troops safer. It politicizes our military and silences
servicemembers who just want to be themselves. It is Big Government
telling our troops they aren't smart enough to decide if they want to
attend a particular type of entertainment and that Congress knows best
in what is funny or may not be funny.
We should respect drag artists for the talent that they are and for
the artists that they are. We should focus on real solutions to make
life better for our troops and for our country.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Brecheen).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 55 Offered by Ms. Van Duyne
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 55
printed in part B of House Report 118-551.
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the appropriate place in subtitle A of title VII, insert
the following:
SEC. 7__. PROHIBITION ON PAYMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT BY
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF EXPENSES RELATING TO
ABORTION SERVICES.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) consistent with section 1093 of title 10, United States
Code, the Department of Defense may not use any funds for
abortions except where the life of the mother would be
endangered if the fetus were carried to term or in a case in
which the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or
incest;
(2) the Secretary of Defense has no legal authority to
implement any policies in which funds are to be used for such
purpose; and
(3) the Department of Defense Memorandum titled ``Ensuring
Access to Reproductive Health Care'', dated October 20, 2022,
is therefore unlawful and must be rescinded.
(b) Repeal of Memorandum.--
(1) Repeal.--The Department of Defense memorandum titled
``Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care'', dated
October 20, 2022, shall have no force or effect.
(2) Prohibition on availability of funds to carry out
memorandum.--No funds may be obligated or expended to carry
out the memorandum specified in paragraph (1) or any
successor to such memorandum.
(c) Prohibition.--Section 1093 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(c) Prohibition on Payment or Reimbursement of Certain
Fees.--(1) The Secretary of Defense may not pay for or
reimburse any fees or expenses, including travel expenses,
relating to a health-care professional gaining a license in a
State if the purpose of gaining such license is to provide
abortion services.
``(2) In this subsection:
``(A) The term `health-care professional' means a member of
the armed forces, civilian employee of the Department of
Defense, personal services contractor under section 1091 of
this title, or other individual who provides health care at a
military medical treatment facility.
``(B) The term `license' has the meaning given that term in
section 1094 of this title.''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Chairman, in 2022, President Biden issued new
Department of Defense policy using taxpayer dollars to fund time off,
lodging, and travel expenses for elective abortions. My amendment will
stop this unlawful practice and return to the high protections codified
in law.
In recent years, President Biden and many of my Democratic colleagues
have embraced a radical, pro-abortion stance, going so far as to push
to federally legalize abortion for any reason up until the moment of
birth.
I am not sure why we have gone from wanting abortions to be safe,
legal, and rare to encouraging taxpayer-funded abortion on demand, but
here we are. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle can't define
a single limitation that my colleagues would support on elective
abortions.
Republicans are offering solutions that support women throughout
their pregnancy while my colleagues on the other side are taking the
antiwoman stance of incentivizing abortions.
Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense
amendment to not only follow the law and enforce the law, but to do so
while protecting the most vulnerable, the unborn.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan), my friend and partner in this fight and
the ranking member of the House Armed Services Quality of Life Panel.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding
time.
Mr. Chairman, it truly saddens me to be here yet again having the
same conversation we had last year, yet again standing before this
Chamber as a woman, yet again a woman who has actually served and
actually worn a uniform and actually was a mother in uniform. Here I am
yet again defending our servicewomen's and -men's rights to seek the
medical care that they need when they are serving our country.
{time} 1530
I am sick and tired of Members who have never served telling
servicemembers, the same servicemembers that they are proud to publicly
express their purported support for, that they don't deserve the
financial or otherwise freedom to seek the medical care that they and
their family members deserve and need when they need it.
To those who have served in uniform, and most of them are men who are
here on this floor, and still don't wish to afford servicemembers the
ability to seek reproductive care, I am enormously disappointed with
them, as well.
We all know how difficult military life is. If a woman in uniform or
member of a family who is in uniform says it is not the right time,
perhaps, to start a family, or she has a medical reason or otherwise,
it is her----
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to my
colleague.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, it is her decision alone on what to do here.
That is why I introduced the MARCH for Servicemembers Act, which would,
in
[[Page H4013]]
fact, expand access to abortion services at military treatment
facilities.
We should be supporting our family servicemembers, not hindering
them.
Mr. Chair, I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment and the
overall bill if it passes.
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Chair, the language in this bill is very
straightforward. It would simply roll back Biden's illegal DOD abortion
travel policy issued under the October 22 memorandum, returning DOD to
the practice in place for decades, under which both Democratic and
Republican administrations have agreed.
This amendment has absolutely nothing to do with preventing people
from getting medical care. Abortion is not medical care for the baby.
It is a brutal procedure that ends the lives of unborn children through
suction, dismemberment, or chemical poisoning.
The Biden administration has made taxpayer funding available for
abortion at any stage of pregnancy, even for late-term abortions that
inflict excruciating pain and suffering on the child. This human rights
abuse should not be paid for or encouraged by the U.S. Government.
Abortion is also not medical care for the mother. Abortion can lead
to significant physical complications for women and has serious mental
health risks. A recent study found that over 60 percent of women who
have had abortions report high levels of pressure.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I am vehemently opposed to this amendment. I wish I could
say that I am surprised by the situation in which we find ourselves
where, once again, House Republicans are trying to take rights away
from servicewomen and military families, but I am not.
I am not surprised because it is their third attempt to get this
policy repealed in the last year alone. They tried in last year's NDAA.
They tried via Senator Tuberville as he waged his culture war with no
concern for how he was impacting military readiness and setting back
the careers of many talented officers.
This year, instead of having an actual debate about the best policies
regarding vital reproductive healthcare for servicewomen and military
families, they are once again hiding behind the Rules Committee and
only putting forward their standard regressive, backward policies that
continue to fail.
Preventing military women from traveling for care when they are
stationed in States with draconian abortion laws isn't pro-life. It is
not pro-life to force women to risk their lives and their careers with
nonviable pregnancies. It is not pro-life to make it harder for women
to access basic healthcare. It is not pro-life to do it at the expense
of women who already risk their lives in service of their country.
I wish we could treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves. I
wish we could have a real debate about reproductive healthcare for
servicemembers, but we can't. Why? Because this majority would rather
score cheap points in their MAGA culture wars than have a serious
discussion about their antiwomen policies.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Chair, when we talk about wanting to be concerned
about the safety of women, I would say that when we are looking at
statistics, if you look at actually far more accurate studies and
complete data on pregnancy outcomes, including abortion and childcare,
study after study show that a woman is almost four times more likely to
die from abortion than from childbirth.
What we are trying to do is actually support women who are pregnant
and found themselves in a difficult situation. All we are simply doing
in this is going back to the law. We are enforcing the law of not
having taxpayer-funded abortions. This has nothing to do with limiting
healthcare. This has everything to do with following the law.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have
remaining.
The CHAIR (Mr. McClintock). The gentlewoman from New Jersey has 2
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from Texas has 2\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, amendments like this cheapen the National
Defense Authorization Act. They make America look weak. They demean
this body. This isn't the only one.
Once again, this majority has chosen not to treat matters of national
security with the seriousness they deserve to be treated, and they are
choosing to use the National Defense Authorization Act to shove their
extremist culture war agenda down the throats of the American people.
Homophobia? Check. Racism? Check. Misogyny? Check. Serious policy
amendments that will strengthen our national security? Far less
important to this majority.
These ludicrous amendments are why, later today, I will be offering a
motion to recommit, not to start the process all over but to give our
servicemembers and our Nation the serious, policy-focused National
Defense Authorization Act that we passed out of the Armed Services
Committee.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment and support
a clean, policy-centered National Defense Authorization Act.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Chair, this is about taxpayer-funded abortions,
something that has been prevented for five decades. In fact, the Hyde
amendment was upheld by the Supreme Court even under Roe v. Wade.
This is not a change in policy. This is continuing policies that have
been supported by both Democrats and Republicans.
I ask my kind colleagues to tell me, please, how supporting and
paying out of DOD funds for a woman to travel across the country to get
an abortion has anything to do with protecting our national security.
With already stretched DOD resources, to underwrite abortions through
funding for flights and hotels, it is simply pandering to the abortion
lobby and does nothing to increase our national security.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I have the right to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Chair, I would argue that this was an amendment that last year
passed. It was taken out by the Senate.
It is necessary. All we are asking the Department to do is actually
follow the law, which, under executive order currently, Biden is trying
to have them surpass.
For years, this has been an adoptive practice by both Democrats and
Republicans. What we are seeing is extreme measures taken by Democrats
to show us exactly where their abortion stance is.
I was on the floor of this House last session when we voted for a
bill that would allow taxpayer-funded dollars to be used for abortions
up until the moment of birth. If that is not extreme, I don't know what
is.
Republicans are supporting women who find themselves in these
positions. This is a defense bill. It should not be used to kill
innocent lives and put women's lives at unnecessary risk, especially
those who are supporting and fighting for this country and our values.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Chair, in the advent of the overturning of Roe, we have seen a
race to the bottom in reproductive healthcare in too many States in the
Nation and attempts again and again to implement a nationwide abortion
ban by Republicans.
This is really dangerous to our servicewomen, who are given orders to
go to certain places. They can't say that they prefer not to serve in
Texas, for example, which is now the 49th worst State in the Nation
when it comes to women's reproductive healthcare, a very fast drop
because of the horrible, draconian anti-choice laws that have been
implemented.
Our servicewomen are ordered to States like this and don't have
access to basic reproductive healthcare. We see again and again how
this culture war agenda has threatened women across the country and
certainly servicewomen.
We have over 140,000 servicemembers in Texas right now, and that
doesn't
[[Page H4014]]
even include their families. That is why these are dangerous pieces of
legislation. That is why we have worked so incredibly hard to find
fixes to make sure our servicewomen are protected.
Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the
gentlewoman's amendment, which would overturn the illegal DOD abortion
travel policy.
Current federal law prevents DOD from paying for elective abortion
while permitting it in the case of rape, incest and to save the life of
the mother.
But the Biden DOD abortion travel policy forces taxpayers to pay the
transportation costs for military members and dependents to travel to
procure an abortion, for any reason, right up until the moment of
birth.
There is nothing humane or benign about abortion. Abortion is not
healthcare, unless one construes the precious life of an unborn child
analogous to a tumor to be excised or a disease to be vanquished.
Regrettably, the pro-abortion culture of denial--a modern-day flat
earth socity--continues to deny, devalue, and disrespect unborn baby
girls and boys and trivialize the harm suffered by women.
We must recognize the breathtaking miracle of the newly created life
of an unborn child and that women deserve better than abortion.
We need to care for and love them both.
Future generations will someday look back on us and wonder how and
why a society that bragged about its commitment to human rights could
have legally sanctioned and aggressively promoted child beheadings,
dismemberment, and abortion pills that literally starve the child to
death.
Don't force taxpayers to facilitate abortion on demand.
The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).
The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on
the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas will be postponed.
Amendments En Bloc No. 2 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1287,
I offer amendments en bloc.
The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 2 consisting of amendment Nos. 4, 9, 10, 18,
38, 39, 57, 58, 61, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127,
128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142,
143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156,
157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170,
171, 172, 173, 174, 175, and 176 printed in part B of House Report 118-
551, offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama:
Amendment No. 4 Offered by Ms. Boebert of Colorado
At the end of subtitle G of title VIII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 8__. PROHIBITION ON ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS WITH A
PERSON ENGAGED IN A BOYCOTT OF THE STATE OF
ISRAEL.
The Secretary of Defense may not enter into a contract with
a person if such person is engaged in an activity that is
politically motivated and is intended to penalize or
otherwise limit significant commercial relations specifically
with Israel or persons doing business in Israel or in
Israeli-controlled territories.
Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Curtis of Utah
At the end of subtitle E of title VI, add the following new
section:
SEC. 6__. PROHIBITION ON SALE OF GOODS FROM COMPANIES ENGAGED
IN AN ANTI-ISRAEL BOYCOTT.
Subchapter III of chapter 147 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``Sec. 2497. Prohibition on sale of goods from companies
engaged in an anti-Israel boycott
``(a) Prohibition.--The Secretary of Defense may not
knowingly permit the sale, at a commissary store or military
exchange, of any good, ware, article, or merchandise from any
entity that has engaged in or engages in a boycott of the
State of Israel.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `boycott action' means, with respect to a
target entity, the refusal to deal with such entity, the
termination of business activities with such entity, or the
limitation of commercial relations with such entity.
``(2) The term `boycott of the State of Israel' means a
boycott action the target of which is--
``(A) the State of Israel; and
``(B)(i) any company or individual doing business in or
with the State of Israel; or
``(ii) any company authorized by, licensed by, or organized
under the laws of the State of Israel to do business.
``(3) The term `company'--
``(A) means a corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, or similar entity; and
``(B) includes any wholly-owned subsidiary, majority-owned
subsidiary, parent company, or affiliate of an entity
described in subparagraph (A).''.
Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Biggs of Arizona
Add at the end of subtitle B of title XII the following:
SEC. 1214. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ISRAEL.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) since 1948, Israel has been one of the strongest
friends and allies of the United States;
(2) Israel is a stable, democratic country in a region
often marred by turmoil;
(3) it is essential to the strategic interest of the United
States to continue to offer security assistance and related
support to Israel; and
(4) such assistance and support is especially vital as
Israel confronts a number of potential challenges at the
present time, including continuing threats from Iran.
Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee
At the end of subtitle C of title XVII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 17__. PROHIBITION ON DIVERTING FUNDING FROM THE INDO-
PACIFIC REGION.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or
otherwise made available by this Act may be made available to
carry out any provision of law in a manner that would divert
away funds previously appropriated as of the date of the
enactment of this Act for assistance for the Indo-Pacific
region through September 30, 2025.
Amendment No. 38 Offered by Mr. Davidson of Ohio
At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 12_. REPORT AND STRATEGY FOR UNITED STATES INVOLVEMENT
IN UKRAINE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President, in coordination
with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State,
shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that contains a strategy for United
States involvement in Ukraine.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall--
(1) define the United States national interests at stake
with respect to the conflict between the Russian Federation
and Ukraine;
(2) identify specific objectives the President believes
must be achieved in Ukraine in order to protect the United
States national interests defined in paragraph (1), and for
each objective--
(A) an estimate of the amount of time required to achieve
the objective, with an explanation;
(B) benchmarks to be used by the President to determine
whether an objective has been met, is in the progress of
being met, or cannot be met in the time estimated to be
required in subparagraph (A); and
(C) estimates of the amount of resources, including United
States personnel, materiel, and funding, required to achieve
the objective; and
(3) list the expected contribution for security assistance
made by European member countries of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization within the next fiscal year.
(c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.
(d) Briefing.--Not later than 45 days after the date of the
submission of the report required by subsection (a), the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State shall provide
to the appropriate congressional committees, and other
Members of Congress that wish to participate, a briefing on
the United States strategy with respect to Ukraine and plans
for the implementation of such strategy.
(e) Limitation on Funds.--None of the amounts authorized to
be appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act, the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, or
the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024
(division B of Public Law 118-50) may be made available for
Ukraine until the report required by subsection (a) is
submitted to the appropriate congressional committees and the
briefing required by subsection (d) is held.
(f) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the congressional defense committees; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate.
Amendment No. 39 Offered by Mr. Gosar of Arizona
At the end of subtitle A of title XVII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 17__. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR UKRAINE.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act
or otherwise made available for construction of covered
military unaccompanied housing (as defined in section
[[Page H4015]]
2856 of title 10, United States Code) for fiscal year 2025 or
any fiscal year thereafter are authorized to be transferred
or otherwise made available to Ukraine or to provide any form
of assistance to Ukraine.
Amendment No. 57 Offered by Mr. Rosendale of Montana
At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF ARMED FORCES TO DETAIN
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Section 1021(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81; 10 U.S.C. 801 note)
is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``, other than a citizen of the United States,''
after ``any person''.
Amendment No. 58 Offered by Mr. McCormick of Georgia
Strike section 565 and insert the following:
SEC. 565. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATOR AND PARTNERSHIP PILOT
PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it
is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program to be
known as the ``Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot
Program''. The pilot program shall supplement the program
under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
(b) Activities.--In carrying out the pilot program under
this section, the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the department in
which the Coast Guard is operating when it is not operating
as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, shall--
(1) seek to enter into contracts with public, private, and
nonprofit entities under which such entities provide
individualized employment counseling for members of the Armed
Forces and their spouses;
(2) prioritize entering into contracts with qualified
private entities that have experience providing instruction
to members of the Armed Forces eligible for assistance under
the pilot program carried out under this section on--
(A) private sector culture, resume writing, career
networking, and training on job search technologies;
(B) academic readiness and educational opportunities; or
(C) other relevant topics, as determined by the Secretary;
(3) prioritize entering into a contract with a qualified
private entity that is an existing Employment Navigator and
Partnership Pilot Program partner with experience integrating
members of the Armed Forces into local communities across the
entire nation, to:
(A) Lead the program in clause (2) and, following person-
to-person interactions and discussions with the individuals
seeking assistance, provide referrals to the organizations
under contract with the Secretary based on the Armed Forces
member or veterans preferences, geographic location, and
other factors;
(B) Provide comprehensive wrap-around services to the those
individuals receiving assistance under this title, to include
services with other matters related to transition, and remain
in contact with the individuals through person-to-person
engagements throughout the process;
(iii) Provide close coordination with contracted
organizations and follow-up communications with those
enrolled in the Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot
Program to ensure a smooth transition;
(iv) Ensure the Secretary is provided with appropriate data
on referrals, outcomes, and issues that arise to enable
proper oversight of the program;
(4) give a preference to any private entity that--
(A) has a national or international geographical area of
service;
(B) provides multiple forms of career assistance and
placement services to--
(i) active duty members of the Armed Forces;
(ii) spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces;
(iii) veterans; and
(iv) spouses of veterans;
(C) provides services to at least 1,000 individuals who
are--
(i) active duty members of the Armed Forces;
(ii) spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces;
(iii) veterans; or
(iv) spouses of veterans;
(D) has continuously, for at least the three-year period
immediately preceding the date of the contract, provided
services to individuals who are--
(i) active duty members of the Armed Forces;
(ii) spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces;
(iii) veterans; and
(iv) spouses of veterans; and
(E) has a demonstrated record of success in providing
assistance with employment services, as indicated by--
(i) the average wages or earnings of people who receive
employment services provided by the entity;
(ii) prior completion of Federal grants or contracts;
(iii) having at least 75 percent of its participants find
full-time employment within six months of initially receiving
employment services provided by the entity; and
(iv) other employment performance indicators, as determined
by the Secretary; and
(5) seek to enter into contracts with not fewer than 10,
but not more than 60, private entities under which each such
entity is compensated at a rate agreed upon between the
Secretary and the entity for each individual who receives
employment services provided by the entity and is in
unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit
from the program; and
(6) conduct such other activities as may be necessary for
the delivery of individualized employment counseling and
other employment services under this section.
(c) Report.--Not later than October 1 of each year during
the term of the pilot program, the Secretary of Labor, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when it
is not operating as a service in the Navy, and the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives
a report on the pilot program under this section, including
the employment outcomes for members of the Armed Forces and
their spouses who receive employment services under the
program on the following indicators of performance--
(1) the percentage of program participants who are in
unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit
from the program;
(2) the percentage of program participants who are in
unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit
from the program; and
(3) the median earnings of program participants who are in
unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit
from the program.
(d) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate five
years after the date on which the Secretary of Labor begins
to carry out the pilot program.
Amendment No. 61 Offered by Mr. Donalds of Florida
At the end of subtitle A of title XVII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 17__. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REQUIREMENT TO USE
``TAIWAN''.
(a) In General.--The Department of Defense may not use
``Chinese Taipei'' and shall use ``Taiwan'', except--
(1) in historical context explaining the People's Republic
of China's attempt to control Taiwan through persuasion and
coercion; or
(2) in the formal title of a Federal document.
(b) Requirement to Update Website.--Not later than 14 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall ensure the website of the Department of Defense
meets the requirements of this section.
Amendment No. 118 Offered by Mr. Luttrell of Texas
At the appropriate place in title XV, insert the following:
SEC. 15__. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE USE OF LARGE LANGUAGE
MODELS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through
the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the
Department of Defense, shall coordinate and accelerate the
adoption of large language models by the Department of
Defense by improving the access and quality of the existing
structured and unstructured data of the Department to ensure
such data is immediately ready to use in conjunction with
machine learning applications being developed, tested, or in
production by the Armed Forces.
(b) Duties of Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence
Officer.--The Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer
shall---
(1) develop a list of large language model use cases for
defense and intelligence applications, including cases that
have the potential to support personnel and manpower,
operations, intelligence, logistics, strategic planning,
command and control, joint force development, and force
structure, transform business processes, and improve non-
mission capable rates;
(2) develop and make available to the Secretary tooling to
ingest and transform natural language, and other types of
unstructured data, into formats compatible with commercially
available large language models; and
(3) provide access to capabilities, such as data
preparation, for elements within the Department of Defense
that are necessary for use with large language models.
(c) Contracting Authorities And Limitations.--
(1) In general.--The Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence
Officer may enter into contracts with private-sector
entities, as appropriate, to carry out the requirements of
subsection (b)(2).
(2) Limitation.--The Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence
Officer may coordinate with other elements of the Department
of Defense with contracting authority as required to carry
out the duties described in subsection (b).
[[Page H4016]]
(d) Semiannual Briefings.--Not later than 120 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently
than semiannually thereafter, the Chief Data and Artificial
Intelligence Officer shall provide to the congressional
defense committees a briefing on the implementation of this
section.
Amendment No. 119 Offered by Mr. Donalds of Florida
At the end of subtitle C of title XVII, add the following:
SEC. 17__. DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--The President shall, in consultation with
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
the Secretary of Energy, the Chief of the National Guard
Bureau, the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of
Engineers, the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Nuclear
Energy of the Department of Energy, the Under Secretary of
Defense for Research and Engineering, the Chairman of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Deputy Assistant
Secretary for the Office of Reactor Fleet and Advanced
Reactor Deployment of the Department of Energy, develop a
national strategy to utilize microreactors to assist with
natural disaster response efforts.
(b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years
thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a comprehensive national strategy
developed under subsection (a).
(c) Contents of National Strategy.--A national strategy
developed under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) Evaluation of existing diesel deployment efforts.--An
assessment of the effectiveness of utilizing diesel
generators to assist with natural disaster response efforts,
which such assessment shall include--
(A) information on the current use of diesel generators to
assist with natural disaster response efforts, including--
(i) the prevalence of deploying diesel generators around
the United States as the sole power source to assist with
natural disaster response efforts;
(ii) the average number of diesel generators deployed in
natural disaster response efforts based on the type of
natural disaster, the severity of the natural disaster, and
the location of the natural disaster;
(iii) where Federal, State, and local governments store
diesel generators;
(iv) how diesel generators are transported to areas
affected by a natural disaster;
(v) any logistical concerns with refueling diesel
generators over an extended period of time;
(vi) the potential to utilize accessory equipment that is
traditionally connected to diesel generators to help provide
electricity to the area in need; and
(vii) any other information that is necessary to understand
the role of diesel generators used to assist with natural
disaster response efforts;
(B) how the effect on the environment of utilizing diesel
generators to assist with natural disaster response efforts
compares to the estimated effect on the environment of
utilizing microreactors to assist with the same natural
disaster response efforts; and
(C) the concerns to public safety when deploying diesel
generators in natural disaster response efforts.
(2) Goals, objectives, and priorities.--A comprehensive,
research-based, and long-term discussion of goals,
objectives, and priorities for utilizing microreactors
instead of diesel generators to assist with natural disaster
response efforts.
(3) Department of defense analysis.--An analysis of--
(A) how the efforts of the Department of Defense to develop
microreactor technology for operational uses could be used to
inform the development of microreactors to assist with
natural disaster response efforts, including any
recommendations and additional direction that may be
necessary for such expedited deployment;
(B) how the Department of Defense can most effectively
translate and implement the lessons learned from its
operations in the field to assist with natural disaster
response efforts, including how operations in the field
related to microreactors can be used to answer broad
questions for the nuclear industry and for future issues
relating to fuel reliability, energy supply chain issues,
reducing diesel convoy causalities, and supporting other
global humanitarian needs; and
(C) whether a demonstration program for microreactors is
needed prior to deploying microreactors for natural disaster
response efforts, based on the analysis provided by
subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(4) Recommendations for the nuclear regulatory
commission.--Recommendations on how the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission can work with other Federal agencies to expedite--
(A) the approval of designs for microreactors; and
(B) issuing licenses for the utilization, transportation,
and operation of microreactors in rapid deployment scenarios,
such as natural disaster response efforts.
(5) Utilizing feasibility studies.--An analysis of
available academic literature and studies, including site
feasibility studies, to identify high risk areas that are
prone to natural disasters that should be prioritized during
emergency planning.
(6) Strategic considerations when deploying
microreactors.--An assessment of various strategic
considerations to improve the efficiency, timeliness, and
cost-effectiveness of deploying microreactors to assist with
natural disaster response efforts, including--
(A) whether the Department of Defense, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, or any other government entity
should build, own, or operate microreactors that are used to
assist with natural disaster response efforts, including
whether it would be viable to lease microreactors from
private industry and whether it would be viable to facilitate
public-private partnerships to find cost effective options to
utilize microreactors for natural disaster response efforts;
(B) the recommended number of individuals charged with the
usage, maintenance, and upkeep of the microreactors,
including the recommended qualifications, training
requirements, availability requirements, and oversight
responsibility of such individuals;
(C) the number of microreactors needed, initially and in
the long-term, to effectively respond to a natural disaster
based on past natural disaster trends and the specific
geographic location of the area;
(D) where microreactors used to assist with natural
disaster response efforts would be stored, including
information on--
(i) how different microreactor storage locations may affect
swift and economically feasible natural disaster response
efforts;
(ii) the feasibility of utilizing already-built facilities
instead of constructing new microreactor storage facilities;
(iii) the cost of constructing new microreactor storage
facilities;
(iv) how to properly store the microreactor when not being
utilized for natural disaster response efforts; and
(v) potential storage locations, such as--
(I) the Strategic Alliance for FLEX Emergency Response
locations in Memphis, Tennessee and Phoenix, Arizona; and
(II) Department of Defense bases;
(E) how to maintain a microreactor and replace, store, and
dispose of fuel used by a microreactor, including whether
public-private partnerships may be used to assist with such
maintenance, replacement, storage, and disposal;
(F) when a diesel generator will suffice in the event of a
natural disaster of limited proportions, in comparison to
utilizing microreactors to assist with natural disaster
response efforts;
(G) which States and territories and possessions of the
United States that are prone to natural disasters, such as
hurricanes, should be prioritized when initially selecting
locations to deploy microreactors to assist with natural
disaster response efforts;
(H) the methods, capabilities, and costs associated with
transporting microreactors that were or may be impacted by
natural disasters, including considerations about
transporting new microreactors, in addition to microreactors
that have been put to use, and any regulatory or legal issues
that may arise during the transportation;
(I) any other strategic considerations that should be taken
into account before deploying microreactors to assist with
natural disaster response efforts;
(J) how to integrate microreactors into existing electrical
grids in emergency situations, including how grid connection
points, microgrid limits, site load limits, existing
infrastructure, and the standard process for grid
interconnections may impact the integration of microreactors
into existing electrical grid;
(K) whether microreactors will be susceptible to
cyberattacks, including whether autonomous control will
impact the microreactor's cyberattack susceptibility and what
systems or microreactor designs would be ideal for combating
such cyberattacks during a natural disaster response effort;
and
(L) how the weight of a microreactor, compared to the
weight of a diesel generator, affects deploying microreactors
and diesel generators to assist with natural disaster
response efforts.
(7) Deployment challenges and barriers.--An assessment of--
(A) the challenges and barriers to deploying microreactors
to assist with natural disaster response efforts; and
(B) solutions to address each such challenge and barrier.
(8) Review of and recommendations for legislation.--
(A) Review.--A review of existing law that can be used to
ease the burden of utilizing microreactors to assist with
natural disaster response efforts, including the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 15801 et seq.), the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the Nuclear Energy Innovation and
Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note), and any other
relevant law.
(B) Recommendations.--Recommendations for legislation to--
(i) assist with--
(I) deploying microreactors to assist with natural disaster
response efforts;
(II) the maintenance and upkeep of such microreactors; and
(III) the initial and long-term storage of such
microreactors; and
(ii) pay for the activities described in subclauses (I)
through (III) of clause (i).
(9) Partnerships to enhance natural disaster response
efforts.--An assessment about--
(A) the current status of any collaboration between the
National Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the
Army
[[Page H4017]]
Corps of Engineers during natural disaster response efforts;
(B) the specific roles of each entity specified in
subparagraph (A) (disaggregated, in the case of the National
Guard, by State and by military department) during a natural
disaster response effort, and their respective roles when
participating in natural disaster response efforts;
(C) the current emergency responsibilities of the
Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
that relate to deploying microreactors during natural
disaster response efforts;
(D) the potential opportunity to set up an annual listening
group session or consortium to provide all the necessary
information needed to deploy microreactors to assist with
natural disaster response efforts and to ensure a smooth
transition from the use of diesel generators to the use of
microreactors to assist with natural disaster response
efforts;
(E) how the Emergency Management Assistance Compact,
consented to by Congress in the joint resolution entitled
``Joint resolution granting the consent of Congress to the
Emergency Management Assistance Compact'' (Public Law 104-
321), can be utilized to allow States to allocate their
unused microreactors to other States that are in need of
microreactors to assist with natural disaster response
efforts; and
(F) how to improve the collaboration between Federal,
State, and local government entities and private entities
when deploying microreactors to assist with natural disaster
response efforts.
(10) Utilizing microreactors to charge electric vehicles.--
Recommendations on how to utilize microreactors as charging
stations for electric vehicles in the event of a mass
evacuation resulting from a natural disaster, including
recommendations on--
(A) how to deploy microreactors to charge electric vehicles
before an evacuation;
(B) the primary transportation corridors that would be used
for such a mass evacuation;
(C) how many microreactors would be needed to charge
electric vehicles during such a mass evacuation, based on the
size and population of the State in which the mass evacuation
occurs;
(D) the best placement of microreactors throughout the
primary transportation corridors to ensure a smooth electric
vehicle charging process and subsequent evacuation;
(E) any potential public-private partnerships that would be
useful in utilizing microreactors to charge electric vehicles
during a mass evacuation, including an estimate of the costs
that would be associated with establishing these
partnerships;
(F) how to--
(i) transport microreactors to mass evacuation locations
along primary transportation corridors for purposes of
charging electric vehicles; and
(ii) pay for such transportation; and
(G) any other topic related to subparagraphs (A) through
(F).
(11) Deploying microreactors to united states territories
and possessions.--Recommendations on deploying microreactors
to territories and possessions of the United States to assist
with natural disaster response efforts.
(12) Using military equipment with nuclear capabilities.--
Recommendations on how to, in the event of a natural disaster
and when the deployment of a microreactor is not timely or
ideal for the circumstance, deploy military equipment of the
United States with nuclear capabilities, such as nuclear
aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, to provide
temporary electricity to an area severely impacted by a
natural disaster.
(13) Budget priorities.--A multiyear budget plan that
identifies the necessary resources to successfully carry out
the recommendations and implement any lessons learned from
the assessments and other analysis under this subsection.
(14) Technology enhancements.--An analysis of current and
developing ways to leverage existing and innovative
technology to improve the effectiveness of efforts to deploy
microreactors to assist with natural disaster response
efforts.
(15) Using innovative tools to predict natural disasters.--
A description of how to utilize innovative technology, such
as artificial intelligence and predictive meteorological
tools, to prepare for the utilization of microreactors before
a natural disaster.
(16) Floating nuclear barges.--An assessment of how
floating nuclear barges compare to using portable
microreactors, including--
(A) the advantages and disadvantages of using a portable
microreactor compared to a floating nuclear barge; and
(B) an identification of scenarios during which a floating
nuclear barge would be preferred over a portable
microreactor.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Committee on Oversight and
Accountability, and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the
Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Environment and
Public Works, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
(2) Local government.--The term ``local government'' has
the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5122).
(3) Microreactor.--The term ``microreactor'' means a
nuclear reactor, including a portable nuclear reactor, that
has an electricity generating capacity of not more than 20
megawatts of thermal energy.
(4) Natural disaster.--The term ``natural disaster'' has
the meaning given the term ``Major disaster'' in section 102
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122), except that the term
``natural disaster'' does not include a wildfire.
(5) Natural disaster response effort.--The term ``natural
disaster response effort'' means a circumstance in which a
State or local government requests assistance under the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), including assistance to address
the loss of primary electrical capacity as a result of a
natural disaster.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United
States and the District of Columbia.
Amendment No. 120 Offered by Mr. Green of Tennessee
At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 12___. GENERAL THADDEUS KOSCIUSZKO MEMORIAL EXCHANGE
PROGRAM FOR POLISH-AMERICAN DEFENSE
COOPERATION.
(a) Authority.--The Commander of United States Army Special
Operations Command shall seek to carry out a training program
pursuant to section 322 of title 10, United States Code,
between special operations forces under the jurisdiction of
the Commander and special forces of the Polish Army. Such
program shall be known as the ``General Thaddeus Kosciuszko
Memorial Exchange Program for Polish-American Defense
Cooperation''.
(b) Eligibility.--Officers and enlisted members of such
special operations forces may participate in the program
under this section.
(c) Progress Report.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Commander shall submit
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House
of Representatives a report regarding progress of the
Commander in carrying out the program under this section.
Amendment No. 121 Offered by Mr. Bilirakis of Florida
Add at the end of subtitle D of title XII the following:
SEC. 1236. REPORT ON MULTILATERAL EXERCISES IN THE EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN.
(a) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report on
multilateral exercises in the eastern Mediterranean.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall contain the following elements:
(A) An assessment of the effectiveness of multilateral
military exercises hosted by United State allies and partners
in the eastern Mediterranean in bolstering maritime energy
security and counterterrorism in the region.
(B) Individual assessments of the potential benefits of
including the following countries in future exercises and
their readiness to participate based on interoperability:
(i) Bahrain.
(ii) Egypt.
(iii) Jordan.
(iv) United Arab Emirates
(v) Saudi Arabia
(b) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
transmitted in an unclassified form and may contain a
classified annex.
Amendment No. 122 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer of New Jersey
At the end of subtitle B of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 12_. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY MEASURES
ON THE BORDER BETWEEN GAZA AND EGYPT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination
with the Secretary of State, shall conduct a study on steps
that Israel, Egypt, and the United States can take to enhance
international security measures on the border between Gaza
and Egypt to ensure Hamas and other actors do not use tunnels
or methods via the Mediterranean Sea to smuggle weapons and
illicit goods.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that contains
the results of the study.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by this
subsection shall include a description and map indicating
existing tunnels on the border between Gaza and Egypt.
(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.
[[Page H4018]]
Amendment No. 123 Offered by Mr. Self of Texas
At the end of subtitle C of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NAMING OF NAVAL VESSEL
AFTER LIEUTENANT GENERAL RICHARD E. CAREY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of the Navy should name the Spearhead-class
expeditionary fast transport vessel of the United States Navy
that has been ordered (Hull Number T-EPF-16) in honor of
Lieutenant General Richard E. Carey for the acts of valor
described in subsection (b).
(b) Acts of Valor.--The acts of valor described in this
subsection are as follows:
(1) Lieutenant General Richard E. Carey participated in the
Inchon Landing, captured communist forces, and led his rifle
platoon to Seoul. Three months later, on East Hill at the
Chosin Reservoir, Carey hurled grenades at Chinese forces.
Carey and his fellow Marines were outnumbered eight to one.
They held their ground and broke through the Chinese trap to
the sea.
(2) Carey remained in the fight until March 1951. While
commanding a platoon of machine gunners, Carey was badly
wounded. He continued leading his troops and initially
refused to get aid for his injuries. Carey's wounds required
hospitalization. During 189 days in Korea, Carey had seven
near-death experiences. As a result of his actions in Korea,
Carey received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple
Heart.
(3) Returning to the United States, Carey earned a flight
training slot and became a fighter pilot. In the early 1960s
Carey scouted Marine airfield sites in Vietnam. He returned
to Vietnam in the summer of 1967 and served during the Tet
offensive. Carey flew 204 combat sorties earning the
Distinguished Flying Cross and 16 Air Medals.
Amendment No. 124 Offered by Mr. Green of Tennessee
Add at the end of subtitle D of title XV the following:
SEC. 1538. REPORT ON STATE NATIONAL GUARD CYBER UNITS.
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report on the feasibility of
establishing a cyber unit in every National Guard of a State
to ensure the ability of a State to quickly respond to cyber-
attacks in such State.
Amendment No. 125 Offered by Mr. Frost of Florida
At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 17__. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ANNUAL REPORT ON OVERSIGHT OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND
ABUSE.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this section, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Inspector
General of the Department of Defense shall submit to Congress
and the Comptroller General of the United States, and make
publicly available, a report containing, for each fiscal
year--
(1) a description of the budget of the Department of
Defense, the total amount and dollar value of oversight
investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse conducted by the
Inspector General of the Department of Defense, and the total
amount and dollar value of oversight investigations into
fraud, waste, and abuse conducted by the Inspectors General
of each military department;
(2) statistical tables showing--
(A) the total number and dollar value of oversight
investigations completed and pending, set forth separately by
type of oversight investigation;
(B) the priority given to each type of oversight
investigation;
(C) the length of time taken for each type of oversight
investigation, from the date of receipt of a qualified
incurred cost submission (as such term is defined in section
3842 of title 10, United States Code) and from the date on
which the oversight investigation begins;
(D) the aggregate cost of performing oversight
investigations, set forth separately by type of oversight
investigation; and
(E) the total number and dollar value of oversight
investigations that are pending for a period longer than one
year at the end of the fiscal year covered by the report, and
the fiscal year in which the qualified incurred cost
submission was received, set forth separately by type of
oversight investigation;
(3) a summary of any recommendations of actions or
resources needed to improve the oversight investigation
process; and
(4) any other matters the Inspector General considers
appropriate.
Amendment No. 126 Offered by Ms. Tenney of New York
Page 244, insert after line 21 the following (and conform
the table of contents accordingly):
SEC. 5__. CORRECTION OF CERTAIN CITATIONS IN TITLE 18, UNITED
STATES CODE, RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.
Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 2241(c)--
(A) in the second sentence, by inserting ``or an offense
under the Uniform Code of Military Justice'' after ``State
offense''; and
(B) by striking ``either such provision'' and inserting
``any such provision'';
(2) in section 2251(e), by striking ``section 920 of title
10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or
under'' each place it appears and inserting ``the Uniform
Code of Military Justice or'';
(3) in section 2252(b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``section 920 of title 10
(article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or
under'' and inserting ``the Uniform Code of Military Justice
or''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section 920 of title 10
(article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or
under'' and inserting ``the Uniform Code of Military Justice
or'';
(4) in section 2252A(b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``section 920 of title 10
(article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or
under'' and inserting ``the Uniform Code of Military Justice
or''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section 920 of title 10
(article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), or
under'' and inserting ``the Uniform Code of Military Justice
or'';
(5) in section 2426(b)(1)(B), by inserting ``or the Uniform
Code of Military Justice'' after ``State law''; and
(6) in section 3559(e)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``State sex offense'' and inserting ``State
or Military sex offense''; and
(ii) by inserting ``or the Uniform Code of Military
Justice'' after ``State law''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``or Military'' after
``State''.
Amendment No. 127 Offered by Mr. Green of Tennessee
Add at the end of subtitle E of title XXVIII the following
new section:
SEC. 28__. REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO CATEGORY 3
SUBTERRANEAN TRAINING FACILITY.
(a) Requirement to Maintain Access.--The Secretary of
Defense shall ensure that the Department of Defense maintains
access to a covered category 3 subterranean training facility
on a continuing basis.
(b) Authority to Enter Into Lease.--The Secretary of
Defense may enter into a short-term lease with a provider of
a covered category 3 subterranean training facility for
purposes of compliance with subsection (a).
(c) Covered Category 3 Subterranean Training Facility
Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered category 3
subterranean training facility'' means a category 3
subterranean training facility (as defined in section 2869 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
(Public Law 117-263)) that is--
(1) operational on or before the date of the enactment of
this Act; and
(2) deemed safe for use on such date.
Amendment No. 128 Offered by Mr. Roy of Texas
At the end of subtitle B of title XII, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 12_. PROHIBITION ON PROVIDING FUNDING TO IRANIAN
ENTITIES.
(a) In General.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Defense or otherwise made
available by this Act may be made available, directly or
indirectly, to--
(1) the Government of Iran;
(2) any person owned or controlled by the Government of
Iran;
(3) any person that is on the List of Specially Designated
Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury and
the property and interests in property of which are blocked
pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act;
or
(4) any person owned or controlled by a person described in
paragraph (3).
(b) Exception for Intelligence Activities.--The prohibition
under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to
activities subject to the reporting requirements under title
V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et
seq.) or any authorized intelligence activities of the United
States.
Amendment No. 129 Offered by Mr. Roy of Texas
Add at the end of title IV, the following:
Subtitle D--Reports
SEC. 431. ANNUAL DEFENSE MANPOWER PROFILE REPORT: EXPANSION
OF JUSTIFICATIONS FOR END STRENGTHS.
Section 115a of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Congress'' and
inserting ``to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, and furnish to any Member
of Congress upon request,''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The justification and explanation required by
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
``(A) An assessment of the most important threats facing
the United States, disaggregated by geographic combatant
command.
``(B) An explanation of how personnel end strength level
requests address threats described in subparagraph (A).
``(C) The rationale for recommended increases or decreases
in active, reserve, and civilian personnel for each component
of the Department of Defense.
``(D) The rationale for recommended increases or decreases
in active, reserve, and civilian personnel for each of the
geographic combatant commands.
``(E) The primary functions or missions of active, reserve,
and civilian personnel in each geographic combatant command.
[[Page H4019]]
``(F) An assessment of any areas in which decreases in
active, reserve, or civilian personnel would not result in a
decrease in readiness.
``(G) The actual end strength number for each armed force
for the prior fiscal year, compared to authorized end
strength levels.
``(H) The shortfall in recruiting by each armed force as a
percentage, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
``(I) The number of applicants who were found to be
ineligible for service in the Department of Defense during
the prior fiscal year as a result of current enlistment
standards, disaggregated by armed force and reason for
disqualification.''.
Amendment No. 130 Offered by Ms. Budzinski of Illinois
At the end of subtitle B of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO COMBAT FOOTWEAR OF
MEMBERS OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall
issue regulations prohibiting any member of the Armed Forces
from wearing optional combat boots as part of a required
uniform unless the optional combat boots are entirely
manufactured in the United States and entirely made of--
(1) materials grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in
the United States; and
(2) components that are manufactured entirely in the United
States and entirely made of materials described in paragraph
(1).
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``optional combat boots'', with respect to a
member of the Armed Forces, combat boots not furnished to
such member of the Armed Forces by the Secretary of Defense.
(2) The term ``required uniform'' means a uniform a member
of the Armed Forces is required to wear as a member of the
Armed Forces.
Amendment No. 131 Offered by Ms. Porter of California
At the end of subtitle C of title XXVIII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 28__. SCREENING AND REGISTRY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH HEALTH
CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM UNSAFE HOUSING UNITS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter V of chapter 169 of title 10,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 2895. Screening and registry of individuals with
health conditions resulting from unsafe housing units
``(a) Screening.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with appropriate scientific agencies as
determined by the Secretary, shall ensure that all military
medical treatment facilities screen eligible individuals for
covered conditions.
``(2) Establishment of procedures.--The Secretary may
establish procedures through which screening under paragraph
(1) may allow an eligible individual to be included in the
registry under subsection (b).
``(b) Registry.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish
and maintain a registry of eligible individuals who have a
covered condition.
``(2) Inclusion of information.--The Secretary shall
include any information in the registry under paragraph (1)
that the Secretary determines necessary to ascertain and
monitor the health of eligible individuals and the connection
between the health of such individuals and an unsafe housing
unit.
``(3) Public information campaign.--The Secretary shall
develop a public information campaign to inform eligible
individuals about the registry under paragraph (1), including
how to register and the benefits of registering.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `covered condition' means a medical
condition that is determined by the Secretary of Defense to
have resulted from residing in an unsafe housing unit.
``(2) The term `eligible individual' means a member of the
armed forces or a family member of a member of the armed
forces who has resided in an unsafe housing unit.
``(3) The term `unsafe housing unit' means a dwelling unit
that--
``(A) does not meet the housing quality standards
established under section 8(o)(8)(B) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8)(B)); or
``(B) is not free from dangerous air pollution levels from
mold.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such subchapter is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 2894a the following new item:
``2895. Screening and registry of individuals with health conditions
resulting from unsafe housing units.''.
Amendment No. 132 Offered by Ms. Salazar of Florida
At the end of subtitle D of title III, insert the
following:
SEC. 3__. STUDY ON USE AND PRESENCE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS IN
PANAMA CANAL ZONE.
(a) Study Required.--Not later than December 31, 2025, the
Armed Forces Pest Management Board shall conduct a study on
the use and presence of herbicide agents and toxic chemicals
by the Department in the Panama Canal Zone during the period
beginning on January 1, 1958, and ending on December 31,
1999.
(b) Elements.--The study conducted under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
(1) An assessment to determine the degree to which
herbicide agents, including those known as ``rainbow
herbicides'', and other toxic chemicals were used, tested,
stored, or otherwise dispensed within the Panama Canal Zone
while members of the United States Armed Forces were
stationed there.
(2) An assessment of how many members of the United States
Armed Forces may have been affected by the usage of herbicide
agents and other toxic chemicals.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``herbicide agent'' means a chemical in an
herbicide.
(2) The term ``rainbow herbicide'' means herbicides known
as Agent Pink, Agent Purple, Agent Blue, Agent Green, Agent
White, and Agent Orange.
(3) The term ``toxic chemicals'' means persistent organic
pollutants, as defined by the Environmental Protection
Agency.
Amendment No. 133 Offered by Mr. Perry of Pennsylvania
At the end of subtitle C of title XVII, add the following:
SEC. 17__. STATEMENT OF POLICY RELATING TO REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS OF CHINA'S MARITIME SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--It is the policy of the United States to
reject as a violation of international law and United States
sovereignty any attempt by China's Maritime Safety
Administration to compel United States vessels to adhere to
any reporting requirements listed within China's Maritime
Traffic Safety Law, including any requirements to require a
vessel to declare--
(1) the vessel's name and number;
(2) the vessel's satellite telephone number;
(3) the vessel's position and recent locations; and
(4) the vessel's cargo.
(b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) applies to all maritime
claims made by the People's Republic of China that the United
States has rejected, to include virtually all of China's
claims within the Nine-Dash Line.
Amendment No. 135 Offered by Mr. Bowman of New York
At the end of subtitle D of title V, insert the following:
SEC. 5__. IMPROVING OVERSIGHT OF MILITARY RECRUITMENT
PRACTICES IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees an annual report on military recruitment
practices in public secondary schools during calendar year
2024 and each subsequent calendar year. Each such report
shall include, for the year covered by the report--
(1) the zip codes of public secondary schools visited by
military recruiters;
(2) the number of recruits from public secondary schools by
zip code and local education agency; and
(3) a demographic analysis, including race, ethnicity, and
gender, of recruits from public secondary schools by zip
code.
Amendment No. 136 Offered by Mr. Pappas of New Hampshire
At the end of subtitle F of title VIII, insert the
following:
SEC. 8__. COLLABORATE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for
the Office of Entrepreneurial Development of the Small
Business Administration and the Director of Small Business
Programs of the Department of Defense shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on the
memorandum of understanding (referred to in this section as
the ``MOU'') between the Small Business Administration and
the Department of Defense entered into on December 2, 2022.
Such report shall include the following:
(1) The status of activities specified in clause (1) of
part III of the MOU.
(2) A summary of the lessons learned specified in clause
(1)(b) of part III of the MOU.
(3) An analysis of the activities and efficacy of those
activities specified in clause (3) of part III of the MOU,
including any nexus related to small business certifications
and use of contracting authorities at the Department of
Defense.
(4) A description of the training and events specified in
clause (5) of part III of the MOU.
(5) A summary of how the MOU prevents small business
concerns from receiving duplicative assistance or
contradictory or confusing information from covered centers.
(6) A discussion of the sufficiency of the MOU to achieve
the goals to promote entrepreneurship and small business
development nationally and locally and maximize participation
in government contracting.
(7) Any recommended changes to existing laws or regulations
that would enhance the Parties' ability to reach the MOU's
goals.
(8) Any additional information the Parties deem necessary.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committees on Armed Services and Small Business of
the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committees on Armed Services and Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate.
[[Page H4020]]
Amendment No. 137 Offered by Mr. Guest of Mississippi
In subtitle C of title XXVIII, add at the end the
following:
SEC. 28__. PROHIBITION ON USE BY AIR FORCE OF CORPORATE
STRUCTURE IN CONDUCTING CERTAIN BASING
DECISIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Air Force may not
make any basing decision during the resource allocation plan
or program objective memorandum process of the Department of
the Air Force (commonly known as a ``programmatic basing
decision'') through the use of the DAF Corporate Structure
set forth under chapters 3.2 and 7.1 of the Department of the
Air Force Instruction 10-503, dated June 12, 2023, relating
to strategic basing.
(b) Update of Instruction and Other Policy.--Not later than
30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of the Air Force shall update any instruction or
other policy of the Department of the Air Force to include
the prohibition under subsection (a).
Amendment No. 138 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee
At the end of subtitle B of title XIII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 13_. INVITATION TO TAIWAN TO THE RIM OF THE PACIFIC
EXERCISE.
The Secretary of Defense is directed to invite the naval
forces of Taiwan to any Rim of the Pacific Exercise that is
to take place following the date of enactment of this Act.
Amendment No. 139 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee
At the end of subtitle A of title XIII, insert the
following:
SEC. 13__. MODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION ON PARTICIPATION OF
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN RIM OF THE
PACIFIC EXERCISES.
Section 1259(a)(1) of the John S. McCain National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 321 note)
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'';
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) held an internationally recognized free and fair
presidential election.''.
Amendment No. 140 Offered by Ms. Lee of Nevada
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. REPORT ON EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA CARE FOR CIVILIANS
AT MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITIES.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
section, the Director of the Defense Health Agency, in
collaboration with military treatment facilities engaged in
emergency and trauma care to civilian patients, shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report that
includes the following:
(1) A summary of any challenges that military treatment
facilities have encountered in providing emergency and trauma
care to civilian patients, including challenges related to
the transportation of such patients to and from such
facilities, and steps the Director has taken to overcome such
challenges.
(2) An assessment of the effectiveness of the coordination
of military treatment facilities with local emergency medical
services and any barrier faced by such facilities and
services related to providing timely emergency medical care
to civilians, including any barrier caused by installation
access.
(3) A summary of efforts the Director has taken to address
the issues identified in the report of the Comptroller
General of the United States titled ``Defense Health Care:
Actions Needed to Improve Billing and Collection of Debt for
Civilian Emergency Care'', published on July 7, 2022 (GAO-22-
104770), including such issues related to inconsistent use of
financial relief for civilian emergency patients and the lack
of guidance to ensure accurate accounting of billing and
collections efforts.
(4) Any recommendations to improve civilian emergency care
at Department of Defense medical treatment facilities,
including any recommendations for additional legislation.
Amendment No. 141 Offered by Mr. Himes of Connecticut
At the end of subtitle A of title XVI, add the following
new section:
SEC. 16__. REPORT ON CAPABILITIES IN CISLUNAR SPACE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
there is a need for comprehensive cislunar space domain
awareness capabilities to ensure the safety of flight of
civil and commercial missions in cislunar space.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Chief of Space Operations shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report that
includes a description of--
(1) requirements for cislunar space domain awareness
capabilities;
(2) the plan of Department of Defense for researching and
developing technologies for cislunar space domain awareness;
and
(3) the progress of the Department in coordinating with the
Cislunar Technology Strategy Interagency Working Group to
achieve the objectives set forth in the publication of the
Working Group titled ``National Cislunar Science and
Technology Strategy'' and dated November 2022.
Amendment No. 142 Offered by Mr. Biggs of Arizona
At the end of subtitle A of title X, add the following new
section:
SEC. 10__. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SPENDING REDUCTIONS IN
ABSENCE OF SUBMITTED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR
FAILURE TO ACHIEVE UNQUALIFIED OR QUALIFIED
INDEPENDENT AUDIT OPINION.
(a) Applicability.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), this section
applies to the Department of Defense, including military
departments and Defense Agencies thereof.
(2) Separate applicability.--If a military department or
Defense Agency is identified by the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget as required to have its own audited
financial statement under section 3515 of title 31, United
States Code, that military department and Defense Agency
shall be treated separately from the Department of Defense
for purposes of application of this section.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The terms ``financial statement'' and ``external
independent auditor'' have the meanings given those terms in
section 3521(e) of title 31, United States Code.
(3) The term ``unqualified'', with respect to the audit
status of a financial statement, includes the
characterizations clean and unmodified.
(2) The term ``qualified'', with respect to the audit
status of a financial statement, includes the
characterization modified.
(c) Adjustments for Financial Accountability.--
(1) In general.--On March 2 of each fiscal year, the
discretionary budget authority available for the Department
of Defense (or a military department or Defense Agency
covered by subsection (a)(2)) for such fiscal year shall be
adjusted as provided in paragraph (2).
(2) Adjustment.--If the Department of Defense (or a
military department or Defense Agency covered by subsection
(a)(2)) has not submitted a financial statement for the
previous fiscal year, or if such financial statement has not
received either an unqualified or a qualified audit opinion
by an independent external auditor, the discretionary budget
authority available for the Department of Defense, the
military department, or the Defense Agency (as the case may
be) shall be reduced by .5 percent, with the reduction
applied proportionately to each account (other than an
account listed in subsection (d) or an account for which a
waiver is made under subsection (e)).
(3) Minimizes national security effects.--Consistent with
applicable laws, the Secretary of Defense may make any
reduction under paragraph (2) in a manner that minimizes any
effect on national security.
(4) Deficit reduction.--An amount equal to the total amount
of any reduction under paragraph (2) shall be retained in the
general fund of the Treasury for the purposes of deficit
reduction.
(d) Accounts Excluded.--The following accounts are excluded
from any reductions referred to in subsection (c)(2):
(1) Military personnel, reserve personnel, and National
Guard personnel accounts of the Department of Defense.
(2) The Defense Health Program account of the Department of
Defense.
(e) Waiver.--The President may waive subsection (c)(2) with
respect to an account if the President certifies that
applying the subsection to that account would harm national
security or members of the Armed Forces who are deployed in
combat zones.
(f) Report.--Not later than 60 days after an adjustment
under subsection (c), the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget shall submit to Congress a report
describing the amount and account of each adjustment.
Amendment No. 143 Offered by Mr. Wenstrup of Ohio
At the appropriate place in subtitle C of title VII, insert
the following:
SEC. 7__. STUDY ON BLOOD WORK OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
REGARDING COVID-19.
(a) Study Required.--Not later than September 30, 2025, the
Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study to test the blood
of members of the Armed Forces relating to relating to COVID-
19.
(b) Elements.--The study under this section shall include
the following elements:
(1) Testing to detect nucleocapsid protein immunoglobin-G
antibodies relating to COVID-19.
(2) Testing to detect T-cell immune response to COVID-19.
(3) An assessment of the efficacy of each vaccine for
COVID-19 in comparison to--
(A) each other such vaccine; and
(B) infection-acquired immunity.
(4) An accounting of adverse events (including hyperimmune
response), disaggregated by--
(A) each vaccine described in paragraph (3); and
(B) history of infection.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after completing the
study, the Secretary shall submit a report on such study to
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of
Representatives.
Amendment No. 144 Offered by Mr. Biggs of Arizona
Add at the end of subtitle B of title XII the following:
[[Page H4021]]
SEC. 1214. REPORT ON AGREEMENTS MADE BY THE UNITED STATES
WITH THE TALIBAN.
(a) Congressional Review of Agreements Made With the
Taliban.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees the following:
(1) Any agreement made and entered into by the United
States and the Taliban. Submission thereof shall occur not
later than 30 days prior to entry absent notification to the
appropriate congressional committees, in which case
submission thereof shall occur not later than 10 days prior
to taking effect.
(2) Any agreement made and entered into by third parties
and the Taliban or notice of any such agreement. Submission
of any such agreement or notice thereof shall occur not later
than 30 days after custody by the United States.
(b) Report on Prior Agreements With the Taliban.--Not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of
Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees any agreements made and entered into
by the United States or third parties and the Taliban from
August 1, 2021, until such date of enactment.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agreement.--The term ``agreement'' includes memoranda
of understanding and other manifestations of mutual assent.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the
congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(3) Third parties.--The term ``third parties'' means
organizations or entities in receipt of United States
Government funding, including sub-recipients thereof.
Amendment No. 145 Offered by Mr. Ogles of Tennessee
Page 599, line 15, insert ``classified or'' before
``unclassified''.
Amendment No. 146 Offered by Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia
At the end of subtitle D of title I, add the following new
section:
SEC. 1__. REQUIREMENT FOR MINIMUM NUMBER OF AIR LOGISTICS
COMPLEXES.
Section 9062 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by
section 154(a)(3) of this Act, is further amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
``(m) The Secretary of the Air Force shall continuously
operate not fewer than three air logistics complexes. For
purposes of this subsection, the term `air logistics complex'
means an air logistics complex operated by the Air Force as
of January 1, 2024.''.
Amendment No. 147 Offered by Mr. Norman of South Carolina
At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following new
section:
SEC. 2__. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS PERFORMING
RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) Research and Development Projects.--Section 4001 of
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(e) Disclosure Requirements.--Whenever issuing a
statement, press release, request for proposals, bid
solicitation, or other document describing a project or
program that is funded in whole or in part with Federal
funding, a person performing a research or development
project under paragraph (1) or (5) of subsection (b) shall
clearly state the following:
``(1) The percentage of the total costs of the program or
project financed with Federal funding.
``(2) The dollar amount of Federal funds obligated for the
project or program.
``(3) The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs
of the project or program that will be financed from
nongovernmental sources.''.
(b) Cooperative Research and Development Agreements Under
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980.--Section
4026 of such title is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary of Defense'' and inserting
the following:
``(a) Authority.--The Secretary of Defense'';
(2) in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), in
the second sentence, by striking ``Technology may'' and
inserting the following:
``(b) Technology Transfer.--Technology may''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Disclosure Requirements.--Whenever issuing a
statement, press release, request for proposals, bid
solicitation, or other document describing a project or
program that is funded in whole or in part with Federal
funding, a person performing a research or development
project pursuant to a cooperative research and development
agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall clearly
state the following:
``(1) The percentage of the total costs of the program or
project financed with Federal funding.
``(2) The dollar amount of Federal funds obligated for the
project or program.
``(3) The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs
of the project or program that will be financed from
nongovernmental sources.''.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of Defense should direct the operating
divisions of the Department of Defense to design and
implement processes to manage and administer grantees'
compliance with the requirements added by this section,
including determining to what extent to provide guidance to
grantees on calculations.
amendment no. 148 offered by mr. norman of south carolina
At the end of subtitle I of title V, insert the following:
SEC. 5__. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO JAMES
CAPERS, JR. FOR ACTS OF VALOR AS A MEMBER OF
THE MARINE CORPS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
(a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding the time limitations
specified in sections 8298(a) and 8300 of title 10, United
States Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the
awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the Armed
Forces, the President is authorized to award the Medal of
Honor, under section 8291 of such title, to James Capers, Jr.
for the acts of valor described in subsection (b).
(b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor described
in this subsection are the actions of James Capers, Jr., as a
member of the Marine Corps, during the period of March 31
through April 3, 1967, during the Vietnam War, for which he
was previously awarded the Silver Star.
amendment no. 149 offered by mr. aderholt of alabama
At the end of subtitle A of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. UPDATED GUIDANCE ON PLANNING FOR GLOBAL DEMAND.
(a) Program Guidance on Planning for Global Demand.--Not
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Sustainment shall ensure that the program guidance for major
defense acquisition programs (as defined in section 4201 of
title 10, United States Code), and for acquisition programs
and projects that are carried out using the rapid fielding or
rapid prototyping acquisition pathway under section 804 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
(Public Law 114-92; 10 U.S.C. 3201 note prec.) is revised to
integrate planning for global demand under foreign military
sales, direct commercial sales, and other relevant transfer
authorities to capture and plan for international demand
under section 25 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C.
2765), including--
(1) for major defense acquisition programs, an assessment
of such programs to identify global demand; and
(2) for technologies under an acquisition program or
project carried out using the rapid fielding or rapid
prototyping acquisition pathway that are transitioned to a
major capability acquisition program, an assessment of
potential global demand needs of such technologies not later
than one year after the date of such transition.
(b) Assessment of Global Demand.--The Under Secretary shall
consult with the heads of relevant Federal agencies and
existing databases, including any databases administered by
the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the Department
of State, to issue the guidance required under subsection
(a).
(c) Revision of Guidance for Program Protection Plans.--Not
later than three years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Under Secretary shall revise the guidance for
program protection plans to integrate a requirement to
determine global demand for the programs covered by such
plans.
amendment no. 150 offered by mr. pascrell of new jersey
At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. STUDY ON LIFTING OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION THERAPY
MAXIMUMS.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study
to analyze the feasibility of lifting outpatient
rehabilitation therapy maximums for active-duty members of
covered armed forces who are TRICARE beneficiaries and have
suffered a brain injury in the course of performing active
duty. The study shall also examine a range of therapy
services such as restorative therapies and therapies intended
to improve cognitive and functional capabilities.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the Congress a report setting forth the findings and
conclusions of the study conducted pursuant to subsection
(a).
(c) Covered Armed Forces Defined.--In this section, the
term ``covered Armed Forces'' means the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
amendment no. 151 offered by mr. pascrell of new jersey
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. REPORT ON APPROVING CERTAIN TRANSITIONAL AND
RESIDENTIAL BRAIN INJURY TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study
to analyze the feasibility of recognizing transitional and
residential
[[Page H4022]]
brain injury treatment programs that are approved by non-
governmental accreditation bodies solely to provide services
to members of covered Armed Forces who sustained a brain
injury in the course of performing active duty.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to Congress a report setting forth the findings and
conclusions of the study conducted pursuant to subsection
(a).
(c) Covered Armed Forces Defined.--In this section, the
term ``covered Armed Forces'' means the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
amendment no. 152 offered by ms. porter of california
Add at the end of subtitle B of title XVII the following:
SEC. 17___. GAO REPORT ON SETTLEMENTS IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
CLAIMS BY MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.
The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
to Congress a report on the rates at which Department of
Defense awards settlements in medical malpractice claims by
members of the uniformed services under part 45 of title 32,
Code of Federal Regulations, including--
(1) a comparison of such rates to the rates at which
settlements are awarded in similar civilian medical
malpractice claims;
(2) recommendations for improvements to the system for
medical malpractice claims by members of the uniformed
services.
amendment no. 153 offered by mr. pascrell of new jersey
At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY OVERSIGHT STRATEGY AND
ACTION PLAN.
(a) Strategy and Plan Required.--The Secretary of Defense
shall develop and implement a Traumatic Brain Injury
Oversight Strategy and Action Plan that includes at a minimum
the following:
(1) Standardized monitoring, treatment, and referral
guidelines for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) programs across
all covered armed forces.
(2) A review and update of the current brain injury
diagnostic tools used by such programs.
(3) Standardized, 72-hour follow-up requirements for all
TBI patients, including protocols for the treatment and
observation during such follow-up appointments.
(4) Oversight and documentation standards to aid in
identification, treatment, tracking, and data collection.
(b) Implementation Timeline.--The oversight strategy and
action plan required by subsection (a) shall be completed and
in use not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(c) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to Congress a
report setting forth the findings and conclusions of a full
review and update on the implementation of the Brain Injury
Oversight Strategy and Action Plan required by subsection
(a).
(d) Covered Armed Forces Defined.--In this section, the
term ``covered Armed Forces'' means the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
amendment no. 154 offered by mr. norman of south carolina
At the end of subtitle C of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NAMING OF NAVAL VESSEL
AFTER MAJOR JAMES CAPERS, JR..
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of the Navy should name a vessel of the United
States Navy the ``U.S.S. Major James Capers Jr.'' in honor of
Major James Capers, Jr., for the acts of valor described in
subsection (b).
(b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor described
in this subsection are the actions of James Capers, Jr., as a
member of the Marine Corps, during the period of March 31
through April 3, 1967, during the Vietnam War, for which he
was previously awarded the Silver Star.
amendment no. 155 offered by mrs. rodgers of washington
At the end of subtitle J of title V, add the following new
section:
SEC. 5__. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING MILITARY SERVICE BY
INDIVIDUALS WITH AMPUTATIONS.
It is the sense of Congress that increasing geopolitical
threats, combined with recruitment challenges experienced by
the Armed Forces, are a threat to the national security
interests of the United States, therefore, the Secretary of
Defense should issue medical waivers to an individual seeking
to serve in the Armed Forces who is precluded from serving
solely because of a non-service-connected amputation.
Amendment No. 156 Offered by Mrs. Rodgers of Washington
At the end of subtitle A of title VI, add the following new
section:
SEC. 6__. ELIMINATION OF CAP ON ADDITIONAL RETIRED PAY FOR
EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMY
AND AIR FORCE WHO SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM
ERA.
Title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 1402(f)(2), by striking ``The amount'' and
inserting ``Except in the case of a member who served during
the Vietnam Era (as that term is defined in section 12731 of
this title), the amount'';
(2) in section 7361(a)(2), by inserting ``(except in the
case of a member who served during the Vietnam Era, as that
term is defined in section 12731 of this title)'' after
``based''; and
(3) in section 9361(a)(2), by inserting ``(except in the
case of a member who served during the Vietnam Era, as that
term is defined in section 12731 of this title)'' after
``based''.
Amendment No. 157 Offered by Mr. Curtis of Utah
At the end of subtitle B of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 12_. MODIFICATION OF REPORT ON THE MILITARY CAPABILITIES
OF IRAN AND RELATED ACTIVITIES.
Section 1227 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-81) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by inserting ``all branches of'' before ``the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps''; and
(II) by inserting ``including'' before ``the Quds Force'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, and technologies
as described in the Missile Technology Control Regime''
before ``, including''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end before the
period the following: ``, and on the proliferation,
procurement, and production networks of Iran's drone
program'';
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by adding at the end before the
period the following: ``, and the effect of its expiration on
these Iranian proliferation activities'';
(iii) in subparagraph (H)--
(I) in clause (ii), by inserting ``, and any of their
precursors,'' after ``narcotics'';
(II) in clause (iv), by inserting ``and the Ministry of
Intelligence and Security (MOIS)'' after ``IRGC''; and
(III) in clause (v), by adding at the end before the period
the following: ``and MOIS''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (I)--
(I) by inserting ``and MOIS agents'' after ``operatives'';
and
(II) by adding at the end before the period the following:
``, including disinformation operations, recruitment of local
assets, and targeting United States nationals and foreign
dissidents''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by inserting ``and annually thereafter for a period not
to exceed 4 years'' after ``2024''; and
(B) by striking ``in June 2022'' inserting ``on the day
after the previous report was submitted''.
Amendment No. 158 Offered by Mr. Higgins of Louisiana
Add at the end of subtitle A of title VIII the following:
SEC. 8__. PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH SHIPYARDS
CONTROLLED BY A FOREIGN ADVERSARY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense may not enter
into any contract or other agreement with a shipyard
controlled by a foreign adversary.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``controlled by a foreign adversary'' means,
with respect to a shipyard, that such shipyard is--
(A) a foreign person that is domiciled in, is headquartered
in, has its principal place of business in, or is organized
under the laws of a foreign adversary country;
(B) an entity with respect to which a foreign person or
combination of foreign persons described in subparagraph (A)
directly or indirectly own at least a 20 percent stake; or
(C) a person subject to the direction or control of a
foreign person or entity described in subparagraph (A) or
(B).
(2) The term ``foreign adversary country'' means a country
specified in section 4872(d)(2) of title 10, United States
Code.
Amendment No. 159 Offered by Mr. Casten of Illinois
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, insert the
following:
SEC. 7__. STUDY AND REPORT ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR PILOTS
AND AVIATORS.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall collaborate on a study on the
barriers to mental health care for military pilots, aviators,
and military air traffic controllers. The study shall include
the development of a set of recommendations to ensure that
pilots and aviators who need mental health care have--
(1) no more barriers to care;
(2) no more consequences for seeking care; and
(3) no less scientifically-robust bases for being treated
and re-cleared for duty than pilots and aviators who need
physical health care.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall jointly submit
to Congress a report that contains the results of the study
required under subsection (a).
Amendment No. 160 Offered by Mrs. Radewagen of American Samoa
At the end of subtitle B of title V, add the following:
[[Page H4023]]
SEC. 5__. FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A UNIT OF THE NATIONAL
GUARD IN AMERICAN SAMOA AND IN THE COMMONWEALTH
OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.
(a) Determination Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall
determine the feasibility of establishing--
(1) a unit of the National Guard in American Samoa; and
(2) a unit of the National Guard in the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.
(b) Force Structure Elements.--In making the feasibility
determination under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense
shall consider the following:
(1) The allocation of National Guard force structure and
manpower to American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands in the event of the establishment of
a unit of the National Guard in American Samoa and in the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the impact
of this allocation on existing National Guard units in the 50
States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
Guam, and the District of Columbia.
(2) The Federal funding that would be required to support
pay, benefits, training operations, and missions of members
of a unit of the National Guard in American Samoa and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, based on the
allocation derived from paragraph (1), and the equipment,
including maintenance, required to support such force
structure.
(3) The presence of existing infrastructure to support a
unit of the National Guard in American Samoa and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the
requirement for additional infrastructure, including
information technology infrastructure, to support such force
structure, based on the allocation derived from paragraph
(1).
(4) How a unit of the National Guard in American Samoa and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island would
accommodate the National Guard Bureau's ``Essential Ten''
homeland defense capabilities (i.e., aviation, engineering,
civil support teams, security, medical, transportation,
maintenance, logistics, joint force headquarters, and
communications) and reflect regional needs.
(5) The manpower cadre, both military personnel and
fulltime support, including National Guard technicians,
required to establish, maintain, and sustain a unit of the
National Guard in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the ability of American Samoa
and of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to
support demographically a unit of the National Guard at each
location.
(6) The ability of a unit of the National Guard in American
Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to
maintain unit readiness and the logistical challenges
associated with transportation, communications, supply/
resupply, and training operations and missions.
(c) Submission of Conclusion.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall notify the congressional defense committees of
the results of the feasibility determination made under
subsection (a). If the Secretary determines that
establishment of a unit of the National Guard in American
Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (or
both) is feasible, the Secretary shall include in the
notification the following:
(1) A determination of whether the executive branch of
American Samoa and of the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands has enacted and implemented statutory
authorization for an organized militia as a prerequisite for
establishing a unit of the National Guard, and a description
of any other steps that such executive branches must take to
request and carry out the establishment of a National Guard
unit.
(2) A list of any amendments to titles 10, 32, and 37,
United States Code, that would have to be enacted by Congress
to provide for the establishment of a unit of the National
Guard in American Samoa and in the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.
(3) A description of any required Department of Defense
actions to establish a unit of the National Guard in American
Samoa and in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
(4) A suggested timeline for completion of the steps and
actions described in the preceding paragraphs.
amendment no. 161 offered by mr. davis of illinois
At the end of subtitle D of title VI, add the following:
SEC. 6__. ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS.
Section 1052 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``qualifying adoption expenses'' each place
it appears and inserting ``qualifying expenses'';
(2) by striking the section heading and inserting
``Adoption or guardianship expenses'';
(3) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``to Reimburse'';
(B) by striking ``carry out a program under which a member
of the armed forces may be reimbursed'' and inserting
``pay''; and
(C) by striking ``adoption of a child'' and inserting
``adoption or guardianship of a child'';
(4) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the heading, by inserting ``and Guardianships''
after ``Adoptions'';
(B) by striking ``adoption'' each place it appears and
inserting ``adoption or guardianship''; and
(C) by striking ``reimbursed'' and inserting ``paid'';
(5) in subsection (d), by striking ``adoption benefits''
and inserting ``adoption or guardianship'';
(6) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''; and
(ii) by striking ``adoption of a child'' and inserting
``adoption or guardianship of a child''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$10,000''; and
(ii) by striking ``adoptions'' and inserting ``adoptions or
guardianships'';
(7) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``adoption'' each place
it appears and inserting ``adoption or guardianship'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``adoption'' each
place it appears and inserting ``adoption or guardianship'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``adoption'' each place
it appears and inserting ``adoption or guardianship''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) The term `guardianship' means a legal guardianship,
as such term is defined in section 475 of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 675).''; and
(8) by striking subsection (c) and redesignating
subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (c), (d),
(e), and (f), respectively.
amendment no. 162 offered by mr. pascrell of new jersey
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 7__. STUDY ON TOOLS TO DIAGNOSE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
IN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Study Required; Elements.--The Secretary of Defense
shall conduct a study of commercially available diagnostic
tools that screen for traumatic brain injury (in this section
referred to as ``TBI'') and may be used by forward-deployed
units and in combat zones. Such study shall include the
following elements:
(1) Whether such tools can distinguish mild traumatic brain
injury from moderate or severe TBI.
(2) How such tools could be used with other approved
diagnostics (including neuroimaging biomarkers used in
computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, blood-
based biomarkers, electrophysiological biomarkers, oculomotor
tracking systems, and integrated measures of physiological
deficits), to enhance the health, survival, and long-term
conditions of members and former members of the Armed Forces.
(3) How such tools would improve military readiness and
address concerns regarding the growing medical burden of TBI.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report containing
the following:
(1) The results of the study.
(2) Determinations of the Secretary regarding whether to
procure and use such tools in addition to other tools already
used in the Department of Defense to screen for TBI.
(3) Recommendations of the Secretary regarding legislation
that may by necessary to action regarding such tools.
amendment no. 163 offered by mr. stauber of minnesota
At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following new
section:
SEC. 2__. FUNDING FOR DEMONSTRATION OF HIGH-PRESSURE WATERJET
CUT AND CAPTURE SYSTEM TO DEMILITARIZE
UNDERWATER MUNITIONS.
(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test
and evaluation, Army, as specified in the corresponding
funding table in section 4201, for advanced component
development and prototypes, environmental quality
technology--DEM/VAL, line 060 (PE 0603779A) is hereby
increased by $5,000,000 (to be available for the
demonstration of high-pressure waterjet cut and capture
system to demilitarize underwater munitions).
(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in section 201 for research, development, test
and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified in the
corresponding funding table in section 4201, for basic
research, defense research sciences, line 002 (PE 0601101E)
is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.
amendment no. 164 offered by ms. porter of california
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 7___. STUDY ON USE OF ROUTINE NEUROIMAGING MODALITIES IN
DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF BRAIN
INJURY DUE TO BLAST PRESSURE EXPOSURE DURING
COMBAT AND TRAINING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a
study on the feasibility and effectiveness of the use of
routine
[[Page H4024]]
neuroimaging modalities in the diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention of brain injury among members of the Armed Forces
due to one or more blast pressure exposures during combat and
training.
(b) Reports.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House
of Representatives an interim report on the methods and
action plan for the study under subsection (a).
(2) Final report.--Not later than two years after the date
on which the Secretary begins the study under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report on the results of such study.
AMENDMENT NO. 165 OFFERED BY MR. ALFORD OF MISSOURI
At the end of subtitle F of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. MODIFICATION TO INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND
INDUSTRIAL BASE.
Section 861 of William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 4901 note;
Public Law 116-283; 134 Stat. 3775) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``the Secretary of Defense'' before
``shall update''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, the Committee on Small Business of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate'' after
``congressional defense committees''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(i) by striking ``biennially'' and inserting ``annually'';
and
(ii) by inserting ``, the Committee on Small Business of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate'' after
``congressional defense committees''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following
new paragraphs:
``(3) Annual report.--Not later than October 1, 2025, and
annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Industrial Base Policy shall submit to the congressional
defense committees, the Committee on Small Business of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Small Business
and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report that includes the
following for the year covered by the report:
``(A) A description of activities undertaken pursuant to
this section.
``(B) An analysis of effect on the participation of small
businesses in Department of Defense contracts as a result of
implementation of the small business strategy required under
section 4901 of title 10, United States Code.
``(C) A description of efforts by the Secretary of Defense
to increase participation of small businesses in Department
of Defense contracts through the small business strategy.
``(4) Small business strategy report.--Beginning with the
report due October 1, 2029, and every four years thereafter,
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy
shall submit to the congressional defense committees, the
Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of
the Senate a report on overall efficacy of the small business
strategy required under such section 4901, including trends
and data analysis for the period covered by the report
relating to implementation and outcomes of the strategy.''.
AMENDMENT NO. 166 OFFERED BY MR. GROTHMAN OF WISCONSIN
At the end of title XI, insert the following new section:
SEC. 11__. EXPAND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall
ensure that, to the extent practicable, each commercial
position in the Department of Defense or an element of the
Department is--
(1) filled by a civilian employee of the Department; or
(2) performed by a contractor of the Department.
(b) Commercial Position Defined.--In this section, the term
``commercial position'' means a position the functions of
which are determined by the Department of Defense to be
commercial pursuant to Department of Defense Instruction
1100.22 (or any successor instruction).
AMENDMENT NO. 167 OFFERED BY MS. PORTER OF CALIFORNIA
At the end of subtitle G of title VIII, add the following:
SEC. 8__. IMPLEMENTATION OF GAO RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO
SPARE PARTS IN GLOBAL SPARES POOL RELATING TO
F-35 PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Sustainment, shall take such actions as may be necessary to
implement the recommendations of the Comptroller General of
the United States contained in the report entitled, ``F-35
Program: DOD Needs Better Accountability for Global Spare
Parts and Reporting of Losses Worth Millions''.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
Congress on the progress of the implementation required by
subsection (a).
AMENDMENT NO. 168 OFFERED BY MR. CARTER OF GEORGIA
At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO CUT SERVICES
PROVIDED AT CERTAIN COMBAT TRAINING READINESS
CENTERS.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act
or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for
fiscal year 2025 may be used to cut any service provided by a
combat training readiness center operated by the Air Force
National Guard at any of the following locations:
(1) Savannah, Georgia.
(2) Gulfport, Mississippi.
(3) Alpena, Michigan.
(4) Volk Field, Wisconsin.
AMENDMENT NO. 169 OFFERED BY MR. MAST OF FLORIDA
At the appropriate place in title VII, insert the
following:
SEC. 7__. CLARIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING THE
INTEGRATED DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM.
(a) Clarification.--Subsection (h) of section 1073c of
title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``Secretaries Concerned and
Medical Evaluation Boards'' and inserting ``Authority Over
Members'';
(2) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Nothing''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2) Notwithstanding the responsibilities and authorities
of the Defense Health Agency with respect to the
administration of military medical treatment facilities as
set forth in this section (including medical evaluations of
members of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the
military department concerned), the Secretary of each
military department shall maintain personnel authority over,
and responsibility for, any member of the armed forces under
the jurisdiction of the military department concerned while
the member is being considered by a medical evaluation board
or is otherwise subject to the integrated disability
evaluation system. Such responsibility shall include the
following:
``(A) Responsibility for administering the morale and
welfare of the member.
``(B) Responsibility for determinations of fitness for duty
of the member under chapter 61 of this title.
``(3) Notwithstanding the responsibilities and authorities
of the Defense Health Agency with respect to the
administration of the integrated disability evaluation
system, a commander shall, at all times, maintain absolute
responsibility for, and authority over, a member of the armed
forces referred to the integrated disability evaluation
system. Such responsibility and authority include the
following:
``(A) The authority to pause any process of the integrated
disability evaluation system regarding the member.
``(B) The authority to withdraw the member from the
integrated disability evaluation system if the commander
determines that any policy, procedure, regulation, or other
guidance has not been followed in the member's case.
``(4) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary
of Defense, a member referred to the integrated disability
evaluation system may file an appeal of such referral with
the Secretary of the military department concerned. Such an
appeal--
``(A) shall be in addition to any appeals process
established as part of the integrated disability evaluation
system;
``(B) shall include a hearing before an officer who may
convene a general court-martial and who is in the chain of
command of the member; and
``(C) shall be adjudicated not later than 90 days after
such filing.''.
(b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe
regulations to carry out paragraphs (2) through (4) of such
subsection, as added by this section, not later than 90 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Briefing.--Not later than February 1, 2025, the
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a
briefing on the implementation of such paragraphs.
Amendment No. 170 Offered by Mr. Stanton of Arizona
At the end of subtitle D of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. STUDY ON USE OF OFF-THE-SHELF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARY
COUNTRIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a
study on the use by the Department of Defense of off-the-
shelf information technology products that were manufactured,
produced, or assembled by a covered company, including goods
used by the Department that contain such an off-the-shelf
information technology product.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and
the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the
study required by subsection (a).
[[Page H4025]]
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``commercially available off-the-shelf item''
has the meaning given such term in section 104 of title 41,
United States Code.
(2) The term ``covered company'' means--
(A) an entity that is organized under the laws of or
located in a foreign adversary country;
(B) a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of an entity
described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) an entity otherwise directly or indirectly owned by or
subject to the control of an entity described in subparagraph
(A) or (B), as determined by the Secretary of Defense.
(3) The term ``foreign adversary country'' has the meaning
given the term ``covered nation'' in section 4872(d) of title
10, United States Code.
(4) The term ``off-the-shelf information technology
product'' means a commercially available off-the-shelf item
that can process, store, or transmit digital data.
Amendment No. 171 Offered by Mr. Schneider of Illinois
At the end of subtitle F of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.
Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Boots to Business Program.--
``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the
term `covered individual' means--
``(A) a member of the Armed Forces, including the National
Guard or Reserves;
``(B) an individual who is participating in the Transition
Assistance Program established under section 1144 of title
10, United States Code;
``(C) an individual who--
``(i) served on active duty in any branch of the Armed
Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; and
``(ii) was discharged or released from such service under
conditions other than dishonorable; and
``(D) a spouse or dependent of an individual described in
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
``(2) Establishment.--During the period beginning on the
date of enactment of this subsection and ending on September
30, 2028, the Administrator shall carry out a program to be
known as the `Boots to Business Program' to provide
entrepreneurship training to covered individuals.
``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business Program
are to--
``(A) provide assistance and in-depth training to covered
individuals interested in business ownership; and
``(B) provide covered individuals with the tools, skills,
and knowledge necessary to identify a business opportunity,
draft a business plan, identify sources of capital, connect
with local resources for small business concerns, and start
up a small business concern.
``(4) Program components.--
``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business Program may
include--
``(i) a presentation providing exposure to the
considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a
small business concern;
``(ii) an online, self-study course focused on the basic
skills of entrepreneurship, the language of business, and the
considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a
small business concern;
``(iii) an in-person classroom instruction component
providing an introduction to the foundations of self
employment and ownership of a small business concern; and
``(iv) in-depth training delivered through online
instruction, including an online course that leads to the
creation of a business plan.
``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator may--
``(i) collaborate with public and private entities to
develop course curricula for the Boots to Business Program;
and
``(ii) modify program components in coordination with
entities participating in a Warriors in Transition program,
as defined in section 738(e) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 U.S.C. 1071 note).
``(C) Use of resource partners and district offices.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall--
``(I) ensure that Veteran Business Outreach Centers
regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to
Business Program; and
``(II) to the maximum extent practicable, use district
offices of the Administration and a variety of other resource
partners and entities in administering the Boots to Business
Program.
``(ii) Grant authority.--In carrying out clause (i), the
Administrator may make grants, subject to the availability of
appropriations in advance, to Veteran Business Outreach
Centers, other resource partners, or other entities to carry
out components of the Boots to Business Program.
``(D) Availability to department of defense and the
department of labor.--The Administrator shall make available
to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor
information regarding the Boots to Business Program,
including all course materials and outreach materials related
to the Boots to Business Program, for inclusion on the
websites of the Department of Defense and the Department of
Labor relating to the Transition Assistance Program, in the
Transition Assistance Program manual, and in other relevant
materials available for distribution from the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Labor.
``(E) Availability to department of veterans affairs.--In
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the
Administrator shall make available for distribution and
display on the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs
and at local facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs
outreach materials regarding the Boots to Business Program,
which shall, at a minimum--
``(i) describe the Boots to Business Program and the
services provided; and
``(ii) include eligibility requirements for participating
in the Boots to Business Program.
``(F) Availability to other participating agencies.--The
Administrator shall ensure information regarding the Boots to
Business program, including all course materials and outreach
materials related to the Boots to Business Program, is made
available to other participating agencies in the Transition
Assistance Program and upon request of other agencies.
``(5) Competitive bidding procedures.--The Administration
shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with
respect to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by
the Administration under the Boots to Business Program.
``(6) Publication of notice of funding opportunity.--Not
later than 30 days before the deadline for submitting
applications for any funding opportunity under the Boots to
Business Program, the Administration shall publish a notice
of the funding opportunity.
``(7) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than
annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the
Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness
of the Boots to Business Program, which--
``(A) may be included as part of another report submitted
to such committees by the Administrator related to the Office
of Veterans Business Development; and
``(B) shall summarize available information relating to--
``(i) grants awarded under paragraph (4)(C);
``(ii) the total cost of the Boots to Business Program;
``(iii) the number of program participants using each
component of the Boots to Business Program;
``(iv) the completion rates for each component of the Boots
to Business Program;
``(v) to the extent possible--
``(I) the demographics of program participants, to include
gender, age, race, ethnicity, and relationship to military;
``(II) the number of program participants that connect with
a district office of the Administration, a Veteran Business
Outreach Center, or another resource partner of the
Administration;
``(III) the number of program participants that start a
small business concern;
``(IV) the results of the Boots to Business and Boots to
Business Reboot course quality surveys conducted by the
Office of Veterans Business Development before and after
attending each of those courses, including a summary of any
comments received from program participants;
``(V) the results of the Boots to Business Program outcome
surveys conducted by the Office of Veterans Business
Development, including a summary of any comments received
from program participants; and
``(VI) the results of other germane participant
satisfaction surveys;
``(C) an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the
Boots to Business Program based on each geographic region
covered by the Administration during the most recent fiscal
year;
``(D) an assessment of additional performance outcome
measures for the Boots to Business Program, as identified by
the Administrator;
``(E) any recommendations of the Administrator for
improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may
include expansion of the types of individuals who are covered
individuals;
``(F) an explanation of how the Boots to Business Program
has been integrated with other transition programs and
related resources of the Administration and other Federal
agencies; and
``(G) any additional information the Administrator
determines necessary.''.
amendment no. 172 offered by mr. larsen of washington
At the end of subtitle H of title V, add the following new
section:
SEC. 5__. INSTRUCTION IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE
LEARNING IN SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through
the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity,
shall require that each student of a high school operated by
the Activity receives instruction in artificial intelligence
and machine learning, including instruction in--
(1) the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence
and machine learning;
(2) definitions of artificial intelligence and machine
learning;
[[Page H4026]]
(3) the responsible and ethical use of artificial
intelligence and machine learning applications; and
(4) such other topics relating to artificial intelligence
and machine learning as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(b) Form of Instruction.--The instruction required under
subsection (a) may be incorporated into one or more existing
courses taught at high schools operated by the Department of
Defense Education Activity.
(c) Applicability.--The requirement to provide the
instruction described in subsection (a) shall apply beginning
with the first school year that begins after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(d) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``high school''
has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
amendment no. 173 offered by ms. eshoo of california
At the end of subtitle C of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NAMING A NAVAL VESSEL
AFTER WILLIAM B. GOULD.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Navy
should name a commissioned naval vessel after formerly
enslaved sailor and Civil War veteran, William B. Gould, to
honor his strength of character and faithful service to the
United States.
amendment no. 174 offered by mr. larsen of washington
At the end of subtitle C of title II, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 2__. MODIFICATION TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EDUCATION
STRATEGY.
Section 256 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 133 Stat. 1290) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Education Platforms.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2025, each Secretary of a military department
shall provide personnel in that Secretary's department with
distance education courses on--
``(A) the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence
and machine learning; and
``(B) the responsible and ethical use of artificial
intelligence and machine learning applications.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report on
the progress of the Secretaries of the military departments
in implementing paragraph (1).''.
amendment no. 175 offered by mr. cartwright of pennsylvania
At the end of subtitle C of title III, insert the
following:
SEC. 3__. INVESTMENT PLAN FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPOTS
AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the current state of Department of Defense depots and
industrial facilities is concerning;
(2) charged with maintaining critical equipment and complex
weapons systems, these Government-owned, Government-operated
installations are vital to supporting military readiness and
conflict deterrence;
(3) robust funding should be provided for sustained
facilities modernization; and
(4) facilities and equipment modernization will cost
hundreds of billions and require sustained management
attention over many years.
(b) Investment Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Secretary of each of the military
departments, shall submit to the congressional defense
committees an investment plan that includes detailed
information about the minimum annual investment in Department
of Defense depots and industrial facilities that is needed to
prevent further infrastructure deterioration. The minimum
investment level included in the plan shall reflect a
percentage of the 3-year rolling average of maintenance,
repair, and overhaul workload funded at all Department depots
and industrial facilities. Modernization efforts addressed in
the plan shall account for future technological demands,
labor needs, and threats to facility security including those
posed by extreme weather and natural disasters.
amendment no. 176 offered by ms. kuster of new hampshire
In subtitle J of title V, add at the end the following:
SEC. 599C. REPORT ON NATIONAL GUARD SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
RESPONSE PREVENTION TRAINING.
The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall submit a
report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and
House of Representatives containing the number of national
guard members, aggregated by State, that received sexual
assault and response prevention training in the preceding
calendar year--
(1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(2) annually, beginning in 2026, by not later than March 30
of each year.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Rogers) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) each
will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Davidson).
Mr. DAVIDSON. Mr. Chair, my amendment really should be called the
define the mission act for Ukraine or the define the mission amendment.
We voted on this last summer as part of the National Defense
Authorization Act, and 129 of our colleagues agreed that the
administration should define the mission.
Before this, this might have been summarized as the Powell doctrine
for years. Before we get into a war, we should decide what we are
trying to achieve with the war. The administration has gotten by in
Ukraine since the inception by saying as much as it takes, as long as
it takes.
We searched for that phrase and found it back in 2004 when the
administration at that time decided that we were going to shift from
going after the terrorists that bombed the United States on 9/11, or
used airplanes to target our citizens, to rebuilding Afghanistan. The
phrase they used was ``as much as it takes, as long as it takes.'' That
was used to keep the mission going all the way until the Biden
administration left in the most disastrous way possible by taking the
military out first and leaving civilians behind and getting them out.
That was on August 31, 2021. The very next day, on September 1, 2021,
the Biden administration entered into a strategic partnership agreement
with Ukraine to support their membership in the European Union and
NATO. This led to an escalation, and the Biden administration, rather
than using leverage to create a peaceful resolution and prevent a war
in Ukraine, fostered that war.
Nothing excuses Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The question is, what
are we going to do about it? To this date, apparently, we are just
going to keep cutting checks. For the American people, a lot of times
people say of course, and what they really mean is to get the Russians
out of Ukraine. Why not state that that is the objective? Why not state
whether it is to get all the Russians out of Ukraine, including Crimea,
or not?
Mr. Chair, you have seen the State Department say variations on that.
In fact, you have seen Under Secretary Nuland say that the actual
mission is that we get war crimes tribunals for Vladimir Putin and
regime change in Russia. Is that the mission?
Recently, Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, said that the mission
is actually about rare earth minerals that Ukraine has. In that sense,
if it is about minerals, does this really go back to when Yanukovych in
November 2013 said that he is going to do a trade deal with Russia
instead of a trade deal with the European Union?
Shortly after that, there was a coup, a regime change, and an actual
insurrection that resulted in a new government in Ukraine.
None of this excuses what Vladimir Putin has done. We should be
rightly rejecting what Putin has done in Ukraine.
So far, the United States has spent more than $170 billion on the
war, but we still haven't defined the mission. You can't really hold
the administration accountable for success or, in this sense,
potentially for failure.
The reality is that if we keep cutting checks, Ukraine does not have
the resources, the manpower, the skill to deploy all the weapons it
will take to extract all the Russians from Ukraine. They just don't.
{time} 1545
We want them to be able to do that, but we have also taken off the
table a path to a peaceful resolution.
In the spring of 2022, in the early days of the war, the Biden
administration scuttled peace negotiations. Well, presumably, because
they had a mission that they were actually trying to achieve in mind.
I have sent questions to them. I finally got a response, and I wanted
them to define what it is.
They came up with something, finally, that says the United States'
goal is an independent, democratic, and economically stable Ukraine,
governed by
[[Page H4027]]
the rule of law and integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions. That is
an answer, but they could give us a classified answer.
The point of this bill is to say: Tell us exactly what you are trying
to do. That is not something you can have that you can hold
accountable.
In fact, I asked former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Milley this in
the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I said: General, does this qualify
as a mission statement in the military? He said: Absolutely not. You
would want more precision on that.
All I am asking is the same thing that our military already knows how
to do: define the mission. Do it in a classified setting, by all means,
but do it in a way where we can hold you accountable for the results.
That is the point of amendment No. 38. I encourage all of our
colleagues to support it. I thank the chairman and the committee for
their support in this en bloc, and I thank the chairman for this time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself 3 minutes.
Mr. Chair, there is so much completely wrong about what the gentleman
just said about that amendment that it really needs to be corrected.
First of all, just on the last point about what Chairman Milley had
to say about this, the United States military is not fighting in
Ukraine. We have not sent the United States military to accomplish a
mission, and the specificity is an entirely different place.
Second, there has been a clear mission from day one that the Biden
administration has articulated on two points: Number one, preserve a
sovereign, democratic Ukraine; number two, don't get into a war with
Russia.
They have said that from day one over and over and over again. I have
heard people who don't want to support Ukraine continually generate
this excuse: Oh, it is not clear. We don't know what we are doing
there.
We have known what we were doing there from day one. We are trying to
stop Russia from destroying Ukraine. We could not possibly be more
clear. That is what we are trying to do. The resources that we provided
Ukraine have helped make that possible. Ukraine still exists as a
sovereign, democratic country.
There was also all throughout that speech all kinds of Russian
propaganda that is untrue. Neither the United States nor any NATO
allies blocked this mythical peace deal that existed in April 2022.
Putin never agreed to any such peace deal and neither did Zelenskyy. We
didn't block it. Our strategy in Ukraine is crystal clear: stop Russia
from destroying it.
Now, in an ideal world, we would like Russia completely out of all of
Ukraine as it existed post-1991. That is not the stated goal or stated
strategy.
The stated goal and stated strategy are to preserve a sovereign,
democratic Ukraine. I hope everybody on this floor recognizes, number
one, that that is a really important goal. It is worth fighting for. To
make sure that Russia can't simply destroy a sovereign, democratic
nation because if they destroy one, they will be sorely tempted to
destroy more, and Ukraine is worth preserving.
Number two, for the 2-plus years we have been engaged in this, we
have been pushing that strategy effectively against tall odds. We seem
to have forgotten now that in the immediate days after the Russian
invasion, the assumption of everyone was Ukraine was finished. They
were gone. They were done. There was no way they could stand up to
Russia. Yet for 2-plus years they have, and they are capable of
continuing to do that if we don't back off on our support for them.
Now, the amendment that is in the en bloc, I am not thrilled about.
It asks for a strategy. My opinion is the strategy already exists, so
that has been met. The administration is, once again, going to send up
their strategy in the next couple of months, which will meet the
requirements and concerns of this amendment and will stop us from
cutting off our support for Ukraine.
Please don't believe every piece of anti-American, anti-Ukraine, pro-
Russian propaganda that gets put out there about what is going on. It
is really rather simple.
The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself an additional 30
seconds.
Mr. Chair, Putin wants Ukraine. He has said over and over again that
Ukraine should not exist as a country, that it should be part of
Russia. We are helping Ukraine stop him from doing that.
At the end of the day, that is what is happening. It is not
complicated, and we ought to support that effort.
Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Casten).
Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to
require the Department of Defense and HHS to examine barriers to access
for military pilots and air traffic controllers seeking mental health
care.
Today, when military and civilian aviators report that they have
sought mental health care, they are faced with delays, confusion, and
overbroad regulations in the process of returning to work.
What that means practically is that even minor mental health concerns
can derail careers for safe, well-trained pilots and air traffic
controllers who just want to get better. That has created a culture of
silence and has disincentivized aviators from seeking care and
ultimately made our skies less safe.
In May, the Air Force took a good first step forward by allowing
these pilots and air traffic controllers to receive an extra 60 days of
treatment without losing their wings. My bipartisan amendment builds on
that to help destigmatize mental health care and ensure that those who
seek care face no more consequence nor any less scientifically robust
standards for being re-cleared for duty than they would if they were
seeking physical healthcare.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting access for
mental health care for pilots and protecting the health and readiness
of our Armed Forces and keeping our skies safe.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self), my friend and colleague.
Mr. SELF. Mr. Chair, today, I rise in support of my amendment, which
would name a Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessel after
Lieutenant General Richard E. Carey, U.S. Marine Corps.
During General Carey's 38-year military career, he served during
World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He rose from enlisted man to
lieutenant by the age of 20.
Carey participated in the Inchon landing, captured communist forces,
and led his rifle platoon to Seoul. Three months later at the infamous
Chosin Reservoir, Carey and his fellow marines were outnumbered 8-1 but
they held their ground and broke through the Chinese trap.
While in Korea, Carey was badly wounded. Over his decorated career,
General Carey became a pilot, flew 204 combat sorties, received 41
medals, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He later commanded the evacuation from Saigon, received promotion to
lieutenant general, and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this en bloc package to
honor General Carey and his service to America.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield myself an additional 1
minute.
Mr. Chair, I forgot to mention one thing about the Ukraine amendment.
The gentleman referenced a number of different people, including
Senator Lindsey Graham and what he thought the strategy was. I will
make sure that people understand that that is the thing about a
democracy. We know what Russia's strategy is because Vladimir Putin
doesn't let anybody else have an opinion.
In the United States of America, we have got 535 Members of Congress.
If you ask all 535 Members of Congress, I don't doubt that you would
get a wide variety of different answers as to what our strategy is in
Ukraine. Again, that is living in a democracy, where people are free to
have their own opinions. If you ask the administration what our policy
is, it has been consistent and clear: A sovereign, democratic Ukraine
must be preserved and don't stumble into a war with Russia.
It is not an easy policy to implement, but they have successfully
done it for 2-plus years now. That is clear. Don't be confused by a
whole bunch of other
[[Page H4028]]
opinions from independent contractors who absolutely have a right to
their opinion about what the strategy ought to be, but that is
different than what the strategy is.
Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms.
Tlaib).
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I thank my good colleague for yielding.
Mr. Chair, my colleagues are about to ram through yet another record-
breaking military budget, nearly a trillion dollars, packed with
bullets, bombs, and giveaways to defense contractors. They also had
time to sprinkle in some antiwomen policies.
Mr. Chair, 2023 marks the sixth year in a row that the Pentagon has
failed its audit. My colleagues continue to approve record-breaking
military budgets, but the Pentagon literally cannot pass an audit. It
is absurd. The Navy's LCS ships, with a lifetime cost of $100 billion,
Mr. Chair, are literally broken down and rusting in the harbor.
Meanwhile, my residents are worried. They are worried that there is
lead in the water they are drinking and toxic chemicals in the air they
breathe, all issues that my colleagues claim there isn't enough funding
to solve.
On top of that, it is incredibly disturbing that many of my
colleagues in this Chamber are actively profiting financially,
directly, personally when they vote to pass more funding for weapons in
war because they personally own stock in war manufacturing.
Enough is enough. I am proud to oppose this wasteful bill and urge my
colleagues to do the same.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from California (Mr. Fong), the newest Member of the House of
Representatives.
Mr. FONG. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Mr. Obernolte's
amendment to the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
From Navy missile systems to Air Force aircraft, the might of the
American warfighter can often be traced to the testing and development
that occurs in my congressional district. The last thing that the
remarkable individuals at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and
Edwards Air Force Base need to worry about is whether the hospital
doors supporting these communities remain open.
In Ridgecrest in the Indian Wells Valley, a hospital that supports
China Lake and the Ridgecrest community is struggling financially.
At Edwards Air Force Base, significant growth is anticipated, but it
is unclear whether the installation has the supporting healthcare
system in place.
This amendment would require the Secretary of Defense to explore this
critical healthcare issue for the installations within the R-2508
airspace in the Western United States and report back to Congress. This
would ensure that we have the information needed so that we can best
support this critical endeavor.
We need to ensure that we have a stable healthcare system so that the
workforce at these legendary installations remain open to the
creativity and the innovative spirit that has kept America safe for
generations.
Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Obernolte for his leadership on this issue,
and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter).
Ms. PORTER. Mr. Chair, our servicemembers deserve the best medical
care and often they get world-class care, but sometimes military
doctors fail our servicemembers, making grave errors.
In the civilian world, patients can file malpractice claims in court
against doctors and have a jury hear their claims, but military doctors
are immune from that scrutiny.
Instead, several years ago, Congress and the DOD developed a process
for evaluating servicemember malpractice claims, but that process is
clearly broken.
We all have constituents who have been victims of military medical
malpractice, and we need to hold DOD and its doctors accountable.
That is why I cosponsored Congressman Issa's HERO Act and that is why
we need this amendment. We need an independent, objective analysis of
how military medicine is failing our servicemembers.
My bipartisan amendment would address servicemember traumatic brain
injury stemming from blast pressure in combat and in training.
Brain injuries among servicemembers are on the rise. Just last month,
there were reports that artillery soldiers are also suffering these
career-altering injuries. Whether injuries are the result of training
or combat, our servicemembers and their families need the best
healthcare we can offer. That is what this amendment does by requiring
the DOD to explore new technologies for the treatment and prevention of
brain injuries.
Last year, this amendment passed the House with bipartisan support.
We must do it again because it was not included in the final
legislation with the Senate.
Mr. Chair, I urge my House colleagues to pass it again and my Senate
colleagues not to delay this important amendment.
Too often, our servicemembers rely on decades-old equipment that
can't be updated at a fair price. Open system interfaces solve that
problem. These systems are already in our daily lives. They are in our
phones and in our cars. They have been embraced by some defense
programs because open systems promise faster and cheaper upgrades. That
is because they allow the government to embrace competition for new
parts and software that make equipment more effective.
For small and innovative companies to offer their solutions to the
Pentagon, they need to know what standards the government is using.
This amendment will give businesses access to the information they
need to compete. My amendment would grow small businesses and give our
servicemembers the tools they need to win.
{time} 1600
Mr. Chair, I rise to support our military families. Military child
development centers are a lifeline for our servicemembers who move
frequently and often work long hours, past when childcare centers are
open.
Serving more than 20,000 children, the military has offered childcare
on its bases for decades. Yet, like many families, military families
struggle to find childcare. A shortage of providers has left roughly
9,000 children waiting months for a spot at a military childcare
center.
Childcare is a quality-of-life concern for Active-Duty
servicemembers, including those in my district at Naval Weapons Station
Seal Beach. My amendment would provide a strategy to construct an
adequate number of child development centers to support our military
families as they tirelessly serve our country.
Mr. Chair, I urge Members to support this amendment.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to
support this en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of the
amendments en bloc, and I, too, yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc 2 offered by the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers).
The en bloc amendments 2 were agreed to.
Amendments En Bloc No. 3 Offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1287,
I offer amendments en bloc.
The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 3 consisting of amendment Nos. 177, 178, 179,
180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 191, 192, 193, 194,
195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208,
209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222,
223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, and 234, printed in
part B of House Report 118-551, offered by Mr. Rogers of Alabama:
amendment no. 177 offered by ms. porter of california
At the end of subtitle G of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. OPEN INTERFACE STANDARDS FOR CONTRACTS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall make publicly
available the open interface standards for contracts awarded
by the Secretary, unless the service acquisition executive
(as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code)
with respect to a specific contract submits to the
[[Page H4029]]
Secretary a request to not disclose such standards.
amendment no. 178 offered by mr. waltz of florida
Page 448, after line 17, insert the following new section:
SEC. 8__. ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH GLOBAL HOUSEHOLD
GOODS CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Assessment.--The Commander of the United States
Transportation Command shall carry out an assessment of the
performance of contractors under the Global Household Goods
Contract in meeting the applicable requirements for capacity
and quality in such contract during the period beginning on
May 1, 2025, and ending on August 31, 2025.
(b) Report.--Not later than 11 months after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Commander of the United States
Transportation Command shall submit to the Committees on
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives
a report on the findings of the assessment required under
subsection (a).
amendment no. 179 offered by mr. calvert of california
At the end of subtitle B of title II, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 2__. MODIFICATION TO INNOVATORS INFORMATION REPOSITORY
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
Section 220 of the John S. McCain National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232;
10 U.S.C. 2364 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``Chief Digital and
Artificial Intelligence Office, Defense Innovation Unit,
and'' before ``Defense Technical Information Center'';
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``in accordance with
subsection (e)'' before the period at the end;
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) be coordinated across the Department of Defense
enterprise to focus on small business innovators that are
small, independent United States businesses, including--
``(A) those participating in the Small Business Innovation
Research program or the Small Business Technology Transfer
program;
``(B) those participating in the Pilot Program to
Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative
Technologies and the Rapid Defense Enterprise Research
program; and
``(C) nontraditional defense companies that are working
with research, innovation, and advanced project entities;'';
and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(E) the date of the initial award to the participant from
the Department of Defense; and
``(F) the dates of any additional awards made to the
participant, including the dates of any contracts or other
agreements entered into between the participant the
Department of Defense; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Updates Required.--
``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once each
fiscal quarter, the head of the Defense Technical Information
Center, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense
for Research and Engineering, shall update the innovators
information repository established under this section.
``(2) Notice to congress.--Not later than 30 days after
making an update to the innovators information repository
under paragraph (1), the head of the Defense Technical
Information Center shall submit to the congressional defense
committees notice of such update together with instructions
for electronically accessing the updated repository.''.
amendment no. 180 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 10__. REPORT ON TRAINING AND SAFETY PROGRAM FOR
OPERATION OF ASSAULT AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the feasibility,
advisability, and potential benefits of establishing a
training and safety program for the operation of assault
amphibious vehicles.
amendment no. 181 offered by mr. molinaro of new york
Add at the end of subtitle B of title I the following:
SEC. 113. REPORT ON BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the budget of the President for fiscal year 2026 is
submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31,
United States Code, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to
the congressional defense committees a report on
Modernization of the Black Hawk helicopter program of the
Army.
(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
(1) Identification of the program elements and level of
funding requested for the Black Hawk Modernization program
for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 set forth
separately by fiscal year and appropriations account.
(2) Requirements for the program that are sufficient to
ensure the Black Hawk helicopters of the Army are
systematically modernized to address obsolescence, improve
performance, and provide capabilities that ensure relevance
in the joint all domain operational environment.
(3) A program acquisition strategy for Black Hawk
Modernization.
amendment no. 182 offered by mr. molinaro of new york
At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following new
section:
SEC. 10__. UPDATES TO NATIONAL BIODEFENSE STRATEGY.
(a) Updates Required.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise and
update the most recent version of the national biodefense
strategy and associated implementation plan required under
section 1086 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 6 U.S.C. 104). In
revising and updating the strategy and implementation plan,
the Secretaries shall address--
(1) current and potential biological threats against the
United States, both naturally occurring and man-made, either
accidental or deliberate;
(2) the potential for catastrophic biological threats; and
(3) such other matters as the Secretaries determine
appropriate.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall jointly submit
to the appropriate congressional defense committees the
updated strategy and implementation plan required under
subsection (a).
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
has the meaning given that term in section 1086(f) of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017
(Public Law 114-328; 6 U.S.C. 104).
amendment no. 183 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle D of title V, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 5__. EXPANSION OF REPORT ON FUTURE SERVICEMEMBER
PREPARATORY COURSE.
Section 546(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 520 note)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and
(2) by inserting, after paragraph (3), the following new
paragraphs:
``(4) The determination of the Secretary regarding the
effectiveness of the preparatory course.
``(5) Recommendations of the Secretary regarding--
``(A) how to improve the preparatory course;
``(B) whether to expand the preparatory course.''.
amendment no. 184 offered by mr. molinaro of new york
At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following new
section:
SEC. 2__. REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WORKFORCE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report
that includes--
(1) an assessment of the effectiveness of the artificial
intelligence workforce of the Department of Defense;
(2) identification of any gaps in the skills and training
of such workforce; and
(3) a description of any actions that may be carried out to
preserve and enhance such workforce to ensure the global
technological competitiveness of the United States.
(b) Artificial Intelligence Workforce Defined.--In this
section, the term ``artificial intelligence workforce'' means
members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel of the
Department Defense with responsibilities relating to the
research, development, procurement, or operational use of
artificial intelligence technology.
amendment no. 185 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle G of title V, add the following:
SEC. 5__. TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION REGARDING MEMBER'S
OPIOID USE DISORDER TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
Section 1142(d) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``Transmittal'' and
inserting ``Transmission'';
(2) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``In the case''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) In the case of a member whom the Secretary concerned
knows has a history of opioid use disorder, such Secretary
concerned shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of
such history within 60 days of the separation. retirement, or
discharge of such member.''.
[[Page H4030]]
amendment no. 186 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. STUDY ON ACCESSIBILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS AND SERVICES FOR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study
determine whether and to what extent members of the Armed
Forces serving on active duty have adequate access to mental
health care providers and services.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report on the
results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
amendment no. 187 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle C of title VI, add the following new
section:
SEC. 6__. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INCREASE TO THE FAMILY
SEPARATION ALLOWANCE.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense
should raise the family separation allowance to the maximum
allowable amount of $400 per month as authorized under
section 427 of title 37, United States Code (as amended by
section 626 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 137 Stat. 294)).
amendment no. 188 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN PRESCRIPTION DROP BOXES AT
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each military
installation under the jurisdiction of the Secretary has one
or more prescription drop boxes to facilitate the safe
disposal of unused prescription drugs, including opioids.
amendment no. 189 offered by mr. james of michigan
At the end of subtitle B of title I, add the following new
section:
SEC. 1__. PLAN FOR PROVIDING CERTAIN AIRCRAFT TO THE ARMY
NATIONAL GUARD.
(a) Plan Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for
providing the aircraft described in subsection (b) to
relevant aviation units of the Army National Guard in a
manner that is concurrent with and in proportion to the
manner in which such aircraft are provided to active duty
Army aviation units.
(b) Aircraft Described.--The aircraft described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) AH-64E aircraft.
(2) MQ-1C M25 aircraft.
(3) CH-47 aircraft.
(4) UH-60M aircraft.
(5) Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
amendment no. 191 offered by mr. reschenthaler of pennsylvania
At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 17__. REPORT ON SECURITY COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security,
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and House Representatives a report on security
cooperation with the Government of the Turks and Caicos
Islands and the treatment of detained Americans on Turks and
Caicos Islands, including--
(1) the efforts of such Departments to counter threats from
transnational criminal organizations, violent extremist
organizations, and malign regional and external state actors
in cooperation with the Government of the Turks and Caicos
Islands;
(2) United States taxpayer assistance made available for
the Turks and Caicos Islands since October 1, 2014; and
(3) efforts by such Departments to address the treatment of
and human rights abuses committed against United States
individuals and others detained by the Government of the
Turks and Caicos Islands and to advocate for changes in
policy related to their detention of Americans, during fiscal
years 2022 through 2024.
amendment no. 192 offered by mr. casar of texas
At the end of subtitle H of title V, insert the following:
SEC. 5__. GAO STUDY ON CHILD CARE SERVICES PROVIDED OR PAID
FOR BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall carry out a study to assess the child care programs of
the Department of Defense, including military child
development centers, family home day care, Military Child
Care in Your Neighborhood, and Child Care in Your Home.
(b) Report.--Not later than six months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report
regarding the results of the study under subsection (a). Such
report shall include the following information, disaggregated
by covered Armed Force:
(1) The period of time military families in each priority
category are on a waiting list from the time of submitting a
request on militarychildcare.com until the time of final
approval.
(2) The percentage of military families that submitted a
request for child care services through militarychildcare.com
and did not receive an offer within three months of the date
requested.
(3) The average percentage of annual income a military
family spends on child care per child.
(4) The percentage of military families that require more
than one such child care program to meet child care needs.
(5) The current amount allocated to each covered Armed
Force for the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood and
Child Care in Your Home programs.
(6) How much of the amount described in paragraph (5) is
spent on--
(A) administration;
(B) child care services for military families.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered Armed Force'' means the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.
(2) The terms ``military child development center'' and
``family home day care'' have the meanings given such terms
in section 1800 of title 10, United States Code.
amendment no. 193 offered by mr. grothman of wisconsin
At the end of subtitle E of title XXVIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. __. QUARTERLY REPORT ON INFILTRATIONS OF CERTAIN
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROPERTY BY FOREIGN
ACTORS.
(a) In General.--Not less frequently than quarterly, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on instances of
infiltration, or attempted infiltration, of a military
installation, facility, or real property under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Defense by a foreign actor
during the period covered by the report.
(b) Elements.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a summary of each instance of infiltration or attempted
infiltration;
(2) an identification of the foreign actor the Secretary
determines is responsible for such infiltration or attempted
infiltration; and
(3) with respect to each foreign actor included in such
report, an statement of--
(A) immigration status, if any;
(B) country of origin;
(C) method and date of entry into the United States, if
known;
(D) criminal background, if known; and
(E) any other information obtained during the applicable
Department of Defense investigation that the Secretary of
Defense determines appropriate.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committees on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives and the Senate
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Relations of the Senate;
(F) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(G) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives; and
(H) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the
House of Representatives.
(2) The term ``foreign actor'' means an individual who is
not a citizen or national of the United States.
(3) The term ``infiltration'' includes, with respect to a
military installation, facility, or real property under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, unauthorized photo
or video recording.
amendment no. 194 offered by ms. jacobs of california
Page 571, after line 11, insert the following:
SEC. 12__. ASSESSMENT, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS
AND ACTIVITIES.
Section 383(d)(1)(B) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``, including a description of
challenges in executing the program,'' after ``lessons
learned''.
amendment no. 195 offered by ms. meng of new york
Page 803, line 9, insert ``(including in-person, remote,
and hybrid fellowships)'' after ``fellowships''.
amendment no. 196 offered by mrs. spartz of indiana
Add at the end of subtitle D of title XII the following:
SEC. 1236. REPORT ON CERTAIN ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense shall submit to Congress a report
reconciling all United States assistance to Ukraine,
including all normal and supplemental Ukraine appropriations
and drawdowns, from January 1, 2022, through the date of such
submission. The report shall specifically detail the
countries, entities, and individuals who received such
assistance.
[[Page H4031]]
(b) Additional Elements.--The report required under
subsection (a) shall also detail the following:
(1) All contracts awarded to third parties with enumerated
amounts, including an identification of each such third party
recipient and a specification of the amount awarded to each
such third party.
(2) The total of appropriated or authorized amounts that
have been obligated or expended, as well as the total amounts
of authorized or appropriated funds that have not been so
obligated or expended.
(c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a
classified annex.
amendment no. 197 offered by mr. case of hawaii
At the end of subtitle D of title III, insert the
following:
SEC. 3__. REPORT ON WILDFIRE FIGHTING CAPABILITIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN HAWAII.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a
report that contains--
(1) an assessment of the wildfire fighting capabilities of
the Department of Defense in Hawaii, including any shortfalls
in firefighting equipment, facilities, training, plans, or
personnel;
(2) a determination of the feasibility of establishing a
wildfire training institute on O`ahu;
(3) an identification of any additional authorities or
resources required to integrate the capabilities of the
Department of Defense with the capabilities of other Federal,
State, and local emergency responders; and
(4) an identification of any memoranda or other agreements
between the Department and State, local, Federal, or other
disaster response organizations regarding wildland fire
mitigation, prevention, response, and recovery.
amendment no. 198 offered by ms. crockett of texas
Add at the end of subtitle C of title XVII of division A
the following:
SEC. __. REPORT ON MILITARY SPOUSE SECURITY CLEARANCE.
Not later than May 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Director of National Intelligence,
shall provide a report to Congress on the technical,
operational, human resources, and legal challenges that would
result from accelerating security clearance reviews of
military spouses by using information, including address
verification, from the spousal review of their connected
service member's security clearance, as well as the
anticipated benefits of such a change.
amendment no. 199 offered by ms. lee of nevada
At the end of subtitle E of title XXVIII, add the following
new section:
SEC. __. DESIGNATION OF CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA, AS
REMOTE OR ISOLATED INSTALLATION.
The Secretary of Defense shall designate Creech Air Force
Base located at Indian Springs Nevada, as a remote or
isolated installation.
amendment no. 200 offered by mr. schneider of illinois
At the end of subtitle A of title VI, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 6__. EXPANSION OF BEREAVEMENT LEAVE.
Section 701(l)(1)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``two weeks'' and inserting ``12 weeks''.
Amendment No. 201 Offered by Mr. Moskowitz of Florida
At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 17__. ASSESSMENT OF THE ACCURACY OF GAZA MINISTRY OF
HEALTH CASUALTY REPORTING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Defense
Intelligence Agency shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report assessing the accuracy of the reporting of the Gaza
Ministry of Health regarding--
(1) the total casualty figures reported by the Ministry;
and
(2) the information disseminated by the Ministry of
casualties grouped by age and gender.
(b) Form.--The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall
be transmitted in an unclassified manner, and any supporting
documentation may be transmitted in a classified annex.
(c) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after the submission
of the report required by subsection (a), the Director of the
Defense Intelligence Agency shall brief the Committees on
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives
on the contents of the report.
Amendment No. 202 Offered by Mrs. Torres of California
At the end of subtitle G of title V, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 5__. REPORT ON THE NUMBER OF VETERANS WHO HAVE THEIR
MILITARY ACQUIRED CREDENTIALS RECOGNIZED AT THE
STATE-LEVEL FOR THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE.
(a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the
Secretary of Labor, shall submit to Congress a report that
builds on the data reported in the ``DoD Credentialing
Utilization'' report from 2018 (3-BB02A16) to better assess
the effectiveness of the Credentialing Programs for post-
military civilian employment.
(b) Matters Included.--The report under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the number of veterans who
successfully transfer their eligible professional credentials
to civilian jobs.
(2) An assessment of which certifications were most
commonly used for post-military civilian employment, such as
airplane mechanics.
(3) An assessment on any other barriers veterans face to
transferring military mechanical skills to State
certifications.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``applicable licensing authority'' means the
licensing authority by a State for a given vocation in which
the veteran works or would like to work.
(2) The term ``eligible professional credential'' means a
professional credential, including a professional credential
in the field of airplane mechanics, obtained using expenses
paid pursuant to the program under section 2015 of title 10,
United States Code.
(3) The term ``expenses'' has the meaning given such term
in such section.
(4) The term ``State'' means each of the several States and
territories and the District of Columbia.
Amendment No. 203 Offered by Mr. Barr of Kentucky
At the end of subtitle C of title XVII, insert the
following:
SEC. 17__. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR
BLUE GRASS CHEMICAL AGENT-DESTRUCTION PILOT
PLANT.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Joint Explanatory Statement to accompany the James
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2023 (Public Law 117-263) directed the Secretary of Defense,
in consultation with the Secretary of the Army, to conduct a
feasibility study to assess potential missions, plants, or
industries feasible for Army or Department of Defense needs
at the Blue Grass Army Depot following the completion of the
mission at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot
Plant.
(2) House Report 118-301 to accompany the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31)
directed the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the
Commanding General, Army Materiel Command and the Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and
Technology to provide a briefing on the costs and estimated
funding profile associated with the organic industrial base
modernization strategy and the efforts required to support
opportunities for augmenting the organic industrial base at
Blue Grass Army Depot.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Army, in
coordination with the Commanding General of the Army Materiel
Command and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, should work with
Congress and the local community near the Blue Grass Army
Depot to build upon the findings of the feasibility study and
House Report referred to in subsection (a).
Amendment No. 204 Offered by Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania
At the end of subtitle E of title I, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 1__. MODIFICATION TO MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR
CERTAIN CRITICAL MINERALS.
Section 152 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 137 Stat. 180; 50 U.S.C.
98e-2) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by inserting ``strategic and'' after
``domestically processed'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``the procurement of''
and all that follows and inserting the following: ``the
procurement of strategic and critical materials that are
mined, processed, or produced in the United States.'';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``the domestically
processed critical minerals'' and inserting ``the strategic
and critical materials'';
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f);
(5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new
subsection:
``(e) Priority.--In carrying out the activities described
in this section, the Secretary may give priority to the
procurement of strategic and critical materials that are
derived from recycled and reused minerals and metals to the
maximum extent practicable, and from terrestrial mines that
do not cause harm to the natural or cultural resources of
Tribal communities or sovereign nations or result in degraded
ground or surface water.''; and
(6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) The term `strategic and critical material' means a
material determined to be a strategic or critical material
under section 3(a) of the Strategic and Critical Materials
Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98b(a)).''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) The term `produced' means formed, assembled,
manufactured, or systems integrated.''.
[[Page H4032]]
Amendment No. 205 Offered by Mrs. Spartz of Indiana
Add at the end of subtitle A of title X the following:
SEC. 1004. OVERSIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENT
AND AUDIT REMEDIATION PLAN.
Section 240b(b) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``, the Committee on
Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate'' after ``congressional defense
committees''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by amending the paragraph heading to read as follows:
``Briefings''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) Not later than June 30, 2025, and annually
thereafter, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
shall provide to the Committee on Oversight and
Accountability of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of
the Senate a briefing on the status of the corrective action
plan. Such briefing shall include an assessment of the
progress of the Secretary of Defense in achieving an
unqualified audit opinion as described in subsection
(a)(2)(iv)''.
Amendment No. 206 Offered by Mr. Davidson of Ohio
Page 370, insert after line 6 the following:
SEC. 734. WITHHOLDING OF FUNDS FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT REPORTS
ON HEALTH CONDITIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES ON ACTIVE DUTY DEVELOPED AFTER
ADMINISTRATION OF COVID-19 VACCINE.
(a) Withholding.--Section 725(c) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31;
137 Stat. 309) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Not later than'' and inserting ``(1) Not
later than''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) If the Secretary fails to submit a report required
under paragraph (1) prior to the deadline applicable under
such paragraph, the amount otherwise authorized to be
appropriated for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for
the next fiscal year which begins after the deadline shall be
reduced by 5 percent.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall take effect as if included in the enactment of National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
Amendment No. 207 Offered by Mr. Wenstrup of Ohio
At the end of subtitle B of title VII, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. EXPANSION OF RECOGNITION BY THE DEFENSE HEALTH
AGENCY OF CERTIFYING BODIES FOR PHYSICIANS.
(a) Expansion.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Defense Health
Agency shall revise the policy of the Defense Health Agency
regarding the credentialing and privileging under the
military health system to expand the recognition of
certifying bodies for physicians under such policy to a wide
range of additional board certifications in medical
specialties and subspecialties. The following certifying
bodies shall be so recognized:
(1) The member boards of the American Board of Medical
Specialties.
(2) The Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American
Osteopathic Association.
(3) The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
(4) The American Board of Podiatric Medicine.
(5) The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
(b) Standards for Recognition of Other Certifying Bodies.--
To be recognized under subsection (a), a certifying body
shall--
(1) be an organization described in section 501(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under
section 501(a) of that Code;
(2) maintain a process to define, periodically review,
enforce, and update specific standards regarding knowledge
and skills of the specialty or subspecialty;
(3) administer a psychometrically valid assessment to
determine whether a physician meets standards for initial
certification, recertification, or continuing certification;
(4) establish and enforce a code of professional conduct;
and
(5) require that, in order to be considered a board
certified specialty physician, a physician must satisfy--
(A) the certifying body's applicable requirements for
initial certification; and
(B) any applicable recertification or continuing
certification requirements of the certifying body that
granted the initial certification.
Amendment No. 208 Offered by Mr. Barr of Kentucky
At the end of subtitle B of title I, add the following new
section:
SEC. 1__. DEVELOPMENT OF REQUIREMENT FOR SHIPPING CONTAINER
PRODUCTION FACILITY AT DOMESTIC ARMY
INSTALLATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) House Report 118-301 accompanying the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31)
directed the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the
Commanding General, Army Materiel Command and the Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and
Technology to provide a briefing on the costs and estimated
funding profile as it relates to the organic industrial base
modernization strategy, and facility efforts required to
support opportunities for organic industrial base
augmentation at Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.
(2) The briefing was directed to explore Blue Grass Army
Depot as a potential site for the production of metal
shipping containers.
(3) Limited domestic production, coupled with the
concentration of global shipping container manufacturing in
and around China, is a strategic deployment and sustainment
risk for United States forces.
(4) China produces most shipping containers and the
Department of Defense sources nearly all containers from Asia
or assembles container kits in the United States from
foreign-producers.
(5) Establishing a domestic source for metal shipping
containers would reduce reliance on foreign sources.
(b) Shipping Container Requirement.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of
the Army, the Commanding General of the Army Materiel
Command, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, shall develop a
requirement for the establishment of a shipping container
production facility within the United States at an Army
installation found to meet feasibility and readiness goals.
Amendment No. 209 Offered by Ms. Sherrill of New Jersey
In subtitle G of title V, add at the end the following:
SEC. 5__. TRAINING AND INTERNSHIPS FOR TRANSITIONING MEMBERS
THROUGH INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) Skillbridge.--The Secretary of Defense may conduct
outreach to institutions of higher education in order to
enter into more agreements with such institutions of higher
education that may provide training or internships to members
of the Armed Forces pursuant to the Skillbridge program
established under section 1143(e) of title 10, United States
Code.
(b) Institution of Higher Education Defined.--In this
section, the term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
Amendment No. 210 Offered by Ms. Pettersen of Colorado
Add at the end of subtitle C of title VII the following:
SEC. 7__. HEALTH CARE STRATEGY FOR MEMBERS WHO PERFORM DUTY
IN A COLD WEATHER LOCATION.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Health Affairs shall convene a working group of subject
matter experts from the extramural community and military
health system to develop a strategy and the medical research
and development requirements to deliver pre-hospital, life-
saving interventions for members of the Armed Forces who
perform duty in cold weather locations. Not later than July
1, 2025, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the
congressional defense committees such strategy and associated
requirements. which shall include the following:
(1) An overarching plan addressing unique pre-hospital
lifesaving and sustainment interventions required in cold
weather locations and research required to advance medical
care in cold weather locations.
(2) A review of laboratory and medical product development
capabilities of the Department of Defense to conduct research
and development and support the transition and fielding of
medical products for cold weather locations.
(3) Identification of and recommendations to amend clinical
practice guidelines to treat combat casualties in cold
weather locations.
(4) Initial capabilities documents identifying gaps and
requirements to support pre-hospital, life-saving
interventions during operations in cold weather locations.
(5) A recommended investment plan to address clinical and
medical research and development capability gaps identified
in initial capabilities documents.
(6) Engagement of academic medical centers and institutions
to support public-private partnerships for research and
development to address the pre-hospital needs of members
following injury in cold weather locations.
(b) Cold Weather Location Defined.--In this section, the
term ``cold weather location'' means a location for which a
member may receive special duty pay--
(1) under section 352 of title 37, United States Code; and
(2) pursuant to section 315 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 37
U.S.C. 352 note).
Amendment No. 211 Offered by Mr. Ciscomani of Arizona
Page 915, after line 12, insert the following new section:
SEC. 28__. LAND CONVEYANCE, FORT HUACHUCA, SIERRA VISTA,
ARIZONA.
(a) Conveyance Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Army may convey,
without consideration, to
[[Page H4033]]
the City of Sierra Vista, Arizona (in this section referred
to as the ``City''), all right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to a parcel of real property, including
any improvements thereon, consisting of approximately 203
acres, comprising a portion of Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for
the purpose of compatible development of the municipal
airport located in the City.
(2) Continuation of existing easements, restrictions, and
covenants.--The conveyance of the property under paragraph
(1) shall be subject to any easement, restriction, or
covenant of record applicable to the property and in
existence on the date of the enactment of this section.
(b) Revisionary Interest.--
(1) In general.--If the Secretary of the Army determines at
any time that the real property conveyed under subsection (a)
is not being used in accordance with the purpose of the
conveyance specified in such subsection, all right, title,
and interest in and to the property, including any
improvements thereto, may, at the option of the Secretary,
revert to and become the property of the United States, and
the United States may have the right of immediate entry onto
such property.
(2) Determination.--A determination by the Secretary of the
Army under paragraph (1) shall be made on the record after an
opportunity for a hearing.
(c) Payment of Costs of Conveyance.--
(1) Payment required.--The Secretary of the Army shall
require the City to cover all costs (except costs for
environmental remediation of the property) to be incurred by
the Secretary, or to reimburse the Secretary for costs
incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the conveyance under
subsection (a), including costs for environmental and real
estate due diligence and any other administrative costs
related to the conveyance.
(2) Refund of excess amounts.--If amounts collected by the
Secretary of the Army from the City under paragraph (1) in
advance exceed the costs actually incurred by the Secretary
to carry out the conveyance under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall refund the excess amount to the City.
(d) Limitation on Source of Funds.--The City may not use
Federal funds to cover any portion of the costs required to
be paid by the City under this section.
(e) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal
description of the property to be conveyed under subsection
(a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the
Secretary of the Army.
(f) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the
Army may require such additional terms and conditions in
connection with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the
Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of
the United States.
Amendment to No. 212 Offered by Ms. Pettersen of Colorado
Page 780, insert after line 7 the following:
SEC. 1818. BRIEFING ON ACCESS OF MEMBERS OF NATIONAL GUARD TO
CHILD CARE SERVICES AT MILITARY CHILD
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.
(a) Briefing Required.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense,
in coordination with the Secretaries of the Army and Air
Force, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of
the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing regarding
the access of members of the Army National Guard and the Air
Force National Guard to child care services at military child
development centers.
(b) Elements.--The briefing under this section shall
include the following elements:
(1) The number of families in the Army National Guard and
the Air Force National Guard with children under 12 years of
age.
(2) The number of families in the Army National Guard and
the Air Force National Guard with children under 12 years in
which both parents are members of either the Army National
Guard or the Air Force National Guard.
(3) The number of single parent households in which the
parent is a member of the Army National Guard or the Air
Force National Guard.
(4) The average number of days during the year in which a
member of the Army National Guard or the Air Force National
Guard who has a child under 12 years of age is on active
duty.
(5) The number of members of the Army National Guard or the
Air Force National Guard Number who have a child under 12
years of age who live within the following distance of a
military child development center:
(A) 10 miles.
(B) 25 miles.
(C) 50 miles.
(D) Over 100 miles.
(6) The number of Army National Guard armories and Air
Force National Guard armories within the following distance
of a military child development center:
(A) 10 miles.
(B) 25 miles.
(C) 50 miles.
(D) Over 100 miles.
(7) The number of Army National Guard families who have
successfully obtained a voucher for child care funding cost
assistance though the Childcare Aware and Upwards programs.
(8) The number of Air Force National Guard families who
have successfully obtained a voucher for child care funding
cost assistance though the Childcare Aware and Upwards
programs.
(9) The amount of funds currently spent on vouchers under
the Childcare Aware program for Army National Guard families
and Air Force National Guard families, and the amount of
funds currently spent on vouchers for Army National Guard
families and Air Force National Guard families under the
Upwards program.
(10) An overview of State laws that affect the ability of
military child development centers to provide 24-hour and
overnight child care services.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``military child
development center'' has the meaning given such term in
section 1800 of title 10, United States Code.
Amendment No. 213 Offered by Mr. Pfluger of Texas
At the end of subtitle G of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. PSYCHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE TRAINING IN PERFORMANCE
MINDSET.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that long-term exposure to
high-stress environments leaves many individuals in a
suboptimal performance state, creating an environment for
maladaptive coping mechanisms, compromised performance
abilities, and a potential increase in anxiety, depression,
suicide, domestic violence, and substance abuse.
(b) Required Training.--All training provided to a member
of the Armed Forces, including at a Service Academy (as
defined section 347 of title 10, United States Code), or a
school operated under chapter 107 or 108 of title 10, United
States Code, shall include training on the development of
proactive psychological performance skills and strategies for
psychological flexibility and mental strength. Such training
shall include each of the following:
(1) Training in scientifically researched and evidence-
based mindset skills designed to prepare members of the Armed
Forces for the physical and mental stressors associated with
service in the Armed Forces.
(2) Performance mindset training designed to create
psychological flexibility and mental strength to reduce the
effects of potential trauma.
(3) Interactive and contextualized training provided by
specialized training teams with expert knowledge of
psychological performance and how to apply the skills covered
by the training across the phases of a career of a member of
the Armed Forces.
(c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a report on the implementation of this section.
Each such report shall be submitted in unclassified form, but
may contain a classified annex.
amendment no. 214 offered by mr. soto of florida
At the end of subtitle C of title II, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 2__. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR HIGH-HYPERSONIC DETONATION
PROPULSION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY.
(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in section 201 for RDT&E, Air Force for
Aerospace Propulsion, line 008 as specified in the
corresponding funding table in section 4201, for high-
hypersonic detonation propulsion research and technology is
hereby increased by $5,000,000; and
(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in section 301 for O&M, Air Force for
Administration, line 410, as specified in the corresponding
funding table in section 4301, for program decrease is hereby
reduced by $5,000,000.
amendment no. 215 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle J of title V, insert the following:
SEC. 5__. COMMERCIAL TRANSITION FOR MILITARY AVIATION
MECHANICS.
The Secretary of Defense shall create a strategy to support
the transition of military aviation mechanics to commercial
aviation mechanics after active duty service.
amendment no. 216 offered by mr. soto of florida
At the end of subtitle C of title II, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 2__. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR ADAPTIVE AND INTELLIGENT
ADVERSARY-THREAT MODELS.
(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in section 201 for RDT&E, Army for Soldier
Lethality Technology, line 010 as specified in the
corresponding funding table in section 4201, for adaptive and
intelligent adversary-threat models is hereby increased by
$5,000,000.
(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in section 301 for O&M, Army for Other Personnel
Support, line 470 as specified in the corresponding funding
table in section 4301, for program decrease is hereby reduced
by $5,000,000.
amendment no. 217 offered by mr. austin scott of georgia
At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. REPORT ON MODIFICATIONS OF EXPEDITIONARY TRANSFER
DOCK SHIPS.
Not later than March 1, 2025, the Chief of Naval
Operations, in consultation with the
[[Page H4034]]
Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall submit to the Committee
on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Armed
Services and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on
recommended modifications to the Expeditionary Transfer Dock
Ships that will best enable at-sea sustainment of Joint
Interagency Task Force South partner nation patrol vessels
and United States Coast Guard Fast Response Cutters.
amendment no. 218 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle F of title X, insert the following:
SEC. 10__. REPORT ON MILITARY AND WEAPONS LOST DURING
WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN.
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report that includes an accounting of
all the military equipment and weapons lost to the Taliban
during the withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from
Afghanistan.
amendment no. 219 offered by mr. schneider of illinois
At the end of subtitle B of title XII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 12__. BRIEFING ON IRANIAN SUPPORT FOR NON-STATE ACTORS
IN NORTH AFRICA.
(a) Briefing Required.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall provide the appropriate congressional committees a
briefing on--
(1) Iran's material support for non-state actors in North
Africa;
(2) threats to the security of United States allies in the
region posed by this Iranian support; and
(3) recommendations for actions the United States may take
to deter Iran from providing this support.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the
House of Representatives;
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
amendment no. 220 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 10__. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING COOPERATION WITH THE
PHILIPPINES ON MARITIME SECURITY.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should remain committed to helping
the Philippines maintain the safety and security of the
Philippines, including helping the Philippines to defend
against threats to such safety and security from China; and
(2) to help the Philippines defend against such threats,
the United States should expand cooperation between the
United States and the Philippines with respect to maritime
security.
amendment no. 221 offered by mr. obernolte of california
At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following new
section:
SEC. 10__. ASSESSMENT OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SUPPORTING
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE R-2508 AIRSPACE.
(a) Assessment Required.--The Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments
concerned, shall develop an assessment of the health care
system supporting the military installations within the R-
2508 Airspace to ensure adequate health care for the civilian
and military workforce.
(b) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report on the
results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a).
Such report shall include an explanation of--
(1) any challenges to the health care system covered by the
report within the private and public sector--
(A) including any challenges relating to funding and
authorization;
(B) including any potential obstacles to access health care
services for both civilian and military populations;
(C) whether there exists a provider shortage for emergency
care personnel and certain other specialties; and
(D) including consideration of the potential impacts on the
mission of the military installations covered by the report;
(2) recommendations with respect to legislative proposals
to improve such health care system; and
(3) the plans of the Secretary to address the issues
identified under paragraphs (1) through (2).
amendment no. 222 offered by mr. schneider of illinois
At the end of subtitle C of title XVII, add the following:
SEC. 17_. REWARDS FOR INFORMATION REGARDING LEADERS OF HAMAS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the Defense Intelligence
Agency and the Secretary of Defense shall advocate in their
respective roles on the Foreign Threat Intelligence Committee
to request the Rewards for Justice Program to offer
$25,000,000 each in incentives for information regarding
Hamas terrorists Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif.
(b) Other Rewards.--The Director of the Defense
Intelligence Agency and the Secretary of Defense should
advocate for significant rewards for information regarding
other leaders Iran-backed entities designated as Foreign
Terrorist Organizations under section 219 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189) or Specially Designated
Global Terrorists under section 594.310 of title 31, Code of
Federal Regulations.
amendment no. 223 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 7__. STUDY ON INCREASED TELEHEALTH SERVICES OF THE
DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY.
Not later than September 30, 2025, the Director of the
Defense Health Agency shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report containing the results of a study
to determine how to increase access of TRICARE beneficiaries
to telehealth services of the Defense Health Agency.
amendment no. 224 offered by mr. smith of new jersey
Add at the end of subtitle F of title X the following:
SEC. 10__. GAO REVIEW AND REPORT ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
EXPERIMENTS ON AND IN RELATION TO TICKS, TICK-
BORNE DISEASE.
(a) Review.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a review of research conducted during the
period beginning on January 1, 1945, and ending on December
31, 1972, by the Department of Defense, including by the
Department of Defense in consultation with the National
Institutes of Health, the Department of Agriculture, or any
other Federal agency on--
(1) the use of ticks as hosts or delivery mechanisms for
biological warfare agents, including experiments involving
Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales; and
(2) any efforts to improve the effectiveness and viability
of Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales as biological weapons
through combination with other diseases or viruses.
(b) Location of Research.--In conducting the review under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review research
conducted at facilities located inside United States and
facilities located outside the United States, including
laboratories and field work locations.
(c) Information to Be Reviewed.--
(1) Classified information.--In conducting the review under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review any
relevant classified information.
(2) Documents for review.--In conducting the review under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review, among
other sources, the following documents:
(A) Technical Reports related to The Summary of Major
Events and Problems, US Army Chemical Corps, FY 1951 -
FY1969.
(B) Site Holding: CB DT DW 48158 Title: Virus and
Rickettsia Waste Disposal Study. Technical Report No. 103,
January 1969. Corp Author Name: FORT DETRICK FREDERICK MD
Report Number: SMUFD-TR-103 Publish Date: 19690101.
(C) Site Holding: CB DT DW 60538 Title: A Plaque Assay
System for Several Species of Rickettsia. Corp Author Name:
FORT DETRICK FREDERICK MD Report Number: SMUFD-TM-538 Publish
Date: 19690601.
(D) Site Holding: CB DW 531493 Title: Progress Report for
Ecology and Epidemiology and Biological Field Test
Technology, Third Quarter FY 1967. Corp Author Name: ARMY
DUGWAY PROVING GROUND UT Publish Date: 19670508.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
submit to Congress a report that includes the following:
(A) The scope of any research described in subsection (a).
(B) Whether any ticks used in such research were released
outside of any facility (including any ticks that were
released unintentionally).
(C) Whether any records related to such research were
destroyed, and whether such destruction was intentional or
unintentional.
(2) Form of report.--The report required under paragraph
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain
a classified annex.
amendment no. 225 offered by mr. barr of kentucky
At the end of subtitle F of title X, add the following new
section:
SEC. 10__. ASSESSMENT OF INFLUENCE OF CHINA IN PACIFIC ISLAND
NATIONS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this section, and each year thereafter, the Director of the
Defense Intelligence Agency shall publish in the annual China
military power report required by section 1202 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000
(Public Law 106-65), or other relevant publication, an
assessment of the following:
(1) Investments and influence of China in Pacific Island
nations.
(2) How China's activities have or have not impacted United
States military strategy in the Pacific region, as it relates
to Pacific Island nations.
[[Page H4035]]
amendment no. 226 offered by mr. walberg of michigan
At the end of subtitle B of title XVII, insert the
following:
SEC. 17__. ANNUAL REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ASSISTANCE
TO U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AND
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ON NORTHERN
BORDER SECURITY.
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress an annual
report on the assistance the Department of Defense provides
to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of
Homeland Security to secure the northern border of the United
States.
amendment no. 227 offered by ms. slotkin of michigan
At the end of subtitle G of title VIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 8__. REPORTS ON NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS.
(a) GAO Report.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to Congress a report containing the
results of a study on the national security risks posed by
consulting firms who simultaneously contract with the Federal
Government and the Chinese government or its proxies or
affiliates.
(2) Contents.--In performing the study under paragraph (1),
the Comptroller General shall--
(A) assess the extent to which Federal agencies collect
information on contracts performed on behalf of the Chinese
government or its proxies or affiliates by consulting firms
that hold or have held contracts with the Federal Government,
and whether such information includes specific projects and
deliverables of such contracts;
(B) evaluate the extent to which selected Federal agencies,
to include at a minimum the Department of Defense and
elements of the Intelligence Community, have assessed the
risks posed by American consulting firms' work for the
Chinese government and its proxies or affiliates, including
an assessment of risk of deliberate or inadvertent sharing of
Federal Government information that may be used for Chinese
economic or military advantage;
(C) identify relevant contract clauses, procedures, and
information used by Federal agencies to identify, evaluate
and resolve organizational conflicts of interest when
awarding consulting contracts;
(D) assess the extent to which agencies experience
challenges when identifying, evaluating and resolving
organizational conflicts of interest, including determining
whether the offeror or potential contractor also performs
work for China; and
(E) identify steps federal agencies take to monitor
contractor compliance with any contract clauses, terms or
conditions intended to resolve identified conflicts of
interest.
(b) Report on Conflicts of Interest.--The Secretary of
Defense shall annually submit to Congress a report on--
(1) the implementation of section 812 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (10 U.S.C.
4501 note prec.); and
(2) how the Department of Defense is defining the term
``entities related to the Chinese or Russian governments''
and whether, and to what extent, the Secretary is
investigating conflicts of interest between prime contractors
of the Department of Defense and subsidiary companies of such
contractors.
amendment no. 229 offered by mr. burlison of missouri
At the end of subtitle I of title V, insert the following:
SEC. 5__. AUTHORIZATION OF AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO GREGORY
MCMANUS FOR ACTS OF VALOR.
(a) Waiver of Time Limitations.--Notwithstanding the time
limitations specified in section 7274 of title 10, United
States Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the
awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the Armed
Forces, the President is authorized to award the Medal of
Honor, under section 7271 of such title, to Gregory McManus
for the acts of valor described in subsection (b).
(b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor described
in this subsection are the following:
(1) Chief Warrant Officer Gregory McManus distinguished
himself for his brave acts of valor while serving in the
United States Army by risking his life to save the lives of
his fellow servicemembers.
(2) Chief Warrant Officer McManus deserves recognition for
his acts of valor while serving as the commander of a single
helicopter gunship on an important mission north of Chai Duc.
(3) Discovering an envoy of hundreds of enemy troops along
the Cambodian border, Chief Warrant Officer McManus attacked
the enemy without hesitation.
(4) Chief Warrant Officer McManus disregarded the tracers
that rose to meet him, firing rockets the entire length of
the convoy, confusing the enemy, and scattering the troop
column.
(5) Chief Warrant Officer McManus then attacked an armored
vehicle with a mounted machine gun, destroying it and a large
artillery piece which it was towing.
(6) Over and over, Chief Warrant Officer McManus flew
through heavy automatic weapons and machine gun fire to
attack the enemy, only deciding to return when his ordinance
was expended, and his ship had taken so much damage that
further flight was inadvisable.
(7) With this noble deed, Chief Warrant Officer McManus was
able to destroy the enemy unit and scattered the rest in
disorder with a single ship.
(8) Disregarding the size and scope of the enemy troop's
convoy, Chief Warrant Officer McManus put his own life in
danger, all in the service of his country and members of the
Armed Forces.
(9) Because of the heroic actions of Chief Warrant Officer
McManus, countless American soldier's lives were saved.
(10) These actions of heroism by Chief Warrant Officer
McManus deserves recognition and demonstrates this hero of
the United States more than deserve the medal of honor.
amendment no. 230 offered by mr. schneider of illinois
At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following:
SEC. _. MILITARY COOPERATION WITH MOROCCO.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States recognizes the 20th anniversary of
the African Lion exercise hosted by Morocco, a key United
States ally in Africa and the Middle East.
(2) The African Lion exercise is United States Africa
Command's largest annual combined joint exercise.
(3) African Lion builds and maintains interoperability with
our African and North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners
and improves our ability to meet security related challenges
together to address the growing threats from nation states,
private military corporations, militias, non-state armed
groups and violent extremist organizations, given the
increasing presence of malign actors in Africa, including the
Iranian regime and its proxies, particularly in North Africa
and the Sahel.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United
States to--
(1) support strengthening security cooperation with Morocco
given increasing instability in Africa and the Middle East
and provide for close cooperation between the United States
and Morocco in order to contribute to the region's broader
security; and
(2) provide for the continuation of the African Lion
exercise in future years will support the crucial efforts to
address security challenges facing NATO's southern flank.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
detailing how the United States can improve its
interoperability and cooperation with Morocco through the
African Lion exercise to continue to address the growing
threats in Africa, including the Iranian regime and its
proxies, particularly in North Africa and the Sahel.
(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B) and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
amendment no. 231 offered by mr. buchanan of florida
At the end of subtitle F of title XVIII, add the following
new section:
SEC. __. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PLAN TO CONSTRUCT MEMORIAL AT
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY IN COMMEMORATION OF
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES KILLED IN CERTAIN
ATTACK AT HAMID KARZAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN.
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a plan
and strategy to construct a memorial in Arlington National
Cemetery, Virginia, to commemorate the thirteen members of
the Armed Forces killed in the attack at Hamid Karzai
International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August of
2021.
amendment no. 232 offered by mr. golden of maine
At the end of subtitle G of title V, insert the following
new section:
SEC. 5__. OPT-OUT SHARING OF INFORMATION ON MEMBERS RETIRING
OR SEPARATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND RELATED
ENTITIES.
Section 570F of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 10 U.S.C. 1142 note) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``out the form to indicate an email
address'' and inserting the following: ``out the form to
indicate--
``(1) an email address; and''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) if the individual would like to opt-out of the
transmittal of the individual's information to and through a
State veterans agency as described in subsection (a).''; and
(2) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
``(d) Opt-Out of Information Sharing.--Information on an
individual shall be transmitted to and through a State
veterans agency as described in subsection (a) unless the
individual indicates pursuant to subsection (c)(2) that the
individual would like to opt out of such transmittal.''.
[[Page H4036]]
amendment no. 233 offered by mr. westerman of arkansas
At the end of subtitle D of title XXVIII, insert the
following new section:
SEC. 28__. REMOVAL OF USE CONDITIONS AND CONDITIONS ON
REVERSION FOR THE FORMER ARMY AND NAVY GENERAL
HOSPITAL, HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, HOT
SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.
(a) Removal of Use Conditions.--Section 3(a) of Public Law
86-323 (73 Stat. 594; Sept. 21, 1959) is amended by striking
``as a vocational rehabilitation center or for other public
health or educational purposes'' and inserting ``for
appropriate purposes, as determined by the Governor of the
State of Arkansas''.
(b) Conditions on Reversion.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the provisions contained
in section 3 of Public Law 86-323 (73 Stat. 594; Sept. 21,
1959) any reversionary interest retained by the United States
in the Covered Property may be extinguished by occurrence of
the following conditions:
(A) Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Governor of the State of Arkansas submits to
the Secretary of the Army a written request to extinguish any
reversionary or other future interest in the surface rights
held by the United States in the covered property.
(B) The Secretary of the Army, in consultation with the
Administrator of the General Services Administration and the
Secretary of the Interior, concurs in writing with the said
request.
(2) Quitclaim deed.--If the conditions described in
paragraph (1) are met, the Secretary of the Army shall
extinguish by quitclaim deed any reversionary or other future
interest in the surface rights held by the United States in
the covered property.
(3) Rights and interests reserved to the united states.--In
exercising the authority under this section, the Secretary of
the Army may not convey or extinguish any interests reserved
to the United States--
(A) pursuant to section 2 of Public Law 86-323 (73 Stat.
594; Sept. 21, 1959) in--
(i) all mineral rights (including gas and oil), together
with necessary rights of ingress, egress, and surface use; or
(ii) thermal waters or other hot waters, together with
necessary rights of ingress, egress, and surface use; and
(B) relating to the location, installation, and relocation
of utility facilities for such mineral rights, thermal
waters, or other hot waters; and
(C) in the conditions set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3)
of the Deed of Conveyance.
(4) Reversion.--If the Governor of the State of Arkansas
does not submit a request described in subsection (b)(2)
before the deadline in such subsection, all right, title and
interest held by the State of Arkansas in the covered
property shall revert to the United States in accordance with
section 3 of Public Law 86-323 (73 Stat. 594; Sept. 21,
1959).
(c) Definition.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered property'' means the real property
conveyed by the Deed of Conveyance pursuant to Public Law 86-
323 (73 Stat. 594; Sept. 21, 1959).
(2) The term ``Deed of Conveyance'' means the quitclaim
deed between the United States of America and the State of
Arkansas dated March 10, 1960, recorded in the land records
of the County of Garland, State of Arkansas, at book 480,
page 77.
amendment no. 234 offered by mr. magaziner of rhode island
At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following
new section:
SEC. 7__. IMPROVEMENTS TO TRICARE PROVIDER DIRECTORIES.
(a) Verification; Updates.--A managed support contractor
that supports TRICARE and maintains a directory of health
care providers shall verify and update such directory not
less than once every 90 days.
(b) Databases.--A managed support contractor described in
subsection (a) shall update a database not later than two
days after receipt of information that affects such database.
(c) Annual Reviews.--The Director of the Defense Health
Agency shall review directories described in subsection (a)
not less than once each year.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1287, the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Rogers) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to
support the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I, too, urge Members to adopt the
en bloc package and yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc 3 offered by the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers).
The en bloc amendments 3 were agreed to.
Vacating Ordering of Recorded Vote on Amendment No. 47 Offered by Mrs.
Luna
Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent that the
request for a recorded vote on amendment No. 47 be withdrawn to the end
that the amendment stand disposed of by the earlier voice vote thereon.
The CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from
Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now
rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Fong) having assumed the chair, Mr. McClintock, Chair of the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that that
Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 8070) to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, 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, had
come to no resolution thereon.
____________________