[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 1742-1745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED

                                 ______
                                 

 SOLDIERS', SAILORS', AIRMENS', AND MARINES' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                        CLELAND AMENDMENT NO. 4

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mr. CLELAND submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to 
the bill (S. 4) to improve pay and retirement equity for members of the 
Armed Forces; and for other purposes; as follows:

       At the end of title I, add the following new sections:

     SEC. 104. THREE-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO 
                   PAYMENT OF CERTAIN BONUSES AND SPECIAL PAYS.

       (a) Aviation Officer Retention Bonus.--Section 301b(a) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 1999,'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002,''.
       (b) Reenlistment Bonus for Active Members.--Section 308(g) 
     of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (c) Enlistment Bonuses for Members With Critical Skills.--
     Sections 308a(c) and 308f(c) of title 37, United States Code, 
     are each amended by striking ``December 31, 1999'' and 
     inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (d) Special Pay for Nuclear-Qualified Officers Extending 
     Period of Active Service.--Section 312(e) of title 37, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 1999'' and 
     inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (e) Nuclear Career Accession Bonus.--Section 312b(c) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (f) Nuclear Career Annual Incentive Bonus.--Section 312c(d) 
     of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking ``any 
     fiscal year beginning before October 1, 1998, and the 15-
     month period beginning on that date and ending on December 
     31, 1999'' and inserting ``the 15-month period beginning on 
     October 1, 1998, and ending on December 31, 1999, and any 
     year beginning after December 31, 1999, and ending before 
     January 1, 2003''.

     SEC. 105. THREE-YEAR EXTENSION OF CERTAIN BONUSES AND SPECIAL 
                   PAY AUTHORITIES FOR RESERVE FORCES.

       (a) Special Pay for Health Professionals in Critically 
     Short Wartime Specialties.--Section 302g(f) of title 37, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (b) Selected Reserve Reenlistment Bonus.--Section 308b(f) 
     of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (c) Selected Reserve Enlistment Bonus.--Section 308c(e) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (d) Special Pay for Enlisted Members Assigned to Certain 
     High Priority Units.--Section 308d(c) of title 37, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 1999'' and 
     inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (e) Selected Reserve Affiliation Bonus.--Section 308e(e) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (f) Ready Reserve Enlistment and Reenlistment Bonus.--
     Section 308h(g) of title 37, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 
     31, 2002''.
       (g) Prior Service Enlistment Bonus.--Section 308i(f) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 2002''.
       (h) Repayment of Education Loans for Certain Health 
     Professionals Who Serve in the Selected Reserve.--Section 
     16302(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``January 1, 2000'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``January 1, 2003''.

     SEC. 106. THREE-YEAR EXTENSION OF CERTAIN BONUSES AND SPECIAL 
                   PAY AUTHORITIES FOR NURSE OFFICER CANDIDATES, 
                   REGISTERED NURSES, AND NURSE ANESTHETISTS.

       (a) Nurse Officer Candidate Accession Program.--Section 
     2130a(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 
     2002''.
       (b) Accession Bonus for Registered Nurses.--Section 
     302d(a)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting ``December 31, 
     2002''.
       (c) Incentive Special Pay for Nurse Anesthetists.--Section 
     302e(a)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``December 31, 1999'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``December 31, 2002''.

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I intend to offer an amendment to 
S. 4 when it is debated in the Senate to extend the authority to pay 
certain bonuses and special pays for three years. These special 
incentives are critical to recruiting and retention of military 
personnel. This amendment will be a significant improvement to S. 4 
because it is narrowly focused on enlistment and retention incentives.
  Although these bonuses and special pays are in effect now, the 
authority to pay them expires on December 31, 1999.
  These bonuses and special pays are proven recruiting and retention 
incentives. Our Service Personnel Chiefs need to know that they will 
continue to be available for the long term to address recruiting and 
retention shortfalls. They should not have to wonder if the authority 
to pay them will be renewed a year at a time.
  By extending the authority to pay these bonuses and special pays for 
three years, we give the Services valuable tools the Chiefs need to 
address a very real and complex problem.
                                 ______
                                 

                   ROBB (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 5

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mr. ROBB (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, and Cleland) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by them to the bill, S. 4, supra; as 
follows:


[[Page 1743]]

       At the end of title I, add the following new sections:

     SEC. 104. INCREASE IN RATE OF DIVING DUTY SPECIAL PAY.

       (a) Increase.--Section 304(b) of title 37, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$200'' and inserting ``$240''; and
       (2) by striking ``$300'' and inserting ``$340''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and shall apply with 
     respect to special pay paid under section 304 of title 37, 
     United States Code, for months beginning on or after that 
     date.

     SEC. 105. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT AUTHORIZED FOR 
                   REENLISTMENT BONUS FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS.

       (a) Increase in Maximum Amount.--Section 308(a)(2)(B) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``$45,000'' and inserting ``$60,000''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and shall apply with 
     respect to reenlistment bonuses paid under section 308 of 
     title 37, United States Code, on or after that date.

     SEC. 106. INCREASE IN ENLISTMENT BONUS FOR MEMBERS WITH 
                   CRITICAL SKILLS.

       (a) Increase.--Section 308a(a) of title 37, United States 
     Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking 
     ``$12,000'' and inserting ``$20,000''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and shall apply with 
     respect to enlistment bonuses paid under section 308a of 
     title 37, United States Code, on or after that date.

     SEC. 107. INCREASE IN SPECIAL PAY AND BONUSES FOR NUCLEAR-
                   QUALIFIED OFFICERS.

       (a) Special Pay for Nuclear-Qualified Officers Extending 
     Period of Active Service.--Section 312(a) of title 37, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``$15,000'' and inserting 
     ``$25,000''.
       (b) Nuclear Career Accession Bonus.--Section 312b(a)(1) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``$10,000'' and inserting ``$20,000''.
       (c) Nuclear Career Annual Incentive Bonuses.--Section 312c 
     of title 37, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``$12,000'' and 
     inserting ``$22,000''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$5,500'' and 
     inserting ``$10,000''.
       (d) Effective Date.--(1) The amendments made by this 
     section shall take effect on October 1, 1999.
       (2) The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall 
     apply with respect to agreements accepted under section 
     312(a) and 312b(a), respectively, of title 37, United States 
     Code, on or after October 1, 1999.

     SEC. 108. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM MONTHLY RATE AUTHORIZED FOR 
                   FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY PAY.

       (a) Increase in Maximum Monthly Rate.--Section 316(b) of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$100'' 
     and inserting ``$300''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and shall apply with 
     respect to foreign language proficiency pay paid under 
     section 316 of title 37, United States Code, for months 
     beginning on or after that date.

     SEC. 109. CAREER ENLISTED FLYER INCENTIVE PAY.

       (a) Incentive Pay Authorized.--(1) Chapter 5 of title 37, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
     301e the following new section 301f:

     ``Sec. 301f. Incentive pay: career enlisted flyers

       ``(a) Pay Authorized.--An enlisted member described in 
     subsection (b) may be paid career enlisted flyer incentive 
     pay as provided in this section.
       ``(b) Eligible Members.--(1) Under regulations prescribed 
     by the Secretary concerned, an enlisted member referred to in 
     subsection (a) is an enlisted member of the armed forces 
     who--
       ``(A) is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this 
     title or is entitled to compensation under section 206 of 
     this title;
       ``(B) holds the qualification and designation of an 
     enlisted military occupational specialty or enlisted military 
     rating designated as a career enlisted flyer specialty or 
     rating by the Secretary concerned, or is in training leading 
     to such qualification and designation;
       ``(C) is qualified for aviation service; and
       ``(D) remains in aviation service on a career basis as 
     provided in this section.
       ``(2) Payment of career enlisted flyer incentive pay under 
     this section to a member described in paragraph (1) who is 
     entitled to compensation under section 206 of this title 
     shall be as provided in subsection (g).
       ``(c) Amount of Incentive Pay.--The amount of monthly 
     incentive pay paid to an enlisted member under this section 
     may not exceed the following:

``Years of aviation service                                Monthly rate
  4 or less...................................................$150 ....

  Over 4......................................................$225 ....

  Over 8......................................................$350 ....

  Over 14.....................................................$400 ....

       ``(d) Basis of Payment.--(1) Subject to subsections (e) and 
     (f), an enlisted member entitled to career enlisted flyer 
     incentive pay under this section shall be paid such pay on a 
     continuous monthly basis.
       ``(2) An enlisted member entitled to career enlisted flyer 
     incentive pay under this section who is not paid such pay on 
     a continuous monthly basis by reason of the provisions of 
     this section shall be paid career enlisted flyer incentive 
     pay under this section on a month-to-month basis for the 
     frequent and regular performance of operational flying duty.
       ``(e) Payment on Continuous Monthly Basis Dependent on 
     Satisfaction of Flying Duty Requirements.--(1) An enlisted 
     member entitled to career enlisted flyer incentive pay under 
     this section shall be entitled to payment of such pay on a 
     continuous monthly basis under subsection (d)(1) only if the 
     enlisted member has performed operational flying duty as 
     follows:
       ``(A) For 6 years of the first 10 years of aviation service 
     of the member.
       ``(B) For 9 years of the first 15 years of aviation service 
     of the member.
       ``(C) For 14 years of the first 20 years of aviation 
     service of the member.
       ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary 
     concerned may waive a requirement for years of service of 
     performance of operational flying duty under paragraph (1) as 
     a condition for the payment of career enlisted flyer 
     incentive pay under this section on a continuous monthly 
     basis if the Secretary concerned determines that the waiver 
     is necessary for the needs of the armed force. The Secretary 
     concerned may waive such requirement only on a case-by-case 
     basis.
       ``(B) The Secretary concerned may waive a requirement under 
     subparagraph (A) only in the case of an enlisted member who 
     has performed operational flying duty as follows:
       ``(i) For 5 years of the first 10 years of aviation service 
     of the member.
       ``(ii) For 8 years of the first 15 years of aviation 
     service of the member.
       ``(iii) For 12 years of the first 20 years of aviation 
     service of the member.
       ``(C) The Secretary concerned may delegate the authority to 
     waive a requirement under subparagraph (A), but not to an 
     official or officer below the level of service personnel 
     chief.
       ``(3) An enlisted member whose entitlement to payment of 
     career enlisted flyer incentive pay under this section on a 
     continuous monthly basis is terminated by reason of the 
     member's failure to satisfy a requirement for years of 
     service of performance of operational flying duty under 
     paragraph (1) may be paid such pay on a continuous monthly 
     basis commencing as of the first year after such failure in 
     which the member satisfies a requirement under that 
     paragraph.
       ``(f) Termination of Payment on Continuous Monthly Basis 
     After 25 Years of Aviation Service.--An enlisted member who 
     completes 25 years of aviation service is not entitled to 
     payment of career enlisted flyer incentive pay under this 
     section on a continuous monthly basis.
       ``(g) Payment to Members of Reserves Components Performing 
     Inactive Duty Training.--(1) Under regulations prescribed by 
     the Secretary concerned and to the extent provided in 
     appropriations Acts, a member entitled to compensation under 
     section 206 of this title who meets the requirements for 
     entitlement to career enlisted flyer incentive pay under this 
     section may be paid an increase in compensation in an amount 
     equal to \1/30\ of the monthly rate of career enlisted flyer 
     incentive pay specified in subsection (c) for an enlisted 
     member of corresponding years of aviation service who is 
     entitled to basic pay.
       ``(2) An enlisted member described in paragraph (1) may be 
     paid an increase in compensation in accordance with that 
     paragraph for as long as the member is qualified for such 
     increase under this section for--
       ``(A) each regular period of instruction or period of 
     appropriate duty at which the member is engaged for at least 
     two hours; or
       ``(B) the performance of such other equivalent training, 
     instruction, duty, or appropriate duties as are prescribed by 
     the Secretary concerned under section 206(a) of this title.
       ``(h) Nonapplicability to Members Receiving Hazardous Duty 
     Incentive Pay or Special Pay for Diving Duty.--A member 
     receiving incentive pay under section 301(a) of this title or 
     special pay under section 304 of this title may not be paid 
     special pay under this section for the same period of 
     service.
       ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `aviation service' means service performed, 
     under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, by a 
     designated career enlisted flyer.
       ``(2) The term `operational flying duty' means--
       ``(A) flying performed under competent orders while serving 
     in assignments in which basic flying skills normally are 
     maintained in the performance of assigned duties as 
     determined by the Secretary concerned; and
       ``(B) flying duty performed by members in training that 
     leads to the award of an enlisted aviation rating or military 
     occupational specialty designated as a career enlisted flyer 
     rating or specialty by the Secretary concerned.''.

[[Page 1744]]

       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
     the item referring to section 301e the following new item:

``301f. Incentive pay; career enlisted flyers.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999.
       (c) Save Pay Provision.--In the case of an enlisted member 
     who is an air weapons controller entitled to receive 
     incentive pay under section 301(c)(2)(A) of title 37, United 
     States Code, as of October 1, 1999, the member shall be 
     entitled as of that date to payment of incentive pay at the 
     monthly rate that is the higher of--
       (1) the monthly rate of incentive pay authorized by such 
     section 301(c)(2)(A) as of September 30, 1999; or
       (2) the monthly rate of incentive pay authorized by section 
     301f of title 37, United States Code, as added by subsection 
     (a).

     SEC. 110. RETENTION BONUS FOR SPECIAL WARFARE OFFICERS 
                   EXTENDING PERIODS OF ACTIVE DUTY.

       (a) Bonus Authorized.--(1) Chapter 5 of title 37, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting after section 301f, as 
     added by section 109(a) of this Act, the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 301g. Special pay: special warfare officers extending 
       period of active duty

       ``(a) Bonus Authorized.--A special warfare officer 
     described in subsection (b) who executes a written agreement 
     to remain on active duty in special warfare service for at 
     least one year may, upon the acceptance of the agreement by 
     the Secretary concerned, be paid a retention bonus as 
     provided in this section.
       ``(b) Covered Officers.--A special warfare officer referred 
     to in subsection (a) is an officer of a uniformed service 
     who--
       ``(1) is qualified for and serving in a military 
     occupational specialty or designator identified by the 
     Secretary concerned as a special warfare military 
     occupational specialty or designator;
       ``(2) is in pay grade O-3 or O-4 and is not on a promotion 
     list to pay grade O-5 at the time the officer applies for an 
     agreement under this section;
       ``(3) has completed at least 6 but not more than 14 years 
     of active commissioned service; and
       ``(4) has completed any service commitment incurred through 
     the officer's original commissioning program.
       ``(c) Amount of Bonus.--The amount of a retention bonus 
     paid under this section may not be more than $15,000 for each 
     year covered by the written agreement.
       ``(d) Proration.--The term of an agreement under subsection 
     (a) and the amount of the bonus payable under subsection (c) 
     may be prorated as long as such agreement does not extend 
     beyond the date on which the officer making such agreement 
     would complete 14 years of active commissioned service.
       ``(e) Payment.--Upon acceptance of a written agreement 
     under subsection (a) by the Secretary concerned, the total 
     amount payable pursuant to the agreement becomes fixed and 
     may be paid--
       ``(1) in a lump sum equal to the amount of half the total 
     amount payable under the agreement at the time the agreement 
     is accepted by the Secretary concerned followed by payments 
     of equal annual installments on the anniversary of the 
     acceptance of the agreement until the payment in full of the 
     balance of the amount that remains payable under the 
     agreement after the payment of the lump sum amount under this 
     paragraph; or
       ``(2) in graduated annual payments under regulations 
     prescribed by the Secretary concerned with the first payment 
     payable at the time the agreement is accepted by the 
     Secretary concerned and subsequent payments on the 
     anniversary of the acceptance of the agreement.
       ``(f) Additional Pay.--A retention bonus paid under this 
     section is in addition to any other pay and allowances to 
     which an officer is entitled.
       ``(g) Repayment.--(1) If an officer who has entered into a 
     written agreement under subsection (a) and has received all 
     or part of a retention bonus under this section fails to 
     complete the total period of active duty specified in the 
     agreement, the Secretary concerned may require the officer to 
     repay the United States, on a pro rata basis and to the 
     extent that the Secretary determines conditions and 
     circumstances warrant, all sums paid the officer under this 
     section.
       ``(2) An obligation to repay the United States imposed 
     under paragraph (1) is for all purposes a debt owed to the 
     United States.
       ``(3) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is 
     entered less than five years after the termination of a 
     written agreement entered into under subsection (a) does not 
     discharge the officer signing the agreement from a debt 
     arising under such agreement or under paragraph (1).
       ``(h) Regulations.--The Secretaries concerned shall 
     prescribe regulations to carry out this section, including 
     the definition of the term `special warfare service' for 
     purposes of this section. Regulations prescribed by the 
     Secretary of a military department under this section shall 
     be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Defense.''.
       (2) The table of section at the beginning of chapter 5 of 
     title 37, United States Code, as amended by section 109(a) of 
     this Act, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
     section 301f the following new item:

``301g. Special pay: special warfare officers extending period of 
              active duty.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999.

     SEC. 111. RETENTION BONUS FOR SURFACE WARFARE OFFICERS 
                   EXTENDING PERIODS OF ACTIVE DUTY.

       (a) Bonus Authorized.--(1) Chapter 5 of title 37, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting after section 301g, as 
     added by section 110(a) of this Act, the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 301h. Special pay: surface warfare officers extending 
       period of active duty

       ``(a) Special Pay Authorized.--(1) A surface warfare 
     officer described in subsection (b) who executes a written 
     agreement described in paragraph (2) may, upon the acceptance 
     of the agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid a 
     retention bonus as provided in this section.
       ``(2) An agreement referred to in paragraph (1) is an 
     agreement in which the officer concerned agrees--
       ``(A) to remain on active duty for at least two years and 
     through the tenth year of active commissioned service; and
       ``(B) to complete tours of duty to which the officer may be 
     ordered during the period covered by subparagraph (A) as a 
     department head afloat.
       ``(b) Covered Officers.--A surface warfare officer referred 
     to in subsection (a) is an officer of the Regular Navy or 
     Naval Reserve on full-time active duty who--
       ``(1) is designated and serving as a surface warfare 
     officer;
       ``(2) is in pay grade O-3 at the time the officer applies 
     for an agreement under this section;
       ``(3) has been selected for assignment as a department head 
     on a surface ship;
       ``(4) has completed at least four but not more than eight 
     years of active commissioned service; and
       ``(5) has completed any service commitment incurred through 
     the officer's original commissioning program.
       ``(c) Amount of Bonus.--The amount of a retention bonus 
     paid under this section may not be more than $15,000 for each 
     year covered by the written agreement.
       ``(d) Proration.--The term of an agreement under subsection 
     (a) and the amount of the bonus payable under subsection (c) 
     may be prorated as long as such agreement does not extend 
     beyond the date on which the officer making such agreement 
     would complete 10 years of active commissioned service.
       ``(e) Payment.--Upon acceptance of a written agreement 
     under subsection (a) by the Secretary of the Navy, the total 
     amount payable pursuant to the agreement becomes fixed and 
     may be paid--
       ``(1) in a lump sum equal to the amount of half the total 
     amount payable under the agreement at the time the agreement 
     is accepted by the Secretary of the Navy followed by payments 
     of equal annual installments on the anniversary of the 
     acceptance of the agreement until the payment in full of the 
     balance of the amount that remains payable under the 
     agreement after the payment of the lump sum amount under this 
     paragraph; or
       ``(2) in equal annual payments with the first payment 
     payable at the time the agreement is accepted by that 
     Secretary and subsequent payments on the anniversary of the 
     acceptance of the agreement.
       ``(f) Additional Pay.--A retention bonus paid under this 
     section is in addition to any other pay and allowances to 
     which an officer is entitled.
       ``(g) Repayment.--(1) If an officer who has entered into a 
     written agreement under subsection (a) and has received all 
     or part of a retention bonus under this section fails to 
     complete the total period of active duty specified in the 
     agreement, the Secretary of the Navy may require the officer 
     to repay the United States, on a pro rata basis and to the 
     extent that that Secretary determines conditions and 
     circumstances warrant, all sums paid under this section.
       ``(2) An obligation to repay the United States imposed 
     under paragraph (1) is for all purposes a debt owned to the 
     United States.
       ``(3) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is 
     entered less than five years after the termination of a 
     written agreement entered into under subsection (a) does not 
     discharge the officer signing the agreement from a debt 
     arising under such agreement or under paragraph (1).
       ``(h) Regulations.--The Secretary of the Navy shall 
     prescribe regulations to carry out this section.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 of 
     title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 301g, as added by section 110(a) 
     of this Act, the following new item:

``301h. Special pay: surface warfare officers extending period of 
              active duty.''.


[[Page 1745]]


       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999.

 Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, the men and women of the Armed Forces 
are being asked to do more and more with less and less, to the point 
where it is becoming difficult to recruit and retain the best and 
brightest. Looking at just two salient examples, last year the Navy's 
recruiting efforts fell short by over 7,000 sailors, and last year Air 
Force first-term aircrew reenlistment was only 61 percent.
  To help meet these and other personnel challenges, the Armed Services 
Committee recently approved S. 4, the Soldiers', Sailors', Airmens' and 
Marines' Bill of Rights Act of 1999. S. 4 authorizes significant pay 
raises, improves retirement pay, and enhances GI Bill benefits. This 
legislation will be brought up soon for consideration by the full 
Senate. It is an important step--one of several--that the Congress must 
take this year to help the military pull out of what the Chairman of 
the Joint Chiefs described as a ``nosedive that might cause irreparable 
damage to this great force.''
  But I believe S. 4 missed some excellent opportunities to directly 
improve recruiting and retention--opportunities recognized by the 
Administration in their FY 2000 defense budget submission. In 
particular, certain categories of military service present our most 
difficult retention challenges because they involve recruiting highly 
skilled personnel, providing costly training, and retaining these 
individuals in the face of uniquely difficult and dangerous missions 
coupled with powerful financial incentives to leave the military for 
the civilian sector. Examples include aircrews, Navy SEALs, and Navy 
Surface Warfare Officers.
  Only 25 percent of Surface Warfare Officers remain on active duty to 
their Department Head tour. In the Navy SEAL community, attrition has 
increased over 15 percent in the past three years. FY 1998 Navy diver 
manning was below 85 percent. That same year, only about 60 percent of 
military career linguists met or exceeded the minimum requirements in 
listening or reading proficiency. A host of retention problems exist 
for Nuclear-Qualified Officers.
  This amendment which I am filing today along with Senator Kennedy and 
Senator Cleland does several things. It provides bonuses for Surface 
Warfare Officers and Navy SEALs to encourage them to remain in the 
service. It provides added pay for enlisted aircrews. Several existing 
bonuses are increased, including those for divers, Nuclear Qualified 
Officers, linguists and other critical specialties. Finally, the 
Enlistment Bonus Ceiling is increased. These are critical remedies for 
critical specialties. The nation simply can't afford to pay so much to 
recruit and train these talented individuals only to see them leave the 
service out of frustration over the inadequacies of their pay and 
benefits.
  Mr. President, I look forward to offering this amendment to S. 4 when 
it is taken up by the Senate. I also want to thank Senators Cleland and 
Kennedy for their help in developing this provision and for their 
unequivocal commitment to the uniformed personnel who serve our nation 
so ably.

                          ____________________