[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17299-17308]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4613, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2005

  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 735, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 735

       Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be 
     in order to consider the conference report to accompany the 
     bill (H.R. 4613) making appropriations for the Department of 
     Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and 
     for other purposes. All points of order against the 
     conference report and against its consideration are waived. 
     The conference report shall be considered as read.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. 
Myrick) is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), pending 
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration 
of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
  The Defense Appropriations Conference Report provides the tools and 
the resources for our military to wage an aggressive war against 
terrorism, while defending our Nation against ever-changing military 
threats.
  Each generation of Americans has been called to defend our freedom, 
and each time our forefathers and -mothers have answered that call. Our 
generation's time of national trial has come, and we are being called 
to stop a new kind of enemy, different from any that we have ever 
fought before. This enemy is patient, building resources and striking 
where and when we are least prepared.
  The enemy uses a different method each time, and this enemy requires 
a new kind of defense. And this is what the conference report is 
continuing to build.
  I agree with President Bush when he says that our Armed Forces must 
be ready to confront every threat from any source that can bring sudden 
terror and suffering to America.
  Our forces must be ready to deploy to any point of the globe on short 
notice, and this bill provides $416.2 billion in new discretionary 
spending authority for the Department of Defense. It also includes $25 
billion in emergency spending, requested by the President for early 
fiscal year 2005 costs associated with operations in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Our Nation must have, and we will have, ready forces that can bring 
victory to our country and safety to our people. The world's best 
soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines also deserve the world's best 
weaponry; and to ensure that, we must invest in procurement accounts. 
And this report contains $77.6 billion for procurement. We need to give 
our military the weapons that they need for the future threats.
  If this war against terror means that we must find it wherever it 
exists and pull it out by the roots and bring people to justice, our 
military must have the means to achieve this.
  This bill also makes significant improvements in the quality of life 
for our men and women who serve in the Armed Forces, including a 3.5 
percent pay raise and targeted pay raises to mid-grade noncommissioned 
officers, generous housing allowances that will significantly decrease 
the out-of-pocket housing expenses of our service personnel, and 
provide access to high quality health care. We can never pay our men 
and women in uniform on the scale that matches the magnitude of their 
sacrifice, but this bill reflects our respect for their selfless 
service.
  I feel strongly that we need a strong national defense, and we need 
to be prepared. And with this conference report, we will be. The 
primary responsibility for us as elected officials is to provide for 
the common defense of our fellow countrymen; and to that end, I urge my 
colleagues to support the rule and support the underlying bill, because 
now, more than ever, we must improve our national security.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the customary 30 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, the gentlewoman from North Carolina and 
I were here on the floor debating another very important bill for our 
soldiers, the Military Construction Appropriations bill. Like the 
Defense appropriations bill, that bill funds vital programs for our 
troops. Unfortunately, this House's leadership made what I think was a 
terrible mistake by allowing a provision to improve housing for our 
troops and their families to potentially be completely stripped from 
that bill. If that happens, almost 50,000 military families will be 
affected and continue to live in substandard housing. I think that 
shows real disregard and disrespect for our soldiers; and frankly, I 
find it disgraceful.
  I understand that we will be continuing debate on the Military 
Construction bill in just a few minutes, so I suppose we will see 
shortly how the matter is resolved, but the conference

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report on the Defense Appropriations bill is a different matter.
  I am pleased to join the gentlewoman in support of the conference 
report and the rule providing for its conversation. Throughout my 26 
years in Congress, I have always worked hard to keep our military 
strong and our troops safe. I believe that providing for our national 
defense is one of our most important duties as Members of Congress and 
that providing funding for our troops to ensure their safety and the 
success of the war on terror is our obligation.
  I am proud to say, Mr. Speaker, that the bill before us now does a 
good job of providing vital support for our troops. The bill gives our 
troops a much-deserved 3.5 percent pay raise and gives the Department 
of Defense $25 billion in emergency supplemental funding for the war on 
terror.
  These funds directly and significantly aid our servicemen and -women 
by providing them with the tools they need to fight the war on terror 
and return home safely. It will provide every soldier with body armor, 
provide our troops with more armored Humvees and increase the size of 
the Army to relieve the burden on our overworked soldiers. It is a good 
bill, and I support its passage wholeheartedly.
  I note also that the conference report provides very substantial 
funding for the F-22 Raptor, for the V-22 Osprey and for the Joint 
Strike Fighter. These are fine weapon systems. Much of the work is done 
in the north Texas area that I represent, and I commend the committee 
for continuing to support those systems. I am glad we were able to get 
it right in this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the rule and adoption of the 
conference report.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I 
move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 
735, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 4613) making 
appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the conference report 
is considered as having been read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House on 
July 20, 2004, at page 16403.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) 
and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) each will control 30 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  We will not take a great deal of time of our colleagues in the House. 
Following the tradition of the ranking member of the full committee and 
my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), we 
certainly want to extend our great thanks to all of our colleagues and 
staff.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to present to the House the 
conference agreement on fiscal year 2005 Defense appropriations bill.
  My colleagues, one month ago--exactly to this day--the House passed 
its version of this bill, with overwhelming support. The Senate 
followed suit shortly afterwards, and like the House, the other body 
showed nearly unanimous support for this bill.
  And here we are tonight, with this conference report. We present a 
bipartisan Defense bill, targeted at supporting our men and women in 
the Defense Department and intelligence community, at a most critical 
time in the Nation's history.
  It is during a time of war.
  It is during a time of challenge for our Nation and freedom-loving 
people everywhere.
  And it is during a time when our country, once again, must take on 
the mantle of leading the world community.
  This is as the United States has done before--as it must do today; 
and as it must continue to do in the future.
  The President, and this Congress, understand this challenge. The 
President asked us to consider this bill--the largest Defense bill, in 
terms of dollars, in our Nation's history. In recognition of this, as I 
mentioned on a bipartisan basis both the House and the Senate moved 
this bill late last month into conference. And now we will soon be 
asking the House, and the other body, to send this final product to the 
President.
  Mr. Speaker, I must say this conference agreement is an even better 
bill than passed the House. I truly believe that. I can say that 
because of the tremendous work done by the Members of the conference 
committee on both sides of the Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, we would not be here tonight without the leadership and 
experience of my colleague from Pennsylvania, Mr. Murtha.
  And we would not be here without the experience, skill, and tenacity 
of the leaders of the Senate Defense Subcommittee, my friends, the 
senior Senators from Alaska and Hawaii.
  The support and counsel of our chairman, Bill Young, and our ranking 
Member David Obey have also been invaluable at every step of the 
process. As has been the support of all the Members of the Defense 
subcommittees--both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the Capitol. I 
personally want to thank, and acknowledge, all of them.
  I must pay tribute to our staffs--especially Sid Ashworth and Charlie 
Houy, who lead the Senate staff, and our subcommittee staff, led by 
Kevin Roper and David Morrison. Many thanks also to the full committee 
staff, Jim Dyer, John Blazey, Dale Oak, Therese McAuliffe, and John 
Scofield.
  This bill reflects our best, collective judgment on how to meet those 
many challenges and demands confronting the Nation.
  What does this bill do? We provide over $416 billion to support our 
Defense and intelligence communities; most importantly it supports the 
ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the global war on 
terrorism; it supports our troops who are on the front lines--it fully 
funds the pay raise, as well as the military pay, benefits, and medical 
programs; this bill increases funding to support the overall readiness 
of DoD forces worldwide; and it increases funding for intelligence.
  Looking ahead, this bill also supports major equipment and research 
needs. For example--we provide over $1.6 billion over the budget 
request--to help restock and accelerate production of those items being 
used by our Army and Marine Corps in Iraq--ammunition; trucks; 
helicopters; and armored vehicles.
  This bill also fully supports the President's objective of, later 
this year, initially fielding a missile defense to protect the United 
States. We also fund missile defenses for our troops in the field.
  It continues production of major platforms such as the Virginia class 
submarine, the C-17, and V-22 transport aircraft, and the F/A-18 and F/
A-22 fighters.
  And this bill increases funding to support ``military 
transformation''.
   Mr. Speaker, most importantly, this bill puts first and foremost our 
men and women in uniform, especially those on the front lines. In that 
regard, as you all know, the President asked that we include in this 
bill some $25 billion to help defray the ongoing costs of our 
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have done just that--and shaped 
these funds in a way to provide our deployed forces with the funds they 
need to meet their most immediate demands.
   Mr. Speaker, in summary, this is a bill that I am very, very proud 
of. And it is one that each and every Member of the House can take 
pride in also. It deserves your overwhelming support.
   Now, if the House would indulge me, I want to thank a few people. 
Under the rules of our conference, this is the last Defense 
appropriations bill that I will have the privilege of bringing before 
the House as chairman. It has been a remarkable and rewarding 
experience. I want to thank my subcommittee members--on my side, Dave 
Hobson, Henry Bonilla, George Nethercutt, Duke Cunningham, Rodney 
Frelinghuysen, Todd Tiahrt, and Roger Wicker.
  On the other side of the aisle, Norm Dicks, Martin Sabo, Peter 
Visclosky, and Jim Moran.
  I want to also accord special thanks to the ranking Member of the 
full committee, Dave Obey, and of course, to my predecessor, our full 
committee chairman Bill Young, who has set a standard that I try every 
day to emulate. And of course, I must acknowledge my partner, our 
former chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Jack Murtha. I also 
must recognize the terrific staff that I've gotten to know pretty well 
over the past few years.
  Chairman Young, and Jim Dyer, the chief clerk of the full committee, 
you've really done a great job in putting together a great team for us 
on the subcommittee; Alica Jones, Doug Gregory, Betsy Phillips, Paul 
Juola, Steve Nixon, Leslie Albright, Greg Lankler, Sarah

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Young, Paul Terry, Kris Mallard, Sherry Young, Kevin Jones, Callie 
Michael, and Linda Muir in our computer shop who provides us with so 
much support.
  The same goes for our minority staff, David Morrison and Bill Gnacek. 
I must thank Carl Kime, of my personal office, who watches this bill 
for me and does an outstanding job. And, of course, all of the staff in 
my congressional office for their support and contributions.
  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention those committee staff who have 
moved on to other endeavors, but who made significant contributions 
while they were with us. They include John Shank, Greg Dahlberg, Dave 
Kilian, Trish Ryan, Tina Jonas, Dave Norquist, Greg Walters, and Celia 
Alvarado.
  And I cannot let this moment pass without mentioning Letitia White, 
formerly of my personal staff, who worked so hard on this bill for many 
years.
  Finally, I must mention the clerk of the subcommittee, Kevin Roper, 
who pulls all this together. And for whom this conference may be the 
``last time around'' as well.
  Thank you so much. My colleagues, I thank all of you for your help, 
and for the privilege of serving with you.
  At this point, Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert for the record a 
summary of the conference agreement.

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  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to 
put some very laudatory comments about the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lewis) in the record, because this is his last time as a chairman 
maybe.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my good friend from California, 
the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Congressman Jerry 
Lewis. Since joining the Defense Subcommittee, Congressman Lewis has 
been one of the strongest supporters of our men and women in uniform 
that this Congress has ever known. As Chairman, he has guided the 
Subcommittee without partisanship or political agenda to ensure that 
our military remains the best military in the world. The Defense 
Department and the people of our great Nation owe Jerry Lewis a debt of 
gratitude for his unyielding support and hard work. And for that, I 
salute him.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises today in support of the 
conference agreement on H.R. 4613, the Department of Defense (DoD) 
Appropriations Act for FY2005. This Member would like to thank the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), Chairman of the 
Subcommittee and the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Murtha) for their fine work on this important measure.
  This Member is very pleased that several projects important to 
Nebraska and our nation are included in the conference report. First, 
the final agreement includes $3.5 million for the University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) for the Fibrinogen Bandages for Battlefield 
Wounds Project. This is a very innovative research and development 
initiative which shows great promise.
  These funds will be used for biomedical tissue engineering research 
to develop inexpensive, safe and effective fibrinogen for use in 
bandages, foam and other medical devices. This source of fibrinogen, 
developed from recombinant proteins instead of human plasma, will 
remove the major obstacle to the development of an affordable 
fibrinogen bandage. This research will build on the Department of 
Defense's (DoD) $20 million investment to produce fibrinogen from 
transgenic animals rather than human plasma and will create a safer, 
less expensive and abundant supply for bandages and medical devices. A 
cost-effective abundant fibrinogen supply will enable development of 
state-of-the-art bandages and medical devices, saving the lives of 
wounded soldiers and other trauma victims.
  Second, this Member is pleased that $2.5 million is included for 
another UNL research initiative on Advanced Materials for Mine 
Detection and Blast Mitigation. These funds will be used to support 
research on advanced materials for mine detection and blast mitigation 
that will help protect U.S. soldiers in all environments. This 
research, which focuses on remote mine detection and the development of 
materials for advanced composite armor and lightweight body armor and 
hardened structures, contributes to programs currently underway or 
envisioned at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
  Using nanotechnology research will improve remote mine detection, 
biological threat detection, and body armor. This effort will increase 
protection and save lives of our soldiers fighting the war on 
terrorism. UNL researchers have recently produced some of the most 
advanced nanofibers in the world, opening the possibility for the 
development of materials with entirely new characteristics. The 
University will work closely with the scientific staff at the Army 
Research Laboratory as they proceed with this research.
  Third, this Member is encouraged that $3 million was added for the 
Satellite Communications for Learning Act (SCOLA)/Defense Language 
Institute (DLI) Foreign Language Center. Furthermore, this Member very 
pleased by the successful establishment of a congressionally mandated 
research and development line within the Army's R&D aggregation. This 
change is critical for language skills development, maintenance and 
language learning throughout the DoD.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, this Member urges his colleagues to support 
H.R. 4613.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, further proceedings on this question 
will be postponed.

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