[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17790]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

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                               speech of

                     HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for 
the conference report for H.R. 4613, the Department of Defense 
Appropriations FY05. At a time when our brave men and women in uniform 
are serving their country with great honor and distinction, this 
legislation will provide valuable funding for personnel, equipment, and 
so many other great needs our military faces. This money is critical to 
their continued success in their current missions. As long as our 
troops are in harms way, fighting the war on terrorism, we must 
continue to make sure they receive our full support.
  The district I represent includes well over one hundred thousand 
soldiers at Fort Meade and the Aberdeen Proving Ground. This bill 
provides a 3.5 percent pay raise for our uniformed personnel--a 
critical step in the right direction. This bill also includes important 
funding for our Active Guard Personnel for their missions abroad and 
here at home.
  This conference report includes the proper balance of tactical 
military and necessary diplomatic funding. For example, I am pleased to 
see money for many important projects like the Shadow 200 TUAV and the 
F/A 22 fighter as well as support for humanitarian initiatives. The 
Shadow 200 TUAV, which is a product of one of the vital military 
companies in the Maryland 2nd Congressional District, allows for secure 
surveillance operations to be performed with optimal safety for our 
military personnel. I am also pleased to see that the 
F/A-22 fighter program has received the full appropriation request. And 
I believe that the $95 million dollar appropriation to aid State 
Department efforts in Sudan and Chad represents an important part of 
our responsibility to ensure that stability and security are brought to 
this region of the world.
  The strong fabric of our Nation is held together by those who are 
willing to put their lives on the line to defend our core values, and 
we need to support these brave men and women by putting the proper 
resources in place to allow them to most safely complete their mission. 
I am pleased with the results of this bill as it gives crucial 
assistance to our brave military service members.

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