[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12711-12716]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 403 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 1585.

                              {time}  1301


                     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 consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 1585) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes, with 
Mr. Ross in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the 
first time.
  The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Hunter) each will control 45 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, today the House begins consideration of H.R. 1585, the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. This bill is a 
collective effort in the bipartisan tradition of the House Armed 
Services Committee, which approved the bill in markup last week by a 
vote of 58-0.
  I want to thank our committee members, particularly our subcommittee 
chairmen and ranking members, for their outstanding work. And special 
thanks go to the ranking member, Duncan Hunter, and I appreciate his 
working so hard in a very bipartisan manner to make this bill come to 
the floor. He's been a partner in this, and I appreciate it. I am proud 
that we're always able to work together in our efforts to enhance our 
Nation's defense.
  Mr. Chairman, the polestar of this year's Defense authorization is 
readiness. Continued reports on the state of readiness for our ground 
forces, particularly our nondeployed and next-to-deploy forces, are of 
deep concern. To restore readiness and ensure our forces will be ready 
if they are called upon for the next fight, this bill fully funds the 
budget request for the Army and Marine Corps reset of equipment at 
$13.6 billion and $8.4 billion respectively.
  They add some $1 billion in a strategic readiness fund to meet 
critical readiness requirements identified by a new Defense Readiness 
Production Board.
  It increases training by $250 million so that our units may get more 
training time.
  It requires a plan and a timeline for replenishing prepositioned 
stocks.
  And it strengthens the National Guard by adding $1 billion for 
National Guard and Reserve equipment from their unfunded requirements 
list, ensuring that the National Guard is able to meet its homeland and 
civil support missions, and also adding a range of authorities through 
the National Guard Empowerment Act.
  This bill looks out for our troops in harm's way by dedicating 
substantial resources to improve protection, including $4.6 billion for 
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, known as MRAPs, and providing 
funds for personal body armor and up-armored Humvees.
  To reduce the strain on our force and in keeping with the House Armed 
Services Committee's long advocacy of the need to boost end strength, 
that is, the number of troops, the bill has authorized an increase in 
the size of the Army by 36,000 Army troops and Marines by 9,000.
  Our servicemembers and their families make countless sacrifices and 
our pride in them knows no bounds. We express our thanks to them 
through a 3.5 percent pay raise, by blocking TRICARE and pharmacy 
program fee increases, by expanding special compensation for combat-
related disabled retirees, and establishing a special survivor 
indemnity allowance to begin to address the offset to the survivor 
benefit plan and the dependents indemnity plan.
  Provisions also include the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, which 
addresses many of the problems identified at Walter Reed Army Medical 
Center; and, Mr. Chairman, you will recall we passed that as a stand-
alone bill just a few weeks ago.
  Accountability with respect to our own ongoing operations in Iraq and 
Afghanistan is also an important component of the measure. The bill 
requires General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker to report on the 
implementation of the Joint Campaign Plan for Iraq, as well as on 
efforts made by the Iraqi Government to achieve political 
reconciliation.
  Secretary Gates is also required to report on the proposed force 
levels for the 6 months following September, to discuss the missions of 
our forces, and to inform Congress about contingency planning. The 
information from this report will help us ask the right questions, the 
tough questions, and make frank judgments about how we are going to 
pass the baton on to the Iraqis. I am convinced that the sectarian 
violence will only be overcome by Iraqi political progress, and thus 
far, I haven't seen much of that since then.
  September's report will be an opportunity for General Petraeus and 
Ambassador Crocker to lay out the straight facts. Time is short with 
the American people, and the Iraqis must act soon. This report will 
provide real and substantial information.
  Calling attention to the forgotten war in Afghanistan, the bill 
provides funds for the Afghanistan security forces and requires a long-
term sustainment plan so that the Afghans can build the logistics and 
other capabilities they need for long-term security.
  The bill establishes a new Special Inspector General for Afghan 
Reconstruction to ensure accountability in contracting there and 
extends the authority of the Special Inspector General for Iraq 
Reconstruction.
  The bill also brings more contracting accountability to both 
Afghanistan and Iraq by forcing the Departments of Defense and State to 
work together in assigning responsibility for overseeing the thousands 
of contractors in these places, particularly those who do carry 
weapons.
  And finally, Mr. Chairman, the bill requires that the Secretary of 
Defense undertake an analysis of the Department's roles and missions. 
In 1947, a

[[Page 12712]]

similar effort helped shape the Pentagon through the National Security 
Act. After 60 years, it is time for a new analysis to help eliminate 
duplication among the services, identify core competencies, and 
strengthen the Department of Defense and the military while helping us 
spend money much more wisely.
  Before I close, let me spend just a moment talking about something 
that is not in this bill. The Military Commissions Act, which was made 
into law by the last Congress, precludes detainees in Guantanamo from 
petitioning courts under habeas corpus. This bill does not include a 
provision to restore the principle of habeas corpus for detainees at 
Guantanamo, even though I feel strongly it should.
  My judgment is that the most promising course of action will be for 
this House to take up this issue as a separate bill. To that end, I 
have prepared legislation to address the habeas corpus issue, and I 
intend to work with the leadership, members of our committee and with 
the Judiciary Committee on that issue.
  Mr. Chairman, this is a critical time in the defense and security of 
our Nation. This is a very important bill. I urge the Members in this 
House to support this Defense authorization bill. It does so much to 
restore readiness, to support our men and women in uniform, and to 
protect the American people.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, as legislators, we meet once again to address the wide 
range of important national security activities undertaken by the 
Departments of Defense and Energy. We all take our legislative 
responsibilities very seriously, and this is especially true during a 
time of war.
  And it's always true of my good friend and colleague, Ike Skelton, 
the great gentleman from Missouri, our chairman. I want to thank 
Chairman Skelton for the excellent job that he's done in putting this 
bill together, and also thank all of our subcommittee chairmen and 
ranking members who have put together a composite that very strongly 
meets the needs of our men and women in uniform.
  As a result of Mr. Skelton's efforts to put forward this bill, our 
committee reported out the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2008 last Wednesday. The vote was unanimous, 58-0.
  I support this bill. It reflects our committee's continued strong 
support for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, 
and in many ways this bill is a very good bill.
  It authorizes the President's request for $503.8 billion for the 
fiscal year 2008 base budget of the Department of Defense and national 
security programs of the Department of Energy. This amount provides for 
end-strength growth in both the Army and Marine Corps, continuing 
initiatives started several years ago by the Armed Services Committee.
  In fiscal year 2008, the Army would be authorized 525,400, which is 
3,000 more than authorized last year, and the Marine Corps would be 
authorized 189,000, 9,000 more than last year. The bill also includes 
$142 billion to cover fiscal year 2008 war costs, as requested by the 
President.
  Some of the initiatives in this legislation continue or build upon 
successful programs or reinforce good legislation that the House has 
already passed. For example, this legislation has provisions that are 
essential to maintain a robust defense industrial base. Last year, the 
Defense authorization bill tried to strike a fair balance between 
requiring the use of domestic specialty metals for our weapons systems 
and offering a waiver process in case sufficient metals are not 
available. H.R. 1585 establishes a formal rulemaking process for 
waivers that apply to multiple contracts to facilitate transparency and 
the gathering of broad industry input. In this way, the market will be 
able to respond to supply shortages, fostering investment in domestic 
industries.
  Other initiatives in this bill modify existing authorities or 
establish promising new programs and policies, such as adding $4.1 
billion for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, so-called 
MRAPs. Separately, H.R. 1585 levels the playing field between U.S. 
companies and foreign countries with which we have free trade 
agreements. It rectifies a critical flaw in the U.S. Code that 
effectively penalizes U.S. companies for complying with U.S. law, while 
allowing foreign manufacturers to provide noncompliant components and 
systems.
  These and other sections go a considerable way in ensuring that our 
brave men and women in uniform have the best available tools to protect 
our national security interests, but this bill is not a perfect bill. 
We can and we should improve it.
  This legislation cuts missile defense programs by almost $800 
million. In 2006, there were about 100 foreign ballistic missile 
launches around the world, including from North Korea with short-range 
missiles and a longer-range TD-2 missile; and from Iran with its 
development and testing of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. 
I wonder whether in the face of this growing threat we should be 
slowing down the development and fielding of a robust, layered 
ballistic missile defense system that would prove critical to our 
Nation's defenses.
  This bill recommends a reduction of more than $860 million for the 
Army's Future Combat Systems program. In the past, our committee made 
smaller cuts to drive behaviors that would lead to a successful system. 
With the magnitude of this cut, I worry about the long-term impact on 
the capability of the U.S. Army and wonder whether we should not 
restore some of this funding to ensure that the Army is as prepared as 
possible to meet future challenges.
  And finally, this bill provides significant resources for 
shipbuilding. I am concerned, however, that we have not fully funded 
two of the three additional ships that the language purports to have 
added. The bill is approximately $145 million less than the amount the 
Navy needs to buy and take delivery of an additional dry cargo ship, 
which was number two on the Navy's unfunded priority list. Also, the 
bill provides $588 million for advanced procurement for an additional 
ship-set of reactive plant heavy components for a Virginia-class 
submarine in 2008, but it remains up to future Congresses to complete 
the funding and turn these components into an additional submarine 
before 2012.

                              {time}  1315

  As in years past, I believe that this legislation reflects many of 
the Armed Services Committee's priorities in supporting our Nation's 
dedicated and courageous servicemembers.
  I want to thank again Chairman Skelton for putting together an 
excellent bill and helping us stay focused on delivering a bill that 
helps us protect, sustains and builds our forces.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve and pass H.R. 
1585.
  Mr. Chairman, at this point, I would like to yield 15 seconds to the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price).
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for his commitment and 
for his wisdom and for his leadership on America's security.


             Motion to Rise Offered by Mr. Price of Georgia

  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now 
rise.
  The CHAIRMAN. Does the gentleman from California yield for purposes 
of that motion?
  Mr. HUNTER. Yes, I yielded for purposes of the motion.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the motion to rise.
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote, and 
pending that, I make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
  The CHAIRMAN. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, the Chair will reduce to 5 
minutes the minimum time for an electronic vote,

[[Page 12713]]

if ordered, on the pending question following this quorum call. Members 
will record their presence by electronic device.
  The following Members responded to their names:

                             [Roll No. 354]

     Abercrombie
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Baldwin
     Barrett (SC)
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boustany
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Butterfield
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Carter
     Castle
     Castor
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Cohen
     Cole (OK)
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Everett
     Fallin
     Farr
     Fattah
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Granger
     Graves
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hall (TX)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Herseth Sandlin
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hodes
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Inglis (SC)
     Inslee
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Jordan
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Lamborn
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Lynch
     Mack
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Myrick
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pearce
     Pence
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pitts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Salazar
     Sali
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schmidt
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Sestak
     Shadegg
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stearns
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sutton
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Terry
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wamp
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                              {time}  1342

  The CHAIRMAN. On this quorum call, 397 have responded, a quorum.


                             Recorded Vote

  The CHAIRMAN. Pending is the demand of the gentleman from Georgia for 
a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The CHAIRMAN. This is a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 177, 
noes 219, not voting 41, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 355]

                               AYES--177

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Graves
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Jindal
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kuhl (NY)
     Lamborn
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     LoBiondo
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McKeon
     Mica
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Moran (KS)
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Putnam
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Saxton
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shays
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Tancredo
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf

                               NOES--219

     Abercrombie
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Barton (TX)
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berry
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bono
     Boren
     Boswell
     Brady (PA)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castle
     Castor
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Giffords
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Herseth Sandlin
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Mack
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Pomeroy
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes

[[Page 12714]]


     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Wexler
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)

                             NOT VOTING--41

     Ackerman
     Baird
     Berman
     Blunt
     Bordallo
     Boucher
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Delahunt
     Dicks
     Engel
     Faleomavaega
     Fattah
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Gillibrand
     Hall (TX)
     Hastings (FL)
     Higgins
     Hirono
     Hunter
     Matsui
     McMorris Rodgers
     Miller (FL)
     Moran (VA)
     Nadler
     Norton
     Paul
     Peterson (PA)
     Platts
     Poe
     Pryce (OH)
     Radanovich
     Schwartz
     Sires
     Stark
     Welch (VT)
     Young (FL)


                      Announcement by the Chairman

  The CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised that there are 2 
minutes remaining in this vote.

                              {time}  1351

  So the motion to rise was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), who is the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Readiness.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
  The bill before us today begins to address our growing concerns about 
the readiness posture of our Armed Forces.
  I would like to thank the ranking member from my subcommittee, Mrs. 
Davis from Virginia, for her help in bringing together this excellent 
bill. I thank Chairman Skelton and Mr. Hunter.
  Mr. Chairman, our troops and their equipment have been stretched by 
extended combat operations, and the strain is evident in declining 
readiness, shortfalls in training and difficulties equipping our 
forces. These problems have grown to immense proportions, and this bill 
is a significant step to reverse the decline and rebuild our military.
  Included in this bill are some significant readiness policy 
initiatives and investments that will help restore the readiness and 
posture of our military.
  First, this bill establishes a Defense Readiness Production Board to 
identify critical readiness requirements and to mobilize the defense 
industrial base to speed up the production of military equipment. This 
board will bridge the gap between readiness needs and resources to help 
repair our worn out equipment that has been used time and time and time 
again.
  The bill also creates a $1 billion Strategic Readiness Fund to give 
the board and the Department of Defense the ability to rapidly attend 
to pressing readiness needs.
  This bill begins to address other shortfalls in maintenance and 
training by providing $250 million for unfunded training requirements 
and an additional $150 million to restore aviation maintenance 
shortfalls.
  We are very concerned about the readiness of our National Guard. Our 
bill requires the Department of Defense to begin measuring the 
readiness of the National Guard units to support emergencies in their 
home States, such as the recent tragic tornadoes in Kansas. These 
readiness reports will allow the Congress and each State's Governor to 
evaluate the need of each State and address problems before a disaster 
occurs. To help restore the shortfalls, the bill includes a $1 billion 
investment in National Guard equipment.
  We also included provisions that require plans and reports to 
Congress on reconstituting our prepositioned war stocks.
  Mr. Chairman, we also authorized more than $21 billion for military 
construction, family housing and to implement base realignment and 
closure. Those funds include money to support growth in force 
initiatives for the Army and the Marine Corps and to provide facilities 
to accommodate new recruits and missions.
  Other significant provisions include proposed changes to the National 
Security Personnel System and the depot initiatives.
  Mr. Chairman, this is a very, very good bill, and I encourage my 
colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.
  I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2008. The bill before us today begins to address our 
growing concerns about the readiness posture of our armed forces. I 
would like to thank the ranking member from my subcommittee, Mrs. Davis 
from Virginia, for her help in bringing together this excellent bill.
  Our troops--and their equipment--have been stretched by extended 
combat operations . . . and the strain is evident in declining 
readiness, shortfalls in training and difficulties equipping our 
forces. These problems have grown to immense proportions, and this bill 
is a significant step to reverse the decline . . . and rebuild our 
military. Included in the bill are some significant readiness policy 
initiatives and investments that will help restore the readiness 
posture of our military.
  First, this bill establishes a Defense Readiness Production Board to 
identify critical readiness requirements and to mobilize the defense 
industrial base to speed up the production of military equipment. This 
board will bridge the gap between readiness needs and resources to help 
repair our worn out equipment.
  The bill also creates a $1 billion Strategic Readiness Fund to give 
the board and the Department of Defense the ability to rapidly attend 
to pressing readiness needs. This bill begins to address other 
shortfalls in maintenance and training by providing $250 million for 
unfunded training requirements . . . and an additional $150 million to 
restore aviation maintenance shortfalls.
  We are very concerned about the readiness of our National Guard. Our 
bill requires the Department of Defense to begin measuring the 
readiness of National Guard units to support emergencies in their home 
states--such as the recent tragic tornadoes in Kansas.
  These readiness reports will allow the Congress and each State's 
Governor to evaluate the needs of each State and address problems 
before a disaster occurs. To help restore the shortfalls, the bill 
includes a $1 billion investment in National Guard equipment. We also 
included provisions that require plans and reports to Congress on 
reconstituting our prepositioned war stocks.
  We authorized more than $21 billion for military construction, family 
housing, and to implement base realignment and closure. Those funds 
include money to support ``grow-the-force'' initiatives for the Army 
and Marine Corps . . . and to provide facilities to accommodate new 
recruits and missions. Other significant provisions include proposed 
changes to the National Security Personnel System, depot initiatives, 
and numerous important policy initiatives for the Department of 
Defense.
  This is a good bill, and I am pleased to have helped write it. It 
reflects our bipartisan desire to improve readiness and provide for our 
men and women in uniform.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 4 minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, the process that we've gone through to bring this bill 
to the floor has been an extensive one. We started under the leadership 
of Chairman Skelton in January, and as we moved through the days and 
the weeks, there were numerous, both full committee and subcommittee 
hearings.
  There were visits here on Capitol Hill in our office and in other 
places by military leaders. There were visits by us to the Pentagon and 
to bases around the continental United States and, I might add, there 
were visits by us to our soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors who are 
serving overseas.
  There were briefings too numerous to count, and a good process. And I 
want to just take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Chairman 
Skelton for the orderliness and the fairness with which this process 
was conducted.
  This is a good bill, and I intend to support it. It provides for some 
new things, provides for some force protection measures that are so 
important in the war that we're now engaged in. It provides for 
additional money for the Stryker system. It provides for additional 
resources for up-armored Humvees, and it provides for steps forward in 
the new Joint Tactical Vehicle program.
  We added 10 more aircraft known as C-17s, which are strategic 
airlifters to get us to the fight. We took care of some personnel 
issues, including a significant pay raise for military personnel. And, 
because we're at war, and

[[Page 12715]]

because we're using our military equipment, it wears out. It's a tough 
terrain that we're involved in in Iraq and Afghanistan, and so we 
included $3.6 billion for Army reset and $8.2 billion for Marine Corps 
reset.
  And I might add that quality of life remains extremely important to 
the chairman, to the ranking member, and to all of us who serve on the 
committee, and so military construction dollars were added to provide 
the quality of life that is important to our military personnel.
  Now, it's a good bill, and I'm going to support it. If I were the 
person sitting at the desk writing the bill all by myself, I would have 
done some things differently. But that being said, it continues to be a 
bill that is worthy of everyone's support.
  I would have tried to find a way to include more money for the Future 
Combat System. We cut it by almost 25 percent. This is the Army's 
modernization program, and the first modernization program anything 
like it since World War II. It combines the use of technology that's 
available today with some more traditional combat equipment, but it's 
good for the future. It's good for urban combat, it's good for being 
able to see the enemy who now has found ways to hide on our 
conventional systems. And it's a big cut.

                              {time}  1400

  I would have also tried to add back the 9 percent that was reduced 
from the missile defense system. Today we have a missile defense system 
that actually will work once it is deployed, but we reduced it by 9 
percent.
  So, Mr. Chairman, once again I hope that the majority of our 
colleagues on this side of the aisle will support this bill. I think it 
is a good bill. It is one that is needed, particularly in these times 
when the United States of America is at war.
  Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey 
for his kind and supportive remarks.
  Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from 
Arkansas, Dr. Snyder, who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Military Personnel.
  Mr. SNYDER. Madam Chairman, let me begin by thanking Chairman Ike 
Skelton for the work that he has done on this bill.
  As we can tell by the tone already, there has been a strong spirit of 
bipartisanship in putting this bill together. Both Ranking Member 
Duncan Hunter and Chairman Ike Skelton have worked very closely 
together to make this the kind of bill we want in time of war.
  And, Ike, I just want to say Susie would be proud of the work that 
you have done on this bill.
  I also want to thank my colleague, John McHugh, the Congressman from 
New York, for the work that he has done and continues to do year after 
year. And as many of you know, his district includes Fort Drum that has 
done more than its fair share of sacrifice in this war in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and the war on terrorism.
  And, finally, a note about the staff. We all can talk about working 
together in a bipartisan manner, but for us it might mean just shaking 
hands as we go up and down the aisles. For the staff it is day in and 
day out, and I think they have done a great job of working together and 
trying to understand each other's concerns as this bill has come 
together; and I think the product reflects their great, great work.
  As somebody who spent 12 months and 20 days in Vietnam a long, long 
time ago at a time then also of a great foreign policy debate in our 
country, what I see in this body and in America today is something that 
a lot of us felt was lacking those 35 or 40 years ago. There is just 
this strong love of our troops and their families by the American 
people and by this Congress. And we recognize the need for a strong, 
well-trained, well-equipped military. And we have never forgotten the 
importance of families, the importance of families to our men and women 
in uniform.
  I think of one of my employees, who spent a year in Iraq, and he told 
me when he came home the first time for R&R and he had two young 
children, he came off the plane and he had about a 150-yard walk down 
the aisle there in the airport, and he could not stop himself. He ran 
that last 150 yards so he could see his children that he had not seen 
in several months. And yet we know the sacrifices that our families 
bear.
  So because of that, I think we have a lot of good things in this 
bill, whether it is dealing with medical care, TRICARE, the GI bill. I 
think it is a good, strong, bipartisan bill, and I appreciate all the 
work that the staff and Members have done.
  Mr. HUNTER. Madam Chairman, at this time, I would like to yield 5 
minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Everett), the ranking member 
of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.
  Mr. EVERETT. Madam Chairman, I thank my good friend Mr. Hunter for 
yielding to me and thank him for his work and leadership on this 
legislation. And I would be remiss if I didn't thank the chairman of 
the committee, my good friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Skelton).
  Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1585, the fiscal year 
2008 National Defense Authorization Act. I would like to congratulate 
the chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Tauscher), on her first mark as chairman. She has been 
cooperative and straightforward, and that I appreciate. The effort has 
resulted in a product where we agree on far more than we disagree.
  This subcommittee tackles complex and often partisan issues, such as 
ballistic missile defense and nuclear weapons policy. This year's 
process has been further complicated due to the fact that our 
subcommittee allocation was cut by over $1 billion from the 
administration's request.
  In the area of missile defense, the bill continues a policy set forth 
by this committee last year that places a priority on near-term missile 
defense capabilities. The bill increases the request for Patriot PAC-3 
by $11.8 million to buy four additional interceptors and adds $78 
million to the President's request for Aegis ballistic missile defense 
and fully funds the request for THAAD.
  The measure also contains a reduction in funding for the proposed 
Third Site in Europe. I understand the chairman's rationale and her 
concern about moving forward without formal agreements with the host 
nations in place. However, I am pleased that my amendment was accepted 
during the full committee markup, which encourages DOD to seek a 
reprogramming request in the event that we reach agreements with the 
host nations in fiscal year 2008.
  While I support most of the provisions in this legislation, like many 
on my side of the aisle, I remain concerned about the $776 million top-
line cut levied on the Missile Defense Agency, especially when progress 
is being made in so many areas of these programs. Now is not the time 
to have a further reduction in funding or slow down the development and 
fielding of these missile defense elements that are critical to our 
Nation's defense and the protection of our deployed forces and allies.
  In the time since last year's bill, we have seen a clear 
demonstration of the threat to our Nation, including North Korea's test 
of several short-range missiles and a longer-range Taepo-Dong-2 
missile; Iran's continued development and test of short- and medium-
range ballistic missiles; North Korea's nuclear test; and Iran's effort 
to continue uranium enrichment in the face of international criticism.
  I understand the need to focus on near-term capabilities, but as we 
move the bill forward, we need to work together to identify the right 
balance between investments in our near-term systems and our future 
capabilities.
  In the area of space, the legislation contains a provision I strongly 
support which places a priority on protecting our space assets and 
increases funding for space situational awareness and

[[Page 12716]]

operationally responsive space capabilities. Consistent with previous 
bipartisan efforts to improve space acquisition, H.R. 1585 continues 
its emphasis on program execution. The bill reflects a measured 
approach to space acquisition that overlaps new modernization programs 
with continuing legacy programs.
  H.R. 1585 fully funds Transformational Satellite, or TSAT, which has 
made significant progress in measuring and maturing critical 
technologies and following GAO's knowledge-based approach. It also 
supports Space Radar. Though the program details are classified, I 
believe Space Radar's all-weather, day-and-night, 24/7 surveillance and 
reconnaissance capability is vital for the protection of our forces and 
supporting intelligence users.
  The measure reflects a bipartisan agreement on the Atomic Energy 
Defense Activities, particularly on RRW, the Reliable Replacement 
Warhead program. RRW has the potential to increase the reliability, 
safety, and security of our nuclear weapons stockpile and reduce the 
likelihood of testing. RRW funding is reduced but maintained at a level 
to allow NNSA to take a measured, knowledge-based approach by focusing 
on detailed design and cost estimates.
  This is a good bill. We agree on more than we disagree, and I would 
urge Members on my side to support the bill.
  Mr. HUNTER. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Westmoreland) for purposes of a motion.


               Motion to Rise Offered by Mr. Westmoreland

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee do now 
rise.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN (Ms. Eshoo). The question is on the motion to 
rise.
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chairman announced that the 
noes appeared to have it.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote, and 
pending that, I make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Chair will count for a quorum. Does the 
gentleman withdraw his point of order?
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. No.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, the Chair will reduce to 5 
minutes the minimum time for an electronic vote, if ordered, on the 
pending question following this quorum call. Members will record their 
presence by electronic device.
  The following Members responded to their names:

                             [Roll No. 356]

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldwin
     Barrett (SC)
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Butterfield
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Capito
     Capuano
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carter
     Castle
     Castor
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Cohen
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Everett
     Fallin
     Farr
     Fattah
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gillibrand
     Gillmor
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Granger
     Graves
     Green, Al
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hall (TX)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hobson
     Hodes
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Inglis (SC)
     Inslee
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Jordan
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Lamborn
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Lynch
     Mack
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, Gary
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Nunes
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Payne
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Salazar
     Sali
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schiff
     Schmidt
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Sestak
     Shadegg
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Souder
     Space
     Spratt
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Sutton
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Terry
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wamp
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Wexler
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wilson (SC)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                              {time}  1433

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. On this quorum call, 393 have responded, a 
quorum.

                          ____________________