To prohibit the storage of mercury from the National Defense Stockpile at certain facilities.

This amendment's own text couldn't be picked out of its Congressional Record passage, so the passage is shown in full.

TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 3239. Mr. SANTORUM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

       On page 19, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:

      SEC. 113. FOUR-YEAR AUTHORITY FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
                   TO USE SALES PROCEEDS TO PROCURE CERTAIN ITEMS.

       (a) Exchange and Sale Agreement.--(1) The Secretary of the
     Army may enter into an agreement to procure M109-based
     command-and-control vehicles or field artillery ammunition
     support vehicles using the sale proceeds of long-supply M109
     howitzers.
       (2) Section 503 of title 40, United States Code, and the
     regulations issued under subsection (b) of such section,
     shall apply to the exercise of the authority under paragraph
     (1), except for the following requirements:
       (A) The requirement for the exchanged items to be similar.
       (B) The one-for-one item replacement requirement.
       (b) Period of Authority.--The authority to enter into
     agreements under subsection (a) and to make purchases under
     any such agreement is effective for sales made during the
     four-year period beginning on October 1, 2004, and ending at
     the end of September 31, 2008.
                                 ______

  SA 3240. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Levin) proposed an amendment
to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; as follows:

       Beginning on page 105, strike line 21 and all that follows
     through page 106, line 2.
                                 ______

  SA 3241. Mr. LEVIN (for Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) proposed an amendment
to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; as follows:


[[Page S6109]]


       At the end of subtitle B of title II, add the following:

     SEC. 217. NEUROTOXIN MITIGATION RESEARCH.

       (a) Increase in Amount for Research, Development, Test, and
     Evaluation, Defense-Wide.--The amount authorized to be
     appropriated by section 201(4) for research, development,
     test, and evaluation, Defense-wide activities, is hereby
     increased by $2,000,000.
       (b) Availability for Neurotoxin Mitigation Research.--Of
     the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 201(4)
     for research, development, test, and evaluation, Defense-wide
     activities, as increased by subsection (a), $2,000,000 may be
     available in Program Element PE 62384BP for neurotoxin
     mitigation research.
       (c) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by
     section 301(1) for operation and maintenance for the Army is
     hereby reduced by $2,000,000, with the amount of the
     reduction to be allocated to Satellite Communications
     Language training activity (SCOLA) at the Army Defense
     Language Institute.
                                 ______

  SA 3242. Mr. WARNER (for Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Fitzgerald,
and Mr. Sessions)) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 2400, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel
strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Services, and for other
purposes; as follows:

       On page 58, after line 24, insert the following:

     SEC. 364. CONSOLIDATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF AUTHORITIES FOR
                   ARMY WORKING-CAPITAL FUNDED FACILITIES TO
                   ENGAGE IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

       (a) Public-Private Partnerships Authorized.--Chapter 433 of
     title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 4544. Army industrial facilities: public-private
       partnerships

       ``(a) Public-Private Partnerships Authorized.--A working-
     capital funded Army industrial facility may enter into
     cooperative arrangements with non-Army entities to carry out
     military or commercial projects with the non-Army entities. A
     cooperative arrangement under this section shall be known as
     a `public-private partnership'.
       ``(b) Authorized Partnership Activities.--A public-private
     partnership entered into by an Army industrial facility may
     provide for any of the following activities:
       ``(1) The sale of articles manufactured by the facility or
     services performed by the facility to persons outside the
     Department of Defense.
       ``(2) The performance of--
       ``(A) work by a non-Army entity at the facility; or
       ``(B) work for a non-Army entity by the facility.
       ``(3) The sharing of work by the facility and one or more
     non-Army entities.
       ``(4) The leasing, or use under a facilities use contract
     or otherwise, of the facility (including excess capacity) or
     equipment (including excess equipment) of the facility by a
     non-Army entity.
       ``(5) The preparation and submission of joint offers by the
     facility and one or more non-Army entities for competitive
     procurements entered into with a department or agency of the
     United States.
       ``(c) Conditions for Public-Private Partnerships.--An
     activity described in subsection (b) may be carried out as a
     public-private partnership at an Army industrial facility
     only under the following conditions:
       ``(1) In the case of an article to be manufactured or
     services to be performed by the facility, the articles can be
     substantially manufactured, or the services can be
     substantially performed, by the facility without
     subcontracting for more than incidental performance.
       ``(2) The activity does not interfere with performance of--
       ``(A) work by the facility for the Department of Defense;
     or
       ``(B) a military mission of the facility.
       ``(3) The activity meets one of the following objectives:
       ``(A) Maximize utilization of the capacity of the facility.
       ``(B) Reduction or elimination of the cost of ownership of
     the facility.
       ``(C) Reduction in the cost of manufacturing or maintaining
     Department of Defense products at the facility.
       ``(D) Preservation of skills or equipment related to a core
     competency of the facility.
       ``(4) The non-Army entity partner or purchaser agrees to
     hold harmless and indemnify the United States from any
     liability or claim for damages or injury to any person or
     property arising out of the activity, including any damages
     or injury arising out of a decision by the Secretary of the
     Army or the Secretary of Defense to suspend or terminate an
     activity, or any portion thereof, during a war or national
     emergency or to require the facility to perform other work or
     provide other services on a priority basis, except--
       ``(A) in any case of willful misconduct or gross
     negligence; and
       ``(B) in the case of a claim by a purchaser of articles or
     services under this section that damages or injury arose from
     the failure of the Government to comply with quality,
     schedule, or cost performance requirements in the contract to
     carry out the activity.
       ``(d) Methods of Public-Private Partnerships.--To conduct
     an activity of a public-private partnership under this
     section, the approval authority described in subsection (f)
     for an Army industrial facility may, in the exercise of good
     business judgment--
       ``(1) enter into a firm, fixed-price contract (or, if
     agreed to by the purchaser, a cost reimbursement contract)
     for a sale of articles or services or use of equipment or
     facilities;
       ``(2) enter into a multiyear partnership contract for a
     period not to exceed five years, unless a longer period is
     specifically authorized by law;
       ``(3) charge a partner the amounts necessary to recover the
     full costs of the articles or services provided, including
     capital improvement costs, and equipment depreciation costs
     associated with providing the articles, services, equipment,
     or facilities;
       ``(4) authorize a partner to use incremental funding to pay
     for the articles, services, or use of equipment or
     facilities; and
       ``(5) accept payment-in-kind.
       ``(e) Deposit of Proceeds.--(1) The proceeds of sales of
     articles and services received in connection with the use of
     an Army industrial facility under this section shall be
     credited to the appropriation or working-capital fund that
     incurs the variable costs of manufacturing the articles or
     performing the services. Notwithstanding section 3302(b) of
     title 31, the amount so credited with respect to an Army
     industrial facility shall be available, without further
     appropriation, as follows:
       ``(A) Amounts equal to the amounts of the variable costs so
     incurred shall be available for the same purposes as the
     appropriation or working-capital fund to which credited.
       ``(B) Amounts in excess of the amounts of the variable
     costs so incurred shall be available for operations,
     maintenance, and environmental restoration at that Army
     industrial facility.
       ``(2) Amounts credited to a working-capital fund under
     paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended. Amounts
     credited to an appropriation under paragraph (1) shall remain
     available for the same period as the appropriation to which
     credited.
       ``(f) Approval of Sales.--The authority of an Army
     industrial facility to conduct a public-private partnership
     under this section shall be exercised at the level of the
     commander of the major subordinate command of the Army that
     has responsibility for the facility. The commander may
     approve such partnership on a case basis or a class basis.
       ``(g) Commercial Sales.--Except in the case of work
     performed for the Department of Defense, for a contract of
     the Department of Defense, for foreign military sales, or for
     authorized foreign direct commercial sales (defense articles
     or defense services sold to a foreign government or
     international organization under export controls), a sale of
     articles or services may be made under this section only if
     the approval authority described in subsection (f) determines
     that the articles or services are not available from a
     commercial source located in the United States in the
     required quantity or quality, or within the time required.
       ``(h) Exclusion From Depot-Level Maintenance and Repair
     Percentage Limitation.--Amounts expended for depot-level
     maintenance and repair workload by non-Federal personnel at
     an Army industrial facility shall not be counted for purposes
     of applying the percentage limitation in section 2466(a) of
     this title if the personnel are provided by a non-Army entity
     pursuant to a public-private partnership established under
     this section.
       ``(i) Relationship to Other Laws.--Nothing in this section
     shall be construed to affect the application of--
       ``(1) foreign military sales and the export controls
     provided for in sections 30 and 38 of the Arms Export Control
     Act (22 U.S.C. 2770 and 2778) to activities of a public-
     private partnership under this section; and
       ``(2) section 2667 of this title to leases of non-excess
     property in the administration of a public-private
     partnership under this section.
       ``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `Army industrial facility' includes an
     ammunition plant, an arsenal, a depot, and a manufacturing
     plant.
       ``(2) The term `non-Army entity' includes the following:
       ``(A) An executive agency.
       ``(B) An entity in industry or commercial sales.
       ``(C) A State or political subdivision of a State.
       ``(D) An institution of higher education or vocational
     training institution.
       ``(3) The term `incremental funding' means a series of
     partial payments that--
       ``(A) are made as the work on manufacture or articles is
     being performed or services are being performed or equipment
     or facilities are used, as the case may be; and
       ``(B) result in full payment being completed as the
     required work is being completed.
       ``(4) The term `full costs', with respect to articles or
     services provided under this section, means the variable
     costs and the fixed costs that are directly related to the
     production of the articles or the provision of the services.
       ``(5) The term `variable costs' means the costs that are
     expected to fluctuate directly with the volume of sales or
     services provided or the use of equipment or facilities.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
     beginning of such chapter is

[[Page S6110]]

     amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``4544. Army industrial facilities: public-private partnerships.''.
                                 ______

  SA 3243. Mr. LEVIN (for Mrs. Feinstein) proposed an amendment to the
bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; as follows:

       On page 365, between lines 18 and 19, insert the following:

     SEC. 2830. LAND CONVEYANCE, MARCH AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of the Air Force
     may convey to the March Joint Powers Authority (in this
     section referred to as the ``MJPA'') all right, title, and
     interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real
     property, including any improvements thereon, consisting of
     approximately 15 acres located in Riverside County,
     California, and containing the former Defense Reutilization
     and Marketing Office facility for March Air Force Base, which
     is also known as Parcel A-6, for the purpose of economic
     development and revitalization.
       (b) Consideration.--(1) As consideration for the conveyance
     of property under subsection (a), the MJPA shall pay the
     United States an amount equal to the fair market value, as
     determined by the Secretary, of the property to be conveyed
     under such subsection.
       (2) The consideration received under this subsection shall
     be deposited in the special account in the Treasury
     established under section 572(b) of title 40, United States
     Code, and available in accordance with the provisions of
     paragraph (5)(B)(ii).
       (c) Description of Property.--The exact acreage and legal
     description of the real property to be conveyed under
     subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory
     to the Secretary. The cost of the survey shall be borne by
     the MJPA.
       (d) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary may
     require such additional terms and conditions in connection
     with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary
     considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United
     States.
                                 ______

  SA 3239. Mr. BENNETT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

       On page 411, after line 6, add the following:

     SEC. 3303. PROHIBITION ON STORAGE OF MERCURY AT PRIVATELY
                   OWNED OR OPERATED FACILITIES.

       (a) Prohibition.--The Secretary of Defense may not store
     mercury from the National Defense Stockpile at any facility
     that is not owned and operated by the United States.
       (b) National Defense Stockpile Defined.--In this section ,
     the term ``National Defense Stockpile'' means the stockpile
     provided for in section 4 of the Strategic and Critical
     Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98c).
                                 ______

  SA 3245. Mr. BOND (for himself and Mrs. Dole) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel
strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Services, and for other
purposes; which was ordered tolie on the table; as follows:

       On page 247, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:

     SEC. 1022. OPERATION OF THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
                   AND THE MILITARY POSTAL SYSTEM.

       (a) Requirement for Reports.--(1) The Secretary of Defense
     shall submit to Congress two reports on the actions that the
     Secretary has taken to ensure that--
       (A) the Federal Voting Assistance Program functions
     effectively to support absentee voting by members of the
     Armed Forces deployed outside the United States in support of
     Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and all
     other contingency operations; and
       (B) the military postal system functions effectively to
     support the morale of the personnel described in subparagraph
     (A) and absentee voting by such members.
       (2)(A) The first report under paragraph (1) shall be
     submitted not later than August 1, 2004.
       (B) The second report under paragraph (1) shall be
     submitted not later than October 1, 2004.
       (3) In this subsection, the term ``Federal Voting
     Assistance Program'' means the program referred to in section
     1566(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code.
       (b) Implementation of Recommended Postal System
     Improvements.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall--
       (1) implement the recommendations for improvement of the
     military postal system that were made in 2000 by the Military
     Postal Service Agency Task Force established by the Secretary
     of Defense and the Secretary of the Army in 1998; or
       (2) submit to Congress a report setting forth the actions
     taken to implement those recommendations together with, in
     the case of each recommendation not implemented or not fully
     implemented before the date of report, the reasons for not
     implementing or not fully implementing such recommendation,
     as the case may be.
                                 ______

  SA 3246. Mr. SNOWE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. __. MENTOR-PROTEGE PILOT PROGRAM.

       Section 831(m)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act
     for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2302
     note) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(F) a small business concern owned and controlled by
     service-disabled veterans (as defined in section 8(d)(3) of
     the Small Business Act); and
       ``(G) a qualified HUBZone small business concern (as
     defined in section 3(p) of the Small Business Act).''.
                                 ______

  SA 3247. Mr. SNOWE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

       On page 166, at the beginning of line 4, insert the
     following:
       (a) Process and Standards for Measuring Program
     Effectiveness.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop
     and implement a process and standards for measuring the
     effectiveness of the test program for negotiation of
     comprehensive small business subcontracting plans carried out
     under section 834 of the National Defense Authorization Act
     for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101-189; 15 U.S.C.
     637 note). The Secretary shall consult with the Comptroller
     General in developing the standards.
       (b) Notification of Compliance.--Not later than 300 days
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
     Defense and the Comptroller General shall notify Congress
     regarding whether the deadline in subsection (a) was met.
       (c) Limitation on Additional Prime Contractors as
     Participants.--A prime contractor not participating in the
     test program as of the date of enactment of this Act may not
     participate in the test program until the Secretary of
     Defense develops and implements the process and standards for
     measuring the effectiveness of the test program required
     under subsection (a).
       (d) Monitoring.--The Comptroller General shall monitor the
     administration of the test program and, not later than three
     years after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to
     Congress a report on the effectiveness of the program.
       (e) Extension of Program.--
                                 ______

  SA 3248. Mr. SNOWE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

       Strike section 811.
                                 ______

  SA 3249. Mr. HAGEL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year

[[Page S6111]]

for the Armed Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to
lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1068. NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
       (1) The airborne forces of the United States Armed Forces
     have a long and honorable history as units of adventuresome,
     hardy, and fierce warriors who, for the national security of
     the United States and the defense of freedom and peace,
     project the effective ground combat power of the United
     States by Air Force air transport to the far reaches of the
     battle area and, indeed, to the far corners of the world.
       (2) August 16, 2004, marks the anniversary of the first
     official validation of the innovative concept of inserting
     United States ground combat forces behind the battle line by
     means of a parachute.
       (3) The United States experiment of airborne infantry
     attack began on June 25, 1940, when the Army Parachute Test
     Platoon was first authorized by the United States Department
     of War, and was launched when 48 volunteers began training in
     July 1940.
       (4) The Parachute Test Platoon performed the first official
     Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940.
       (5) The success of the Parachute Test Platoon in the days
     immediately preceding the entry of the United States into
     World War II led to the formation of a formidable force of
     airborne units that, since then, have served with distinction
     and repeated success in armed hostilities.
       (6) Among those units are the former 11th, 13th, and 17th
     Airborne Divisions, the venerable 82nd Airborne Division, the
     versatile 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the
     airborne regiments and battalions (some as components of
     those divisions, some as separate units) that achieved
     distinction as the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, the 173rd
     Airborne Brigade, the 187th Infantry (Airborne) Regiment, the
     503rd, 507th, 508th, 517th, 541st, and 542nd Parachute
     Infantry Regiments, the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment, the
     509th, 551st, and 555th Parachute Infantry Batallions, and
     the 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion.
       (7) The achievements of the airborne forces during World
     War II provided a basis of evolution into a diversified force
     of parachute and air assault units that, over the years, have
     fought in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf
     Region, and Somalia, and have engaged in peacekeeping
     operations in Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, the Dominican
     Republic, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
       (8) The modern-day airborne force that has evolved from
     those World War II beginnings is an agile, powerful force
     that, in large part, is composed of the 82nd Airborne
     Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the
     75th Ranger Regiment which, together with other units,
     comprise the quick reaction force of the XVIII Airborne Corps
     of the Army when not operating separately under a regional
     combatant commander.
       (9) The modern-day airborne force also includes other elite
     forces composed entirely of airborne trained and qualified
     special operations warriors, including Army Special Forces,
     Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance units, Navy SEALs, and Air
     Force combat control teams, all or most of which comprise the
     forces of the United States Special Operations Command.
       (10) In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the
     United States on September 11, 2001, the 75th Ranger
     Regiment, special forces units, and units of the 82nd
     Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division (Air
     Assault), together with other units of the Armed Forces, have
     been prosecuting the war against terrorism by carrying out
     combat operations in Afghanistan, training operations in the
     Philippines, and other operations elsewhere.
       (11) In the aftermath of the President's announcement of
     Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003, the 75th Ranger
     Regiment, special forces units, and units of the 82nd
     Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),
     and the 173rd Airborne Brigade, together with other units of
     the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting the war against
     terrorism, carrying out combat operations, conducting civil
     affair missions, and assisting in establishing democracy in
     Iraq.
       (12) The airborne forces are and will continue to be at the
     ready and the forefront until the Global War on Terrorism is
     concluded.
       (13) The members and former members of the United States
     combat airborne forces, all have achieved distinction by
     earning the right to wear the airborne's ``Silver Wings of
     Courage'', thousands have achieved the distinction of making
     combat jumps, 69 have earned the Medal of Honor, and hundreds
     have earned the Distinguished-Service Cross, Silver Star, or
     other decorations and awards for displays of such traits as
     heroism, gallantry, intrepidity, and valor.
       (14) The members and former members of the United States
     combat airborne forces are members of a proud and honorable
     fraternity of the profession of arms that is made exclusive
     by those distinctions which, together with their special
     skills and achievements, distinguish them as intrepid combat
     parachutists, special operations forces, and (in former days)
     glider troops.
       (15) The history and achievements of the members and former
     members of the airborne forces of the United States Armed
     Forces warrant special expressions of the gratitude of the
     American people as the airborne community celebrates August
     16, 2004, as the 64th anniversary of the first official jump
     by the Army Parachute Test Platoon.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--The Senate--
       (1) designates August 16, 2004, as ``National Airborne
     Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
     calling on Federal, State, and local administrators and the
     people of the United States to observe ``National Airborne
     Day'' with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
                                 ______

  SA 3250. Mr. HAGEL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed
Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1068. NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
       (1) The airborne forces of the United States Armed Forces
     have a long and honorable history as units of adventuresome,
     hardy, and fierce warriors who, for the national security of
     the United States and the defense of freedom and peace,
     project the effective ground combat power of the United
     States by Air Force air transport to the far reaches of the
     battle area and, indeed, to the far corners of the world.
       (2) August 16, 2004, marks the anniversary of the first
     official validation of the innovative concept of inserting
     United States ground combat forces behind the battle line by
     means of a parachute.
       (3) The United States experiment of airborne infantry
     attack began on June 25, 1940, when the Army Parachute Test
     Platoon was first authorized by the United States Department
     of War, and was launched when 48 volunteers began training in
     July 1940.
       (4) The Parachute Test Platoon performed the first official
     Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940.
       (5) The success of the Parachute Test Platoon in the days
     immediately preceding the entry of the United States into
     World War II led to the formation of a formidable force of
     airborne units that, since then, have served with distinction
     and repeated success in armed hostilities.
       (6) Among those units are the former 11th, 13th, and 17th
     Airborne Divisions, the venerable 82nd Airborne Division, the
     versatile 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the
     airborne regiments and battalions (some as components of
     those divisions, some as separate units) that achieved
     distinction as the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, the 173rd
     Airborne Brigade, the 187th Infantry (Airborne) Regiment, the
     503rd, 507th, 508th, 517th, 541st, and 542nd Parachute
     Infantry Regiments, the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment, the
     509th, 551st, and 555th Parachute Infantry Batallions, and
     the 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion.
       (7) The achievements of the airborne forces during World
     War II provided a basis of evolution into a diversified force
     of parachute and air assault units that, over the years, have
     fought in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf
     Region, and Somalia, and have engaged in peacekeeping
     operations in Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, the Dominican
     Republic, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
       (8) The modern-day airborne force that has evolved from
     those World War II beginnings is an agile, powerful force
     that, in large part, is composed of the 82nd Airborne
     Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the
     75th Ranger Regiment which, together with other units,
     comprise the quick reaction force of the XVIII Airborne Corps
     of the Army when not operating separately under a regional
     combatant commander.
       (9) The modern-day airborne force also includes other elite
     forces composed entirely of airborne trained and qualified
     special operations warriors, including Army Special Forces,
     Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance units, Navy SEALs, and Air
     Force combat control teams, all or most of which comprise the
     forces of the United States Special Operations Command.
       (10) In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the
     United States on September 11, 2001, the 75th Ranger
     Regiment, special forces units, and units of the 82nd
     Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division (Air
     Assault), together with other units of the Armed Forces, have
     been prosecuting the war against terrorism by carrying out
     combat operations in Afghanistan, training operations in the
     Philippines, and other operations elsewhere.
       (11) In the aftermath of the President's announcement of
     Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003, the 75th Ranger
     Regiment, special forces units, and units of the 82nd
     Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),
     and the 173rd Airborne Brigade, together with other units of
     the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting the war against
     terrorism, carrying out combat operations, conducting civil
     affair missions, and assisting in establishing democracy in
     Iraq.

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       (12) The airborne forces are and will continue to be at the
     ready and the forefront until the Global War on Terrorism is
     concluded.
       (13) The members and former members of the United States
     combat airborne forces, all have achieved distinction by
     earning the right to wear the airborne's ``Silver Wings of
     Courage'', thousands have achieved the distinction of making
     combat jumps, 69 have earned the Medal of Honor, and hundreds
     have earned the Distinguished-Service Cross, Silver Star, or
     other decorations and awards for displays of such traits as
     heroism, gallantry, intrepidity, and valor.
       (14) The members and former members of the United States
     combat airborne forces are members of a proud and honorable
     fraternity of the profession of arms that is made exclusive
     by those distinctions which, together with their special
     skills and achievements, distinguish them as intrepid combat
     parachutists, special operations forces, and (in former days)
     glider troops.
       (15) The history and achievements of the members and former
     members of the airborne forces of the United States Armed
     Forces warrant special expressions of the gratitude of the
     American people as the airborne community celebrates August
     16, 2004, as the 64th anniversary of the first official jump
     by the Army Parachute Test Platoon.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--The Senate--
       (1) designates August 16, 2004, as ``National Airborne
     Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
     calling on Federal, State, and local administrators and the
     people of the United States to observe ``National Airborne
     Day'' with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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