To make a technical correction for the Air Force at Columbus AFB, Mississippi.
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Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 2751 proposed by Senator Johnson for Senator Cochran to Amendment SA 2730.(consideration: CR S11377-11378; text: CR S11378)
November 16, 2009
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Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 2751 proposed by Senator Johnson for Senator Cochran to Amendment SA 2730.(consideration: CR S11377-11378; text: CR S11378)
November 16, 2009
Senate amendment agreed to: Amendment SA 2751 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
November 16, 2009
Amendment SA 2751 proposed by Senator Johnson for Senator Cochran to Amendment SA 2730. (consideration: CR S11377-11378; text: CR S11378) To make a technical correction for the Air Force at Columbus AFB, Mississippi.
November 16, 2009
Amendment SA 2751 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
November 16, 2009
Senate amendment submitted
November 9, 2009
Text
Proposed
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010--Continued Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now resume consideration of H.R. 3082, the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for the following amendments to be considered en bloc: 2759, 2760, 2741, 2752, 2738, 2746, 2773, 2740, 2749, 2751, 2743, 2771, 2737, 2747, 2745, 2734, 2753. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendments Nos. 2741; 2759; 2760; 2740; 2752; 2746; 2737, as modified; 2745, as modified; 2747, as modified, and 2771, as modified Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that amendments Nos. 2741, 2759, 2760, 2740, 2752, and 2746, which are pending, be considered and agreed to en bloc and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that amendments Nos. 2737, 2745, 2747, and 2771 be modified with the changes at the desk, and that, as modified, the amendments be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendments (Nos. 2741, 2759, 2760, 2740, 2752, and 2746) were agreed to. The amendments (Nos. 2737, as modified; 2745, as modified; 2747, as modified, and 2771, as modified) were agreed to, as follows: amendment no. 2737, as modified On page 52, after line 21, add the following: Sec. 229. Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``medical services'', $150,000,000 may be available for the grant program under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, and per diem payments under section 2012 of such title. amendment no. 2745, as modified On page 52, after line 21, add the following: Sec. 229. Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this title for the Department of Veterans Affairs, up to $5,000,000 may be available for the study required by section 1077 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. amendment no. 2747, as modified On page 52, after line 21, add the following: Sec. 229. (a) Campus Outreach and Services for Mental Health and Neurological Conditions.--Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this title, $5,000,000 may be available to conduct outreach to and provide services at institutions of higher education to ensure that veterans enrolled in programs of education at such institutions have information on and access to care and services for neurological and psychological issues. (b) Supplement Not Supplant.--The amount described in subsection (a) for the purposes described in such subsection is in addition to amounts otherwise appropriated or made available for readjustment counseling and related mental health services. amendment no. 2771, as modified At the end of title II, add the following: Sec. 229. In administering section 51.210(d) of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may permit a State home to provide services to, in addition to non-veterans described in such section, a non- veteran any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces, as long as such services are not denied to a qualified veteran seeking such services. Amendments Nos. 2734, 2738, 2773, 2753, 2749, 2751, 2743 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, on behalf of various Senators I now call up en bloc amendments Nos. 2734, 2738, 2773, 2753, 2749, 2751, 2743. I ask unanimous consent that the amendments be considered and agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendments were considered and agreed to, as follows: amendment no. 2734 (Purpose: To require a report on bid savings realized from cost and scope variations for military construction projects) On page 27, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following: Sec. 128. Not later than each of April 15, 2010, July 15, 2010, and October 15, 2010, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a consolidated report from each of the military departments and Defense agencies identifying, [[Page S11378]] by project and dollar amount, bid savings resulting from cost and scope variations pursuant to section 2853 of title 10, United States Code, exceeding 25 percent of the appropriated amount for military construction projects funded by this Act, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111- 32), and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division E of Public Law 110-329), including projects funded through the regular military construction accounts, the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005, and the overseas contingency operations military construction accounts. amendment no. 2738 (Purpose: To provide for a study on transportation improvements to accommodate installation growth associated with the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) program) On page 27, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following: Sec. 128. (a) Of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``Department of Defense Base Closure Account, 2005'', $450,000 shall be available for the Secretary of Defense to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study through the Transportation Research Board of Federal funding of transportation improvements to accommodate installation growth associated with the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) program. (b) The study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall-- (1) examine case studies of congestion caused on metropolitan road and transit facilities when BRAC requirements cause shifts in personnel to occur faster than facilities can be improved through the usual State and local processes; (2) review the criteria used by the Defense Access Roads (DAR) program for determining the eligibility of transportation projects and the appropriate Department of Defense share of public highway and transit improvements in BRAC cases; (3) assess the adequacy of current Federal surface transportation and Department of Defense programs that fund highway and transit improvements in BRAC cases to mitigate transportation impacts in urban areas with preexisting traffic congestion and saturated roads; (4) identify promising approaches for funding road and transit improvements and streamlining transportation project approvals in BRAC cases; and (5) provide recommendations for modifications of current policy for the DAR and Office of Economic Adjustment programs, including funding strategies, road capacity assessments, eligibility criteria, and other government policies and programs the National Academy of Sciences may identify, to mitigate the impact of BRAC-related installation growth on preexisting urban congestion. (c) The Secretary of Defense shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to provide the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) by not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of the Act. (d)(1) Not later than May 15, 2010, the National Academy of Sciences shall provide an interim report of its findings to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives. (2) Not later than January 31, 2011, the National Academy of Sciences shall provide a final report of its findings to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives. amendment no. 2773 (Purpose: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky, as the ``Robley Rex Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'') At the end of title II, add the following: Sec. 229. (a) Designation of Robley Rex Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.--The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and any successor to such medical center, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Robley Rex Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''. (b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the medical center referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the Robley Rex Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. amendment no. 2753 (Purpose: To make a technical correction requested by the Army in the funding of dining projects at forwarding operating bases in Afghanistan) On page 56, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following: Administrative Provision Sec. 401. (a)(1) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Army'' and available for a dining hall project at Forward Operating Base Dwyer is hereby increased by $4,400,000. (2) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Army'' and available for a dining hall project at Forward Operating Base Maywand is hereby reduced by $4,400,000. (b)(1) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Army'' and available for a dining hall project at Forward Operating Base Wolverine is hereby increased by $2,150,000. (2) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Army'' and available for a dining hall project at Forward Operating Base Tarin Kowt is hereby reduced by $2,150,000. amendment no. 2749 (Purpose: To provide $37,500,000 requested by the Air Force for construction of an Unmanned Aerial System Field Training Complex at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, as authorized by section 2301(a) of the Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (division B of Public Law 111-84), and to provide an offset) On page 27, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following: Sec. 128. (a)(1) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Air Force'' is hereby increased by $37,500,000. (2) Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Air Force'', as increased by paragraph (1), $37,500,000 shall be available for construction of an Unmanned Aerial System Field Training Complex at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. (b) Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available by title I of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division E of Public Law 110-329; 122 Stat. 3692) under the heading ``Military Construction, Air Force'' and available for the purpose of Unmanned Aerial System Field Training facilities construction, $38,500,000 is hereby rescinded. AMENDMENT NO. 2751 (Purpose: To make a technical correction for the Air Force at Columbus AFB, Mississippi) On page 4, line 6, after the date, insert the following: , Of which $9,800,000 shall be for an Aircraft Fuel Systems Maintenance Dock at Columbus AFB, Mississippi amendment no. 2743 (Purpose: To provide, with an offset, an additional $750,000 for homeless veterans comprehensive service programs and housing assistance and supportive services) On page 52, after line 21, add the following: Sec. 229. (a) Additional Amount for Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs and Housing Assistance and Supportive Services.--The amount appropriated by this title under the heading ``medical services'' under the heading ``Veterans Health Administration'' is increased by $750,000, with the amount of the increase to be available for the following: (1) The grant program under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code. (2) Per diem payments under section 2012 of such title. (3) Housing assistance and supportive services under subchapter V of chapter 20 of such title. (b) Offset.--The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by this title under the heading ``general operating expenses'' under the heading ``Departmental Administration'' is decreased by $750,000. Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, November 17, following a period of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 3082, and that the following list of amendments be the only amendments remaining in order, with no second-degree amendments in order to any listed amendments: Johnson amendment No. 2733, Feingold amendment No. 2748; Cochran amendment No. 2763, Inhofe amendment No. 2774, Inouye amendment 2754, McCain second-degree amendment No. 2776; that the previous order regarding a managers' amendment remain in effect; that the vote with respect to the Inhofe amendment occur when the Senate resumes consideration of the bill at 2:15, and that upon disposition of the Inhofe amendment, the provisions of the previous order with respect to disposition of the substitute and passage of the bill be in effect; that there be 2 minutes of debate prior to each vote, except that prior to the Inhofe vote there be 5 minutes of debate, with all debate time equally divided and controlled in the usual form; further, that amendment No. 2779 be withdrawn once this agreement is entered into this evening, with any relevant provisions of the order of November 10 in effect. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The amendment (No. 2779) was withdrawn. Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, following the disposition of H.R. 3082, the order with respect to the Hamilton nomination be executed. [[Page S11379]] The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Texas. Mrs. HUTCHISON. Parliamentary inquiry: I did not understand the last unanimous consent request, that we were going to a nomination? Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mrs. HUTCHISON. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I believe we are now on the glidepath to finishing the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill. We have an order. If we can clear some of the further amendments that are listed for a vote, I know we will be able to do that. Some of these are being negotiated at this time. At least we have a way forward. Our staffs have worked very diligently on this since we started this bill last Tuesday and, for various reasons, we are going to finish it tomorrow, a week later. We could not have done it without a lot of cooperation. I thank my distinguished colleague, the chairman of the subcommittee, Senator Johnson, and his staff: Christina Evans, Chad Schulken, and Andy Vanlandingham. My staff also has ably worked through these. When I was called away to Fort Hood, my chief clerk, Dennis Balkham, did a great job with the help of Ben Hammond in our office. I appreciate very much all the cooperation and the help we have had coming to this point. I am pleased with our bill. I think we have a good bill that will do what all of us want, which is to assure that our veterans have the health care, the benefits, the needed outreach they should have for getting their benefits on a timely basis. This is one of the priorities we are funding in this bill. Secondly, of course, the military construction part of this bill is going to assure many quality-of-life improvements for our military personnel. Also, we will be building in faraway places where our troops are being housed right now. We want to give them every comfort we possibly can as they are fighting for our freedom. I thank my colleagues and certainly appreciate that we are now moving toward final passage of this bill tomorrow. I appreciate all the cooperation we have had. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________