Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2004

Mr. President, I supported passage of this year's defense authorization bill because it contains many provisions that our brave men and women in uniform need and deserve. But before I go into the details of why I support this legislation, I must first thank the members of the United States Armed Forces for their service to our country. They are performing admirably under difficult circumstances all over the world. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, along with their families, are making great sacrifices in service to our country. I am voting for this legislation to support these people who are serving the country with such courage.

I strongly support the 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel that this bill provides. We must make sure that our professional military is paid a fair wage. This bill also makes permanent the increase in family separation allowance and imminent danger pay, another important policy for our men and women in uniform. Once again, I was proud to support the expansion of full-time TRICARE health insurance for our National Guard and Reserve. The reserve component is being used more than at any other time since World War II. Forty percent of our troops in Iraq are reserve component troops. These citizen soldiers face additional burdens when they transition in and out of their civilian life and providing them and their families with TRICARE is one way we can ease those burdens.

Another aspect of this bill that I strongly support is the increased funding for force protection equipment. Last year, concerned Wisconsinites contacted my office telling me that they or their deployed loved ones were fighting for their country in Iraq without the equipment they needed. This situation is unconscionable. I have repeatedly pressed the Pentagon to fix this situation and I and my colleagues went a long way in addressing these shortages in the supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan. The $925 million for additional up-armored HUMVEES and other ballistic protection as well as the $600 million in force protection gear and combat clothing in this bill above what was in the President's proposed budget further ensures that our troops have the equipment they need to perform their duties on the ground.

I am pleased that the Senate approved my amendment to ensure that the Inspector General for the Coalition Provisional Authority will continue to oversee U.S. reconstruction efforts in Iraq after June 30 of this year as the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. The American taxpayers have been asked to shoulder a tremendous burden in Iraq, and we must ensure that their dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Today, the CPA is phasing out, but the reconstruction effort has only just begun. As of mid-May, only $4.2 billion of the $18.4 billion that Congress appropriated for reconstruction in November had even been obligated. With multiple agencies involved and a budget that exceeds the entire foreign operations appropriation for this fiscal year, U.S. taxpayer-funded reconstruction efforts should have a focused oversight effort. My amendment will ensure that the Inspector General's office can continue its important work even after June 30, rather than being compelled to start wrapping up and shutting down while so much remains to be done. This is good news for the reconstruction effort, and good news for American taxpayers.

I also want to thank the chairman and the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee for working with me to accept the amendment that I offered with the Senator from Maine, Ms. Snowe, which represents a first step toward enhancing and strengthening transition services that are provided to our military personnel. This amendment will require the General Accounting Office, GAO, to undertake a comprehensive analysis of existing transition services for our military personnel that are administered by the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor and to make recommendations to Congress on how these programs can be improved. This study will focus on two issues: how to achieve the uniform provision of appropriate transition services to all military personnel, and the role of post-deployment and pre-discharge health assessments as part of the larger transition program. I very much look forward to reviewing the results of this study.

The Senate version of the defense authorization bill also includes a provision finally fulfilling a goal for which I have been fighting for years--making sure that every state and territory has at least one Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, WMD-CST. I was delighted earlier this year when Wisconsin was chosen as one of 12 States to receive a WMD-CST authorized and appropriated for in FY2004 but I was also disappointed that the President's proposed budget for FY2005 included funding for only 4 of the 11 outstanding teams. I along with 28 of my colleagues, wrote the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman and ranking member asking them to fully fund all 11 remaining teams. The chairman and ranking member have been very supportive of my efforts in this area over the years and I thank them again this year for funding all 11 remaining WMD-CSTs.

This authorization bill addresses the grave threat our nation faces from unsecured nuclear materials. It includes $409 million for the Cooperative Threat Reduction program and $1.3 billion for the Department of Energy nonproliferation programs. I was also proud to cosponsor the amendment offered by Senator Domenici and Senator Feinstein that authorizes the Department of Energy to secure the tons of fissile material scattered around the world. This bipartisan initiative aims to dramatically accelerate current efforts to secure this dangerous material so that it cannot fall into the hands of those who aim to harm us. Time is of the essence and I was pleased to hear that the administration is fully supportive of this effort through the Global Threat Reduction Initiative.

I also voted for an amendment offered by Senator Reed that boosts the Army's end strength by 20,000. Mr. President I did so because it has become clear that the Army is currently overstretched, and I believe that we need to ensure readiness to handle threats in the future. A recent Brookings Institution report says that the military is being stretched so thin that if we don't expand its size, it could break the back of our all-volunteer Army. One does not have to support all of the deployment decisions that brought us to this point today to see that we need to have the capacity to handle multiple crises with sufficient manpower and strength. I do not take lightly the decision to lock in a significant increase in spending. The need is great, however, and the deliberative defense authorization process, not the emergency supplemental process, is the place to do it.

I must note that, unfortunately, this bill has many of the same problems that I've been fighting to fix for years. Once again, we are spending billions upon billions of dollars for weapons systems more suited for the Cold War than the fight against terrorism. I was very disappointed that the Senate did not agree to Senator Levin's amendment that would have used a small percentage of the over $10 billion authorized for missile defense for critical unfunded homeland defense needs. This amendment, which I cosponsored, would have used $515.5 million now slated for additional untested interceptors and spent it instead on the top unfunded Department of Defense homeland defense priorities, research and development programs, radiation detection equipment at seaports, and other important defenses against terrorism. Budgeting is about setting priorities and I am sad to say that when

the Senate failed to adopt Senator Levin's amendment, it missed a golden opportunity to adjust its priorities in order to face our country's most pressing threat--the threat of terrorism.

I was disappointed that the Senate failed to reduce the retirement age for those in the National Guard and Reserve from 60 to 55. Our country has placed unprecedented demands upon the Guard and Reserve since September 11, 2001, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Considering the demands we are placing on them, it is time that we lower the Guard and Reserve's retirement age to the same level as civilian federal employees.

Although my support for reducing the reserve component retirement age has been unwavering, because of the significant budgetary impact of this measure I had hoped that Congress would first receive reviews of reserve compensation providing all of the information that we need to address this issue responsibly. I patiently waited for several studies on the issue, including by the Defense Department, but when the studies came out they called for further study. This matter cannot continue to languish unaddressed indefinitely. As retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Steve Strobridge, government relations director for the Military Officers Association of America, MOAA, put it, ``It is time to fish or cut bait.'' I agree with MOAA's analysis that, ``Further delay on this important practical and emotional issue poses significant risks to long-term (Guard and Reserve) retention'' and I was proud to vote for the amendment offered by the Senator from New Jersey, Mr. Corzine.

I also believe that the Senate missed an opportunity to provide a small but needed measure of relief to military families when it failed to adopt my Military Family Leave Act amendment. This amendment would have allowed a spouse, child, or parent who already qualifies for Family and Medical Leave Act, FMLA, benefits--unpaid leave--to use those existing benefits for issues directly arising from the deployment of a family member. The Senate adopted a similar amendment by unanimous consent when I offered it to the Iraq supplemental spending bill. This amendment has the support of the Military Officers Association of America, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Guard Association of the United States, the National Military Family Association, and the National Partnership for Women and Families.

I regret that a harmful second degree amendment was offered to my amendment and that I was not given the opportunity to have a straight up or down vote. Rather than taking up the Senate's time in a protracted debate about the second degree amendment, I withdrew my amendment so that this important defense authorization bill could move forward. However, the need addressed by my amendment remains and I will continue to fight to bring some relief to military families that sacrifice so much for all of us.

I want to bring attention to another element of the Defense Authorization bill that raises concerns for me. The Defense Authorization bill includes language that raises troop caps in Colombia from 400 to 800 military personnel and from 400 civilian contractors to 600. I am disappointed that Senator Byrd's amendment was not approved by the Senate, which would have limited the increases in these caps to 500 military personnel and 500 civilian contractors. I have serious concerns about the increase in these caps to the levels established by the bill. Most importantly, I worry about placing more Americans in harm's way in Colombia. Further deployments bring greater risks to an already overstretched military. We do not want to risk being drawn further into Colombia's civil war--certainly not without a thorough debate that the American people can follow. In addition, many of my constituents and I remain concerned that by raising these caps, the U.S. devotes greater resources to the military side of the equation in Colombia without balancing our approach through greater support for democratic institutions, increasing economic development, and supporting human rights.

There are other provisions in this bill with which I disagree and the Senate rejected a number of amendments that would have made this bill better. However, on balance this legislation contains many good provisions for our men and women in uniform and their families and that is why I will vote for it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.

In December 1606 over 100 explorers left England in the spirit of exploration and discovery. They finally reached land on April 26, 1607 at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. These explorers landed in Virginia Beach, Virginia at a spot they named ``Cape Henry.''

Upon setting foot on solid ground, George Percy proclaimed, ``fair meadows and goodly tall trees, with such fresh waters running through the woods as I was almost ravished at the sight thereof.'' The Second District of Virginia is still home to these fresh waters and tall trees that the settlers were so relieved to see.

After resting here for 3 days and erecting a cross, at the instruction of Captain Newport, the settlers continued their journey up the James River to eventually find a home at Jamestown. Today, a cross still stands on this historic beach in Fort Story in Virginia Beach, commemorating this landing and memorializing the end of one journey but the beginning of another.

The first months in their new home proved to be an invariable struggle but by 1607 they had created the first permanent English settlement in the new world, Jamestown. Their will to survive coupled with help from their neighbors, the Virginia Indians, facilitated the Jamestown settlers in their quest to start a new life.

The 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown will be celebration for all of Virginia. Rich in history, the Commonwealth of Virginia has always offered many opportunities for its residents and visitors alike to explore the wealth of history that helped shape our great nation. The 400th Anniversary Jamestown Commemorative Coin will benefit both Jamestown and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia by reaffirming our dedication to the preservation of history. This coin will help Virginia share this rich history with the rest of America and let us all celebrate this terrific anniversary.

I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia, Mrs. Davis, for her work on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1914) to provide for the issuance of a coin to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1914, the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003, introduced by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), and ask for its immediate passage.

The legislation authorizes the minting and sale in 2007 of gold $5 coins and silver $1 coins commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding in 1607 of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent European colony in the United States and the capital of Virginia for 92 years.

The economic, political, social and cultural institutions that developed in the Jamestown Settlement, which brought together people from throughout the Atlantic basin, left profound effects on the United States, establishing the traditions of English common law and the English language, as well as cross-cultural relationships.

I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Virginia, whom we will call on to speak here in moment, because it is all of her work with the planning committee that made all this possible.

Madam Speaker, this legislation was passed by voice vote in both the subcommittee and the full Committee on Financial Services, and I do ask for immediate passage of this important legislation, which I am pleased to cosponsor.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), the sponsor of this resolution before us.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in 2007, as you have heard, the United States will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement. As has been said, it was the capital of Virginia for 92 years.

It was at Jamestown that numerous American values and ideals came into being. Representative government was first established, private land ownership was permitted, and the spirit of free enterprise was born.

Local, State, and national organizations are currently preparing for what will be a year-long commemoration of the quadricentennial. Efforts are underway to restore and preserve the settlement and to promote national and international educational programs that increase understanding of the democratic principles that were born here.

Madam Speaker, I introduced this legislation authorizing the sale of commemorative coins in honor of the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement to help offset the cost of this occasion. The proceeds from the sale of these coins will be used to preserve the legacy of this first permanent English settlement. Jamestown is an important part of our Nation's history, with profound effects on the United States, even to this date.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to represent this historic Jamestown Settlement located in America's first district.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all the Members of the committee and the chairman for bringing this bill forward. I would like to also thank the 299 of my colleagues who cosponsored this bill.

I urge all my colleagues to support its passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I want to thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).

Madam Speaker, I rise to support House Resolution 1914, which is the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003. The year 2007 will be the 400th anniversary of the founding in 1607 of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent European colony in the United States and the capital of Virginia for 92 years. H.R. 1914 authorizes the minting and sale of commemorative coins honoring this distinguished event.

The Jamestown Settlement, which brought together people from throughout the Atlantic basin, had a substantial impact open the development of the United States of American, establishing the tradition of English common law and the English language, as well as cross-cultural relationships.

Congress established the Jamestown 400th Commemorative Commission in 2000 to ensure a suitable national observation of the founding. Surcharges from the sale of the commemorative coins, which are conservatively estimated to be $3 million, will be paid to the National Park Service, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia to support their efforts for the 400th anniversary.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1914, the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.