Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a milestone in the defense of our Nation. This month, Lockheed Martin's Pike County, Alabama missile assembly facility will mark ten years of production.

This event is more than an anniversary. It represents a decade of service to America's defense preparedness by some of the finest, best trained workers in the nation.

Lockheed Martin-Pike County has become synonymous with both precision craftsmanship and on-target results. Some of the most advanced military weapon assets on the battlefield have rolled off, and continue, to roll off the assembly lines at the Pike County facility.

From the Hellfire, to the JASSM, to the Javelin, to the Predator, to the soon to be produced THAAD and LAM systems, Lockheed Martin-Pike County is the final assembly point and the guarantee that lives will be saved on the battlefield and our nation will be more secure at home.

This moment is also a source of pride for me as I have personally secured billions of dollars in missile system work for Lockheed Martin- Pike County over the last decade--work that has not only benefited the local economy but made it possible for our nation to succeed in the face of an ever elusive enemy.

Of particular note, I have personally advocated the further development of the THAAD anti-missile system which is also noting a milestone this month--the first rollout at the Lockheed Martin-Pike County plant. THAAD is an important component of our layered defense against a ballistic missile threat.

I am proud of the contributions of the 286 workers of Lockheed Martin-Pike County to keep our country safe. Job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to file a supplemental report on H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 for the purpose of providing the Ramseyer Report as prepared by the House Office of Legislative Counsel.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4200.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record a letter from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), regarding section 585 of H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, and my response, and ask that it be printed as part of the debate on

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record a letter from the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), regarding H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, and ask that it be printed as part of the debate on that bill.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California. The $27.6 million included in the bill by the House Committee on Armed Services for RNEP would support the Air Force-led study concerning the feasibility of modifying an existing nuclear weapon to destroy what are known as hardened and deeply buried targets.

It has long been recognized that these hardened targets are increasingly being used by potential adversaries to conceal and protect leadership, command and control, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. I believe it is imperative that we finish this review as a part of a larger effort to ensure that we further our technological edge.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind my colleagues that this funding does not authorize the production of any weapons. In fact, as a result of the compromise reached in last year's defense bill, any effort beyond a study is prohibited unless the President approves it and the necessary funds are authorized and appropriated by Congress. Some will claim that the military does not have a requirement for this weapon. I would have to disagree with that.

Just yesterday, I spoke with the commander of STRATCOM, Admiral James Ellis, who assured me that a military requirement does exist for the RNEP study. Specifically, a military requirement for this study can be traced back 10 years to the Clinton administration when STRATCOM and the Air Combat Command both issued a mission needs statement for a method to defeat these hardened and buried targets. Since then, the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Nuclear Posture

Review, the Defense Science Board and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have all identified a need for this study to go forward.

Mr. Chairman, this is not a new issue. We debated this same topic last year when we considered the defense bill and we, as a Congress, decided to go forward with this study. Furthermore, we rejected a similar amendment in full committee last week that would have cut funding for this study.

Mr. Chairman, I would urge my colleagues to defeat this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), who is both knowledgeable on this subject and a valued member of our subcommittee as well as the full House Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I remind the gentleman from Washington that we are not proceeding down the path of building. We are simply studying this weapon.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), another great member of our subcommittee and the House Committee on Armed Services, who is very knowledgeable also on this subject.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), our distinguished chairman of the full Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson).

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, let me just simply say that we are not spending half a billion dollars to develop a new weapon. First of all, this is a modification of an old weapon, and everyone very well knows that.

Secondly, the study period is only $122 billion.

Thirdly, the proponents of this amendment are saying, let us just stick our heads in the sand and not study this.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the defeat of this amendment. This amendment is not worthy of passing this House.

Mr. Chairman, I submit for the Record a letter from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Thomas, regarding section 585 of H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, and a response from the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, May 19, 2004.

Hon. Duncan Hunter,

Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Rayburn House

Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Hunter: I am writing concerning H.R. 4200,

the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year

2005,'' which was reported to the House by the House Armed

Services Committee on May 14, 2004.

As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means has

jurisdiction over tax matters. Section 585 of H.R. 4200

allows individuals to donate their frequent traveler miles

through the Department of Defense to deployed members of the

armed forces and their families. This provision requires an

amendment to the Internal Revenue Code, and thus falls within

the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. However,

we will not take action on this proposal. This is being done

with the understanding that it does not in any way prejudice

the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or

its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar

legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 4200, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration.

Best regards,

Bill Thomas,

Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I submit for the Record a letter from the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, Mr. Hyde, regarding H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005.

Committee on International Relations, House of

Representatives,

Washington, DC, May 19, 2004.

Hon. Duncan Hunter,

Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,

Washington, DC

Dear Mr. Chairman: I appreciate the close cooperation

between the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on

International Relations concerning H.R. 4200, the FY 2005

National Defense Authorization Act. I commend your

leadership, and that of Mr. Skelton, in bringing forward this

important bill which will give the courageous men and women

of our armed forces what they need to continue to prosecute

the war on terrorism successfully.

Further, several of the provisions of Title XIV (in

particular, in Subtitle A concerning export controls) amend

the Arms Export Control Act, a matter under the jurisdiction

of the Committee on International Relations. These provisions

will also make an important contribution to our Nation's

interests by ensuring that United States weapons systems and

technology do not fall into dangerous hands. Two provisions

in particular (sections 1401 and 1402) relate to the controls

required by United States law over our most significant

military technology and clarify that this technology is to be

handled with the utmost care. Because of the importance and

sensitivity of these areas, it is useful to set forth for the

record an explication of several points highlighted in your

Committee's report that have figured in the deliberations

between our two Committees during consideration of H.R. 4200.

Accordingly, when H.R. 4200 is taken up on the Floor for

adoption, I ask that you consent to include the full text of

this letter in the record, memorializing our discussions on

these matters.

Mr. Chairman, first of all, let me say how much I enjoy being on this great committee. There is not a member of this committee that is not interested in serving the American fighting man and woman. We owe much of our attitude to our great leadership from our full committee chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), and our ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton). I would be remiss if I did not also note it is a pleasure for me to work with my ranking member and partner, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes). He has made great contributions to this markup.

Mr. Chairman, ongoing operations in Iraq and against terrorism at large call for a fresh look at military requirements. These lessons learned illustrate that today's defense forces must be powerful, versatile, and be able to deploy globally with great speed.

Moreover, our national security investment must continue the development of transformational capabilities of future systems. Given that, this bill supports the administration's objectives while making significant improvements to the budget request and incorporating the chairman's theme of supporting the war fighter.

Mr. Chairman, the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces' effort continues to fund missile defense, military space and atomic energy programs. As we quickly approach the deployment of the Nation's first national missile defense capability later this summer, this bill fully funds the GMD system.

In the area of military space, the bill shifts funds from longer-term follow-on systems to more near-term capabilities, including the Operationally Responsive Satellite and the Advanced EHF Satellite. The bill adds funding for the SBIRS High program and ensures sufficient technological maturity for the Space Based Radar and the TSAT program.

Within Atomic Energy Defense Activities, the bill funds the National Nuclear Security Administration at the budget request. The bill includes modest reductions for directed stockpile work and campaigns while adding $50 million for infrastructure upgrades that are badly needed. The committee recommends $5.88 billion for defense site acceleration completion, an increase of $62 million over fiscal year 2004.

Mr. Chairman, the committee's recommendation addresses the administration's objectives, many of DoD's unfunded requirements, and Member priorities. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, due to the flu, I was unable to vote during the following roll call votes on January 28th. However, if I had been present, I would have voted as indicated below.

Roll Call No. 8 (On Agreeing to the Baldwin Amendment)--no; Roll Call No. 9 (On Motion To Recommit with Instructions)--no; Roll Call No. 10 (On Passage of S 1920)--yes; Roll Call No. 11 (On Motion to Instruct Conferees)--no.

Mr. Speaker, Montgomery, Alabama, in my congressional district, is the home to Maxwell Air Force Base and the Air University. It is without a doubt the crown jewel in Air Force excellence and base operations. This didn't just happen by accident. Many people have played major roles in building the necessary synergy of local and federal support to transform Maxwell and Montgomery into the success stories they are today. One of those key players is Jim L. Ridling, who is retiring from Southern Guaranty Insurance.

As the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce points out, senior Air Force leaders continue to praise the excellent relationship between the Montgomery and Maxwell-Gunter as the best in the Air Force. No doubt, some of that praise goes to the man who twice presided over the ``Wright Flyers'', served as chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber. of Commerce's Military Council, and labored as a member of the Executive Committee of the Montgomery Air Force Association.

Jim Ridling has worked behind the scenes and sometimes out front to make sure the needs of Maxwell and other area defense activities were met both locally and in Washington. This is no small task and the rewards are big as Montgomery continues to enjoy a local defense economic impact of well over $1 billion annually.

All I have mentioned really doesn't begin to scratch the surface of Jim's community service. He's also a member of the Board of Directors of the Business Council of Alabama, a member of Board of Directors of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, a member of the School of Business Advisory Council of Troy State University, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America. And this remarkable record doesn't even include his ``real'' job.

This week we pause to honor Jim Ridling as he retires from the post of President and CEO of Southern Guaranty Insurance Company in Montgomery. Jim was never content with building Southern Guaranty into a business success. He also focused his sights on making Montgomery a continued success. And we are ever grateful. I wish him and his wife Catherine all the best, but I somehow believe that Jim's days of service to Montgomery are far from over.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. It is very important that for the first time in well over 40 years we do something about concurrent receipt.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2004.

This is a solid bill that broadly serves our national security interests and addresses the needs of our armed forces as we continue the fight against terrorism. I will get to some of its strengths in a minute. But first I want to thank you Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton for the leadership you have provided in putting this bill together. And I particularly want to recognize the ranking member of the Strategic Forces subcommittee, Mr. Reyes, for his efforts on this bill. Together we have tackled some very tough issues.

The first long range missiles and nuclear weapons were developed almost 60 years ago. Yet today, we have no means to defend the territory of the United States against even a single long range missile, and have only recently begun to deploy defenses against theater range missile threats. In December of last year, the President announced his intention to enhance the capabilities of our Pacific missile defense test bed to field a modest, initial defensive operational capability to defend the territory of the United States by the end of fiscal year 2004. The President requested $9.1 billion to support that--and other--missile defense efforts.

I am pleased to report that this bill fully funds the request, providing the resources required to meet this great and historic challenge. The conferees have also agreed to shift

funds from longer term, less mature efforts in order to accelerate nearer term fielding of systems like Patriot that are designed to protect our troops deployed worldwide who face increasing threats from theater range ballistic missile threat.

Some of the most difficult issues we addressed in this bill involve nuclear weapons. Since the end of the cold war, we no longer face a monolithic threat. The new national security environment in which we find ourselves requires that we adopt a more flexible and adaptive approach to planning for our strategic deterrent. It further requires that we examine the weapons in our aging stockpile to determine if they continue to meet the Nation's needs for a credible and robust deterrent. Provisions of this bill would allow our scientists and engineers the freedom to explore the full range of options for defeating existing and emerging threats. At the same time, the bill includes ``checks'' that reserve for Congress the authority to approve the development of certain classes of new nuclear weapons.

The bill would also authorize the budget request of $6.4 billion for the weapons activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration. The United States has observed a moratorium on nuclear testing for over a decade, and NNSA programs continue to maintain the safety, reliability and performance of the nuclear stockpile in the absence of testing.

However, recognizing that circumstances may require a return to testing at some point in the future, and that the current test readiness posture of almost 3 years does not provide a real option for any President, the conferees have included a provision that would require the Secretary of Energy to achieve and maintain a readiness posture of not more that 18 months.

The conference agreement provides strong support for the military space and intelligence activities that have proven so effective in Afghanistan, and more recently Iraq. Notably, the bill would promote development of the U.S. commercial space-based imagery industrial base, enhance space-based communications to support the warfighter, and robustly fund development of unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Mr. Speaker, the men and women of our armed forces are doing their part everyday in places far from home. Let us do our part, and pass this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a hero from my congressional district in Alabama who gave his life in the line of duty. Kerry G. Neis of Enterprise died last December as a result of an accident during a training mission at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Neis, a Department of the Army Civilian firefighter stationed at Fort Rucker, leaves behind a wife, Katherine, and their daughter, Sarah.

Neis' dedication to duty has earned him the respect of not only his comrades at Fort Rucker and across the Wiregrass, but among his peers around the nation. He will be honored along with America's other fallen firefighter heroes during the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Memorial Weekend conducted this October 4 and 5 in Washington, DC.

The following in an excerpt from a tribute to her late husband submitted by Katherine Neis for the Memorial Weekend ceremony.

At 31 years old, Kerry was shockingly taken from us on

December 4, 2002 in a tragic accident, when his firetruck

jumped out of gear and ran away. No one, not his crew, his

captain, or fellow firefighters could have expected it, and

it was over before any of them even knew what had happened.

But even in death, Kerry's life of service and dreams of

helping others in need continue. New training procedures have

been implemented and new safety mechanisms have been

installed on the trucks. Kerry is still working hard to

ensure the happiness and security of us all.

On behalf of this House, I offer my condolences to Kerry Neis' family as we remember the life and sacrifice of one of America's heroes.

Mr. Chairman, a 10-county area in southeast Alabama, which I represent, is almost solely dependent on groundwater sources to supply their drinking water needs. The 10-county region includes Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Pike counties. Due to the drought conditions during 2000 and 2002, water demand increased by 50 to 80 percent in this region.

The Geological Survey of Alabama conducted a 3-year study beginning in 1997 to map the aquifers currently being used in southeast Alabama and to identify other potential aquifers, most of which are at deeper levels. The results of the study reveal that current and future water withdrawals of groundwater within the Choctawhatchee, Pea, and Yellow Rivers Watershed area will be insufficient to meet future demand. Bullock, Barbour, and Pike counties have the most significant, long- range, high-capacity water resources, some of which have not been developed, but counties to the south, including Houston, Dale, and Coffee, will have to rely on their current aquifers and the possible development of a few deeper aquifers.

The study states, ``the development of alternative sources of water, specifically surface impoundments, is essential to the long-range achievement of continued growth, industrial expansion, and prosperity of the citizens in southeastern Alabama.'' The Choctawhatchee, Pea, and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority estimates the timeline to build a regional reservoir is approximately 10 years for the reservoir to be operational.

The Corps of Engineers conducted a needs assessment for a regional reservoir in southeast Alabama, which helped to reinforce the need for a reservoir at this time. This was completed in December 2001 and the Corps is currently completing an alternative analysis to be finished by the end of 2003 that should show the reservoir is the best available option for addressing this concern.

Given these circumstances and the length of time necessary to develop an operational reservoir for water supply purposes, I believe it is imperative that the project receives Congressional authorization to allow the Corps to move forward with design and construction work. Continued delays only prolong the problem and force the local entities to expend scarce resources to develop additional short-term solutions to meet their water supply needs. The more prudent approach is the development of a long-term solution for the region's water supply needs, which could be accomplished through the development of a regional reservoir.

I look forward to working with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee next year during the development of the 2004 Water Resources Development Act to authorize the Corps to design and construct a multi- purpose regional reservoir for southeast Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1472.

Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I offer tribute today to a fallen American soldier in the battle to free the people of Iraq and secure the safety and liberty of Americans here on the homefront.

On June 28, while on patrol in Baghdad, Army Airborne Ranger Tim Conneway of Enterprise, Alabama lost his life. He died as the result of a terrorist attack on his vehicle, an attack which killed another Alabamian, Army Spc. Andrew Chris, age 25, of Florence.

Despite his young years, Sgt. Conneway, age 22, was no stranger to battle conditions having been in Iraq on a previous combat assignment as well as having served twice in Afghanistan. As noted in press coverage of his funeral service Tuesday in Enterprise, Sgt. Conneway was proud to follow in the family tradition of military service like his father and grandfather before him. His brother, Army Staff Sgt. Mark Conneway noted that Tim ``wanted to be a hero, and he was.''

Sgt. Conneway leaves behind a wife, Catherine, and an unborn child, as well as a whole community of friends in Enterprise. I share their sadness at the loss of such a fine and dedicated young American. America was built upon and continues to be protected by the sacrifice of such heroes. We must never ever lose sight of the fact that freedom isn't free and we shall be forever indebted to patriots like Sgt. Tim Conneway.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and family.