National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 26, 2005)

* Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation. I am especially pleased that the amendment I will offer later today has been accepted. I will support this bill because it contains several important provisions that are good for our troops, good for our national security, and good for Connecticut's economy.

* Every Member of this body understands our troops represent the very best of America. The bill authorizes additional funding for equipment so desperately needed by troops serving in Iraq and those fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan and elsewhere--up-armored Humvees, tactical wheeled vehicle recapitalization and I modernization programs, night vision devices and improvised explosive device (IED) jammers. The bill also provides our troops with a 3.1 percent pay raise for members of the armed forces and increases bonuses for active duty enlistments, reserve enlistments and active duty re-enlistments. Each

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of these measures is necessary to stem the decline in recruiting and retention among our Armed Forces.

* This legislation also makes good on our obligations to provide for the families of those who make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It increases the death gratuity to $100,000, allows dependents of deceased servicemembers to continue receiving housing benfits for one year, and expands travel authorizations for families of hospitalized servicemembers. This is the right thing to do, and I strongly support these provisions.

* The bill also contains an important provision requested by myself and several of my colleagues regarding the Marine One helicopter program. It ensures that the Navy will not procure the helicopter until it can certify that its design is essentially complete. In doing so, this provision ensures this program does not waste taxpayer dollars in the rush to field the President's helicopter.

* Unfortunately, there are other provisions in this bill that I believe are not in the best interests of the American people or our national security.

* First, over the objections of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it restricts the role of women in combat. Congress ought to charge the military with the responsibility to move people into jobs and positions based on merit. But excluding women from combat effectively creates two classes of servicemember, which is both bad for morale and may ultimately limit the ability of women to receive promotions in the future. Regrettably, the military already suffers from a case of not having enough women in senior positions, and this bill threatens to make that problem worse, not better.

* And this bill misses two real opportunities to make a tangible difference in the lives of the men and women of our Armed Services and their families. Firstly, it does nothing to expand the availability of health care to members of the Reserves and their families, even though there are more than 100,000 Reservists and National Guardsmen currently on the front lines of Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world.

* And incredibly, this bill does nothing about the military families tax and the disabled veterans tax. At a time when Congress has repealed the tax on inherited wealth--the estate tax--it is unconscionable that we would continue to tax those who have become disabled in service to their country and the survivors benefits of those killed in combat. To my mind, that is the real ``death tax,'' Mr. Speaker--taxing the families of those whose loved ones gave their lives and their livelihoods to this great country of ours. They deserve better.

* Of course, the alternative to the bill is delay. And we cannot afford to put off the much-deserved pay raise for our troops in this bill or the purchase of new equipment that they so desperately need. Because we have an obligation to act now, I support the bill. But it is my hope that Congress will address these important issues--and soon.

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