Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my two amendments that were made part of the en bloc that we are debating.

My first amendment reflects congressional intent for the Army to prioritize necessary funding for its combat development centers. These centers throughout the United States play a critical role in ensuring a capable and ready ground force.

Take, for example, Fort Polk, which is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center, JRTC, located in Louisiana's Fourth Congressional District near my home. Fort Polk JRTC provides invaluable training to prepare for the unique situations and challenges a unit may face while being deployed.

As we continue to grow our ground forces, investing in the necessary infrastructure to replace the existing facilities at Fort Polk, such as the Joint Operations Center, we remember, is paramount. This much- needed upgrade would allow our troops better training and ensure full readiness for when our men and women in uniform are called upon to defend freedom around the world.

My second amendment ensures congressional intent that the Air Force continues to maintain its revised plan for construction and upgrades to the Weapons Generation Facility enterprise. Ensuring these critical upgrades to those facilities is critical to the national security interests of the U.S., especially given the recent aggressive actions from our adversary. Deterrence is a requisite to maintaining peace, and if Congress is going to be serious about preserving our nuclear infrastructure, these upgrades must be prioritized.

My home State of Louisiana has invested millions of dollars to pave the way for the Weapons Generation Facility at Barksdale Air Force Base, home to Global Strike Command. I urge the Air Force to continue to work with Congress and the Louisiana delegation to support the wide array of strategic deterrence that we do there at Global Strike.

Madam Chair, in closing, I am proud to represent both these vital military installations here in Congress. Both are critical to our national security interests in the United States, and I appreciate the Appropriations Committee for giving it due attention.

Madam Chair, I urge support of both amendments.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ.

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