National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, the report required in this amendment is well intentioned, but the preference against incineration chooses sides on destruction technology.

We want to make sure the DOD destroys PFAS material using whatever technology performs the best and conforms to the technical standards used throughout the Federal Government.

There is a current moratorium on incineration of PFAS material until guidance on destruction and disposal is published by the administrator of the EPA.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, again, I oppose this amendment and urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, this amendment requires the Department of Defense to establish a voluntary pilot program to provide secure gun storage or safety devices for personally owned firearms. I don't think it is the DOD's responsibility. This should be the responsibility of the servicemember who owns the firearm.

Most firearm manufacturers provide gun locks with the sale of a firearm. They also are readily available at very low cost at many sporting goods stores around the country.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I still oppose the amendment. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of these amendments en bloc.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon), my friend and colleague.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Rogers for the work he and Chairman Smith did to put this bill together.

I rise in support of the en bloc package No. 2 for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023.

This bill includes three of my amendments that will directly benefit our country's national security as well as the people of Puerto Rico.

My first amendment, 413, directs the Secretary of the Army to ensure that a modular small arms range is made available for the Army Reserve in Puerto Rico.

Currently, Puerto Rico only has a single firearms range for Department of Defense personnel. It is located in Camp Santiago, which is the south part of the island, which is managed by the Puerto Rico National Guard, and it is hours away from some of our Army bases on the island. This amendment was included in the House-passed version of the NDAA last year.

Amendment 416 requires the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to investigate the health effects on the island of Vieques that may have been caused by toxic waste left by the Navy after 70 years of live-fire training. This amendment was also included in the House-passed version of the NDAA last year.

My third and final amendment, 417, would require the director of the Defense Health Agency to conduct a health-related behaviors survey among the members of all Armed Forces.

This survey, which has been conducted for the past 30 years, was last conducted in 2018. However, an updated survey is necessary to provide the Department of Defense with up-to-date information to better understand the health, health-related behaviors, and well-being of all servicemembers.

Information on topics such as access to mental healthcare, understanding the post-deployment needs, and promoting physical health are needed to identify resources and continue to improve the support provided to our servicemembers.

Lastly, I will end by expressing my support for the following amendments that I cosponsored: 958, 968, and 1001, from my friend and fellow Women's Caucus member, Representative Lawrence from Michigan, that are included in the en bloc package.

Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members to vote in favor of this en bloc package No. 2.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source