National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004-Conference Report-Resumed

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004-CONFERENCE REPORT-RESUMED

Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for the Department of Defense authorization conference bill before us today. The bill will strengthen our Nation's military readiness, procure vitally important weapons systems and provide for our veterans. At the same time, I wish to highlight my concerns about provisions in the bill relating to civilian defense workers and the environment.

I am pleased that the bill allows the U.S. Air Force to move forward with the KC-767 Global Tanker Transport program. By allowing the modernization of our aging tanker fleet, the bill promotes our national security and the security of our friends and allies.

I became involved in this issue more than 2 years ago after visiting Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington State, which is one of the premier basing locations for the Air Force's KC-135 refueling tankers. It was clear to me then, and it is clear to me now, that these aging planes need to be replaced.

With an average age of over 40 years, the KC-135s are the oldest planes in the Air Force, older than most of the pilots that fly them and older than virtually all large commercial aircraft.

The bill authorizes a program that will provide the Air Force one hundred KC-767 aircraft by leasing the first twenty planes and purchasing the remaining eighty. This arrangement is the result of a 2-year effort to find the best way to provide our pilots with the equipment that they desperately need, while protecting the interests of taxpayers. This has been accomplished.

I want to congratulate my colleagues, Senator Warner and Senator Levin, for their leadership on the Senate Armed Services Committee to develop a solution that will reach our goals. I also want to thank the Air Force and the Department of Defense for working to find the funds that will carry out this program.

I am particularly proud that the Air Force was able to improve our military capability by procuring an American product. Boeing has been the industry leader in the tanker market for fifty years and it has helped ensure our military's air power dominance.

The 767 is built by thousands of men and women in my home State and is sold around the world. I am excited to see that because of this legislation, the Boeing 767 tanker will keep our military flying in the 21st century.

I am also pleased that the bill provides for our Nation's veterans. I am profoundly grateful for the service of America's veterans and for the sacrifices they have made to defend our Nation and our freedom. We have an important responsibility to ensure that our veterans are provided benefits and assistance that they deserve.

Specifically, the bill authorizes that the full concurrent receipt will be phased in over a 10-year period for disabled military retirees and National Guard and Reservists who have at least 20 years of service. In each of the next 10 years, service members will receive an additional 10-percent increase, until the full concurrent receipt is reached in 2014.

The bill also expands the Combat-Related Special Compensation Program that was enacted as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 National Defense Authorization Act. This year's bill provides concurrent receipt to military retirees, National Guard and Reservists who have at least 20 years of service, any retiree who was awarded the Purple Heart, or any retiree with a service-connected disability incurred as a direct result of armed conflict, while engaged in hazardous service, in the performance of duty under conditions simulating war, or through an instrumentality of war.

A strong national defense depends on active duty forces, Guard and Reserve personnel, a civilian workforce, military contractors and military communities. Civilian workers in my State play a key role in ensuring that the U.S. military is the best-trained and best-equipped in the world. Over 16,000 highly skilled and dedicated workers in the International Association of Machinists Local 160, the Bremerton Metal Trades Council, and other unions and organizations in Kitsap County help ensure that our sailors have the ships and equipment they need to combat terrorism and protect our security.

Accordingly, I am concerned about provisions in the bill that would erode existing protections for civilian DOD workers. These provisions will set back our efforts to ensure a fair and effective civil service system. Specifically, these provisions could weaken collective bargaining rights at the local level, reduce due process protections for DOD workers, and scale back appeals rights along with protections against favoritism in hiring in the workplace.

Given the recent contributions of our civilian workers in the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan, we should not be taking away long-standing protections that have helped make the U.S. military the strongest in the world. I intend to work to ensure effective congressional oversight of the implementation of these controversial personnel provisions.

I am also troubled by provisions in the bill that would weaken current environmental protections for marine mammals and other species. For several decades, the military services have demonstrated a strong commitment to natural resource conservation while fulfilling their primary missions. Puget Sound is home to many military installations and sensitive species. Based on our experience in Washington State, I believe that we can have both the highest levels of military readiness and natural resource conservation.

However, I am very troubled that the bill would weaken both the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Both of these acts currently provide significant environmental protections, while providing the military the flexibility to conduct training and other exercises. Because species recovery efforts pose unique challenges, I believe that amendments to these acts are best considered by the Commerce Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee.

On balance, however, this bill marks a major step forward in support of America's soldiers, sailors, marines and air force personnel and our Nation's security. I am pleased to vote for it.