Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009

Floor Speech

SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2009 -- (Senate - May 20, 2009)

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The Senator from Idaho [Mr. Risch], for himself, Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Bond, proposes an amendment numbered 1143.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

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Mr. RISCH. Mr. President and fellow Senators, I come to the floor to offer this important amendment. What this amendment does is simply appropriates $2 billion to the National Guard and Reserve equipment account. Mechanically, it does this by permitting the OMB to rescind $2 billion that has been previously appropriated in the stimulus package. It exempts from the rescission funds related to the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and part of title X of that bill relating to military construction and veterans and related agencies. Otherwise, the OMB is directed to rescind $2 billion, which is the amount authorized for the National Guard and Reserve equipment account.

The reason for the amendment is that as our Guard units and Reserve units have been asked to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan over recent years, their equipment has been badly depleted. I have personal experience with this, as our Guard unit from Idaho had been dispatched to Iraq and spent time there. When they came back, a lot of their equipment was necessarily left behind for the use of the Iraqis and for the use of other American troops who were going to stay in Iraq. We have in Idaho over a period of time gone through a process by which some of this equipment has been replaced but not all. Obviously, this amendment does not apply just to Idaho; it applies to all States, all National Guard units, all Reserve units.

This is something that is badly needed. The National Guard certainly performs a valuable service to the Governors of each of the States, to the people of each of the States. This bill will help them get the equipment that badly needs replacing back in the queue where it belongs and back where it can be used by these Guard units and Reserve units.

Thank you, Mr. President.

BThe PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Burris). The Senator from Mississippi.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I wish to compliment the distinguished Senator from Idaho. He puts his finger on a problem that affects not only Idaho but some other States as well, including my State of Mississippi, where we have had a large number of National Guard and Reserve officers, too--but his amendment goes directly to the National Guard--deployed to the theater, engaged in serious and dangerous operations in the theater, and we appreciate the fact that they are in need of having equipment and weapons that are suitable for the tasks and the challenges they face. It is a dangerous environment. This amendment will help deal with that serious problem. I thank the Senator for bringing it to the attention of the Senate.

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I thank the Senator. As has been pointed out, this is a situation that a number of States face. It will not cost any additional taxpayer dollars. It is a wise expenditure of taxpayer dollars.

I note the absence of a quorum.

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