Providing For Consideration Of Conference Report On H.R. 2647, National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the bill. I would like to thank Chairwoman Slaughter for the time on the rule as well as House Armed Services Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for their tireless work on this bill. Their job is not easy.

Our Nation faces a war on two fronts and growing threats to our security here and abroad. As our economy struggles to recover from a meltdown, the resources we have available to devote to these problems are under increasing pressure.

It's time we bring our troops home from both Iraq and Afghanistan. I commend President Obama and his efforts to end our military presence in Iraq and look forward to helping him achieve this goal soon.

I am concerned, however, about the possible increase of troops in Afghanistan. We cannot achieve peace through the occupation of an entire country. The occupation of Afghanistan will not help us defeat the very real threat of al Qaeda. We need to take a new look at our policy, moving towards targeted operations against al Qaeda rather than the occupation of an entire country. And this can only come about through discussion and debate.

We need an exit strategy for Afghanistan, a plan for peace. This bill promotes such a plan by requiring assessment of goals in Afghanistan with timelines and by increasing numbers in the Afghan National Security Forces to prepare for the transition.

Recognizing, however, that this authorization will inevitably continue war efforts inherited from the previous administration, I take great pause in deciding to support it. But at its heart, this authorization is about more than our policy towards Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this authorization today because, in doing so, Congress finally--after nearly a decade of debate--has the opportunity to pass historic hate crimes legislation. My home State of Colorado has long had hate crimes legislation on the books, including gays and lesbians, and I am proud to stand before you as a representative of the Second Congressional District and as an original cosponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 which is included in this Defense authorization bill.

Our hate crimes legislation expands Federal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute hate crimes and provides law enforcement with another means of ensuring that the safety and rights of all Americans are

protected. It offers Federal protection for victims of hate crimes targeted because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability, as well as protecting men and women who proudly wear the uniform of the United States from hate crimes. It also provides assistance to State and local law enforcement agencies and amends Federal law to aid in the prosecution of bias-motivated crimes.

Hate crimes are not limited to the LGBT community. They occur every day in every State and perpetuate a climate of fear throughout minority communities. What makes these crimes so odious is that they are not just crimes against individuals; they're crimes against entire communities and create environments of fear in entire communities.

There is a difference between burning a cross on the lawn of an African American family and an act of simple arson. This legislation clarifies that our country has zero tolerance for hate crimes.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. I yield the gentleman 20 additional seconds.

Mr. POLIS. I rise in support today--despite my opposition to the war--of the 2009 reauthorization bill. And I thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for including the hate crimes bill and bringing this historic legislation to the floor of the House and to the desk of the President of the United States of America.

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