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

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for their leadership and their steadfast support for our men and women in uniform.

The portion of this bill that relates to our strategic forces legislation reflects broad bipartisan agreement. The conference report retains a provision to establish the stockpile management program, strengthen the stockpile stewardship program and preserve the intellectual infrastructure.

I am pleased that the report includes a provision on the START follow-on treaty, which makes it clear that the treaty should not include limitations on missile defense or advanced conventional weapons; and that the enhanced safety, security and reliability of the nuclear weapons stockpile and modernization of the nuclear weapons complex are key to enabling further stockpile reductions.

I am disappointed that the conference sustains the President's cut of $1.2 billion to our missile defense systems. These cuts come despite significant activity in Iran and North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.

I introduced a provision which would have increased funds for the European missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic and open the door to an alternative only if the Secretary of Defense certified that it was at least as cost effective and operationally available as the Czech and Polish-based system. Unfortunately, my amendment was diluted as the Defense bill passed. However, I still expect the administration to address its intent.

In missile defense, I am pleased that the report authorizes an increase of $20 million to sustain the GMD industrial base and $23 million for additional SM-3 interceptors.

In another area, I am concerned that this report does not include the House-passed language protecting child custody arrangements for servicemembers. I want to thank Chairman Skelton for his bipartisan support on this issue. The language which I offered has consistently been opposed by the Senate and the Department of Defense, although it has passed the House four times.

While the report includes a study to be undertaken by March 31, 2010, studying this issue and waiting for States to enact custody protections is not a strategy to solve this problem. Our men and women in uniform serve in a Federal military and deserve Federal action on this issue.

I appreciate the work that has been done on this bill.

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