National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005 -- (House of Representatives - May 19, 2004)
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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton for their leadership in bringing this bill before the House. I honor after dedication to our uniformed men and women, and their families and dependents.
I have often criticized our military budget. There is simply too much waste, too much duplication, too much fraud and abuse. We fund weapon systems that don't work, or contribute to a new arms race, or both. On these matters, I will support the amendment to be offered later today by Congresswoman Tauscher and my Massachusetts colleague Congressman Markey.
I believe, however, that this bill makes important contributions to protecting our troops in the field and to the welfare of their families.
H.R. 4200 fixes the long-standing problem of the Social Security offset for our military retirees and their survivors,
which is a top priority for my constituents. The Survivor Benefit Plan currently penalizes over 225,000 aging survivors, mostly widows of our nation's veterans. These survivors are forced to give up more than one-third of their retirement benefit when they become eligible for Social Security. Mr. Chairman, this is simply wrong.
Bipartisan legislation to fix the Survivor Benefit Plan was introduced over a year ago by our colleague form Florida, Congressman Miller, and despite having 336 cosponsors, was left to languish. So, I salute the Committee for ending this injustice by providing a five-year phase-out of the Social Security offset.
I strongly support the increased funding for Armored Humvees, to outfit currently deployed Humvees with ballistic armor, and for Interceptor body armor. This bill also reimburses military personnel who had to purchase their own body armor because the Pentagon failed to provide them with protection.
I also want to thank the Committee for including an initiative for income replacement payments to Reservists who experience a reduction to income from their civilian life. I believe this is an important step that should be extended to National Guard members, especially for those who have experienced extended deployments. The financial stress faced by the families of our active-duty Reserve and Guard is well-known to every Member of this House, and I believe we must respond in a far more comprehensive way if we expect to honor their service and sacrifice, retain current personnel, and attract future candidates for service. I am deeply disappointed that the Republican majority will not allow Congressman Lantos to offer his amendment, which would help equalize the difference in income for federal workers who have been called to active-duty in the Reserves. I am an original cosponsor on Congressional Lantos' legislation that would provide such funding, and I am very proud that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has already implemented such a program for state employees who have been activated. I simply do not see why we cannot do the same for federal employees nation-wide.
I also want to thank the Committee for its strong bipartisan support for keeping in place the limits on the number of U.S. military troops and contractors in Colombia, and I thank our colleagues from Mississippi, GENE TAYLOR, for his leadership on this issue.
Mr. Chairman, I want to be clear: Even though I support this bill I have serious concerns about U.S. Policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. This bill cannot be a blank check. Our policies are in serious trouble in both countries. The Bush Administration must, I believe, change course if we are to have any hope of brining security, stability and representative government to the region.
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