Hearing of the House Rules Committee - H.R. 1540 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

Statement

Chairman Dreier, Ranking Member Slaughter, and Members of the
Committee on Rules:

Thank you for allowing to me to speak in support of the RICHARDSON
Amendment to H.R. 1540, the Defense Authorization Act of 2011. Let
me also thank Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith for their
work on this bill arid their devotion to the men and women of the
Armed Forces.

Richardson Amendment #1

Richardson Amendment #1 improves the bill by instructing the
TRANSPORTATION COMMAND (TRANSCOM) to update and expand the
PORT LOOK 2008 Strategic Seaports study. This amendment was
included in last year's defense authorization act and I believe should be
included again and in each year to come to make sure this study
remains up to date.

* This study remains a crucial tool to ensure that our ports are
ready to respond in the case of an emergency,
* As we strive to improve our infrastructure in and around our
strategic ports, we must fully understand how the entire port area
can serve our defense forces and what improvements are
necessary.

Richardson Amendment #2

I would like to thank the Armed Services Committee for accepting my
second amendment en bloc. This amendment increases the
effectiveness of the Northern Command (({NORTHCOM"). NORTHCOM
was created on 1 October 2002 in the aftermath of the 11 September
2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and
support local, state, and federal authorities. In case of national
emergencies, natural or man-made, which are happening all too
frequently these days, its Air Forces Northern National Security
Emergency Preparedness Directorate will take charge of the situation
or event.

My amendment will express the sense of Congress that NORTHCOM:

* Develop and has in place a leadership strategy that will
strengthen and foster institutional and interpersonal relationships
with state and local governments and;

* Utilizes training programs to teach key personnel how to lead
effectively in the event of a disaster and during uncertain times.

The purpose for NorthCom's existence is to bring the capabilities and
the resources of the U.S. military to the assistance of the American
people during a catastrophic disaster. NORTHCOM leaders will be
much more effective in saving lives, protecting assets, and enhancing
resilience after the disaster has occurred if they are trained in the
techniques of effective engagement with civilian leadership. My
amendment demonstrates congressJs support for such training.

I also would like to note my strong· support for the Garamendi
amendment to strike section 1034 from the bill. This is a broad and
unwarranted expansion of executive power and an ill-considered
enlargement of the War on Terror.

I am concerned that this will shift resources away from preventing an
attack and towards an unachievable military defeat of terrorist groups.
This expansive new definition for the use of force is both unnecessary
and potentially dangerous} particularly since Section 1034 does not
require the President to obtain the express approval of Congress prior
to using military force.

For these reasons I urge the Rules Committee to make my
amendments in order. Thank you.

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