National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak about my amendment to the Defense Authorization bill.

This amendment establishes a Global Contingency Security Fund, jointly administered by the Department of State and Department of Defense.

This fund is meant to build the capacity of foreign nations to combat terrorist organizations and to stabilize their regions, goals consistent with U.S. national security interests. The defense and security infrastructure of foreign nations varies and this fund provides State and DOD the flexibility necessary to provide training and equipment to our foreign partners where it will have the best effect.

My amendment spends no new money--rather, it allows resources to be pooled from existing monies available to State and DOD.

Additionally, it requires that human rights and legitimate civilian authority and governments are respected in every activity and use of the fund.

The best thing we can do to stabilize and strengthen volatile regions of the globe is to build partner capacity, something my amendments aims to achieve.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source