Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2015

Floor Speech

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 4435, the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. I especially want to thank Chairman McKeon for working with my staff and I to include section 1072 in his Manager Amendment.

As we draw down our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, military equipment used in theater can be used to enhance border security at home, and in the process, save taxpayer dollars.

Section 1072 modifies current law, last updated in 1996 before the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, which guides the transfer of excess military equipment to provide preference for ``border security activities.''

This change puts border security, and the Department of Homeland Security, on equal footing with the Department of Justice and the Office of National Drug Control Policy so the Department's border security components can readily tap into excess military equipment on a preferential basis.

In the past, United States Customs and Border Protection has missed out on thousands of articles of DoD excess gear because the equipment is distributed on a first-come first-serve basis, notwithstanding statutory preference in under current law.

Section 1072 will bring the law up to date and will allow the operators on the ground protecting our border to more effectively complete their mission.

Again, I want to thank Chairman McKeon and the staff of the Armed Services Committee for working with me to include this important provision in this year's NDAA.

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