Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) for the purpose of a colloquy. He is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the gentleman, and I know the gentleman from Alabama will agree that the oversight of scarce defense dollars is important. The request for this program has spiked significantly between fiscal years 2015 and 2016. Yet, there is no real acquisition plan. The Department owes us this information if we are to be responsible stewards of these taxpayer dollars

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), the distinguished chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine).

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentlemen from Alabama and Oklahoma, both veterans, for bringing these matters to our attention, and we look forward to working with you on these important issues. However, in both instances you both highlight important warfighter capabilities that are stymied by poor program planning and execution by the Air Force. Their lack of programmatic and financial discipline has led directly to these weather collection and satellite communications issues. Consequently, our appropriations bill highlighted each of these concerns and strongly encouraged the Air Force to make adjustments. None, unfortunately, were made in a timely manner. Based on existing capability, I see no evidence that launching the DMSP is part of that plan, but I am willing to work with both gentlemen in conference if things change. I thank the gentlemen for their support and work.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the dean of the New Jersey delegation, for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank my colleague for his leadership and for bringing my attention to this important issue. And I can assure him we will look forward to working with him as we move forward with our bill into conference.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Ms. Tsongas, yes, that is my understanding.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, could you give us the time that we each have left.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to accept the withdrawal. I thank the gentlewoman for her advocacy.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I insist on my point of order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, the amendment proposes to amend portions of the bill not yet read. The amendment may not be considered en bloc under clause 2(f) of rule XXI because the amendment proposes to increase the level of outlays in the bill. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reluctantly rise to oppose the amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I know the gentleman is a strong supporter of it. Indeed, it is a program that does incredible things for students that has a proven record. Unfortunately, once again, the President's fiscal year 2016 budget did not support the program. There were no funds requested. As a result, the committee provided an additional $25 million in fiscal year 2016 to restore funding for the program. However, I can't support an amendment that would cut the Army's operations, the maintenance accounts, to pay for it. This account provides funding for critical training, operations, maintenance, and readiness programs. After over a decade of war, restoring readiness is one of the key objectives of our bill this year. We need to have soldiers who are ready and able to respond to contingency. It is a top priority in our bill for the Army and for us. While I appreciate the gentleman's intent, I cannot support his amendment, reluctantly. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time, but I am in support of the amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I understand the Representative from Arizona has firsthand knowledge of the value of the southwest border mission, and I support his amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise to support your amendment. I think all of us are particularly shocked that they would shut something down in our home State that actually serves the rest of the Nation. They enjoy a good reputation. It sort of falls into the category of ``what were they thinking?'' We appreciate your standing for the Vets4Warriors.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I do insist on my point of order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I strongly admire the advocacy on behalf of suicide prevention by the gentleman from Arizona. It is very needed, but I insist on my point of order because the amendment proposes to amend portions of the bill not yet read. The amendment may not be considered en bloc under clause 2(f) of rule XXI because the amendment proposes to increase the level of outlays in the bill. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition and will use that time to say that I support the amendment.