Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, as we begin consideration of this important legislation, all of us in this Chamber want to pay tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces--all volunteers. They deserve our heartfelt thanks for their incredible service and sacrifices, and that of their families. Everything we do over the next few days should be dedicated to them. My colleagues, the fiscal year 2015 Department of Defense Appropriations bill was reported out unanimously by the full Appropriations Committee on June 10. This recommendation is a product of countless staff hours, 10 official briefings, and 13 hearings. Most of our hearings related to assuring success and reducing risk for our warfighters in their mission. It is worth noting that one of these hearings was exclusively dedicated to taking testimony from Members of the House on their views, opinions, and priorities for this year's Defense Appropriations bill. I want to thank those Members who took time to inform and educate the committee, as well as other Members who made specific requests. At the outset, I would also like to thank Chairman Hal Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey for their support of our committee's work. As they know, this bill is a product of a bipartisan and cooperative effort, for which I thank my good friend, the ranking member, Pete Visclosky. He has been a valuable partner throughout this whole process. Thanks to all members of the committee and to our incredible staff. The base funding recommendation is $491 billion, which is $202 million above the President's request and $4.1 billion above last year's enacted level. As many Members are aware, the committee has not yet received the President's recommendation for overseas contingency operations--the OCO budget, as it is known--so we are forced to include a $79.4 billion placeholder in our legislation. Our committee operates in a completely transparent and accountable manner, so clearly, this is not the way we wanted to proceed to the floor--with no details, with no context, with no facts for those accounts. We have pressed the administration at every opportunity to get us the OCO plan. The administration has told us for months that it is finalizing its plan for the enduring U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, which will have a serious impact on the size of that funding request. Three weeks ago, the President announced his plans for U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan beyond this year. The Army and Marines have already closed down bases and removed tons of equipment. Still, we have no request and are forced to debate a placeholder of nearly $80 billion. While the Afghan Presidential elections are still unsettled, the leading candidates support the bilateral security agreement, supposedly the anchor for this funding request. What is the holdup? We need to get on with it. I have to say that many people find it just a bit bizarre that the administration has proclaimed its opposition to the bill yesterday, when they have failed to do their job and lay out their game plan for overseas operations. Whatever the recommendation we ultimately receive, we will closely examine their request because we still have troops and civilians on the ground, and no matter the number, they need to be protected. Of course, we will also consider the deepening war and conflict in Iraq, the continuing disintegration of Syria, the aggressiveness of Russia in Eastern Europe and China in the Pacific, and the growing influence of Iran, increased terrorist attacks around the globe, especially in Africa. While the administration feels the pending OCO request will have a great deal to do with our enduring U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, in reality, their request will have a great deal to do with our enduring role in the fight to protect Americans and our homeland from a growing list of global threats. Even though we have returned to regular order this year, the committee faced many challenges in crafting this year's defense bill, but we have held firm to two guiding principles: ensuring that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend our Nation and support their families; and, secondly, ensuring that the Department of Defense and our intelligence community have the resources they need to carry out their mission in the most efficient and effective manner. Our goal throughout this bill is to support our warfighters, now and in the future, whenever the next crisis arises. At the same time, our committee clearly recognizes the Nation's debt crisis. We found areas and programs where reductions were possible without adverse impact. Finally, it is important to note that we make every dollar count, without harming readiness or increasing risk incurred by our warfighters. The bill before you attempts to meet those responsibilities within current fiscal restraints, while leaving no question for our allies and adversaries about our will and our ability to defend ourselves and our interests around the world. America must continue to lead, and this bipartisan bill enables that. Let me highlight, briefly, just a few items included in this fiscal year 2015 Defense Appropriations request. It includes an additional $1.2 billion to fill readiness shortfalls; $534 million to fully fund the authorized 1.8 percent pay raise for our troops; $789 million to begin the refueling of the USS George Washington--a vital power projection platform; $5.8 billion for a total of 38 Joint Strike Fighters; $975 million to buy 12 additional electronic attack Growlers; $120 million to upgrade M1 Abrams tanks; $351 million for the very important Israeli Cooperative Program; and an additional $39 million for suicide prevention activities--$19 million of it targeted specifically to our Special Forces. These are but a few examples of our commitment to the U.S. military dominance across the air, land, and sea, our commitment to our allies and partners, and our commitment to our servicemembers--all volunteers--and their families. Mr. Chairman, I understand all--all of us do--that Americans are weary after 13 years of war. Despite the proclamations of some that al Qaeda and its followers have been decimated, the American people must understand the reality that terrorism is actually spreading worldwide. Yes, our enemies have sustained serious damage, inflicted by the most skillful and powerful military intelligence organization on the globe, but in many cases, these enemies have adapted and grown to become even more dangerous. We are witnessing an alarming collapse in Iraq. The central government now controls less than half of its sovereign territory, as it reels before a full-blown insurgency. The concept of an autonomous jihadi state or caliphate determined to attack the West is an unacceptable development that demands a response. We pivot elsewhere at our peril. National defense is the priority job of the Federal Government. Our Constitution grants Congress the full range of authorities for establishing the defense of our Nation. Our task in this House is to ensure that our military is ready to respond when the Commander in Chief calls. This legislation moves us towards a state of current and future military readiness that will protect America, and I urge its passage. I reserve the balance of my time. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.007 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH18JN14.008

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the full Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I am pleased to yield to the chairman an additional minute.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), a member of our Defense Subcommittee.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman, my colleague, for yielding on this important issue. I agree that upgrading these legacy aircraft is vital to our Nation's defense. It is our job, as elected officials, to protect our citizens, and the mission of the Aerospace Control Alert aircraft does just that. I will work to ensure that we include report language in conference, or take other appropriate steps regarding this issue, as we work through the appropriations process. I thank my colleague and friend from New Jersey for bringing this vital concern to my attention.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman from New York's kind words. The committee recognized that suicide remains a very serious problem in the military, particularly among National Guard and Reserve troops. I am proud to say that our bill strongly supports the efforts of the services to address this crisis. The report includes language which speaks directly to the gentleman's interest in the pilot program that was created to treat servicemembers suffering from mental health disorders in the National Guard and Reserve components through community partnerships. In addition, the bill provides $158 million in requested funding for suicide prevention, mental health, and risk resiliency programs for the services. This includes an extra $39 million for suicide prevention programs, including the $19 million specifically for our special operators. All the military services have taken significant steps to make suicide prevention a top priority and to improve the resiliency and health of our servicemembers. We support those efforts, and I will continue to work with the gentleman from New York and his colleague, Mr. King, to address these important issues.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The committee has a long history of support for international sporting competitions. Ranking Member Visclosky and I will work with you to ensure that the remaining prior year balances appropriated for this purpose are spent for their intended purpose.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I understand the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office's mission is to provide the families of servicemembers lost in battle or taken as prisoners of war with information and, in applicable cases, to recover personnel from World War II, the Korean war, the cold war, the Vietnam war, and the Iraqi theater of operations. I fully support the office and the work they do in searching and reuniting lost soldiers with their families. Returning the fallen servicemembers to their families is a priority, and I support your strong efforts and advocacy on behalf of Major Smith and his family. It is commendable. We honor it, and I thank you for bringing this to our attention.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time as well.

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

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

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. First, I commend you on your amendment, and I withdraw my reservation.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?