Rodney Frelinghuysen

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the gentleman from Arizona's amendment, which would cut $3.6 billion from the Overseas Contingencies Operations budget. The committee believes that the Army's fiscal year 2012 operation and maintenance requests for Overseas Contingencies Operations may be overstated due to unrealistic planning assumptions. However, due to the great deal of uncertainty of the justification for the Army's O&M budget request, the committee added an appropriations account, the Overseas Contingencies Operations Transfer Fund Account, and shifted $5 billion of funding from the Army into this account. This account gives the Secretary of Defense flexibility to reprogram these funds for unforeseen requirements which emerged during 2012. For example, if redeployment from Afghanistan were to be accelerated--and some would suggest it should be--there will be a very significant increase in personnel and equipment transportation costs in fiscal year 2012. Examples of requirements, which emerged during the year of budget execution in prior years, include funding for the MRAP vehicles, the mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, additional body armor that was needed, and other force protection things, joint, what we call joint urgent operational needs. And, of course, there are always spikes in fuel costs. So for these and many other reasons, Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment and urge others to do so as well. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We would like to commend you for your amendment, and we would be willing to accept it.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I would be pleased to enter into a colloquy on behalf of Chairman Young with you, sir.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. First of all, the committee would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois for his service in the Air National Guard, and obviously his service in Congress. The gentleman from Illinois has made a compelling argument, and we are prepared to accept his amendment. However, we want to be clear that we will continue to study the issue as we support the continued advancement of the safety of all of our pilots. We just want to make that understood. It needs more study. We are in support of your amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, the gentlewoman's amendment would essentially cap funding for military bands at $200 million and reverse a decision of the body earlier this evening. The band's main mission is music, with a secondary wartime mission for security. Band members train for security, and given the shortage of guards, security is often the band members' go-to-war mission. Every soldier is taught their basic combat skills and can secure the perimeter. The Department of Defense strongly believes that military bands are vital to recruiting, retaining, and community relations, and that they provide patriotic, inspirational music to instill in soldiers, sailors, and airmen the will to fight and win, and foster the support of our citizens and promote national interests. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment and urge others to oppose it. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of the point of order, and I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, the gentlewoman has an amendment to reduce the overseas contingency operation--aka the war on terror--by $33 billion. She intends for this amendment to support, as she says, an orderly withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. However, such a reduction would, in fact, severely disrupt and suspend a redeployment from Afghanistan. The magnitude of her funding reduction would also threaten the ability to support troop pay and safety. The committee has provided funds to begin the redeployment of troops in Afghanistan. If the redeployment from Afghanistan were to be accelerated, there would be significant increases in personnel, equipment, and transportation costs in fiscal year 2012. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment and urge others to do likewise. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. We oppose this amendment for the same reason we opposed the gentlewoman's amendment from California on the last. It would be highly disruptive to our troops and, I think, put them at great risk for their personal safety. So we oppose the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I move to strike the final word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I rise in opposition to the amendment. I yield to the gentleman from California for any comments he may have.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I continue to be opposed, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I move to strike the last word.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in favor of the amendment. I have been very much involved in peer-reviewed prostate cancer research in my home State. I have certainly made a commitment to that community to support additional funds. We are willing to accept the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I associate my remarks with the ranking member from Washington State in opposing this amendment. NATO is a strong ally. We have a multiple-year generational commitment to NATO. We do a lot of joint projects, a lot of research and development that is jointly developed, and we need their support and they need our support. I rise in opposition to Mr. Broun's amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.