Buck McKeon

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of our time to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I rise to claim time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. McKEON. I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).

Mr. McKEON. I am happy to oblige.

Mr. McKEON. I thank the gentleman for his efforts in addressing such a complex and serious issue. I agree that much needs to be done to improve our contingency contracting outcomes and to preserve and integrate the lessons learned over the last 10 years. The committee report accompanying the bill takes action on many of these same concerns. The committee will pursue this issue going forward to explore additional recommendations for systemic improvements to operational combat support and stabilization and reconstruction programs, including the proposal represented by the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. McKEON. Hearing the word ``undermined'' brings to mind the fact that they are way underground building this nuclear facility. It kind of stretches the credibility thinking that they're doing that just to build a power plant. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of our time to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to H. Res. 661, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono Mack) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment No. 1 be modified in the manner that I have placed at the desk.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We have worked long and hard, the staff has worked long and hard to get us to this point. This manager's amendment that we've worked on has been worked through both sides. We have unanimous agreement on it. It's a good bill, a good addition to the bill, and I ask that it be approved. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. I do agree that protecting our men and women in the military from the detrimental effects of prescription drug misuse, especially protecting our combat-wounded servicemembers, is of vital importance. As the gentlelady knows, the committee report of H.R. 4310 includes an item of special interest that expresses the support for substance abuse treatment programs within the military services and that encourages the Department of Defense to pursue research aimed at developing new treatments to help our troops who are struggling with the devastating problem. I will be happy to work with the gentlewoman from California to consider the appropriate measures to address this critical issue.

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

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield at this time 1 minute to the ranking member of the committee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith).

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

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady), a member of the committee.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry), the vice chairman of the committee.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I submit the following letters: House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, May 11, 2012. Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McKeon: I write concerning H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, as amended. There are certain provisions in the legislation which fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. However, in order to expedite this legislation for floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action on this bill. This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation which fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference committee named to consider such provisions. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee report on H.R. 4310 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Sincerely, John L. Mica, Chairman.

Mr. McKEON

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim time in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grimm).

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I'm not as good as my friend in characterizing or talking about something, so I would just like to read from the bill what it actually says: The United States military should not maintain an indefinite combat mission and should transition to a counterterrorism and advise and assist mission at the earliest practicable date, consistent with conditions on the ground. In order to reduce this uncertainty and to promote further stability and security in Afghanistan, the President should fully consider the international security assistance force commander's assessment regarding the need for the United States to maintain a significant combat presence through 2013. And finally, maintain a force of at least 68,000 troops through December 31, 2014, unless fewer forces can achieve the United States objective. This is the policy that has been established by the Commander in Chief in consultation with the generals and the field commanders. Now, I met with General Allen, the commander in Afghanistan, about a month ago. I asked him how many troops he needed, and he said he was in the process of evaluating. He didn't have a number yet. When he got that number, he would send it back through the chain of command to the Commander in Chief. At that time, if he finds after his assessment that he may be able to withdraw troops sooner or may be able to accomplish his mission with less than 68,000, I would imagine the Commander in Chief will want to change his policy. And this allows for that because if the Commander in Chief, in consultation with the commander in the field, says that we can do it with fewer forces to achieve the objective, that's exactly what the bill says. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. McKEON. I just might note that the B 52s that have been around that their grandchildren are flying now that the original pilots flew, the B 2s, we have 20. I inquired the other day how many of them were ready to go on a mission--maybe eight. So I think that all of this talk about nuclear, the next bomber is the next generation bomber that will deliver all kinds of weapons, not just nuclear. I yield, at this time, 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Fleming).