Martha McSally

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. One of the core missions of the Department of Homeland Security is to share threat information with State and local first responders. Fusion centers are a key mechanism for that process. As fusion centers continue to mature into national assets, Congress must ensure the Department of Homeland Security is supporting fusion centers with the resources needed to keep our communities safe. Once again, I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 3503. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3503, the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2015. We have made improvements since the 9/11 attacks, the Boston Marathon bombings, and Fort Hood to increase and enhance the Nation's ability to detect and prevent terrorist attacks. However, the elevated potential for attacks carried out by individuals either directed or inspired by radical violent extremism reinforces that there is more work to be done, especially breaking down information-sharing stovepipes. Ensuring that the Federal Government is sharing intelligence and homeland security information with State and local officials is a vital component to that effort. In June, I visited the Arizona Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Center, or the ACTIC, my State's fusion center. I saw firsthand how fusion centers are disseminating Federal threat and intelligence information out to emergency responder providers, as well as collecting State and local information, and fusing it with Federal intelligence to enhance terrorist investigations and create a more complete picture. While fusion centers are continuing to mature, I am concerned about the lack of small cities' and rural areas' representation in fusion centers. As we continue to enhance the Nation's ability to share intelligence information, we need to ensure that all emergency service providers have access to this vital information. To help break down the information-sharing stovepipes, the ACTIC and 77 other fusion centers across the country need greater access to intelligence and information from the Department of Homeland Security and its components. Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 3503 along with Chairman McCaul, Chairman King, and Representatives Barletta and Loudermilk to ensure that the Department is providing fusion centers with the resources needed to protect our Nation from terrorist attacks and other emergencies. This bill passed the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence and the full Committee on Homeland Security by voice vote with bipartisan support. I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk) for adding two important provisions to this bill during the full committee markup. These provisions ensure that the Department of Homeland Security's information technology systems are user-friendly for State and local analysts, and require the Under Secretary of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis to sign a memorandum of understanding with each fusion center to ensure that each center is aware of what information can be publicly disclosed. Also, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Nunes of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and his staff for working with me and the Committee on Homeland Security to get this bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3503, as amended, requires the Government Accountability Office, GAO, to conduct an assessment of the Department of Homeland Security personnel detailed to fusion centers and whether deploying additional personnel from several of the departmental components will enhance threat and homeland security information sharing. Having an unbiased assessment of staffing levels and responsibilities for Department of Homeland Security personnel deployed to fusion centers will be valuable in making decisions moving forward on the appropriate staffing levels. Additionally, this bill applauds the effort of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis in establishing a program to provide top secret clearances to appropriate State and local analysts in fusion centers. To ensure that this initiative is carried out efficiently and in a manner that ensures operational security, the bill requires DHS to submit a onetime report to Congress. The committee has received testimony from State and local law enforcement about the value additional clearances will provide. The need for top secret clearances was also a key finding of the committee's Foreign Fighter Task Force, of which I was proud to be a member. It is especially timely that we are considering this bill today. This week is the annual conference held by the National Fusion Center Association. This bill will help ensure that our State and local law enforcement officers, as well as fire and EMS personnel, are getting access to the information they need to protect our communities. Since the summer, our country has been at its highest threat posture since 9/11, given the large number of foreign fighters and ISIS- inspired plots. It is essential that Congress ensure that all of the dots are being connected. I urge all Members to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, October 28, 2015. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security, Washington,

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise to pay tribute to an important Hispanic leader and public servant from my district, the late Governor Raul Castro. Born in Cananea, Mexico, and growing up outside of Douglas, Arizona, Governor Castro overcame many obstacles in his early life and attended the Arizona State Teachers College. He earned a law degree from the University of Arizona, later serving as Pima County attorney, a superior court judge, and the first Mexican- American to serve as the Governor of the State of Arizona. He has also served as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, Bolivia, and Argentina. Next week, I will join officials from around Arizona for a ceremony renaming the Douglas port of entry after Governor Castro. I can think of no more fitting tribute for a man who served as a role model and bridge to a generation of young Hispanics looking to enter public life. We are a stronger and more diverse Nation thanks to the influence and hard work of Hispanic Americans like Governor Castro, and I am proud to join in recognizing their invaluable contributions this month.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, we are called the people's House for a reason. We are sent to Washington to be the direct voices of our constituents back home. Last week, it was my honor to take action on an issue that was originally brought to my attention by one of my constituents from Green Valley, Arizona. Loren Thorson served in World War II as a Navy commander. When he saw a report 5 years ago describing a little-known tax increase in the Affordable Care Act that is hurting families and is scheduled to hit seniors in 2017, he looked into it and knew something had to be done. He has sent letters, made phone calls, written editorials, and done much more to raise the alarm about this little-known issue. After hearing about this issue from him, my office has worked with Members from both parties in the House and in the Senate to move the issue forward and fix it. Those efforts resulted in my introduction last week of bipartisan legislation, with my lead, to repeal this tax hike and put Loren's ideas into action. Mr. Speaker, this is how our government is supposed to work. I am grateful for Loren's tireless efforts to protect seniors and middle class families, and I will continue to work to advance his and my constituents' ideas in Congress.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2786) to require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit a report on cross-border rail security, and for other purposes.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2786, the Cross-Border Rail Security Act of 2015. First, I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vela), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, for introducing this thoughtful bill and working in a collaborative manner as this legislation moved through the committee process. Mr. Speaker, this legislation requires the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection to submit a report to Congress that outlines how and when high-risk rail shipments entering the United States are scanned for potential risks. The impetus for this legislation was a recent inspector general report that found CBP was inadequately targeting high-risk rail shipments arriving in the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. This bill will help Congress better understand the frequency and location of such high-risk shipments and detail the current state of radiation detection equipment on our international railways. Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues who also live along the border know, each year approximately 2.7 million containers enter the United States by rail. While most of the commodities transferred by rail do not pose significant homeland security threats, we must ensure that we are properly identifying and targeting those shipments which are high risk and conduct physical scanning when necessary. To ensure proper oversight, it is very important to understand the capabilities of CBP, including the number, location, and type of detection equipment used at each cross-border rail crossing. We also need to understand what additional equipment and training is necessary to ensure our rail cargo system is secure. As we know, proper training is an important force multiplier which will help maximize effectiveness of our Customs and Border Protection Officers, reducing wait times and increasing security. Finally, H.R. 2786 requires the Government Accountability Office to perform a series of audits over CBP's targeting of cross-border rail shipments. Mr. Speaker, rail cargo is expected to increase over the next 10 years. This bill will ensure CBP adequately addresses this vulnerability and implements proper standards of screening and targeting for rail cargo. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2786. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2786. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 2835, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015. This bill, which I introduced in June, seeks to increase the hiring of military veterans for Customs and Border Protection officer positions vital to our security here at home. The Border Jobs for Veterans Act addresses two critical priorities: ensuring full staffing at our ports of entry and helping separating servicemembers transition to civilian life. My district includes over 80 miles of the U.S. border as well as several ports of entry. I visited our ports in Nogales and Douglas numerous times to hear about their operations firsthand and have seen the critical law enforcement duties carried out by CBP officers at these ports, such as screening visitors, returning U.S. citizens, and cargo entering the United States. In June, the Port Authority chair for the Mariposa port of entry in Nogales, just outside my district, reported that, while staffing numbers have grown nationally, ``staffing numbers at Nogales and the Tucson Sector have remained essentially stagnant in recent memory while demand continues to grow.'' The port also estimates that CBP's Tucson field office is currently operating at a 20-percent staffing deficit. While new hires have occurred since then, CBP estimates the Tucson field office still needs to fill roughly 200 officer positions. In my conversations with CBP officers, they have repeatedly told me that inadequate staffing levels hamper their ability to do their jobs. They cite problems with recruiting and retention of new officers as well as lengthy and cumbersome hiring process, including delays due to backlogs of the necessary background checks. After a recent reduction in that process by roughly 50 percent, it still takes 180 days to hire a new officer at ports where there is a strong need now. These hurdles to hiring acts as an impediment to cross-border trade that powers both Arizona and the Nation's economy. According to the Arizona-Mexico Commission, more than 41.6 billion dollars' worth of trade flows through Arizona's ports of entry, $16 billion of which is attributed to bilateral trade with Mexico. But inadequate staffing at these ports of entry slows the flow of trade coming across the border, costing businesses millions of dollars, and ultimately hurts our attractiveness as a transportation and trade hub, something we simply cannot afford. Each year approximately 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed Forces separate from military service. I recently visited the Veterans One-Stop Center in Pima County in my district, which helps veterans find employment after they leave the military, and I listened to their challenges and their stories firsthand. Who better to address this shortfall and help to secure our ports than the highly trained patriotic Americans who just recently separated from the Armed Forces? That is why H.R. 2835 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to work with the Department of Defense to enhance our efforts to recruit members of the military who are separating to serve as Customs and Border Protection officers. These efforts must include participation in relevant job fairs, transition programs, partnerships between CBP field offices and local military bases, and the identification of ways to streamline the transfer of background checks and security clearances. This bill offers the men and women of our military another opportunity to serve the Nation. All DHS has to do is make sure that they are aware of the opportunities available at our Nation's 329 ports of entry. I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Flake, McCain, Johnson, and Schumer, and their staffs for working on the Senate companion legislation and their help on the text of this bill. I also want to thank Chairman Thornberry and his staff for working with us to move this bill forward. I urge all Members to join me in supporting the Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015. I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, September 25, 2015. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning H.R. 2835, the Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015, which has been referred to the Committee on Armed Services. In order to expedite this legislation for floor consideration, the committee will forgo action on this bill. The committee's waiver is conditional on our mutual understanding that you will amend H.R. 2835 to reflect the changes agreed to by our staffs. 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 provisions contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to appoint members of the committee to any conference committee convened 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. 2835 and into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Sincerely, William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry, Chairman.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2835) to actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection officers, as amended.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2835. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of those who do not have a voice today in this debate, and that is the over 500 servicemen and -women who died in Iraq because of the export of vehicle-borne IED technology by Iran, by the brutal terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani who used money from Iran--and he will be getting more money in order to export with the sole purpose to kill American troops--and the thousands who were wounded. I deployed to this region six times in my military career, and our military is concerned about this administration turning their back on the men and women who died and the strength that they need in order to keep that region safe and secure. This is a slap in the face to those who paid that sacrifice. Qasem Soleimani is a brutal man. We have studied him throughout my entire military career. He is exporting terror all over the region and not just in the region. He is responsible for deaths in places like India and Latin America. He is funding money to the Assad regime--over 250,000 dead--Hezbollah and Hamas. I sat a few weeks ago on the edge of the Gaza Strip, where thousands of rockets were launched last summer, killing innocent civilians in Israel. Israelis have 7 to 30 seconds to run to shelter when these rockets are coming. They are funded and exported by Qasem Soleimani and Iran. We stood up on the northern border near where Hezbollah, funded by Iran, is stockpiling over 100,000 rockets, ready to launch at the Israeli people. This is a dangerous deal. This is not about a choice between this deal or war. Those of us who served in the military, we want war less than anybody else. We know the price. We want diplomacy. Those sanctions were working. We just cranked them up in the last 18 months. They are cash-strapped in Iran. They are fighting in between the desires in their different factions of how they are going to use that money to continue to move their nuclear program forward or export terror. We had them exactly where we wanted, and then we gave up.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, if we give them these funds, with the arms embargo and the ICBM embargo, it is going to be a more dangerous military action, and more American lives will be lost. It is not this deal in war. This will deal in, potentially, war. On behalf of our American troops, I would ask you to please vote against this deal. It is dangerous for the many reasons my colleagues have mentioned, but do it on behalf of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the anniversary of September 11, 2001, when Islamist terrorists attacked our country, killing nearly 3,000 innocent people. While that day brought terrible destruction, it also sparked a renewed sense of determination and unity that should not be forgotten. Today, we must recognize that the threat from Islamist extremism is as great as ever. We are in a generational fight against terrorists like ISIS who seek our complete destruction and that of our allies and our way of life. We must remain vigilant and have the courage and will to stand against this evil to protect Americans and ensure our enemies never have a chance to attack us again. This week, we remember Americans who lost their lives 14 years ago-- Americans like Aaron Jeremy Jacobs and Karol Ann Keasler, both born in Tucson, Arizona, and killed in New York City--and we remember the bravery and selfless acts of the first responders and ordinary citizens who put themselves in danger so that others may live. Our thoughts and our prayers continue to be with the family and friends of those who died.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Col. James Isaac Wheeler, who passed away on August 24, 2015 at the age of 93. Col. Wheeler was an exceptional pilot who served his country with honor in three different conflicts--World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Over his career in the Air Force, he piloted the P-47 ``Thunderbolt,'' F-86, and C-47. Upon his retirement, Col. Wheeler continued to serve his community and fellow airmen, holding numerous leadership positions in veterans organizations in Tucson. He was stoutly devoted to his fellow veterans and serving the Southern Arizona community he called home. I met Col. Wheeler as a young captain after arriving at Davis- Monthan Air Force Base in 1994. He became a great friend over the years and always encouraged me in my journey as a pilot, officer, and, most recently, Congresswoman. He was such a wonderful example of continued faithful service to the community, Air Force, and military members and family. He was a patriot and true servant leader, and I am so grateful for his example and friendship. Few can say they answered the call to serve and defend our country as often, and during such critical times, as Col. Wheeler. It was my honor to have known and served with him, and I extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, legislation that has helped countless Americans maintain their independence and dignity as they grow older. The modest programs under the Older Americans Act make a big difference in communities across our country by providing nutrition and transportation assistance to seniors and helping them meet their daily needs. In Pima County in my district, the Older Americans Act provides: 800 people a day with a home delivered meal; 1,200 people with assistance with bath, laundry, and other household needs; transportation to senior meal sites; and many other services. Nearly 130,000 seniors live in the Second District, and they deserve the opportunity to live out their retirement without worrying about how they will meet basic needs. Recently we saw the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act as well as the Senate unanimously pass legislation to reauthorize these critical programs. I urge my colleagues in the House to support reauthorization, so we can help give seniors the retirement security they deserve.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Teen Challenge of Arizona and congratulate them on 50 years of serving our community and those in need. Teen Challenge is a faith-based residential recovery program for substance abusers. It is often a last resort for those struggling with drug addiction and other problems. Over the last 50 years, Teen Challenge of Arizona has helped an estimated 25,000 people through recovery programs. Their success rate is an astonishing 80 percent, a testament to their committed and caring approach. While I served at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, I was a board member of Teen Challenge of Arizona, and I saw the difference they make firsthand. I was especially privileged to work with the Springboard Home for Youth in Crisis, a place that provides hope and healing for troubled girls in southern Arizona. Not many organizations can say they have had the impact that Teen Challenge of Arizona has had. It was an honor to be able to contribute to their success. I wish them a happy 50th anniversary and many years of continuing success serving our community. They are literally changing and saving lives every single day.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1634) to strengthen accountability for deployment of border security technology at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 1634, the Border Security Technology Accountability Act, which I introduced earlier this year. This bill seeks to provide the improved management of border security technology projects, safeguarding taxpayer dollars and increasing accountability for some of the Department of Homeland Security's largest acquisition programs. The constituents I represent in southern Arizona are demanding better border security, and they expect us to do it through cost-effective and efficient means. They know that wasting taxpayer dollars on poorly managed border technology projects does little to actually secure the border or to improve our strategy. That is why this bill is so important. The GAO has repeatedly included DHS acquisition management activities on its high-risk list, demonstrating that these programs are highly susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement. The Secure Border Initiative, also known as SBInet, is a prime example of acquisition mismanagement at DHS. Initial plans developed in 2005 and 2006 called for the SBInet to extend across the entire U.S.-Mexico land border. However, SBInet deployment in my home State of Arizona was fraught with management problems, including a failure to adequately set requirements so the system would meet the needs of its users--our border patrol agents. After spending nearly $1 billion of the taxpayers' money with minimal results, DHS canceled SBInet in 2011. SBInet is not the only example, as DHS does not seem to be learning its lesson. The Government Accountability Office recently reported to the Committee on Homeland Security that Customs and Border Protection's Strategic Air and Marine Plan--or StAMP--initiated in 2006, with a cost of $1.8 billion to date, still does not have an approved acquisition program baseline. This means that, despite CBP's plans to acquire boats and aircraft through 2035, they have not yet estimated how much it would cost to operate and maintain these systems. How can we ensure programs like StAMP are on time, on budget, and are fiscally sound if DHS fails to follow sound management procedures? We cannot afford to waste another minute or another dollar. We must put in place strong, effective technology programs to secure our borders. This bill requires that border security technology programs at the Department have an acquisition program baseline--a critical document that lays out what a program will do, what it will cost, and when it will be completed. The bill also requires programs to adhere to internal control standards and have a plan for testing and evaluation as well as the use of independent verification and validation resources. My district includes over 80 miles of our U.S. border with Mexico, and I have spent countless hours at the border meeting with border residents and our Border Patrol. I know firsthand that, when our border technology project lacks the proper oversight and accountability, it is bad for the taxpayers, those who defend our border and those who live along our border. The Committee on Homeland Security approved my legislation by a unanimous voice vote last month. I urge all Members to join me in supporting robust, responsible secure technology along our border. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Vela, for his support and all of my colleagues on our committee for support for this bill. I once again urge my colleagues to support transparency, accountability, and efficiency of vital border security technology projects. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Madam Chair, I appreciate you organizing this so that the women in our Conference can speak about something that is vitally important to our communities. Everywhere I go in my district, my constituents are concerned about the security of our Nation and making sure that our men and women in uniform have everything they need in order to defend America. Having served 26 years in uniform myself and representing a district of 85,000 veterans and two military bases, right now, we have over 750 of them deployed overseas in the fight against ISIS and also to work with our allies to deter Russian aggression. People are deeply concerned about what appears to be--and not just appears to be--a failed defense strategy and foreign policy out of this administration. I can tell you, as I look around the world--and I have been doing national security for 30 years--we are in a more dangerous world than I have ever seen in my lifetime. I have got the experience of six combat deployments and a couple master's degrees. Taking a look at this, we don't have enough time in an hour to go around the world with the threats that are emanating. The one that is obviously taking up the news today is the bad deal related to Iran and their march towards a nuclear capability. I am going to read the whole thing tonight and tomorrow and make sure that we see all the details, but it seems like, on its surface, the goalposts have been moved; and the deal that has been negotiated is one where, myopically, this administration wanted to get a deal, really at all costs. That cost is quite high to our national security, to the security of our friends and our allies, with significant destabilization in the Middle East, while we have Iran, which is the greatest state sponsor of terror, continuing to destabilize and fight proxy wars in the region and continuing to threaten Americans. They have blood on their hands of American soldiers in Iraq and in Lebanon and other places. They are continuing to threaten Israel, destabilizing the region, and propping up nonstate actors in their proxy wars; and none of that is changing. Now, we basically are legitimizing that and not addressing any of these other issues while potentially lifting the arms embargo. This is potentially a very reckless direction that we are going in. My constituents have been talking to me even today about the concerns and just the myopic focus of this administration on this particular bad deal. If we take a larger view of the Middle East, there appears to be an absolutely incoherent strategy in the larger Middle East. While we have Qasem Soleimani, the general responsible for the Quds Force, responsible for all these terrorist activities that I mentioned, actually commanding the ground forces in Iraq to take back Tikrit, while we are providing the air power and sort of pretending that we are not operating in the same space for the same objectives, then we see what Iran is doing to continue to destabilize both in Yemen, in their support to Hamas and Hezbollah. All of this is just absolutely incoherent. If you were to try to ask somebody what are we trying to do in the Middle East relative to Iran, which is the hegemon in the room, as a state sponsor of terror, I don't think anybody could really answer that. I don't think this President can answer this. There is deep concern about this lack of coherency. When it comes to the fight against ISIS, we are doing these anemic attacks from the air. Having been a fighter pilot myself and having been involved in the targeting process--from being a flight lead in an A-10, all the way up to running the counterterrorism operations in Africa--I am very familiar with the targeting process. We are in a situation where ISIS is continuing to gain momentum, to recruit foreign fighters. Over 20,000 have been recruited, and it looks like they are taking us on, and they are winning because we are putting the bar so high on what targets that we can actually strike--legitimate targets that we are having pilots fly away from--and let continue to thrive and murder massive numbers of civilians in Iraq and Syria; gaining a foothold; gaining territory; and, in using social media, gaining new recruits because it looks like they are winning. We have an absolute incoherent military strategy in the fight against ISIS not using our power in the way that it should be used, with all that it can bring to the fight, in order to achieve our national security objectives. We had the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in front of us on the House Armed Services Committee a couple weeks ago, where they said, related to this strategy, hope is not a strategy, but it looks like that is exactly what we are relying on. We are hoping that the Iraqis have an inclusive government, which they have shown time and time again that they are failing to do. While Iraq has their national security interests certainly in the region, we have our own interests in making sure that ISIS does not gain a strong foothold with resources and the desire to recruit, train, and inspire individuals to attack Americans and take away our way of life. This strategy has just been failed coming out of this administration. Russia, just another example, the squadron that I commanded is soon coming back from a deployment to Russia, A-10s over in the region to help assure and train our allies against the continued aggression that we are seeing from Russia. Our incoming potential Chairman of the Joint Chiefs declared last week in a hearing that he believes Russia is actually the largest threat that we are potentially dealing with; yet the weakness from this administration in standing up and leading to defend our national security interests and reassure our allies is allowing Putin to fill that vacuum. The Baltics and the other allies that are in the region, after basically the Russians were able to invade Ukraine, are wondering who is next and what is at stake with our NATO partners. This is just another example. What China is doing in the South and East China Seas is just one more example of us not leading and not being able to assure our allies, showing weakness. Our friends are wondering can they count on us anymore, and our enemies are no longer afraid of us. This is the dangerous world we are in. Some of these factors were going to be happening anyway, but American leadership can make or break situations, and we can change the course of international events if we are leading or not leading. This administration says that they are leading from behind. In the military, we call that following. There is no such thing as leading from behind. We need to make sure we have a strong national security strategy, that we have a capable military. The impact sequestration is having on our military, I have friends and individuals I know that are still serving and trying to serve, and they are rearranging deck chairs right now, trying to deal with the lack of resources and diminishing capabilities in training and readiness. That is not a strategy-based budget; that is a budget-based strategy. I have been very strong in speaking against sequestration. I think we need to work together in order to make sure we can give the men and women in the military everything they need to defend America. The last point I will make--and there are many to make, but we don't have enough time--is that we have passed the National Defense Authorization Act for the last 54 years. This is an important piece of legislation that gives the troops the authorization, the pay raises, and everything that they need--combating sexual assault--all the different things that we have authorized in the NDAA, and this President is threatening to veto it. I really hope that those around America who are listening to this will rise up and call their Members of Congress, call their Senators, call the White House and tell them that you don't play politics with our men and women in uniform. This is about national security and national defense. You need to sign that bill. We are working through conference right now to hopefully get it done before we go into recess. This is an important piece of legislation, and we should not be playing political games with our national security. So thank you, Madam Chairman, for organizing this. Thanks for the opportunity to come down and speak on behalf of our constituents, on behalf of those in my district right now that are serving overseas, the men and women in uniform. We owe it to them to make sure that we have a strong national security, that we have a strong military, we give them everything they need, and that we provide leadership in the world. We have got to continue to provide oversight to the failed foreign policy and defense policy of this administration, and I look forward to continuing these discussions.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Peter Ahern on his many years of service to our country, and to wish him well on his upcoming retirement. Colonel Ahern received his Bachelor's Degree from St. Ambrose University and was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Course program in May of 1986. In 2007, he received a Masters of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National War College. Colonel Ahern served 29 years in the Marine Corps. His assignments included, but were not limited to, serving as Company Commander, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego; Battery Commander, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division; Future Operations Division (J35) United States Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany; Commanding Officer Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF), II Marine Expeditionary Force; and culminating as Director, Strategic Initiatives Group (SIG), Headquarters Marine Corps. Colonel Ahern participated in combat operations in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm), Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom, OIF-II); and planning/advisory duties with the Ugandan Peoples Defense Force; and humanitarian assistance disaster relief operations in Japan (Operation TOMODACHI). Colonel Ahern has received a number of awards over the course of his career, most notably the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Joint Meritorious Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy-Marine Corps Expert Parachute Wings. It's not an overstatement to say Colonel Ahern was one of the finest officers with whom I served. He and I were part of the initial cadre tasked to stand up Africa Command, and we worked closely on many security and humanitarian issues that arose anywhere on the continent. Colonel Ahern was an operationally-focused leader, a brilliant strategist, and utmost professional. He was instrumental to the success of Africa Command, not just while we served there, but long after he was reassigned as well. I thank Colonel Ahern for his many years of service to our nation. It was a privilege to serve with him and call him a colleague, and I wish him all the best in his upcoming retirement.