Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I'll keep my remarks brief as this is the third time that the House will debate and vote on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. They say that the third time is the charm. Let it be so this morning. I return to the floor with this bill because the Senate found it necessary to delete a portion of the House-passed bill in order to achieve the consensus needed to move the bill to final passage. The Senate amendment removes from the House bill Title 17, which dealt with Guam War Claims. I am deeply disappointed in the Senate's decision to remove this important legislation, which I strongly support and which has been so ably advocated by the delegate from Guam. However, here we are and we are out of time to engage with a back and forth with the Senate. We must move this bill to the President's desk or watch it die. That is why I ask for unanimous consent for the House to concur to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6523. Let me briefly repeat what I said the other day. This bill is must pass legislation with many provisions that cannot become law any other way. This bill stops an increase in health care fees from hitting the families of military personnel; authorizes military families to extend TRICARE coverage to their dependent children under age 26; and adopts comprehensive legislation fighting sexual assault in the military. It creates a counter-IED database and enhances the effort to develop new, lightweight body armor. It gives DOD new tools and authorities to reduce its energy demand while improving military readiness. It bolsters our defense against cyber attacks. It requires independent assessments of the National Nuclear Security Administration modernization plan and of the annual budget request for sustaining a strong deterrent. It aligns the Navy's long term shipbuilding plan with the QDR. And, it includes significant acquisition reform, the Improve Acquisition Act of 2010, which could save as much as $135 billion over the next 5 years. That is just a sampling of the good work done in this bill. I ask the House to support the men and women of the armed forces by passing this bill by unanimous consent, and ensure that the National Defense Authorization Act finally becomes law.

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 6523) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendments thereto, and concur in the Senate amendments.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with sorrow that I inform the House of the death of Mrs. Avis Green Tucker, a distinguished Missouri citizen from Warrensburg, in the 4th Congressional District. Avis Green Tucker was not just my own long-time friend. She was one of Missouri's most highly respected newspaper publishers. She was a willing volunteer frequently called to important service by Missouri governors from both political parties. And she was a particularly inspiring role model among women leaders in our state. Avis and her husband, William Tucker, bought the Daily Star-Journal in 1947 and the paper stayed in the Tucker family for some 60 years, until its sale in 2007 to another distinguished Missouri newspaper family, the Bradleys of St. Joseph. Bill Tucker was serving as publisher in Warrensburg when he died of a heart attack in 1966. Avis took over as one of the few female daily newspaper publishers in the Midwest. She once said: ``I decided I was going to run this paper. I was going to try. I told everyone that I had more nerve than ability, which was the truth.'' But that was a typically reticent and humble statement from a woman whose abilities were quite remarkable. Those abilities were widely recognized. In 1982, Avis became the first female president of the Missouri Press Association. That was just one of many ``firsts'' achieved by Avis Tucker, including serving as the first female president of the Missouri Associated Dailies organization, and becoming the first woman inducted into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame. She received the National Newspaper Association's McKinney Award, given to a woman who ``exhibited distinguished service to the community press.'' Just this past May, Avis became chair emeritus of the Missouri Press Association's Foundation Board, which she helped found and fund. She served not only as one of the state's rare female publishers, but in other leadership roles, particularly at our mutual alma mater, the University of Missouri. Mizzou's world-famous School of Journalism honored her with its Honor Medal in 1976. And in 1972, Avis became the first woman president of the University of Missouri's governing body, the Board of Curators. Her service as a curator has particular significance for me, since she was appointed to succeed her late husband as a curator upon his death. And Bill Tucker had been appointed to succeed my father, Isaac Newton Skelton III, upon his passing. In Missouri, one of the highest honors one can achieve is being named to help guide our land-grant state university, and this is an honor that has been treasured by both the Skelton and Tucker families. Avis Green Tucker will be remembered fondly by all who had the privilege of knowing her, including me. When she passed away at age 95 on Friday, December 17th, 2010, she had lived a life that was exemplary. Her leadership was superb, her newspaper's readers and her community were well-served, and her place in Missouri journalism and public service is secure. Avis is survived by two nephews, Bob and Richard Green. I know members of the Congress will join me in paying tribute to the life, achievements and service of Avis Green Tucker, and in extending our condolences to her family and friends.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters on H.R. 6523 for printing in the Congressional Record: House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Technology, Washington, DC, December 21, 2010. Hon. Ike Skelton, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Skelton: I am writing to you concerning the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Science and Technology in H.R. 6523, the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. Our committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 6523 and the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over the bill, I do not intend to request a sequential referral. This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forego a sequential referral waives, reduces or otherwise affects the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science and Technology, and that a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest will be included in the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill by the House. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Bart Gordon, Chairman.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the Force Transformation Directorate, within the Director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) Office, is developing an advanced, variable buoyancy, rigid- structure air vehicle with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability and the ability to hover, all while operating at maximum weight. Known as the Pelican project, this effort has the potential to provide for airship technology capable of moving large payloads and brigade-sized units to a point of need. Pelican could assist in establishing a new inter/intra-theater capability that could greatly increase heavy cargo lift capability and effectiveness, reduce the logistics footprint in theater, provide low cost and ``green'' cargo carriage, and could establish a new disaster relief capability. The recent Haiti relief operation demonstrates the importance of this capability. Aircraft dependent on runways were initially turned away because there was insufficient ramp space. A VTOL heavy lift transport, requiring little support infrastructure, would have been immune to this problem. The new VTOL air-lift capability can reduce our dependence on foreign airbases and ports, as well as the effectiveness of anti-access strategies employed by our adversaries. I encourage the Department to maintain development activities and to initiate plans for a capable 60 ton payload vehicle, ensuring close coordination and cooperation with the Air Force, Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command. I further recommend that this effort be made a program of record beginning in Fiscal Year 2013.

Mr. SKELTON

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, but I wish to add a quick note. In the poem ``Flanders Fields,'' there is a line that reads: to you we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. I say that to my friend, my colleague, the gentleman from California, Buck McKeon. I pass the torch to him to make sure that he holds it high. I know full well that he will, and he will continue to make us proud as the chairman. I thank him for his friendship, for his cooperation, for his bipartisanship, and I wish him well and Godspeed in the days ahead. A special note to all the members of our committee: We have been a family. It has worked well. Great debates. Solid legislation. But I'd be remiss if I didn't say something about the fantastic staff that we have. To name any one of them would be a disservice to those whether they are at the entry level or at the very highest level. Under the leadership of Paul Arcangeli and, previously, Erin Conaton, we have performed well, and I want to thank each one of them. Thank you for this tremendous, tremendous opportunity.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to my friend, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee). (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to my colleague and my friend, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to a member of our committee, the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 1 minute to my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), a member of our committee. (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks). (Mr. DICKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor).

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 1 minute to my friend the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis), the chair of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, who very shortly will be the ranking member of the entire Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith).

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 1 minute to my friend, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, today is the beginning of the end of a long journey, a journey that started with the submission of the President's budget on February 1, 2010. The law requires the President to send us a budget, and he did his duty. But our obligation in concerning the budget goes deeper. The Founding Fathers entrusted Congress with the care of the Armed Forces. The Constitution, article I, section 8 requires that we here in Congress raise and support Armies, provide and maintain a Navy, and make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces. That is our duty. Most of you, like me, have spent time with our troops overseas. Their dedication, their courage, their devotion never cease to amaze me. Their service and sacrifice is matched only by that of their families who bear the same burden. Their sacrifice is, at times, almost unbearable. Yet they do it, and not for us but for the American people. However, we bear the awesome burden of repaying their sacrifice. For 48 consecutive years, the Congress has carried out its duty to the men and women of the military by passing a defense authorization bill. It is a job that has never been easy. There have been many years where we have almost failed. In my 34 years here in Congress, through 12 military conflicts, including the most divisive wars in American history, the Congress has wavered but never failed. This bill is a must-pass piece of legislation. Don't let anyone tell you different. There are literally hundreds of needed provisions in here that will not become law any other way. I have time to only name a few. This bill stops an increase in health care fees from hitting the families of military personnel. It authorizes military families to extend TRICARE coverage to their dependent children until age 26. And it adopts comprehensive legislation fighting sexual assault in the military. It creates a counter-IED database, and it enhances the effort to develop new, lightweight body armor. It gives DOD new tools and authorizes it to reduce its energy demand while improving military readiness. It bolsters our defense against cyberattacks. It requires independent assessments of the National Nuclear Security Administration modernization plan and of the annual budget request for sustaining a strong deterrent. It aligns the Navy's long-term shipbuilding plan with the QDR. It includes significant acquisition reform, the Improve Acquisition Act of 2010 which could save as much as $135 billion over the next 5 years. It provides for critical funding for our warfighters. It allows for a 1.4 percent raise in pay for our troops. It provides funding for training equipment to sustain the Afghan security forces. It provides essential funding to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists. It creates additional positions for mental health care providers to treat our warriors who come home in need. It extends a number of special pay and bonuses for our brave warfighters. Now some Members are claiming, falsely, that the language in the bill on the Guantanamo detainees is not strong enough. Let me tell you what the bill actually does. It prohibits the transfer or release of detainees into the United States or its territories. It prohibits the use of any DOD funding to build or modify any DOD facility in our country for the detention of any Guantanamo Bay detainee. This restriction applies not only to Thompson, Illinois, but to the whole country. It prohibits the transfer or release of any Guantanamo Bay detainee to any country which has received a detainee and allowed that detainee to return to the battlefield. This the most thorough and comprehensive set of restrictions ever placed on the transfer and release of detainees. It is substantially stronger than current law, and voting against this bill will have the effect of making it easier to bring detainees into the United States, easier to transfer them to other countries that have failed to hold them in the past. We all know that this year's journey toward passage has been rancorous and difficult, like few others. No one is happy with everything that has been done in the bill. That is just the nature of Congress. In finding common ground, we have to give a little bit. We cannot give when it comes to supporting the men and women in the Armed Forces. We stand today on the dividing line between success and failure. We do not fail now. Let's finish the journey. Vote for the National Defense Authorization Act. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this bill.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 1 minute to the distinguished majority leader of our House, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. SKELTON. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the kind words of the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon). It has been an absolute pleasure to work with him, and I compliment him on his future role in this Congress as the head of this fantastic committee. I know he will make us proud and make all of our Congress Members proud in his leadership next year. I thank him very, very much. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), my friend and my colleague.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6523) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this means to recognize an American hero, General James L. Jones, for his lifetime of public service. Having served more than 40 years in the United States Marine Corps as a diplomat in the Middle East and around the world, and most recently as the National Security Advisor to the President, he is a true public servant. On October 8, 2010, the President announced that General Jones made the decision to step aside from his post as National Security Advisor and that his good friend and deputy, Tom Donilon, would succeed him. Through the years, I have been honored to work with General Jones, and I have always trusted him to offer his best counsel on national security matters. A true patriot and strategic visionary, he has performed each and every mission with utmost dedication. The American public will forever be indebted to General Jones and his family for their service to our country and the many sacrifices they have made. Madam Speaker, I trust my fellow members of the House will join me in paying tribute to General James L. Jones for his leadership and commitment to the safety and security of the American people. I wish him and his family the very best in the days to come.