Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

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

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to file a supplemental report on the bill, H.R. 2647.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this measure before the House today is very well one of the most important pieces of legislation that we will pass regarding national security. I first must compliment the chairman, compliment his staff, as well as the staff of the Armed Services Committee, who worked diligently to craft this piece of legislation. It's very important because Pakistan is very important. Pakistan is important to the Middle East and our intentions there. Their cooperation, of course, is so very, very important. This legislation gives economic and democratic development assistance to that country. What is, of course, of great interest to me is the security assistance that we have given Pakistan, some $400 million. I will leave it to the chairman, the very able chairman, to go into the details, but I must say that it not only provides for training and financing, one part that seems to be overlooked so often is the part that deals with the international military education, which has for a period of time missed out with this country of Pakistan, which again is back on our radar, and hopefully will be of great benefit to them as well as to us. It requires certain milestones to be met. Under the able leadership of this chairman, this is an excellent bill. I wholly endorse it. I certainly hope that we will get a very, very strong vote because the future of Pakistan is a centerpiece that we need to be successful for our efforts in that part of the world. With that, I again thank the chairman and compliment him, as well as all those who worked on it.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments, dedication, public service and valor of General David D. McKiernan, U.S. Army, outgoing Commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander U.S. Forces Afghanistan, who served our Nation with distinction during 37 years of faithful service. General McKiernan will retire from the Army on 1 August 2009, and we owe him our thanks and gratitude for his many efforts and years of service on behalf of our Nation. A native of Ft. McPherson, Georgia, General McKiernan entered the U.S. Army in 1972, after graduating from the College of William and Mary and receiving a ROTC commission from the U.S. Army. During the course of his career he served at every level from platoon leader to four star commander. The units he commanded included the 1st Battalion, 35th Armor (Iron Knights), 1st Armored Division, 1st Brigade (Iron Horse) 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Calvary Division, and 3rd U.S. Army/ Combined Forces Land Component Command. He culminated his career serving as the theater commander--COMISAF/US Forces Afghanistan. This superb officer performed key leadership roles during many of the crises and operations of the past 15 years. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff G-2/G-3 with the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corp) while forward deployed in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. From August 1998 until September 1999, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters, United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army during a period of simultaneous operations in Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo. General McKiernan subsequently became the Coalition Forces Land Component Commander for Central Command. In March 2003, General McKiernan commanded and led all coalition and U.S. conventional ground forces in the invasion of Iraq. As the capstone for an exceptional career of service to our country, General McKiernan distinguished himself from 3 June 2008 to 3 June 2009 while serving as the Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces--Afghanistan. General McKiernan was instrumental in developing the partnerships and setting the conditions necessary for achieving mission success in Afghanistan. He revamped the campaign strategy. He worked to improve command and control in that war by reorganizing the ISAF headquarters staff to better execute that strategy and working to establish a new command--U.S. Forces Afghanistan, significantly improving coordination of counterinsurgency operations across Afghanistan. In the fall of 2008, General McKiernan articulated the need for a sizeable increase in U.S. forces in the strategically important southern region of Afghanistan to improve security and help safeguard national elections in August 2009. He was the first to recommend the need for a sizeable increase in civilian resources from the U.S. Government to bolster governance and development efforts. General McKiernan improved operations in Afghanistan, issuing new Counterinsurgency Guidance as the campaign shifted to efforts to protect the Afghan population, obtaining legal authorities to conduct counternarcotics interdiction, improving force protection measures, and issuing new guidance that cut down on non-combatant casualties. General McKiernan worked with the Ministry of Interior to develop the Afghan Public Protection Program, which could become a blueprint for developing bottom up governance in the districts and provinces throughout the country. He worked with the Afghan Government to support a highly successful 2008-2009 voter registration program with over 4.5 million Afghans registering without major incident and prepared the plans to support a fair and credible election in August 2009. He received approval for his recommendation to accelerate the growth of the Afghan National Army to 134,000 by December 2011, and has started the planning effort to grow the Afghan National Security Forces up to 400,000 in the years to come. He also was the architect behind the plan to bring in U.S. units in 2009 that can not only conduct a rigorous counter-insurgency campaign in the south, but can build the capacity of the Afghan Army and Police by training, partnering and mentoring with Afghan Army and Police units. General McKiernan personally reinvigorated the Tripartite Commission (TPC) process with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and ISAF, and conducted bilateral meetings to improve U.S. and Pakistan relations and to make the case that both countries face a mutual terrorist threat. It is certainly my hope that General McKiernan's initiatives build momentum going into the summer of 2009. General David D. McKiernan is a true American patriot. His leadership, keen intellect and performance throughout an intensive and demanding period of military history were instrumental in achieving success in mission after mission. He boldly led ``America's finest'' during combat operations in Desert Storm, the Balkans, the invasion of Iraq and finally in the harsh and difficult mountains and deserts of Afghanistan. I know his selfless performance of duty, courage under fire, exceptional integrity and quiet pursuit of excellence has inspired many American warriors who have served with him. I am sure he will be truly missed in Afghanistan by his troops, diplomatic colleagues, NATO and our Coalition partners, and the Government of Afghanistan. It gives me great pleasure today to recognize and salute a great American--General David McKiernan--before my colleagues. I wish General McKiernan and his lovely wife Carmen all the best that life has to offer as he concludes a most distinguished career in service to our country.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, earlier this year, my good friend from Texas, Congressman Ralph Hall, asked me to cosponsor H. Res. 356, legislation that supports designating February 8, 2010, as Boy Scouts of America Day in the United States. This recognition would honor the Boy Scouts on its 100th anniversary. It is appropriate for the Congress and for our country to recognize the Boy Scouts. Since 1910, this organization has helped young men foster lasting friendships, develop leadership skills, and contribute to American society. As an Eagle Scout who has supported scouting into adulthood and throughout my time in Congress, I know firsthand how valuable scouting can be. I urge the House to approve this resolution.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 259, expressing gratitude and appreciation to the U.S. Forces who took part in World War II's D-Day invasion, which led to the end of the war in Europe. This resolution urges Americans to honor the heroic deeds and immeasurable sacrifices of our Allied troops on D-Day. The passing of the years fails to diminish the tremendous debt we owe to the Greatest Generation for liberating Europe and fighting to preserve freedom. Almost sixty-five years ago, on June 6, 1944, American and Allied Forces invaded Normandy, France, in Operation Overlord. Thus began the arduous task of liberating Europe from the yoke of Nazi tyranny. At the time, few people understood the full impact this invasion would have. But with the success of the D-Day invasion, the tide of the war swung in favor of the Allies, and Adolf Hitler began his ultimate demise. The sheer scale of Operation Overlord is astounding and even today remains the largest single amphibious assault in history. The first day of the operation involved 5,000 naval vessels, more than 11,000 sorties by Allied aircraft, and 153,000 members of the Allied Expeditionary Force, composed of American, British, and Canadian forces. But it is important to remember that Allied victory against the entrenched Nazi forces was hardly a foregone conclusion. Our courageous troops who participated in the invasion understood the enormous risks-- and more than 6,500 lost their lives in the effort--but their dedication to duty and love of freedom gave them the strength to take on the seemingly impossible task before them. Their sacrifices made it possible to restore true freedom to millions of people across the European continent. I was a young teenager during World War II, and my friends and neighbors in uniform were my heroes. The achievements of our D-Day veterans and all those who fought in World War II continue to inspire me today. But our nation has been blessed with generation after generation of patriotic Americans who have selflessly served our country. As we honor the heroes of D-Day, our thoughts, prayers, and gratitude go also to today's volunteers who wear our nation's uniform. Today's soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines inherit a proud legacy from those who stormed the beaches of Normandy: a legacy of commitment to duty, dedication to freedom, and love of country. As we recognize the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, our nation has an obligation to remember all of these heroes.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 463, I call up the conference report on the bill (S. 454) to improve the organization and procedures of the Department of Defense for the acquisition of major weapon systems, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SKELTON. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report currently under consideration.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to bring before the House the conference report on S. 454, the Weapon System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. Last week, the House overwhelmingly approved H.R. 2101, the House Armed Services Committee's version of the bill, in a vote of 428-0 and sent us to conference with the Senate. Our conference concluded on Tuesday, and I can report that we reached agreement on strong legislation that will reflect well on the Congress as a whole. Every Member attending the conference committee, House and Senate, on a bipartisan basis signed the conference report, and it passed the Senate last evening on a vote of 95-0. It's tempting to conclude that a bill so unanimously supported must not do anything. How often are we able to agree unanimously on issues of real substance? However, in this instance, Congress will speak with a single voice and will, at the same time, adopt tough medicine for the acquisitions system. This bill is landmark legislation, the strongest effort to reform the acquisition of weapons systems since the days of Les Aspin. In fact, I strongly believe this bill will be much more successful than earlier reform efforts. The consensus on this legislation is simply the result of a problem that has become so obvious and so urgent that every Member has concluded that strong action is required. Too often in our current acquisition system, we end up with too few weapons that cost us too much and arrive too late. GAO tells us that DOD will exceed its original cost estimates on 96 major weapons systems by $296 billion. That's more than 2 years of pay and health care for all our troops. We can no longer tolerate this state of affairs. To those who oppose change, the vote yesterday in the Senate and the vote today in the House will send the message that the Congress means business, for maintaining the status quo of indiscipline and inefficiency in acquisition is no longer an option. Let me briefly summarize the bill's provisions. It establishes a new director of cost assessment and program evaluation who will ensure that in the future DOD uses realistic cost estimates as the basis for its decisions. The bill re-establishes a director of developmental test and evaluation who will coordinate closely with the director of systems engineering to ensure that we rebuild the technical expertise to oversee complex weapons programs. To ensure that the Department follows through on these measures, the bill requires DOD to make an official response for performance assessment. It also assigns additional responsibility to the director of defense research and engineering for assessing technological maturity and to unified combat commanders, those leading the fight, for helping to set requirements. In the area of policy, we required DOD to balance its desire for cutting-edge capabilities with the limits of its resources in setting military requirements. We require competitive acquisition strategies. We require DOD to get programs right in the early stages, when problems can be solved at a low cost. We also require DOD to put intense management focus on problem programs until they are either healed or terminated. We strengthen the Nunn-McCurdy process, and we ask DOD to eliminate or mitigate organizational conflicts of interests among its contractors. Now, I know that many Members of the House have a deep interest in acquisition reform. Let me assure you that with the passage of this bill, the House Armed Services Committee has no intention of resting on its laurels. S. 454 deals almost exclusively with major weapons system acquisition, which is only 20 percent of the total that DOD spends on acquisition on an annual basis. There are also serious problems with the other 80 percent of the acquisition system and, as a result, the House Armed Services Committee established the Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform led by Rob Andrews and Mike Conaway to investigate further improvements to the acquisition systems. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Members of this body vote for the conference report on S. 454, move this legislation to the President's desk for his signature this week, and continue to work with us on acquisition reform in this Congress. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, may I mention first that we did not rush to judgment on this issue. The gentleman from New York, my friend, the ranking member, John McHugh, and I thought it best to establish a panel on military acquisition, which we did. And as a result of briefings and hearings headed by Rob Andrews, Mike Conaway, the faith that Mr. McHugh and I had in the panel has been justified with the first work product of their efforts. That work product, of course, is the bill that stands before us today. And it has been a great bipartisan effort. It is also a monument to the outstanding staff work that we have across the board in the Armed Services Committee. We could not be more blessed. With that, I yield 10 minutes to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Armed Service Committee Special Oversight Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

Mr. SKELTON. At this time, I yield 3 minutes to my friend, my colleague, the distinguished member of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin). (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, first, I must thank my friend, my colleague, the gentleman from New York, for his outstanding leadership, cooperation, intelligence and integrity. This bill is a great reflection of bipartisan hard work in our committee. And I thank, in particular, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh). Mr. Speaker, as we are on the brink of passing legislation that will completely reform the acquisition system of involving major weapon systems in the Department of Defense, I think back to the moment we were preparing to pass a bill known as the Goldwater-Nichols bill which dealt with jointness within the military. We knew what it said. We wrote it. But we had no idea that it would actually have a tremendous impact creating the culture of jointness within the various stovepiped services that existed prior to that day in 1986. This reform act will do the same. It is not only landmark legislation, it is not only reform legislation, it is legislation that will change the culture of acquisition for major weapon systems. It's good. It's thorough. It's well thought out. And I cannot close without saying a special word about our staff. It's very difficult, Mr. Speaker, to single out people who work so hard because you're bound to leave some out. But we must mention Erin Conaton, Bob Simmons, Andrew Hunter, Jenness Simler, Cathy Garman, Joe Hicken, and all of the efforts that they put forth, the tireless nights in drafting and redrafting the legislation before us today. So a special tribute goes to them. So with that--and thanks to our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Bob Andrews, Mike Conaway, and all of those who work so hard for this--let's get it passed, let's get it to the President for his signature, and let reform take place and change the acquisition culture that is so sorely needed.

Mr. SKELTON. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, throughout this tough recession, Congress has been working to reduce the length and severity of the economic downturn and its impact on the American people. While we have approved a number of important bills in this area, let me share my support today for S. 896, a bipartisan bill known as the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act. S. 896 is a balanced bill that will provide tools and incentives to help reduce foreclosures, will strengthen Federal protections against predatory lending, will establish the right of homeowners to know who owns their mortgage, and will give the Federal Housing Administration and USDA's Rural Housing Service legal flexibility to undertake loan modifications. Reducing foreclosures and stabilizing the housing market are key to turning around America's economy, which is why I am pleased that S. 896 has been written with the support of both congressional Democrats and Republicans. While S. 896 will help to mend the ailing housing market, the bill is also good for small town banks and for all Americans who keep their savings in a bank or credit union. As some banks gambled and made risky loans to subprime borrowers, most small town financial institutions played by the rules and did not get caught up in the hazardous lending behavior that is at the heart of our recession. But, as larger banks have faltered, community banks have been replenishing the deposit insurance fund that protects investments throughout the financial system. To strengthen the financial stability of community banks and credit unions, S. 896 increases the borrowing authority for FDIC and for the federal credit union regulator. These increases will help level the playing field so community financial institutions are not stuck picking up the tab for their larger competitors. And, to better protect deposits, S. 896 increases FDIC insurance protection for accounts holding up to $250,000. This action is not only beneficial to depositors but also to small town financial institutions that derive their funding and lending ability from deposits. I urge my colleagues to support S. 896 and hope the legislation, if passed, can be swiftly signed into law by the President.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, each May, I hold a small business procurement conference at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri. Through the years, many individuals have contributed to the success of this event, which helps entrepreneurs and small business owners to cut through bureaucratic red tape associated with the procurement process and to make business connections. One individual who was particularly helpful in gluing together my annual conference was Wes Savage, a good friend and expert in entrepreneurial studies and business development. Wes passed away rather unexpectedly last July, so the 2009 conference will be the first one without him. As I prepare for this year's event, let me take a moment to reflect on the life of a truly outstanding figure at the University of Central Missouri, a good family man, and a friend to so many people. Wes was born on May 25, 1937, in Decatur, Illinois. He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering & industrial engineering from the University of Missouri--Rolla and a master's degree in production management & human resource management from Butler University. He also completed continuing education courses in psychology, banking, and basic programming. Wes enjoyed working and became an expert while being employed in a wide range of industries and organizations. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri and gave time to the Engineers Club of Kansas City. He was affiliated with the Missouri Board of Architects, the Engineers and Land Surveyors, and the National Development Council. In 1987, Wes began working at the University of Central Missouri as the Consulting Engineer for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and became coordinator for the SBDC in 1990. Wes served as the Center's director until he became Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development at the University. In his role at the University, Wes assisted and advised numerous Missouri business owners and entrepreneurs. He gave sound advice to help Missourians begin or improve business operations, which in turn, helped to create jobs and boost economic productivity in the Show-Me State. I have heard from many individuals through the years who have expressed gratitude for working with the SBDC because of the Center's positive impact on business. Wes also cared deeply about teaching university students about entrepreneurship and the unique opportunities and business tools available to people in this country. This is why he was particularly thrilled when the University created the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development and why he helped create an online course and co-taught with staff the first entrepreneurial course at the University. Wes Savage applied the things he learned in education and in life to his professional career. He was an experienced manager who motivated those around him with his strong work ethic and his relaxed, friendly demeanor. I know Members of the House will join me in expressing gratitude for Wes's life and for extending best wishes to his wife, Jane; his sons and their wives, Craig and Deana Savage, Scott and Gina Savage, and Grant and Erika Savage; his six grandchildren; and all of his friends and colleagues.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I inform the House of the death of Mayor Bob Wasson of Sedalia, Missouri. Bob was a lovely man and a dedicated servant to the city of Sedalia, his family, and his friends. Bob was born on October 20, 1933, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was raised in Sedalia, Missouri, and graduated from Hughesville High School. In 1953, Bob dedicated his services to the country by volunteering for the army during the Korean War. He spent his time in Korea as a typist and played a pivotal role in hiring KATUSA soldiers, Korean Augmentation Troops to the United States. In 1962, Bob married his wife, Eleanor. In 1974, they moved back to Missouri, where Bob spent the remainder of his years dedicating his time and efforts to the community. He began his service as owner of his local grocery store, Bob's AF Super. It was through his store that Bob began to meet and interact with residents of Sedalia. In addition, Bob also spent several years as the director of the Sedalia Senior Center. In 1994, he began to reach out to the community by preaching at the Broadway Baptist Church. He was ordained in 1997 and spent time preaching at the Dresden Baptist Church and the Lamine Baptist Church before becoming the pastor at Mt. Herman Baptist Church, where he remained pastor up until his death. As Bob steadily became a noticeable figure in the Sedalia area, the decision was made to run for public office in 2002. Having no previous political experience, Bob was victorious in his first mayoral election, defeating the 11-year incumbent, winning more then 70 percent of the votes. As a politician, Bob is noted for starting the new recycling program, building a new community center, supporting Whiteman Air Force Base, and developing the economy. However, he is most known for his visibility in the community and his interaction with Sedalia citizens. Councilwoman Wanda Monsees framed it well when she said, ``When I think of Mayor Wasson, the image I get, is of how he would be in the parades, and he would have his young grandsons with him. That just personifies the kind of guy he was to me.'' In 2008, Bob was diagnosed with a brain tumor and in April he underwent surgery to remove it. In May, he underwent a second surgery to remove a tumor discovered in his colon. However, even while battling cancer, Bob continued to serve Sedalia as Mayor. I admire the tenacity he displayed as he battled cancer and the courage it took to continue working and providing sound advice during difficult times. Madam Speaker, Bob Wasson was a great man. It was a pleasure to work with him on issues that affected Sedalia and central Missouri because he fought hard to make it a better area. I will miss him terribly and I hope the House will join me in expressing our deepest condolences to his family and friends. He was a dedicated servant to the Sedalia community, but above all he was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, son and friend.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 12 of House rule XXII, I move that meetings of the conference between the House and the Senate on S. 454 may be closed to the public at such times as classified national security information may be broached, provided that any sitting Member of Congress shall be entitled to attend any meeting of the conference. The SPEAKER tempore. Pursuant to clause 12 of rule XXII, the motion is not debatable, and the yeas and nays are ordered.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 432) providing for passage of the bill (H.R. 2101) to promote reform and independence in the oversight of weapons system acquisition by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this measure, the Weapons Acquisition System Reform Through Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Oversight Act of 2009 and, of course, H. Res. 432, under which we will consider the bill today. By voting for H. Res. 432, we will be adopting the bill reported out of the House Armed Services Committee 59-0, and initiating a conference with the Senate and their related bill, S. 454, which passed the Senate on a vote of 93-0. This legislation is in keeping with the best bipartisan traditions of the Congress, and the bipartisan leadership of both the House and Senate have committed to passing this legislation as quickly as possible. The need for this legislation is urgent. It's indisputable. GAO tells us that the Department of Defense currently estimates it will exceed its original cost estimates on 96 major weapons systems by $296 billion. That's more than 2 years of pay and health care for all of our troops. Much of this cost growth is already baked into the pie because of decisions made that will be difficult or impossible to reverse. At the same time, however, a lot of this is money that we have not yet actually spent, meaning we will feel the effects of this waste for years. We cannot wait to take corrective measures. On April 27 Ranking Member McHugh from New York and I, along with our partners, Rob Andrews and Mike Conaway, the leaders of our panel on Defense Acquisition Reform, introduced the WASTE TKO Act. After introducing the bill, the committee held two hearings on the bill and held a markup. On the basis of the testimony we received and on the basis of the committee's long experience on acquisition reform issues, I can say with confidence that this legislation will substantially improve the oversight of major weapons system acquisition. Let me briefly summarize the bill's provisions. It requires the Secretary of Defense to assign responsibility to independent officials within his office for oversight of cost estimation, systems engineering, and performance assessment. It also assigns additional responsibility to the Director of Defense Research and Engineering for assessing technological maturity and to the unified combatant commanders for helping to set requirements. It promotes competition in our acquisition strategies, and it promotes the consideration of tradeoffs between cost, schedule, and performance. It limits organizational conflicts of interest and tightens the Nunn-McCurdy process. Perhaps most importantly, it requires an increased focus on programs in the early stages of acquisition when most costs are determined, and it focuses oversight on programs which have demonstrated poor performance. Lastly, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to award excellence in acquisition. Let me clarify an important issue about this bill that has arisen. Mr. McHugh and I have worked to make clear that this bill is tailored to match the scope of S. 454 in the Senate. We did this to speed its enactment into law. As a result, like S. 454, it deals almost exclusively with major weapons systems acquisition, which is only 20 percent of the total that the Department of Defense spends on acquisition on an annual basis. There are also serious problems with the other 80 percent of the acquisitions systems. As a result, we established the Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform in our committee, led by Rob Andrews and Mike Conaway. They did excellent work on this bill, and we will get a lot more good work out of them before the day is done. We are fully committed to continuing the work on these issues in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and in subsequent legislation. I ask all Members of the House to support H. Res. 432 and the underlying bill and vote to move it forward to a conference with the Senate on this very, very vital matter. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. First I want to again thank the ranking member, my good friend, John McHugh, for the good work on this excellent legislation, as well as his hard work on the Armed Services Committee. It is very much appreciated. I yield 5 minutes to my friend, the kind colleague and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee on the Special Oversight Panel on Defense Acquisition Reform, the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Rob Andrews. (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. SKELTON. May I inquire as to the number of minutes I have left?