Ike Skelton

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, let me first thank the gentleman from South Carolina (Chairman Spence) for his comments a few moments ago. It is true that this matter has been resolved. At least it appears to be. I want a supplemental, the gentleman from South Carolina wants a supplemental, the President will request a supplemental, and I think every Member of this chamber wants a supplemental, and that the funds for any continuation of peacekeeping should not come out of readiness in the bill we are about to pass. I thank the gentleman for his understanding, for hearing us out, for his gentlemanly demeanor in the debate. As a matter of fact, that goes for everyone who participated in the debate today. Mr. Chairman, this is an excellent bill. I certainly urge the adoption of my amendment. At the end of the day I urge an overwhelming vote for the bill so we can let our troops know we really care about them. Sequential Votes Postponed in the Committee of the Whole

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. SKELTON. Absolutely.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, absolutely.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let us speak of Kosovo today. We have achieved, our country has achieved, NATO has achieved a victory in the field of battle in the Balkans. The issues we debate today and the votes taken today will tell whether we keep that victory or whether we sour it or whether we throw ashes on it and tell those young men and young women who have been in harm's way that their efforts were for good or whether they were for naught. Mr. Chairman, never in the history of this country has a Congress voted to deprive America of a military victory in the field after it has been achieved. It is my sincere hope that this Congress today will not deprive America, will not deprive the NATO nations of a victory that it has achieved by placing young men and young women in harm's way. The House is now going to consider a series of amendments concerning our involvement in NATO operations in Yugoslavia. The House should approve my amendment to delete section 1006(a) of the bill and we should approve the Taylor amendment which outlines the goals for our military and peacekeeping operations in Yugoslavia. However, we should reject the Souder amendment, which is even more restrictive than the flawed language that is in the bill, and we should reject the Fowler amendment because the House debated and rejected a similar Fowler amendment in March by a vote of 178-237. Mr. Chairman, when I spoke during general debate on this bill, I mentioned that my only reservation about this legislation concerns section 1006 relating to budgeting for operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This provision, which prohibits the use of funds authorized by this legislation for the conduct of combat or peacekeeping operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, is too restrictive and can result in funds being cut off while our troops are in the field. I agree with the necessity to fund our operations in the Balkans with supplemental appropriations and I have so stated. However, if the bill's provisions are left in place, we could have a situation where the funds from one supplemental run out before another is enacted. In that case, the section in question would prevent the use of these Department of Defense funds authorized by this bill to support our troops in the region whether in combat or peacekeeping. Moreover, if this language remains in the authorization bill, this otherwise excellent legislation that we have will be subject to a presidential veto. The amendment which I offer will delete subsection (a) of section 1006 while leaving in place subsection (b) which requires the President to request supplemental appropriations in order to conduct combat or peacekeeping operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Subsection (b), standing alone, adequately protects the funding authorized in this bill without running the risk of undermining America's and NATO's military peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo. Mr. Chairman, 2 weeks ago when we were first scheduled to take this bill up on the floor, I would have argued that the language in the bill sent the wrong message at the wrong time. Now with the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo scheduled to begin today, the message we would send by rejecting my amendment and the timing of that message would be even worse. Specifically, retaining that harmful section would send a signal to U.S. and allied military personnel in the region that their superb performance to date may be cut off at a fiscally-driven date having nothing to do with operational or diplomatic considerations. It would send a signal of uncertainty to our NATO allies at a time when American leadership on the ground, in the air and in various diplomatic venues is carrying Operation Allied Force and related efforts forward. It would send a signal to Kosovar refugees depending on America and NATO that the Alliances's commitment to returning them safely to their homes is wavering. It would send a signal to President Milosevic that he need only hold on or stall for a few more months before funding for American participation in the NATO air campaign or peacekeeping mission is accomplished. Mr. Chairman, this is a very, very serious issue. It relates not only to Kosovo, it relates not only to Yugoslavia, it relates to the leadership of this bastion of freedom, of America, in this world. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, that is the reason I left section B out of my amendment. It has always been my intent that there should be a supplemental request and now, of course, fortunately, it is just for peacekeeping as opposed to both combat and peacekeeping.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I must say, Mr. Chairman, in the words of Mark Twain, the literary giant from my State of Missouri, ``The more you explain it to me, the more I don't understand it.'' I really have a difficult time in understanding this amendment. For if I read it correctly, it is more restrictive than the language that is already in the bill. On top of that, it prohibits use of any funds, whether they be appropriated as a supplemental appropriation or otherwise from being used in the Republic of Yugoslavia effort. On top of that, it deletes the subsection which invites the President to request additional funds. That was put in by the majority, and I agree with it. The President should come forth and seek supplemental funds for the year 2000. So this amendment is a very drastic one. If you read it very carefully, it is a short amendment that has very far reaching, difficult results. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I yield for a question to my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SKELTON. If the gentleman will yield further, the gentleman will recall that I put together just a few short years ago a military budget calling for an increase in three successive years. I know full well and the gentleman knows full well that we need additional funding for the military. We made substantial gains this year. I am very pleased with this bill. What I do not want to happen is for this provision to stay in which cuts off the funds. We do need a supplemental. I would encourage that. That is why I have left section B untouched. We encourage and require the President to send a supplemental in the future.

Mr. SKELTON. I yield to the gentleman from Arizona.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I have always found it important to read what the amendments say, and this particular amendment strikes that provision which requires the President to come forth with a supplemental. Further, it prohibits, it prohibits other appropriated or supplemental appropriations by these words: None of the funds appropriated or otherwise available to the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2000 may be used for military operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. I mean, how much clearer can we get? That cuts it off.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman very much. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, despite the eloquence of the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), I feel compelled to say that I still remain opposed to his amendment. I will vote against the amendment. It is essential that America remain engaged in Europe. We have cut back our troop strengths so very, very much. One hundred thousand, quite honestly, in my opinion, is the minimum amount that we should have.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his comments. I think we are aiming at the same destination. The problem is that should a supplemental be 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or whatever late, whatever flows from this bill cannot be spent. They would be without food, without ammunition, without uniforms, and it would make a laughing stock out of the Congress of the United States. We do not intend that.

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, that has been my intent all along. Now, the gentleman asked what the President told me a few minutes ago.

Mr. SKELTON

Mr. SKELTON. I will be pleased to yield to the gentleman from Indiana at the proper time.

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

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

Mr. SKELTON. Madam Chairman, I first must say how very proud I am of the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), how proud I am of our ranking member, the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) for the work that they did on the personnel section of this bill. The work that they provided for us, and hopefully we will have a strong vote on this entire bill at a later moment today, will give encouragement, will give heart, to those who are in the military and have some doubts as to whether they should stay and serve our Nation in uniform or to seek their fortunes elsewhere. The pay package, which includes the pay raise, the pay tables, the pension package, it will encourage so many to stay and seek retirement later than leaving. I just cannot compliment the gentlemen enough. I want this House to know of my praise for the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) and the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) on the fine work they have done. Let me also add that I support this amendment that they have offered. It was first brought to my attention by the Chief of Naval Personnel, and it is an excellent amendment. It is a key part of the full package that will be comprising the personnel section of this bill. The military is the largest employer that does not offer a 401(k) plan. However, we do offer this benefit to Federal civilian employees under the Thrift Savings Plan. As a government, we should strive for equity among the different types of employees. I fully support this. It is equity on the Federal level among all different types of employees, soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who leave before completing 20 years will not leave empty-handed, but be able to take the Thrift Savings Plan with them into another 401(k) plan. This is the right thing to do for the young people as they grow in service and in maturity. I fully support, fully support this amendment.