J. Thurmond

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, this amendment will provide funding for the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act, known as SMOCTA. SMOCTA is the common name for it. It will provide job training for unemployed veterans, veterans whose occupational specialty in the military is not transferable to the civilian work force, and for veterans rated 30 percent disabled or higher. The amendment [[Page S 14368]] provides funding to continue the program for 1 year. It is paid for by transferring less than 1 percent of VA's general operating expense account, $8 million. In other words, the general operating expense fund contains $880 million; this amendment transfers only $8 million, less than 1 percent. Mr. President, the SMOCTA program was created by the fiscal year 1993 Defense Authorization Act as a pilot program to provide training wage subsidies to employers who hire recently separated unemployed service members for new careers in the private sector. The 1993 Defense Appropriations Act appropriated $75 million for SMOCTA. Those funds have been largely obligated, and any remaining balance will not be available for obligation after September 30, 1995. This amendment will provide a minimum level of funding to carry out the program through its period of authorization, September 30, 1996. Mr. President, although there were some initial bureaucratic delays in getting the program implemented, the program has been very successful. Over 8,300 employers have certified training programs, including national corporate chains. Those employers have filed nearly 15,000 notices of intent to employ veterans. Over 50,000 veterans have been certified for the program. Approximately 10,700 veterans have been placed in job training, for a period of 12-18 months, at an average cost per veteran of approximately $4,000. The Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs have worked hard to establish this program. It would be a mistake to let this program expire at this time. To not extend this program would send a message to the veterans of our Nation, caught in the military downsizing, that we do not care about their futures. It would tell employers that the Federal Government cannot be trusted in partnership agreements. I do not believe these are messages the U.S. Senate wishes to send. Mr. President, without this amendment, SMOCTA funding will terminate at the end of the current fiscal year. My amendment will cure the conflict between the authorization period and availability of appropriations for this program. Mr. President, there has been some debate over the proper funding source for this program. This results partly because the original funding for this program was from Defense appropriations. However, let me emphasize that this is not a program directly related to our funding military readiness or modernization. It is a program for veterans. The authorization recognized this program would require a partnership between the Defense Department, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Passing funding responsibility from one agency to another will not aid our veterans who rely on readjustment benefits. Mr. President, the SMOCTA program has strong support in the business community and the veterans community. I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this amendment. Mr. President, as I understand it, both sides have agreed to accept this amendment.

Mr. THURMOND. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. About 4 minutes.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I want to compliment Senator Burns and Senator Reid for their leadership in arriving at this conference. This military construction bill mirrors the construction priorities and criteria for projects established by the Armed Services Committee. I am particularly pleased by the emphasis placed on projects that will enhance the quality of life of the men and women in our military and on projects which will enhance the readiness of our Armed Forces. The bill also fully funds the base closure account request and provides the necessary funds to support environmental compliance projects. Both are areas which have historically been used as sources of funds for other projects. Mr. President, I believe overall this is a good conference report, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Although I urge the adoption of this conference report, I do not favor every item in it. If I had my way, I would have eliminated some of the add-ons, and other parts of the report. But this Appropriations Committee--and I am not a member of that committee--has studied this matter well. They have come up with this report. It is not perfect. No report is perfect. No report pleases everybody. But as a whole, this report will provide for the needs of the Defense Department and the men and women of our Armed Forces. I think it is important to our Nation and to our defense. I urge the Senate to adopt the report.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services, I report favorably the attached listing of nominations. Those identified with a single asterisk (*) are to be placed on the Executive Calendar. Those identified with a double asterisk (**) are to lie on the Secretary's desk for the information of any Senator since these names have already appeared in the Records of July 20, July 24, August 3, August 10, and September 5, 1995, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar, that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to section 576 of H.R. 1868, the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, which would provide authority for the President to drawdown $100 million of defense articles from Department of Defense stocks. I oppose the inclusion of this provision in the bill because there are no funds appropriated in the bill to reimburse the Department of Defense for the defense articles, services, training, or military education that would be provided. In fact, this provision would waive section 506(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which requires that there be an authorization and appropriation. The provision would also waive the requirement under section 632(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which would require the Department of State to reimburse the Department of Defense for the defense items which have to be replaced. In short, the Army will have to find $61 million in its operations and maintenance budget to pay for the training, transportation and handling, as well as repair and defense items which are to be sent to Jordan. Mr. President, I believe it is important to support nations who work with the United States to achieve peace in regions where we have national interests, and where it is consistent with our other security priorities around the world. I appreciate the role that Jordan played in the Middle East peace process. I believe Jordan should have the defense items, services, and military training, that enable them to protect their borders and respond to terrorist threats. However, there are no funds authorized and there are no funds appropriated in this bill or the foreign aid bill for this drawdown. This is a function of the international affairs budget and there should be an appropriate authorization and appropriation within the foreign aid and foreign operations bills. Mr. President, when the Defense authorization bill was before this body, the administration sought support for a similar provision. In a letter supporting the proposed amendment to the Defense authorization bill, the Secretary of Defense stated that without replacement of the nonexcess items and reimbursement to the military services for transportation and other costs, military readiness will suffer. Mr. President, once again, I believe the United States should provide Jordan with the defense items that would be authorized by this drawdown. However, I cannot support the use of Defense funds without reimbursement to pay for this authority. I will not offer an amendment to strike this provision from the bill. However, I want all Members to understand that the Senate Armed Services Committee worked very hard to ensure the Defense budget was not used for nondefense items. This provision would use Defense funds to provide the defense articles and services to a foreign nation. The Department of State should reimburse the Department of Defense for these items. If there is no reimbursement, the Army will have to use money in fiscal year 1996 and future years, which has not been included in the future years defense plan, to replace these items. This cannot help but be detrimental to the future readiness of the U.S. Army. We should stop these raids on the Defense budget.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, each of us has found cause to use the services of congressional liaison offices that have been set up by Government agencies to assist us in servicing our constituents and managing the affairs of the Nation. Almost without exception, the men and women who staff these offices are individuals who are competent, polite, and eager to serve. I rise today to pay tribute to a person who has met and exceeded those characteristics, the Chief of the U.S. Air Force Office of Senate Liaison, Col. Robert F. Behler. Known, liked, and respected by Senators and staffers, Colonel Behler has spent the last 2 years representing the Air Force and striving to meet the needs of the Members of this Chamber. [[Page S 13138]] Always maintaining the highest degree of professionalism, Colonel Behler ensured that he and those under his direction responded to our queries quickly and completely. As the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I greatly appreciated the commitment that Colonel Behler and his staff made to their jobs and I hope that his successor will maintain the same sense of duty and responsibility. Soon Colonel Behler will take command of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, CA. This will certainly be an important and challenging assignment, but one I am confident he will quickly master and at which he will excel. I wish him the best of luck in his new assignment and in the remainder of his career.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that H.R. 1530, as amended, be printed as passed.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed immediately to the consideration en bloc of the following bills: S. 1124 through S. 1126, Calendar Order Nos. 167, 168, 169; that all after the enacting clause of those bills be stricken and that the appropriate portion of H.R. 1530, as amended, be inserted in lieu thereof, according to the schedule as follows, which I have sent to the desk; that these bills be advanced to third reading and passed; that the motion to reconsider en bloc be laid upon the table; and that the above actions occur without intervening action or debate.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, with respect to H.R. 1530, previously passed by the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate insist on its amendment to the bill and request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees; that the motion to reconsider the above-mentioned votes be laid upon the table; and that the foregoing occur without intervening action or debate.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent with respect to S. 1124 through S. 1126, as just passed by the Senate, that if the Senate receives a message with regard to any one of these bills from the House of Representatives, that the Senate disagree with the House on its amendment or amendments to the Senate-passed bill and agree to a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees and the foregoing occur without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, we have completed many long hours of debate on S. 1062, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1996. I would like to thank the distinguished ranking member of the committee, Senator Nunn, for his insight, wisdom, and devotion to our Nation. He and I have always worked to achieve the same objective of providing our Armed Forces with the direction and resources necessary to carry out their difficult responsibilities. Mr. President, I want to extend my deep appreciation to the distinguished majority leader, Senator Dole, who has been most helpful in every way in bringing this bill to passage. He is a great leader of whom the Senate can be proud. I would also like to thank all the Senators from both sides of the committee and the entire committee staff, and I commend them for their dedication and support. In particular, I would like to thank personally my staff director, Gen. Dick Reynard, for his fine work, and Gen. Arnold Punaro, the staff director for the minority. I ask unanimous consent that a list of the committee staff be printed in the Record following my remarks.

Mr. THURMOND. We have achieved a number of important successes in this bill, and I commend my colleagues for their good judgment. Among these are: Adding $7 billion to the administration's budget request to revitalize the procurement, and research and development accounts which are the core of future readiness; [[Page S 12676]] Passing the Missile Defense Act which initiates a policy to deploy a national missile defense system, and prohibits inaccurate interpretation of the ABM Treaty which would serve to limit theater missile defense systems; Correcting the erosion in nuclear weapons capabilities by reasserting that the primary responsibility of the Department of Energy is to strengthen the strategic stockpile; Directing improvements and modifications in nuclear weapons production facilities and supporting important initiatives at the nuclear weapons laboratories; Adequately funding current readiness while reducing funding for nondefense programs; Significantly improving quality of life programs for our troops and their families, including funds for housing, facilities, and real property maintenance; Approving a 2.4-percent pay raise for military members and a 5.2- percent increase in basic allowance for quarters, and achieving COLA equity for retirees; Providing funding for DOD and DOE environmental programs; Establishing a dental insurance program for the selected reserves and an income protection insurance program for self-employed reservists who are mobilized; Providing funding for essential equipment for the Active, Guard, and Reserve components. Once again I thank Senator Nunn, Senator Dole, the members of the committee, and the staff. I thank the Chair, and yield the floor. Exhibit 1

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma desires about 2 minutes. I suggest he be given 2 minutes.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I wish to bring to my colleagues' attention an important initiative by USSTRATCOM to provide the regional CINC's with mission-planning analysis for counterproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. STRATCOM'S mission-planning analysis is of proven [[Page S 12669]] value to regional commanders charged with responding to proliferation threats. In situations that could require putting American forces in harm's way, it is vital that all factors--the risks, benefits, and consequences of contingency plans--are thoroughly understood in advance. Once a crisis breaks out, it is too late to undertake the studies required to assess the potential threats. STRATCOM's unique planning analysis method gives commanders advance warning of danger by helping to identify and characterize current and emerging proliferation threats in the region. In cases when proliferation activities challenge U.S. interests and military operations, this unmatched mission-planning analysis capability allows defense planners to identify a variety of potential military targets; assess the effectiveness, consequences, and costs of military operations; and develop alternative contingency plans that maximize mission effectiveness, while minimizing the risk, cost, and collateral effects. Moreover, in the case of countries with embryonic weapons activities, STRATCOM's mission-planning analysis can provide the early and detailed alert that will allow policy makers to fashion effective export controls and other preventative measures to block weapons programs before they become a threat to the United States or other nations.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. THURMOND. Any disposals of those materials could only occur in small amounts over a very long period of time, according to market and impact conditions. Although no subcommittee hearing was conducted this year to review stockpile operations, we have been working closely with DOD on this matter and the final DOD report has been reviewed.

Mr. THURMOND. I would emphasize that this legislation would not permit DOD to dispose of a single ounce of these materials. Any disposal requires approval by Congress of an annual materials plan and I suggest to my colleagues that the AMP is the mechanism we have established in law to protect domestic industry from disruption. The provision in this bill enables DOD to develop a plan for potential disposals in a manner which will not disrupt the market or disadvantage domestic producers. This procedure has worked very well in the past and any disruption has been minimized.

Mr. THURMOND. The provision recognizes that the stockpile contains materials which are excess to national security needs. At the direction of Congress, the Department of Defense conducted a thorough analysis of requirements and reported their findings.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, we have no objection.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I am pleased to add my support to this amendment which requires all parties to negotiate in good faith immediately with officials of the State of Idaho in order to resolve the current dispute which has resulted in halting shipments of spent nuclear fuel from the Navy. I want to commend Senator Warner, Senator Kempthorne, and others for their diligent efforts in reaching this agreement. It is critical that the Navy be allowed to resume shipments of spent nuclear fuel immediately in order to enable the Navy to continue to defuel and refuel its ships. I hope that those involved in the negotiations on both sides of the issue will work in a spirit of cooperation which provides for a timely settlement because of the serious national security implications. I support this amendment, recognizing that it provides for further legislation in joint conference should it be necessary. I am confident, however, that negotiating officials, recognizing the importance of reaching an agreement as soon as possible will resolve this issue in the near future.

Mr. THURMOND. No disposal from the stockpile may occur until the Market Impact Committee has analyzed the DOD plan for annual disposals. Congress must then concur with the annual materials plan before DOD can dispose of any materials. We maintain very tight control over these disposal and the procedures have worked very well.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask for third reading of the bill.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I wish to thank the able Senator from Texas for her kind remarks. She is a very prominent and able member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and does a great job. We appreciate all that she has done in connection with this particular bill. Again, I wish to thank Senator Warner for the fine job he has done, and Senator Nunn for his fine cooperation and assistance. Mr. President, I yield the floor.