Michael Turner

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I greatly appreciate that the advocate to the amendment slipped into his comments that Russia cheats, because that is why we are stepping out. Mr. Speaker, you can't have a treaty with just yourself. You have to have a treaty with two parties or more, and those parties have to comply or you really don't have a treaty. Unfortunately, though, the gentleman went on to state that no one benefits more than the United States. It is just absolutely not true. Very publicly, we have held hearings on this in my subcommittee. The intelligence community and the DOD have openly stated that the information that we receive from Open Skies is duplicative and is even inferior to the other sources of information we have. With respect to our allies, we don't kill this treaty by stepping out. They can stay in. If they want to do flyovers, they can do their own flyovers. The thing that we are not going to do is do the flyovers for them and then hand them the information. But what is really important about the ``yeah, Russia cheats'' is let's talk about how Russia cheats. Trust but verify? You can't verify if they cheat. The Kaliningrad in Europe is one of the places where Russia hosts missiles that hold all of our allies and the United States at risk. Russia limits overflights, and then Russia does a really neat trick like they invade Georgia. They declare the areas that they invade as totally new countries and then say that we can't overfly what they are doing in these areas that they occupy of our ally Georgia. It is incredibly important that we step out of this treaty. They are not complying. It does not provide benefit to us. The other aspect that I think probably should be the most concerning to every American listening to this, in our hearings in our committee, the DOD absolutely states that Russia incorrectly uses this information to target assets in the United States--target, that is right, to bomb the United States--which is completely a violation of the treaty. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney).

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this amendment because this is another one of these unilateral disarmament movement provisions that come before this body every year. Mr. Speaker, I would love to take a vote in this body to restrain China, to restrain Russia, to restrain North Korea, to actually restrain our adversaries. But instead of restraining our adversaries or enter into negotiations where we come to agreement, we give things up. Mr. Speaker, in this, we are giving something up. There is a Presidential directive. This isn't even trying to undo law. There is a Presidential directive that President Clinton signed, and every President since him, that said that we will do very limited testing because we do testing of our stockpiles and experimental work to ensure the reliability and the fact that our nuclear weapon system is reliable and safe. We do so because our adversaries see that deterrent as a means to restrain them from their adventuresomeness across the globe. But the other aspect--again, back to, ``I would like to restrain our adversaries''--right now, China and Russia are developing brand-new nuclear weapons. They are deploying hypersonic weapons. Russia has a new nuclear-powered cruise missile that can circle the globe and then come in. But every year, when we bring the National Defense Authorization Act back, we are more focused on how we can restrain ourselves than restrain our adversaries. And that makes us less safe. The way that this amendment is drafted actually doesn't allow us to continue to do what we are doing. It says zero-yield standard. We actually have subcritical testing that would exceed what you have in here that we do right now that is essential for what we do. This is an amendment that is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist. Lisa Gordon-Hagerty just issued a letter, as you said, in June. We are not even going to do this, I mean, not the way you are worried about us doing it. We are not headed toward testing. But if we pass your amendment, it is going to stop us from being able to do what we are currently doing. We are going to restrain ourselves in a way that our adversaries aren't, and we are going to be less safe.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to join Ranking Member Thornberry in noting the passing of John Lewis. His heroism and his eloquence challenged us all, and he will be sorely missed. Mr. Speaker, I also want to begin by thanking Chairman Adam Smith. Our chairman reached out to the other side and said that he wanted to do a bipartisan bill. That sounds easy, but in this environment, it is not. It is highly substantive. It takes negotiation. It takes a lot more work than a partisan bill does. And he achieved that with a unanimous vote coming out of committee. That takes compromise, but this bill does not compromise at all for national security. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize our ranking member, who will be retiring. I have served with him for 18 years. I have appreciated his mentorship, and I am very glad that this bill bears his name, in honor of his time here. This bill also authorizes the administration's full request for the National Nuclear Security Administration. These funds are critical to ensuring our nuclear weapons enterprise remains safe, secure, and effective. We have put off this investment too long; we do not have any additional time. Our nuclear forces are at work every day. They stand as a silent testament to deter our adversaries and to support our allies. Without our nuclear forces as a credible and silent deterrent, the world would be less safe. This bill fully funds the ground-based strategic deterrent, the replacement for the Minuteman III. It is critical that Congress support this effort with this funding. The bill also provides progress for Space Force, provides stability for the National Security Space Launch program, and makes investments in missile defense by funding two of the Missile Defense Agency's highest priorities, including the 10 SM-3 Block IIA and the eighth THAAD battery. The NDAA will provide support to the people who defend our country. Our troops are receiving a 3 percent pay raise for the second year in a row. This bill expands the rights of men and women in uniform and their families residing in military housing and provides more oversight over the private companies responsible for maintaining the health and safety of these homes. This bill also provides remarkable strides in military justice. Over the last decade, we made great strides in military justice. This bill also provides protection for sexual assault victims. They are gaining more rights on appeal, greater access to court records, and additional protection from retaliatory punishment. I also want to thank Congressman Anthony Brown for his work on advancing diversity and equality in our servicemember ranks. I was very proud to work with Congressman Brown to advance concrete steps to promote diversity. This year's NDAA creates the position of chief diversity officer for DOD and establishes a diversity and inclusion advisory council. It creates more scholarship opportunities in historically Black colleges. The NDAA enhances our national security and improves the lives of our servicemembers. I urge all of my colleagues to support it. Any cuts in funding to this bill would severely weaken our Nation at a time when we are facing some of our clearest threats.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, let's just be honest. This amendment does not do anything for funding for COVID or funding for healthcare. This is, straight and simple, defund DOD, and that is it. We have just come off of sequestration where we saw our planes falling out of the sky during training, where we saw our men and women in uniform working in buildings that we couldn't even repair. At my own base, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, they didn't even have enough money to turn the lights on in buildings that people were working in. This is not sequestration. This is like sequestration on steroids. This would be the biggest cut, much more than sequestration ever had. It actually works out to about a 16 percent cut, not 10 percent, because of the things that are exempted. So the money doesn't go where the author says it is going to go to. It does hurt our national security, and it does hurt our men and women in uniform. It cuts military housing; it cuts education; it cuts military family programs; it cuts research and development; but, most importantly, it cuts training. It goes right to the heart of making it unsafe once again for our men and women in uniform just to keep our country safe. This isn't money down the drain. This is money every day that keeps us at peace.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, today, I cast my vote for the coronavirus relief package. The coronavirus pandemic has affected Americans deeply in every facet of their lives. Our government has asked, and in Ohio our governor has ordered, that Americans stay home other than for essential needs. Our President and Governor's goal has been to keep Americans safe. This has put a dire strain on our economy. In addition, our hospitals are having increased costs and decreased revenue. Small businesses are struggling to make payroll or even stay open. Employees are being furloughed or laid off. Families are struggling to keep food on the table and make their mortgage or rent payments. We must now provide necessary financial relief to families, individuals, and businesses bearing the burden of the COVID-19 crisis. I want to thank our health care workers, grocers, law enforcement, and National Guard for showing up to work, fighting coronavirus on the frontlines, and keeping our communities safe.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I support the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, and I, too, thank Adam Smith for his leadership in bringing a bipartisan bill as the final NDAA to this floor. This bill continues the deployment of low-yield nuclear weapons to counter Russian violations of the INF. It also supports our nuclear modernization efforts in the DOD and the National Nuclear Security Administration to ensure a strong nuclear deterrent. I also want to note the strong bipartisan support for missile defense that is in this year's bill. This year's bill demonstrates that the protection of our homeland from North Korean missile defense is not subject to partisan politics. As co-chair of the Congressional Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, along with my colleague and friend Susan Davis, I am proud of the steps this conference report takes to further our mission of reducing instances of sexual assault in our ranks and caring for the victims of such acts. The conference report includes provisions to improve the safety of military housing. Adding to enhancements included in the last year's NDAA, the report expands the requirement for fall prevention devices installed on the windows of base housing to protect the young children of our servicemembers. The fiscal year 2020 NDAA provides the members of the Armed Services their largest pay increase in over a decade and also includes the repeal of the widow's tax over the next 3 years, a crusade by Congressman Joe Wilson. It doubles the reimbursement allowance for licensure and certification costs of a spouse of a servicemember arising from relocation and gives members of the Federal Government, including military members and Federal Government workers, 12 weeks of paid family leave to care for newborn or adopted children. I encourage passage of this bill.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Romania on her 101st celebration of unification. This year is especially significant as we also celebrate 30 years since the fall of Communism in Romania. December 1st is representative of the sovereignty of Romania because on this date in 1918 the Alba Iulia National Assembly met to unify the peoples and territories of Romania. The Resolution passed by the Assembly united Moldova and Wallachia with Transylvania, Crisana, Banat, and Maramures. While the authorities of Romania have changed several times since then, the proud and independent spirit of the Romanian people has not. December holds an increased meaning as the Romanian Revolution occurred in 1989 in which the people wrested an opportunity for self- direction from the dark times of the Communism towards the bright future of a democratic country which nowadays shares common values with the United States. Over the past 30 years, Romania has become a bastion of democracy in Eastern Europe and a solid and strong U.S. ally in the region. Romania is setting an example of steady commitment to transatlantic security and democratic leadership, while the Romanian public opinion has an overwhelmingly favorable view of American leadership and role in the world. Romania, as a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization since 2004, has sent troops to support NATO missions in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq and is contributing 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense spending. Romania has been a leading nation in providing cybersecurity support to NATO and its partners and is working with the U.S. Government on the secure implementation of fifth generation wireless communication networks (5G) technology. Romania also joined the European Union in 2007 and recently successfully finished a term holding the EU's presidency. The United States and Romania have enjoyed almost 140 years of diplomatic relations and share a deep and longstanding friendship, a strategic partnership built on historical ties, and a joint commitment to advancing the security and prosperity of their citizens and communities. Madam Speaker, it is for these reasons that I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Romania on the 101st anniversary of its Great Union Day.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean) for pushing this legislation with me, as well as Congresswoman Bass of California. Congressman Stivers of Ohio has been an incredible champion. I thank Congressman Wagner for her work on this bill. And I want to thank, particularly, Ranking Member McHenry. I am not a member of this committee, and I thank Chairwoman Waters and, of course, Ranking Member McHenry for taking this up and allowing me to advocate for this bill. This is a bill of the heart. Everyone who has worked on this bill knows that we are remedying a wrong that shouldn't exist. Mr. Speaker, several years ago, a group of Ohio foster youth, foster care alumni, and advocates came to me and explained to me the struggles that they endure as a result of the government's failure as foster parents. We fail to provide housing for these young people when they age out of foster care. Currently, when youth age out of the foster care system, they are often placed at the back of the line to receive housing assistance, despite some targeted interventions available. Essentially, many of these youth, when they age out of foster care, age into federally created homelessness. Now, part of this problem is that foster care is under HHS and adult housing is under HUD. Even though we know these kids are coming because we are providing them funding and we are providing them care under the foster care system under HHS, HUD acts like they have shown up for the very first day when they become adults and age out of the system. It is our responsibility to fix this. As Congresswoman Wagner was saying, studies show that 37 percent of foster care alumni have experienced homelessness. What a failure of a program. The program under HHS is graduating 37 percent of its kids into homelessness; 20 percent struggle with chronic homelessness. This is after we have made a significant investment in these children's lives. It is the time that they start to go forward into adulthood that they face homelessness. The government can and should remedy this. This bill will help with that and will give these kids, as they go into adulthood, an opportunity to jump in the front of the line--because we know they are coming; we have known they are coming for years--and give them the assistance for federally created housing so they can look toward self- sufficiency and become independent members of society. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of the Dayton, Ohio, area foster kids and the alumni who helped work on this. Congratulations to each and every one of them. We did it, Mr. Speaker. I encourage everyone to vote for this.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and congratulate my good friend, Miamisburg Mayor Dick Church on his retirement. Dick Church has faithfully served the city of Miamisburg as mayor since 1992 and as a Miamisburg city councilman for 4 years prior to that. Dick Church is the longest serving mayor in Miamisburg's history Mayor Church has transformed Miamisburg into an economic powerhouse, a thriving downtown, and a safe and stable neighborhood. In addition, his legacy has been the cleanup of a former U.S. Department of Energy Cold War era defense production and deep space energy site in his community known as Mound Laboratories. Mayor Church has worked to make the Mound facility viable for businesses again continuing the facility's legacy and southwest Ohio's spirit of innovation. The Mound Business Park is now home to 15 businesses that conduct important research and development. The Mound Business Park's development could not have come to fruition without Dick Church's crucial work. Dick Church has been a hands-on mayor. In many communities almost everyone can say they know the mayor. In Miamisburg, the mayor can say he practically knows everyone. Congratulations, Dick Church, on an incredible career as mayor.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, on August 4, a mass murderer opened fire on innocent civilians in Dayton, Ohio's historic Oregon District. Hundreds of people were present in the street, restaurants, and bars in this two-block area that is less than 5 minutes from my home. The killer wore body armor and a mask and carried over 200 bullets. Armed with a reconfigured weapon, he fired almost 50 bullets in 32 seconds. In that time, he killed nine people and wounded 27. Later, we heard a familiar story. People who knew him had feared that this man was a danger. He had told people that he wanted to be a mass shooter. However, he passed a background check in the purchase of his weapon. My daughter told me of the courage of the police officers at the scene. She heard the first shots, turned and looked, and watched the officers, unflinching, run immediately toward the gunshots. Within 32 seconds of the shooter opening fire, Dayton Police took down the shooter. Let me be clear: The officers didn't receive the call in 32 seconds. The officers didn't show up in 32 seconds. They killed him in 32 seconds. Even with the Dayton Police officers' incredible heroism, nine innocent civilians were killed, and 27 were wounded by the shooter's gunfire. He was armed with a magazine of 100 bullets and had another magazine with him. If he had not been stopped, the death toll could have been unimaginable. When the President came to Dayton, he congratulated the police officers on their training. Sergeant Knight responded, ``Sir, you can't train courage.'' Today, Sergeant Knight and these courageous Dayton officers received the Medal of Valor at the White House: Officer Jeremy Campbell, Officer Vincent Carter, Officer David Denlinger, Officer Ryan Nabel, and Officer Brian Rolfes. Their bravery and quick action saved hundreds of people's lives, including my own daughter. They are here with us today and joined by Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. Please join me in thanking them. Now, Madam Speaker, we need to show the courage of these police officers. Let's work together to pass bipartisan bills that actually have a likelihood of becoming law and that will make our country safer. The forthcoming debate will be about our values, American values and human values. How could we get to a place where people are routinely killing innocent people whom they do not know? The debate must also be about mental health, how to identify those who are a threat, remove their ability to do harm, and get help for those who need it. This debate will be about violence in our culture and the virtual world that so many of these killers have spent countless hours training in. The American public rightfully demands that this debate will include a conversation about guns. As we pause for a moment of silence to think of those who were lost in Dayton, Ohio, let's think of all of those who have been lost in mass shootings, their families, and our obligations to them. I am going to ask that our moment of silence lasts for 32 seconds so that as this body thinks of those whom we have lost, the horrific understanding of how quickly the passing of 32 seconds occurs and that, within that time, nine people were murdered, and 27 people were injured. My fellow colleague from Ohio, Joyce Beatty, knows the family of one of the victims. I have asked her to read the names of each of those killed before I ask Members to join me in 32 seconds of silence in honor of them.

Mr. TURNER. I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I now ask that Members and guests in the House rise for 32 seconds of silence.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 501.

Mr. TURNER

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, this amendment's language is so wrong that it was resoundingly rejected in the Armed Services Committee by a voice vote. It is very basic and easy to understand as to why it was rejected. This missile, and it relates to a missile upon which there is a nuclear warhead, was put on the ground in 1973. Richard Nixon was President of the United States. The year before these were put in the ground, in December of that year, was the last time we were on the Moon, in 1972. This was just at the end of the Apollo program. This is technology that is incredibly outdated. If you think about the Apollo program and the Moon launch, you think, well, the next technology is the space shuttle. That launched in 1981, almost a decade after these were put in the ground. Even the space shuttle is retired, yet he wants to resurrect these. This is as ridiculous as saying, ``We are going to go to the Moon again. Let's go to the museum and pull out the Apollo mooncrafts. Let's just jigger them up again and put them up into space.'' It is not going to work. This is absolutely irresponsible, but it is not really about just trying to extend this life, because this has been studied before. This would be a study of a restudy of a restudy of a restudy. In addition, this is not only a study. This delays the program. Everyone wonders why nuclear weapons cost so much. They cost so much because we delay and delay and delay. This will be another one of those that would just continue the prospects of our having a decaying of our nuclear deterrent and, in addition to that, increased costs as a result of increased delay. I know Mr. Blumenauer has been a very strong advocate against nuclear weapons. I understand his interest in trying to prohibit and thwart our efforts to modernize nuclear weapons, but if you look at what our adversaries are doing, what China is doing, what Russia is doing, it is absolutely irresponsible to say that a Richard Nixon-era missile that is in the ground, that has been there since we were last on the Moon, should just be refurbished and put back in the ground and expect that we are going to be safe. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, we should turn to the experts when we talk about how long this can be extended. This amendment would try to take this Richard Nixon-era missile to 2050. General Hyten, who is the person who is charged with having expertise with this, came before us March 28, 2019. This year, he said all studies have been done. This cannot be extended. The only reason this amendment is here is to try to delay doing what we need to do and what the experts say, which is not refurbish this missile but move forward with replacement. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry).

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.