C. Young

Mr. YOUNG of Florida

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Thank you for yielding. I appreciate the gentleman's attention to this matter, and I support his efforts to prioritize spending within the Defense Department. I look forward to working with him to ensure that our scarce defense dollars are spent in a responsible manner, and I thank the gentleman for raising this issue.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I take this time to advise Members of something that they might be exposed to here shortly. Recently, I had an opportunity to experience what I call ambush journalism on an issue that--I really found it hard to believe that this investigative reporter would raise the issue. He was very upset because of the amount of money we spend to return our ``killed in action'' heroes back to their families at their home bases after they arrive in the United States at Dover. I was really shocked that that would be a concern to anybody because I believe that those heroes should be treated with the utmost respect. I told this distinguished gentleman that I would do everything that I possibly could to make sure that the proper respect and dignity were awarded these heroes as their remains return home to their families. This gentleman thought that Congress actually set the schedules and decided which airplanes fly the soldiers back home. I explained the law. I explained that that was not the case. I explained that the Pentagon had a lot of people who did administrative things like that, including scheduling. I expect that many of you might also face this same investigative reporter and be asked the same question. I just want you to be aware that that is the issue. I don't understand why anybody would want to deny a hero killed in action dignity and respect as he returns home to his family. It is just exasperating to me, I will say, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted Members to be aware. You may be faced with this very same question, with this very same issue. I hope you're not, but you might be; so I bring this to your attention just in case. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentlelady for yielding, and I thank the gentlelady for raising this issue. The attention and hard work to ensure the proper equipping of Humvee ambulances in units of our National Guard is extremely important. In today's wars, because we have these increased benefits, we have better training, we have better medicines, we're able to move soldiers from the battlefield almost as soon as they're hurt. Lives are being saved. Troops are surviving who in previous wars would not have survived. So the gentlelady's work is a very important part of this capability. I agree that the Humvee ambulances and National Guard units should be outfitted with proper medical equipment to effectively accomplish the assigned missions, and that any new purchases of Humvee ambulances should include the equipment necessary for mission accomplishment. The capability assessment that the National Guard will soon conduct will greatly assist this effort. I thank the gentlelady for her advocacy in this extremely important issue of saving the lives of our heroes on the battlefield.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have had the opportunity to discuss this amendment numerous times with Mr. Moran and with our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, and I would like to say that I am here to support this amendment. However, I would like to engage Mr. Moran and ask if he would be willing, as we move forward--I know we can't do it on the floor today-- to include a national security waiver in this language when we get to conference. As we go through the process, would the gentleman have any difficulty supporting us in that effort to get a national security waiver? I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The committee does, in fact, recognize that these R&D programs provide necessary resources that help invest in innovative new technologies which benefit local communities that are dealing with these contamination issues through competitive grants. We look forward to working with Mr. Miller to see how we can properly address the needs of communities looking to provide clean water to all of their citizens.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I make a point of order against the amendment because it proposes to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriations bill and, therefore, violates clause 2 of rule XXI. The rule states in pertinent part: ``An amendment to a general appropriation bill shall not be in order if changing existing law.'' The amendment changes the application of existing law. I ask for a ruling from the Chair.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for bringing this to our attention and for supporting innovative and cost-effective ways for our government to protect our people and their possessions from wildfires. I, too, believe the Department of Defense should seriously consider promising and cost- effective firefighting technologies where appropriate.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentlelady yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. I also thank her for her strong support of the C-17, and she is right on with regard to the vital role it plays in our Nation's defense. This committee has been a strong advocate for the C-17. Our bill fully funds the C-17 and ensures that no action can be taken by the Air Force to reduce the C-17 fleet. I again thank the gentlelady for her very timely comments on this important issue.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentlelady for yielding, and I thank her for calling attention to the fact that the subcommittee in our report said this is an issue worthy of attention. Our language in the report said: urges the services, and specifically our Special Operations Forces, to conduct effective outreach and recruitment programs to minority populations to improve diversity in the military. Absolutely. We agree with you totally. That is the intent of our committee. It becomes the intent of the Congress. We will continue to work with you to make sure that we do better at every opportunity. I thank you for raising this issue today.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him very much for bringing up this issue. I believe that the Berg amendment recognizes the world as it really is, the threats that we potentially face. I think he has done the Congress a real service today by emphasizing this issue with his amendment, and I support his amendment.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I appreciate the comments of Mr. Dicks, our former chairman, and would say that I agree strongly with him, as I do most of the time. We have a great history of working together for many, many years. We will be very happy to work together with you on this issue because it is a very, very important concern to all of us and to all the members of our committee and I know to all the Members of this House of Representatives.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I rise to support this very, very popular amendment. Mr. Flores offered the same amendment to each fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill, and all were accepted by a voice vote. Also, each fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill that has already passed the House includes this amendment. All passed by voice vote, with the exception of CJS, which had a rollcall and a positive vote of over 250 votes ``yes.'' Fifteen Democrats supported the amendment. Mr. Conaway offered an amendment to the FY13 Armed Services Committee bill which has the same effect. The amendment was accepted into the House bill. This obviously is a very popular amendment, and I'm happy to be supportive of it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentleman for discussing this with us earlier on. We have had a very good conversation, and I would say that I am strongly supportive of what the gentleman has just said. I believe that the American flag should be made in America, with American materials, whatever they might be. And so I do share that, and I guarantee him that we will continue to work with him to find a workable solution to see that this does happen. I thank the gentleman for raising the issue. I thank him, again, for discussing this early on with me, and I'm here to be supportive.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this excellent amendment, and I thank Mr. Runyan for offering it today. And so I do accept the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.