The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2009” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H5607-H5632 on May 14, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2009
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 434, I call up the bill (H.R. 2346) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 434, the amendment printed in House Report 111-107 is adopted, and the bill, as amended, is considered read.
The text of H.R. 2346, as amended pursuant to House Resolution 434, is as follows:
H.R. 2346
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I--DEFENSE MATTERS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
MILITARY PERSONNEL
Military Personnel, Army
For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Army'',
$10,924,641,000.
Military Personnel, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Navy'',
$1,716,827,000.
Military Personnel, Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Marine Corps'', $1,577,850,000.
Military Personnel, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Air Force'', $1,783,208,000.
Reserve Personnel, Army
For an additional amount for ``Reserve Personnel, Army'',
$381,155,000.
Reserve Personnel, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Reserve Personnel, Navy'',
$39,478,000.
Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps'', $29,179,000.
Reserve Personnel, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Reserve Personnel, Air Force'', $16,943,000.
National Guard Personnel, Army
For an additional amount for ``National Guard Personnel, Army'', $1,373,273,000.
National Guard Personnel, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``National Guard Personnel, Air Force'', $101,360,000.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Operation and Maintenance, Army
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Army'', $14,024,703,000.
Operation and Maintenance, Navy
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'', $2,367,959,000: Provided, That up to $129,503,000 may be transferred to the Coast Guard ``Operating Expenses'' account.
Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps'', $1,084,081,000.
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Air Force'', $6,216,729,000.
Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', $5,353,701,000, of which--
(1) not to exceed $10,000,000 shall be available for the Combatant Commander Initiative Fund, to be used in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom;
(2) not to exceed $810,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for payments to reimburse Pakistan, Jordan, and other key cooperating nations, for logistical, military, and other support including access provided, or to be provided, to United States military operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, notwithstanding any other provision of law: Provided, That such reimbursement payments may be made, at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense, in such amounts as the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, and in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, may determine, based on documentation determined by the Secretary of Defense to adequately account for the support provided, and such determination is final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the United States, and 15 days following notification to the appropriate congressional committees: Provided further, That these funds may be used for the purpose of providing specialized training and procuring supplies and specialized equipment and providing such supplies and loaning such equipment on a non-reimbursable basis to friendly foreign forces supporting United States military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan;
(3) not to exceed $10,000,000 shall be available for emergencies and extraordinary expenses: Provided, That the Secretary of Defense shall certify that such payments are necessary for confidential military purposes; and
(4) not to exceed $350,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, shall be for counternarcotics and other activities including assistance to other Federal agencies, on the United States border with Mexico: Provided, That the Secretary of Defense may transfer these funds to appropriations for military personnel, operation and maintenance, and procurement to be available for the same purposes as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense may transfer up to $100,000,000 of this amount to any other Federal appropriations accounts, with the concurrence of the head of the relevant Federal department or agency for border-related activities: Provided further, That the funds transferred shall be merged with and be available for the same purposes and the same time period, as the appropriation to which transferred: Provided further, That this transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense: Provided further, That upon a determination that all or part of the funds so transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this appropriation, to be merged with and made available for the same purposes and for the time period provided under this heading.
Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve'', $101,317,000.
Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve'', $24,318,000.
Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve'', $30,775,000.
Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve'', $34,599,000.
Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard
For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard'', $178,446,000.
Iraq Freedom Fund
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for the ``Iraq Freedom Fund'',
$365,000,000, to remain available to the Secretary of Defense for transfer until September 30, 2010, of which--
(1) not to exceed $350,000,000 shall be available for rapid response to unforeseen, immediate warfighter needs for Iraq, Afghanistan, and other geographic areas in which combat or direct combat support operations for Iraq and Afghanistan occur in order to minimize casualties and ensure mission success for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom: Provided, That these funds are available for transfer to any other appropriations accounts of the Department of Defense to accomplish the purposes provided herein: Provided further, That upon a determination that all or part of the funds so transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this appropriation: Provided further, That this transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense; and
(2) not to exceed $15,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary of Defense to transport the remains of servicemembers killed in combat operations: Provided, That these funds are available for transfer to any other appropriations accounts of the Department of Defense to accomplish the purposes provided herein: Provided further, That upon a determination that all or part of the funds so transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this appropriation: Provided further, That this transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense.
Afghanistan Security Forces Fund
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for the ``Afghanistan Security Forces Fund'', $3,606,939,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That the Secretary of Defense shall, not fewer than 15 days prior to making any obligation or transfer from this appropriation account, notify the congressional defense committees in writing of the details of the proposed obligation or transfer.
Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund
(including transfer of funds)
For the ``Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund'', hereby established in the Treasury of the United States,
$400,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That such funds shall be available to the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to provide assistance to the security forces of Pakistan (including the provision of equipment, supplies, services, training, facility and infrastructure repair, renovation, and construction) to improve the counterinsurgency capability of Pakistan's security forces, and, on an exceptional basis, irregular security forces: Provided further, That the authority to provide assistance under this provision is in addition to any other authority to provide assistance to foreign nations: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense may transfer such amounts as the Secretary may determine from the funds provided herein to any appropriations available to the Department of Defense or, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and head of the relevant Federal department or agency, to any other non- intelligence related Federal account to accomplish the purposes provided herein: Provided further, That funds so transferred shall be merged with and be available for the same purposes and for the same time period as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further, That upon determination by the Secretary of Defense or head of other Federal department or agency, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, that all or part of the funds so transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes herein, such amounts may be transferred by the head of the relevant Federal department or agency back to this appropriation and shall be available for the same purposes and for the same time period as originally appropriated: Provided further, That the authority of the Secretary of Defense to obligate or transfer funds pursuant to this paragraph shall apply only to the funds appropriated for such purposes in this Act, and such authority shall not be continued beyond the expiration date specified in the matter preceding the first proviso: Provided further, That funds may not be obligated or transferred from the ``Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund'' until 15 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense notifies the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the congressional defense and foreign affairs committees, in writing of the details of the proposed obligation or transfer.
PROCUREMENT
Aircraft Procurement, Army
For an additional amount for ``Aircraft Procurement, Army'', $1,285,304,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Missile Procurement, Army
For an additional amount for ``Missile Procurement, Army'',
$677,141,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army
For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army'', $2,233,871,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Procurement of Ammunition, Army
For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Ammunition, Army'', $230,075,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Other Procurement, Army
For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Army'',
$8,039,349,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Aircraft Procurement, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Aircraft Procurement, Navy'', $691,924,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Weapons Procurement, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Weapons Procurement, Navy'',
$31,698,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps'', $348,919,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Other Procurement, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Navy'',
$172,095,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Procurement, Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Marine Corps'',
$1,509,986,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Aircraft Procurement, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Aircraft Procurement, Air Force'', $5,138,268,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Missile Procurement, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Missile Procurement, Air Force'', $57,416,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Ammunition, Air Force'', $183,684,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Other Procurement, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Air Force'', $1,745,761,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Procurement, Defense-Wide
For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Defense-Wide'',
$200,068,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
National Guard and Reserve Equipment
For an additional amount for procurement of high priority items of equipment that may be used by reserve component units for both its combat mission and the units' mission in support of the State governors, $500,000,000, to remain available for obligation until September 30, 2011: Provided, That the Chiefs of the National Guard and of the Reserve components shall, not later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act, individually submit to the congressional defense committees a listing of items of equipment to be procured for their respective National Guard or Reserve component.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army'', $73,734,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy'', $96,231,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force'', $92,574,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide
For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide'', $459,391,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS
Defense Working Capital Funds
For an additional amount for ``Defense Working Capital Funds'', $846,726,000, to remain available until expended.
OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS
Defense Health Program
For an additional amount for ``Defense Health Program'',
$1,097,297,000, of which $845,508,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009, is for operation and maintenance; of which $50,185,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011, is for procurement; and of which $201,604,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, is for research, development, test and evaluation.
Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense'', $137,198,000, to remain available until expended.
Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund
For an additional amount for ``Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund'', $1,316,746,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011.
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for the ``Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund'', $4,843,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That such funds shall be available to the Secretary of Defense, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to procure, sustain, transport, and field Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles: Provided further, That the Secretary shall transfer such funds only to appropriations for operation and maintenance; procurement; research, development, test and evaluation; and defense working capital funds to accomplish the purposes provided herein: Provided further, That this transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense: Provided further, That upon determination that all or part of the funds so transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this appropriation: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, not fewer than 15 days prior to making transfers from this appropriation, notify the congressional defense committees in writing of the details of any such transfer.
Office of the Inspector General
For an additional amount for ``Office of the Inspector General'', $9,551,000.
GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS TITLE
Sec. 10001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available in this title are in addition to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2009.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 10002. Upon the determination of the Secretary of Defense that such action is necessary in the national interest, the Secretary may transfer between appropriations up to $2,000,000,000 of the funds made available to the Department of Defense in this title: Provided, That the Secretary shall notify the Congress promptly of each transfer made pursuant to the authority in this section: Provided further, That the authority provided in this section is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense and is subject to the same terms and conditions as the authority provided in section 8005 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009 (division C of Public Law 110-329) except for the fourth proviso.
Sec. 10003. Funds appropriated by this title, or made available by the transfer of funds in this title, for intelligence activities are deemed to be specifically authorized by the Congress for purposes of section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414(a)(1)).
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 10004. During fiscal year 2009 and from funds in the Defense Cooperation Account, as established by 10 U.S.C. 2608, the Secretary of Defense may transfer up to $6,500,000 to such appropriations or funds of the Department of Defense as the Secretary shall determine for use consistent with the purposes for which such funds were contributed and accepted: Provided, That such amounts shall be available for the same time period as the appropriation to which transferred: Provided further, That the Secretary shall report to the Congress all transfers made pursuant to this authority.
Sec. 10005. Supervision and administration costs associated with a construction project funded with appropriations available for operation and maintenance,
``Afghanistan Security Forces Fund'' or ``Iraq Security Forces Fund'' provided in this title, and executed in direct support of the overseas contingency operations only in Iraq and Afghanistan, may be obligated at the time a construction contract is awarded: Provided, That for the purpose of this section, supervision and administration costs include all in-house Government costs.
(including rescissions)
Sec. 10006. (a)(1) Of the funds appropriated in chapter 2 of title IX of Public Law 110-252 under the heading, ``Iraq Security Forces Fund'', $1,000,000,000 is rescinded.
(2) For an additional amount for ``Iraq Security Forces Fund'', $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That funds may not be obligated or transferred from this fund until 15 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense notifies the congressional defense committees in writing of the details of the proposed obligation or transfer.
(b)(1) Of the funds appropriated in chapter 2 of title IX of Public Law 110-252 under the heading, ``Afghanistan Security Forces Fund'', $125,000,000 is rescinded.
(2) For an additional amount for the ``Afghanistan Security Forces Fund'', $125,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
Sec. 10007. Funds made available in this Act to the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance may be used to purchase items having an investment unit cost of not more than $250,000: Provided, That upon determination by the Secretary of Defense that such action is necessary to meet the operational requirements of a Commander of a Combatant Command engaged in contingency operations overseas, such funds may be used to purchase items having an investment item unit cost of not more than $500,000: Provided further, That the Secretary shall report to the Congress all purchases made pursuant to this authority within 30 days of using the authority.
Sec. 10008. (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2009, during any year in which funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Commander's Emergency Response Program, the Secretary of Defense may accept contributions of funds from any person, foreign government, or international organization to carry out the Commander's Emergency Response Program in Iraq or Afghanistan.
(b) Funds contributed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be credited to ``Operation and Maintenance, Army''.
(c) Funds contributed pursuant to subsection (a) shall become available during each year in which funds authorized to be appropriated have been appropriated.
Sec. 10009. (a) Until September 30, 2009, the Secretary of Defense may enter into an agreement with the head of an executive department or agency that has established internship programs to reimburse that department or agency for the costs associated with the first year of employment of eligible military spouses into positions under the internship program.
(b) The Secretary may provide such reimbursement to the department or agency, from funds otherwise made available for
``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', including the costs of the salary, benefits and allowances, and training of the military spouse for the first year of employment, for eligible military spouses beginning their internship by September 30, 2009.
(c) In this section:
(1) The term ``eligible military spouse'' means any person married to a member of the Armed Forces on active duty at the time of appointment, other than a person who--
(A) is legally separated from a member of the Armed Forces under court order or statute of any State or possession of the United States;
(B) is also a member of the Armed Forces on active duty; or
(C) is a retired member of the Armed Forces.
(2) The term ``internship'' means a professional, analytical, or administrative position in the Federal Government that operates under a developmental program leading to career advancement.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 10010. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the funds appropriated in this title for ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', the Secretary of Defense may transfer up to $30,000,000 to the Department of State
``Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia'' account, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to provide a long-range air traffic control and safety system to support air operations in the Kyrgyz Republic, including Manas International Airport and Air Base: Provided, That funds transferred under this section shall remain available until expended.
Sec. 10011. From funds made available in this title, the Secretary of Defense may purchase motor vehicles for use by military and civilian employees of the Department of Defense in Iraq and Afghanistan, up to a limit of $75,000 per vehicle, notwithstanding other limitations applicable to passenger carrying motor vehicles.
(rescissions)
Sec. 10012. (a) Of the funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009 (division C of Public Law 110-329), the following amounts are rescinded from the following accounts in the amounts specified: ``Operation and Maintenance, Army'', $352,359,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'', $881,481,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps'', $54,466,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Air Force'', $925,203,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', $81,135,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve'', $23,338,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve'', $62,910,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve'', $1,250,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve'', $163,786,000;
``Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard'',
$57,819,000; ``Operation and Maintenance, Air National Guard'', $250,645,000; ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy'', $30,510,000; and ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force'', $15,098,000.
(b)(1) Of the funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2008 (division A of Public Law 110-116) under the heading ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy'', $5,000,000 is rescinded.
(2) Of the funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009 (division C of Public Law 110-329) under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', $5,000,000 is rescinded.
(c) Of the funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009 (division C of Public Law 110-329) under the heading ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force'', $100,000,000 is rescinded.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 10013. Upon enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall make the following transfers of funds: Provided, That the amounts transferred shall be made available for the same purpose as the appropriations to which transferred, and for the same time period as the appropriation from which transferred: Provided further, That the funds shall be transferred between the following appropriations in the amounts specified:
To:
``Military Personnel, Army, 2009'', $100,600,000; ``Reserve Personnel, Army, 2009'', $41,000,000; and ``National Guard Personnel, Army, 2009'', $9,000,000.
From:
Funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009 (division C of Public Law 110-329) under the heading ``Aircraft Procurement, Army, 2009/2011'',
$22,600,000; and under the heading ``Procurement of Ammunition, Army, 2009/2011'', $107,100,000.
From:
Funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2008 (division A of Public Law 110-116) under the heading ``Other Procurement, Army, 2008/2010'',
$20,900,000.
(rescissions)
Sec. 10014. Of the funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009 (division C of Public Law 110-329), under the heading ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', $181,500,000 is rescinded.
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 10015. (a) Retroactive Payment of Stop-Loss Special Pay.--In addition to the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available elsewhere in this Act, $734,400,000 is appropriated to the Department of Defense, to remain available for obligation until expended. Provided, That such funds shall be available to the Secretaries of the military departments only to make the payment specified in subsection
(b) to members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserve components, and former and retired members under the jurisdiction of the Secretary who, at any time during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2009, served on active duty while the members' enlistment or period of obligated service was extended, or whose eligibility for retirement was suspended, pursuant to section 123 or 12305 of title 10, United States Code, or any other provision of law (commonly referred to as a ``stop-loss authority'') authorizing the President to extend an enlistment or period of obligated service, or suspend an eligibility for retirement, of a member of the uniformed services in time of war or of national emergency declared by Congress or the President.
(b) Payment Amount.--The amount to be paid under subsection
(a) to or on behalf of an eligible member, retired member, or former member described in such subsection shall be $500 per month for each month or portion of a month during the period specified in such subsection that the member was retained on active duty as a result of application of the stop-loss authority.
(c) Treatment of Deceased Members.--If an eligible member, retired member, or former member described in subsection (a) dies before the payment required by this section is made, the Secretary concerned shall make the payment to the designated representative or estate of the member.
(d) Exclusion of Certain Former Members.--A former member of the Armed Forces is not eligible for a payment under this section if the former member was discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions.
(e) Relation to Other Stop-Loss Special Pay.--A member, retired member, or former member may not receive a payment under this section and stop-loss special pay under section 8116 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009
(division C of Public Law 110-329; 122 Stat. 3646) for the same month or portion of a month during which the member was retained on active duty as a result of application of the stop-loss authority.
Sec. 10016. (a) Section 132 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136; 117 Stat. 1392) is repealed.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Air Force may retire C-5A aircraft from the inventory of the Air Force 15 days after certifying to the congressional defense committees that retiring the aircraft will not significantly increase operational risk of not meeting the National Defense Strategy, provided that such retirements may not reduce total strategic airlift force structure inventory below the 292 strategic airlift aircraft level identified in the Mobility Capability Study 2005 (MCS-05) unless otherwise addressed in the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.
Sec. 10017. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this title may be obligated or expended to provide award fees to any defense contractor contrary to the provisions of section 814 of the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109-364).
Sec. 10018. None of the funds provided in this title may be used to finance programs or activities denied by Congress in fiscal years 2008 or 2009 appropriations to the Department of Defense or to initiate a procurement or research, development, test and evaluation new start program without prior written notification to the congressional defense committees.
Sec. 10019. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act shall be obligated or expended by the United States Government for a purpose as follows:
(1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
(2) To exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq.
Sec. 10020. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act shall be obligated or expended by the United States Government for the purpose of establishing any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
Sec. 10021. (a) Report on Iraq Troop Drawdown Status, Goals, and Timetable.--In recognition and support of the policy of President Barack Obama to withdraw all United States combat brigades from Iraq by August 31, 2010, and all United States military forces from Iraq on December 31, 2011, Congress directs the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with other members of the National Security Council) to prepare a report that identifies troop drawdown status and goals and includes--
(1) a detailed, month-by-month description of the transition of United States military forces and equipment out of Iraq; and
(2) a detailed, month-by-month description of the transition of United States contractors out of Iraq.
(b) Elements of Report.--At a minimum, the Secretary of Defense shall address the following:
(1) How the Government of Iraq is assuming the responsibility for reconciliation initiatives as the mission of the United States Armed Forces transitions.
(2) How the drawdown of military forces complies with the President's planned withdrawal of combat brigades by August 31, 2010, and all United States forces by December 31, 2011.
(3) The roles and responsibilities of remaining contractors in Iraq as the United States mission evolves, including the anticipated number of United States contractors to remain in Iraq after August 31, 2010, and December 31, 2011.
(c) Submission.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter through September 30, 2010, the Secretary of Defense shall submit the report required by subsection (a) and a classified annex to the report, as necessary.
TITLE II--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND OTHER MATTERS
CHAPTER 1--AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
public law 480 title ii grants
For an additional amount for ``Public Law 480 Title II Grants'', $500,000,000, to remain available until expended.
GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS CHAPTER
Sec. 20101. Amounts appropriated by section 101(a) of title I of division B of Public Law 109-148 (119 Stat. 2747) and unobligated as of the date of the enactment of this Act shall be available to the Secretary of Agriculture, until expended, to provide assistance under the emergency conservation program established under title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) for expenses related to recovery efforts in response to natural disasters.
Sec. 20102. (a)(1) For an additional amount for gross obligations for the principal amount of direct and guaranteed farm ownership (7 U.S.C. 1922 et seq.) and operating (7 U.S.C. 1941 et seq.) loans, to be available from funds in the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund, as follows: direct farm ownership loans, $360,000,000; direct operating loans,
$400,000,000; and unsubsidized guaranteed operating loans,
$50,201,000.
(2) For an additional amount for the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, including the cost of modifying loans as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as follows: direct farm ownership loans, $22,860,000; direct operating loans, $47,160,000; and unsubsidized guaranteed operating loans, $1,250,000.
(b) Of the unobligated balances available and provided in prior year appropriations acts for discretionary programs in the Rural Development mission area, $71,270,000 is hereby rescinded.
CHAPTER 2--COMMERCE AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Legal Activities
salaries and expenses, general legal activities
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'',
$1,648,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
salaries and expenses, united states attorneys
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'',
$5,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
National Security Division
salaries and expenses
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'',
$1,389,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
salaries and expenses
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'',
$4,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
Federal Prison System
salaries and expenses
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'',
$5,038,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
GENERAL PROVISION, THIS CHAPTER
(including rescission)
Sec. 20201. (a) Of the funds appropriated in chapter 2 of title I of Public Law 110-252 under the heading ``Office of Inspector General'', $3,000,000 is rescinded.
(b) For an additional amount for ``Office of Inspector General'', $3,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
CHAPTER 3--ENERGY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
ENERGY PROGRAMS
strategic petroleum reserve
(transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Strategic Petroleum Reserve'', $21,585,723, to remain available until expended, to be derived by transfer from the ``SPR Petroleum Account'' for site maintenance activities.
ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE ACTIVITIES
National Nuclear Security Administration
defense nuclear nonproliferation
For an additional amount for ``Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation'', $55,000,000, to remain available until expended.
CHAPTER 4--GENERAL GOVERNMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE
PRESIDENT
National Security Council
salaries and expenses
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'',
$2,936,000, of which $800,000 shall remain available until expended and $2,136,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2010.
CHAPTER 5--HOMELAND SECURITY
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
firefighter assistance grants
For grants awarded under section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a) in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration may waive the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(B) and subsection (c) of such section and may award grants for the hiring, rehiring, or retention of firefighters.
GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS CHAPTER
Sec. 20501. Notwithstanding sections 12112, 55102, and 55103 of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for engaging in the coastwise trade for the drydock ALABAMA
(United States official number 641504).
Sec. 20502. Notwithstanding sections 55101, 55103, and 12112 of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessel MARYLAND INDEPENDENCE (official number 662573). The coastwise endorsement issued under authority of this section is terminated if--
(1) the vessel, or controlling interest in the person that owns the vessel, is conveyed after the date of enactment of this Act; or
(2) any repairs or alterations are made to the vessel outside of the United States.
CHAPTER 6--INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Department-Wide Programs
wildland fire management
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount to cover necessary expenses for wildfire suppression and emergency rehabilitation activities of the Department of the Interior, $50,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such funds shall only become available if funds provided previously for wildland fire suppression will be exhausted imminently and after the Secretary of the Interior notifies the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate in writing of the need for these additional funds: Provided further, That the Secretary of the Interior may transfer any of these funds to the Secretary of Agriculture if the transfer enhances the efficiency or effectiveness of Federal wildland fire suppression activities.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
wildland fire management
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount to cover necessary expenses for wildfire suppression and emergency rehabilitation activities of the Forest Service, $200,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such funds shall only become available if funds provided previously for wildland fire suppression will be exhausted imminently and after the Secretary of Agriculture notifies the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate in writing of the need for these additional funds: Provided further, That the Secretary of Agriculture may transfer not more than $50,000,000 of these funds to the Secretary of the Interior if the transfer enhances the efficiency or effectiveness of Federal wildland fire suppression activities.
CHAPTER 7--HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
public health and social services emergency fund
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'' to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic, including the development and purchase of vaccine, antivirals, necessary medical supplies, diagnostics, and other surveillance tools and to assist international efforts and respond to international needs relating to the 2009-H1N1 influenza outbreak, $1,850,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That no less than
$350,000,000 shall be for upgrading State and local capacity: Provided further, That no less than $200,000,000 shall be transferred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out global and domestic disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and research, laboratory diagnostics, risk communication, rapid response, and quarantine: Provided further, That products purchased with these funds may, at the discretion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(``Secretary''), be deposited in the Strategic National Stockpile under section 319F-2 of the Public Health Service Act: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 496(b) of the Public Health Service Act, funds may be used for the construction or renovation of privately owned facilities for the production of pandemic influenza vaccine and other biologics, where the Secretary finds such a contract necessary to secure sufficient supplies of such vaccines or biologics: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this heading and not specifically designated under this heading may be transferred to, and merged with, other appropriation accounts of the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies, as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate, to be used for the purposes specified under this heading and to the fund authorized by section 319F-4 of the Public Health Service Act: Provided further, That transfers to other Federal agencies shall be made in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, That prior to transferring any funds under this heading, the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate of any such transfer and the planned uses of the funds: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided under this heading is in addition to any other transfer authority available in this or any other Act.
GENERAL PROVISION, THIS CHAPTER
Sec. 20701. Title II of division F of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8) is amended under the heading ``Children and Families Services Programs''--
(1) by striking the first proviso in its entirety; and
(2) by striking ``Provided further'' the first place it appears and inserting ``Provided''.
CHAPTER 8--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
CAPITOL POLICE
general expenses
For an additional amount for ``General Expenses'',
$71,606,000, to purchase and install a new radio system for the Capitol Police to remain available until September 30, 2012: Provided, That $6,500,000 of these funds shall be designated as ``contingency'' and shall only be available for obligation upon approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate: Provided further, That the Chief of the Capitol Police may not obligate any of the funds appropriated under this heading without approval of an obligation plan by the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
CHAPTER 9--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Military Construction, Army
(including rescission)
For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Army'', $1,407,231,000, of which $810,850,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2010, and of which $596,381,000 for child development centers, warrior in transition facilities, and planning and design shall remain available until September 30, 2013: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further, That of the funds provided under this heading, not to exceed $68,081,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for
``Military Construction, Army'' under Public Law 110-252,
$142,500,000 is rescinded.
Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps
For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $235,881,000, to remain available until September 30, 2013: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further, That of the funds provided under this heading, not to exceed
$11,000,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services.
Military Construction, Air Force
(including rescission)
For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Air Force'', $279,120,000, of which $255,650,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2010, and of which $23,470,000 for child development centers and planning and design shall remain available until September 30, 2013: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further, That of the funds provided under this heading, not to exceed $12,070,000 shall be available for study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for
``Military Construction, Air Force'' under Public Law 110-252, $30,000,000 is rescinded.
Military Construction, Defense-Wide
For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'', $1,086,968,000, to remain available until September 30, 2013: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and military construction projects in the United States not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further, That of the amount provided under this heading, $30,000,000 shall be for the planning and design of a National Security Agency data center and $1,056,968,000 shall be for the construction of hospitals: Provided further, That not later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an expenditure plan for the funds provided for hospital construction under this heading.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Security Investment Program
For an additional amount for ``North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program'', $100,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law.
Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005
For deposit into the Department of Defense Base Closure Account 2005, established by section 2906A(a)(1) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. 2687 note), $263,300,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, such funds may be obligated and expended to carry out planning and design and military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law.
CHAPTER 10--STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Administration of Foreign Affairs
diplomatic and consular programs
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Diplomatic and Consular Programs'', $1,016,215,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, of which $403,983,000 is for worldwide security protection and shall remain available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary of State may transfer up to $157,600,000 of the total funds made available under this heading to any other appropriation of any department or agency of the United States, upon the concurrence of the head of such department or agency, to support operations in and assistance for Afghanistan and to carry out the provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961: Provided further, That up to $10,900,000 of the funds made available under this heading for public diplomacy activities should be transferred to, and merged with, funds made available for
``International Broadcasting Operations'' for broadcasting activities to the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region.
office of inspector general
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Office of Inspector General'', $17,123,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, of which $7,201,000 shall be transferred to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction for reconstruction oversight: Provided, That the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction may exercise the authorities of subsections (b) through (i) of section 3161 of title 5, United States Code (without regard to subsection (a) of such section) for funds made available for fiscal years 2009 and 2010: Provided further, That the Inspector General of the United States Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, and the Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development shall coordinate and integrate the programming of funds made available under this heading in fiscal year 2009 for oversight of programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq: Provided further, That the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, within 30 days of completion, the annual comprehensive audit plan for the Middle East and South Asia developed by the Southwest Asia Joint Planning Group in accordance with section 842 of Public Law 110-181.
embassy security, construction, and maintenance
For an additional amount for ``Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance'', $989,628,000, to remain available until expended, for worldwide security upgrades, acquisition, and construction as authorized: Provided, That funds made available under this heading in this chapter shall be for providing secure diplomatic facilities and housing for United States Mission staff in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and for the deployment of mobile mail screening units.
International Organizations
contributions for international peacekeeping activities
For an additional amount for ``Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities'', $836,900,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Funds Appropriated to the President
operating expenses
For an additional amount for ``Operating Expenses'',
$152,600,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
capital investment fund
For an additional amount for ``Capital Investment Fund'',
$48,500,000, to remain available until expended.
office of inspector general
For an additional amount for ``Office of Inspector General'', $3,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for oversight of programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
Funds Appropriated to the President
global health and child survival
For an additional amount for ``Global Health and Child Survival'', $300,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That $200,000,000 shall be made available for pandemic preparedness and response: Provided further, That $100,000,000 shall be made available, notwithstanding any other provision of law, except for the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-25), for a United States contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading in this chapter are in addition to amounts made available for such purpose in the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111-8): Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, to include minimum funding requirements or funding directives, if the President determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate that the human-to-human transmission of the H1N1 virus is efficient and sustained, and is spreading internationally, funds made available under the headings ``Global Health and Child Survival'', ``Development Assistance'', ``Economic Support Fund'', and ``Millennium Challenge Corporation'' in prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs may be made available to combat the H1N1 virus: Provided further, That funds made available pursuant to the authority of the previous proviso shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
international disaster assistance
For an additional amount for ``International Disaster Assistance'', $200,000,000, to remain available until expended.
economic support fund
(including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Economic Support Fund'',
$2,907,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, of which up to $529,500,000 is for assistance for Pakistan: Provided, That of the funds made available under this heading, not less than $70,000,000 shall be made available for the National Solidarity Program in Afghanistan: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, not more than $556,000,000 may be made available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, of which not to exceed
$5,000,000 may be used for administrative expenses of the United States Agency for International Development, in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes, to carry out programs in the West Bank and Gaza, and of which
$2,000,000 shall be transferred, and merged with, funds available under the heading ``United States Agency for International Development, Funds Appropriated to the President, Office of Inspector General'' to conduct oversight of programs in the West Bank and Gaza: Provided further, That of the amounts made available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, not more than $200,000,000 may be made available for cash transfer assistance to the Palestinian Authority: Provided further, That none of the funds made available under this heading for cash transfer assistance to the Palestinian Authority may be obligated for salaries of personnel of the Palestinian Authority located in Gaza: Provided further, That up to $10,000,000 of the funds made available under this heading may be made available for disaster assistance in Burma only for humanitarian assistance to Burmese affected by Cyclone Nargis, notwithstanding any other provision of law: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, up to $300,000,000 may be made available for assistance for developing countries impacted by the global financial crisis, including Haiti, Liberia, and Indonesia.
assistance for europe, eurasia and central asia
For an additional amount for ``Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia'', $242,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, shall be available for assistance for Georgia: Provided, That funds appropriated under this heading shall be subject to prior consultations with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Department of State
international narcotics control and law enforcement
For an additional amount for ``International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement'', $483,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That not less than $160,000,000 shall be made available for assistance for Mexico to combat drug trafficking and related violence and organized crime, and for judicial reform, institution building, anti-corruption, and rule of law activities, and shall be immediately available notwithstanding section 7045(e) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111-8): Provided further, That funds made available pursuant to the previous proviso shall be made available subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, except that notifications shall be transmitted at least 5 days in advance of the obligation of any funds appropriated under this heading: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading, not more than $106,000,000 shall be made available for security assistance for the West Bank: Provided further, That not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in classified form if necessary, on the use of assistance provided by the United States for the training of Palestinian security forces, including detailed descriptions of the training, curriculum, and equipment provided; and an assessment of the training and the performance of forces after training has been completed.
nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining and related programs
For an additional amount for ``Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs'', $98,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, of which up to
$73,500,000 may be made available for the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to promote bilateral and multilateral activities relating to nonproliferation, disarmament and weapons destruction, and shall remain available until expended: Provided, That funds made available for the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
migration and refugee assistance
For an additional amount for ``Migration and Refugee Assistance'', $343,000,000, to remain available until expended.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE
Funds Appropriated to the President
peacekeeping operations
For an additional amount for ``Peacekeeping Operations'',
$80,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010. international military education and training
For an additional amount for ``International Military Education and Training'', $2,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010.
foreign military financing program
For an additional amount for ``Foreign Military Financing Program'', $1,349,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That not less than $310,000,000 shall be made available for assistance for Mexico and shall be immediately available notwithstanding section 7045(e) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111-8): Provided further, That funds made available pursuant to the previous proviso shall be available notwithstanding section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading not less than $150,000,000 shall be available for Jordan: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading, not less than $555,000,000, shall be available for grants only for Israel and shall be disbursed within 30 days of the enactment of this Act: Provided further, That to the extent that the Government of Israel requests that funds be used for such purposes, grants made available for Israel by this paragraph shall, as agreed by the United States and Israel, be available for advanced weapons systems, of which
$145,965,000 shall be available for the procurement in Israel of defense articles and defense services, including research and development: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading, not less than $260,000,000 shall be made available for grants only for Egypt, including for border security programs and activities in the Sinai: Provided further, That funds appropriated pursuant to the previous proviso estimated to be outlayed for Egypt shall be transferred to an interest bearing account for Egypt in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York within 30 days of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That up to $74,000,000 may be available for Lebanon only after the Secretary of State submits to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on procedures established to determine eligibility of members and units of the security forces of Lebanon to participate in United States training and assistance programs and on the end use monitoring of all equipment provided under such programs to the Lebanese security forces: Provided further, That prior to the initial obligation of funds the Secretary of State shall certify to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate that all practicable efforts have been made to ensure that such assistance is not provided to or through any individual, or private or government entity, that advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in, terrorist activity.
pakistan counterinsurgency capability fund
(including transfer of funds)
There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a special account to be known as the ``Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund''. For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of chapter 8 of part I and chapters 2, 5, 6, and 8 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act for counterinsurgency activities in Pakistan, $400,000,000, which shall become available on September 30, 2009, and remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That such funds shall be available to the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of providing assistance for Pakistan to build and maintain the counterinsurgency capability of Pakistani security forces, and, on an exceptional basis, irregular security forces, to include program management and the provision of equipment, supplies, services, training, and facility and infrastructure repair, renovation, and construction: Provided further, That these funds may be transferred by the Secretary of State to the Department of Defense or other Federal departments or agencies to support counterinsurgency operations and may be merged with and be available for the same purposes and for the same time period as the appropriation or fund to which transferred, or may be transferred pursuant to the authorities contained in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961: Provided further, That the Secretary of State shall, not fewer than 15 days prior to making transfers from this appropriation, notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the congressional defense and foreign affairs committees, in writing of the details of any such transfer: Provided further, That the Secretary of State shall submit not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report summarizing, on a project-by-project basis, the transfer of funds from this appropriation: Provided further, That upon determination by the Secretary of Defense or head of other Federal department or agency, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, that all or part of the funds so transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes herein, such amounts may be transferred by the head of the relevant Federal department or agency back to this appropriation and shall be available for the same purposes and for the same time period as originally appropriated: Provided further, That any required notification or report may be submitted in classified or unclassified form.
GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS CHAPTER
extension of authorities
Sec. 21001. Funds provided by this chapter may be obligated and expended notwithstanding section 10 of Public Law 91-672, section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law 103-236), and section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414(a)(1)).
allocations
Sec. 21002. (a) Funds provided in this chapter for the following accounts shall be made available for programs and countries in the amounts contained in the respective tables included in the report accompanying this Act:
(1) ``Diplomatic and Consular Programs''.
(2) ``Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance''.
(3) ``Economic Support Fund''.
(b) For the purposes of implementing this section, and only with respect to the tables included in the report accompanying this Act, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, as appropriate, may propose deviations to the amounts referenced in subsection (a), subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate and section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
spending plan and notification procedures
Sec. 21003. (a) Spending Plan.--Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report detailing planned expenditures for funds appropriated in this chapter, except for funds appropriated under the headings ``International Disaster Assistance'' and ``Migration and Refugee Assistance''.
(b) Notification.--Funds made available in this chapter shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate and section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
unrwa accountability
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 21004. (a) Limitation.--Of the funds made available in this chapter under the heading ``Migration and Refugee Assistance'', not more than $119,000,000 may be made available to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA) for activities in the West Bank and Gaza.
(b) Accountability Report.--The Secretary of State shall prepare and submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act a report on whether UNRWA is--
(1) continuing to utilize Operations Support Officers in the West Bank and Gaza to inspect UNRWA installations and report any inappropriate use;
(2) acting swiftly in dealing with staff or beneficiary violations of its own policies (including the policies on neutrality and impartiality of employees) and the legal requirements under Section 301(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
(3) taking necessary and appropriate measures to ensure it is operating in full compliance with the conditions of section 301(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
(4) continuing to report every six months to the Department of State on actions it has taken to ensure conformance with the conditions of section 301(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
(5) taking steps to improve the transparency of all educational materials and supplemental educational materials currently in use in UNRWA-administered schools;
(6) continuing to use supplemental curriculum materials in UNRWA-supported schools and summer camps designed to promote tolerance, non-violent conflict resolution and human rights;
(7) not engaging in operations with financial institutions, or entities of any kind, in violation of relevant United States law and is enhancing its transparency and financial due diligence and diversifying its banking operations in the region; and
(8) in compliance with the United Nations Board of Auditors' biennial audit requirements and is implementing in a timely fashion the Board of Auditors' recommendations.
(c) Oversight.--Of the funds made available in this chapter under the heading ``Economic Support Fund'' for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, $1,000,000 shall be transferred to, and merged with, funds available under the heading
``Administration of Foreign Affairs, Office of Inspector General'' for oversight of programs in the West Bank, Gaza and surrounding region.
women and girls in afghanistan
Sec. 21005. (a) Funds made available in this chapter for assistance for Afghanistan shall comply with sections 7062
(Women in Development) and 7063 (Gender-Based Violence) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111- 8) and should be made available to support programs that increase participation by women in the political process, including at the national, regional and local levels: Provided, That such programs should ensure participation in efforts to improve security and political stability in Afghanistan.
(b) Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the steps taken to respond to the special security and development needs of women in Afghanistan.
somalia
Sec. 21006. (a) Economic Assistance.--Of the funds made available in this chapter under the heading ``Economic Support Fund'', $10,000,000 shall be available for assistance for Somalia.
(b) Security Assistance.--Of the funds made available in this chapter under the heading ``Peacekeeping Operations'' for assistance for Somalia, $70,000,000 is available for equipment, logistical support and facilities for the expanded African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and for security sector reform.
(c) Report.--Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with relevant Federal departments or agencies, shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the feasibility of creating an indigenous maritime capability to combat piracy off the coast of the Horn of Africa.
(d) Notification Requirement.--Funds made available in this chapter for assistance for Somalia shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
assistance for developing countries impacted by the global financial crisis
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 21007. (a) Availability of Funds.--Funds made available in this chapter for assistance for developing countries impacted by the global financial crisis should only be made available to countries that--
(1) have a 2007 per capita Gross National Income of $3,705 or less;
(2) have seen a contraction in predicted growth rates of 2 percent or more since 2007; and
(3) demonstrate consistent improvement on the democracy and governance indicators as measured by the Millennium Challenge Corporation 2009 Country Scorebook.
(b) Transfer Authorities.--Of the funds made available in this chapter under the heading ``Economic Support Fund'' for developing countries impacted by the global financial crisis--
(1) up to $29,000,000 may be transferred and merged with
``Development Credit Authority'', for the cost of direct loans and loan guarantees notwithstanding the dollar limitations in such account on transfers to the account and the principal amount of loans made or guaranteed with respect to any single country or borrower: Provided, That such transferred funds may be available to subsidize total loan principal, any portion of which is to be guaranteed, of up to
$2,000,000,000: Provided further, That the authority provided by the previous proviso is in addition to authority provided under the heading ``Development Credit Authority'' in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111-8): Provided further, That up to $1,500,000 may be for administrative expenses to carry out credit programs administered by the United States Agency for International Development; and
(2) up to $20,000,000 may be transferred and merged with
``Overseas Private Investment Corporation Program Account'': Provided, That the authority provided in this paragraph is in addition to authority provided in section 7081 in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111-8).
(c) Report.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit a spending plan not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate, and prior to the initial obligation of funds appropriated for countries impacted by the global economic crisis, detailing the use of all funds on a country-by-country, and project-by-project basis: Provided, For each project, the report shall include (1) the projected economic impact of providing such funds; (2) the name of the entity or implementing organization to which funds are being provided; and (3) if funds will be provided as a direct cash transfer to a local or national government entity: Provided further, That funds transferred to the Development Credit Authority and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation are subject to the reporting requirements in section 21003.
evaluating afghan and pakistani conduct and commitment
Sec. 21008. (a) Findings Regarding Progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Over 40,000 American military personnel are currently serving in Afghanistan, with the bravery and professionalism consistent with the finest traditions of the United States Armed Forces, and are deserving of the strong support of all Americans.
(2) Many American service personnel have lost their lives, and many more have been wounded in Afghanistan. The American people will always honor their sacrifice and honor their families.
(3) Afghanistan and Pakistan are experiencing a deterioration of their internal security resulting from a growing insurgency fueled by Al Qaeda, the Taliban and other extremist networks that continue to operate along the western border of Pakistan, including in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), as well as in areas under central government authority such as Quetta in Baluchistan and Muridke in Punjab.
(4) The United States and the international community have welcomed and supported Pakistan's return to civilian rule after almost nine years with the free and fair elections of February 18, 2008, and have supported the development of a democratic government in Afghanistan.
(5) Since 2001, the United States has contributed more than
$33,000,000,000 to Afghanistan and $12,000,000,000 to Pakistan to strengthen each country's governance, economy, education system, healthcare services, and military.
(6) The governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan must expand the writ of the national government across all provinces to secure their borders, protect their population, enforce the rule of law, and tackle the pervasive problem of corruption in order to bring security and stability to their people.
(b) Report.--Because the stability and security of the region is tied more to the capacity and conduct of the Afghan and Pakistani governments and to the resolve of both societies than it is to the policies of the United States, the President shall submit a report to the Congress, not later than the date of submission of the fiscal year 2011 budget request, assessing whether the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan are, or are not, demonstrating the necessary commitment, capability, conduct and unity of purpose to warrant the continuation of the President's policy announced on March 27, 2009. The President, on the basis of information gathered and coordinated by the National Security Council, shall advise the Congress on how that assessment requires, or does not require, changes to that policy. The measures used to evaluate the Afghan and Pakistani governments' record of concrete performance shall include the following standards of performance:
(1) Level of political consensus and unity of purpose across ethnic, tribal, religious and party affiliations to confront the political and security challenges facing the region.
(2) Level of government corruption and actions taken to eliminate it.
(3) Performance of the respective security forces in developing a counterinsurgency capability, conducting counterinsurgency operations and establishing population security.
(4) Performance of the respective intelligence agencies in cooperating with the United States on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations and in purging themselves of policies, programs and personnel that provide material support to extremist networks that target United States troops or undermine United States objectives in the region.
(5) Ability of the Afghan and Pakistani governments to effectively control the territory within their respective borders.
prohibition on assistance to hamas
Sec. 21009. (a) None of the funds made available in this chapter may be made available for assistance to Hamas, or any entity effectively controlled by Hamas or any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member.
(b) Notwithstanding the limitation of subsection (a), assistance may be provided to a power-sharing government if the President certifies in writing and reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate that such government, including all of its ministers or such equivalent, has publicly accepted and is complying with the principles contained in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 620K(b)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378b(b)(1)).
(c) The President may exercise the authority in section 620K(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378b(e)) with respect to the limitations of this section.
(d) Report.--Whenever the certification pursuant to subsection (b) is exercised, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate within 120 days of the certification and every quarter thereafter on whether such government, including all of its ministers or such equivalent are continuing to publically accept and comply with the principles contained in section 620K(b)(l) (A) and
(B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378b(b)(l)). The report shall also detail the amount, purposes and delivery mechanisms for any assistance provided pursuant to the abovementioned certification and a full accounting of any direct support of such government.
terms and conditions
Sec. 21010. Unless otherwise provided for in this Act, funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this chapter shall be available under the authorities and conditions provided in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009
(division H of Public Law 111-8), except that sections 7070(e), with respect to funds made available for macroeconomic growth assistance for Zimbabwe, and 7042 (a) and (c) of such Act shall not apply to funds made available in this chapter.
TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS ACT
Sec. 30001. (a) Not later than October 1, 2009, the President shall submit to the Congress, in writing, a comprehensive plan regarding the proposed disposition of the detention center at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to include--
(1) a proposed disposition of individuals detained as of April 30, 2009;
(2) a determination that such disposition does not pose a risk that cannot be mitigated if such individual is prosecuted, transferred or released, including a plan for such mitigation; and
(3) a detailed analysis of the total estimated direct costs of closing the detention facility at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and any related costs, including the estimated costs of detention, prosecution, security, and incarceration in the United States of the individuals detained at such facility.
(b) The plan required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but shall include a classified annex, if necessary.
availability of funds
Sec. 30002. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
overseas deployments and emergency designations
Sec. 30003. (a) Overseas Deployments Designations.--Except as provided in subsection (b), each amount in this Act is designated as being for overseas deployments and other activities pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 423(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.
(b) Emergency Designations.--Each amount in chapters 6, 7, and 8 of title II is designated as necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to section 423(b) of S. Con. Res. 13
(111th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.
RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE TRANSFER AND RELEASE OF
GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES
Sec. 30004. (a) None of the funds made available in this or any prior Act may be used to release an individual who is detained, as of April 30, 2009, at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, or the District of Columbia.
(b) None of the funds made available in this or any prior Act may be used to transfer an individual who is detained, as of April 30, 2009, at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, or the District of Columbia, for the purposes of detaining or prosecuting such individual until 2 months after the plan detailed in subsection (c) is received.
(c) The President shall submit to the Congress, in writing, a comprehensive plan regarding the proposed disposition of each individual who is detained, as of April 30, 2009, at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who is not covered under subsection (d). Such plan shall include, at a minimum, each of the following for each such individual:
(1) The findings of an analysis regarding any risk to the national security of the United States that is posed by the transfer of the individual.
(2) The costs associated with not transferring the individual in question.
(3) The legal rationale and associated court demands for transfer.
(4) A certification by the President that any risk described in paragraph (1) has been mitigated, together with a full description of the plan for such mitigation.
(5) A certification by the President that the President has submitted to the Governor and legislature of the State to which the President intends to transfer the individual a certification in writing at least 30 days prior to such transfer (together with supporting documentation and justification) that the individual does not pose a security risk to the United States.
(d) None of the funds made available in this or any prior Act may be used to transfer or release an individual detained at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as of April 30, 2009, to the country of such individual's nationality or last habitual residence or to any other country other than the United States, unless the President submits to the Congress, in writing, at least 30 days prior to such transfer or release, the following information:
(1) The name of any individual to be transferred or released and the country to which such individual is to be transferred or released.
(2) An assessment of any risk to the national security of the United States or its citizens, including members of the Armed Services of the United States, that is posed by such transfer or release and the actions taken to mitigate such risk.
(3) The terms of any agreement with another country for acceptance of such individual, including the amount of any financial assistance related to such agreement.
short title
Sec. 30005. This Act may be cited as the ``Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
General Leave
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and that I may insert extraneous and tabular material on H.R. 2346.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 10 seconds.
Mr. Speaker, we have a new President who has inherited a war he is trying to end. This bill tries to help him do that. We have no real alternative but to support it. I urge support for the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as members of the Appropriations Committee began the process of writing this legislation, I was hopeful that the House would return to its traditional approach to considering appropriations bills under an open rule on the House floor. Unfortunately, that is not the case today.
There are Members of both political parties who have thoughtful and well-intentioned amendments that ought to receive the consideration of the full House. An open rule would ensure that each and every Member has the right and the opportunity to make a good bill even better. But Members on both sides are once again being denied this precious right.
There is one exception to this rule, however. To cover itself politically on a highly sensitive national security issue, the majority leadership has included an amendment offered by my chairman, David Obey, that is self-executed into the rule on this bill. However, the Obey amendment only pays lip service to protecting our citizens from the release of known terrorists from Guantanamo into the United States.
Mr. Wolf, who is perhaps the most knowledgeable Member of the House on this issue, offered an amendment in the full committee last week which was defeated on a straight party-line vote. Yesterday, Mr. Wolf testified on his amendment at the Rules Committee and he was denied the opportunity to even offer his amendment today on the floor.
I don't say this lightly, but on this issue the majority leadership of the House appears to be more sensitive to the rights of known terrorists than the rights of duly elected Members of this body. What a shameful exercise this has become.
House Members were initially led to believe that this legislation would be kept at the President's original level of $84 billion to fund only the critical needs of the global war on terrorism. As presented today, however, this legislation has grown to $96.7 billion since it was submitted to the Congress 5 weeks ago.
The Members know that we face many crises around the world deserving our attention and thoughtful deliberation. It was President Kennedy who a generation ago reminded us that, when written in Chinese, the word
``crises'' is composed of two characters: one represents danger; the other represents opportunity.
If there is any doubt about what we are doing, let us be mindful that the supplemental provides the necessary resources for our soldiers and civilians to wage a successful battle on multiple fronts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. We know that the Taliban is now increasingly emboldened and the situation on the ground in Pakistan is, at best, fragile.
Closer to our shores, the potential closure of Guantanamo has become a symbol of best intentions colliding head-on with political reality. Chairman Obey's decision to withhold funding for Guantanamo is the clearest indication to date that the Obama administration still has no plausible plan to deal with this complex national security issue.
The President owes it to the American people and this Congress to provide a detailed plan for the potential relocation of detainees prior to any funds being appropriated for this purpose and prior to any detainees being transferred to our shores.
As presently written, the legislation does absolutely nothing to prevent the release of detainees from Guantanamo into the United States, into our neighborhoods and communities, after October 1 of this year. These detainees, many of them well-known terrorists, trained by al Qaeda, would be released with no security risk assessment or even the prior notification of Members of Congress.
Congressman Wolf and Congressman Tiahrt each had amendments addressing this critical national security issue, and both were denied the opportunity to offer their amendments on the floor. As a result, it is now only a matter of time before known terrorists will be brought to the United States on a permanent basis.
Today, it is less clear, not more clear, what rights they will be afforded when they arrive and under what judicial system they will be tried. And, indeed, in many ways we will be treating them as though they were citizens of the United States.
The insistence of the majority leadership to consider this legislation under a closed rule is disappointing because the bulk of this emergency supplemental was put together with very serious bipartisan cooperation. It is one of the rare instances in recent times when Republicans and Democrats have largely set aside partisan differences to do what is best for our country and what is best for our troops.
I am deeply concerned about legitimate national security questions taking a back seat to political partisanship. But we must pass this legislation, even in its presently flawed form, to ensure that funds continue to flow to support our efforts to bring peace and stability around the world. I urge an ``aye'' vote on this legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha).
Mr. MURTHA. As all the Members know, most of this bill has been bipartisan. Bill Young and I worked almost every detail out, and it is for the troops in the field and the military families at home.
For military personnel, we include--and I noticed there was a Member up not long ago who said what they did on stop-loss. Well, I will tell you who did what on stop-loss, this subcommittee, this appropriation committee did the stop-loss, put $734 million in for 185,000 military servicemembers. Recognizing the hardship placed on troops, we made sure that they will get $500 a month because of the hardship placed on them for an involuntary draft, in a sense.
Additional military pay. We had several hearings on trying to figure out how much money the military needed to take care of the shortage of pay. Finally, we came down to $2.5 billion and we added that to the bill.
TBI and psychological health. Nobody has been more in the forefront than Mr. Young and myself in trying to make sure that we have money. We put an extra $100 million there.
Since 2001, there have been 42,600 diagnosed cases of PTSD and 58,000 servicemembers treated for TBI. Out at Bethesda not long ago, I just saw the new facility for PTSD.
Orthopedic research and treatment. The bill includes $68 million. Nearly two-thirds of combat-related injuries require orthopedic procedures or treatment.
Amputee rehabilitation. We put $20 million in.
Joint family assistance. The bill includes $125.1 above the request and a total of $739 million for family advocacy programs.
Yellow ribbon. The bill provides $238 million for information, services, referrals, and outreach to the reserves for that program.
We put in money for C-17s, for 130s. We put money in for Apaches, helicopters, all of these things needed in the war effort.
MRAPs. We put in new MRAPs.
Strykers. We put money in for Strykers because it takes twice as long, and these are medical care Strykers, because it takes twice as long to get people to a hospital or to medical care in Afghanistan, and this will help that situation and reduce the time it takes to get to medical care.
Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
National Guard and Reserve. We put $500 million in the bill.
Guantanamo. In the initial stages we took the money out and said give us a plan; and, of course, the chairman has developed a plan for that.
We have withdrawal timelines from Iraq, August 31, 2010.
Training Afghanistan security forces, $3.6 billion.
Pakistan counterinsurgency fund, $400 million.
And contracting.
{time} 1430
And on contracting, one of the things the Secretary talks about and we talk about is that it costs us $44,000 more to have contractors in Iraq than it does to have regular troops there. And we finally said to them, Look, you've got to start taking the nationals there, putting their people to work, get the Americans or the foreign people--when I say ``foreign,'' other than Iraqis--out of the country. So we're going to get a schedule of getting the contractors down.
The report includes language directing the Department of Defense to provide monthly reports on the number of contractors in the US CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. We have a heck of a time getting this. But this bill provides the resources and capabilities needed to support deployed U.S. forces.
It is a completely partisan bill, and working with Mr. Young, I appreciate his cooperation and ask the Members to vote positively on this bill.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young).
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I rise in support of the supplemental. Most of the money in this supplemental is for our troops. It is for the war on terror, and it is to take care of the soldiers that are conducting that war.
As Mr. Murtha said, we worked together to create this legislation. In fact, the subcommittee met and all the members had an opportunity to have their input. The majority staff worked very closely with the minority staff, and we feel like we have crafted a really good wartime supplemental. So I urge the support for the supplemental, most of which is the defense part of the bill.
I want to say that I agree with Ranking Member Lewis on the issue of Guantanamo. I don't think we have it all figured out yet. I think just to say we're going to close Guantanamo doesn't really get the job done; there's too much to it.
Last year, the Congress approved my amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill and said you can't close Guantanamo until you do two things: one, have a plan as to what you will do with the detainees; and number two, which doesn't get mentioned very often, have a plan of what you are going to do with the facilities.
As appropriators, we know that we spent close to half a billion dollars creating a medium-security holding facility and a maximum-
security holding facility. They're state-of-the-art facilities. If you have to be in prison somewhere, Guantanamo is the place to be, because these are really nice facilities.
What are we going to do with half a billion dollars worth of detainee facilities? I think we need to know the answer to that. In my amendment last year, the legislation required the administration to report within 180 days of what the plan would be on those two issues. That has not happened to this day.
We can't deal with Guantanamo lightly. We can't bring terrorists who have been responsible for killing many Americans into the United States without careful consideration. My preference would be not to bring them into the United States. I may be in the minority on that issue.
But anyway, the overall bill is a good bill, and I do support it. I congratulate Mr. Obey, the chairman, and Mr. Lewis, the ranking member. And certainly, having worked with Chairman Murtha to craft the defense part of this bill, it's one that we can all support without any hesitation.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the chairwoman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
Mrs. LOWEY. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2346, the FY09 Emergency Supplemental. This legislation provides the resources our military, diplomatic, and development personnel need to make our Nation more secure. I was very pleased to work in a bipartisan way with Kay Granger.
The Obama administration's policy to defeat the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan is critical to prevent the region from being a base for terrorist plots against the United States and our allies. H.R. 2346 provides $3.8 billion for economic security initiatives in the region and funds our diplomatic development personnel and their security.
I welcome the administration's efforts to forge a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This legislation provides economic, humanitarian, and security assistance to the West Bank and Gaza to encourage stability and political moderation. It ensures that Hamas and other terrorist organizations do not receive taxpayer funds and that a potential unity government and all its ministers publicly recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and adhere to past agreements before receiving U.S. assistance.
H.R. 2346 also provides $470 million to help Mexico fight violent narcotraffickers with surveillance aircraft, helicopters, and law enforcement equipment, and to support rule of law programs, bringing to
$1.17 billion the total appropriated in 2008 and 2009 for these purposes.
The bill meets the President's request for assistance programs and diplomatic operations in Iraq to ensure a smooth transition from the military mission to a civilian-led effort.
In addition, the bill addresses significant humanitarian and development priorities by providing $343 million for refugee programs to address the growing displacement of civilians in Pakistan and other countries; $836.9 million for peacekeeping; $300 million for countries impacted by the global financial crisis, including Haiti and Liberia; and $100 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt).
Mr. TIAHRT. I thank the gentleman from California.
Mr. Speaker, this supplemental does many good things for our troops. It provides needed equipment and services so our men and women in uniform can carry out the will of this Nation, and hopefully and prayerfully, will help them to come home safely to their families. But it does present a hole in the safety for this Nation.
After October 1, hardened terrorists can come to America and eventually can be released to our streets. If they do come to America, where are we going to take them? Earlier in the discussion on the rule, the gentleman from Colorado mentioned that they could go to Fort Leavenworth. Well, Mr. Speaker, I have been to Fort Leavenworth to inspect the facilities. It is the premier training base for the United States Army. We invite many troops from other countries to come to America to Fort Leavenworth to train, to become allies, to learn how to work together to keep this country safe. Bringing these terrorists to Fort Leavenworth would actually prevent that from happening in the future. Some nations would not send their troops to America because of it. So Fort Leavenworth should not be a selected base for that purpose.
Neither do they have the facilities in the prison to house these terrorists. One of the things that was designed in the Guantanamo Bay facility is to separate the leaders from the foot soldiers because they stir up the foot soldiers should they be connected either verbally, visually, or in any method of communication. So that is prevented in Guantanamo Bay. It is created for that purpose. We've even created and built the most modern court facility so that these hardened terrorists should never have to set foot on American soil.
Now, when we have people in our own court system that we know are sexual predators, we warn people in the neighborhood to protect their children from these known sexual predators. But in this legislation, we have no notice when a hardened terrorist is going to be released on American soil, and we do know that 30 of these terrorists have been slated for release.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has expired.
Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield the gentleman another minute.
Mr. TIAHRT. I thank the gentleman from California.
We have a policy in America that if a terrorist is going to be returned to their country of origin and that country of origin is going to either torture or terminate them, we won't send them back. That's the problem we have with terrorists known as Uyghurs, terrorists of Turkish descent that are Chinese. So they are going to be released where? Back to the streets of America. This bill does not prevent that. We had legislation that would have given us that opportunity for an up-
or-down vote, but it was denied by the Democrats in the majority.
Americans want to have a voice in this. Do we want terrorists on American soil or not? I say ``no.'' I want them on no Main Street in any city or town in America, but I was denied the opportunity to have that vote.
I think that even though this bill does many good things, we should remember that before October 1 we need to have a clear up-or-down vote in this Chamber on whether or not we want to allow known hardened terrorists to be released on our streets.
Mr. Speaker, in the bill itself we have a list of the top 10 toughest terrorists that are housed in the Guantanamo Bay facility on page 112.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to enter into a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee and the Labor-HHS Education Subcommittee, Mr. Obey.
As we prepare to enhance our pandemic planning efforts through the supplemental funding bill before us today, I appreciate the committee providing additional funding to State and local governments that have been hit hard by the economic downturn. I am also pleased that we are taking a comprehensive approach to pandemic preparedness.
In an article in this week's National Journal, Donald Thompson, the senior program director for the medical and public health program at the Center for Infrastructure Protection at George Mason University's School of Law, noted that the U.S. has done a poor job of making sure it has enough equipment to tackle a full-blown pandemic. Currently, our national stockpile contains 104 million respirators, 51.6 million surgical masks, but only 20 million syringes.
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the work of your subcommittee to verify that this funding bill allows HHS to purchase, replenish, and expand the Nation's delivery devices stockpile.
Mr. OBEY. Let me simply say that public health at all levels must continue to respond to this current outbreak and the increasing number of U.S. and worldwide cases, but also prepare for the potential of increased severity or for a new, novel strain to emerge. This bill will give HHS the funds needed to develop and purchase vaccines and replenish and expand Federal and State stockpiles of antiviral drugs and other necessary medical supplies, such as masks, ventilators, delivery devices, and other items.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), a member of our committee.
Mr. COLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this supplemental, and, frankly, I want to congratulate the majority on the legislation. I am particularly pleased with the military portion that was worked out in negotiations between Mr. Murtha and Mr. Young. The extra dollars that were provided beyond what the administration requests I think were wise expenditures.
I certainly don't agree with everything in the bill and have my differences over process, both in the committee and more profoundly, frankly, on this floor, where I wish we had the amendments available that my friend, Mr. Tiahrt, mentioned. But, by and large, it's a great bill and, frankly, it deserves our support.
I think we ought to stop for a minute, Mr. Speaker, and recognize the significance of the vote that we are about to take. With the passage of this proposal, President Obama, in my mind at least, effectively becomes a war President. In his campaign, he said that Afghanistan was the central front in the war on terror, and he also said, if necessary, he would move into other countries to pursue al Qaeda. Since he has been elected, I think he has actually put those views into effect in this legislation and in other actions. He has chosen a new commander; he has increased the size of our forces in Afghanistan dramatically; he has begun a civilian surge, which alters in some ways, and I think appropriately, the nature of our mission; he has requested additional forces from European countries; and, frankly, he has made it clear that he is expanding activity into Pakistan.
This is a major commitment. It's not a commitment that will be over in a year. Frankly, I suspect President Obama will be dealing with this issue throughout his Presidency, whether he's a one- or two-term President. As long as he continues to operate in this capacity, frankly, I think he deserves bipartisan support. I think a war President deserves bipartisan support from Congress. He will certainly have it from me as long as he is consistent with the principles he has laid out and operates under the advice, although reserving the final decision to himself, of the commanders on the ground.
So it's a good piece of legislation and it deserves to be passed.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards), the chairman of the Military Construction Subcommittee.
Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this is Military Appreciation Month, so it is appropriate that on the floor of this House earlier this week Members of Congress stood up and showed their support with their words for our troops. Today, we can do something even more important; we can support our military troops and their families with our deeds. That is exactly what the $3.2 billion in military construction in this bill does in four ways.
First, it includes $488 million, the same as the President's request, for five wounded warrior complexes for the Army and two complexes for the Marine Corps. These facilities support many of our most severely wounded combat troops and their families through their important recovery and healing process.
Second, this bill includes $276 million, also the same as the President's request, for 25 child development centers at Department of Defense installations.
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These funds will provide additional child care for 5,000 military children, a high priority for our military families, especially with so many parents serving our Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Third, the bill adds an additional $1 billion for Department of Defense hospital construction. Why? Because many of our military hospitals are riddled with aging inadequate structures that do not meet current standards for medical care. This is unacceptable in time of peace and unconscionable in time of war.
No Member of this Congress, no Member of the Senate, no citizen of America should want to see a return to the Walter Reed Annex 18 of several years ago when Army soldiers had to live in such deplorable conditions.
The funds in this bill would bring our total investment in military hospitals over the past year to $3.3 billion. This House will initiate the funding to modernize our DOD hospital for our troops.
Fourth, this bill includes more funds for troop housing in Afghanistan. The President's request for projects in the CENTCOM area of responsibility total $876 million, including $84 million to partially fund the foundation and utility work needed to house additional U.S. troops going to Afghanistan. This bill supports 98 percent of the request and includes an additional $214 million to fully fund the troop housing requirement in Afghanistan.
Finally I'd mention that this bill includes $263 million, the same as the President's request, once again, to accelerate and enhance the construction of new DOD hospitals in Bethesda and Fort Belvoir to replace the aging Walter Reed.
By voting for this bill, we can support our troops and their families with our deeds, not just our words. I urge our colleagues to vote
``yes'' on this bill.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Brown-Waite).
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the supplemental funding bill that will provide the men and women of our Armed Forces with the resources that they need to do the job. Unfortunately this bill will not just fund operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. It seems to me as if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle never miss an opportunity to use the military to pack a bill with pork.
Under the pretext of funding operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, this bill is loaded with billions of dollars worth of spending that simply does not belong there. It is obvious to me that these programs do not directly impact the ability of our servicemembers to do their job. They are priorities of the majority that should be voted on separately based on their own merits.
We have a lot of questions about the Guantanamo detainees. Will they end up in Leavenworth, as the gentleman from Kansas mentioned? Will they end up in the largest Federal prison in the United States, which happens to be in my district? Let me tell you, I think Americans need to know the answer to that.
Despite the political games that my colleagues are playing, I will support this legislation because I support our troops and believe it's our responsibility to give them the tools that they need.
Mr. OBEY. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland, the distinguished majority leader.
(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HOYER. I thank the chairman for yielding.
I urge my colleagues to support this supplemental appropriations bill, and I appreciate the bipartisan support that this bill has received. It makes vital investments in the needs of our troops, responsible policy abroad and security at home.
I want to thank Chairman Obey and his staff for their hard work in putting this legislation together. The supplemental supports our troops, who are in harm's way, and honors their service when they return home. $1.2 billion for health and support programs for military families, $734 million to compensate servicemembers and veterans for every month their service was extended by stop-loss orders.
The supplemental also makes important commitments to our national security. It follows through on President Obama's commitment to remove all combat troops from Iraq by 2010, and it refocuses our attention on Afghanistan and Pakistan, which remain havens for terrorists seeking to destabilize the region and harm Americans.
American military involvement is an important part of our effort for a stable Afghanistan that no longer harbors terrorists. That effort also includes training Afghan security forces, police development work and a diplomatic surge.
Of the $5.1 billion that this supplemental dedicates to Afghanistan,
$3.6 billion is intended for local security forces, a critical component of our objective; $980 million is for efforts to strengthen the economy and the rule of law; and $536 million is for civilian diplomacy. We've also come to understand, as President Obama has repeatedly stressed, that the stability of Afghanistan is intimately tied to the stability of Pakistan, which is under threat from insurgent Taliban.
I believe that this supplemental will help reduce that threat through comprehensive funding for counterinsurgency development and diplomacy programs in Pakistan.
But it is also essential that the Afghanistan and Pakistan governments hold up their end of the bargain. That is why this legislation requires the President to report to Congress by February of next year on the progress of those governments in five key areas: The level of political consensus to the level of corruption, steps to eliminate it, success in counterinsurgency, cooperation of their intelligence service with our country, and the government's ability to control their own territory.
All of these are critical information points for us to have. This information will be essential to ensuring that our policy remains realistic and wise and we hope successful in this critical region of the world.
Finally, the supplemental makes a number of other important investments in our security. These include funding for pandemic flu preparedness and vaccine stockpiles, the importance of which have been dramatically demonstrated in the past weeks; funding to address violence along the U.S.-Mexico border, a priority I strongly support and observed the need for when I was in Mexico last month; and funding for important international food, refugee and disaster assistance.
I would comment briefly on the issue with reference to Guantanamo. First of all, this does not provide for the release of anybody from Guantanamo. Secondly, the President has widely said, We need a plan for Guantanamo, and is pursuing that. This language provides for that planning process to go forward. Thirdly, I would observe that almost none of those held at Guantanamo have used that courtroom, to which Mr. Tiahrt referred. That is to say, there hasn't been a finding in these cases. There ought to be findings. But in any event, I agree absolutely, and I think everybody on this floor agrees that anybody who is a terrorist ought not be released anywhere. We will have to decide how to resolve this issue. It's a thorny one.
I might observe that the former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former national security adviser to the first President Bush, observed that he thought Guantanamo ought to be closed on national television over a year ago and he said, Today, if not yesterday.
Now having said that, this President is pursuing I think a very thoughtful effort to see how that goal can be accomplished. It's a difficult one, but we need to work with him in accomplishing that objective.
I thank the chairman for his work. I thank the Chair and ranking member, Mr. Murtha and Mr. Young, of the Defense Subcommittee for the work that they've done on this to ensure that our troops have what they need to prosecute the policies of this country and to keep our citizens and the Nation safe.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston).
Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, one of the smartest things that the President did once elected and all the campaign rhetoric was out of the way, he went ahead and continued the Bush-Cheney policy in the Middle East, primarily by reappointing Secretary of Defense Gates and recognizing that the surge, in fact, worked, basically kept the plans for Iraq and Afghanistan on track, including a new surge in Afghanistan.
There was one sharp deviation from the Bush doctrine that Mr. Obama did not choose to follow, and that was his idea of closing Guantanamo even though the Guantanamo prison has proved to be effective. And we had lots of testimony from people who are in the military and security that these very bad actors need to stay in an island off continental America. That's why we Republicans in committee offered the Wolf amendment that says that if you're going to transfer the Guantanamo prisoners, that we should have the Nation's governors approve the transfers to their States before it happens.
Also that a threat assessment should be done. Now to their credit, the majority party did put in some language that says the President shall submit to Congress in writing a comprehensive plan before October 1, and we're happy about that. But what this plan does not do, it does not require a risk assessment.
Releasing the detainees to American soils could cause problems, and we would also like to see the security assessment include what its impact could be on the safety of American citizens. Also it does not require notification to Congress, governors, State legislators or local communities. We believe that much courtesy should be done. And it does not require the consent of the State governor.
Why is that important? It's interesting to note that when the President was recently in Europe, trying to ask them to take some of the Guantanamo prisoners, they all declined. All the European, all the EU countries want us to close it, but they won't take any of these prisoners. What does that say?
Mr. OBEY. I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much.
We are in agreement on three things that we want to accomplish: We want to win the war against violent extremism, we want to punish those people who are responsible for harming or intending to harm Americans, and we want to make all Americans as safe and secure as possible.
Now, we are engaged in a long war. It is a war against violent extremism, but it will continue forever unless we understand the elements that the enemy is using against us because it's not a war that will lend itself to any military victory.
In fact, our most effective weapon is to simply be true to the values and principles that define who we are as a Nation. And the most lethal weapon that the enemy has in its possession is to point out those instances where we have not been true to our values and principles, where we have been hypocritical, where we have yielded to fear of the unknown, where we have appealed to the most basic instincts. We are a better nation than that.
That's why Guantanamo is important, because there are a limitless number of young impressionable men who, in fact, will be recruited by the enemy for generations to come if we don't stand up and show that we are true to our principles.
Initially in the first few years of the Afghan war, 772 people were rounded up, very few by American forces. They were turned over by tribal chieftains for bounties, $5,000, sometimes less. We took them and put them in Guantanamo because we didn't know what to do with them. We interrogated virtually all of them to see what they might know, whether or not we knew that they had been involved in any hostile action against the United States. And, in fact, 85 percent of them we know were not involved in any hostile action against the United States.
Now we are faced with a decision. Do we move forward with a policy that is obviously causing us to lose ground in this war against violent extremism? Or do we change course? And what we are urging--not in this bill because this bill simply requires us to put together a plan.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. OBEY. I yield the gentleman 30 additional seconds.
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. The fact is that Guantanamo is not the punitive place that it used to be, but it does not serve our purposes to keep it open.
We have courts of justice. If people have committed harm against the United States, they need to be prosecuted. They need to be punished. It's not going to work if we try to do that at Guantanamo. And those who we don't have evidence against are going to have to eventually be released.
{time} 1500
Now, you know this really is about seizing and holding the moral high ground. And it is about who we are as Americans. That is the only way we win this war against violent extremism.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, could I inquire the time on both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 13 minutes remaining.
The gentleman from Wisconsin has 13\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf).
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, Simon and Garfunkel have a song that they sang in Central Park called ``The Boxer.'' And in it, it says ``Man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.'' To a certain extent, the Congress is just hearing what it wants to hear and disregarding the rest. Eric Holder and the Justice Department was ready to release into our neighborhoods some of these people almost 2 weeks ago. I first wrote the Attorney General on March 13, 2 months ago, to ask a series of questions. And I share what my friend from Virginia said. We are shutting down Guantanamo. That is not the issue that you are dealing with here. You are dealing with what are you going to do and what plan do you have as you shut it down.
On April 23 I wrote a second letter to Eric Holder of the Justice Department asking some other questions, just asking, what is your plan? How are you going to deal with the holding of it? What metropolitan areas will it be? I raised a number of concerns. And, again, no response. The other day we did another letter, the third letter. And when we were in the committee, some of the Members didn't know and said they could be removed and they could not be removed until they checked with the Congress, and that was not the case because Eric Holder was ready to move them out without making a report. What type of security will they go to? Let's just get a report.
This administration needs to be upfront with the Congress. And if the Congress doesn't have this desire to know, then at least they ought to be upfront with the American people because I think the American people know. Do all the Members of Congress know the State Department listed the ETIM, which the Uyghurs are a part of, as a terrorist organization in 2002, the same year the embassy in Beijing indicated ETIM planned an attack on the U.S. embassy in Kazakhstan? Do all the Members know that this group's militants fought alongside al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan? Does the Congress know that a month ago the Obama Treasury Department, to its credit, targeted al Qaeda support network by designating Abdul Haq, the overall leader and commander of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Party, as a terrorist?
Does the Congress know and should the American people know that Abdul Haq raised funds and recruited new members to further the terrorists' activities? Does anyone know that in 2005, Haq was put on the Sharia Council for al Qaeda? Does anyone know that in early January '08, Haq directed that this group commander attack various Chinese cities, particularly the Olympics? Frankly, I was disappointed that President Bush went to the Olympics. But there were a lot of American citizens there.
So we are asking questions before they do this. And sometimes I think some people are trying to say that it is not about closing Guantanamo Bay or not. Guantanamo Bay, whether you like it or not, is going to be closed. What we are talking about is how do you dispose of and what do you do to the detainees?
And, frankly, this Congress sometimes--we now sit on interrogation memos. No one wants to say that they knew anything. Well, the Congress ought to know everything. If you have the oversight responsibility, you ought to be willing to have it and hold it. So that is what we are saying, nothing more. And I appreciate Mr. Obey adding some good things in there. I want to pay tribute that he has. And I appreciate it. But I was foreclosed in the committee. And I thought we would have a unanimous bipartisan vote, and we were shut out. So we are just asking.
Three letters, Eric Holder says, ``O, I will not answer the letters. And, lastly, no FBI agent was able to come to my office, or I understand other offices up here on the Hill, to give them a briefing. As I said earlier, that if Attorney General Ashcroft----
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
Mr. WOLF. If Attorney General Ashcroft had prohibited FBI agents from coming to the Hill to speak to Senator Leahy, you would have heard about it on both sides of the Hill, on both sides of the aisle. And you should have heard about it. We are saying that before they move them, before they close it, we want to see a plan.
Mr. OBEY. I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Vermont.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman, among others, dairy farmers are facing an enormous crisis. And there is some possibility that the Senate may add in the supplemental some money for the milk program. And my request is that you would take that into consideration as best you can.
Mr. OBEY. Let me simply say that, representing a lot of dairy farmers myself, and being a former cosponsor of the milk program, I obviously would like to see additional help provided to them. The Appropriations Committee is not the committee of jurisdiction. So we would need to work out something with the White House and the proper authorizing committee. But we are open to any reasonable suggestions.
Mr. WELCH. I appreciate your efforts.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the Republican conference chairman, Mike Pence.
(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding. I rise today in support of the military funding in H.R. 2346, the fiscal year 2009 war supplemental appropriations bill, which will provide nearly $85 billion to support our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, those that every day make the sacrifices necessary to ensure our freedom and that of our posterity.
Overall this legislation does reflect a bipartisan effort to provide necessary war funding and essential support for our men and women in uniform. I am particularly pleased that it does so without arbitrary benchmarks and timetables for withdrawal that had been so much the debate of war supplementals in recent years in this Congress. I'm also pleased that none of the funding requested by the administration related to Guantanamo Bay has been included.
And I take this opportunity to commend the distinguished chairman of this committee for his judgment and discretion in leaving out any funding for the purpose of closing Guantanamo Bay. President Obama was simply wrong to announce plans to close Guantanamo Bay without any plan for what to do with the dangerous terrorist detainees who remain there to this day. The American people deserve to know that this Congress and this government are putting their safety and their interests above world opinion in decisions about terrorist detainees. And this legislation, in failing to provide any funding for closing Guantanamo Bay, puts the interests and the security of the American people first.
I do regret that the amendment authored by the gentleman from Virginia who just spoke, Mr. Wolf, was not included in this legislation, an amendment that would have prohibited the transfer of any terrorist detainee within the next calendar year. And I hope for additional language in the conference report.
Now, while I support this war funding bill, let me say on the floor of this Congress, I believe a war supplemental bill ought to be about war funding and war funding alone. It should not include the literally billions of dollars in nondefense-related spending.
Mr. Speaker, I don't have any particular objection to Congress considering and debating spending money on international food assistance or the State Department or the staff at the NSC or wildfire or avian flu or police radios. But what are they doing in a war supplemental bill? At a time when Washington D.C. appears to most Americans to be a gusher of red ink, runaway Federal spending, stimulus bills, omnibus bills, and this Congress passed a budget that will double our national debt in 5 years and triple it in 10, we can't even seem to bring a war supplemental bill that just funds the needs of our soldiers in harm's way. I believe we can do better.
I will support this bill because I support our troops. But I will continue to call for this Congress to do a service to those heroes and future generations by practicing fiscal discipline.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I have only one remaining speaker, myself. And I have the right to close. I would suggest the gentleman go through his speakers.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have one additional speaker besides myself. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California, the gentleman who knows more about Afghanistan, I believe, than any other Member of the House, Mr. Rohrabacher.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2346, but I do so reluctantly. I am reluctant because as someone who has spent the last 30 years studying Afghanistan and having been in and out of that country and being someone who has studied the current administration's plan, I am sorry to say that the current administration's plan will not work. It is doomed to failure.
Thus we are here allocating money, supplemental money, for our troops to send them overseas, but we are not backing them up with a political plan, a structure for Afghanistan that will work, that is consistent with the customs of the people of Afghanistan. Also their plan does not focus on drug eradication and how we are going to eliminate the problem in Afghanistan. How will our people succeed without the drug eradication problem that we know, the alternative that exists, that is being ignored? No. We are sending our people over. They deserve our support financially. But we should get together and work with the administration to reform their plan because it will not work.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I neglected the fact that I have one more speaker besides Mr. Rohrabacher. I yield to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins) 1 minute.
Ms. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, the President initially received praise for signing an executive order to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Unfortunately, this decision was not accompanied by a comprehensive plan to relocate the detainees after the closure. I have not found many folks either at home in Kansas nor here in Washington who would be happy to welcome the detainees as their neighbors. One place I am particularly convinced they should not be located is the disciplinary barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Little known to many outside of the military and those of us from eastern Kansas is the fact that Fort Leavenworth is home to the Command and General Staff College, a 115-year-old program at the fort that has trained more than 7,200 officers, including Generals Eisenhower, Marshall, McCarthy, MacArthur, Bradley, Arnold, Powell and Petraeus.
The CGSC not only trains our military leaders, but each year students from nations around the world study there. If suspected terrorists are held at Fort Leavenworth, out of protest or out of safety concerns, many of our allies would stop sending their military officers to train there.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, as we close down this discussion, I want to take just a moment to, one more time, express both the chairman's and my deep appreciation for the very fine work that is done by our staff on both sides of the aisle, especially in this case, the defense subcommittee staff, but beyond that the leadership of the staff from the full committee as well.
Mr. Speaker, we have all noticed by way of the media in the last several weeks that it is one thing to kind of wallow in rhetoric of the campaign trail when one is running for national office. It is an entirely different thing when you are elected President of the United States and then have to implement the policies that some of that rhetoric may affect. The recent discussion regarding intelligence, secure papers, should they be revealed or made public or not made public, is evidence that the President, our President Obama, is learning that reality very quickly.
In the Guantanamo circumstance, the rhetoric said, We should close Guantanamo. I would suggest that as the President moves forward and really learns about these people who are largely trained by al Qaeda, who are committed to jihad and the destruction of our way of life, long before a plan comes forward, I'm sure the rhetoric will be considerably different, or the implementation will be considerably different than the rhetoric. From there, this bill is a bill that reflects largely funding for our national defense, great work done between both sides of the aisle regarding the needs of our military. Because of that, this bill must go to the President's desk. And I urge our Members to give an
``aye'' vote.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 7 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, there is an old story about a second baseman for the old New York Giants, Eddie Stanky. Leo Durocher was the manager of the club. And during spring training, Durocher was hitting ground balls to the infield, and Stanky dropped two in a row. And so Durocher said, Kid, give me the glove. I will show you how it is done. So he went out to second base, and the very first ball hit to him Durocher dropped. And he turned to Stanky and said, Hey, kid, you got second base so screwed up, nobody can play. That is pretty much the situation that we face with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan.
{time} 1515
And this bill spends $97 billion because we're in a mess. After 9/11, the Bush administration went after al Qaeda hiding in Afghanistan. That was a perfectly understandable response. They hit us and we tried to hit them back. But then the administration diverted their attention and their resources to a tragically wrong-headed war in Iraq, a country with no connection to 9/11.
Seven years later, 33,000 American casualties later, more than 4,000 American deaths later, we now have a new President who has a commitment to try to end American combat in Iraq. He's also confronted with the mess in Afghanistan, which is made much worse because of the diversion of attention that should have been focused on that country over the past 7 years. And that job is made even more difficult because of the impact of events in Pakistan on Afghanistan.
Now, the President cannot wave a magic wand and end that war. He has inherited what I consider to be the worst foreign policy mess from his predecessor in the history of the country, a three-country regional mess. Now, he has decided that he will try to refashion our efforts in Afghanistan to give us a better chance to stabilize the situation. I hope I'm wrong, but I am forced to say that I significantly agree with the gentleman from California. I have a profound doubt that he can succeed, not because of any problem with his policy but because I am dubious that there are the tools available in that region for us to succeed using any policy. The tools we have to rely on for want of any others are the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Afghanistan. And I feel that they are both hugely unreliable reeds to lean upon, which is why I think that in that region we are unfortunately in an Eddie Stanky situation, because those governments are corrupt, they are weak, they are chaotic, they appear to lack the focus and cohesion and effectiveness to turn the countries around.
Nonetheless, it's clear to me that there is a consensus to try to do something to stabilize the situation. If we're going to go down that road, I want the President to get everything that he asked for and then some to maximize his chances for success. And that is what this bill does. I frankly have very little faith that it will work.
I came here in 1969, 3 months after Richard Nixon became President. I was vehemently opposed to the Vietnam War. But Nixon correctly pointed out that he had inherited that war from his Democratic predecessor, Lyndon Johnson. And so I thought, well, it's reasonable for him to ask for some measure of time to see whether he could move the policy forward. So I decided to give him a year before I started speaking out against the war, and that's what I did. I'm pretty much in the same situation today, and that's why this bill contains the following language.
It says: ``Because the stability and security of the region is tied more to the capacity and conduct of the Afghan and Pakistani Governments and to the resolve of both societies than it is to the policies of the United States, the President shall submit a report to Congress not later than the date of submission of the fiscal year 2011 budget, assessing whether the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan are, or are not, demonstrating the necessary commitment, capability, conduct, and unity of purpose to warrant the continuation of the President's policy. The President, on the basis of information gathered and coordinated by the NSC, shall advise the Congress on how the assessment requires, or does not require, changes to that policy. The measures used to evaluate the Afghan and Pakistani Governments' record of concrete performance shall include the following standards of performance:
``Number one, level of political consensus and unity of purpose across ethnic, tribal, religious, and party affiliations to confront the political and security challenges facing the region.
``Two, level of government corruption and action taken to eliminate it.
``Three, performance of the respective security forces in developing a counterinsurgency capability, conducting counterinsurgency operations, and establishing population security.
``Four, performance of the respective intelligence agencies in cooperating with the United States on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations and in purging themselves of policies, programs, and personnel that provide material support to extremist networks that target U.S. troops or undermine U.S. objectives in the region.
``Five, ability of the Afghan and Pakistani Governments to effectively control the territory within their respective borders.''
So there are no deadlines, no conditions, no timelines. But there are very clear measurements against which we should be able to judge the performance of the Afghanistan and Pakistani Governments. I believe that if this policy fails, it will not fail because of any lack of imagination or effort on the part of this administration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself another 5 minutes.
If that policy fails, in my judgment it will fail because of the failure of the two governments in the region to do what's necessary to save their own countries.
I hope I can come here a year from now when we are evaluating the President's policy and evaluating the performance of those two governments. I hope I can say my judgment was wrong, these countries have performed far better than we expected. But only time will tell. I think we have no choice but to give the President a shot. It's a miserable situation that he has inherited, and he does not have a good hand to play.
Having said that, I also want to note that, in addition to dealing with this problem, we deal with a number of other problems in this bill. We deal, as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) indicated, with the need to renew our ability to provide farm loans. We deal with the need for additional food aid around the world. We deal with the need to add $500 million to the President's request to deal with the pandemic flu problem that could be facing us. We've had over 11,000 layoffs of public health officials at the State and local level, and that is not going to stand us in good stead if we have to deal with the flu pandemic, so we're trying to fill those holes.
So let me simply close, Mr. Speaker, by saying this is a bill that I have very little confidence in, but I have a responsibility as committee chairman to move the process forward. I think we have a responsibility to give the new President, who did not get us into this mess, the best possible opportunity to get us out of it. So that's what this bill attempts to do. I make no apology for it. I urge support for it.
I want to thank the staff especially for their work, especially led by Beverly Pheto of the central office and the staff members on both sides of the aisle. I appreciate the hard work done by the Appropriation subcommittee Chairs and ranking members and other members of the committee as well. I appreciate the frustration of each and every Member of this House.
This is a no-win bill no matter how you vote on it. It's a mess. And let's hope that with God's help we can get out of it in a reasonably decent time.
Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, this past November 2008, the American people made a decisive choice to change the course of American policy. We wanted change. We asked for change. And that's what we got. Today we vote to set in motion further change in the conduct of our foreign and national security policy. H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, asks us to make some tough choices to achieve that change.
President Barack Obama is prepared to make the tough choices. I believe we must step up to the plate and do the same by voting for H.R. 2346. It is the right choice to responsibly redeploy our troops from Iraq, to secure and stabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to aggressively pursue every avenue of diplomacy to secure international support and cooperation for new policies that will lead to lasting security and prosperity for every corner of the world.
Some might question aspects of the President's strategy. Some might think we can move faster, farther, or smarter. That could be right. But in its totality, this proposal is far-reaching yet pragmatic about the facts we face on the ground in today's global hot spots.
In addition to funding for military operations, this measure includes a number of important policy provisions and support for the tools of
``soft power'' that will save lives. It is high time that we make real investments in American diplomacy--investments that put men and women in suits on the frontline before placing our men and women in uniform in harm's way. The Supplemental Appropriations Act extends the prohibition on construction of permanent military bases or installations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The President will be required to provide Congress with a detailed plan to close the detention facility at Guantanomo Bay. And this legislation will compensate our troops who have had their service compulsorily extended.
Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, I am troubled by the Iraqis' lack of progress in taking control of their security and economy. I am concerned about how we will navigate the treacherous waters of Afghanistan and now Pakistan. I firmly believe our government and our military must have a coherent exit strategy in the region. Yet I see in this legislation the elements of a long-term strategy to change the course of affairs in a challenging part of the world where we cannot go AWOL.
These are tough times filled with tough choices. But, today, the world believes we are ready to lead. Let us support the President. Give him a chance to take our country in a new direction. Let us pass the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009.
Mr. NADLER of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reluctantly support the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, H.R. 2346.
A lot has changed since we last voted on supplemental spending bills for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The American people have spoken and we have elected a new President who has promised to end the conflict in Iraq. The President ordered a full review of our military policy and announced a firm date for the removal of combat troops from Iraq--August 2010. It is not as early as I would have liked, but he has announced that the end is in sight and he will draw that conflict to a close. This bill is consistent with that plan to safely redeploy our troops out of Iraq.
I am, however, deeply concerned about our plans for Afghanistan. Immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001, I fully supported the initial war in Afghanistan. I support our efforts to destroy terrorist training camps and to pursue and defeat Al-Qaeda wherever it may be. I support providing the military equipment and support to our troops that they need to ensure their safety.
I am more concerned, frankly, with the problem of mission creep. It is one thing to seek to ensure that Al-Qaeda cannot use sanctuaries in Afghanistan to plan attacks on the United States. It is quite another to seek to remake Afghanistan. I doubt very much that we will be able to eradicate their poppy crops, end corruption, and ensure equal rights for all in Afghanistan. Nor is it our job to remake Afghanistan.
I am voting for this bill today, because it provides the funds for an orderly withdrawal from Iraq to an Administration I trust to arrange such an orderly withdrawal as soon as possible. It also supplies funds for aid to Israel, for combating HIV/AIDS, for combating the swine flu, and for many other worthwhile projects. But I want to be clear. I will not support an open-ended long term commitment in Afghanistan. I am concerned that the goals may very well be too ambitious, too vague, and too costly--in lives and treasure--for our country. I will continue to monitor the situation closely, and I will oppose funding for unrealistic mission creep.
I do not take these votes lightly, and these votes do not occur in a vacuum. As circumstances both on the ground and, quite frankly, within the United States government change, each vote for military funding must be considered on its own merits. At this point, with a new Administration here in the United States and with the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan particularly dire, I have decided to vote in favor of the Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Lewis for their leadership in bringing this important and timely legislation to the floor. H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act establishes funding levels for defense, international affairs, and influenza preparedness, and also addresses a number of key issues, including conditions on aid to Pakistan, assistance to North Korea, and the status of President Obama's plans to shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison. The Administration requested a net total of
$83.4 billion in additional supplemental appropriations for FY2009, comprised of $86.8 billion in new appropriations, offset by $3.4 billion of recessions of previously appropriated funds. H.R. 2346 increases the Administration's request by over $11.8 billion for a total of $96.7 billion. It includes:
Defense. Providing a total of $84.3 billion for the Department of Defense, including military construction, an increase of $8.5 billion to the request of $75.8 billion (net of offsetting rescissions).
International affairs. Providing a total of $9.4 billion for international affairs programs (including P.L. 480 food assistance), an increase of $2.4 billion compared to the request.
Influenza preparedness. Providing $2.05 billion for influenza preparedness, an increase of $550 million over the $1.5 billion requested. Of the total in the bill, $1.85 billion is for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control & Prevention to supplement federal stockpiles, develop and purchase vaccines, and to expand detection efforts. It includes $350 million in unrequested funds to assist state and local governments in preparing for and responding to a pandemic; and $200 million also unrequested, to support global efforts to track, contain, and slow the spread of a pandemic in the foreign affairs budget for Global Health and Child Survival.
Mr. Speaker as you know, Texas was hit especially hard by the H1N1 virus. The only two deaths from complications with the virus were in Texas, the first--a toddler visiting my district.
North Korea. Rejects a request for $34.5 million in Department of Energy non-proliferation funds to dismantle nuclear facilities in North Korea and rejects $95 million requested for energy assistance to North Korea in the foreign assistance accounts.
Aid to Pakistan. Provides $400 million to the Department of Defense, as requested, for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund to finance training and other assistance to the Pakistani military. The Chairman's mark of the bill originally transferred the funds to the Department of State, but Representative Obey offered a manager's amendment at the beginning of the committee markup that restored the funds to the Department of Defense. In the foreign assistance portion of the bill,
$897 million, ($91 million above the request), is provided for construction of facilities and for diplomatic operations in Pakistan and $529 million of economic assistance.
Conditions on assistance to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Administration officials strongly objected to legislated benchmarks on the performance of the Pakistani government, arguing that conditions on aid would not improve U.S. leverage but would more likely foster resistance to U.S. efforts. Instead of setting benchmarks tied to funding, the Committee included a requirement that the President submit a report to Congress no later than February 2010, when the FY2011 budget is submitted, evaluating the conduct and commitment of the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The report is to include assessments of each nation's level of political commitment to confront security challenges; level of corruption and efforts to counter it; performance of security forces in counterinsurgency operations and in establishing population security; intelligence cooperation with the United States; and the ability to effectively control its territories.
Closure of the Guantanamo Bay Prison. The Committee did not authorize the Administration request for $50 million for the Department of Defense to transfer prisoners out of the Guantanamo Bay facility nor did it seek to appropriate the $30 million requested for the Department of Justice to create a task force to facilitate legal activities associated with the closure.
Border security and counternarcotics assistance to Mexico. Approving
$350 million requested for the Department of Defense for counternarcotics activities on the Mexican border, including up to $100 million for transfer to other federal agencies. In the foreign aid chapters of the bill, $160 million is provided for Mexico in the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) account. This bill will also add $310 million for Mexico in the Foreign Military Financing Program for surveillance planes, helicopters, other equipment, and support activities.
These are truly efforts that the people in my district are dealing with each and every day. As a Subcommittee Chair on the Homeland Security Committee, I am working daily to ensure that we address the violence spilling over from Mexico by coordinating law enforcement efforts and working with our Border Patrol personnel.
PAKISTAN
I have been to Pakistan many times. My belief in this country and its relationship with the United States drove me to co-chair the Pakistan Caucus. This year alone, I have participated in two Congressional Delegation Trips to Pakistan, and I am very passionate about diplomatic relations between our two countries.
Recently we have focused on the internal conflicts in Pakistan; yet we must not forget the external issues affecting the region as a whole and the need for stabilization.
Over the years, our assistance to Pakistan has fluctuated with political events, sending mixed messages and leading most Pakistanis to question both our intentions and our staying power. Today, many Pakistanis believe the United States will cut and run when it serves our purpose, a belief which undermines our long-term efforts to defeat extremists, foster democratic change, support transparency, and assist institutions that promote security and stability in Pakistan.
However, the status quo is not working; while many in the United States believe we are paying too much and getting too little--most Pakistanis believe exactly the opposite. Without changing this baseline, I must agree with the Administration; that there is little likelihood of drying up popular tolerance for anti-U.S. terrorist groups or persuading Pakistani leaders to devote the political capital necessary to deny such groups sanctuary and covert material support. We must continue to support Pakistan if we want a stable Middle East and an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
MILITARY and STOP-LOSS
Finally, Mr. Speaker I want to touch on an issue that is affecting many military men and women in my district and in the nearby community that houses Fort Hood. The largest active duty armored post in the United States, and is the only post in the United States that is capable of supporting two full armored divisions. This bill seeks to appropriate $734 million in unrequested funds for additional pay for more than 170,000 servicemembers who have had their enlistments involuntarily extended since Sept. 11, 2001.
This total allows for payments of $500 per month for every month servicemembers were held on active duty under ``stop-loss'' orders. As you know, stop-loss is a practice that has prevented tens of thousands of our active-duty military servicemembers, and reservists from leaving military service on time if they were scheduled to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. More than 13,000 soldiers remain unable to exit the military under the policy, known as stop-loss, which was put in effect after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and then expanded in 2004 as the Army struggled to sustain two large war efforts.
Some 120,000 soldiers have been affected by stop-loss in its various forms since 2001. Even Secretary Gates said that stop-loss ``amounted to breaking faith with those in uniform.'' Secretary Gates recently announced a timetable that would cut in half by June 2010 the number of troops affected by stop-loss, with the practice all but eliminated by March 2011. I applaud his efforts and those made by Congressman Murtha and Chairman Obey with H.R. 2346.
For the number of troops affected by stop-loss increased sharply under the troop increase for Iraq that President George W. Bush ordered in early 2007. According to Pentagon statistics, 13,200 people are now under stop-loss orders: 4,458 in the Army National Guard, 1,452 in the Army Reserve and the rest from the active component.
At its core, the stop-loss policy meant that all troops headed to Iraq and Afghanistan would remain in service throughout their unit's deployment--even if the time on an individual soldier's enlistment contract expired before the deployment ended. The Army has said the rule was required not just to sustain the numbers necessary to carry out two wars, but also to maintain continuity in leadership and cohesion within units that trained for and then were deploying to war.
This policy has been abused for far too long, and like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan--it must end soon. It is a strain on our troops and their families.
I urge my colleagues to think of these reasons along with the many others as they cast their votes today. We must support those that wish to serve, are currently serving, and have served our great Nation. This supplemental appropriation will do just that.
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I will support this bill, albeit very reluctantly.
This supplemental appropriations bill contains a number of provisions I'm pleased to support. This bill provides long-overdue retroactive
``stop loss'' compensation payments to more than 170,000 servicemembers who had their enlistments involuntarily extended. It also provides nearly $5 billion for additional Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. The bill renews our commitment to meaningful engagement in the Middle East by providing Israel with $555 million of the $2.8 billion of the 2010 request for security assistance, as well as $665 million in bilateral economic, humanitarian, and security assistance for the West Bank and Gaza. I am also pleased that the bill provides $2 billion for pandemic flu response, as well as $500 million for global emergency food assistance. These are all worthy and necessary expenditures.
As the chairman of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel (SIOP), I want to briefly discuss our work on this bill. The SIOP reviewed the intelligence activities contained in this request. While the dollar amounts are classified, I can tell my colleagues that this bill contains many of the same justifiable activities we have seen in previous years with two exceptions. The first exception is the administration's request, which this bill includes, for additional funding for the operations in Afghanistan. Intelligence has been a vital component of our overseas military activities, and this bill ensures that proper intelligence will be available to those on the front lines in Afghanistan. The second exception is that this administration has begun the process of shifting continuing activities from emergency supplemental bills to the base appropriations bill.
Overall, however, I have grave concerns about the direction of our spending and policy focus in Afghanistan. I recognize that this conflict was neglected for far too long because of our misadventure in Iraq and that we are now paying the price for that neglect. I am concerned that in our haste to try to recover lost ground--literally as well as figuratively--we may commit some of the same errors that bedeviled our efforts in Iraq.
I have heard many people in this body and elsewhere in our government say that ``the United States cannot afford to lose in Afghanistan.'' That statement presumes that it is a war that is solely ours to win or lose--that the outcome will be decided by our willingness to commit still more blood and treasure to this conflict. That is a fallacy, the same fallacy that caused us to misdirect our efforts in Iraq for so long with such disastrous consequences. We would do well to remember what U.S. counterinsurgency specialist William Polk said in his 2007 book Violent Politics:
We should begin by noting what is common to all insurgencies. No matter how they differ in form, duration, and intensity, a single thread runs through them all: opposition to foreigners.
As in Iraq, we cannot solve the Afghan's problems for them; we are foreign occupiers of their country and will forever be seen that way by the population. We can support them in their effort to build a stable and just society, but they must be the leaders in that effort.
To that end, we should also bear in mind the words of the authors of the current U.S. Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual:
Long-term success in [counterinsurgency] depends on the people taking charge of their own affairs and consenting to the government's rule . . . Political and military leaders and planners should never underestimate its scale and complexity; moreover, they should recognize that the Armed Forces cannot succeed in [counterinsurgency] alone.
The supplemental appropriations bill before us spends $47.7 billion on the ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq compared to
$4.3 billion for international affairs and stabilization activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Perhaps the ratio should not be reversed, but it should certainly be far more balanced than it is--and there should be some type of timeline for the transition of security responsibilities from our forces to the government of Afghanistan.
My recent visit to Iraq with Speaker Pelosi convinced me that the certainty of our withdrawal from that country has focused the minds of Iraq's leaders on the need to deal with their many unresolved domestic problems. We need to create that same sense of urgency among Afghanistan's leaders, but I fear that this bill will not have that effect. I intend to join like-minded House colleagues in seeking ways to create that sense of urgency in this body, and ultimately on leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a first step, I have co-sponsored a bill by my friend from Massachusetts, Representative Jim McGovern, that would require the Secretary of Defense to present to Congress an exit strategy for Afghanistan. The conflict in Afghanistan, and the emerging conflict in Pakistan itself, cannot be solved by us through military means--it can only be solved politically through a joint effort by us and our allies. I hope we will be able to begin making that transition in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget later this year, and by passing Representative McGovern's bill as soon as possible.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, today, I will vote against H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009. While I have great faith in the new Obama administration and support many of the provisions within the supplemental, I have a number of concerns that precluded me from supporting the bill in its current form. I recognize that our new administration believes that this supplemental is a necessary carryover from the previous administration, but I cannot support the continuation of the Bush Administration's failed modus operandi in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, and the mis-proportioned 90-10 doctrine of assistance allocation--that is, 90 percent for military investments and only 10 percent for political, economic, and social development.
For the past several weeks, I have been working with Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-chair Grijalva to convene a series of panels featuring Afghan and Pakistani diplomats and security experts to discuss a variety of security issues related to Afghanistan and Pakistan. As I reported to President Obama in early May on behalf of the CPC, this six-part forum has produced a number of recommendations for essential elements that should be a part of our strategy going forward, including: (1) building the countries' infrastructure, industry, markets and workforce; (2) involving local leaders at all levels of decision-making; (3) supporting the countries' most effective indigenous reconstruction, stabilization and conflict resolution strategies; (4) educating girls and integrating women into political and economic leadership; and (5) ensuring oversight so that foreign resources support the goals mentioned above.
This Supplemental represents our first opportunity to correct the failed approaches of the past, but unfortunately we have not done so. Going forward, I hope that we can work closely with the President to ensure a policy more aligned with the 80-20 model often quoted by General David Petraeus, which would invest 80 percent of resources into political capacity and institutions with only 20 percent for military.
In this regard, I, along with other members of the Progressive Caucus, have presented our findings and specific recommendations to our colleagues in Congress, with the intention of informing and improving U.S. policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Again, while I am not supporting this current Supplemental, I was pleased to hear in our meeting with the President, that his FY2010 budget request will move in this direction.
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns raised by many about whether this bill reflects the ``perfect'' strategy for Afghanistan and Iraq.
The stakes are high in Afghanistan and the challenges are complex. As then-Senator Barrack Obama noted in July 2007, ``the Afghan-Pakistan border region is where the 9/11 attack was plotted. It is where most attacks in Europe since 9/11 originated. It is where Osama bin Laden lives and his top confederates still enjoy safe haven, planning new attacks. And it is where we must urgently shift our focus . . . using the totality of America's strength, not merely our military, incredible as it is.''
For the first time since I have been here in Washington, discussion about a supplemental has focused on where most of our efforts since 9/
11 should be: Afghanistan.
I am encouraged that we finally have a President who is committed to a redeployment of our troops from Iraq so that we can focus on where the threats from Al-Qaeda originated on September 11 and which unfortunately we have seen the threat to our country, to Afghanistan, and to Pakistan grow in the past few years. The Supplemental is consistent with the President's plan to begin winding down the number of combat troops in Iraq over the next several months.
While I wish we did not need to have military forces in Afghanistan, the deteriorating security situation will necessitate more U.S. troops--at least for a time--to help ``disrupt, dismantle, and destroy'' safe havens for Al-Qaeda. Creating a situation in Afghanistan that prevents the return of the Taliban and al Qaeda is clearly a priority for our national security.
It's a decision I take with a heavy heart and after much deliberation. I err on the side of peace. I never look forward to sending more of our brave young soldiers to the battlefield or for war. Yet, it is unfortunately clear to me that military forces must continue to be a part of our effort in Afghanistan to help protect innocent Afghan civilians.
This increase in forces must be accompanied by clear guidelines to minimize civilian casualties that have only inflamed public opinion in Afghanistan against the U.S. and its coalition partners.
We cannot win any war where we lose the support of the local populace.
The use of airstrikes that may have killed some terrorist leaders but also killed or injured more innocent civilians--such as the attack from earlier this week--and fanned anti-American sentiment must be reexamined at the highest levels of our defense establishment.
But if we have learned anything from the situation in Iraq, it is that military force alone is not sufficient in and by itself to achieve our nation's foreign policy objectives in combating terrorism. I remain concerned that a strategy that relies on our military alone--who have served and continue to serve with valor, honor, and dedication and done all that their country has asked of them--to address the vast range of challenges facing the Afghanistan government and people is not a viable way forward in Afghanistan.
Yet, without security, the Taliban will continue to disrupt and destroy U.S. and international efforts to boost health care, governance, and economic growth in the country, as evidenced by the continuing attacks against innocent girls who have now been empowered to go to school and get an education.
I am also concerned about the growing influence of the Taliban on Afghanistan's government and what that would mean for the respect for human rights, including the rights of women and the future of women and girls if we allow Afghanistan to become a failed state.
Development in Afghanistan cannot occur if we do not protect and empower the 50 percent of the population that are women. However, the prospects for women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban or a government heavily influenced by the Taliban are chilling.
We saw this growing influence I believe with the March 2009 approval by Afghan's parliament of a law that would, according to news reports, legalize marital rape, strip mothers of custodial rights in the event of a divorce, and prohibit a woman from leaving her home unless her husband gives his approval.
This law violates the basic human rights of women under several international treaties and convention and appears to contravene Afghanistan's own constitution.
This law has been rightly condemned by President Obama and others around the world and I urge President Karzai to officially reject it as well.
Its passage is a troubling omen of what the future holds for many of the committed women and girls who have courageously stepped out of the shadows since the fall of Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001.
I have advocated for a comprehensive strategy in Afghanistan and a comprehensive strategy will include the appropriate and judicious use of our military forces--otherwise it would not be comprehensive. It is clear that the Afghan security forces are overwhelmed and under-
resourced to combat Al-Qaeda. In Afghanistan--a country that has both a larger population and a larger geography than Iraq--current U.S. forces are one-fifth the size of the forces in Iraq.
We must support efforts by the Afghanistan government to improve security for the millions of innocent Afghans whose future is threatened by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
An important piece of a comprehensive strategy is an exit plan. That is an unfortunate gap in the bill before us, but nothing prevents the House or Congress from addressing that issue in the days or weeks ahead.
I am an original cosponsor of legislation by Congressman James McGovern that asks the Secretary of Defense to provide Congress with a plan for an exit strategy for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan by the end of the year. I look forward to helping move it through the House as soon as possible.
Additionally, the increase in fighting forces in Afghanistan undertaken by this Administration must be matched by concomitant increases in diplomatic, development, and other nonmilitary aid.
The FY 2009 supplemental remains the most immediate avenue available at this point to secure the $7 billion in foreign aid requested by the President to support his boost for such efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and elsewhere. In fact, this bill would add $3 billion to the President's request.
The $5.1 billion in the bill for Afghanistan is a significant step in the right direction. The $3.6 billion for training Afghan security forces and police; $980 million for economic development and expanding the rule of law and combating corruption; and $536 million for increased U.S. civilian and diplomatic staff are key parts of the Administration's new strategy for the region and will hopefully pave the way for the Afghan government to take the lead in securing its territory and meeting the needs of its people. On that point, today, 17 members of the Wisconsin National Guard--most of them based in Milwaukee--will return home after 10 months in Afghanistan training and advising the Afghan National Police.
I don't need to mention the critical need for the Pakistan assistance as troubling media reports surface by the hour that graphically illustrate the challenge facing that country and its government in its battle against Al-Qaeda and insurgent groups. The House bill would provide over $2 billion for Pakistan, almost $600 million more than requested by the President to boost State Department and civilian staffing, to strengthen governance and economic development efforts.
While I wish the mix between military aid and development and other aid in the bill were different, I also realize that this bill is taking an important step to better balance that mix while acknowledging a difficult reality for there are hundreds of thousands of troops still in war zones and at the same time, there is a lack of staffing at USAID and State that will need to be addressed to properly support a more forceful role for those agencies going forward.
The bill also addresses a number of other priorities including compensating all members of our military who were subject to the DoD's stop loss policy after September 11, boosting funding for MRAP's to protect our troops from IED's, and providing over $1 billion for medical care to servicemembers and their family members, including research and treatment of PTSD and TBI.
The supplemental would also provide millions in funding for new wounded warrior facilities to help soldiers wounded in combat to recover and to support their families through that process. It would speed up the construction of new military hospitals in Bethesda and at Fort Belvoir and provide over $1 billion for family support programs including improving access for families to child psychologists, child care, child development centers, financial counseling and other support.
Important funding is also included to facilitate the Middle East Peace process including economic aid and security assistance for Israel, Egypt, West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, and Lebanon.
The bill also makes investments in efforts to combat pandemic flu, to aid developing countries negatively affected by the global financial crisis, and to extend the compassion and aid of the American people though the provision of food aid, refugee assistance, and support of peacekeeping operations.
While I am disappointed by the fact that there are no deadlines or timelines in the bill before the end of Fiscal Year 2009 which is covered by the funding in this bill, Congress will certainly have the opportunity to examine whether or not these new policies are working and how to make effective changes both for the sake of our national security and for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
This bill is not ``perfect'' and can be improved. I hope it will get better and stronger when it goes to conference including the addition of more funding for the State Department to conduct diplomacy, build schools, hospitals and roads, and promote economic growth. Any efforts to reduce funding for these goals and funding for some of the important programs I have outlined below the levels in this bill will be of concern to me.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, one of the great strengths of our nation is our collective ability to learn from our mistakes--to reject conventional thought and embrace innovation. During his short time in office, the President has been the physical embodiment of this strength. He has challenged the status quo where he has found it and laid bare the contradictions inherent in policies and modes of thought that have outlived their usefulness. From reforming our domestic auto industry, to turning away from outdated forms of energy production, to finally recognizing that a person's health and a person's ability to work are, in fact, intimately related, the President is leading our nation toward progress.
It is unfortunate then, that the President has not challenged our most pervasive and dangerous national hubris: the foolhardy belief that we can erect the foundations of civil society through the judicious use of our many high tech instruments of violence. That belief, promoted by the previous administration in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, assumes that the United States possesses the capacity and also has a duty to determine the fate of nations in the greater Middle East.
I oppose this supplemental war funding bill because I believe that we are not bound by such a duty. In fact, I believe the policies of empire are counterproductive in our struggle against the forces of radical religious extremism. For example, U.S. strikes from unmanned Predator Drones and other aircraft produced 64 percent of all civilian deaths caused by the U.S., NATO, and Afghan forces in 2008. Just this week, U.S. air strikes took another 100 lives, according to Afghan officials on the ground. If it is our goal to strengthen the average Afghani or Pakistani citizen and to weaken the radicals that threaten stability in the region, bombing villages is clearly counterproductive. For every family broken apart by an incident of ``collateral damage,'' seeds of hate and enmity are sown against our nation.
I must also oppose this resolution because of the decision to strip
$80 million in funding for the closure of the detention center located at Guantanamo Bay during deliberations in the Appropriations Committee. Here as well, I implore my colleagues to consider the message we send to the world about our commitment to the rule of law. Closing this sordid chapter in our national history is a tremendously important part of our campaign to win the hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
There are those who will say that the Taliban and the tribal warlords of the Pashtun will not yield to reason or diplomacy. This may be true. However, this vote is a referendum on our means, not on our goals in the region or our commitment to defeating those who would wish us harm. The President has assembled the best minds that our nation has to offer. He has all of the myriad tools of statecraft at his disposal. With these factors in mind, I refuse to believe that constraining these tribal warlords and extremists, whose influence is limited to a mountainous and economically derelict region halfway around the world, requires the mightiest nation in the world to indefinitely commit our precious national resources in this particular manner.
Obviously, Afghanistan is not Iraq. It presents unique geographic, economic, and cultural challenges that will be orders of magnitude more difficult to solve. Let us remember that we are on the verge of extracting our troops and treasure from the quagmire of Iraq. Over the last six years, the strength of the forces of arrogance has waned as a direct result of our national experience with the horrors, costs, and futility inherent in a military occupation. Yet, here we are--on the precipice of hastily injecting our military men and women into a far more difficult and unwieldy situation.
Should we support this measure, we risk dooming our nation to a fate similar to Sisyphus and his boulder: to being trapped in a stalemate of unending frustration and misery, as our mistakes inevitably lead us to the same failed outcomes. Let us step back; let us remember the mistakes and heartbreak of our recent misadventures in the streets of Fallujah and Baghdad. If we honor the ties that bind us to one another, we cannot in good faith send our fellow citizens on this errand of folly. It is still not too late to turn away from this path.
Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important legislation, which makes emergency supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009. H.R. 2346 provides our troops what they need for their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, provides appropriate Congressional oversight for our military and national security efforts, and ensures the continued safety and security of our citizens.
This bill contains $96.7 billion to support our efforts to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and to protect against pandemic flu. As the representative of Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, I'm pleased that this bill provides $3.2 billion for quality of life initiatives--
including funding for military child care centers, military hospitals and wounded warrior facilities. It includes an additional $500 per month for each soldier who has served involuntarily after their enlistment ended, recognizing the sacrifices that they have made in necessary service to our country.
The legislation supports the President's plan to end the war in Iraq and bring our soldiers home, and supports his efforts to refocus our efforts to root out terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It also contains an important provision to prevent the release of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the United States and requires the President to submit a comprehensive plan regarding the proposed closing of the Guantanamo Bay facility to Congress before any action is taken.
As the representative of a rural district that has seen farmers lose contracts and put on the brink of foreclosure, I am pleased that this bill contains emergency funding to address the shortfall in farm loan programs. North Carolina and 46 other states have loan backlogs that today cannot be funded, and the $71.3 million in this bill will help keep our farmers in business and our nation's food supply secure.
Mr. Speaker, as we start to address the legacy of the failed policies of the past eight years and the deficit that we inherited, we must still invest in our priorities and ensure the safety and security of all Americans. This bill is the last time that we will address critical war funding needs outside of the regular budget process, and is a necessary step to providing a new direction for our military, our economy, and our nation. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress as well as the President and the Administration, to provide a new direction in Iraq and to meet the critical needs of the people of North Carolina's Second Congressional District.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, a little over 100 days ago, President Obama took the mantle of Commander in Chief and assumed responsibility for the tragic war in Iraq and the under-resourced conflict in Afghanistan. True to his promise, and my pledge to Oregonians, this Supplemental Appropriations bill starts the process of bringing the war in Iraq to a close. We are on track to end the combat mission in Iraq by mid-2010 and remove all U.S. military forces by the end of 2011.
I have routinely opposed Supplemental Appropriations bills for the wars in the past as open-ended funding for a tragic conflict. For too long this type of emergency funding has been used to support misguided policies: avoiding responsible budgeting and thoughtful adjustments in the direction of our foreign and military policies. That's why I'm pleased that the Obama administration has also committed to transparency in war funding, both in this final Supplemental for Iraq and Afghanistan, and for including future costs in the baseline budget.
There is much that is good and important in this bill, including substantial investments in humanitarian assistance overseas and in preparing for the next pandemic, which we fear swine flu may become in the future.
Nevertheless, it was difficult to cast a vote in support of this Supplemental. I am troubled by some of the funding, including an increase in defense acquisitions and military assistance for some countries that haven't earned it, like Egypt. My greatest unease is perhaps the direction that has been taken in Afghanistan. I am not comfortable with the escalation there; my discomfort was heightened when I said goodbye on May 2 to the largest contingent of Oregon National Guard members sent overseas since World War II.
I will give the new administration the benefit of the doubt because there is much in this bill to support and because they have inherited dire circumstances not of their making. But from this point forward, these conflicts are in the hands of the Obama administration and I will hold them to the same standard of accountability.
Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I oppose the supplemental appropriations bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Iraq, the American people were misled into a war that has cost our country almost $670 billion, with over 4,300 American lives lost and estimates showing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed. While President Obama's plan to scale down the troop levels in Iraq is a move in the right direction, I simply cannot justify any more spending for an illegitimate war.
In Afghanistan, over 600 Americans have been killed and more than 4,000 have been wounded. After years of mismanagement by the Bush Administration, we lack a clear objective and have no exit strategy.
At a time when our country is facing serious economic peril at home, it is unconscionable that we would be sending almost $100 billion to further fund war efforts that have no clear goals and continue to undermine America's standing abroad.
President Obama is moving America's foreign policy in a better direction, and he has shown superior judgment to President Bush on when we should send our troops into harm's way. However, I cannot support any more funding for these wars.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009. The funding in this bill will provide our men and women in uniform the tools they need to protect our nation, while recognizing the sacrifices they and their families have made for this country.
Unlike past war funding supplementals, this year's measure will focus on supporting a clear plan for ending the war in Iraq and bringing our men and women home safely and responsibly. This will be balanced with adequate resources to support a ``whole of government'' approach to combat Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and to support our allies in Pakistan as they fight a violent insurgency that threatens to envelop their country.
This supplemental also supports Congress's critical oversight responsibilities by requiring the President to report on the performance of the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan in five key areas by February of 2010. This will allow the Congress to evaluate the effectiveness of our new strategy in Afghanistan and ensure that we are providing everything troops need to get the job done.
On the home front, the supplemental ensures that our nation is ready to respond to a full flu pandemic by providing funding for anti-viral drug and vaccine stockpiles as well as assisting state and local responders with the tools to fight such an outbreak.
This bill ensures the safety of our nation by balancing our war efforts overseas with disaster response at home, and I urge passage of H.R. 2346.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009. I am supporting this legislation because it contains necessary funding for our troops at war in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensures they have the proper equipment and resources they need. However, I am pleased this is the last time we will use emergency supplementals to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which grows our federal budget deficit and places the burden of paying for the wars on our children. From now on, we must keep our word and use supplemental appropriations only for true emergencies, like natural disasters, pandemic flu outbreaks, and terrorist attacks.
In addition to providing funds for continued drawdown of troops from Iraq, refocusing military efforts in Afghanistan, and new strategic initiatives in Pakistan, this legislation contains much-needed funding to respond to urgent humanitarian crises involving refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). While I thank the Committee for including this assistance, I believe much more is necessary to respond to the dire situation Iraqi refugees and IDPs find themselves in since the beginning of the Iraq War. The United States has both a moral obligation to assist this displaced population--the largest since the Palestinian Diaspora of 1948--and also a strategic interest in stabilizing the region so young Iraqi men and women turn toward the future of their country rather than to violence and extremism because they have no place else to go.
H.R. 2346 also contains relief for our troops who have been forced to remain on duty through multiple tours of often intense combat missions. This bill contains $734 million to retroactively provide service members and veterans $500 for every month they served under stop-loss orders since 2001.
This bill has many other important provisions that I am pleased to support, like funding for pandemic flu response, fighting growing violence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and international food assistance during the global economic crisis. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' for H.R. 2346.
Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for the work of our Chairman, John Murtha, our Ranking Minority Member, Bill Young, and the Democratic and Republican staff of the House Appropriations Committee on Defense. Unlike years past, this legislation demands that our President provide us with a plan as we move forward in Afghanistan; demands that our President provide us with a plan as we close down Guantanamo Bay; provides more funding for
``stop loss'' and helps to protect our country against flu pandemics. This bill provides direction for the President and American citizens; is disciplined in its approach regarding Afghanistan, Pakistan and Guantanamo Bay; and is diligent in ensuring the wise use of tax dollars.
First and foremost, I must thank Chairman Murtha and Ranking Minority Member Young, along with 118 of my colleagues, who helped to fight to preserve funding for the Stryker Medical Evacuation Unit. On April 1, 2009, I sent this letter signed by my colleagues to Chairman Murtha to fight for funding for the Stryker MEV. Secretary of Defense Bob Gates recommended that this program be zero funded for the Supplemental, which would have had a devastating effect on the State of Michigan and others as well. I am a proud Progressive, and did not support the War in Iraq. Regardless of whether you support the war or not, we all agree that those servicemembers who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way should have the best equipment available. This Supplemental will provide close to $340 million for the Stryker. Without funding in the FY09 Supplemental, General Dynamics would be forced to cut more than 1,000 employees in Michigan, Ohio, Alabama, Florida, and Pennsylvania. I am proud to have fought for the funding for this program that will allow the building of over 250 Strykers.
An estimated 795 supplier companies would be impacted in 40 States. The direct economic impact to Michigan would be a loss of $241 million along with more than 19,000 jobs.
The Stryker MEV or battlefield ambulance, which is what I, along with my colleagues, have been working to fund, offers our troops the best medical treatment. Its mobility, speed and protection levels have saved the lives of wounded soldiers. The Stryker MEV ambulance, which would be used to replace Vietnam-era M113s, offers greater interior space, carries more wounded soldiers, medics and medical supplies. It also features the latest in life support and medical monitoring systems and has air conditioning. Our servicemembers deserve this much for their battlefield ambulance.
The Strykers have been deemed the soldier's ``first choice.'' Strykers are eight-wheel, armored combat vehicles that can be transported in a C-130 plane. There are 10 configurations of the Stryker including the Infantry Carrier Vehicle, ICV, and the Mobile Gun System, MGS.
The contract for Strykers was awarded in 2000 to General Dynamics Land Systems and a former subsidiary of General Motors, GM Defense. They were designed in Sterling Heights, Michigan and are manufactured in Lima, Ohio and Anniston, Alabama, by General Dynamics Land Systems, with many of the key components of the Stryker designed and built by the United Auto Workers labor union.
The first Stryker vehicles were deployed in 2002. Since then, more than 2,700 vehicles have been delivered and more than 18,000 soldiers have been trained. The fleet has accumulated 22 million miles.
Key characteristics of the Stryker are survivability and mobility. The vehicle allows soldiers to maneuver in close quarters, offers protection in open areas and can quickly transport troops to key battlefields. The Army selected the Stryker because it provides the best protection, performance and value for the Army's Bridge Combat Teams. The Stryker, named after two individuals who earned the Medal of Honor, is one of the preferred vehicles of the U.S. Marine Corps. Perhaps Col. Robert Brown, commander of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Multinational Force--Northwest which is equipped with Strykers, could make the best argument for the Stryker:
The Stryker brigade has fought from Fallujah, Baghdad, Euphrates River Valley and then up in the Tigris River Valley and all the way up to Mosul in northern Iraq and out to the border out in Syria over the last year.
The Stryker's fantastic. It has incredible mobility, incredible speed. It has saved hundreds of my soldiers' lives. I'm telling you hundreds of their lives. We've been hit by 84 suicide VBIEDs, and I've had the greater majority of soldiers walk away without even a scratch. It's absolutely amazing. If I were in any other type vehicle, I would've had huge problems.
The other thing is it carries, you know, the infantry men in the back that no other vehicle can do; nine infantry men that come out of that Stryker and are incredible in urban operations. You could ask any one of my soldiers, and they would choose the Stryker of any vehicle they could possibly ride in.
This bill mandates that President Obama submit every 90 days a report to Congress that includes how the government of Iraq is assuming responsibility for reconciliation initiatives; how the draw down of military forces complies with the President's guidelines to withdraw all U.S. combat brigades from Iraq by August 31, 2010, and requires accountability from the contractors who are doing business in Iraq. The legislation also states that there will be no permanent bases in Iraq.
Appreciating that the President has issued the closure of Guantanamo Bay's detention facilities, we ask the President to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for what the Administration plans to do with detainees still held at Guantanamo Bay; and a detailed analysis of the total estimated cost of closing this detention facility and any related costs.
The bill also gives the President a year to come up with a comprehensive, cohesive plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan. By February 2010, the bill gives the President time to assess whether the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan are, or are not, demonstrating the necessary commitment, capability, conduct and unity of purpose to warrant the continued policy of the President. Our people deserve to know what our goals, objectives, and timetables are if we are going to commit the lives of their husbands and wives, sons and daughters, children and grandchildren and the scarce resources of the American taxpayer.
I am proud that this bill includes an increase in the funding for the mental health of our servicemembers, to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, and Traumatic Brain Injuries, TBI. Families of our servicemembers who have children with disabilities will get an increase in the help that they receive through this legislation, as well as compensating our troops who have served under ``stop loss'' conditions. Recognizing the hardship placed on troops and their families by being forced to remain on active duty longer than they planned, Congress ordered a special $500 per month payment for any servicemember who had to serve under stop loss. For the U.S. Army, the average compensation would be $4,000; for the U.S. Navy, $7,500; for the U.S. Marine Corps,
$4,500; and for the U.S. Air Force, $5,500.
We owe our servicemembers a great debt. I am proud of our work on this bill to ensure accountability and responsibility from our Administration; to protect American citizens from pandemics and disease; to partially compensate our servicemembers and their families for their sacrifice; and boost the economy of the State of Michigan. I look forward to quick consideration in the Senate of this legislation and that it is signed into law soon.
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, let me first say at the outset that I support President Obama and his Administration in their overall foreign policy objectives and implementation. However, I cannot vote for this War Supplemental request because I believe that it does not represent the departure from the past that we all hope for and which is urgently needed to move our country forward in a new course.
While I understand that there's a momentum building toward winding down our involvement in these conflicts and the move away from the war-
making culture, I believe that there must be a sharp departure from past policy in order for us to achieve that goal.
This War Supplemental budget will significantly expand our military presence in Afghanistan, while at the same time it does not go far enough in eliminating our longstanding presence in Iraq, either.
I am very concerned by the fact that almost 90 percent of the funds are going for military operations and equipment replacement. While it contains some beneficial items like economic development and agriculture programs in Afghanistan, efforts to strengthen rule of law in Iraq, humanitarian assistance for Gaza--which I strongly support--
wildfire suppression, and efforts to fight against the spread of a new flu pandemic, all these items combined amount to less than 13 percent of the total budget.
I also believe that funding for the war and military occupation and funding for diplomatic, humanitarian and other benevolent efforts must be separated. It is disingenuous and deceptive to combine these two and force the lawmakers to make the choice they shouldn't have to make; that is, supporting funding for the wars in order to get humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
President Obama has made strong, inspirational statements that signal positive change of policy toward the Muslim world, but this budget will send a contradicting message to those statements. Approving this budget will send the message to the Muslim world and the international community at large that we are not serious in getting to the root-cause of the problem, which is our extensive engagement in war-making. At the end of the day, the best way to achieve our objectives is to send consistent messages that demonstrate our unwavering determination to scale down our military footprints.
Supporting this bill will surely perpetuate military operations that are likely to fail or become a pyrrhic victory.
President Obama will give a major speech in Egypt on how he would reduce those military footprints and increase civilian-led involvement. But the figures in this War Supplemental budget, over $75 billion for military operations versus merely $7 billion for state and foreign operations, will perpetuate the picture of how much we still prioritize war-making over diplomacy and development.
With these reasons, and despite my continued support for the President and the Administration, I cannot support this War Supplemental budget request.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill, but not without reservations and some concern.
I fully support the funding that is in the bill for the military--the bill addresses their immediate needs by providing protective equipment in supplies, and supports the sacrifices they and their families are making by retroactively providing servicemembers and veterans $500 for every month they served under stop-loss orders since 2001. It also plans for the end of combat operations in Iraq and refocuses our efforts in Afghanistan.
Following a news report by KHOU in Houston on Monday about troops in Iraq not having sufficient supplies, specifically individuals were having to ration water, find their own, or drink bulk water not intended to be potable, we need to ensure DoD has funding to supply our troops, and this bill provides for that.
My main concern however is that this supplemental did not include funding, or any assistance for areas affected by Hurricane Ike. We still have great unmet needs, and while there is funding to address other natural disasters such as wildfires, the Gulf Coast is still struggling to recover.
Ike was one of the most devastating hurricanes since Katrina, yet the small amount of funding that has been appropriated for the disaster has not been passed through by the Federal agencies to meet local needs. Of the nearly $6 billion in CDBG funding that was included in the combined Defense, Homeland Security, and VA Appropriations bill, nearly two thirds of that is still being held by HUD.
What has been delivered was divided among all areas hit by a natural disaster last year, meaning the Gulf Coast has received a tiny fraction of what is needed and what has been delivered to previous areas devastated by category 3 and category 4 hurricanes.
The 2009 hurricane season is nearly upon us, and we have yet to address the needs of what is left from the 2008 season. Additional funding would be ideal, but at a minimum, local areas like Galveston City and County need the local-match for disaster recovery assistance waived, and I intend to continue working with the Appropriations Committee and House Leadership to provide that assistance at a minimum.
Mr. Speaker, I fully support what is in this bill for our troops and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it. However, I hope to work with you moving forward to provide assistance to an area still devastated and recovering from Hurricane Ike.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I support the supplemental funding bill that is before the House today, and urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it.
A lot has changed since the last time Congress debated funding for the ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan eleven months ago. Earlier this year, President Obama stated that we will begin to draw down our forces in Iraq and complete the removal of combat troops by August 2010. Further, the President has also announced a new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The plan acknowledges our national interest in combating terrorism and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the need for stability in the region, especially with regard to safeguarding Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. At the same time, the President's plan correctly recognizes that we need a comprehensive strategy that does not rely on U.S. military force alone.
The President's plan therefore calls for increased resources to build schools, roads and hospitals, and strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The strategy also calls for greater dialogue, intelligence sharing, and border cooperation between the U.S., Afghanistan and Pakistan. The challenges before us are formidable, but I think we need to give President Obama's strategy a chance to work. This bill begins the effort by providing funding for the training of Afghan and Pakistani security forces as well as funds for economic development, strengthening governance, expanding the rule of law, and boosting our diplomatic efforts in the region.
One thing that hasn't changed is the imperative to provide our troops in the field with the equipment and support they need to protect themselves and accomplish their mission.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important bill.
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2346 the Supplemental Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2009, which addresses the President's request for additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, overseas diplomatic efforts and wildland fire suppression and emergency rehabilitation of burned areas. I also want to express my support for funds that were approved in this bill to respond to the recent swine flu outbreak, which still presents a very real threat of a worldwide pandemic.
We are all encouraged by the robust actions of our various public health agencies in the United States, including the Centers for Disease Control, in response to this threat. It is clear that the health and security of the American public remain a top priority, and we support the substantial and serious efforts that are being made to protect our population against the H1N1 swine flu virus and to prepare for the possible consequences. Because we do not know at this point the path that this particular strain will take within our population and around the world, it is entirely prudent to implement widespread precautionary steps in case the outbreak is more virulent than it now appears, or in case it re-appears in the fall. Knowing that the 1918 Spanish Influenza outbreak killed an estimated 100 million people around the world, and that modern transportation has greatly increased the speed at which such a pandemic could be spread, we have a serious obligation to prepare for any potential outcome.
At the same time, I believe that Congress, in its oversight role, must assure that the nation is adequately prepared to detect--with some advance capability--this and other types of pandemic disease threats to our population. The earlier we can determine the content and the severity of a biological threat, for example, the more lives can potentially be saved. In this case we have some concern about the nation's ability to analyze and interpret warning signals that suggest the emergence of a biological threat.
What we know is this: By April 22, the Centers for Disease Control, CDC, had identified two cases of a previously unknown strain of Swine flu present in Texas, and that the virus was identical to two previously analyzed cases that occurred earlier in the month in San Diego. By that evening, CDC was able to complete the analysis of samples of the virus that had been raging through parts of Mexico, finally allowing it to ``connect the dots'' and begin the notification of all 50 State public health laboratories.
But it is now also known that CDC received other information earlier that at least suggested the possibility of pandemic threat. CDC received information from a Washington State firm that tracks global disease outbreaks as early as April 6th that suggested the possibility of a pandemic. The company, Veratect, has developed a software platform called Foreshadow that conducts 24-hour, 7-days-a-week tracking and actionable alert generation to detect emerging threats worldwide. Through its analyses, Veratect reported on April 6th that health officials in Veracruz, Mexico, had declared a health alert due to a
``strange'' outbreak of respiratory disease outbreak, possibly caused by contamination from pig-breeding farms located in the area. Ten days later, the company reported that the Oaxaca Health Department had detected an unusual number of atypical pneumonia cases. On April 20, a Veratect official contacted a CDC physician at the agency's emergency operations center to apprise him of the situation in Mexico and to urge CDC to take a look at the growing problem there.
Obviously hindsight is 20/20. As with any intelligence product, it is always difficult to know at the time what is merely ``noise'' and what is truly significant information that requires action. But because of my personal knowledge of the circumstances related to these early warning signals that were sent to CDC and other governmental bodies, I think it is prudent for Congress at this point to assure that we have the appropriate mechanisms in place to guarantee that bona fide information relating to these types of very real threats to public health and safety can be received and interpreted in a timely manner, and that it triggers the necessary and appropriate preventative actions.
In this regard, I am encouraged that the bill includes report language that will require CDC to review its disease detection policies and the speed with which case samples are analyzed to determine if improvements should or can be made. Part of this review should include a survey of the early detection capability that exists, and whether CDC and other agencies of the federal government have sufficient resources to properly analyze this type of advance warning information.
I thank Chairman Obey, in particular, for his interest in the issue, and for including this important language in the Committee's report.
Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to clarify some comments in the Joint Explanatory Statement for the FY09 Consolidated Appropriations Act. That statement said, ``Further, that the Intelligence Community has studied other pay-for-performance efforts, both within the Community and the rest of government is encouraging. The executive branch started implementing this effort of September 14, 2008, and therefore the Intelligence Community is directed to ensure that full implementation of the system follows the principles of merit, transparency and fairness in a manner which is deliberate and methodical.''
I want to clarify that this statement was not intended as an endorsement of the current pay for performance system in the Intelligence Community, known as the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS), but as a statement of principles of what such a system should be.
We all believe that the civil service personnel system should be based on merit principles and be transparent, and fair. It is our commitment to these principles that have led some of us to ask that these systems be reviewed. We have been concerned that the implementation of DCIPS lacks transparency, may adversely affect minorities, and may undermine collaboration. In particular, Chairman Skelton and I requested that the Administration pause implementation of DCIPS. In response, the Intelligence Community announced to the field that they would be pausing implementation of DCIPS. I welcome this action so the Administration can take the time to review both the substance and implementation plan for DCIPS. I note that the Administration has frozen the implementation of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), and is reviewing that system as well, and I would welcome similar action in the Intelligence Community.
Mr. OBEY. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and ask for an ``aye'' vote.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 434, the previous question is ordered on the bill, as amended.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was read the third time.
Motion to Recommit
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Presently, I am.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Rogers of Kentucky moves to recommit the bill H.R. 2346 to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with the following amendment:
Page 10, beginning on line 20, strike the last two provisos of the paragraph.
Page 23, beginning on line 3, strike section 10012
(relating to rescissions of Department of Defense funds).
Page 33, after line 5, insert the following:
General Administration
Detention Trustee
For an additional amount for ``Detention Trustee'',
$50,000,000.
Interagency Law Enforcement
INTERAGENCY CRIME AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT
For an additional amount for ``Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement'', $150,000,000.
Page 49, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $200,000,000)''.
Page 50, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $200,000,000)''.
Page 56, strike line land all that follows through page 57, line 25.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the reading be dispensed with.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky is recognized for 5 minutes in support of his motion.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I am submitting this motion to correct what I believe are three gross errors in the bill.
Whether it's funds to support the needs of our troops, proper support for Pakistan engaged in a vital counterinsurgency effort, or funds to fight the treacherous drug war raging along our border with Mexico, this bill falls short.
How in all good conscience can we increase foreign aid by nearly $3 billion and yet shave support for our troops overseas and our law enforcement agencies here at home? How can we take away support for Pakistan's counterinsurgency efforts and give the money to the State Department?
Mr. Speaker, emergency supplemental bills are about fine-tuning our priorities. This motion gives the Members of this body the opportunity to do just that.
On supporting the needs of our troops, the current bill cuts the 2009 regular defense budget. It unnecessarily cuts defense and prohibits DOD from using those resources on critical requirements that are sadly unfunded. So this motion would simply restore the $3 billion of 2009 moneys, current year, that are cut in this bill.
On the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Funding program, or PCCF, counterinsurgency, this bill puts it in the Defense Department, but the first day of the new fiscal year, it would then be moved to the State Department for fiscal 2010. Well, State does great diplomatic work, but counterinsurgency is not the State Department's forte, and that's what we're facing. Let's be clear. PCCF is not a diplomatic tool; it's a military tool designed for aiding what is arguably one of the most important military counterinsurgency efforts in history. I need not emphasize to the Members of this body the profound importance of keeping Pakistan's nuclear weapons out of the hands of the Taliban and al Qaeda. The Secretary of Defense has been clear that he does not feel the State Department currently has the capacity or ability to administer this counterinsurgency program. Our troops need the flexibility and agility that this fund provides, especially in dealing with the nontraditional Pakistani military forces in remote sections of that country.
Finally, on the Mexican drug war, this bill fails to include one red cent for the vital work of our law enforcement agencies fighting the cartels along our border with Mexico and their tentacles reaching into every city in America. A press release I have in my hand that just came out says that the largest seizure of methamphetamines in the eastern United States has just taken place in Atlanta, Georgia. And we could name Birmingham or Chicago or New York or any other city in America where the drug cartels in Mexico, who control 90 percent of the cocaine entering this country, are waging their battles.
{time} 1530
And it's spilling over now into America. This is a war with severe consequences. More than 90 percent of the cocaine comes to us through Mexico, disbursed through a distribution network that touches virtually every major city in our country, not to mention methamphetamines and the other dangerous drugs.
Now, the $350 million in this bill that says it's for counternarcotics operations along the southwest border. Smoke and mirrors. These funds will go to unaccompanied alien children and serve as a contingency fund should we need the National Guard there. Both are important efforts, but, sadly, nothing to support the needs of our law enforcement agencies engaged in this bloody war, and that's what the problem is now. It's an anti-organized crime cartel fight on that border, and you need law enforcement there. Not a penny in this bill for it.
This motion that I have would shift 7 percent of the foreign aid in this bill and invest that in the security and rule of law here at home, just 7 percent of the increase in foreign aid that's in this bill. This motion takes $200 million out of the $3 billion plus-up in the bill for foreign aid and puts it to potent counterdrug programs in the Department of Justice, programs that can help break the back of these heinous cartels on our southern border and in our cities and towns.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this motion that will keep up our military assistance to Pakistan's counterterrorism fight, prevents a cut on the current year's troop support, and shifts a small part of the bill's increase in foreign aid to keeping the Mexican drug cartels out of American cities.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the motion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Wisconsin is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, we have heard many a lecture from the other side of the aisle about spending levels, but this proposal would add $3 billion to the spending levels in this bill, and it would eliminate a rescission that saves us money, a rescission that's been endorsed by Secretary Gates.
It also takes $200 million out of the global financial crisis fund, which is the last thing we ought to do at a time when we have a worldwide financial crisis that is threatening our own economy as well as others around the world.
Thirdly, it eliminates the Pakistani counterinsurgency fund for next year, which has already been endorsed by Secretary Gates.
And lastly, with respect to Mexico, it purports to add $200 million to deal with drug problems in Mexico. The bill already contains $400 million directly for aid to Mexico, plus another $350 million in the Department of Defense.
And I would point out that in the stimulus bill, which virtually every Member on that side of the aisle voted against just a few short weeks ago, we provided an over $700 million increase to deal with our border problems. All in all, between the omnibus and the stimulus, we already raised funding for that by 10 percent.
So I would suggest this is a financial double game and that we turn down the motion.
I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha).
Mr. MURTHA. I have to say I am disappointed in the gentleman. Now, he has only been on the subcommittee that I chair for a very short period of time.
We made a deal and the White House endorsed our deal. They didn't like what we did, but they endorsed our deal. They said this is their supplemental. We added to it, and we fought every inch of the way to get the money for the troops out in the field and for the families at home.
And what you are doing is fighting this thing all over again, the same way you tried to do it in the full committee, and I don't appreciate that. I don't appreciate the fact we make a deal and then we turn around here and we try to change that deal.
This should be defeated, and it should be defeated soundly by the House of Representatives and in committee.
I know what you are trying to do. In the conference, we will try to work something out, but this is the bill that should go to conference.
Mr. OBEY. I urge a ``no'' vote.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
Pursuant to clause 8 and clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-minute vote on the motion to recommit will be followed by 5-minute votes on passage of the bill, and the motion to suspend the rules on H.R. 347.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 191, nays 237, not voting 5, as follows:
YEAS--191
AderholtAkinAlexanderArcuriAustriaBachmannBachusBarrett (SC)BarrowBartlettBarton (TX)BiggertBilbrayBilirakisBishop (UT)BlackburnBluntBoehnerBonnerBono MackBoozmanBoustanyBrady (TX)Broun (GA)Brown (SC)Brown-Waite, GinnyBuchananBurgessBurton (IN)BuyerCalvertCampCantorCaoCapitoCarterCassidyCastleChaffetzChildersCobleCoffman (CO)ColeConawayCrenshawCulbersonDavis (KY)Deal (GA)DentDiaz-Balart, L.Diaz-Balart, M.DreierEhlersEmersonFallinFlemingForbesFortenberryFoxxFranks (AZ)FrelinghuysenGalleglyGarrett (NJ)GerlachGiffordsGingrey (GA)GohmertGoodlatteGrangerGravesGriffithGuthrieHall (TX)HarperHastings (WA)HellerHensarlingHergerHoekstraHunterInglisIssaJenkinsJohnson (IL)Johnson, SamJonesJordan (OH)King (IA)King (NY)KingstonKirkKirkpatrick (AZ)Kline (MN)KratovilLambornLanceLathamLaTouretteLattaLee (NY)Lewis (CA)LinderLoBiondoLucasLuetkemeyerLummisLungren, Daniel E.MackManzulloMarchantMarshallMcCarthy (CA)McCaulMcClintockMcCotterMcHenryMcHughMcIntyreMcKeonMcMorris RodgersMcNerneyMicaMiller (FL)Miller (MI)Miller, GaryMinnickMitchellMoran (KS)Murphy, TimMyrickNeugebauerNunesNyeOlsonPaulsenPencePetersPetriPittsPlattsPoe (TX)PoseyPrice (GA)PutnamRadanovichRehbergReichertRoe (TN)Rogers (AL)Rogers (KY)Rogers (MI)RohrabacherRooneyRos-LehtinenRoskamRoyceRyan (WI)ScaliseSchauerSchmidtSchockSensenbrennerSessionsShadeggShimkusShusterSimpsonSmith (NE)Smith (NJ)Smith (TX)SouderStearnsSullivanTaylorTeagueTerryThompson (PA)ThornberryTiahrtTiberiTurnerUptonWaldenWampWestmorelandWhitfieldWilson (SC)WittmanWolfYoung (AK)Young (FL)
NAYS--237
AbercrombieAckermanAdler (NJ)AltmireAndrewsBacaBairdBaldwinBeanBecerraBerkleyBermanBerryBishop (GA)Bishop (NY)BlumenauerBoccieriBorenBoswellBoucherBoydBrady (PA)Braley (IA)BrightBrown, CorrineButterfieldCampbellCappsCapuanoCardozaCarnahanCarneyCarson (IN)Castor (FL)ChandlerClarkeClayCleaverClyburnCohenConnolly (VA)ConyersCooperCostaCostelloCourtneyCrowleyCuellarCummingsDahlkemperDavis (AL)Davis (CA)Davis (IL)Davis (TN)DeFazioDeGetteDeLauroDicksDingellDoggettDonnelly (IN)DoyleDriehausDuncanEdwards (MD)Edwards (TX)EllisonEllsworthEngelEshooEtheridgeFarrFattahFilnerFlakeFosterFrank (MA)FudgeGonzalezGordon (TN)GraysonGreen, AlGreen, GeneGrijalvaGutierrezHall (NY)HalvorsonHareHarmanHastings (FL)HeinrichHerseth SandlinHigginsHillHimesHincheyHinojosaHironoHodesHoldenHoltHondaHoyerInsleeIsraelJackson (IL)Jackson-Lee (TX)Johnson, E. B.KagenKanjorskiKapturKennedyKildeeKilpatrick (MI)KilroyKindKissellKlein (FL)KosmasKucinichLangevinLarsen (WA)Larson (CT)Lee (CA)LevinLewis (GA)LipinskiLoebsackLofgren, ZoeLoweyLujanLynchMaffeiMaloneyMarkey (CO)Markey (MA)MassaMathesonMatsuiMcCarthy (NY)McCollumMcDermottMcGovernMcMahonMeek (FL)Meeks (NY)MelanconMichaudMiller (NC)Miller, GeorgeMollohanMoore (KS)Moore (WI)Moran (VA)Murphy (CT)Murphy (NY)Murphy, PatrickMurthaNadler (NY)NapolitanoNeal (MA)OberstarObeyOlverOrtizPallonePascrellPastor (AZ)PaulPaynePerlmutterPerrielloPetersonPingree (ME)Polis (CO)PomeroyPrice (NC)QuigleyRahallRangelReyesRichardsonRodriguezRossRothman (NJ)Roybal-AllardRuppersbergerRushRyan (OH)SalazarSanchez, LorettaSarbanesSchakowskySchiffSchraderSchwartzScott (GA)Scott (VA)SerranoSestakShea-PorterShermanShulerSiresSkeltonSlaughterSmith (WA)SnyderSpaceSpeierSprattStupakSuttonTauscherThompson (CA)Thompson (MS)TierneyTitusTonkoTownsTsongasVan HollenVelazquezViscloskyWalzWasserman SchultzWatersWatsonWattWaxmanWeinerWelchWexlerWilson (OH)WoolseyWuYarmuth
NOT VOTING--5
DelahuntJohnson (GA)Sanchez, Linda T.StarkTanner
{time} 1601
Messrs. BOSWELL, TONKO, HIMES, TIERNEY, THOMPSON of Mississippi, SCHRADER, CLEAVER, SMITH of Washington, RUSH, and Mrs. CAPPS changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Messrs. CARTER, FRANKS of Arizona, MARSHALL, CHILDERS, and McINTYRE changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill. Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
This will be a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 368, nays 60, not voting 5, as follows:
YEAS--368
AbercrombieAckermanAderholtAdler (NJ)AkinAlexanderAltmireAndrewsArcuriAustriaBacaBachmannBachusBairdBarrett (SC)BarrowBartlettBarton (TX)BeanBecerraBerkleyBermanBerryBiggertBilbrayBilirakisBishop (GA)Bishop (NY)Bishop (UT)BlackburnBlumenauerBluntBoccieriBoehnerBonnerBono MackBoozmanBorenBoswellBoucherBoustanyBoydBrady (PA)Brady (TX)Braley (IA)BrightBroun (GA)Brown (SC)Brown, CorrineBrown-Waite, GinnyBuchananBurgessBurton (IN)ButterfieldBuyerCalvertCampCantorCaoCapitoCappsCardozaCarnahanCarneyCarson (IN)CarterCassidyCastleCastor (FL)ChaffetzChandlerChildersClayCleaverClyburnCobleCoffman (CO)ColeConawayConnolly (VA)CostaCourtneyCrenshawCrowleyCuellarCulbersonCummingsDahlkemperDavis (AL)Davis (CA)Davis (IL)Davis (KY)Davis (TN)Deal (GA)DeFazioDeGetteDeLauroDentDiaz-Balart, L.Diaz-Balart, M.DicksDingellDonnelly (IN)DoyleDreierDriehausEdwards (TX)EllsworthEmersonEngelEshooEtheridgeFallinFattahFlemingForbesFortenberryFosterFoxxFranks (AZ)FrelinghuysenFudgeGalleglyGarrett (NJ)GerlachGiffordsGingrey (GA)GohmertGonzalezGoodlatteGordon (TN)GrangerGravesGreen, AlGreen, GeneGriffithGuthrieHall (NY)Hall (TX)HalvorsonHareHarmanHarperHastings (FL)Hastings (WA)HeinrichHellerHensarlingHergerHerseth SandlinHigginsHillHimesHincheyHinojosaHironoHodesHoekstraHoldenHoltHoyerHunterInglisIsraelIssaJackson (IL)Jackson-Lee (TX)JenkinsJohnson (GA)Johnson, E. B.Johnson, SamJonesJordan (OH)KanjorskiKennedyKildeeKilpatrick (MI)KilroyKindKing (IA)King (NY)KingstonKirkKirkpatrick (AZ)KissellKlein (FL)Kline (MN)KosmasKratovilLambornLanceLangevinLarsen (WA)Larson (CT)LathamLaTouretteLattaLee (NY)LevinLewis (CA)LinderLipinskiLoBiondoLoebsackLoweyLucasLuetkemeyerLujanLummisLungren, Daniel E.LynchMackMaffeiMaloneyManzulloMarchantMarkey (CO)MarshallMathesonMcCarthy (CA)McCarthy (NY)McCaulMcClintockMcCollumMcCotterMcHenryMcHughMcIntyreMcKeonMcMahonMcNerneyMeek (FL)Meeks (NY)MelanconMicaMiller (FL)Miller (MI)Miller (NC)Miller, GaryMinnickMitchellMollohanMoore (KS)Moore (WI)Moran (KS)Moran (VA)Murphy (CT)Murphy (NY)Murphy, PatrickMurphy, TimMurthaMyrickNadler (NY)NeugebauerNunesNyeObeyOlsonOlverOrtizPallonePascrellPastor (AZ)PaulsenPencePerlmutterPerrielloPetersPetersonPittsPlattsPoe (TX)PomeroyPoseyPrice (GA)Price (NC)PutnamQuigleyRadanovichRahallRangelRehbergReichertReyesRichardsonRodriguezRoe (TN)Rogers (AL)Rogers (KY)Rogers (MI)RohrabacherRooneyRos-LehtinenRoskamRossRothman (NJ)Roybal-AllardRuppersbergerRushRyan (OH)Ryan (WI)SalazarSanchez, LorettaSarbanesScaliseSchauerSchiffSchmidtSchockSchraderSchwartzScott (GA)Scott (VA)SessionsSestakShadeggShermanShimkusShulerShusterSimpsonSiresSkeltonSlaughterSmith (NE)Smith (NJ)Smith (TX)Smith (WA)SnyderSouderSpaceSprattStearnsStupakSullivanSuttonTauscherTaylorTeagueTerryThompson (MS)Thompson (PA)ThornberryTiahrtTiberiTitusTonkoTurnerUptonVan HollenViscloskyWaldenWalzWampWasserman SchultzWattWaxmanWestmorelandWexlerWhitfieldWilson (OH)Wilson (SC)WittmanWolfWuYarmuthYoung (AK)Young (FL)
NAYS--60
BaldwinCampbellCapuanoClarkeCohenConyersCooperCostelloDoggettDuncanEdwards (MD)EhlersEllisonFarrFilnerFlakeFrank (MA)GraysonGrijalvaGutierrezHondaInsleeJohnson (IL)KagenKapturKucinichLee (CA)Lewis (GA)Lofgren, ZoeMarkey (MA)MassaMatsuiMcDermottMcGovernMichaudMiller, GeorgeNapolitanoNeal (MA)OberstarPaulPaynePetriPingree (ME)Polis (CO)RoyceSchakowskySensenbrennerSerranoShea-PorterSpeierThompson (CA)TierneyTownsTsongasVelazquezWatersWatsonWeinerWelchWoolsey
NOT VOTING--5
DelahuntMcMorris RodgersSanchez, Linda T.StarkTanner
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Two minutes remain in this vote.
{time} 1610
So the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
