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Forbes Statement on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
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Washington D.C. – U.S. Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA), the Ranking Member for the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, today released the following prepared remarks for House consideration of H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010:
“Thank you, Mister Chairman for the opportunity to stand in support of this year’s defense policy bill. I'd also like to express my sincere appreciation for Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for their leadership and hard work in crafting a bipartisan bill that was unanimously supported by the Armed Service Committee. I'd also like to thank the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Ortiz, for his friendship and the foresight with which he conducts the Readiness Subcommittee.
“This bill does much to address the readiness issues facing the Department of Defense by providing the Navy with $395 million to address both of the Navy’s shortfalls in ship repair and aviation maintenance. We have fully funded other key readiness accounts so that our men and women have the tools, training, and equipment they need when they deploy to protect our Nation.
“I'm pleased that this bill continues a steadfast commitment to fully funding the 2005 BRAC round for the Army, Air Force, and Navy, so it can be completed by September 2011. However, I am deeply disappointed that the measure does not fully fund $350 million for Defense-wide BRAC projects, which includes the construction of critical military hospitals for our men and women in uniform.
“The amendment that was adopted by the full committee that led to this reduction will end up costing taxpayers more than $2 billion in 2010 alone, which is enough money to fully fund these critical health care facilities and restore $1.2 billion for comprehensive Missile Defense. Instead, this provision will lead to inflated wages in Guam while taking American jobs from construction projects in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia.
“That provision notwithstanding, there are many worthwhile provisions in this bill that will support our men and women in uniform as well as the communities that support them. I am pleased that we have added $9 million above the President’s request to assist small businesses compete for local defense contracts, an additional $65 million to provide aid to school districts impacted by military families, and $20 million above the President’s request to assist the military and conservation groups work together to protect against encroachment at our military installations. All-in-all, I believe this is a good bill and it will do much to support the readiness of our military. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.”