STATEMENT ON THE SENATE FLOOR: AMENDMENT TO THE DEFENSE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST
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July 9, 2001
MR. PRESIDENT:
WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INCLUDES WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES IS THE MINIMUM NEEDED TO GET BY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR (01), I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH DEFINITION OF "MINIMUM."
ALTHOUGH WE ARE HEARING PROMISES OF AN AMENDED `02 BUDGET WITH A HUGE DEFENSE PLUS-UP, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR 2002 MAY INDEED BE THE LAST OF THE 13 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS WE WILL CONSIDER THIS YEAR. THAT UNFORTUNATE TIMING MAY THREATEN THE AVAILABILITY OF ALL THE EXTRA FUNDS MANY
BELIEVE THE PENTAGON DESPERATELY NEEDS. SIMPLY PUT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY THE PENTAGON NEEDS WILL BE THERE WHEN THE SENATE TAKES UP THE AMENDED DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR 2002.
WE MUST STOP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD WITH PROMISES TO OUR FORCES - THEIR NEED IS URGENT, THEY NEED HELP NOW. THE PROBLEM WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO WORSEN, WE NEED TO ACT NOW.
JUST LAST WEEK, THE NAVY'S TOP OFFICER, ADMIRAL VERN CLARK, SAID HE IS TRYING TO RID THE UNITED STATES NAVY OF THE "PSYCHOLOGY OF DEFICIENCY" -- THE ACCEPTANCE OF SUSTAINED RESOURCE SHORTAGES AS A NORMAL CONDITION.
SADLY, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS "PSYCHOLOGY OF DEFICIENCY" HAS NOT ONLY INFECTED THE CULTURE OF OUR ARMED FORCES, BUT I AM AFRAID IT HAS BECOME THE CULTURE.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE ENLISTED TROOPS AND OFFICERS ON ACTIVE DUTY TODAY KNOW ONLY A CULTURE OF GETTING BY ON THE MINIMUM FUNDING POSSIBLE. THEY CALL IT "DOING MORE WITH LESS," BUT THE REALITY HAS BEEN FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW, ONE OF "DOING TOO MUCH WITH TOO LITTLE." THAT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY DAY, SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES RISK THEIR VERY LIVES FOR THE VALUES THAT HAVE MADE THIS COUNTRY THE MOST POWERFUL BEACON OF FREEDOM THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO RISK THEIR LIVES, WHAT DO WE DO? WE GIVE THEM BARELY ENOUGH MONEY TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION SAFELY. THE BARE MINIMUM AND NO MORE. THAT IS HOW WE REPAY OUR TROOPS? NO WONDER OUR ARMED FORCES HAVE SUFFERED FROM A PERSISTENT MORALE PROBLEM THAT HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF IN A CHRONIC INABILITY TO HOLD ONTO LARGE NUMBERS OF OUR MOST TALENTED TROOPS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE "BARE MINIMUM" OF FUNDING IS NO WAY FOR OUR SOCIETY TO UPHOLD OUR END OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH OUR TROOPS. THAT IS NOT HOW WE KEEP FAITH WITH THOSE WHO DEFEND OUR NATION'S INTERESTS AT THEIR OWN PERSONAL RISK.
HOW BADLY HAVE WE FALLEN SHORT ON OUR END OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT?
AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF FUNDING, IT WILL TAKE 160 YEARS TO REPLACE THE NAVY'S SHORE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE BACKLOG OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR EXCEEDS $5.5 BILLION.
RECENTLY THE MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT SPOKE ABOUT THE TERRIBLE FUNDING CHOICES WE FORCE HIM TO MAKE. IN ORDER TO KEEP MARINES READY FOR COMBAT IN CASE WAR BREAKS OUT IN THE NEAR-TERM, THE COMMANDANT HAS TO STEAL MONEY FROM ACCOUNTS DEDICATED TO MODERNIZING THE MARINE CORPS FOR TOMORROW'S WARS. IF THIS PERSISTS, THE MARINE CORPS MAY FIND ITSELF ON A BATTLEFIELD IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT THE PROPER, MODERN EQUIPMENT TO HELP GUARANTEE A QUICK VICTORY WITH FEW U.S. CASUALTIES.
EVEN WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL, THE ARMY DOES NOT HAVE THE $145.1 MILLION IT NEEDS TO RUN ITS SPECIALTY TRAINING AND SCHOOLS. THAT MEANS THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS MAY NOT QUALIFY IN THEIR COMBAT SPECIALTIES, WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE COMBAT READINESS OF ARMY UNITS. WHEN WE TELL OUR SOLDIERS "SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TRAIN YOU PROPERLY TO DO YOUR JOB," WHAT DO YOU THINK THE EFFECT IS ON MORALE?
MR. PRESIDENT, THE IMPACT IS DEVASTATING.
AND THAT IS WHAT EACH OF OUR SERVICES HAS HAD SO MUCH DIFFICULTY HOLDING ONTO - RETAINING - ITS MOST SKILLED WARRIORS.
OUR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE OLDEST FLEET IN OUR HISTORY. ON AVERAGE, OUR AIRCRAFT ARE ABOUT 22 YEARS OLD, AND GETTING OLDER. AN AGING FLEET COSTS MORE, BOTH IN EFFORT AND DOLLARS, TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN. LAST YEAR, WHILE WE FLEW ONLY 97% OF OUR PROGRAMMED FLYING HOURS, DOING SO COST US 103% OF OUR BUDGET.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OUR COSTS PER FLYING HOUR HAVE RISEN ALMOST 50%. IT IS A TERRIBLE CYCLE: OLDER PLANES COST MORE TO MAINTAIN, WHICH ROBS MONEY FROM ACCOUNTS USED TO BUY NEW PLANES, AND SO ON. IT IS A DEATH SPIRAL, MR. PRESIDENT.
TIME AND AGAIN HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THE FOLLY OF FUNDING OUR TROOPS AS IF PEACE WILL FOREVER PERSIST, AS IF WAR WILL NEVER COME. I THOUGHT THIS COUNTRY LEARNED THAT LESSON IN THE OPENING DAYS OF THE KOREAN WAR WHEN AMERICAN TROOPS WERE CAUGHT UNPREPARED, UNDER-EQUIPPED AND UNDERTRAINED. MANY PAID WITH THEIR LIVES.
NOW, I KNOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES KNOWS THIS. I KNOW THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD ALSO KNOWS THIS. THESE ARE GOOD MEN WHO KNOW THAT IT IS TIME TO GET THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ON A MORE SOLID FOOTING.
I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM. THEY WILL FIND ME TO BE THEIR MOST LOYAL SUPPORTER IN THIS EFFORT. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO WAIT. WE MUST ACT NOW.
THAT IS WHY I RISE TODAY TO INTRODUCE MY AMENDMENT TO ADD $1.45 BILLION TO FISCAL 01 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT.
MY AMENDMENT SEEKS TO ADD FUNDS TO THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE NEEDED -- AND CAN BE SPENT -- IN WHAT REMAINS OF THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
MY AMENDMENT INCLUDES FUNDS THAT WILL BE DIRECTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS OF EACH OF THE FOUR SERVICES. THIS IS MONEY THE PENTAGON NEEDS RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE
THAT CRITICAL REPAIRS AND TRAINING ARE NOT DELAYED FURTHER.
WE MUST BEGIN TO TELL OUR TROOPS THAT, INDEED, "HELP IS ON THE WAY" RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INCLUDES WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES IS THE MINIMUM NEEDED TO GET BY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR (01), I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH DEFINITION OF "MINIMUM."
ALTHOUGH WE ARE HEARING PROMISES OF AN AMENDED `02 BUDGET WITH A HUGE DEFENSE PLUS-UP, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR 2002 MAY INDEED BE THE LAST OF THE 13 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS WE WILL CONSIDER THIS YEAR. THAT UNFORTUNATE TIMING MAY THREATEN THE AVAILABILITY OF ALL THE EXTRA FUNDS MANY
BELIEVE THE PENTAGON DESPERATELY NEEDS. SIMPLY PUT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY THE PENTAGON NEEDS WILL BE THERE WHEN THE SENATE TAKES UP THE AMENDED DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR 2002.
WE MUST STOP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD WITH PROMISES TO OUR FORCES - THEIR NEED IS URGENT, THEY NEED HELP NOW. THE PROBLEM WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO WORSEN, WE NEED TO ACT NOW.
JUST LAST WEEK, THE NAVY'S TOP OFFICER, ADMIRAL VERN CLARK, SAID HE IS TRYING TO RID THE UNITED STATES NAVY OF THE "PSYCHOLOGY OF DEFICIENCY" -- THE ACCEPTANCE OF SUSTAINED RESOURCE SHORTAGES AS A NORMAL CONDITION.
SADLY, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS "PSYCHOLOGY OF DEFICIENCY" HAS NOT ONLY INFECTED THE CULTURE OF OUR ARMED FORCES, BUT I AM AFRAID IT HAS BECOME THE CULTURE.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE ENLISTED TROOPS AND OFFICERS ON ACTIVE DUTY TODAY KNOW ONLY A CULTURE OF GETTING BY ON THE MINIMUM FUNDING POSSIBLE. THEY CALL IT "DOING MORE WITH LESS," BUT THE REALITY HAS BEEN FOR ALMOST A DECADE NOW, ONE OF "DOING TOO MUCH WITH TOO LITTLE." THAT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. EVERY DAY, SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES RISK THEIR VERY LIVES FOR THE VALUES THAT HAVE MADE THIS COUNTRY THE MOST POWERFUL BEACON OF FREEDOM THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO RISK THEIR LIVES, WHAT DO WE DO? WE GIVE THEM BARELY ENOUGH MONEY TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION SAFELY. THE BARE MINIMUM AND NO MORE. THAT IS HOW WE REPAY OUR TROOPS? NO WONDER OUR ARMED FORCES HAVE SUFFERED FROM A PERSISTENT MORALE PROBLEM THAT HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF IN A CHRONIC INABILITY TO HOLD ONTO LARGE NUMBERS OF OUR MOST TALENTED TROOPS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE "BARE MINIMUM" OF FUNDING IS NO WAY FOR OUR SOCIETY TO UPHOLD OUR END OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH OUR TROOPS. THAT IS NOT HOW WE KEEP FAITH WITH THOSE WHO DEFEND OUR NATION'S INTERESTS AT THEIR OWN PERSONAL RISK.
HOW BADLY HAVE WE FALLEN SHORT ON OUR END OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT?
AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF FUNDING, IT WILL TAKE 160 YEARS TO REPLACE THE NAVY'S SHORE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE BACKLOG OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR EXCEEDS $5.5 BILLION.
RECENTLY THE MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT SPOKE ABOUT THE TERRIBLE FUNDING CHOICES WE FORCE HIM TO MAKE. IN ORDER TO KEEP MARINES READY FOR COMBAT IN CASE WAR BREAKS OUT IN THE NEAR-TERM, THE COMMANDANT HAS TO STEAL MONEY FROM ACCOUNTS DEDICATED TO MODERNIZING THE MARINE CORPS FOR TOMORROW'S WARS. IF THIS PERSISTS, THE MARINE CORPS MAY FIND ITSELF ON A BATTLEFIELD IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT THE PROPER, MODERN EQUIPMENT TO HELP GUARANTEE A QUICK VICTORY WITH FEW U.S. CASUALTIES.
EVEN WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL, THE ARMY DOES NOT HAVE THE $145.1 MILLION IT NEEDS TO RUN ITS SPECIALTY TRAINING AND SCHOOLS. THAT MEANS THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS MAY NOT QUALIFY IN THEIR COMBAT SPECIALTIES, WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE COMBAT READINESS OF ARMY UNITS. WHEN WE TELL OUR SOLDIERS "SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TRAIN YOU PROPERLY TO DO YOUR JOB," WHAT DO YOU THINK THE EFFECT IS ON MORALE?
MR. PRESIDENT, THE IMPACT IS DEVASTATING.
AND THAT IS WHAT EACH OF OUR SERVICES HAS HAD SO MUCH DIFFICULTY HOLDING ONTO - RETAINING - ITS MOST SKILLED WARRIORS.
OUR UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE OLDEST FLEET IN OUR HISTORY. ON AVERAGE, OUR AIRCRAFT ARE ABOUT 22 YEARS OLD, AND GETTING OLDER. AN AGING FLEET COSTS MORE, BOTH IN EFFORT AND DOLLARS, TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN. LAST YEAR, WHILE WE FLEW ONLY 97% OF OUR PROGRAMMED FLYING HOURS, DOING SO COST US 103% OF OUR BUDGET.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OUR COSTS PER FLYING HOUR HAVE RISEN ALMOST 50%. IT IS A TERRIBLE CYCLE: OLDER PLANES COST MORE TO MAINTAIN, WHICH ROBS MONEY FROM ACCOUNTS USED TO BUY NEW PLANES, AND SO ON. IT IS A DEATH SPIRAL, MR. PRESIDENT.
TIME AND AGAIN HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THE FOLLY OF FUNDING OUR TROOPS AS IF PEACE WILL FOREVER PERSIST, AS IF WAR WILL NEVER COME. I THOUGHT THIS COUNTRY LEARNED THAT LESSON IN THE OPENING DAYS OF THE KOREAN WAR WHEN AMERICAN TROOPS WERE CAUGHT UNPREPARED, UNDER-EQUIPPED AND UNDERTRAINED. MANY PAID WITH THEIR LIVES.
NOW, I KNOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES KNOWS THIS. I KNOW THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD ALSO KNOWS THIS. THESE ARE GOOD MEN WHO KNOW THAT IT IS TIME TO GET THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ON A MORE SOLID FOOTING.
I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM. THEY WILL FIND ME TO BE THEIR MOST LOYAL SUPPORTER IN THIS EFFORT. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO WAIT. WE MUST ACT NOW.
THAT IS WHY I RISE TODAY TO INTRODUCE MY AMENDMENT TO ADD $1.45 BILLION TO FISCAL 01 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT.
MY AMENDMENT SEEKS TO ADD FUNDS TO THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE NEEDED -- AND CAN BE SPENT -- IN WHAT REMAINS OF THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
MY AMENDMENT INCLUDES FUNDS THAT WILL BE DIRECTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS OF EACH OF THE FOUR SERVICES. THIS IS MONEY THE PENTAGON NEEDS RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE
THAT CRITICAL REPAIRS AND TRAINING ARE NOT DELAYED FURTHER.
WE MUST BEGIN TO TELL OUR TROOPS THAT, INDEED, "HELP IS ON THE WAY" RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
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