Liberated Text -> Congressional Record -> Nine Senators of Shame
The Presiding Officer: The Senator from Alaska.
Amendments Nos. 2002; 1986, as Modified; 2028; 1906, as Modified; 1899, as Modified; and 2008, En Bloc
Mr. Stevens: Mr. President, I have managers' package No. 3 before the Senate. This includes a Grassley amendment No. 2002 for the multipurpose utility vehicle; a Voinovich amendment No. 1986 for the Millennium Gun System, as modified; a Graham amendment No. 2028 for moldable armor; a Feingold amendment No. 1906 for civilian linguists, which contains a modification; an Akaka amendment No. 1899, transition assistance programs, which contains a modification; and a Cantwell amendment No. 2008 for infrared countermeasures improvement.
I ask the Chair lay those amendments before the Senate for consideration en bloc.
The Presiding Officer: Without objection, the Senate will proceed to the amendments en bloc.
Mr. Stevens: I ask for their consideration, please.
The Presiding Officer: Is there further debate?
Mr. McCain: Reserving the right to object, I will not object. I do not know if I have seen that amendment.
Mr. Stevens: I thought the Senator had.
Mr. McCain: I do not object. I think we have already seen that. Thank you.
Mr. Stevens: I ask unanimous consent that the amendments be agreed to.
The Presiding Officer: Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendments were agreed to en bloc, as follows:
Amendment No. 2002
(Purpose: To make available $1,000,000 from Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation for the Army for the Multipurpose Utility Vehicle)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army", up to $1,000,000 may be used for Combat Vehicle and Automotive Technology (PE#0602601A) for the Multipurpose Utility Vehicle.
Amendment No. 1986, as Modified
(Purpose: Of the amounts provided for the Navy for research, development, test, and evaluation, up to $3,000,000 may be available for land attack technology for the Millennium Gun System)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Of the amount appropriated by this title under the heading "Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy", up to $3,000,000 may be available for land attack technology for the Millennium Gun System.
Amendment No. 2028
(Purpose: To make available $2,000,000 from Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation for the Army for Moldable Armor)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army", up to $2,000,000 may be used for Moldable Armor.
Amendment No. 1906, as modified
(Purpose: To provide for the establishment of a pilot project to create a civilian language reserve corps in order to improve national security by increasing the availability of translation services and related duties)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. PILOT PROJECT FOR CIVILIAN LINGUIST RESERVE CORPS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Chairman of the National Security Education Board, shall, during the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, carry out a pilot program to establish a civilian linguist reserve corps, comprised of United States citizens with advanced levels of proficiency in foreign languages, who would be available, upon request from the President, to perform translation and other services or duties with respect foreign languages for the Federal Government.
(b) Implementation.--In establishing the Civilian Linguist Reserve Corps, the Secretary, after reviewing the findings and recommendations contained in the report required under section 325 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-306; 116 Stat. 2393), shall--
(1) identify several foreign languages in which proficiency by United States citizens is critical for the national security interests of the United States and the relative importance of such proficiency in each such language;
(2) identify United States citizens with advanced levels of proficiency in each foreign language identified under paragraph (1) who would be available to perform the services and duties referred to in subsection (a);
(3) cooperate with other Federal agencies with national security responsibilities to implement a procedure for securing the performance of the services and duties referred to in subsection (a) by the citizens identified under paragraph (2); and
(4) invite individuals identified under paragraph (2) to participate in the civilian linguist reserve corps.
(c) Contract Authority.--In establishing the civilian linguist reserve corps, the Secretary may enter into contracts with appropriate agencies or entities.
(d) Feasibility Study.--During the course of the pilot program established under this section, the Secretary shall conduct a study of the best practices to be utilized in establishing the civilian linguist reserve corps, including practices regarding--
(1) administrative structure;
(2) languages that will be available;
(3) the number of language specialists needed for each language;
(4) the Federal agencies that may need language services;
(5) compensation and other operating costs;
(6) certification standards and procedures;
(7) security clearances;
(8) skill maintenance and training; and
(9) the use of private contractors to supply language specialists.
(e) Reports.--
(1) Evaluation reports.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the next 2 years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an evaluation report on the pilot project conducted under this section.
(B) Contents.--Each report under subparagraph (A) shall contain information on the operation of the pilot project, the success of the pilot project in carrying out the objectives of the establishment of a civilian linguist reserve corps, and recommendations for the continuation or expansion of the pilot project.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 6 months after the completion of the pilot project, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final report summarizing the lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations for full implementation of a civilian linguist reserve corps.
(f) Funding.--Of the amount appropriated under the heading "Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide" in title II, up to $1,500,000 may be available to carry out the pilot program under this section.
Amendment No. 1899, as modified
(Purpose: To make available up to $5,000,000 for the participation of Vet centers in the transition assistance programs of the Department of Defense for members of the Armed Forces)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. (a) Funding for Participation of Vet Centers in Transition Assistance Programs.--Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act, up to $5,000,000 may be used for the participation of Vet centers in the transition assistance programs of the Department of Defense for members of the Armed Forces.
(b) Vet Centers Defined.--In this section, the term "Vet centers" means centers for the provision of readjustment counseling and related mental health services under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code.
Amendment No. 2008
(Purpose: To make available, from funds appropriated for research, development, test and evaluation, Air Force, up to $2,500,000 for advanced technology for IRCM component improvement)
On page 220, after line 25, insert the following:
Sec. 8116. Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force", up to $2,500,000 may be available for advanced technology for IRCM component improvement.
Mr. Stevens: Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. Inouye: I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendments Nos. 1989, as Modified; 1911, as Modified; 2027, as Modified; 2010; 1947, as Modified; 2030, as Modified, and 2012, En Bloc
Mr. Stevens: I also have before the Senate a managers' package No. 4. Has the Senator from Arizona seen this? This contains Senator Allen's amendment, No. 1989, for operational gasification with a modification; Senator Snowe's amendment, No. 1911, for New England manufacturing with a modification; Senator Kerry's amendment, No. 2027, for expeditionary fighting vehicle, with a modification; Senator Reed of Rhode Island, No. 2010, for shipboard automated reconstruction; Senator Cornyn, No. 1947, for activated factor VII, as modified; Senator Talent, No. 2030, on the C-17, as modified.
I ask unanimous consent that those amendments be considered en bloc as presented to the Senate.
The Presiding Officer: Without objection, the Senate will proceed to consider them en bloc.
Mr. Stevens: Mr. President, I failed to mention Senator Boxer's amendment on mental health. It is amendment numbered 2012. I include that and repeat my unanimous consent request for consideration.
The Presiding Officer: The Senate will also consider the Boxer amendment.
Mr. Stevens: I ask that the Senate consider and agree to the amendments.
The Presiding Officer: Is there further debate on the amendments?
If not, the question is on the amendments.
The amendments were agreed to, as follows:
Amendment No. 1989, as modified
(Purpose: From funds appropriated for research, development, test and evaluation, Army, and available for demonstration and validation, up to $5,000,000 may be available for the Plasma Energy Pyrolysis System (PEPS), Operational Gasification unit)
On page 220, after line 25, insert the following: Sec. 8116. Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army" and available for demonstration and validation, up to $5,000,000 may be available for the Plasma Energy Pyrolysis System (PEPS), Operational Gasification unit.
Amendment No. 1911, as modified
(Purpose: To provide that, of the amount authorized to be appropriated for the use of the Department of Defense for research, development, test, and evaluation for Defense-wide activities, up to $5,000,000 may be available for the rapid mobilization of the New England Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. Of the amount appropriated by this Act under the heading "Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide", up to $5,000,000 may be available for the rapid mobilization of the New England Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative to meet Department of Defense supply shortages and surge demands for parts and equipment.
Amendment No. 2027, as modified
(Purpose: To provide that, of the amount made available under title IV for the Navy for research, development, test, and evaluation, up to $1,000,000 may be made available for Marine Corps assault vehicles for development of carbon fabric-based friction materials to optimize the cross-drive transmission brake system of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle)
On page 220, after line 25, add the following:
Sec. 8116. Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy", up to $1,000,000 may be made available for Marine Corps assault vehicles for development of carbon fabric-based friction materials to optimize the cross-drive transmission brake system of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.
Amendment No. 2010
(Purpose: To make available $2,000,000 from Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation for the Navy for the Shipboard Automated Reconstruction Capability)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy, up to $2,000,000 may be used for Program Element #0603235N for the Shipboard Automated Reconstruction Capability.
Amendment No. 1947, as modified
(Purpose: From amounts available in RDA in title IV, up to $1,000,000 may be available for Recombinant Activated Factor VII)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. (a) Blast Injury Prevention, Mitigation, and Treatment Initiative of the Army.--Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army", up to $1,000,000 may be available for Program Element #63002A for far forward use of recombinant activated factor VII.
Amendment No. 2030, as modified
(Purpose: To provide for the procurement of 42 additional C-17 aircraft)
On page 220, after line 25, insert the following:
Sec. 8116. Beginning with the fiscal year 2006 program year, the Secretary of the Air Force is strongly encouraged to exercise the option on the existing multiyear procurement contract for C-17 aircraft in order to enter into a multiyear contract for the procurement of 42 additional C-17 aircraft.
Amendment No. 2012
(Purpose: To provide for a Department of Defense task force on mental health)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TASK FORCE ON MENTAL HEALTH.
(a) Requirement To Establish.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish within the Department of Defense a task force to examine matters relating to mental health and the Armed Forces.
(b) Composition.--
(1) Members.--The task force shall consist of not more than 14 members appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among individuals described in paragraph (2) who have demonstrated expertise in the area of mental health.
(2) Range of members.--The individuals appointed to the task force shall include--
(A) at least one member of each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps; and
(B) a number of persons from outside the Department of Defense equal to the total number of personnel from within the Department of Defense (whether members of the Armed Forces or civilian personnel) who are appointed to the task force.
(3) Individuals appointed within department of defense.--At least one of the individuals appointed to the task force from within the Department of Defense shall be the surgeon general of an Armed Force or a designee of such surgeon general.
(4) Individuals appointed outside department of defense.-- (A) Individuals appointed to the task force from outside the Department of Defense may include officers or employees of other departments or agencies of the Federal Government, officers or employees of State and governments, or individuals from the private sector.
(B) The individuals appointed to the task force from outside the Department of Defense shall include--
(i) an officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs appointed by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(ii) an officer or employee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services appointed by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and
(iii) at least two individuals who are representatives of--
(I) a mental health policy and advocacy organization; and
(II) a national veterans service organization.
(5) Deadline for appointment.--All appointments of individuals to the task force shall be made not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(6) Co-chairs of task force.--There shall be two co-chairs of the task force. One of the co-chairs shall be designated by the Secretary of the Defense at the time of appointment from among the Department of Defense personnel appointed to the task force. The other co-chair shall be selected from among the members appointed from outside the Department of Defense by members so appointed.
(c) Long-Term Plan on Mental Health Services.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date on which all members of the task force have been appointed, the task force shall submit to the Secretary a long-term plan (referred to as a strategic plan) on means by which the Department of Defense shall improve the efficacy of mental health services provided to members of Armed Forces by the Department of Defense.
(2) Utilization of other efforts.--In preparing the report, the task force shall take into consideration completed and ongoing efforts by the Department of Defense to improve the efficacy of mental health care provided to members of the Armed Forces by the Department.
(3) Elements.--The long-term plan shall include an assessment of and recommendations (including recommendations for legislative or administrative action) for measures to improve the following:
(A) The awareness of the prevalence of mental health conditions among members of the Armed Forces.
(B) The efficacy of existing programs to prevent, identify, and treat mental health conditions among members of the Armed Forces, including programs for and with respect to forward- deployed troops.
(C) The reduction or elimination of barriers to care, including the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health related conditions, and the enhancement of confidentiality for members of the Armed Forces seeking care for such conditions.
(D) The adequacy of outreach, education, and support programs on mental health matters for families of members of the Armed Forces.
(E) The efficacy of programs and mechanisms for ensuring a seamless transition from care of members of the Armed Forces on active duty for mental health conditions through the Department of Defense to care for such conditions through the Department of Veterans Affairs after such members are discharged or released from military, naval, or air service.
(F) The availability of long-term follow-up and access to care for mental health conditions for members of the Individual Ready Reserve, and the Selective Reserve and for discharged, separated, or retired members of the Armed Forces.
(G) Collaboration among organizations in the Department of Defense with responsibility for or jurisdiction over the provision of mental health services.
(H) Coordination between the Department of Defense and civilian communities, including local support organizations, with respect to mental health services.
(I) The scope and efficacy of curricula and training on mental health matters for commanders in the Armed Forces.
(J) Such other matters as the task force considers appropriate.
(d) Administrative Matters.--
(1) Compensation.--Each member of the task force who is a member of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or employee of the United States shall serve without compensation (other than compensation to which entitled as a member of the Armed Forces or an officer or employee of the United States, as the case may be). Other members of the task force shall be treated for purposes of section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, as having been appointed under subsection (b) of such section.
(2) Oversight.--The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall oversee the activities of the task force.
(3) Administrative support.--The Washington Headquarters Services of the Department of Defense shall provide the task force with personnel, facilities, and other administrative support as necessary for the performance of the duties of the task force.
(4) Access to facilities.--The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, ensure appropriate access by the task force to military installations and facilities for purposes of the discharge of the duties of the task force.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--The task force shall submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on its activities under this section. The report shall include--
(A) a description of the activities of the task force;
(B) the plan required by subsection (c); and
(C) such other mattes relating to the activities of the task force that the task force considers appropriate.
(2) Transmittal to congress.--Not later than 90 days after receipt of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit the report to the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Secretary may include in the transmittal such comments on the report as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(f) Termination.--The task force shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the report of the task force is submitted to Congress under subsection (e)(2).
Mr. Stevens: Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. Inouye: I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendments Nos. 1991, as Modified; 1964, as Modified; 1948; 2029, as Modified; 1927, as Modified, En Bloc
Mr. Stevens: Mr. President, I have a managers' package No. 5 before the Senate.
Senator Kennedy's amendment, No. 1991, for basic research programs, as modified; Senator Salazar, colloquy on system controls; Senator Murray, No. 1964, for transition assistance programs, as modified; Senator Coburn, No. 1948, on placing directives in the bill; Senator Alexander, No. 2029, for heat pumps, as modified; Senator Warner, No. 1927, for electron source program, as modified.
I ask unanimous consent that these amendments be considered en bloc by the Senate, as modified.
The Presiding Officer: Without objection, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of amendments en bloc.
Mr. Stevens: Mr. President, I ask for consideration of the amendments.
The Presiding Officer: Is there further debate? If not, the question is on agreeing to the amendments.
The amendments were agreed to, as follows:
amendment no. 1991 as modified
(Purpose: To make available additional amounts for defense basic research programs)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. (a) Army Programs.--Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Army", up to an additional $10,000,000 may be used for Program Element 0601103A for University Research Initiatives.
(b) Navy Programs.--Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy", up to an additional $5,000,000 may be used for Program Element 0601103N for University Research Initiatives.
(c) Air Force Programs.--Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Air Force", up to an additional $10,000,000 may be used for Program Element 0601103F for University Research Initiatives.
(d) Defense-Wide Activities.--Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Defense-Wide"--
(A) up to an additional $10,000,000 may be used for Program Element 0601120D8Z for the SMART National Defense Education Program; and
(B) up to an additional $5,000,000 may be used for Program Element 0601101E for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency University Research Program in Cybersecurity.
(e) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that it should be a goal of the Department of Defense to allocate to basic research programs each fiscal year an amount equal to 15 percent of the funds available to the Department of Defense for science and technology in such fiscal year.
amendment no. 1964 as modified
(Purpose: To provide for studies of means of improving the transition assistance services of the Department of Defense and other benefits for members of the National Guard and the Reserves)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. REPORT ON REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES.
(a) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees report on the status of the review of, and actions taken to implement, the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States in the report of the Comptroller General entitled "Military and Veterans Benefits: Enhanced Services Could Improve Transition Assistance for Reserves and National Guard" (GAO 05-544).
(b) Particular Information.--If the Secretary has determined in the course of the review described in subsection (a) not to implement any recommendation of the Comptroller General described in that subsection, the report under that subsection shall include a justification of such determination.
amendment no. 1948
(Purpose: To require that any limitation, directive, or earmarking contained in either the House of Representatives or Senate report accompanying this bill be included in the conference report or joint statement accompanying the bill in order to be considered as having been approved by both Houses of Congress)
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. __. Any limitation, directive, or earmarking contained in either the House of Representatives or Senate report accompanying H.R. 2863 shall also be included in the conference report or joint statement accompanying H.R. 2863 in order to be considered as having been approved by both Houses of Congress.
amendment no. 2029 as modified
(Purpose: To require a report on the use of ground source heat pumps at Department of Defense facilities)
On page 220, after line 25, insert the following:
Sec. 8116. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the use of ground source heat pumps at Department of Defense facilities.
(b) The report required under subsection (a) shall include--
(1) a description of the types of Department of Defense facilities that use ground source heat pumps;
(2) an assessment of the applicability and cost- effectiveness of the use of ground source heat pumps at Department of Defense facilities in different geographic regions of the United States;
(3) a description of the relative applicability of ground source heat pumps for purposes of new construction at, and retrofitting of, Department of Defense facilities; and
amendment no. 1927 as modified
(Purpose: To make available up to $1,500,000 for the Navy for research, development, test, and evaluation, to be available for research within the High-Brightness Electron Source program)
In the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. 8116. (a) Of the amount appropriated by title IV under the heading "Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy" up to $1,500,000 may be available for research within the High-Brightness Electron Source program.