Wilson Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2009
Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives during debate on H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.
“Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2647. This bill contains significant policy and funding initiatives that address important issues for our military personnel and quality of life.
“I was honored to serve with Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan Davis, who I have seen firsthand promote our servicemembers, their families, and veterans.
“Mr. Chairman, I would also like to thank Chairman Ike Skelton and the professional staff for their efforts; particularly John Chapla and Jeanette James.
“To that end, the bill contains many important initiatives, including a military pay raise of 3.4 percent. The raise is 0.5 percent above the President's budget request.
“Mindful of the challenge the Army is having with large numbers of nondeployable personnel, we have recommended continued growth in Army end strength. The bill would allow the Army to increase by 30,000 in 2011 or 2012. I am particularly pleased that we changed the matching fund requirement to a 75-25 percent ratio between the Department of Defense and the States for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program.
“In addition, the bill protects child custody arrangements for deployed parents, championed by Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio. With all these good things in the bill, I must again raise my disappointment that we were unable to even debate my amendment in full committee dealing with concurrent receipt; the elimination of the survivor benefit plan; the dependency and indemnity compensation offset, more sadly known as the widows tax; the extension of health care to early retiring Reserve component members; and the use of the misnamed Reserve fund in the budget resolution.
“Had the Democratic leadership seen eliminating these injustices as a priority, they could have allocated the small percentages necessary in the $15 trillion they provided for government spending in 2010 to 2014. This is less than one-sixth of 1 percent of mandatory spending for this period.
“In addition, I was disappointed by the fact that for the second year in a row, we were unable to include my amendment to extend early retirement credit for service for National Guardsmen and Reservists back to September 11, 2001, retrospectively. The prospective retirement credits since January 28, 2008, is a start; but as a 31-year veteran of the Army National Guard, I know more needs to be done. As a Nation, we owe more than our gratitude for the brave men and women in uniform and their families, past and present, for the sacrifices they make to protect our freedom.
“With that, Mr. Chair, H.R. 2647 is a strong defense authorization bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ‘yes’ in support of H.R. 2647.
“Congratulations to our dedicated colleague Congressman John McHugh of New York for his selection to serve as Secretary of the Army.”
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